How many expired listings have you converted in 2008?

Since it`s the last day of the year i decided to go through our listings to determine what percentage of sellers came to us from our marketing.we use all forms of advertising, so it`s important to keep a record of where we are at all times. Every six months we review our records.
We keep a spread sheet,each listing is taged into different five categories.
I find it easier to determine where our advertsing dollars need to be placed.
The breakdown is as follows:
1- Magazine Ads.
2- Internet
3- Referrals
4- FSBO`s
5 Expired.
Normally, the magazines and the Internet ads generate the most listing appointments for us.
This year our expired listings seem to have gone off the charts!
It`s hard to believe that during 2006 our agents converted 27 expired into listings,out of that we sold 20, the other 7 we`re recycled again.
I wrote a post in the middle of the year entitled "1 year later Listing still on the market! Seller still refuses to hear the truth!" The post mentioned how some listings remained on the market for a year.

Pricing has played a tremendous effect on the market and market conditions and 2007 should be no different. Once upon a time if a seller wanted to place a listing higher than the competition I would shake my head and agree. Today, I bring enough data to choke a horse, showing a potential Seller that this strategy isn`t an option any longer. If a seller wants to sell, than they need to prepare themselves with the correct mindset.
Realtors aren`t able to "Part the Red Sea" like Moses!

For 2007, my first plan of attack is attempting to capture a larger market share in expired listings.
The FSBO market no matter what marketing tools you use is mainly "Hit or Miss", it`s difficult to comprehend what a FSBO retains during a listing presentation. many believe that they can "Do It Better" than a professional. And the beat goes on!

search homes located in broward county florida @ www.listfloridahomesforless.com

Single Mother`s work twice as hard and accomplish so much more!

It`s really amazing how simple this business can sometimes be!
Some people believe you have to be a Rocket Scientist to become a Realtor.
Others, want to "break a deal, before the deal happens", still if you stick to the same formula over and over again, the actual day to day business of Real Estate can be exciting.
Patricia Fernandez is a Single Mother who obtained her Real Estate licenses 2 years ago.
She had no prior sales experience.
Her intention was to become independent and capable of supporting her son Jalen.
It`s never easy to be a Single Parent, it`s often quite difficult to balance a schedule.
Yet,don`t kind yourself for one moment, this Mother has learned to balance her personal life with the skill of a Wall Street Trader.
Often, she`ll work insane hours to insure she`s addressing the needs of the clients she serves.
One word always comes to mind when i watch her jump into action "Sacrifice".
She has the ability to transform herself from a mother to a negotiator within seconds.

Yesterday, I watched in amazement how effortlessly Patricia was able to negotiate a transaction while her 3 year old son was having a fit in our office.
Wathcing Patricia take control of her transaction via a conference call with the "Loss Mitigation Dept" while holding her son Jalen on her lap was quite a sight.
Patricia can multi- task with the best of them!!

She`s an conscientious Realtor who doubles as our transaction coordinator.

She never misses a beat! As she called me into the conference call, I soon realized our transaction was going south, yet Patricia was in total control with the lender attempting to find out what happened. It was apparent there was a lack of communication from the lender when it came to finalizing the sales price.
She caught it at 3:30 yesterday after reviewing the HUD-1 statement. In between she ran to pick up her son from day care and proceeded to get back to work doing damage control.
Two hours later, she adverted a major fiasco and saved our transaction.

Words can`t describe how hard this women seems to work, the juggling of her schedule and work, never ceases to amaze me or others who have witnessed how hard this person tries.

Patricia these words are for you! "sola,sola en el olvido!sola con su espiritu!!

Real Estate Bubble is kaput! First Time Home Buyers are in Full Bloom...

Lately, the inquiries we`re receiving each day are from 1st time home buyers who are looking at purchasing a new home.

Many realize prices have stabilized and have reached a level of affordability once again.
These buyers are very well informed and know what they want.
They`re looking at homes where they`ll be able to start a family.
Many are concentrating on Town homes and Single Family homes where the old adage "Location,Location,Location" is very crucial to their decision making.
Some believe they`ll remain in these homes for a period of 5-10 years,which indicates these buyers are ready to make a long term commitment.
Suddenly, people realize home prices are at levels before the market took off.
It`s a buyers market out there, purchasing a home in Broward County Florida makes good financial sense..

I believe the Real Estate Bubble is over!

Ride the Highway West Baby...This isn`t a Sellers Market any longer

I have to believe there our sellers still out there who are not in touch with the market,shifting economies and a downward spiral in our country.
The dollar,oil and the banking debacle have changed the entire process of buying a home.Gone are the days of 100% loans with teaser rates.

Today, you need to have a group of professionals behind you in order to purchase a home.

Sellers need to revelate their asking price as well as the bottom line.
If an offer comes close to what you wanted don`t play games. Otherwise you`ll lose the buyer,who will simply move on to another home where they`ll be a warm reception awaiting them. Yesterday, after going back and forth with an offer we sent several days ago our buyer started to tire.

They no longer wanted to "Play the Game of You counter, I`ll counter and we`ll meet you half way."

We expressed to the agent who represented the seller, we`re no longer interested in the property if the owner doesn`t agree to our last offer we`re walking.

The agent was smart enough to convey our message to the seller.

The seller relented and finally agreed to accept the offer. There are no more games when selling a home. The first offer maybe you`re best offer. Don`t attempt to re-invent the wheel by playing hardball.

Accept the truth! The market has changed and selling a home isn`t easy as it once was.
The hiring of a professional Realtor to represent you is more important than you can ever imagine.

Do you want to sell or play games? A Short Seller who knows the system...

More often than not many people who are involved in a Short Sale can`t believe their home needs to be sold.
Some want to prolong the sale as long as possible,while others understand the reality it`s time to move on!
Our job as Realtors is to get the home sold.
Our job description requires us not to chase you down, beg or plead with you to sell,the sale price is determined by the lenders,not you or I!
We`re dealing with a client who has received 3 offers and refuses to sign off.
He`s indifferent to the offers, feels the offers should be higher and worse, i`m the second agent he`s pulled this crapola with.
Rather than continue to argue, we called him to discuss our future together.

The conversation is as follows;

Me: I`m at the point where it`s time we say goodbye. There`s no hope selling this home if you continue to refuse to sign the offers.

Short Sale Seller: The offers aren`t what I expected. I`m not into signing.

Me: The offers are intended for the lenders to review, not you! You`re caught between a rock and a hard place. Not much left to say.

Short Sale Seller: I still have a say here.

Me: Well that's not entirely true anymore. You`ve stopped sending the lender a mortgage payment each month. The responsibility of getting this home sold is really not yours.

Short Sale Seller: I want to stay in the home as long as i can. Your job is to prolong this!

There you have it. A seller who feels they can manipulate the lenders,Realtors,and buyer`s because they wish to remain in a home they`ve defaulted on months ago.
It takes all kinds in this world.Rather than argue, it`s easier to Terminate the listing agreement,than continue on..

What do you do with a House that requires Cosmetic Surgery?

As I stared inside the home of our new listing i wondered what the heck to write on the remarks section of the MLS.
It`s a short sale, the owners seem to have trashed beyond recognition.
Not every listing is perfect, but this home has to be sold and I accepted the listing knowing the entire situation.
I`m sending in a cleaning crew on Monday in hopes of having the garbage removed inside the home.
It`s truly amazing how people can live like this,but that`s another story.

I realize some would rather not accept the responsibility or challenge of selling this home. It`s easier to walk away from a home which is trashed.
In my opinion I`m a Professional.
It`s our job to represent our clients to our best abilities regardless of how the house looks.

We priced the home lower than we would normally do, because all the fixtures have been pulled out, holes in the walls and a half destroyed kitchen.
In a short sale I`ve grown accustomed to expect the unexpected..

I`m suddenly speaking in Spanish.. and having a blast!

I`ve been taking intensive "Spanish" for 12 weeks.Talk about having a blast.
Living in South Florida for 27 years, i`ve become accustomed to speaking
Spanglish — (Spanglish, Spanglish, el Spanish broken, ingléspañol, ingleñol, espan'glés, espanolo, (blends of the language names "English" and "Spanish") or jerga fronteriza — refers to the range of language-contact phenomena, primarily in the speech of the Hispanic and Anglo population of the United States and the population of Mexico living near the Mexican-American border, who are exposed to both Spanish and English.) as a form of communication.

After much debate, I decided I had to learn the language and culture. It`s awesome to hear words in Spanish and now I can communicate without sounding like a 3 year old!

This started as a New Year`s resolution.. I wanted to have languagesuges under my belt.
In South Florida it`s a must.

Suddenly, I`m into http://tv.telemundo.yahoo.com/ as well as listening to new music like Mana (http://www.mana.com.mx/) this band rocks in English or Spanish....

It`s like I`ve been introduced to another world. It`s an eye opening experience after so many years.