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At a Glance for January 16, 2017

Written by Patricia Anderson on . Posted in At A Glance Wednesday

“At A Glance” – For January 16, 2017
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Bright MLS Update:


In case you missed on Friday, Bright MLS has created its first public press release, and officially changed MLSEvolved.com to BrightMLS.com.  
 


Bright MLS Revealed


Real estate organizations from neighboring areas in the Mid-Atlantic region, including ours, have united as Bright MLS.

The creation of this new organization is a direct response to your demands that the MLS break down market barriers and provide real estate professionals with expanded property information that exceeds what consumers can get from publicly available websites.

With Bright, you will get access to more information, more products and more areas to explore and expand—that’s the power of us.

Visit Brightmls.com for a list of each of the visionary Associations that participate in Bright.
 



Upcoming Classes:







More classes will become available as this year’s schedule becomes finalized.  Click here to see the list as it gets updated.



This Week’s Blog Post:

According to statistics, Google now has a stranglehold on 90 percent of the Internet search market, not just in the United States, but globally. This is a mind-blowing number that really illustrates the power the California-based company has on the marketplace.  So, how can you effectively harness that power in your real estate business?

Well, there are definitely some ways that even small businesses can use the extraordinary power of Google to their advantage.

And “Google Tools” is a great way to start. Here are a few that may help:

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE






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Sussex County Association of REALTORS® · 23407 Park Avenue · Georgetown, DE 19947 · USA

The Power of Google - 5 Useful Tips

The Power of Google – 5 Useful Tips

Written by Patricia Anderson on . Posted in Friday Blog Post

If a friend, colleague or family member asks you to conduct a search for something on the Internet, what EXACTLY do they ask you to do?

Do they ask you to do a search?  Do they ask you to “look something up?” Unless we miss our guess, chances are pretty good that they ask you to “Google” it.

According to statistics, Google now has a stranglehold on 90 percent of the Internet search market, not just in the United States, but globally. This is a mind-blowing number that really illustrates the power the California-based company has on the marketplace.  So, how can you effectively harness that power in your real estate business?

Well, there are definitely some ways that even small businesses can use the extraordinary power of Google to their advantage.

And “Google Tools” is a great way to start. Here are a few that may help:

  • Google AdWords. This tool generates leads for you based on location, which can greatly help anyone in the world of real estate. The idea is for your business profile to appear anytime someone is searching for a home in your zip code. Pretty cool, right?
  • Google Maps. This uses satellite imaging to show more detail on your maps, allowing your listing to be found in a greater number of online searches.
  • Google Plus. Make sure you have a full and complete Google profile online that gives a snapshot of your company when people are searching for real estate online. You can include your contact information, photos, a description of your business and even a personalized message.
  • Google Earth. This allows searchers to see satellite images of nearby parks, schools and more, all directly from your desktop or mobile device.
  • Google My Business. This tool is designed for REALTORS® to list their companies, allowing them to be easily found by consumers.

There are a few of the traditional Google tools that generate page views and can help you with your online marketing efforts. After you’ve mastered some of the basics, however, there is much more available in Google for you to learn and utilize.

2017 Trends

4 Real Estate Trends Happening in 2017

Written by Patricia Anderson on . Posted in At A Glance Wednesday, Friday Blog Post

With the real estate markets around the country now fully recovered from the recession of a few years ago, certain trends have begun developing that are driving the market anew. Some of these trends began in 2016 or earlier, but others are just now coming to the surface.

So let’s examine a few of the things that experts say to be on the lookout for in 2017:

  • First Time Homebuyers Multiplying. According to data, more than one-third of the people purchasing homes in 2015 were first-time buyers. But that number is expected to increase to more than half in 2017. This means that the competition for affordable starter homes may increase exponentially, as more than 60 percent of first-time homebuyers are expected to be millennials less than 35 years old. Something to keep your eye on for sure.
  • Barriers are Changing. Mortgage qualification issues, including credit scores and down payments, are expected to be the biggest barriers to homeownership in 2017. So expect to work a little harder with your clients when trying to get them qualified for loans. There are many options, of course, and you may need to examine several of them in 2017 to get over this hurdle.
  • What Buyers are Looking for. In a recent survey, prospective home buyers were asked what attributes they were looking for in new homes, with large yards, quality construction and safe neighborhoods coming out on top. Millennials are also looking for single-family homes with extra space for starting families. No condos for them!
  • Spring and Summer is Still King. Most prospective buyers have indicated that they plan to buy in the spring and summer months, when the weather is warmer and moving to a new home is more convenient. This trend is obviously nothing new in our area, but it’s still worth noting.

So there are a few trends that experts are expecting to either occur or continue in 2017. Trends change every year, of course, and each market is different (think coastal) but these are things worth watching for in the new calendar year.

 

SCAORCard – Issue #004 – Technology

Written by Patricia Anderson on . Posted in The SCAORCard

2017 will be an exciting year, with plenty of emerging technology for the industry. Over the next few months we will be updating you on everything from smart homes, solar power, and mobile apps to technology collaboration and ease of use.  All of this will better assist you in staying up to date for your client’s needs. 
 
With the addition of our new association management system this year – we were able to better assist with dues payments (and the addition of accepting American Express). We will continue to use this technology to make everything from re-printing certificates to signing in for a class even easier in 2017.
 
The BOD voted in 2016 to join Bright MLS.  Monthly information will be included in future SCAORcards under a banner titled Bright MLS.  For more information, please go to MLSEvolved.com for more information.
 
Stay tuned for great updates this coming year!

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Sussex County Association of Realtors

Phone: 302-855-2300 | Fax: 302-855-2319

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