agentcampus.com Real Estate Blog

Online Real Estate Training: Using the LMS vs. On-Site Career Training

2010-04-22T06:53:00.000-05:00

On-site career training in real estate has long been a practice that companies love. It’s practical, it gets everyone trained at the same time, and it’s affordable in most cases. People aren’t traveling to seminars or courses that require attendance and you aren’t losing productivity. Plus, you can see for yourself that people are completing the training program that is required of them. However, online LMS (learning management systems) are also very useful in tracking career training, making it even easier and more affordable for companies to get career training done.

Online real estate training programs are easy to find, and offer a variety of courses. They are much cheaper than on-site programs because they aren’t a special service and they are done completely online. You can use them to train one person or an entire group of employees, and employers will get access to their records and be able to track their progress through the online learning management system, or LMS. This makes on-site training all but obsolete, unless it is in the case of hands-on training that needs to be done. Of course, in real estate, hands-on learning is rare because most new tools or skills are information based.

The informational nature of real estate training programs makes online training a great option. Because employers can let people train on their own time and at their own pace, success rates are better and people seem to retain more information. Plus, all the progress can be tracked through the online LMS, providing quick and easy access to see how everyone is doing. All in all, online training basically trumps on-site programs in just about every way possible. There are still companies offering onsite programs and businesses who need them, but the online method seems to be catching on quickly.

When your business needs continuing education or career training, you should consider using the online LMS instead of an on-site training program. There are many reasons that this course program is better, but as an employer it will allow you to track progress, avoid losing work time and productivity, and allow your employees the chance to learn at their own pace, which might teach them more because they aren’t rushed or going too slow, depending on their learning process. Keep these things in mind next time you’re looking into company-wide career training, because online training can be a great asset to have.

Real Estate Training: Avoid Real Estate Training Scams

2010-04-22T06:49:00.000-05:00

Real estate careers are a popular choice among people who want to do something that they can enjoy and make a decent living. Getting the right training is going to make all the difference in your career success, and you need to be very careful. With the advent of the internet, there has come a new wave of con artists who are specifically trained to rip people off online any way that they can. Online real estate training programs might seem like they are innocent enough, but there are scammers who have set up programs like this to trap people and steal their money or personal information.

If you want to avoid real estate training scams, you need to be prepared and educated about your options. You should take the time to figure out exactly what type of career you want to have and which training courses you need. Once you’ve done this, you should find a list of state-approved providers or courses that you can choose from. Always check to make sure that your provider is reputable, even if you don’t think it is an issue, because you can never be too careful.

Getting training online in real estate is easy and makes your career future much brighter. However, due to the very anonymous nature of the internet, it also makes it very easy for you to get taken advantage of. You need to make sure that you do everything in your power to avoid the scams and focus on getting the right training for your needs, no matter what those needs might be. Everyone has different requirements for their career training, but taking the time to check out the options will allow you to be much safer in pursuing your real estate training and career with online providers.

Training scams work because people don’t expect them. The company will sign you up, make you pay for your ‘course’ and then disappear with your money, personal information, or both. You can easily avoid real estate training scams by taking the time to go through the process step-by-step to educate and prepare yourself for what you are getting into. So many people don’t realize the importance of checking out their training providers, but one turn of the head can cost you a lot of money, time, and effort in your training process. Don’t let this happen to you when you are looking for real estate training, because it is completely preventable.

How the Internet Serves Clients

2009-03-11T15:11:00.001-05:00

The internet is a great asset to all real estate clients. By being able to take the time to look around on their own, many people find that they do in fact have the time to look for a new home than if they hadn’t been able to use the internet. Online real estate listings allow people to go through and eliminate options that don’t work for them with ease. Instead of having to look at 50 homes and weed out the ones that don’t work, clients will often be left with a handful of homes that do suit their needs, which they can then schedule appointments to look at in a much easier fashion than if they had to look at every home that might work for them.

In regards to how the internet serves clients, it can also help them to make a better decision about the realtor or mortgage broker that they choose. Many people are timid about calling a mortgage lender or a real estate agent that they know nothing about. By allowing them to browse websites that offer information on each different person, they’ll feel more confident in their decision of what real estate agent or mortgage broker to work with. This is why it is important for these agents to have a website that paints an adequate picture of what their business is like, and how they operate. This will give clients a much better feel for what they want and what they can get in the real estate market.

The internet has essentially created a whole new world for clients, including the ways that they can see and learn about homes for sale and different things that have to do with real estate. While nothing will ever match the personal interaction that people get from dealing with a real estate agent or mortgage broker one-on-one, there are still many benefits to the internet for clients who are looking to buy a home or get a mortgage.

Everyone needs to save all the time that they can. By having access to the internet, where they can review homes for sale, mortgage information, and real estate agents and mortgage lenders in their local area, people are able to be as completely prepared as they want to be when it comes to buying a home. Then, they can spend less time looking at homes that aren’t right for them, and much less time dealing with lenders or realtors that don’t suit their needs.

Real Estate Tips and Tricks

2009-03-11T15:09:00.002-05:00

Staying afloat and keeping your job in an economic recession can prove to be tough. Everyone in the real estate industry, from agents to appraisers and even title companies, is affected by the declining economy and the lack of home sales. By taking the time to do a few small things, you can easily make sure that you have work at all times, even when things are on the slow side. For example, if you’re an appraiser, take the time to advertise to people who are looking to sell or refinance their homes. This is almost the only business going on since home sales are so slow right now, and you can actually benefit greatly from these people. Let people know how important your services are, no matter what you do, so that they feel the need to acquire your services for their real estate ventures.

Agents, title insurance companies, inspectors, mortgage companies, and appraisers alike all need to do the same thing. Find the business that is going on, and do everything in your power to convince people to work with you. Build a reputation for yourself, or use the one that you have previously built, to help people feel secure in working with you. Reassure those people who are uncertain about buying a home that now IS a good time to buy a home, as long as they can afford it. In these declining and uncertain economic times, people need someone and something that they can trust. For those who are looking to get involved in real estate, that trust comes from real estate professionals like you.

Buyers are skeptical about buying right now. Banks are crumbling and foreclosures are growing exponentially, almost overnight. All people hear on the news is about the mortgage crisis and how bad the economy is. They don’t hear about how they can get a great deal on a home that will be worth much more once the economy bounces back. Tell people this stuff, because they won’t hear it anywhere else. For every five or ten people that are selling or being foreclosed on, there is someone out there bravely considering buying a home. As a professional, it is your job to make them feel secure enough to decide to go through with it, or to at least procure your specific services.

You shouldn’t lie to consumers, by any means. However, reassuring them that they are doing the right thing, if they are, is not lying. When all people hear on the news is bad things, it’s hard for them to believe that there is anything good left in the real estate industry. Find the good, and show it to these people. This can keep your real estate business going, even when things aren’t looking so good nationwide.

Where is the Housing Market Still Booming and How?

2009-02-23T15:20:00.002-06:00

Many people are concerned about the housing market in general, with the recent fluctuations, bubbles, and rampant foreclosures across the country. If you are one such concerned person, you may be looking for areas of the housing market that are still stable, even flourishing. In this brief article, we’ll take a look at what is causing this recent boom in certain areas of the market, as well as what these areas are and where you can find them.

Quite possibly the part of the housing market that actually benefited from this financial crisis and housing bubble is the college off-campus housing market. Off-campus housing is great for students that can’t afford to live in dorms, and need to scrimp and save to be able to go to college at all. Why, you ask? Due to the recent financial turbulence throughout the country, many people have been going back to school to finish their education, especially those that realized they were in financial trouble if they didn’t. So now, more than ever, there are lots and lots of low-income students attending colleges across the country, so anywhere you find colleges, you find flourishing off-campus housing.

Another housing market that is managing to stay afloat fairly easily is that in ethnic districts of large cities, such as Chinatown in San Francisco. Many immigrants have been flowing in to take advantage of American housing that is now cheaper than ever. Urban housing has seen a drastic drop in price nationwide, but districts like Chinatown have been hit significantly less hard due to the increased number of renters and buyers. Unfortunately, this increased immigration has lent support to complaints about immigrants taking work away from American citizens, especially now that jobs are being lost across the country.

There are plenty of other pockets of real estate that are springing to life, as there is always some sort of silver lining. It can be hard to gauge how some places do so well while others a few streets down do so poorly, but there are certain generalizations that work. Learning to keep an eye on certain types of property, rather than necessarily certain areas of property, can help you make predictions about what will and will not be stable in the event of economic disaster. Learning to differentiate between these types of properties will soon prove to be a useful skill for the potentially hard times ahead.

Where ISN’T Real Estate hurting?

2008-10-24T08:42:00.004-05:00

I always hear of the elusive cities where real estate seems to be an “untouchable”-the caste system of such things being quite opposite than Indian society. Untouchable is described as the cost not dropping, going as far as even saying the costs for certain homes or areas are rising! How can this be? Is Real Estate even an area that people want to work in, let alone invest in? Well, the answer is, yes actually.

Although there are areas that have stunted growth or actually reverse growth, there are cities doing incredibly well. For example, in a list created by Forbes for the 10 best cities to buy a home in, unsurprisingly, four Texas cities make the cut. To top the list is Houston, TX with home sales prices with a 6.6% increase.

The list is as follows:

1.Houston, TX
2.Austin, TX
3.St. Louis, MO
4.Philadelphia, PA
5.San Antonio, TX
6.Dallas, TX
7.Charlotte, NC
8.San Francisco, CA
9.Jacksonville, FL
10.Atlanta, GA

If you are thinking of a career change but live in these cities, think again! And with Agentcampus.com’s MCE in Texas, this is a perfect time to excel in your career in the Lone Star State.

Need a new career?

AgentCampus.com also offers pre-licensing courses for Real Estate.

Six new Courses to our extensive catalog

2008-09-26T11:20:00.004-05:00

AgentCampus.com, the leader in online continuing education for the real estate industry, is proud to announce the addition of six new courses to our extensive catalog of real estate CE courses, real estate pre license courses, real estate post license courses, exam preps, and Mortgage CE courses!

In addition to our existing course catalog, we now offer mortgage CE courses ONLINE in the states of Massachusetts, Florida, Iowa, and Nevada!
In the area of Real Estate Pre License, we have brand new courses for the states of Colorado and Nebraska!

Need CE or Pre License credit, exam prep or post license, but aren’t a resident of one of those states? Check out agentcampus.com to see if we offer ONLINE courses where you live!

And don’t forget, AgentCampus.com also offers ONLINE courses in Title Insurance, Appraisal, and Home Inspection!

Fingerprinting: Safety or Invasion?

2008-02-11T20:30:00.001-06:00

There have been a number of Real Estate Commissions across the US that have added, or are adding fingerprinting as a requirement to getting/renewing your license. Once it's done, you don't have to do it again, they just want everyone on record for the public's safety.

But many real estate agents think it's not only just an added cost to getting/keeping a license, but also an invasion of privacy. It's just another way to keep "big brother" in the middle of our lives.

I've asked a few friends what they think, and it most of them seem to think what I do. It is another annoying cost (about $50 in Texas I think), but if you don't have anything to hide, why not? It can be used as a marketing tool for RE agents - adding trust back into those relationships.

I am all about keeping real estate licensing costs down, but I am also in favor of keeping the public safe. From a marketing standpoint at AgentCampus, how many of you would like to see us offer a voucher for a free fingerprinting after passing the classes you take with us?

I'm not saying this is possible, I'm just thinking out loud. I am just a simple marketer thinking about how I can make my student's lives easier. :)

Down Market Isn't Everywhere

2008-02-04T11:28:00.000-06:00

With reports like California Licensees dropping for the first time in over 10 years, it's hard to imagine things being good in Real Estate anywhere. But there is hope. As with the price of a house, the market is different depending on where you are.

Just to the north, Washington Realtors are talking to their Legislature about their housing market, which seems to be on the up and up.

There are markets in Texas (I'm biased because that is where I am) that are still doing well (Austin) and some not (Dallas). Don't automatically assume that because the nation on average is down that your area is too. Remember those lemons.

What should it cost to become a Realtor?

2008-01-29T10:09:00.000-06:00

I came across this posting from a prospective real estate agent in Texas. He is asking a pretty straight forward question, but is still hard to answer.

At AgentCampus, we offer real estate licensing courses in all states that will let us. But that is just the first step. I have been talking to many new agents in Texas recently, and they all say the same thing: it costs a lot of money to be a real estate agent in your first year. The training is the easy part.

The fees for local associations, exams, and that 60 hours in your first year is what really gets you. To be a real estate agent requires training and exams. To be a REALTOR and have access to the MLS, that's a more. But it is what is required to be a serious agent.

Just like I said about Home Inspection becoming more regulated, this is most likely a good thing. It keeps the people who are only "so so" about becoming an agent out. It's the barrier to entry. If you want to do this, you have to be serious. But when it is just ridiculous? Are other states the same way?

Don't get me wrong, I am not slamming the MLS, NAR, or anyone else. Truthfully I don't know enough about that subject to really do it justice. I am just posing that question. What should it cost to become a Realtor? Does anyone really tell you in the beginning what the investment really is? How important do you think it'd be to tell prospective agents this?

On a side note: We are developing Prospective Agent kits for people who want to become agents in the states we offer training. Keeps your eyes out for them. I might even post some of the knowledge I find on here and see what you all think. I'd love input on what you would have liked to know BEFORE becoming an agent.

The Maze of Marketing

2008-01-28T09:22:00.000-06:00

Being in the internet marketing industry for the past 5 years has taught me one thing. Marketing is only effective when used in it's entirety. You cannot rely on one piece alone.

Print advertisements are a necessity because it builds awareness, the beginning of relationships.

Sponsorships are a necessity because it also begins Word of Mouth. Want people to know who you are, tell them.

Calling prospects is a necessity - you are talking to people who are actively in the market!

Networking is a definite necessity. If you need to know why, ummm ...

Search Engine Marketing is a necessity because it builds your brand and reaches the next generation of buyers.

Online advertising leads are fresh, active, and hot. They are looking for you and WANT you to contact them. But they aren't the entire market. Having a blog, linking, website development - that's all a part of that one area of marketing. So many blogs out there spout to have the best tips and tricks for marketing on the internet. Some can be confusing, some can be full of great advice, most have both.

But in the end, it's only one part of your business. Build your business as a whole business. Use all the tools available to you, not just one. You wouldn't try to do your hair for a night out with only hairspray right?

Kickstarting the Real Estate Market

2008-01-22T16:11:00.000-06:00

This week I heard something really funny. After all of this mortgage and foreclosure talk, the real estate market was not looking fun for anyone. Just because of some spending and lending gone bad.

To make up for it, every real estate agent has been pushing on the fact that its a buyers market. Short sales are happening, and on that day, the National Association of Realtors got into it. They launched a national ad campaign to boost the buying of homes and using certified Realtors to do so.

Then today happened. The Fed cut rates by 0.75%, the largest cut since the 1990s. Shailesh Ghimire of AgentGenius commented on the situation well. What are we missing? What is the government not telling us?

As a marketer to the real estate industry I am happy about these two developments. As a possible home buyer, I am highly ecstatic. I hope the jumpstart works to counter act what the media created in talking about some missed opportunities.

Let's go real estate agents. Time to make some lemonade!

Home Inspection of the Future

2008-01-14T08:59:00.000-06:00

The Real Estate industry is highly regulated. Each state in the US has it's own set of rules and regulations, and each one is completely different from the other. Many are moving into fingerprinting and streneous background checks as well as.

On the other hand, the Home Inspection industry has been largely unregulated. Recently I've noticed that many states are picking up Home Inspection regulations; requiring licenses, continuing education, and registration with the state.

Specifically I've seen mention of Arkansas and Florida thinking about moving to a regulated home inspection model. Florida promises to put recently approved legislation into effect in early 2010.

With the home loan industry in trouble, and the mass of houses on the market due to foreclosures, we might see this industry regulation pushed even faster than previously thought.

While it'll be nice to have this part of Real Estate regulated, it brings up the question, how happy are the newly regulated home inspectors going to feel? This will definitely restrict entry into the market, but from my perspective, I can't see anything bad about it. What do you think?

The Truth About WOM

2008-01-04T16:17:00.000-06:00

Word of Mouth Advertising. It's the glory of all marketing programs. Free advertising that is almost guaranteed to convert. In the real estate industry, it is the best way to find clients. Referrals are the stuff life is made of.

Seth Godin posted a new insight to word of mouth, and uses the Iowa caucuses as an example. The gist is that while WOM marketing is the highest converting it is rare. To get someone to refer friends to you just doesn't happen as much as searching the internet. But that is why it is so powerful.

Your regular advertising campaigns are still needed, but getting your current clients to speak out is the key. In another post he tells you how. Overdeliver.

Behind the Scenes

2007-12-31T11:16:00.000-06:00

I came across a wonderfully entertaining blog today called TheBrickRanch. It's awesome to see such a well written piece about Real Estate and the work that really goes into it.

Teri makes a great point about how going to a performance is just like Real Estate. All people on the outside see are the houses, the showings, and the final papers. Few get to see the work behind selling a house.

How do you get to the closing table? It’s juggling, it’s acrobatics, it’s high-wire balancing and double-jointed flexibility. It’s work, it’s experience, and it’s training. It’s theatre, it’s a circus, and yeah, it’s definitely real estate.

The experience and training are what really set you apart from the rest. It's the relationships you've built and the things you know.

As we enter 2008, the team at AgentCampus wishes you all a productive and profitable year. Thank you for entrusting your training to us this year. We look forward to many other years of training with you.

Real Estate License? What?

2007-12-26T11:43:00.000-06:00

I am on a weekly mailer from Google that let's me know what's going on in the Real Estate world. One thing I have noticed recently is an increase in blogs being posted with the title "How to Get Your Real Estate License"

If the posting isn't complete jibberish, then the instructions are specific to some state. One thing that we at AgentCampus.com are fully aware of is the fact that getting a real estate license is completely different dependent on your state. One state might require 210 hours for training to take their state test, another may not allow online training, and yet another may require specific courses to get your real estate license.

I am currently working on a guide for various states. A definitive "how to get your real estate license" that will cover your state. We are starting with the states we offer training in, but if you're nice and send me an email, I might be persuaded to do one in your state as well.

But always know, the best place to find out how to get your license is your state's real estate commission. Don't get duped into some fake program. Always remember each state is special. Look for something that is approved by your state before moving forward.

New York Still Going Strong

2007-12-17T07:54:00.000-06:00

In the midst of all the hype about a declining market, New York is fighting back. The Times Union published a story about how the number of Realtors has increased over the past year.

Despite lowering sales and tougher entry regulations, the real estate business still seems like a good idea to New Yorkers. Especially the the chance to make something from the power of hard work. Not just time in an office.

I am just hoping that other states pick up this mentality as well. Foreclosures may be up, but the biggest power that can bring real estate back from the brink is the mindset of it's people. Get out there and talk up your profession. Tell them what you love about being a real estate agent.

Take the time this holiday season to do something special for others. People ultimately want to make a difference with their career. You can be the change in their life that they have been looking for.

Happy Holidays! And thanks New York for bringing back the joy of the season!

Foreclosure Boom = Real Estate Bust?

2007-12-03T13:57:00.000-06:00

There have been numerous news stories about the increase in foreclosures. According to a press release from RealtyTrac, foreclosure rates were up 30% in Quarter 3 of 2007. This has caused a media frenzy about the people being foreclosed on and the status of the real estate market as a whole.

Is this foreclosure boom to blame for the recent lag in the real estate market? It seems that way. People see on TV that houses are foreclosing, prices dropping, and thinking "maybe real estate isn't the best thing to invest in right now with all this stuff going on. Maybe I really can't afford it, maybe it'll lose it's value if I buy now."

Like the stock market, the real estate market is an investment based (aka people based) market. We rely completely on the people of the world, nation, and states we live in. Their outlook makes all the difference to buying and selling decisions.

The US Council of Mayors released a similar report stating "The foreclosure crisis is no longer just about mortgages, entire neighborhoods are being negatively affected on several levels. This issue is now the number one economic challenge of many American cities."

This is not something that can be turned around immediately, but keeping your investors and clients up to date and educated about mortgage rates, budgeting, and other financial information is always in their best interest as well as yours.

Don't look at the recent declines in the market as "lost commission." See it more as an opportunity to fine tune your business. Reconnect with your clients, develop literature on mortgage rates and financial advice. Use your required real estate CE training hours to develop your business more. Look for the opportunities in the market for expansion of your business. Give it time, be positive, and the market will increase again.

Remember ... "Don't Worry. Be Happy."

What is Real Estate Training?

2007-11-21T13:25:00.000-06:00

After attending NAR (National Association of Realtors) this year, I began reflecting on what people think of when they hear "real estate training." It seemed to the AgentCampus team that people were confused as to what training we offered. Then we noticed our "competitors" offering classes nothing like ours. We used the same terminology, but not the same product.

I then ran across an article from RISMedia, by John Fuhrman about what is needed most in real estate training.

John's point seems to be that training is not about legal compliance, but about learning how to be a better agent and business person. As a life long student who enjoys education just for the sake of learning new things, I completely agree with his article. He makes some fantastic points about ways to develop yourself as a real estate agent/broker.

What I think is missing though is the point that the legal aspect is still necessary. Professional development courses that he speaks of should be taken in addition to the real estate courses we offer (true Continuing Education).

They are the classes that you NEED to continue in this profession. They are the air you breathe in Real Estate. The core information you need to be a professional real estate agent in the modern world. Professional Development courses are more for those people that have a need to be better, stronger, and faster.

So what is real estate training? It depends on your focus. But online real estate training is first and foremost about keeping your license. The rest is for the betterment of yourself and your business.

NAR Poker Chip Discount

2007-11-13T23:11:00.000-06:00

AgentCampus.com is in the City of Lights this week at the National Association of Realtors Tradeshow and Conference. We are meeting some fantastic people here and giving away discounts! If you know someone here, tell them to come by Booth #2548 for a Poker Chip Coaster and a chance to win a free iPod Nano!

The Poker Chip Coasters have a discount code worth 20% off any course purchased online. Come see us at the show!

Real Estate as a Second Career

2007-11-06T07:44:00.000-06:00

When I got out of college, I noticed that a lot of my friends in Marketing were turning to Real Estate as their first career choice. It is the perfect blend of being your own boss, marketing, and networking, everything we had been groomed for in business school.

Then I got to AgentCampus, and learned that actually, on average, most real estate agent's don't start there. According to the National Association of Realtors, only 4 percent of Realtors started there. In our recent survey to AgentCampus.com Alumni, about 8% of respondents started real estate as their first career.

The truth comes down to most agents get into real estate to reach their personal goals of financial independence without dealing with the ups and downs of corporate life. One such agent in Detroit was recently interviewed, and I think his story is much like most of yours. Dave Henderson was in the automotive industry for decades before he became a successful agent. He says that his favorite part about being an agent is the relationships built.

"I like people," he says. "I'm interested in getting to know them. Buying or selling a house is an exciting chapter in the lives, and to be involved in it is exciting, too."

At AgentCampus we are not just about selling real estate training. Our goal is to help every person that wants to get and keep their real estate license do just that with as little impact on their time as possible.

What is your success story?

Welcome to the new AgentCampus!

2007-10-30T08:35:00.000-05:00

Hello to All of our New Students and Alumni!

We have changed the look and feel of AgentCampus to make the site more accessible. Each state has its own area of the site with available training for real estate, title insurance, appraisal, home inspection and mortgage training. We are adding new courses and packages for CE, Pre-Licensing, and Post-Licensing everyday. Keep checking back for new courses and deals.

Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive updated information on the Real Estate industry, new marketing ideas for agents, and discounts!

If you have any ideas for the new site, are having trouble finding something, or any other comments, feel free to let us know! Leave a comment on here and we will look into it right away.

Again, Welcome to the New AgentCampus.com!

AgentCampus Now Offers Pennsylvania Real Estate CE Courses Online

2007-08-31T16:03:00.000-05:00

Beginning September 1, 2007 Pennsylvania REALTORS® will have a convenient new option for renewing their continuing education credits. One of the nation’s most well known real estate education websites, AgentCampus.com, is excited to add Pennsylvania to its growing list of professional real estate industry training.

The new online CE courses will use a blend of Flash videos, animation, narration, and role-play to teach lessons. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission requires agents to take a minimum of 14 hours of continuing education every other year. AgentCampus’ Pennsylvania CE courses meet state requirements and offer a wide variety of elective courses to complete the minimum number of hours.

Online Marketing Tips for Real Estate Agents

2007-07-17T09:06:00.000-05:00

With all the new forms of online advertising today, where is the one place real estate agents can go for great marketing advice they can trust? The truth is, there is no magical wonderland of marketing ideas out there, or at least that we were able to find; however, we did find sites providing good fundamentals to consider as you begin your online real estate marketing initiatives.

First, and foremost, before you invest a lot of money into Google, Yahoo, MSN or any other pay-per-click advertiser, be sure you understand what makes a good online ad and what doesn’t. About.com’s Top 5 Strategies for Writing an Effective Real Estate Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ad can help you understand the difference in the two. Learning about the relevance that keywords play in the online marketplace before investing in advertising can save REALTORS hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Check out Blitz Development’s list of Real Estate Marketing Tips for a great list of online keyword tips for the real estate industry.

Besides using keywords, real estate agents can help their websites naturally appear higher in organic search engine rankings (coming up closer to the top when someone is using a search engine) through blogging. Agents can attract clicks to their web pages by writing about relevant news topics or hot industry discussions, the search results will display the news as well as the real estate agent’s website. To learn more about writing blogs for the real estate industry, read Real Estate Blogs-The Power of Enthusiasm.

Another great way to learn additional ideas and to satisfy Texas SAE requirements at the same time is to take online marketing courses, such as AgentCampus’ Marketing I: Building a Real Estate Practice or Marketing II: Negotiation Techniques.

For more ideas from the National Association of REALTORS®, go check out Cathy Dodge’s Field Guide to Marketing Tips for REALTORS®.

Foreclosure PSAs

2007-06-29T12:57:00.000-05:00

Homeowners in financial trouble are about to start getting some friendly, helpful advice from their mortgage lenders. Beginning in July, public service announcements will hit television, radio, print, and web audiences urging homeowners in financial trouble to call the Homeowner Preservation Foundation hotline.

The toll-free mortgage advise phone number, (888)995-HOPE, was created as a joint effort between the nation’s biggest competing lenders to help stop them from losing approximately $30,000 on every mortgage that they are forced to foreclose on this year. Homeowners will receive advice on how to stop their foreclosure and will be put in contact with resources at their lending institution.

With an estimated $30 billion in national foreclosure losses expected this year, Mortgage lending-related businesses and organizations have come together to join the NeighborWorks' Center for Foreclosure Solutions. According to Inman News, “The list of partners in NeighborWorks' Center for Foreclosure Solutions reads like a who's who of mortgage lending. It includes Countrywide Home Loans, Washington Mutual, Bank of America, Option One Mortgage Corp., Chase, Citi, EMC Mortgage Corp., GMAC Rescap, HSBC North America, Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, National City Mortgage, American Financial Services and SunTrust Mortgage.”

Additionally, the list of government-funded participants includes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and mortgage industry groups such as Mortgage Bankers Association and the Housing Policy Council.

The purpose of the advertising is to encourage homeowners who are in financial trouble to get I contact with their lender instead of avoiding them. Apparently the hotline is working well because the organization is expecting to receive nearly 15,000 calls in the month of July alone!

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure on their home, please encourage them to make a free call to (888)995-HOPE.

New Course: Laws, Rules, & Court Cases

2007-06-18T15:35:00.000-05:00

Understanding the laws of the real estate industry can be tricky, but thanks to AgentCampus.com, now Michigan Real Estate agents have an easy, convenient way to get the required training they need. Recently approved by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, this course satisfies the mandatory 2 hours of Continuing Education that Real Estate license holders are required to complete by October 31, 2007.

We are excited to announce the release of our 2 hour Laws, Rules, & Court Cases course online in Michigan. This course teaches Michigan Real Estate license holders the information they need to ensure they comply with Michigan real estate laws and understand necessary regulatory information. Particularly focusing on occupational code and general rules established by the Michigan Occupational Code Section 2504(4), the new course also covers the Seller Disclosure Act and issues relating to inspections.

You can access the new course through the AgentCampus Real Estate Continuing Education page.

Virginia Puts Time Limits on Real Estate Post-Licensing Requirements

2007-06-18T15:33:00.000-05:00

Thinking of getting your Virginia Real Estate license? Make sure you have time to complete all of your first year required courses before you sign up. Virginia’s new time restrictions are giving agents two fast-paced options:

Take an additional 30 hours of training within 12 months after obtaining their license
Allow their new license to become inactive after the first year

Salespeople who obtain their Virginia real estate license on or after July 1, 2008 will be required to complete an additional 30 hours of post-license curriculum within one year from the date they obtained their license.

Currently new licensees have two years to complete these courses. Originally, the Virginia Association of Realtors pushed for a bill that would have required licensees to complete the mandatory 30 hours within 6 months, but that bill was not passed. Mandated by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, and supported by the Virginia Association of Realtors, the General Assembly’s legislation will affect anyone obtaining a new Virginia Real Estate license.

With the amount of time to complete initial curriculum being cut in half, new agents are going to be looking for the quickest, convenient ways to meet these licensing requirements. Online real estate license training is likely to increase in Virginia in 2008, and educators are already getting prepared for the demand. AgentCampus.com just launched its campaign for its new 60 hour Virginia Real Estate Pre-License Package to help agents earn their initial Virginia requirements online. Additional courses to meet post-license curriculum will be available through AgentCampus.com before the July 1, 2008 cutoff date.

Is there any way out?

2007-02-28T13:20:00.000-06:00

Do we really not need home inspectors any more? This question came to me after reading ‘Home Inspector vs Engineer for Home Inspections’, published at emediawire.com

The article points out that the scope of home inspectors is very limited as they can only give the overview of the home’s condition but can’t inspect what is hidden from the view. An engineering expert can also detect apparently invisible problems as he has the benefit of having the finishes removed in order to perform a more detailed evaluation. Engineering experts have been given credit over home inspectors in minimizing buyers’ purchasing risk.

This declaration, that the diagnostic ability of inspectors is obsolete, could be threatening for home inspectors as customers may start losing their trust on the expertise of inspectors. Therefore, inspectors should promote awareness about their work, in a way that can shed new light on their talents and benefits in home buying.

Loan Officers Can Make a Difference

2007-02-22T06:27:00.000-06:00

Managing mortgages can get difficult at times, especially for the first time-home buyers. Most people lack knowledge about mortgages and home buying, and overlook the financial benefits of holding a mortgage. So, what can be done in order to facilitate first time-home buyers?

‘First Step in Home Buying Process: Pay a Visit to a Qualified Loan Officer’, by Henry Savage, discusses the role and importance of qualified loan officers in facilitating buyers to select a practical and flexible mortgage deal.

A qualified and trained loan officer can only assist buyers by recommending an appropriate purchase price range and mortgage program. Therefore, accredited mortgage broker training also plays an important role. If buyers don’t find a competent loan officer, they could end up facing foreclosure, or short sale, as their mortgage plan will not be consistent with their purchase objectives and financial situation. Real estate agents are responsible for guiding their clients to find a proficient loan officer.

Qualifying for a proper loan payment is a crucial step in the buying process because this builds ground for a rational purchase decision.

Time to release the burden from Homeowners

2007-02-21T01:34:00.000-06:00

Property and mortgage are two faces of coin, and it’s likely that we find the former more exciting. The latter though is a necessary evil. Almost everyone relies on loan payments when it comes to buying houses, and I guess this is the most feasible payment plan, but then why do some of us end up facing foreclosure?

Foreclosure is a process that allows a lender to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by selling or taking ownership (repossession) of the property securing the loan. The foreclosure process begins when a borrower/owner defaults on loan payments (usually mortgage payments) and the lender files a public default notice. The lender then forecloses the property and sells it to the public at a foreclosure auction.

Unanticipated situations like loss of a job, medical expenses and other life-altering occurrences can happen to anyone, causing us to fall behind in our loan payments. If we neglect paying our credit cards, it hurts our credit rating, but if we stop paying our home loan, the situation is even worse; the loss of a home. There is nothing to be embarrassed about when facing foreclosure. There are many ways to overcome it like reinstatement, forbearance, mortgage modification, repairing credit, and repayment plan, or selling the house can work too.

With reference to an article, ‘Realtors team up to save homeowners from foreclosure’, published at txcn.com, it seems as the real estate agents are also willing to facilitate homeowners. The realtors’ team, including couple Stacey and Michael Spickes, is helping homeowners to avoid foreclosure.

The team is not only educating people over this issue, giving guidelines, sharing its professional and personal experiences but also generating opportunities and opening new learning ventures for agents to enter into this business. I believe that this effort can bring a sense of security to homeowners by putting them in a better position to deal with foreclosures.

Welcoming New Investment Resources

2007-02-20T05:48:00.000-06:00

The real estate industry is ever-changing and I enjoy learning about new programs to help real estate professionals, investors and clients. One that I came across the other day is an online resource to those looking to invest in real estate in Mexico.

Uncovered: A New Resource for Real Estate Investment Opportunities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico describes how the real estate investment boom in Mexico has been capitalized by FundVallarta.

FundVallarta announced a full online resource for discovering real estate investment opportunities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, along with a comprehensive knowledge-based resource center providing applicable articles.

This can surely facilitate the process of discovering possible investment opportunities. Such resources not only encourage the prospective agents to get their real estate license and to start this promising career, but also encourages practicing agents to pursue continuing education or post-license education to ensure their existence in the market.

I am hoping to see other such programs develop in other US markets to drive more business and interest in real estate. The more education we are exposed to, the better real estate professionals and neighbors we become.

Real Estate Apprentice Programs in spotlight

2007-02-19T00:58:00.000-06:00

I used to think that Real Estate was only about property, agents, brokers, selling and buying, and of course marketing gimmicks. Then I realized that I was underestimating the growth potential and wide concentration of this industry. It has gone through drastic changes over the past few years, and now stands prominent in terms of growth, professionalism, investments and opportunities.

Few days back, I read about Real Estate Career Grants and Apprentice Programs. I was totally surprised because such programs could be great credible ventures for all prospective agents. They are designed to spotlight the importance of real estate apprenticeships for the public good, the enhancement and betterment of the U.S. residential real estate brokerage industry and to raise the standards and levels of professionalism for real estate agents in general.

The other aspect of the programs that captivated me was the eligibility criteria for the grants. Participation is opened for only legal US/Canadian residents or citizens, who have recently taken a real estate pre-licensing course, for the first time, from an accredited, state-approved school. This not only shows the transparency of the selection process but also promotes the ethical practices in Real Estate Industry as only qualified agents will be entering the business.

I believe that such career grants programs have potential to provide the industry with trained, dedicated agents, and also to assist new licensed agents to overcome fears and obstacles. These programs can also bring employment and investment opportunities, benefiting the entire economy.

Battle for Keywords, Building the Ultimate Lead Machine

2007-02-02T11:21:00.000-06:00

Excerpts provided herein from AgentCampus Search Marketing Tipwire Volume 1. To subscribe to this free newsletter and get how-to information on marketing your real estate business as well as valuable free discounts for real estate license and continuing education courses, visit www.agentcampus.com and sign up from the home page.

The Battle for the Keywords...

The online advertising industry is predominately controlled by Google and Yahoo. Up-and-coming players like MSN and Ask have also joined the battle for your advertising dollars. We'll explain over the coming months how to optimize your online paid advertising program at low costs for big results.

According to a 2006 survey by media research firm Borrell Associates Inc., the real estate industry was expected to spend about $11.6 billion on advertising in 2006 -- that amount has grown less than 4 percent in the past four years -- and the online share was expected to reach $2 billion in 2006, and to eclipse newspapers' advertising share and top $3 billion by year by 2010, Borrell reported. The online share of real estate advertising, which was 3.5 percent in 2001, is expected to reach 32.1 percent in 2010 (Source: Inman News).

Kate's Top 10 Considerations for Search Marketing

By Kate Morris - Web Marketing Manager, 360training

1. Identify your most important pages (index, products pages, etc.) and the keywords associated with them. Use those keywords in ppc campaigns, alt tags, and meta tags (see below).

2. Add an alt tag to every image. Make sure the keyword matches one of your keywords for the page.

3. Assign specific keyword and description Meta tags to each important page of your website. Making the keywords and descriptions match the page and it's content, and not just the site.
4. Start a Google PPC campaign. I don't work for them, but trust me, at this point, Google is just a good place to start in PPC.

5. Have specific landing pages in your PPC Campaign. If your ad says "Widgets for $25", the page they land on should be about that widget for $25, not your index page.

6. Make a custom 404 error page. This makes it so that when a visitor stumbles on a missing page, they see a site map, whatever you like, instead of a blank error page.

7. Have a sitemap that is accessible from every page.

8. Have your webmaster sign your site up for Google Webmaster Tools, and create a Google Sitemap. It's written in XML and read by all major engines.

9. In the words of Google, Don't be evil. Don't listen to "webmasters" who want to hide keywords or links. Deception is never a good idea.

10. Make your site interesting to the READER, not the search engine. You can rank on the top of search engines but if people don't like the site because it's optimized to computers, you've missed the point. Get to the point, keep things simple. Use images to bring color and focus to specific areas.

Building the Ultimate Lead Machine
By Albert Lilly - Chief Marketing Officer, 360training

You've seen them in your inbox, your mailbox and likely at ever conference you've attended recently. Offers to boost your online lead prospecting and services to increase your website's online position in search engines.

One of biggest factors to a successful online marketing program is Search Engine Marketing (SEM), what I define as a combination of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). When executed properly, SEM can yield big results at the lowest cost-per-lead and net you the most coveted customer sought after today: the online consumer who comes highly qualified and ready to buy.

Whether you're just getting started or a seasoned veteran in the dynamically changing real estate market, one thing is for sure, SEM is here to stay. Regardless of your experience with SEM, there is always more to learn. This article will cover some core issues you need to consider when approaching search marketing yourself or if you're outsourcing it to a 3rd party.

First thing first - IT ALL STARTS WITH YOUR KEYWORDS! The keywords you use on your website and in your online advertising are the 'DNA' of your search marketing program. There are tools we use that give us the search demand of any given keyword. One such free tool is http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/suggestion/. For example there are over 8000 searches every day for 'austin real estate' and its various iterations such as 'austin estate real texas'.
Holy smokes, 8000 searches a day, what does this mean for you? Just imagine if you practiced in Austin, Texas and can capture .5% of these possible leads, that's 40 new prospective Austin home seekers on your site a day! Position your website properly and you can get the traffic on your site. Getting the traffic to your website is half the battle. Getting your site visitors to register or give you their personal information is an entirely different ball of wax that we'll cover in future versions of the AgentCampus Search Marketing Tipwire.

Now for the clincher, of those 8000 queries of possible customers hungry to get their new home, there are even hungrier agents and brokers competing with YOU to get this traffic. Hence, it all comes down to the battle for the keywords both in your paid search efforts and your organic search engine optimization. If you've gotten to this point you may be thinking: "so what! what do I do?", "I don't know much about website programming", "this doesn't make sense to me" or "someone else handles my website for me".

See our earlier post by Kate Morris (Web Marketing Manager for 360training) for her top 10 considerations for search engine marketing. Discuss this with a techie buddy or your webmaster. We'll also cover each of these considerations in further layman term details in future versions of the tipwire, so stay tuned!

Making Websites Work - A Few Right Ways, A lot of Wrong Ones

2006-09-26T14:16:00.000-05:00

I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of making a website work on the vast Internet. There are a few right ways and a lot of wrong ones. Here is some free advice about websites and the internet, that if followed, will make you very successful with your business on the internet.

Many people have believed that by having a website customers will magically visit their website and contact them on how they can buy their product or service.

You can't really expect this to happen! It would be like building a retail store that has no windows, doors or signs and is located on a piece of property with no roads or sidewalks and expect customers to find you and flood you with business.

An Internet website is really no different than a physical store front, it is just an electronic store front that, if set up and marketed right, will become your most cost effective way of generating business. Internet usage is growing at a rate of 146% per year and people who purchase goods and services online is growing at a rate of 153% per year. You can't ignore this growing medium of online customers.

You are probably feeling the way I did several years ago, thinking that I needed to get a web presence, but did not understand how it all worked and was fearful of doing something wrong.

Well, after a lot of studying and testing I have completely changed my marketing focus away from direct mail, print ads and telemarketing to a 100% online marketing program. For the dollars I am spending on internet marketing I am receiving a 400% return on my investment. That is hard to beat with the old conventional ways of marketing.

Here's what I have learned:

You must have a fully developed and coordinated web marketing program that includes a "sales oriented" website, an online vehicle for driving customers to your site, a process of converting them from lookers to buyers and a way of tracking your progress. (Most people just put up a website and expect the traffic to flow in...but it just doesn't work that way)

Here are some Free Tips:

Your Website:

1. The front (home) page should answer the question of what your prospective customer is looking for. Give them reasons to buy. Keep your text short and to the point. You only have a few seconds to hook them. If they don't find what they are looking for in those few seconds they will be gone to one of your competitors.

2. After the front (home) page, your other pages should give just enough, not too much, information to motivate your customer to call or email you. YOUR MAIN GOAL WITH YOUR WEBSITE IS TO GET THE CUSTOMER TO CONTACT YOU. Nothing more, nothing less. If you have too much information, or not enough information, they will move on.

3. Each web page should have a "call to action" on it. A reason for them to call your phone number or fill in a form with their name, email address and phone number.

4. It is important for you to obtain their contact information so that you can start developing a relationship with them. If they don't buy from you today, you want to stay in contact with them so that they will buy from you in the future. The best way to do this is with an auto-responder program.

5. Use colors and font styles that are easy to read and pleasing to
the eyes. Be careful to not get too fancy with your pages. Keep them simple and easy to navigate.

I hope you found this information useful. Next time I'll share with you some internet marketing ideas that will drive people to your website.

Warmest Regards,
Heritage Web Solutions
http://www.heritagewebdesign.com/web
1-800-211-0743
list@heritageusa.net

A partner with www.AgentCampus.com

The "Secret Ingredients" of Postcard Marketing Success

2006-09-18T10:52:00.000-05:00

The "Secret Ingredients" of Postcard Marketing Success
by Brandon Cornett

Remember a few years back when all the fast food chains crowed about their "secret" sauces and ingredients? It sure added some mystique, didn't it? Nothing improved the flavor of a hamburger or drumstick like good old-fashioned secrecy!

Now let's transition to postcard marketing, where a similar concept applies. A small percentage of real estate agents have discovered the "secret ingredients" of postcard marketing. As a result, they enjoy huge success each time they conduct a mailing.

Other agents, however, do not enjoy such success. They send postcard after postcard, but, alas, no response. These agents do not know the secret ingredients of postcard marketing success.

Let's uncover some secrets, shall we?

Postcard Secret #1 -- Don't Rely on Technology

You first need to realize that technology alone won’t lead you to postcard marketing success. If it were that easy, all agents would enjoy record-breaking responses from their mailings.

In fact, technology is the most straightforward part of the equation. A postcard marketing service will handle all of the technology for you. But there’s the rub. Technology can help you deliver a powerful message, but it cannot create that message for you. That’s your job.

Nobody knows your audience or your skills better than you, and nobody cares about your success as much as you do. So the message, and everything that brings it to life, must begin with you.

Postcard Secret #2 -- Know Your Audience

When creating your postcard message, start by identifying your audience. This might seem obvious, but it’s a critical step upon which the rest of the process will rest. To identify your core audience, you simply have to ask yourself a series of questions. What area do I want to represent? Am I focusing on buyers or sellers? Where might I find these people? What's important to them? What do they want to know? What do I have to offer that might motivate them?

When you've answered these questions, you should be able to write a paragraph from the combined answers. This paragraph is your audience statement, and it will help you set your postcard marketing objectives accordingly. Once you've defined your audience, you can more easily determine the kinds of offers that might motivate them.

Postcard Secret #3 -- Identify the Desired Response

Now that you know your audience (and assuming you’ve done some research to really get to know them) you can set the objective for your postcard campaign. Ask yourself, “What do I want to happen as a result of sending my postcards? What's the ideal response?"

Here’s the key to this step. Don’t ask your postcards to do more than they’re capable of doing. I see real estate marketers using postcards to try and convince recipients that they offer superior service. That’s a lot to ask of an 8" x 5" piece of card stock.

Scale back your objective until you find something that (A) gives the postcard a more realistic task, (B) follows a more natural sales progression, and (C) capitalizes on known behavior.

What's a good response to aim for? How about a phone call or an email? Now that’s something a postcard can handle, especially if you give people a good reason to contact you (like an insightful report on future construction in your area). And that leads to our next "secret"…

Postcard Secret #4 -- Offer Something Great

We know from statistics that most consumers end up choosing the first real estate agent they contact. So you can capitalize on this known behavior by aiming for that critical first contact. This is where your offer comes into play.

The value and relevance of your offer will determine the size of your response. That's a fundamental principal of postcard marketing that many agents overlook. A postcard without explicit value is a postcard destined for the trash.

Think of it this way. The postcard is only a messenger. A messenger without an important message is worthless. But if the messenger has valuable news or information, everybody wants to hear what he has to say!

Here's an example. If I lived in a residential area suffering from "commercial creep," and somebody offered me an exclusive report on future commercial development and how it might impact my home value … I would want that report! And I'd contact anyone to get it.

Postcard Secret #5 -- Leverage Your Website

Have a website? If so, you have a perfect marketing partner to complement your postcards. The reasons are somewhat psychological:

The goal of any marketing program is to gain new business, but sometimes you have to offer indirect paths as well as the direct ones. Direct paths are for direct people. A direct path on a postcard would be a phone number. Some interested prospects will choose the direct route and call you straightaway.

But those who are less direct would rather learn more about you first. They need to get comfortable before they "raise their hands." So why not build an informational resource section of your website and point to it with your postcards?

The point is to offer different response channels for the different personality types. A direct phone number for the direct people, and an indirect website path for the more timid souls. Then mention both paths on your postcards, and you've increased your chance for response -- be it direct or indirect.

Postcard Secret #6 -- Measure Your Success

Make sure you have some way to track the responses you get back from each mailing. This will allow you to compare one postcard message to another to see which one performs better.

First, establish a baseline response based on your first mailing (out of X number of recipients, X responded). Next, try to improve one element of the postcard, such as the offer. You won’t know if it’s truly an improvement until the test is complete, but that’s the whole point.

Lastly, send the new version of your postcard to the same list, the same number of recipients, and with all other things being equal. Track the results as you did before, and compare the two mailings. You’ve just completed a simple A/B test to determine which of two offers is more effective.

You can continue this testing in one of two ways: You can keep putting your winning offer up against new challengers. Or you can move on to other aspects of the mailing, such as the design, headline, list, timeframe, etc. The goal is to have a postcard that combines the best of all elements.

Conclusion

I hope you see now that the "secrets" of postcard marketing success aren't really secrets at all. They are proven methods that have been used by direct mail marketers for years. And now that you understand them, you have everything you need to create your own postcard marketing success.

About the Author

Brandon Cornett is the editor of PostcardSmart.com, the Internet’s largest library of postcard marketing advice. He also represents ColorDirect, a web-based postcard marketing service. Learn more by visiting www.PostcardSmart.com or www.ColorDirect.com.

ColorDirect and PostcardSmart are printing partners with www.AgentCampus.com

TOP 10 REASONS TO BECOME A REAL ESTATE AGENT

2006-08-18T09:14:00.000-05:00

TOP 10 REASONS TO BECOME A REAL ESTATE AGENT:

Unlimited Earning Potential
Flexible Hours
Freedom to work where and when YOU want
Can raise a family and work without sacrificing one for the other
No technical skills needed
Autonomy
Entrepreneurial
People Centric
Healthy balance of analytics and creative
Real Estate market is booming now – jump in

There are more than five million people in the United States employed in real estate fields such as:

• title insurance

• construction

• mortgage banking

• property management

• real estate appraisals

• brokerage and leasing

• real estate development

Over a third of the world's wealth is tied up in real estate.

**http://www.careers-in-finance.com/re.htm

And, Agentcampus can help you with your path to success.

As important as the field of real estate might be, it is also worth recognizing how interesting the work in this field is. Real estate professionals are tied to the development of our society in a very direct way and participate in decisions that will shape the way we live for centuries. Work in real estate is personally rewarding, ever-changing and challenging.

Take some time and complete the 2 minute Agentcampus Career Survey in order to consider your potential in the field of real estate. CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY

Real estate jobs tend to be more entrepreneurial and create opportunities to become wealthy if you have the right mix of analytical skills and entrepreneurial drive. Below, you will find various job functions that you could be involved in with a real estate license:

Residential Real Estate Agent/Broker

Real estate agents and brokers are usually independent sales professionals who contract their services to real estate brokers in exchanges for a commission-sharing agreement (normally six percent). There are over 400,000 real estate brokers and agents in the United States . To become a broker you must be at least 18 years old, a high school graduate and have passed a written test on property laws and real estate transactions

Commercial Real Estate Sales

Commercial property brokerage offices use sales associates who market office buildings, hotels and many other types of commercial real estate for brokers. Commercial real estate sales people usually specialize in a particular property type such as apartments, retail, office, hospitality, shopping centers and industrial plants. Most of the large commercial brokerage companies in the United States provide a great deal of local market data and research in order to be able to service a cadre of sophisticated clients who are making multi-million dollar investment decisions. Several trade organizations represent the various commercial real estate subspecialties including the American Industrial Real Estate Association at http://www.csz.com/air.html, the Hotel and Motel Brokers of America at http://www.primenet.com/~amhb/ , the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties at http://www.naiop.org/, the Real Estate Exchange-a forum for women in commercial real estate-at http://www.ctre.com/rex/, the International Council of Shopping Centers at http://www.icsc.org/, and the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors at http://www.sior.com/. Additionally, the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute (CIREI), through its education program, has been conferring the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation since 1969. You can visit their web site at http://www.ccim.com/.

Real Estate Appraisers

Real estate appraisers provide unbiased estimates of a property's value and quality. Appraisers usually work for banks or for appraiser firms and will normally value properties by finding comparable sales in an area or by estimating the discounted value of cash flows expected from a property. This profession is less cyclical than real estate brokerage because appraisers are required when homes are refinanced-a time historically when the real estate market has been slow. You can learn more about this area from the Appraisal Foundation .

Property Managers

Leading real estate owners require professional property managers. Managers are responsible for negotiating leases, ensuring that tenants are satisfied, that rent is paid and that rents reflect market conditions. The career of property manager requires good interpersonal and analytical skills and a fair amount of negotiating prowess. This job is personally rewarding and allows you to really learn the real estate markets should you wish to embark in business on your own. The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) is the trade association representing property managers. Their training programs include the Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) designations. The IREM web site is at http://www.irem.org/.

Real Estate Advisory

Institutional investors are purchasing real estate more and more. But real estate is not like a stock or bond that you can buy and put in a vault. Real estate advisors help investors care for property and, more importantly, se lect property in the first place by suggesting areas and property types that are likely to experience price appreciation in the future. This job is fun and one that you can get into after getting experience in investing or property management. People who are good with statistics and excel at client contact do well in this job. An example of a leading advisor is Jones Lang Wootton which has 70 offices world-wide.

Development and Construction

Are you willing to work hard and take risks to develop new properties? Then a career in real estate development may be for you. You can enter this business working for another developer, moving up to construction manag er, or you can strike out on your own, starting with some smaller transactions. Good developers are results-oriented and know how to get work on time which involves managing labor, establishing time estimates, getting appropriate equipment operators and c onstruction crews.

Real Estate Entrepreneur

Real estate is one of the last bastions of the free-enterprising entrepreneur who buys properties in hope that they will rise in value because of improvement in market conditions or renovations. Since WWII some of the weal thiest persons in the world have been real estate entrepreneurs. To make it in this career you need to be savvy, hard-working, willing to take risks and fortunate. Remember, their are others who would also like to become wealthy in real estate who will be bidding on the same deals and properties that you will. It is important, then, to think carefully of how you can succeed in this market through better wits, a superior management approach or a unique niche strategy.

**http://business.fullerton.edu/finance/relui/careers/careers_joboptions.asp

If you know that Real Estate is for you and you know that you will be licensed in due time, but would like some more material to read.

Below, you will find highly recommended Books About Real Estate Careers that Agentcampus Career Consultants recommend.

Your Successful Real Estate Career by Kenneth Edwards. Dave Liniger, Chairman of the Board, RE/MAX International, Inc writes: "A hard-hitting and comprehensive guide for anyone looking into real estate as a career. Edwards takes the subject seriously and really covers the territory -- from getting a license to surviving and thriving in a tough business. A valuable book on the real estate shelf."

Opportunities in Property Management Careers , VGM. Career Horizons, Lincolnwood , IL . Over 200,000 people will work in property management. Ever think of running a mall or buying land? Then you should really pick up a copy of this book.

Real Estate Career Starter , By Mary Masi. Learning Express 1998. How to launch your career in real estate.

Real Estate Careers: 25 Growing Opportunities , By Carolyn Janik and Ruth Rejnis. John Wiley & Sons. You'll find descriptions of a wide variety of opportunities from pro's who've been there

Additionally, one or more of the following Magazines and Journals should be on your subscriber list:

Corporate Real Estate Executive , NACORE International, 440 Columbia Dr., Suite 100, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, (407) 683-8111.

Journal of Property Management , Institute of Real Estate Management, (312) 329-6000. Contains a help-wanted section but you must be a member to subscribe.

Journal of Real Estate Research , American Real Estate Society, Department of Finance, Box 8233, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202.

Mortgage Banking, Mortgage Bankers Association of America , 1125 15th St., NW , Washington DC 20005 . (202) 861-6555. $40/year. Covers the mortgage market.

Real Estate Finance Today , Mortgage Bankers Association of America , 1125 15th St., NW , Washington DC 20005 . (202) 861-6555. Focuses on mortgage banking, the mortgage-backed securities market and loan services.

Real Estate Issues , American Society of Real Estate Counselors, Naitonal Association of Realtors, (312) 329-8257. $27. es on major changes in real estate markets (e.g. role of REITS) three times a year. Very good background reading.

Real Estate Today , National Association of Realtors, (312) 329-8449. This is the leading magazine read by residential real estate agents and brokers. Full of articles and ads about the residential real estate business. Cost $25 a year ($3 if you be long to the National Association of Realtors).

Welcome

2006-07-13T08:54:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Real Estate Success!