Working with Buyers Tip #4

What does the buyers home search process look like?

• Median number of weeks searched: 12

• Median number of homes seen: 12

How much time are you spending with your buyers? If you're spending more than 10 weeks with a buyer are they a real buyer or someone wasting your valuable time?
The length of the typical home search rose from eight weeks in 2007 to ten weeks in 2008 to 12 in 2009. During the search for a home, buyers viewed a median of ten homes before making a purchase.

Among buyers who used a real estate sales representative / broker when searching for and purchasing a home, the median length of the total search was ten weeks. before contacting the sales representative / broker, these buyers typically searched for two weeks. The median length of the home search for first-time buyers is 12 weeks. First-time buyers also searched for a somewhat longer period before contacting an sales representative / broker.

• What kind of qualification process are you using before you work with a buyer?

• Did you make an appointment with a qualified Mortgage Broker?

• Do you feel like you are a professional tour guide or taxi driver?

• Do you have a buyer that you've shown over 30 homes and they haven't made a buying decision?

• Do you really know what their wants and needs are?

The goal is in better qualifying your buyers and provide showing/selling strategies so that your time is more productive.

Your next tip, I will discuss lead generation.

I hope you find this information useful. Thanks for stopping by.

It’s Your Career – I’m Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow | Broker of Record

CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage
387 George Street South, P.O. Box 178
Peterborough Ontario. K9J 6Y8
Direct Line: 705.743.4444 | Fax: 705-743.3702
Constantine.Isslamow@gmail.com

Working with Buyers Tip #3

What information sources do buyers use in their home search?

• 90% Internet

• 87% Real estate agent

• 59% Yard sign

• 46% Open House

• 40% Print Newspaper Advertisement

• 26% Home-book magazine

• 18% Home Builder

• 8% Television

• 6% Billboard

• 4% Relocation Company

2009 NAR Survey Results

Evaluate your current strategies to capture buyers. How would you measure yourself in the above areas?

Your next tip will measure the buyers active home search process.

I hope you find this information useful. Thanks for stopping by.
It’s Your Career – I’m Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow | Broker of Record

CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage
387 George Street South, P.O. Box 178
Peterborough Ontario. K9J 6Y8
Direct Line: 705.743.4444 | Fax: 705-743.3702
Constantine.Isslamow@gmail.com

Working with Buyers Tip #2

What else does the repeat buyer want from their real Sales Representative / Broker?

• Tell them what comparable homes are selling for - 8% of buyers want this from their real estate Sales Representative / Broker.

• Help determining how much they can afford - 4% of buyers want this from their real estate Sales Representative / Broker.

• Help find and arrange financing - 2% of buyers want this from their real estate Sales Representative / Broker.

Be sure you don't make a habit of "winging it!" Do you have up to the minute knowledge of the market? Do you have a credible and dependable Mortgage Broker that you work with to qualify your buyers?

I'm sure you will agree, when you get to the point of submitting their offer you will be asked for documentation and the credit worthiness of your buyer ... JUST BE PREPARED!

Your next tip will provide you with the information sources that buyers use in their home search.

I hope you find this information useful. Thanks for stopping by.

It’s Your Career – I’m Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow | Broker of Record

CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage
387 George Street South, P.O. Box 178
Peterborough Ontario. K9J 6Y8
Direct Line: 705.743.4444 | Fax: 705-743.3702
Constantine.Isslamow@gmail.com
www.ConstantineIsslamow.com

5 Months Left in this Year!

How much are you going to invest in your business for the remaining year?

Your first consideration is "How much did you invest in your real estate business last year and what was your return on your investment (ROI?) Secondly, what were the dollars that produced "results"! Start making a list of your activities, dollars spent and what were the results!

Here is your measuring stick and rules:

• You must constantly be measuring because you can't manage what you don't measure.
• Look at your past expenses and determine if you received a favourable return on the investments in your business.
• Simply focus dollars in the areas that generate a result.
• A rule of thumb for marketing dollars: You should invest between 10 - 15% of your gross income in marketing dollars. I've seen this number as high as 25%.
• Please focus on what is working and invest in it. Don't get carried away in costly print advertising.
• Have you created a internet marketing strategy? How about Google Ad Words. You will be surprised how inexpensive this may be compared to print ads. Not only are you saving hard earned money but if 87% of the buyers are online, 3% are using newspaper advertising, I would think you want to be focusing on where the buyers are looking and Save Your Money!

Local agents know their towns better than anyone else

Local agents know their towns better than anyone else. We firmly believe that using a local Realtor® is in your best interests and in this post we will give you reasons why local is the only way to go.

1. Superior Market Knowledge - A good local agent knows the inventory inside and out and will be able to more easily pick out homes that are a good fit for you.

2. They Know The Schools - A local agent will have personal experience with the school system and be able to share valuable information with you.

3. Neighbourhood Experts - A local agent not only knows all the specific neighbourhoods, but often has friends and clients in each one that can be made available to you if needed. Our clients always appreciate hearing from people who live in the neighborhoods in which they are considering.

4. Strong Relationships With Other Agents - A good local agent will network with other local agents to get information that you will never find on line. We will know about homes that may be coming on the market in the future or learn about a seller who has suddenly become "highly motivated" and is open to offers.

5. In The Know - Real estate gossip gets discussed in small circles in every community, like at PTA meetings and at the local softball field. While most agents will never learn this "insider information", a local agent hears these things and will share them with their clients.

LOCAL IS SAFER

If you are ever looking to buy or sell a home, remember that a real estate transaction is very complicated, involving a lot of money and risk। A local agent is always the safest choice.

It’s Your Career – I’m Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow | Broker of Record

CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage
387 George Street South, P.O. Box 178
Peterborough Ontario. K9J 6Y8
Direct Line: 705.743.4444 | Fax: 705-743.3702
Constantine.Isslamow@gmail.com
www.ConstantineIsslamow.com

Finding the right home for you

When you dream of your dream home, what do you see? Each of us has a vision of what it will be, but getting as close to that vision as possible is a practical, step-by-step process that begins with finding a REALTOR®. A REALTOR® is your best ally throughout the home buying process. He or she can provide expert advice and help you determine how much you can afford, what kind of home you can buy in that price range, and where it may be located.

You've no doubt heard the phrase: location, location, location. That's because it's the most important factor in making any real estate purchase. To find the right location you must think of where you want to live both in broader terms and in more detail. First of all what type of area do you want to live in?

Urban: Urban communities offer the broadest range of housing types, but generally at higher prices than similar-sized homes in non-urban locations.

Suburban: The suburbs are typically made up of newer neighbourhoods, schools and shopping centres. Prices may or may not be lower than those of the central city, but you often get more square footage, larger rooms and bigger lots.

Smaller towns and cities: A slower-paced lifestyle and lower taxes and housing prices are often big draws to Ontario's smaller communities. There are fewer types of homes available and the number for sale could be limited.

Rural: A stream flowing over a few acres sounds appealing and your housing budget will often buy you more in a rural setting than any alternative above.

Features
Once you've considered the broader location options above, it's time to think about the features you need and want in a home. Prepare a shopping list. How many bedrooms and bathrooms? One or two-car garage? Large backyard or small? List the features you are looking for as needs or wants.

Comparing homes and locations
Now you want to match the type of home you'd like with the location. Start reading the real estate ads in local newspapers and REALTOR®-produced publications. These ads will give you an idea of the communities that best match your criteria for home and location. Drive through the communities that are likely candidates.

Check out the types of homes available, how well the neighbourhoods are maintained, the availability of schools and shopping, recreational and religious facilities. Be aware of drawbacks: highway noise, train tracks, airports and large industrial centres. Drive through the neighbourhoods at different times of the day.

Attend open houses in the areas you are exploring. You'll begin to understand which best suit your needs and which are in your price range.

Open houses also provide an excellent chance to meet the REALTORS® hosting the events. Chances are that you'll select a REALTOR® from among those you meet at these open houses.

You'll find the services of a REALTOR® invaluable in helping you locate the home that's right for you.

REALTOR® is a registered trademark of REALTOR Canada Inc., a company owned equally by The Canadian Real Estate Association and the National Association of REALTORS® and refers to registered real estate practitioners who are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association. Used under license.

It’s Your Career – I’m Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow | Broker of Record

CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage
387 George Street South, P.O. Box 178
Peterborough Ontario. K9J 6Y8
Direct Line: 705.743.4444 | Fax: 705-743.3702
Constantine.Isslamow@gmail.com
www.ConstantineIsslamow.com

Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 1%

The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate steady Tuesday, as expected, but hinted more strongly than before that it would resume hiking soon as the sturdy domestic economy contrasts with rising risks globally.

Keeping its overnight rate at 1 percent, the bank said core inflation will reach its 2 percent target earlier than it had anticipated and that it sees economic growth speeding up in the second half of this year after a second-quarter slump.

Canada’s central bank became the first in the Group of Seven advanced economies to tighten monetary policy following the global financial crisis, hiking three times from June to September last year.

It has been on pause since then, but with an eye on threats abroad such as the weakening U.S. economy and the European sovereign debt crisis that threaten to derail growth at home.

The bank’s comments were more hawkish than markets expected, pushing the Canadian dollar to a two-month high against the U.S. dollar.

The median forecast of 37 analysts in a July Reuters poll was for a resumption of rate increases in the fourth quarter, which means either at the Oct. 25 or Dec. 6 rate decision.

But the bank did flag several caveats to hiking rates and advised that its projections assume that European leaders will be able to contain the sovereign debt crisis.

It’s Your Career – I’m Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow | Broker of Record

CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage
387 George Street South, P.O. Box 178
Peterborough Ontario. K9J 6Y8
Direct Line: 705.743.3225 Ext. 224 | Fax: 705-743.3702
Constantine.Isslamow@gmail.com
www.ConstantineIsslamow.com