Some interesting highlights emerged from the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) conference in Montreal last week.
Senior economist for CIBC World Markets Benjamin Tal pointed to Chinese consumers and those from other emerging markets as driving forces in the future global economy. According to a report by Mortgage Broker News, Tal urged mortgage brokers and Canadian companies to think about their industries in global terms.
He also suggested that the U.S. Housing market will take years – not months – to rise from the depths and push American homeowners out of negative equity.
Canada’s situation is pretty rosy by comparison. Popular mortgage news site Canadian Mortgage Trends points to presentations at the CAAMP conference by three prominent industry representatives from the U.S., Australia and Canada that show Canada’s mortgage industry as having a strong showing on the world stage.
CENTUM was at the conference and by all accounts it was a great event.
CAAMP has 12,000 members representing 1,500 companies in Canada. The association offers education for both mortgage consumers and industry professionals.
This holiday season, think about buying yourself the gift of putting a lump sum payment on your mortgage (if you can do it without penalty). See how much prepayment options can save you using CENTUM mortgage calculators.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
What Are The Biggest Problems On Your Website? 3 Items To Generate More Sales Now
At this point, most businesses have a website. Whether you have been in business 3 months or 30 years a website is now a MUST when it comes to marketing. The challenge for many entrepreneurs, business owners, and even sales professionals is that their website is an expense. Each month they pay $20, $70, $100, or even $250 a month and not a drop of business comes in. Most people accept this as "normal" for websites.
Let me share with you a very simple idea: A website is NOT an expense.
Your presence online should generate income for you. Each month when you invest "X dollars" you should get 3X, 4X, or even 10X dollars back! For some businesses their website should bring in more foot traffic. For other types of businesses their website should bring in leads. Other types of businesses should make sales monthly just from their website, when they follow the right rules.
Instead of throwing money at your site monthly, make it work for you. While there are dozens of challenges that usually can be fixed, I invite you to consider the following three to fix immediately with your website. When you can fix these three items you will be on your way to having a business website that generates leads and sales monthly.
1. How Easy is it for Someone to Contact You? - For a local business this often comes down to displaying the phone number and address in a prominent place. When you want more people coming by your store, make it easy for them to reach out and come directly to you. Have a section with maps, cross streets, and even photos of your store so it's easy for them to recognize. Make sure your phone number is displayed in the header on each page so they are only a click away from calling you.
2. Who Is the Website About? - Tragically most websites are too much about the business. They feature stories about the owner, products, and services, etc. While this information is necessary it shouldn't be the biggest portion of any site. Consider adding content that focuses on your customer, there challenges, and then give them an opportunity to solve those challenges with what you are offering.
3. What is Your Traffic Plan? - You can build a great site, but how are people going to find out about it? Instead of counting on one source of traffic consider having a balanced attack. Identify key areas of traffic from SEO, pay per click, blogging, social media, and more. Put 1-2 traffic sources into action immediately. Optimally you will have a minimum of 4 traffic sources running constantly.
When you make it easy for people to contact you, focus your website on your customer, and have a balanced traffic plan you will be on your way to generating more business from your online presence.
Get the shortcut to website success with a FREE, 15 minute 1 on 1 call with me. I will be happy to look at your website and share what you can put into action today. - www.15MinuteBusinessHelp.com
Todd Bates is a national Marketing and Business coach. Through his programs, such as Todd Bates Systems, he shares innovative systems to help businesses owners and sales professionals dramatically grow their sales.
His systems cover a broad base from sales conversion to marketing on a budget. The strategies that he shares have enabled him to net over 1 million dollars a year since the age of 24.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_T_Bates
Let me share with you a very simple idea: A website is NOT an expense.
Your presence online should generate income for you. Each month when you invest "X dollars" you should get 3X, 4X, or even 10X dollars back! For some businesses their website should bring in more foot traffic. For other types of businesses their website should bring in leads. Other types of businesses should make sales monthly just from their website, when they follow the right rules.
Instead of throwing money at your site monthly, make it work for you. While there are dozens of challenges that usually can be fixed, I invite you to consider the following three to fix immediately with your website. When you can fix these three items you will be on your way to having a business website that generates leads and sales monthly.
1. How Easy is it for Someone to Contact You? - For a local business this often comes down to displaying the phone number and address in a prominent place. When you want more people coming by your store, make it easy for them to reach out and come directly to you. Have a section with maps, cross streets, and even photos of your store so it's easy for them to recognize. Make sure your phone number is displayed in the header on each page so they are only a click away from calling you.
2. Who Is the Website About? - Tragically most websites are too much about the business. They feature stories about the owner, products, and services, etc. While this information is necessary it shouldn't be the biggest portion of any site. Consider adding content that focuses on your customer, there challenges, and then give them an opportunity to solve those challenges with what you are offering.
3. What is Your Traffic Plan? - You can build a great site, but how are people going to find out about it? Instead of counting on one source of traffic consider having a balanced attack. Identify key areas of traffic from SEO, pay per click, blogging, social media, and more. Put 1-2 traffic sources into action immediately. Optimally you will have a minimum of 4 traffic sources running constantly.
When you make it easy for people to contact you, focus your website on your customer, and have a balanced traffic plan you will be on your way to generating more business from your online presence.
Get the shortcut to website success with a FREE, 15 minute 1 on 1 call with me. I will be happy to look at your website and share what you can put into action today. - www.15MinuteBusinessHelp.com
Todd Bates is a national Marketing and Business coach. Through his programs, such as Todd Bates Systems, he shares innovative systems to help businesses owners and sales professionals dramatically grow their sales.
His systems cover a broad base from sales conversion to marketing on a budget. The strategies that he shares have enabled him to net over 1 million dollars a year since the age of 24.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_T_Bates
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
How Many Hours A Day Are You Doing Money Making Marketing Activities?
The more hours a day you are doing true money making activities, the more money you will make. Sounds obvious right? Most business owners, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs will acknowledge this sounds correct; however, in daily practice they often put less than a single hour of money making into action.
For example, consider the following "usual" morning activities:
* Checking voicemail
* Checking email
These are perhaps the worst two daily activities to start with. Checking email and voicemail are not marketing activities that will bring you new business. For those people reading this going "I get business from my email", I would also say you get 95% junk and problems in your email as well. Instead of diving into fighting fires from your voicemail or sifting through the endless piles of junk in your email, put marketing to work for you daily.
Before I share with you key business marketing activities, here is the correlation of hours spent on marketing to yearly income.
* 1 hour = $100,000
* 2 hours = $250,000
* 3 hours = $750,000+
It really is that simple. Now, this is not 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, this is focused work. Focused work on your marketing and conversion strategies. No time for talking at the coffee pot, no time for checking the faxes that came in, just time dedicated to generating more business. Oh, and you can't put your 3 hours in, in the afternoon. The money making marketing activities need to be done before lunch.
Here are the activities you can put into action to get to your million dollar business.
1. Phone Calls - Outbound phone calls to new prospects. Whether your prospects are dropped right in a database or are printed out on paper it doesn't make a difference. When you can get on the phone with potential customers for three hours a day you will be on the way to your million dollar business. Ask them interest piquing questions, pound on their pain, and give them choices on how they can do business with you.
2. Online Marketing - No goofing around here by checking endless reports. You should check the performance of your sites daily in the afternoon. In the morning you can focus on writing new pages for your site, writing new ads for Google/Bing, creating new ads for Facebook, etc. Keeping your online marketing fresh will keep leads pouring in.
These are just two business marketing activities that you can do daily to have a powerful net income. The more you keep the focus and the more action you take before noon, the greater your income.
Discover how to have 4 powerful business marketing systems working for you daily by getting a free 1 on1 business analysis - www.15MinuteBusinessHelp.com
Todd Bates is a national Marketing and Business coach. Through his programs, such as Todd Bates Systems, he shares innovative systems to help businesses owners and sales professionals dramatically grow their sales.
His systems cover a broad base from sales conversion to marketing on a budget. The strategies that he shares have enabled him to net over 1 million dollars a year since the age of 24.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_T_Bates
For example, consider the following "usual" morning activities:
* Checking voicemail
* Checking email
These are perhaps the worst two daily activities to start with. Checking email and voicemail are not marketing activities that will bring you new business. For those people reading this going "I get business from my email", I would also say you get 95% junk and problems in your email as well. Instead of diving into fighting fires from your voicemail or sifting through the endless piles of junk in your email, put marketing to work for you daily.
Before I share with you key business marketing activities, here is the correlation of hours spent on marketing to yearly income.
* 1 hour = $100,000
* 2 hours = $250,000
* 3 hours = $750,000+
It really is that simple. Now, this is not 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, this is focused work. Focused work on your marketing and conversion strategies. No time for talking at the coffee pot, no time for checking the faxes that came in, just time dedicated to generating more business. Oh, and you can't put your 3 hours in, in the afternoon. The money making marketing activities need to be done before lunch.
Here are the activities you can put into action to get to your million dollar business.
1. Phone Calls - Outbound phone calls to new prospects. Whether your prospects are dropped right in a database or are printed out on paper it doesn't make a difference. When you can get on the phone with potential customers for three hours a day you will be on the way to your million dollar business. Ask them interest piquing questions, pound on their pain, and give them choices on how they can do business with you.
2. Online Marketing - No goofing around here by checking endless reports. You should check the performance of your sites daily in the afternoon. In the morning you can focus on writing new pages for your site, writing new ads for Google/Bing, creating new ads for Facebook, etc. Keeping your online marketing fresh will keep leads pouring in.
These are just two business marketing activities that you can do daily to have a powerful net income. The more you keep the focus and the more action you take before noon, the greater your income.
Discover how to have 4 powerful business marketing systems working for you daily by getting a free 1 on1 business analysis - www.15MinuteBusinessHelp.com
Todd Bates is a national Marketing and Business coach. Through his programs, such as Todd Bates Systems, he shares innovative systems to help businesses owners and sales professionals dramatically grow their sales.
His systems cover a broad base from sales conversion to marketing on a budget. The strategies that he shares have enabled him to net over 1 million dollars a year since the age of 24.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_T_Bates
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
HST confusion abounds in Ontario
It seems that the majority of Ontarians still don’t get it.
According to a recent Ipsos Reid survey, 56 per cent of Ontarians still mistakenly believe that the harmonized sales tax (HST) applies to the full purchase price of an existing home.
In truth, the tax only applies to the transaction fees for existing homes, and applies to the full price for new homes.
Since the average price of a resale home in Ontario is roughly $330,000, the majority of the survey’s respondents thought they would have to pay an additional $40,000 to purchase the home, according to the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).
The association says the province’s Realtors are become increasingly concerned that this persistent confusion is in fact dampening the housing market.
"We see it on the front lines every day. Clearly, Ontarians still don't know what the HST covers and what is exempt," OREA President Dorothy Mason said in a news release. "This is not helping the housing market, and it's not helping the Ontario economy. This confusion means that many buyers think the cost of a resale home is tens of thousands of dollars higher than it actually is.
"We're doing our part to inform our clients, but we shouldn't have to do it alone. We're calling on the Ontario government to launch an immediate public awareness campaign to educate taxpayers and end the HST confusion," said Mason.
Ipsos Reid surveyed 830 Ontarians, between October 4th and 11 th, on behalf of OREA. The estimated margin of error is +/-3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
According to a recent Ipsos Reid survey, 56 per cent of Ontarians still mistakenly believe that the harmonized sales tax (HST) applies to the full purchase price of an existing home.
In truth, the tax only applies to the transaction fees for existing homes, and applies to the full price for new homes.
Since the average price of a resale home in Ontario is roughly $330,000, the majority of the survey’s respondents thought they would have to pay an additional $40,000 to purchase the home, according to the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).
The association says the province’s Realtors are become increasingly concerned that this persistent confusion is in fact dampening the housing market.
"We see it on the front lines every day. Clearly, Ontarians still don't know what the HST covers and what is exempt," OREA President Dorothy Mason said in a news release. "This is not helping the housing market, and it's not helping the Ontario economy. This confusion means that many buyers think the cost of a resale home is tens of thousands of dollars higher than it actually is.
"We're doing our part to inform our clients, but we shouldn't have to do it alone. We're calling on the Ontario government to launch an immediate public awareness campaign to educate taxpayers and end the HST confusion," said Mason.
Ipsos Reid surveyed 830 Ontarians, between October 4th and 11 th, on behalf of OREA. The estimated margin of error is +/-3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Real Objective in Lead Follow-Up
We are in an inventory business; when you are out of inventory, you are out of future business. Find out the real objective in following up with your leads to create inventory. Too often, we are trying to determine the interest of the prospect. Don't be fooled into thinking their interest has value to you as a Salesperson. The prospect's level of interest is meaningless. What matters is: Do they need it; do they want it; can they afford to take action. It's their desire, need, ability, and authority to take action. Interest is something that many Buyers and Sellers use to evade committing to you or anyone else.
1. Determine the value of the lead
It boils down to how much, how soon, and how much effort. How much effort contains two parts. How much to get them to the committed client level and how much to serve them to a high level of satisfaction, so they buy?
2. Determine if they need, want, and can afford your service
Do they have a demonstrated need? Is there a gap between what they want and where they are currently in their home? Are they seeking assistance? Is there a desire to change, or is it a want or wish? Do they have the ability to proceed? This usually relates to financial equity, down payment, credit score, employment. Do they want someone's help?
Too often, we are trying to determine the interest of the prospect. Don't be fooled into thinking their interest has value to you as a Salesperson. The prospect's level of interest is meaningless. What matters is: Do they need it; do they want it; can they afford to take action. It's their desire, need, ability, and authority to take action. Interest is something that many Buyers and Sellers use to evade committing to you or anyone else.
I have an interest in securing more real estate. I am always looking to buy more. My interest is securing property for 70% or less of fair market value. How valuable is my interest to you now? I would be happy if you called me to tell me about properties that you have that meet that criteria. The truth is if you find that type of opportunity, you'd better be buying it yourself, not selling it to me.
When someone says they are interested, it's a short way to say, "If you could sell my home for $50,000 above market value and find me a home to buy for $50,000 below market value, I would let you represent me on those transactions." Oh gee, how magnanimous of you!
3. Categorize the lead
This is where a lot of Agents stumble. They don't have a clean categorization process. They don't have the ability to see the inventory of leads they currently have in their possession. Most Agents categorize leads based on time frame. I think that is the right approach, but it is only half the equation. We might create categories like "A" leads who will do something in thirty days or less and "B" leads who will take action in thirty to ninety days. We could create four to five categories like these.
The real question, beyond time frame, has not been factored into this typical type of system. The real question is a question of commitment. How committed is this person to working with you? How committed are they that they will give you at least an interview to represent their interests? To me, committed means that I would bet big money on these people. I would bet my car, my house, all of my possessions that I was going to get an interview or that they were going to list or buy with me. Someone in that category has great value to me and my business. Not everyone is in that category.
The next category would be those who will probably do business with me. A probability is something that happens 51% or more of the time. I know that is a wide gap between 51% and the committed level of 98%. People make a lot of money on probabilities because the odds are in their favor. Casinos play the probability game, and so should you.
The last category is a possibility. That is something that is a 50/50 chance or less. It could be only a 1% chance; that is still a possibility, but you'd better have a Plan B if you are going to operate with such low odds.
Your follow-up plans need to be designed on your ability to accurately assess the conversion probability of the prospect. If you can combine the typical Agent's time frame categorization that is letter based (A, B, C, D, etc.) with the commitment scale (1 - committed to you, 2 - probably with you, 3 - possibly with you), you will have a process that will enable you to maximize the return on your time, energy, and effort to increase your conversion and income. By tracking these different categories of leads, you will achieve a clear picture of the health of your business. To have a healthy business, we must have a reasonable level of leads in each category. We need to cultivate leads upward from long-term leads to short-term. We need to move leads up from the possibility level to the probability level quickly. If we can't move them at least to the probability level quickly, the odds are too long; refer them to another Agent. Let them invest their time and let them accept the high burnout rate on these leads.
We are in an inventory business; when you are out of inventory, you are out of future business.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Success Trio, Market Dominance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
1. Determine the value of the lead
It boils down to how much, how soon, and how much effort. How much effort contains two parts. How much to get them to the committed client level and how much to serve them to a high level of satisfaction, so they buy?
2. Determine if they need, want, and can afford your service
Do they have a demonstrated need? Is there a gap between what they want and where they are currently in their home? Are they seeking assistance? Is there a desire to change, or is it a want or wish? Do they have the ability to proceed? This usually relates to financial equity, down payment, credit score, employment. Do they want someone's help?
Too often, we are trying to determine the interest of the prospect. Don't be fooled into thinking their interest has value to you as a Salesperson. The prospect's level of interest is meaningless. What matters is: Do they need it; do they want it; can they afford to take action. It's their desire, need, ability, and authority to take action. Interest is something that many Buyers and Sellers use to evade committing to you or anyone else.
I have an interest in securing more real estate. I am always looking to buy more. My interest is securing property for 70% or less of fair market value. How valuable is my interest to you now? I would be happy if you called me to tell me about properties that you have that meet that criteria. The truth is if you find that type of opportunity, you'd better be buying it yourself, not selling it to me.
When someone says they are interested, it's a short way to say, "If you could sell my home for $50,000 above market value and find me a home to buy for $50,000 below market value, I would let you represent me on those transactions." Oh gee, how magnanimous of you!
3. Categorize the lead
This is where a lot of Agents stumble. They don't have a clean categorization process. They don't have the ability to see the inventory of leads they currently have in their possession. Most Agents categorize leads based on time frame. I think that is the right approach, but it is only half the equation. We might create categories like "A" leads who will do something in thirty days or less and "B" leads who will take action in thirty to ninety days. We could create four to five categories like these.
The real question, beyond time frame, has not been factored into this typical type of system. The real question is a question of commitment. How committed is this person to working with you? How committed are they that they will give you at least an interview to represent their interests? To me, committed means that I would bet big money on these people. I would bet my car, my house, all of my possessions that I was going to get an interview or that they were going to list or buy with me. Someone in that category has great value to me and my business. Not everyone is in that category.
The next category would be those who will probably do business with me. A probability is something that happens 51% or more of the time. I know that is a wide gap between 51% and the committed level of 98%. People make a lot of money on probabilities because the odds are in their favor. Casinos play the probability game, and so should you.
The last category is a possibility. That is something that is a 50/50 chance or less. It could be only a 1% chance; that is still a possibility, but you'd better have a Plan B if you are going to operate with such low odds.
Your follow-up plans need to be designed on your ability to accurately assess the conversion probability of the prospect. If you can combine the typical Agent's time frame categorization that is letter based (A, B, C, D, etc.) with the commitment scale (1 - committed to you, 2 - probably with you, 3 - possibly with you), you will have a process that will enable you to maximize the return on your time, energy, and effort to increase your conversion and income. By tracking these different categories of leads, you will achieve a clear picture of the health of your business. To have a healthy business, we must have a reasonable level of leads in each category. We need to cultivate leads upward from long-term leads to short-term. We need to move leads up from the possibility level to the probability level quickly. If we can't move them at least to the probability level quickly, the odds are too long; refer them to another Agent. Let them invest their time and let them accept the high burnout rate on these leads.
We are in an inventory business; when you are out of inventory, you are out of future business.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Success Trio, Market Dominance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Untitled
FARMING STRATEGIES (1)
Do you have a farming strategy?
The number one answer in the real estate industry today is, “No, farming and mail-outs don’t work!” It’s interesting to note that less than 5% of all agents have a consistent farming program.
• What is a farming program?
• How do I choose my area of focus?
• What do I send to homeowners?
• How often do I mail to them?
September Housing Starts
OTTAWA, October 8, 2010 — The seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of housing starts was 186,400 units in September, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This is down from 189,300 units in August.
“Housing starts moved lower in September due to a decrease in urban single starts in Atlantic Canada and Ontario,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre. “Multiple starts were unchanged.”
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts decreased by 3.3 per cent to 163,200 units in September. Urban multiple starts were unchanged in September at 99,600 units, while single urban starts moved lower by 8.1 per cent to 63,600 units.
September’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts decreased by 23.7 per cent in Atlantic Canada and by 10.9 per cent in Ontario. Urban starts increased by 6.4 per cent in British Columbia, by 3.9 per cent in Quebec and by 0.6 per cent in the Prairie Region.
Rural starts2 were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 23,200 units in September.
As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of high quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.
“Housing starts moved lower in September due to a decrease in urban single starts in Atlantic Canada and Ontario,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre. “Multiple starts were unchanged.”
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts decreased by 3.3 per cent to 163,200 units in September. Urban multiple starts were unchanged in September at 99,600 units, while single urban starts moved lower by 8.1 per cent to 63,600 units.
September’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts decreased by 23.7 per cent in Atlantic Canada and by 10.9 per cent in Ontario. Urban starts increased by 6.4 per cent in British Columbia, by 3.9 per cent in Quebec and by 0.6 per cent in the Prairie Region.
Rural starts2 were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 23,200 units in September.
As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of high quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Success of a Listing Presentation
The success of a listing presentation is determined by what you do before you even walk through the door. Most agents enter the meeting flying blind, ill prepared, and oblivious to the needs, wants, desires, and expectations of the prospect.
Make this pledge to yourself right now: Before you enter another listing presentation, qualify your prospects in advance.
Ask questions that allow you to obtain important information about the customer's desires, timeframe, and expectations. Without this information, you can't possibly serve the client well.
Many salespeople, especially in real estate sales, think they'll offend the customer if they ask questions. Here's an analogy that should put your mind at ease. Imagine you're sick and schedule a doctor's appointment. You arrive, the doctor enters the examining room, and you look up and say, "Guess what sickness I have today?" From across the room, the doctor is supposed to assess your symptoms, diagnose your ailment, and prescribe a cure without checking your ears or throat, listening to your lungs and heart, and, most importantly, asking you questions about what is wrong and how you feel. It sounds ridiculous; yet it's what Realtors do when they try to serve clients without first asking questions to qualify their wants, needs, and expectations.
Without good client information, a listing presentation becomes an explanation of your services and service delivery system. But what if the prospect sitting in front of you wants to be served differently? Then what?
The customer ultimately determines whether your service is good or poor. Since the customer rules on the quality of service received, the only way to start the service process is to learn what customers want, rather than trying to guess their desires and expectation.
You need to qualify prospects for two main reasons:
• Qualify prospects to safeguard your time. By qualifying prospects, you assess their motivation, desire, need to take action, ability to act, and authority to make buying or selling decisions. You also assess the odds that the prospect will result in income-producing activity. The qualifying process increases your probability of sales success by determining which prospects are likely to result in commission revenue and which are likely to consume hours without results.
• Qualify prospects to determine their service expectations. What kind of service do they expect? What buying or selling approach do they follow? Is there a match between your philosophy and theirs? If not, can you convince them through persuasion that your approach is better than their preconceived notion of what and how you should represent their interests? If not, are you willing to turn down the business? The only way to address these issues is to learn what your prospects are thinking before you make your presentation.
Before you enter a listing presentation, diagnose the situation you're entering and the opportunity it presents by learning the prospect's answers to qualifying questions. I recommend you acquire this base of knowledge over the phone when you're scheduling the presentation appointment. If you wait until you are face-to-face with the prospect, it's too late. By then you want to be offering a tailored presentation, not acquiring baseline information.
Focus your qualifying questions around the following four topics:
1. Motivation and Timeframe: Ask questions that allow you to learn how badly the prospect wants to buy or sell, and in what timeframe. Sample questions include:
• Where are you hoping to move?
• How soon do you need to be there?
• Tell me about your perfect timeframe. When do you want this move to happen?
• Is there anything that would cause you not to make this move?
2. Experience: A prospect's view of the real estate profession is filtered through personal previous experience and experiences related by friends and family members. The following questions help you learn your prospect's real estate background and preconceptions:
• How many properties have you sold in the past?
• When was your last sales experience?
• What was your experience with that sale?
• How did you select the agent you worked with?
• What did you like best and least about what that agent did?
3. Pricing: The following questions will help you to gauge the prospect's motivation. They'll also help you determine whether the prospect is realistic about current real estate values.
Let me share an old real estate sales truth: The higher the list price, the lower the motivation; the lower the list price, the higher the motivation.
Listen carefully to the answers to the following two questions. They'll reveal whether your prospect is ready to sell or just fishing for a price:
• How much do you want to list your home for tonight?
• If a buyer came in today, what would you consider to be an acceptable offer for your home?
4. Service expectation: Learning your prospect's service expectation is absolutely essential to a good working relationship, but I'll caution you that when you begin to ask the service-related questions, you will likely hear silence on the phone. Likely, your prospect has never met a service provider concerned enough to ask what the customer wants, values, and expects. As a result, you might have to probe and ask follow-up questions to help the prospect open up and enter a dialog.
• What do you expect from the real estate agent you choose to work with?
• What are the top three things you are looking for from an agent?
• What would it take for you to be confident that my service will meet your requirements?
By qualifying your prospects before the appointment, you will be prepared for your prospects needs, wants, desires, and expectations. Then you will be able to find clients that fit your business, and you will be able to serve them well.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Listing Presentation Manual, Real Estate Training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
Make this pledge to yourself right now: Before you enter another listing presentation, qualify your prospects in advance.
Ask questions that allow you to obtain important information about the customer's desires, timeframe, and expectations. Without this information, you can't possibly serve the client well.
Many salespeople, especially in real estate sales, think they'll offend the customer if they ask questions. Here's an analogy that should put your mind at ease. Imagine you're sick and schedule a doctor's appointment. You arrive, the doctor enters the examining room, and you look up and say, "Guess what sickness I have today?" From across the room, the doctor is supposed to assess your symptoms, diagnose your ailment, and prescribe a cure without checking your ears or throat, listening to your lungs and heart, and, most importantly, asking you questions about what is wrong and how you feel. It sounds ridiculous; yet it's what Realtors do when they try to serve clients without first asking questions to qualify their wants, needs, and expectations.
Without good client information, a listing presentation becomes an explanation of your services and service delivery system. But what if the prospect sitting in front of you wants to be served differently? Then what?
The customer ultimately determines whether your service is good or poor. Since the customer rules on the quality of service received, the only way to start the service process is to learn what customers want, rather than trying to guess their desires and expectation.
You need to qualify prospects for two main reasons:
• Qualify prospects to safeguard your time. By qualifying prospects, you assess their motivation, desire, need to take action, ability to act, and authority to make buying or selling decisions. You also assess the odds that the prospect will result in income-producing activity. The qualifying process increases your probability of sales success by determining which prospects are likely to result in commission revenue and which are likely to consume hours without results.
• Qualify prospects to determine their service expectations. What kind of service do they expect? What buying or selling approach do they follow? Is there a match between your philosophy and theirs? If not, can you convince them through persuasion that your approach is better than their preconceived notion of what and how you should represent their interests? If not, are you willing to turn down the business? The only way to address these issues is to learn what your prospects are thinking before you make your presentation.
Before you enter a listing presentation, diagnose the situation you're entering and the opportunity it presents by learning the prospect's answers to qualifying questions. I recommend you acquire this base of knowledge over the phone when you're scheduling the presentation appointment. If you wait until you are face-to-face with the prospect, it's too late. By then you want to be offering a tailored presentation, not acquiring baseline information.
Focus your qualifying questions around the following four topics:
1. Motivation and Timeframe: Ask questions that allow you to learn how badly the prospect wants to buy or sell, and in what timeframe. Sample questions include:
• Where are you hoping to move?
• How soon do you need to be there?
• Tell me about your perfect timeframe. When do you want this move to happen?
• Is there anything that would cause you not to make this move?
2. Experience: A prospect's view of the real estate profession is filtered through personal previous experience and experiences related by friends and family members. The following questions help you learn your prospect's real estate background and preconceptions:
• How many properties have you sold in the past?
• When was your last sales experience?
• What was your experience with that sale?
• How did you select the agent you worked with?
• What did you like best and least about what that agent did?
3. Pricing: The following questions will help you to gauge the prospect's motivation. They'll also help you determine whether the prospect is realistic about current real estate values.
Let me share an old real estate sales truth: The higher the list price, the lower the motivation; the lower the list price, the higher the motivation.
Listen carefully to the answers to the following two questions. They'll reveal whether your prospect is ready to sell or just fishing for a price:
• How much do you want to list your home for tonight?
• If a buyer came in today, what would you consider to be an acceptable offer for your home?
4. Service expectation: Learning your prospect's service expectation is absolutely essential to a good working relationship, but I'll caution you that when you begin to ask the service-related questions, you will likely hear silence on the phone. Likely, your prospect has never met a service provider concerned enough to ask what the customer wants, values, and expects. As a result, you might have to probe and ask follow-up questions to help the prospect open up and enter a dialog.
• What do you expect from the real estate agent you choose to work with?
• What are the top three things you are looking for from an agent?
• What would it take for you to be confident that my service will meet your requirements?
By qualifying your prospects before the appointment, you will be prepared for your prospects needs, wants, desires, and expectations. Then you will be able to find clients that fit your business, and you will be able to serve them well.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Listing Presentation Manual, Real Estate Training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Four Characteristics of a Champion Agent's Presentation
Numerous studies have shown that your tonality and body language account for over 90% of your presentation's effectiveness. The words you select account for less than 10% of your effectiveness. If you're focusing on finding the right words, as most salespeople are, you are not focusing on the areas of your presentation that are most important. If you don't know what to say, all you can do is focus on the words to say. If you know what to say, you can now begin to focus on the tonality and body language.
There are four parts to a great presentation:
Conviction
Webster defines conviction as a fixed or firm belief. I'd add that there is nothing more compelling than conviction.
Your unshakable belief that you are the right person for the job and can accomplish the task will set you apart from the competition. Your conviction in the value of their home will earn their trust, even if your price is lower than other Agents'. Your bedrock belief about where the marketplace is headed, backed by statistics that prove your belief and conviction, sells you and shows them why they should do business with you. People are attracted to people who have conviction. They trust, admire, and respect people with conviction, even when they don't agree with them.
Before you go on a listing presentation, decide the core truths that you are going to express to them with absolute conviction. You don't want to have ten things or core truths. You need half a dozen or less. If your core truths are in line with the Seller's thinking, all the better. If their views are opposite yours, you know that your persuasion and resolve need to increase to move them to your point of view. Our goal is to have strong enough conviction to get them to sign the contract.
Enthusiasm
There is an old saying... enthusiasm sells. Sellers want to work with Agents who are enthusiastic about their home. If you don't like (or express enthusiasm about) their property, you reduce your ability to secure the listing. If the market is changing or tough, you have to be honest; you can't just hide market realities. Too many Agents are only enthusiastic about getting the listing. They aren't enthusiastic enough to get the home priced right in order to get it sold. Any Agent can show enthusiasm and demonstrate that they are excited about the opportunity to list the home and represent the Seller's interests. Your listing presentation will be more interesting if you are enthusiastic about the Sellers, the home, your career, and the real estate business.
Confidence
I know that my edge as a new Agent was my confidence. I am not completely sure where that confidence came from, besides athletics. I was new to the game of real estate, but I was confident I was the best Agent for the Seller. I really believe that my background as a professional athlete made me immune to the lack of confidence syndrome most new Agents posses.
I believe we all need to tap into victories we have had in the past. Those are so valuable. As you increase your confidence in preparation, it allows you to prepare with more passion because of your expectation of winning.
If you lack confidence, determine what you need to do to upgrade your belief in yourself. What do you need to upgrade in you ability to achieve long-term success in real estate sales? What knowledge should you acquire that will raise your confidence? What activities would help increase your confidence? What skills do you need to master to dramatically increase your confidence? What one thing, if you did it with excellence, would change your self-confidence?
The great success motivator Napoleon Hill says, "What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." What Napoleon was saying was that anything the mind can grab hold of and accept as truth will come to be. This is true of both positive and negative thoughts.
Assertiveness
One of the single biggest mistakes of non-Champion performers is not wanting to be seen as too pushy or aggressive in how they sell. Most of us wimp out before the close. We are not willing to assertively ask for the business. One way to overcome that is to tell the client up front that you are going to ask for their business. That way, they expect you to do it. They are not surprised when you ask them to sign the contract. It also sets you up, in advance, for when you get to the end of your presentation. You'd better ask for the order because you said you would.
The definition of a great salesperson is "a person who convinces someone to do something that is beneficial to them or convinces them to do it faster.
Going for the close or asking for the order is not pushy. If you don't have enough confidence in your service and skill and value, you should get out of the business. Your confidence will sell. As a Real Estate Agent, your job is to persuade prospects that you have the best service and the best value. The best value is not price, but by factoring in all the benefits of your service, your present the best value. Our job is to link our benefits with their service expectations. Then, ask them to act now, so you can help them.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Listing Presentation, Market Dominance
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
It's Your Career - I'm Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage.
Independently Owned & Operated
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friends, followers and Connections are the way of the future.
There are four parts to a great presentation:
Conviction
Webster defines conviction as a fixed or firm belief. I'd add that there is nothing more compelling than conviction.
Your unshakable belief that you are the right person for the job and can accomplish the task will set you apart from the competition. Your conviction in the value of their home will earn their trust, even if your price is lower than other Agents'. Your bedrock belief about where the marketplace is headed, backed by statistics that prove your belief and conviction, sells you and shows them why they should do business with you. People are attracted to people who have conviction. They trust, admire, and respect people with conviction, even when they don't agree with them.
Before you go on a listing presentation, decide the core truths that you are going to express to them with absolute conviction. You don't want to have ten things or core truths. You need half a dozen or less. If your core truths are in line with the Seller's thinking, all the better. If their views are opposite yours, you know that your persuasion and resolve need to increase to move them to your point of view. Our goal is to have strong enough conviction to get them to sign the contract.
Enthusiasm
There is an old saying... enthusiasm sells. Sellers want to work with Agents who are enthusiastic about their home. If you don't like (or express enthusiasm about) their property, you reduce your ability to secure the listing. If the market is changing or tough, you have to be honest; you can't just hide market realities. Too many Agents are only enthusiastic about getting the listing. They aren't enthusiastic enough to get the home priced right in order to get it sold. Any Agent can show enthusiasm and demonstrate that they are excited about the opportunity to list the home and represent the Seller's interests. Your listing presentation will be more interesting if you are enthusiastic about the Sellers, the home, your career, and the real estate business.
Confidence
I know that my edge as a new Agent was my confidence. I am not completely sure where that confidence came from, besides athletics. I was new to the game of real estate, but I was confident I was the best Agent for the Seller. I really believe that my background as a professional athlete made me immune to the lack of confidence syndrome most new Agents posses.
I believe we all need to tap into victories we have had in the past. Those are so valuable. As you increase your confidence in preparation, it allows you to prepare with more passion because of your expectation of winning.
If you lack confidence, determine what you need to do to upgrade your belief in yourself. What do you need to upgrade in you ability to achieve long-term success in real estate sales? What knowledge should you acquire that will raise your confidence? What activities would help increase your confidence? What skills do you need to master to dramatically increase your confidence? What one thing, if you did it with excellence, would change your self-confidence?
The great success motivator Napoleon Hill says, "What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." What Napoleon was saying was that anything the mind can grab hold of and accept as truth will come to be. This is true of both positive and negative thoughts.
Assertiveness
One of the single biggest mistakes of non-Champion performers is not wanting to be seen as too pushy or aggressive in how they sell. Most of us wimp out before the close. We are not willing to assertively ask for the business. One way to overcome that is to tell the client up front that you are going to ask for their business. That way, they expect you to do it. They are not surprised when you ask them to sign the contract. It also sets you up, in advance, for when you get to the end of your presentation. You'd better ask for the order because you said you would.
The definition of a great salesperson is "a person who convinces someone to do something that is beneficial to them or convinces them to do it faster.
Going for the close or asking for the order is not pushy. If you don't have enough confidence in your service and skill and value, you should get out of the business. Your confidence will sell. As a Real Estate Agent, your job is to persuade prospects that you have the best service and the best value. The best value is not price, but by factoring in all the benefits of your service, your present the best value. Our job is to link our benefits with their service expectations. Then, ask them to act now, so you can help them.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Listing Presentation, Market Dominance
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
It's Your Career - I'm Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage.
Independently Owned & Operated
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friends, followers and Connections are the way of the future.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Success of a Listing Presentation
The success of a listing presentation is determined by what you do before you even walk through the door. Most agents enter the meeting flying blind, ill prepared, and oblivious to the needs, wants, desires, and expectations of the prospect.
Make this pledge to yourself right now: Before you enter another listing presentation, qualify your prospects in advance.
Ask questions that allow you to obtain important information about the customer's desires, timeframe, and expectations. Without this information, you can't possibly serve the client well.
Many salespeople, especially in real estate sales, think they'll offend the customer if they ask questions. Here's an analogy that should put your mind at ease. Imagine you're sick and schedule a doctor's appointment. You arrive, the doctor enters the examining room, and you look up and say, "Guess what sickness I have today?" From across the room, the doctor is supposed to assess your symptoms, diagnose your ailment, and prescribe a cure without checking your ears or throat, listening to your lungs and heart, and, most importantly, asking you questions about what is wrong and how you feel. It sounds ridiculous; yet it's what Realtors do when they try to serve clients without first asking questions to qualify their wants, needs, and expectations.
Without good client information, a listing presentation becomes an explanation of your services and service delivery system. But what if the prospect sitting in front of you wants to be served differently? Then what?
The customer ultimately determines whether your service is good or poor. Since the customer rules on the quality of service received, the only way to start the service process is to learn what customers want, rather than trying to guess their desires and expectation.
You need to qualify prospects for two main reasons:
• Qualify prospects to safeguard your time. By qualifying prospects, you assess their motivation, desire, need to take action, ability to act, and authority to make buying or selling decisions. You also assess the odds that the prospect will result in income-producing activity. The qualifying process increases your probability of sales success by determining which prospects are likely to result in commission revenue and which are likely to consume hours without results.
• Qualify prospects to determine their service expectations. What kind of service do they expect? What buying or selling approach do they follow? Is there a match between your philosophy and theirs? If not, can you convince them through persuasion that your approach is better than their preconceived notion of what and how you should represent their interests? If not, are you willing to turn down the business? The only way to address these issues is to learn what your prospects are thinking before you make your presentation.
Before you enter a listing presentation, diagnose the situation you're entering and the opportunity it presents by learning the prospect's answers to qualifying questions. I recommend you acquire this base of knowledge over the phone when you're scheduling the presentation appointment. If you wait until you are face-to-face with the prospect, it's too late. By then you want to be offering a tailored presentation, not acquiring baseline information.
Focus your qualifying questions around the following four topics:
1. Motivation and Timeframe: Ask questions that allow you to learn how badly the prospect wants to buy or sell, and in what timeframe. Sample questions include:
• Where are you hoping to move?
• How soon do you need to be there?
• Tell me about your perfect timeframe. When do you want this move to happen?
• Is there anything that would cause you not to make this move?
2. Experience: A prospect's view of the real estate profession is filtered through personal previous experience and experiences related by friends and family members. The following questions help you learn your prospect's real estate background and preconceptions:
• How many properties have you sold in the past?
• When was your last sales experience?
• What was your experience with that sale?
• How did you select the agent you worked with?
• What did you like best and least about what that agent did?
3. Pricing: The following questions will help you to gauge the prospect's motivation. They'll also help you determine whether the prospect is realistic about current real estate values.
Let me share an old real estate sales truth: The higher the list price, the lower the motivation; the lower the list price, the higher the motivation.
Listen carefully to the answers to the following two questions. They'll reveal whether your prospect is ready to sell or just fishing for a price:
• How much do you want to list your home for tonight?
• If a buyer came in today, what would you consider to be an acceptable offer for your home?
4. Service expectation: Learning your prospect's service expectation is absolutely essential to a good working relationship, but I'll caution you that when you begin to ask the service-related questions, you will likely hear silence on the phone. Likely, your prospect has never met a service provider concerned enough to ask what the customer wants, values, and expects. As a result, you might have to probe and ask follow-up questions to help the prospect open up and enter a dialog.
• What do you expect from the real estate agent you choose to work with?
• What are the top three things you are looking for from an agent?
• What would it take for you to be confident that my service will meet your requirements?
By qualifying your prospects before the appointment, you will be prepared for your prospects needs, wants, desires, and expectations. Then you will be able to find clients that fit your business, and you will be able to serve them well.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Listing Presentation Manual, Real Estate Training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
It's Your Career - I'm Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage.
Independently Owned & Operated
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friends, followers and Connections are the way of the future.
Make this pledge to yourself right now: Before you enter another listing presentation, qualify your prospects in advance.
Ask questions that allow you to obtain important information about the customer's desires, timeframe, and expectations. Without this information, you can't possibly serve the client well.
Many salespeople, especially in real estate sales, think they'll offend the customer if they ask questions. Here's an analogy that should put your mind at ease. Imagine you're sick and schedule a doctor's appointment. You arrive, the doctor enters the examining room, and you look up and say, "Guess what sickness I have today?" From across the room, the doctor is supposed to assess your symptoms, diagnose your ailment, and prescribe a cure without checking your ears or throat, listening to your lungs and heart, and, most importantly, asking you questions about what is wrong and how you feel. It sounds ridiculous; yet it's what Realtors do when they try to serve clients without first asking questions to qualify their wants, needs, and expectations.
Without good client information, a listing presentation becomes an explanation of your services and service delivery system. But what if the prospect sitting in front of you wants to be served differently? Then what?
The customer ultimately determines whether your service is good or poor. Since the customer rules on the quality of service received, the only way to start the service process is to learn what customers want, rather than trying to guess their desires and expectation.
You need to qualify prospects for two main reasons:
• Qualify prospects to safeguard your time. By qualifying prospects, you assess their motivation, desire, need to take action, ability to act, and authority to make buying or selling decisions. You also assess the odds that the prospect will result in income-producing activity. The qualifying process increases your probability of sales success by determining which prospects are likely to result in commission revenue and which are likely to consume hours without results.
• Qualify prospects to determine their service expectations. What kind of service do they expect? What buying or selling approach do they follow? Is there a match between your philosophy and theirs? If not, can you convince them through persuasion that your approach is better than their preconceived notion of what and how you should represent their interests? If not, are you willing to turn down the business? The only way to address these issues is to learn what your prospects are thinking before you make your presentation.
Before you enter a listing presentation, diagnose the situation you're entering and the opportunity it presents by learning the prospect's answers to qualifying questions. I recommend you acquire this base of knowledge over the phone when you're scheduling the presentation appointment. If you wait until you are face-to-face with the prospect, it's too late. By then you want to be offering a tailored presentation, not acquiring baseline information.
Focus your qualifying questions around the following four topics:
1. Motivation and Timeframe: Ask questions that allow you to learn how badly the prospect wants to buy or sell, and in what timeframe. Sample questions include:
• Where are you hoping to move?
• How soon do you need to be there?
• Tell me about your perfect timeframe. When do you want this move to happen?
• Is there anything that would cause you not to make this move?
2. Experience: A prospect's view of the real estate profession is filtered through personal previous experience and experiences related by friends and family members. The following questions help you learn your prospect's real estate background and preconceptions:
• How many properties have you sold in the past?
• When was your last sales experience?
• What was your experience with that sale?
• How did you select the agent you worked with?
• What did you like best and least about what that agent did?
3. Pricing: The following questions will help you to gauge the prospect's motivation. They'll also help you determine whether the prospect is realistic about current real estate values.
Let me share an old real estate sales truth: The higher the list price, the lower the motivation; the lower the list price, the higher the motivation.
Listen carefully to the answers to the following two questions. They'll reveal whether your prospect is ready to sell or just fishing for a price:
• How much do you want to list your home for tonight?
• If a buyer came in today, what would you consider to be an acceptable offer for your home?
4. Service expectation: Learning your prospect's service expectation is absolutely essential to a good working relationship, but I'll caution you that when you begin to ask the service-related questions, you will likely hear silence on the phone. Likely, your prospect has never met a service provider concerned enough to ask what the customer wants, values, and expects. As a result, you might have to probe and ask follow-up questions to help the prospect open up and enter a dialog.
• What do you expect from the real estate agent you choose to work with?
• What are the top three things you are looking for from an agent?
• What would it take for you to be confident that my service will meet your requirements?
By qualifying your prospects before the appointment, you will be prepared for your prospects needs, wants, desires, and expectations. Then you will be able to find clients that fit your business, and you will be able to serve them well.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Listing Presentation Manual, Real Estate Training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
It's Your Career - I'm Here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage.
Independently Owned & Operated
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friends, followers and Connections are the way of the future.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Is the Luxury Real Estate Rebounding?
Is the Luxury Real Estate Rebounding?
Despite the reported challenges facing the housing market, there’s news about the luxury segment that seems very promising.
On May 28, The Wall Street Journal released the results of a study conducted by MDA DataQuick, a real estate information provider, stating that in certain parts of the country, sales of homes over $2 million in the first quarter of 2010 were reminiscent of numbers seen in 2005, when existing-home sales volume peaked nationwide.
The WSJ singled out Beverly Hills, San Francisco and Menlo Park in California as well as Manhattan and The Hamptons in New York as having particularly strong rebounds. Even Las Vegas and Miami—markets with significant troubles over the past few years—are experiencing a “strong uptick,” the Journal reported.
What’s driving the trend? Price reductions and low interest rates have likely spurred sales. Plus, many luxury buyers in places like Miami are international buyers, and the exchange rate has been very favorable lately.
The WSJ study is not the only positive news for luxury homeowners. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing single family homes valued at $1 million or more in May (the latest month for which statistics are available) rose 77.3% year-over-year. And the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing reports a “strong reduction” in average days-on-market for active listings of luxury homes.
If you’re a seller--particularly in the markets mentioned above--this is good news. If you’re a buyer, it’s even better. Many parts of the U.S. are still strong buyers’ markets due to increasing inventories and decreasing prices.
It's Your Career - I'm Here To Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter | Linkedin | ActiveRain | Facebook |
Despite the reported challenges facing the housing market, there’s news about the luxury segment that seems very promising.
On May 28, The Wall Street Journal released the results of a study conducted by MDA DataQuick, a real estate information provider, stating that in certain parts of the country, sales of homes over $2 million in the first quarter of 2010 were reminiscent of numbers seen in 2005, when existing-home sales volume peaked nationwide.
The WSJ singled out Beverly Hills, San Francisco and Menlo Park in California as well as Manhattan and The Hamptons in New York as having particularly strong rebounds. Even Las Vegas and Miami—markets with significant troubles over the past few years—are experiencing a “strong uptick,” the Journal reported.
What’s driving the trend? Price reductions and low interest rates have likely spurred sales. Plus, many luxury buyers in places like Miami are international buyers, and the exchange rate has been very favorable lately.
The WSJ study is not the only positive news for luxury homeowners. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing single family homes valued at $1 million or more in May (the latest month for which statistics are available) rose 77.3% year-over-year. And the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing reports a “strong reduction” in average days-on-market for active listings of luxury homes.
If you’re a seller--particularly in the markets mentioned above--this is good news. If you’re a buyer, it’s even better. Many parts of the U.S. are still strong buyers’ markets due to increasing inventories and decreasing prices.
It's Your Career - I'm Here To Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter | Linkedin | ActiveRain | Facebook |
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
CMHC's May housing starts
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was reported as 189,100 units in May, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, down from the revised 201,800 units in April.
"Housing starts decreased in both the singles and the multiples segments in May," said Bob Dugan, chief economist at CMHC's market analysis centre. "The decrease in housing starts in May is consistent with our forecast that housing starts for 2010 will reach 182,000 units."
The seasonally adjusted annual rate for urban starts decreased by 9.5 per cent to 165,200 units in May.
Housing starts were previously expected to come in at an annualized rate of 205,000 for May. But the revised number is more in line with Canada's typical household-creation rate of 175,000 a year.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
"Housing starts decreased in both the singles and the multiples segments in May," said Bob Dugan, chief economist at CMHC's market analysis centre. "The decrease in housing starts in May is consistent with our forecast that housing starts for 2010 will reach 182,000 units."
The seasonally adjusted annual rate for urban starts decreased by 9.5 per cent to 165,200 units in May.
Housing starts were previously expected to come in at an annualized rate of 205,000 for May. But the revised number is more in line with Canada's typical household-creation rate of 175,000 a year.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Vacation Security Tips for Your Home
Here are ten important tips for protecting your
home against break-ins while you’re away on
summer holidays.
1. Stop newspaper, magazine and mail subscriptions.
2. Avoid telling people that you’re going to be away.
3. Don’t change the outgoing message on your voice mail to say that you’re on vacation.
4. Close any blinds or curtains that give outsiders a view into your home.
5. Install timers and program your lights to come on at different times during the evenings.
6. Ask a neighbour or friend to stop by the house to check for flyers, door stuffers and other notices that might accumulate on your front steps.
7. Place a piece of wood or broom handle in the sliding track of doors and windows.
8. Install motion sensor lights in the main access areas to your home.
9. Ask someone to cut your lawn, trim hedges and attend to other maintenance tasks if you plan to be away for an extended period.
10. Let a trusted neighbour or friend know where you will be staying, or give them your mobile telephone number. Also give this number to your alarm company, if you have one, to locate you in an emergency.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
home against break-ins while you’re away on
summer holidays.
1. Stop newspaper, magazine and mail subscriptions.
2. Avoid telling people that you’re going to be away.
3. Don’t change the outgoing message on your voice mail to say that you’re on vacation.
4. Close any blinds or curtains that give outsiders a view into your home.
5. Install timers and program your lights to come on at different times during the evenings.
6. Ask a neighbour or friend to stop by the house to check for flyers, door stuffers and other notices that might accumulate on your front steps.
7. Place a piece of wood or broom handle in the sliding track of doors and windows.
8. Install motion sensor lights in the main access areas to your home.
9. Ask someone to cut your lawn, trim hedges and attend to other maintenance tasks if you plan to be away for an extended period.
10. Let a trusted neighbour or friend know where you will be staying, or give them your mobile telephone number. Also give this number to your alarm company, if you have one, to locate you in an emergency.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
Canada's big five banks post profits
Canada's five biggest banks showed steady profit growth in the second quarter of 2010, to a total of $5.01 billion collectively. The latest quarterly roundup fell slightly short of the $5.09 billion the group made during the first quarter of the year when growth was starting to regain momentum on fewer bad loans and some pickup in mortgages.
On Tuesday, Scotiabank earned record profits at nearly $1.1 billion wrapped up the second-quarter earnings season for Canadian banks with a record profit of nearly. The bank said the profit was a quarterly record and up $225 million or 26 per cent from the same time last year.
Revenue was just under $3.9 billion, up nearly $300 million from the second quarter of fiscal 2009.
"Our results reflect strong contributions from personal and commercial banking and wealth management, as well as the excellent performance of our wholesale business," Scotiabank chief executive Rick Waugh said in a statement.
More than half of the quarterly profit -- a record $584 million -- was generated by the Canadian banking operations, which saw growth in residential mortgages, lines of credit and business accounts.
Last week, the Bank of Montreal launched the earnings period with the strongest results, including a quarterly profit of $745-million that was 18 cents per share ahead of analyst estimates.
National Bank also beat predictions with a $261 million profit.
In the latest quarter, Royal Bank posted a $1.3-billion profit .
CIBC posted a $660 million profit that turned around a $51-million loss from a year earlier.
TD Bank more than doubled its second-quarter profit to nearly $1.2 billion.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
On Tuesday, Scotiabank earned record profits at nearly $1.1 billion wrapped up the second-quarter earnings season for Canadian banks with a record profit of nearly. The bank said the profit was a quarterly record and up $225 million or 26 per cent from the same time last year.
Revenue was just under $3.9 billion, up nearly $300 million from the second quarter of fiscal 2009.
"Our results reflect strong contributions from personal and commercial banking and wealth management, as well as the excellent performance of our wholesale business," Scotiabank chief executive Rick Waugh said in a statement.
More than half of the quarterly profit -- a record $584 million -- was generated by the Canadian banking operations, which saw growth in residential mortgages, lines of credit and business accounts.
Last week, the Bank of Montreal launched the earnings period with the strongest results, including a quarterly profit of $745-million that was 18 cents per share ahead of analyst estimates.
National Bank also beat predictions with a $261 million profit.
In the latest quarter, Royal Bank posted a $1.3-billion profit .
CIBC posted a $660 million profit that turned around a $51-million loss from a year earlier.
TD Bank more than doubled its second-quarter profit to nearly $1.2 billion.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Canada's hot resale housing market starting to cool
OTTAWA - May 17th, 2010 - Home sales activity in Canada came up short of the record for the month of April and new listings continued to climb, according to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).
Residential sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards numbered 52,042 units in April 2010. This is less than one per cent short of the record for national sales activity during the month of April, which was set in 2007. Compared to April 2009, national activity was up 20 per cent.
Seasonally adjusted national home sales activity slipped 2.6 per cent from the previous month, and now stands 6.8 per cent below the peak reached in December 2009. More than half of the decline in activity over the first four months of 2010 from in British Columbia, while activity in Ontario and Quebec remains at or near record levels.
"The easing trend in national sales activity masks a rising trend in a number of major markets," said CREA President Georges Pahud. "Real estate is local, so buyers and sellers should engage the services of a REALTOR® for knowledge about housing market trends in their market."
Some 99,901 homes were newly listed for sale on Canadian MLS® Systems in April 2010, surpassing the previous record for the month of April set in 2008 by six-tenths of one per cent. A total of 236,397 residential properties were listed for sale on Boards’ MLS® Systems at the end of April 2010, down 1.9 per cent from levels one year earlier.
As for the national average price of homes sold via Canadian MLS® Systems, that figure rose 12.2 per cent over this time last year. This is a smaller increase compared to those recorded over the past eight months. Bucking the national trend, price gains continue to increase in a number of major markets in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
With last year’s string of downwardly skewed average price values having now mostly passed, and with activity in British Columbia’s lower mainland having settled down, year-over-year national average price comparisons are coming back into line with changes in the national weighted average price.
The weighted average price compensates for changes in provincial sales activity by taking into account provincial proportions of privately owned housing stock. It climbed 11.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in April 2010. Similarly, the residential average price in Canada’s major markets climbed 12.9 per cent year-over-year in April, while the weighted major market average price rose 12.1 per cent.
The actual (not seasonally adjusted) number of months of inventory stood at 4.5 months in April 2010. This is down from levels one year ago (5.6 months) and April 2008 (4.7 months), but up compared to April levels from 2004 through 2007. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, months of inventory stood at 5.3 months in April, the highest level since last May.
"Next month will mark the passage of one year since the national average price rebounded from the recessionary trough to return to the pre-recession peak, so the rise in the national average price is expected to be more subdued next month, " said CREA Chief Economist Gregory Klump. "The national average price could potentially be skewed higher over the next couple of months if buyers of higher priced homes in Ontario and British Columbia move their purchase decision forward to beat the introduction of the HST in July."
PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this news release combines both major market and national MLS® sales information from the previous month. The Canadian Real Estate Association has previously released these separately.
CREA cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighborhoods or account for price differential between geographic areas. Statistical information contained in this report includes all housing types.
MLS® is a co-operative marketing system used only by Canada’s real estate Boards to ensure maximum exposure of properties listed for sale.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada’s largest single-industry trade associations, representing more than 98,000 REALTORS® working through more than 100 real estate Boards and Associations. Further information can be found at www.crea.ca.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Hand signal to thank the military
This is pretty neat.....(30 second video) ...
Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how or it felt awkward? Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which could be used and has started a movement to get the word out. Please everybody take just a moment to watch.... The Gratitude Campaign; .......and then forward it to your friends! THEN START USING THE SIGN.
CLICK HERE
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how or it felt awkward? Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which could be used and has started a movement to get the word out. Please everybody take just a moment to watch.... The Gratitude Campaign; .......and then forward it to your friends! THEN START USING THE SIGN.
CLICK HERE
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
TELL YOUR LOCAL LIBERAL MPP TO LEAVE THE SPECIAL DIET ALONE AND RAISE THE RATES INSTEAD
Day of Action at Local Members of Provincial Parliament Offices:
Thursday, May 20th
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is challenging the decision to eliminate the Special Diet for people on welfare and disability. We are demanding this vital benefit be left alone and that the Government Raise the Rates now.
Coming out of the momentum of April 15th, we are organizing a series of actions to build up resistance to the attack on the Special Diet between now and the closing of Provincial Legislature in June. This will include a major mobilization at the Provincial Government Buildings on June 17. To ensure that the fight is taken into as many communities as possible, we are calling for a day of actions at local Liberal MPPs' offices on Thursday, May 20.
We leave it up to people to decide the kind of event that is right for them. Some may choose to occupy an office. Some may think it better
to rally outside. Others may want to bring a delegation and call for a meeting. Please let us know what ideas you have for ways to drive this issue home at Liberal offices so we can share them with people in other communities.
Whatever tactic you think is possible and works best for you, we are calling on people across this Province to make May 20 a day when the cut to Special Diet is put before the Liberals in a way they can't ignore.
The loss of the Special Diet means people will not have a healthy diet. Some will be made homeless, many will suffer ill health and lives will be shortened. We don't just want to protest this attack but intend to defeat it.
If you want to be part of this fight back and the May 20th Day of Action, e mail us at ocap@tao.ca or call us at (416) 925-6939
Thursday, May 20th
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is challenging the decision to eliminate the Special Diet for people on welfare and disability. We are demanding this vital benefit be left alone and that the Government Raise the Rates now.
Coming out of the momentum of April 15th, we are organizing a series of actions to build up resistance to the attack on the Special Diet between now and the closing of Provincial Legislature in June. This will include a major mobilization at the Provincial Government Buildings on June 17. To ensure that the fight is taken into as many communities as possible, we are calling for a day of actions at local Liberal MPPs' offices on Thursday, May 20.
We leave it up to people to decide the kind of event that is right for them. Some may choose to occupy an office. Some may think it better
to rally outside. Others may want to bring a delegation and call for a meeting. Please let us know what ideas you have for ways to drive this issue home at Liberal offices so we can share them with people in other communities.
Whatever tactic you think is possible and works best for you, we are calling on people across this Province to make May 20 a day when the cut to Special Diet is put before the Liberals in a way they can't ignore.
The loss of the Special Diet means people will not have a healthy diet. Some will be made homeless, many will suffer ill health and lives will be shortened. We don't just want to protest this attack but intend to defeat it.
If you want to be part of this fight back and the May 20th Day of Action, e mail us at ocap@tao.ca or call us at (416) 925-6939
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Using Market Trends to Build Credibility and Trust
We Agents need to understand the current and emerging market trends. We need to understand the economic influences of our region and how that will influence the market place in the future. The skill to evaluate the present against the past in order to forecast the future can separate us from others in the marketplace.
Evaluate the total sales volume and number of sales on a year-to-date basis and against the previous year. This will allow you to see where you have been and where the marketplace is trending.
· Is the number of homes sold going up or down?
· Is the total volume increasing or decreasing?
Evaluate the number of listings taken. Remember that real estate is supply and demand influenced. The amount of inventory is the supply segment of the equation.
· Is the number of homes for sale up or down?
· Do buyers have a greater selection than this time last year?
· Is the number of homes for sale rising or falling compared to this time last year?
· Is the mix of inventory for sale the same in town homes, condos, and single-family residences? Is it the same percentage of the overall market as this time last year?
· Is there more inventory in certain geographic areas than this time last year?
If you track the inventory of homes for sale and sold homes, you will have a great wealth of information.
An example is when; earlier this year I led a coaching call with a client in San Diego who is a Champion Agent in that marketplace. The inventory levels have changed rapidly in that area; the marketplace in San Diego has seen rapid increase in inventory of homes for sale in the last year. That has caused the media, consumers, and even Agents to portray gloom and doom across the marketplace. While the days of the home selling within twenty-four hours of listing, with multiple offers, over-asking price, and with escalator clauses is gone, the marketplace is still a great one.
Champion Rule: When inventory of active listings increases, most people panic.
The average Agent will have a fit when the inventory increases. The reason is that it signals a change in the marketplace. The media will pick up on the inventory increase and start broadcasting the change as gloom and doom or the "bubble bursting." This further increases the consumer's negatively against the real estate marketplace.
When my client and I compared the current numbers against the previous year's numbers, there were some startling facts that were contrary to the gloom and doom prognosticators. Inventory had increased by 68% in his service area. Certainly, the increase in inventory would influence the marketplace. At the current rate of growth of the inventory, the marketplace would eventually have price and value corrections.
The list price to sales price in the marketplace, however, was still solid and respectable against historical standards at 96%. Now, against a marketplace where everything was selling above asking price, it was a change, but against the long-term view, 96% is a good number.
The days on the market average for homes that sold was sixty-one days. What that told me is that a home priced competitively would sell in a reasonable period of time. The truth is sixty-one days is not a long days on the market number.
The sold properties monthly is what really clarified the picture. The sold properties were within a few homes either way each month for the last eighteen months. When the marketplace was explosive, there were about the same amount of sold properties per month as there were right now. The sales had not dropped in his market area.
The net result was that homes were still selling. The sellers were still getting close to their asking price in a reasonable period of time. The key is that the seller could only achieve a sale through being competitive on their price. With the high inventory levels, compared to a year ago, there is more competition but the competition that is there has not position itself competitively via price to win the game. The truth is most of the Agents are doing their Eeyore impression. The media and most consumers are wrong about the marketplace. My client is one of the few in the marketplace who has the correct view of the overall picture.
Evaluate average sales price this year versus last year.
· Is it going up or down?
· Is the marketplace depreciating or appreciating in value? Don't waste your time tracking that on a monthly basis. It is too short a period of time to detect a trend. Calculate this statistic on a quarterly basis.
· Is the inventory aligned with the demands? We need to know if we are experiencing a net gain per month or net loss in the inventory levels.
Evaluate the percentage of appreciation for average sales price last year versus this year.
· Is the appreciating percentage decreasing or increasing compared to the same time last year?
· Is the marketplace gaining or losing strength?
To be a Champion Agent, you must have greater marketplace knowledge. I find that, through marketplace knowledge, an Agent can increase their credibility and trust with a prospect and client.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Tough Market Domination, Scripts & Dialogues
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
Evaluate the total sales volume and number of sales on a year-to-date basis and against the previous year. This will allow you to see where you have been and where the marketplace is trending.
· Is the number of homes sold going up or down?
· Is the total volume increasing or decreasing?
Evaluate the number of listings taken. Remember that real estate is supply and demand influenced. The amount of inventory is the supply segment of the equation.
· Is the number of homes for sale up or down?
· Do buyers have a greater selection than this time last year?
· Is the number of homes for sale rising or falling compared to this time last year?
· Is the mix of inventory for sale the same in town homes, condos, and single-family residences? Is it the same percentage of the overall market as this time last year?
· Is there more inventory in certain geographic areas than this time last year?
If you track the inventory of homes for sale and sold homes, you will have a great wealth of information.
An example is when; earlier this year I led a coaching call with a client in San Diego who is a Champion Agent in that marketplace. The inventory levels have changed rapidly in that area; the marketplace in San Diego has seen rapid increase in inventory of homes for sale in the last year. That has caused the media, consumers, and even Agents to portray gloom and doom across the marketplace. While the days of the home selling within twenty-four hours of listing, with multiple offers, over-asking price, and with escalator clauses is gone, the marketplace is still a great one.
Champion Rule: When inventory of active listings increases, most people panic.
The average Agent will have a fit when the inventory increases. The reason is that it signals a change in the marketplace. The media will pick up on the inventory increase and start broadcasting the change as gloom and doom or the "bubble bursting." This further increases the consumer's negatively against the real estate marketplace.
When my client and I compared the current numbers against the previous year's numbers, there were some startling facts that were contrary to the gloom and doom prognosticators. Inventory had increased by 68% in his service area. Certainly, the increase in inventory would influence the marketplace. At the current rate of growth of the inventory, the marketplace would eventually have price and value corrections.
The list price to sales price in the marketplace, however, was still solid and respectable against historical standards at 96%. Now, against a marketplace where everything was selling above asking price, it was a change, but against the long-term view, 96% is a good number.
The days on the market average for homes that sold was sixty-one days. What that told me is that a home priced competitively would sell in a reasonable period of time. The truth is sixty-one days is not a long days on the market number.
The sold properties monthly is what really clarified the picture. The sold properties were within a few homes either way each month for the last eighteen months. When the marketplace was explosive, there were about the same amount of sold properties per month as there were right now. The sales had not dropped in his market area.
The net result was that homes were still selling. The sellers were still getting close to their asking price in a reasonable period of time. The key is that the seller could only achieve a sale through being competitive on their price. With the high inventory levels, compared to a year ago, there is more competition but the competition that is there has not position itself competitively via price to win the game. The truth is most of the Agents are doing their Eeyore impression. The media and most consumers are wrong about the marketplace. My client is one of the few in the marketplace who has the correct view of the overall picture.
Evaluate average sales price this year versus last year.
· Is it going up or down?
· Is the marketplace depreciating or appreciating in value? Don't waste your time tracking that on a monthly basis. It is too short a period of time to detect a trend. Calculate this statistic on a quarterly basis.
· Is the inventory aligned with the demands? We need to know if we are experiencing a net gain per month or net loss in the inventory levels.
Evaluate the percentage of appreciation for average sales price last year versus this year.
· Is the appreciating percentage decreasing or increasing compared to the same time last year?
· Is the marketplace gaining or losing strength?
To be a Champion Agent, you must have greater marketplace knowledge. I find that, through marketplace knowledge, an Agent can increase their credibility and trust with a prospect and client.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Tough Market Domination, Scripts & Dialogues
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Broker of Record
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
Friday, April 23, 2010
Hiring An Experienced Buyer's Agent - The Proof Is In The Pudding
Many Lead Agents are too trusting when it comes to hiring experienced Agents to be their Buyer's Agents. They frequently take too much at face value, rather than checking. In hiring a Buyer's Agent who has experience, you want to ask them about their previous production. You want to know the units sold and sales volume in the last few years. You also must know the sources the business came from. Were all the sales handed to them from the Lead Agent, or did they create their own? Were they effective in converting ad calls, sign calls, and open houses to sales? How did they do with the Internet leads they were given? Were there sales that came from Internet leads? Getting the units sold by sources will provide you with the facts of their skills today.
You could potentially go to the MLS to see their production in the last twelve months. Some companies and Lead Agents, however, want all the production under their name exclusively. Require them to provide a transaction record from their Broker. You might even want the Broker to certify the results. There are a number of organizations that need a transaction record from the Broker that is certified when applying for membership or attainment of awards.
If they are unable to furnish some type of transaction record, ask them for a 1099. There are many of you who are thinking, "I couldn't do that"... Why not? They are asking you for a position with your team that is a highly valuable and prized position. They are trying to negotiate the best commission split possible for themselves. Based on that, they are a player and will bring income to you and the team that you don't currently have now. They should be willing to prove that they earned what they say they earned; that they are worth what they claim; that there isn't any puffing of numbers to make themselves look better to either negotiate a better deal or even just secure the position you have offered.
Champion Team Rule - There won't be a miraculous improvement of their sales performance in the first thirty days because they are with you.
Their sales performance, in the short run, will be about what it had been. You must see what they have actually done in the past because that's what you should expect from them for the next forty to ninety days. There might be a few exceptions to this rule, but they are infrequent. Tell them the proof is in the pudding.
Lastly, ask them for their conversion rates. Typically, what are the ratios from an ad call, sign call, or open house? How often do they get the client to come to the office for a buyer interview? When they have that interview, how often are they able to secure an Exclusive Right to Represent Agreement? Most of the experienced Agents you are going to consider will not be able to respond to any of these questions. This give you an opening to set the standard with them that you track everything; that you would expect them to embrace your system of tracking activities and results to be on the team. You also want to be clear that, because of the tracking, you will be able to help them be a far better Buyer's Agent and make more money. All of these are true. Also, because of the tracking, there is no place to hide. Their effort and results will be out in the open. You and they will know, without a shadow of a doubt, how they are really doing. They won't be able to hide or cover their tracks if they are off on their activities and production.
½ Theory - cut everything they say in ½
If you are considering an experienced Buyer's Agent who cannot or will not provide a reasonable level of proof of their previous production, you will need to apply the ½ Theory. The ½ Theory states that no matter what they tell you they did in production, you cut the number in half. I am not saying that all Buyer's Agents use fuzzy numbers. I am saying if you cut their production numbers in half, you won't get burned. They will probably have done at least that much in production.
If they are worth hiring based on half of the undocumented numbers, you probably have someone who is really worth having on the team. You will want to act quickly to sign them up. You can't make the mistake of taking everything at face value.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Realtor's Ultimate Business Planning Kit, Real Estate Team Building
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
You could potentially go to the MLS to see their production in the last twelve months. Some companies and Lead Agents, however, want all the production under their name exclusively. Require them to provide a transaction record from their Broker. You might even want the Broker to certify the results. There are a number of organizations that need a transaction record from the Broker that is certified when applying for membership or attainment of awards.
If they are unable to furnish some type of transaction record, ask them for a 1099. There are many of you who are thinking, "I couldn't do that"... Why not? They are asking you for a position with your team that is a highly valuable and prized position. They are trying to negotiate the best commission split possible for themselves. Based on that, they are a player and will bring income to you and the team that you don't currently have now. They should be willing to prove that they earned what they say they earned; that they are worth what they claim; that there isn't any puffing of numbers to make themselves look better to either negotiate a better deal or even just secure the position you have offered.
Champion Team Rule - There won't be a miraculous improvement of their sales performance in the first thirty days because they are with you.
Their sales performance, in the short run, will be about what it had been. You must see what they have actually done in the past because that's what you should expect from them for the next forty to ninety days. There might be a few exceptions to this rule, but they are infrequent. Tell them the proof is in the pudding.
Lastly, ask them for their conversion rates. Typically, what are the ratios from an ad call, sign call, or open house? How often do they get the client to come to the office for a buyer interview? When they have that interview, how often are they able to secure an Exclusive Right to Represent Agreement? Most of the experienced Agents you are going to consider will not be able to respond to any of these questions. This give you an opening to set the standard with them that you track everything; that you would expect them to embrace your system of tracking activities and results to be on the team. You also want to be clear that, because of the tracking, you will be able to help them be a far better Buyer's Agent and make more money. All of these are true. Also, because of the tracking, there is no place to hide. Their effort and results will be out in the open. You and they will know, without a shadow of a doubt, how they are really doing. They won't be able to hide or cover their tracks if they are off on their activities and production.
½ Theory - cut everything they say in ½
If you are considering an experienced Buyer's Agent who cannot or will not provide a reasonable level of proof of their previous production, you will need to apply the ½ Theory. The ½ Theory states that no matter what they tell you they did in production, you cut the number in half. I am not saying that all Buyer's Agents use fuzzy numbers. I am saying if you cut their production numbers in half, you won't get burned. They will probably have done at least that much in production.
If they are worth hiring based on half of the undocumented numbers, you probably have someone who is really worth having on the team. You will want to act quickly to sign them up. You can't make the mistake of taking everything at face value.
Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print.
Real Estate Champions is a premier coaching company. Training covers a wide spectrum from new agents, to seasoned, as well as those interested in real estate marketing or real estate investing.
You can get more information at Realtor's Ultimate Business Planning Kit, Real Estate Team Building
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Zeller
Friday, March 26, 2010
Canada’s Economic Action Plan Creates Jobs and Improves Social Housing in Ontario
ORANGEVILLE, ON, March 26, 2010 — The Government of Canada announced today that a housing co-operative located in Orangeville will receive more than $187,000 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments.
The announcement was made by David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin – Caledon, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth," said MP Tilson. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will not only improve the quality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable, but it will also help stimulate the local economy and create local jobs.”
The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.
The housing co-operative that will receive a contribution from the Government of Canada being announced today is Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc.
“We congratulate and thank the federal government, MP Tilson and CMHC for making a sound investment to help ensure that this affordable community is preserved as a legacy for the long-term benefit of its residents,“ said Ken Elliott, President of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. “Today’s announcement is an excellent example of stimulus funding that works towards preserving jobs, assisting the local economy, and protecting valuable affordable housing assets for Canadians.”
“We are delighted that our co-operative will benefit from the federal government’s renovation and retrofit initiative delivered by CMHC,” said Robert Dicks, Vice-President of Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc. in Orangeville. “Not only will this funding make our co-op more energy efficient, but it will ensure that the homes at Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc. are available to meet the needs of future generations.”
More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit: www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.
The announcement was made by David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin – Caledon, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth," said MP Tilson. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will not only improve the quality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable, but it will also help stimulate the local economy and create local jobs.”
The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.
The housing co-operative that will receive a contribution from the Government of Canada being announced today is Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc.
“We congratulate and thank the federal government, MP Tilson and CMHC for making a sound investment to help ensure that this affordable community is preserved as a legacy for the long-term benefit of its residents,“ said Ken Elliott, President of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. “Today’s announcement is an excellent example of stimulus funding that works towards preserving jobs, assisting the local economy, and protecting valuable affordable housing assets for Canadians.”
“We are delighted that our co-operative will benefit from the federal government’s renovation and retrofit initiative delivered by CMHC,” said Robert Dicks, Vice-President of Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc. in Orangeville. “Not only will this funding make our co-op more energy efficient, but it will ensure that the homes at Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc. are available to meet the needs of future generations.”
More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit: www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Listing Descriptions - 5 Strategies to Improve Your Quality
Are you still writing the same enthusiastic listing descriptions as when you first started in the business, or are they starting to look a little stale? Poorly written listing descriptions will cost you buyers as surely as poorly taken pictures will. Below are some tips to make your descriptions more effective.
1. Pull out a thesaurus. Don't write beautiful and gorgeous for every listing you take. They are not all beautiful and gorgeous. If you think they are, use different words for the same meaning to break up the monotony of your text.
2. Make sure you are listing some of the best features into the description as teasers, but leave some room for imagination. You don't want to give it all away. If you do, the buyers have no reason to contact you.
3. Be creative when describing a home, but also be truthful. If a living room is small, use cozy. If the windows are older, just comment on how much light they let in. No need to stress the negatives. The buyers will do enough of that when deciding on the offer they will make.
4. Be enthusiastic and passionate about your work. People love working with people that love what they are doing. If you convey that enthusiasm and passion in your listing descriptions it will show your sellers how much you love your job, and bring you more buyers as well!
5. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Nothing shows a lack of professionalism or lack of effort more than misspelled words. Start at the bottom and read it right to left, bottom to top. When proofreading it helps if the words are out of order. If you read in the normal manner then you will usually see only what you expect to see, not the errors in your description.
Writing effectively, even if it is just a paragraph for a listing description, is part of what makes you a great agent. Buyers and sellers want the best agent they can find to list and sell their homes. Don't let poor writing hold you back.
Serita Diana has 5 years experience in the real estate industry. She was also fortunate enough to participate in the Mike Ferry assistant training program, and is now the owner of Executive @ssist, specializing in real estate virtual assistance and assistance to the small business owner. In addition to her real estate experience, Serita also has an AA in Business Management. Serita is also an instructor for Academy of Virtual Entrepreneurs, where she instructs other aspiring REVAs how to be great real estate virtual assistants. For more information about Serita visit http://list2closeassistant.com, or if you are interested in classes please visit http://www.aove.org/courses.html.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Serita_Diana
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
1. Pull out a thesaurus. Don't write beautiful and gorgeous for every listing you take. They are not all beautiful and gorgeous. If you think they are, use different words for the same meaning to break up the monotony of your text.
2. Make sure you are listing some of the best features into the description as teasers, but leave some room for imagination. You don't want to give it all away. If you do, the buyers have no reason to contact you.
3. Be creative when describing a home, but also be truthful. If a living room is small, use cozy. If the windows are older, just comment on how much light they let in. No need to stress the negatives. The buyers will do enough of that when deciding on the offer they will make.
4. Be enthusiastic and passionate about your work. People love working with people that love what they are doing. If you convey that enthusiasm and passion in your listing descriptions it will show your sellers how much you love your job, and bring you more buyers as well!
5. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Nothing shows a lack of professionalism or lack of effort more than misspelled words. Start at the bottom and read it right to left, bottom to top. When proofreading it helps if the words are out of order. If you read in the normal manner then you will usually see only what you expect to see, not the errors in your description.
Writing effectively, even if it is just a paragraph for a listing description, is part of what makes you a great agent. Buyers and sellers want the best agent they can find to list and sell their homes. Don't let poor writing hold you back.
Serita Diana has 5 years experience in the real estate industry. She was also fortunate enough to participate in the Mike Ferry assistant training program, and is now the owner of Executive @ssist, specializing in real estate virtual assistance and assistance to the small business owner. In addition to her real estate experience, Serita also has an AA in Business Management. Serita is also an instructor for Academy of Virtual Entrepreneurs, where she instructs other aspiring REVAs how to be great real estate virtual assistants. For more information about Serita visit http://list2closeassistant.com, or if you are interested in classes please visit http://www.aove.org/courses.html.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Serita_Diana
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friday, March 12, 2010
How to Use Twitter As Part of You Internet Marketing Strategy
Social media marketing has become an almost essential part of any internet marketing strategy. It is free and can have really great results if done properly.
If you are marketing on the Internet then you should be using Twitter as one of your free marketing methods. Here is a brief overview of how to do it.
First, you must have a Twitter account. When you create your Twitter account, do so using your name and a photo, not some cartoon or icon. It's not only about building relationships here, but branding yourself and building your presence. Your Twitter page will appear on a Google search of your name. Mine appears on the first page of Google search for my name.
Once you have an account you need to get some followers. When people follow you your tweets (mini posts) will appear on their wall when they are viewing their Twitter page.
To get followers first you must follow others. Start by doing a search within Twitter. Search for someone related to the topic you are involved with. For instance, if you are involved with a company that uses attraction marketing you may want to search for Mike Dillard. Once you get to his page you will click on the word 'Following". It will be on the right side of his page. This will bring up a list of people who follow Mike Dillard on Twitter. Then you go through this list and choose people to follow. Some of those people will automatically follow you back. You will also have people start following you simply because you active on Twitter.
There are also use free tools like Twello.com and Twollo.com also make building a following pretty simple (the latter lets you set up auto-following based on keywords).
Do not follow more than 100 to 150 people per day. Twitter considers this too aggressive. They may close your account. Also, you must keep your ratio of followers to following within 10%.
If you are a Twitter newbie remember that as with any social network, it's about relationships. If you are too aggressive in promoting your business people will simply stop following you.
Twitter Tips Tweet (post) at least once or twice a day. As you build a large following you will want to increase this, as only a small portion will be likely to see your Tweet at the time you Tweet it.
Provide value (content) primarily, not spam! Give Them Something to Tweet About! Your Tweets should be pleasant, consistent, uplifting, entertaining and/or educational. Adding tweets directly related to your product or opt-in page is fine, after all that's why you are doing this, right?. You should keep this at about a 1/3 ratio. One promotional tweet for every 3 content tweets.
ReTweet (RT) content that you like! If you are getting lots of RTs on your content then you know you are on the right track! You can use Twitter's 'Retweet' link, or to add a short comment, just click the 'Reply' link (you have to float your mouse over the right side of the post to see the 'Retweet' and 'Reply' links appear), and type 'RT' prior to the @username.
Thank your followers who RT'ed your Tweets. This is very important especially for content that you have written or even RTs of your products or opt-in Tweets! And, be SURE you are following them! This is done by the @Reply. This is a great way to build relationships.
Reply to your @Replies - Your @Replies view (found in your @Replies view which is on your 'Home' page right above your 'Direct Messages' ink on the right sidebar, where you will see @YourUserId) shows messages that are directed personally to you as well as recommendations for you. Reply to as many of these as you can! You can combine multiple replies with a short 'Thnx 4 RTs & Shouts' or similar if you get a lot of them.
Watch your DMs for any personal messages. This may mean sifting through lots of spam. DO NOT follow links here, this is where many Twitter viruses have been and still are spread.
There is a service called SocialOoomph.com it does a lot for free, allowing you to auto-follow-back and schedule Tweets ahead of time. This is a great tool as it allows to leverage your time by scheduling Tweets for the whole day.
Now you that you have the basic idea go and get tweeting!
By the way, I learned all of this from the education provided at Carbo Copy Pro. You can read more helpful internet marketing tips on my blog.
Hi I'm Terrie Taylor, an Internet Marketer working with a company called Carbon Copy Pro. I also have a blog where I help other marketers get started or improve their skills. You can learn more about me at http://www.TerrieTaylor.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terrie_Taylor
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
If you are marketing on the Internet then you should be using Twitter as one of your free marketing methods. Here is a brief overview of how to do it.
First, you must have a Twitter account. When you create your Twitter account, do so using your name and a photo, not some cartoon or icon. It's not only about building relationships here, but branding yourself and building your presence. Your Twitter page will appear on a Google search of your name. Mine appears on the first page of Google search for my name.
Once you have an account you need to get some followers. When people follow you your tweets (mini posts) will appear on their wall when they are viewing their Twitter page.
To get followers first you must follow others. Start by doing a search within Twitter. Search for someone related to the topic you are involved with. For instance, if you are involved with a company that uses attraction marketing you may want to search for Mike Dillard. Once you get to his page you will click on the word 'Following". It will be on the right side of his page. This will bring up a list of people who follow Mike Dillard on Twitter. Then you go through this list and choose people to follow. Some of those people will automatically follow you back. You will also have people start following you simply because you active on Twitter.
There are also use free tools like Twello.com and Twollo.com also make building a following pretty simple (the latter lets you set up auto-following based on keywords).
Do not follow more than 100 to 150 people per day. Twitter considers this too aggressive. They may close your account. Also, you must keep your ratio of followers to following within 10%.
If you are a Twitter newbie remember that as with any social network, it's about relationships. If you are too aggressive in promoting your business people will simply stop following you.
Twitter Tips Tweet (post) at least once or twice a day. As you build a large following you will want to increase this, as only a small portion will be likely to see your Tweet at the time you Tweet it.
Provide value (content) primarily, not spam! Give Them Something to Tweet About! Your Tweets should be pleasant, consistent, uplifting, entertaining and/or educational. Adding tweets directly related to your product or opt-in page is fine, after all that's why you are doing this, right?. You should keep this at about a 1/3 ratio. One promotional tweet for every 3 content tweets.
ReTweet (RT) content that you like! If you are getting lots of RTs on your content then you know you are on the right track! You can use Twitter's 'Retweet' link, or to add a short comment, just click the 'Reply' link (you have to float your mouse over the right side of the post to see the 'Retweet' and 'Reply' links appear), and type 'RT' prior to the @username.
Thank your followers who RT'ed your Tweets. This is very important especially for content that you have written or even RTs of your products or opt-in Tweets! And, be SURE you are following them! This is done by the @Reply. This is a great way to build relationships.
Reply to your @Replies - Your @Replies view (found in your @Replies view which is on your 'Home' page right above your 'Direct Messages' ink on the right sidebar, where you will see @YourUserId) shows messages that are directed personally to you as well as recommendations for you. Reply to as many of these as you can! You can combine multiple replies with a short 'Thnx 4 RTs & Shouts' or similar if you get a lot of them.
Watch your DMs for any personal messages. This may mean sifting through lots of spam. DO NOT follow links here, this is where many Twitter viruses have been and still are spread.
There is a service called SocialOoomph.com it does a lot for free, allowing you to auto-follow-back and schedule Tweets ahead of time. This is a great tool as it allows to leverage your time by scheduling Tweets for the whole day.
Now you that you have the basic idea go and get tweeting!
By the way, I learned all of this from the education provided at Carbo Copy Pro. You can read more helpful internet marketing tips on my blog.
Hi I'm Terrie Taylor, an Internet Marketer working with a company called Carbon Copy Pro. I also have a blog where I help other marketers get started or improve their skills. You can learn more about me at http://www.TerrieTaylor.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terrie_Taylor
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Thursday, March 11, 2010
5 Tips For Attracting Great Traffic to Your Website Regardless of Your Small Budget
Online business owners need to drive traffic to their websites. But many people have financial constraints to pay for advertising. Even though there are many strategies for driving traffic to a website, the final strategy depends on the time available as well as your budget to grow your online business.
This article outlines the most cost effective strategies for generating visitors to your website.
1. Give free reports and articles
People like freebies. So offering them with your website URL included, the freebies become an effective and cheap way to increase traffic to your website.You can write short and useful reports containing your website link and offer them for free. You can put these reports in a website where the visitors can leave their email address before downloading the articles or reports. This can help you build a list easily.
2. Blogging
This is also an effective strategy for increasing traffic to your website. You can describe the products and services you offer in your website through blogging. Add some links on your blog to your website. Regular blogging with fresh content will result in indexed website by search engines. Your website will rank high on the search engines and this increases visitors.
3. Publish your own newsletter
A better place to regularly offer free content and tips is your own newsletter. This will help you build traffic. Your newsletter should contain links to your website so that many people who read the newsletter can visit it.
4. Start your forum related to products and services offered in your website
You establish yourself as an authority in your topic if you have your own forum on your niche. If you assist people in your niche by giving answers to their questions in the forum, traffic is drawn to your website. This will be a result of your website URL in your signature in forum posts.
5. Trade links with websites with high popularity ranking
Search for websites related to what you offer on your website and exchange links with them. This works effectively if the sites rank high in the search engines. After you have done that, some visitors will come as a result of the websites with which you exchanged links.
http://www.WealthCreationEmpowerment.ws
http://www.CreateWealthNow.co.za
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elphas_Mdluli
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
This article outlines the most cost effective strategies for generating visitors to your website.
1. Give free reports and articles
People like freebies. So offering them with your website URL included, the freebies become an effective and cheap way to increase traffic to your website.You can write short and useful reports containing your website link and offer them for free. You can put these reports in a website where the visitors can leave their email address before downloading the articles or reports. This can help you build a list easily.
2. Blogging
This is also an effective strategy for increasing traffic to your website. You can describe the products and services you offer in your website through blogging. Add some links on your blog to your website. Regular blogging with fresh content will result in indexed website by search engines. Your website will rank high on the search engines and this increases visitors.
3. Publish your own newsletter
A better place to regularly offer free content and tips is your own newsletter. This will help you build traffic. Your newsletter should contain links to your website so that many people who read the newsletter can visit it.
4. Start your forum related to products and services offered in your website
You establish yourself as an authority in your topic if you have your own forum on your niche. If you assist people in your niche by giving answers to their questions in the forum, traffic is drawn to your website. This will be a result of your website URL in your signature in forum posts.
5. Trade links with websites with high popularity ranking
Search for websites related to what you offer on your website and exchange links with them. This works effectively if the sites rank high in the search engines. After you have done that, some visitors will come as a result of the websites with which you exchanged links.
http://www.WealthCreationEmpowerment.ws
http://www.CreateWealthNow.co.za
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elphas_Mdluli
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
MORTGAGE INSURANCE RULES ANNOUNCEMENT
This morning, Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced prudent changes to mortgage insurance rules intended to come into force on April 19, 2010.
CAAMP (Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals) was actively engaged in the discussions around these changes which are as follows:
1. All borrowers must meet the standards for a five-year fixed rate mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term;
2. The maximum amount one can withdraw in refinancing their mortgage will be reduced to 90% from the current 95% of the value of one's home;
3. Non-owner occupied properties will require a minimum down payment of 20%.
There were no changes to down payment requirements or length of amortizations for owner-occupied residences.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
CAAMP (Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals) was actively engaged in the discussions around these changes which are as follows:
1. All borrowers must meet the standards for a five-year fixed rate mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term;
2. The maximum amount one can withdraw in refinancing their mortgage will be reduced to 90% from the current 95% of the value of one's home;
3. Non-owner occupied properties will require a minimum down payment of 20%.
There were no changes to down payment requirements or length of amortizations for owner-occupied residences.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friday, February 12, 2010
CENTURY 21 President, Don Lawby, comments on Competition Bureau Application
CENTURY 21 President, Don Lawby, comments on Competition Bureau Application The Competition Bureau submitted an application to the Competition Tribunal earlier this week after completing an investigation against CREA and found its business model, membership rules and the parameters surrounding MLS, to be in violation of competition rules. This issue has enormous implications on the real estate industry in Canada.
Click here to hear comments from Don Lawby, President of CENTURY 21 Canada. Internet Explorer required to view this video.
Internet Explorer required to view this video
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn /
Click here to hear comments from Don Lawby, President of CENTURY 21 Canada. Internet Explorer required to view this video.
Internet Explorer required to view this video
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn /
Thursday, February 4, 2010
December 2009 Average MLS resale price for local markets
City December 2008 December 2009
Halifax $234,063 $246,380
Saint John $156,923 $178,037
Quebec $203,239 $231,235
Montreal $267,050 $285,356
Ottawa $272,672 $311,604
Toronto $361,284 $411,931
Hamilton/Burlington $240,073 $285,795
Winnipeg $182,814 $209,963
Saskatoon $266,411 $291,554
Calgary $362,557 $394,300
Edmonton $310,974 $319,201
Vancouver $560,953 $627,582
Victoria $444,222 $522,211
Source: Canadian Real Estate Association
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Halifax $234,063 $246,380
Saint John $156,923 $178,037
Quebec $203,239 $231,235
Montreal $267,050 $285,356
Ottawa $272,672 $311,604
Toronto $361,284 $411,931
Hamilton/Burlington $240,073 $285,795
Winnipeg $182,814 $209,963
Saskatoon $266,411 $291,554
Calgary $362,557 $394,300
Edmonton $310,974 $319,201
Vancouver $560,953 $627,582
Victoria $444,222 $522,211
Source: Canadian Real Estate Association
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Canada's economy continues growth
For the third straight month in November, Canada's economy grew, backed by strength in the gas and oil industries, wholesale trade, and continued real estate activity.
Statistics Canada reports gross domestic product advanced 0.4 per cent on the month, beating the market estimate of 0.2 per cent.
Economists say the data shows Canada's economy is on pace to meet or exceed the Bank of Canada's 3.3 per cent growth estimate for the final three months of 2009.
But while there is optimism by economists, Canadians are growing in their pessimism, says a new consumer confidence survey by the RBC Monthly Canadian. Some 52 per cent described the economy and job prospects as bad, compared to 48 percent feeling it was good in January. In December, 51 per cent had viewed it as good, compared to 49 per cent as bad.
Also, 56 per cent of Canadians expect the economy to improve over the next year, down from 60 per cent in December.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Statistics Canada reports gross domestic product advanced 0.4 per cent on the month, beating the market estimate of 0.2 per cent.
Economists say the data shows Canada's economy is on pace to meet or exceed the Bank of Canada's 3.3 per cent growth estimate for the final three months of 2009.
But while there is optimism by economists, Canadians are growing in their pessimism, says a new consumer confidence survey by the RBC Monthly Canadian. Some 52 per cent described the economy and job prospects as bad, compared to 48 percent feeling it was good in January. In December, 51 per cent had viewed it as good, compared to 49 per cent as bad.
Also, 56 per cent of Canadians expect the economy to improve over the next year, down from 60 per cent in December.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friday, January 22, 2010
Peterborough Celebrates New Affordable Housing
PETERBOROUGH, ON, January 22, 2010 — The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Peterborough today celebrated the official opening of an affordable housing project. The project is supported by more than $2 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Jeff Leal, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Henry Clarke, Deputy Mayor of Peterborough on behalf of Paul Ayotte, Mayor of Peterborough; and Bonnie Clark, Chair of Peterborough Housing Corporation made the announcement.
“This is great news for families and individuals in Peterborough. Our government is providing a hand-up to those families in need,” said MP Del Mastro. “Through projects like these, our government is stimulating the economy and creating jobs to help Canadians recover from the economic downturn.”
“The province is committed to helping people who live on lower or fixed incomes stay in their home communities,” said MPP Leal. “Investment in affordable housing is not only a fundamental support for individuals and families trying to break the cycle of poverty, it also improves job prospects and supports local trades and business.”
Today’s announcement recognized the official opening of 30 affordable housing units at Saunders Court, located at 130 Anson Street. The project for households with low incomes and persons with special needs is sponsored by the Peterborough Housing Corporation.
The federal and provincial allocations to the project were complemented by $355,459 in municipal financial incentives.
“Saunder’s Court is an exciting new development that will provide 30 new affordable housing units in the City of Peterborough,” said Mayor Paul Ayotte. “Peterborough Housing Corporation is to be congratulated for their continued efforts to create housing opportunities for low-income households in Peterborough.”
"We believe this building is our best effort yet", said Bonnie Clark, Chair of Peterborough Housing Corporation. “This site has been part of a continuum of service to the community for nearly a century, as both a refuge and home for those in need.”
The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.
In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for Ontario, this means a further $1.2-billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.
Ontario is moving quickly to implement this additional funding. The province has already approved more than $224 million for construction-ready projects, which will improve access to affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities across the province. It will also create jobs and strengthen local economies. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan. For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Jeff Leal, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Henry Clarke, Deputy Mayor of Peterborough on behalf of Paul Ayotte, Mayor of Peterborough; and Bonnie Clark, Chair of Peterborough Housing Corporation made the announcement.
“This is great news for families and individuals in Peterborough. Our government is providing a hand-up to those families in need,” said MP Del Mastro. “Through projects like these, our government is stimulating the economy and creating jobs to help Canadians recover from the economic downturn.”
“The province is committed to helping people who live on lower or fixed incomes stay in their home communities,” said MPP Leal. “Investment in affordable housing is not only a fundamental support for individuals and families trying to break the cycle of poverty, it also improves job prospects and supports local trades and business.”
Today’s announcement recognized the official opening of 30 affordable housing units at Saunders Court, located at 130 Anson Street. The project for households with low incomes and persons with special needs is sponsored by the Peterborough Housing Corporation.
The federal and provincial allocations to the project were complemented by $355,459 in municipal financial incentives.
“Saunder’s Court is an exciting new development that will provide 30 new affordable housing units in the City of Peterborough,” said Mayor Paul Ayotte. “Peterborough Housing Corporation is to be congratulated for their continued efforts to create housing opportunities for low-income households in Peterborough.”
"We believe this building is our best effort yet", said Bonnie Clark, Chair of Peterborough Housing Corporation. “This site has been part of a continuum of service to the community for nearly a century, as both a refuge and home for those in need.”
The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.
In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for Ontario, this means a further $1.2-billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.
Ontario is moving quickly to implement this additional funding. The province has already approved more than $224 million for construction-ready projects, which will improve access to affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities across the province. It will also create jobs and strengthen local economies. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan. For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Government of Canada Helps Expand Financing for Student Housing
LONDON, ONTARIO, January 20, 2010 — Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for London West, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), today announced mortgage loan insurance policies to facilitate the financing of student housing in Canada.
“Our government is dedicated to meeting the increased demand for student housing across the country”, said Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for London West, “We’re helping developers and borrowers access competitive interest rates for the life of the mortgage, benefit from greater financing choices and lower renewal risk. Our government is supporting students and creating jobs in university and college communities across the country.”
The Government of Canada will help finance loans of up to 85 per cent of the lending value for the construction, purchase or refinancing of housing purposely built for students on or off campus through CMHC’s Mortgage Loan Insurance for multi-unit student housing. This initiative supports the housing needs of Canadian publicly-funded educational institutions, including universities and colleges.
The demand for student housing is anticipated to continue to increase for an extended period as a result of changing demographics, forecasted enrolment figures and continued growth in international students.
“Today's announcement is good news and will help developers in Canada respond to the housing needs of students,” said Ray Stanton, President of London Property Corporation.
The Government of Canada has taken additional measures to help Canadian families. As of August 1, 2009, new federal student financial assistance measures — the Canada Student Grants Program and the Repayment Assistance Plan — are helping students and families access post-secondary education and better manage their student loan debt. To find out more about how the Government of Canada is helping students achieve their educational goals, visit CanLearn.ca.
As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.
Source: CMHC
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
“Our government is dedicated to meeting the increased demand for student housing across the country”, said Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for London West, “We’re helping developers and borrowers access competitive interest rates for the life of the mortgage, benefit from greater financing choices and lower renewal risk. Our government is supporting students and creating jobs in university and college communities across the country.”
The Government of Canada will help finance loans of up to 85 per cent of the lending value for the construction, purchase or refinancing of housing purposely built for students on or off campus through CMHC’s Mortgage Loan Insurance for multi-unit student housing. This initiative supports the housing needs of Canadian publicly-funded educational institutions, including universities and colleges.
The demand for student housing is anticipated to continue to increase for an extended period as a result of changing demographics, forecasted enrolment figures and continued growth in international students.
“Today's announcement is good news and will help developers in Canada respond to the housing needs of students,” said Ray Stanton, President of London Property Corporation.
The Government of Canada has taken additional measures to help Canadian families. As of August 1, 2009, new federal student financial assistance measures — the Canada Student Grants Program and the Repayment Assistance Plan — are helping students and families access post-secondary education and better manage their student loan debt. To find out more about how the Government of Canada is helping students achieve their educational goals, visit CanLearn.ca.
As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.
Source: CMHC
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
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