Jen Dollar's Blog: Florida Real Estate News

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Benefits of Using the TagManager Technology:

• Link On-Site Shoppers to Information Instantly
• Connect Buyers to Your Mobile Site
• Link Print Advertising to Your Online World
• Allow a Buyer to Search Online
• Share In-Depth Information to Potential Buyers
• Built-In Analytics and Reporting Capabilities

Check out this VIDEO on the new Smart Tag Technology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrEgOJIJn4E

Realty Executives International is First National Franchisor to Launch Microsoft Tag Technology… Link to forbes.com article below:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/businesswire/2010/11/02/businesswire147949190.html?partner=email

Realtors Create Strong Personal Brands Online to Stay Ahead of Evolving Real Estate Buyer and Seller Trends Nov. 3, 2010 (Marketwire) — PHOENIX, AZ — (Marketwire) — 11/03/10 — Realty Executives International, Inc. announces the launch of Executive and Broker Web Platforms, individual real estate agent and broker websites designed to enhance “personal brands” online through the use of social media and indexed listing pages to increase organic search rankings. The Executive and Broker Platforms are another component of the company’s overall Technology Initiative which plans out to 2020 led by the Realty Executives International Chief Technology Officer Darrell Smith. He is notably the co-founder of one of the top ten most downloaded apps in history. “We understand the importance of investing in our Executives’ (real estate agents) technology future,” states Rich Rector, owner and Executive Chairman of Realty Executives International. “Our proprietary Executive and Broker Platforms are not your typical real estate websites.” Realty Executives developed the Executive and Broker Platforms with a focus on organic development of leads through a long-term consumer focused web presence. Over the course of the last 24 months, Smith and his technology team have evaluated thousands of real estate and various industry websites from independent blogs to massive listing aggregators. After comparing traffic rankings, traffic sources, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and customer quality, Realty Executives concluded that to be truly effective, technology needs to drive traffic and awareness not only to real estate agent listings, but to agents themselves. “The Executive and Broker Platforms promote personal brands, in addition to listings, so our Executives and Brokers can be recognized as knowledgeable thought leaders for their specialty, experience and perspectives,” adds Glenn Melton, chief executive officer of Realty Executives International. “Without a personal brand that people can recognize online, Realtors will not be on the radar for consumers to find.” Executive and Broker Platforms are now available throughout the Realty Executives International network. For more information, visit www.realtyexecutives.com/signup or contact Andrea Kalmanovitz at andrea@alchemyaz.com. About Realty Executives International, Inc. Realty Executives International, Inc. is one of the fastest growing real estate franchises in the United States, with nearly 11,000 sales associates and approximately 700 franchises. The Phoenix-based, privately held company has offices in 24 countries: United States, Africa, Australia, Bahrain, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Panama, Poland, Romania, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Publications like Entrepreneur, Success and Inc. magazines have recently ranked Realty Executives International as a leader in the real estate industry based on franchise growth, management stability and financial soundness. For additional company information, call (602) 957-0747 or visit www.RealtyExecutives.com. (Source: Market Wire ) (Source: Quotemedia)

“Recognizing Our Valuable Executives”

 Traditonally, real estate companies recognize their key agents only by the sales volume that they generate.  Nothing else matters!  We have given some thought to also recognizing Executives at each of our 3 offices who may or may not be in the top 3 in production, but who are supportive of our company in many different ways.  For instance we have agents who attend our meetings regularly, take advantage of the seminars that we offer at reduced costs, who support our title company, who support our mortgage affiliated company, who offer support for new executives and in some cases actually mentor them.  We have executives who volunteer their time to make ORRA a better service organization, while others are constantly selling our merits to other agents by encouraging them to join our organization.  Others volunteer in the community to give something back!

 We call these executives our “Most Valuable Players.”  Each quarter we would like to recognize an executive from each office and invite them to join us for dinner to thank them for all of their help!  In addition we will submit information about the recognition and the dinner to the local print media to get publicity that will be seen by your customers and clients as well as your friends and family.  It will be a wonderful way to assist you in self-promotion.  We’ll be announcing the names for the current quarter shortly!

08August 2010 - Check out the link to The Southern Regions Newsletter for August!  Enjoy!

Newly released rules apply to mortgage brokers and the companies that employ them, as well as mortgage loan officers employed by depository institutions and other lenders.

It’s common in the industry for Lenders and loan originators to receive more compensation if the borrower accepts an interest rate higher than the rate mandated by the lender (referred to as a “yield spread premium”). With the new rule, the loan originator is not able to receive any payment that is based on the interest rate or other loan terms. This will avert loan originators from increasing their own compensation by raising the consumers’ loan costs, such as by increasing the interest rate or points. Nevertheless, loan originators can carry on receiving compensation based on a percentage of the loan amount – which is a widespread practice.

The Federal Reserve Board announced rules earlier this month to protect homebuyers needing mortgages. These rules will allow them to be able to avoid unfair, abusive, or deceptive lending practices that can arise from loan originator compensation practices. The new rule also prohibits a loan originator that receives compensation directly from the consumer from also receiving compensation from the lender or another party.

The Board found that consumers commonly are not aware of payments lenders make to loan originators and how those payments affect the total loan cost. New rules ensure that consumers who agree to pay the originator directly will not also pay the originator indirectly through a higher interest rate, causing them to indirectly pay more in total compensation than they realize.

Additionally, law prohibits originators from directing a consumer to accept a mortgage loan against there own interest to better compensate the loan officer. The rule is an effort to preserve consumer choice by mandating that consumers get a choice, and that they can choose from loan options that include the loan with the lowest rate and the loan with the least amount of points and origination fees, instead of those that maximize compensation.

The final rules are effective April 1, 2011. The entire Final Rules Document can be found at the Fed Rule Summary Site.

Artist Rendering of Golden Oak

Disney revealed a new luxury community with around 30 single-family residential homes for sale at the Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The community, to be known as Golden Oak, will encompass an area spanning 980 acres and featuring custom homes between $1.5 and $8 million.

The luxury homes are being built in phases, and the first phase will have three options. Village Homes “will capture the romantic look of a Mediterranean village” on a quarter an acre lot of land according to Disney.  Estate Homes will be on half an acre with “a variety of construction styles”; and Grand Estate homes, designed for big families, include sizes ranging up to three-quarters of an acre. The facilities will eventually include a private clubhouse, a planned Four Seasons resort, concierge services,  full spa, and a golf course.

Disney is now taking refundable deposits, but have your check books ready – because they start at $25,000. The first homes are slated to be available in 2011, and the build out will is planned to include 450 homes.

More details can be found at:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/06/golden-oak-luxury-residential-resort-community-at-walt-disney-world/

Last week Robert Bobroff from the Orlando Buisness Journal gave a great presentation in our offices on using the OBJ to generate “FREE” Leads and how the OBJ provides outlets for networking opportunities.  During his presentation he pointed out a great article from Dave Rothfeld, a local management consultant, about getting out in the field and finding business.  We are all guilty of getting caught up in the drama and minutia of our every day real estate business that we often forget to go out and PROSPECT – Get More Buisness!! Regardless if you are a realtor or a professional in another field, this article is a great read about prospecting and personal business development.  Enjoy!via To get business, you must be willing to go out and find it – Orlando Business Journal.

A big welcome to Kathy Duer and Curt Roese who have both recently joined the Realty Executives Family.  Kathy has joined RE Central Florida and Curt has joined the Seminole office.  Both Kathy and Curt bring with them many years of real estate experience.  We are very happy to have both Kathy and Curt on board! Make sure to say hello when you see them around the office.

Building relationships is one of the most effective ways to increase your real estate business.  Creating relationships come easy for most professional real estates agents but growing them to a level that creates income can be challenging.  Staying in touch on a consistent basis with all of your lead sources takes time, energy and dollars.  Most agents fail with this important task because they do not have an effective plan or system to stay in touch with their prospects and clients.  Isn’t it time to take your business to the NEXT LEVEL??  If you are ready, please visit the Tools for Realtors section on my blog.  I have just posted a 3 step marketing plan that was designed to be an easy to follow, step-by-step guide for real estate agents of all levels.  I would be more than happy to work with you as a mentor if you need help putting this plan together.  Don’t let 2010 pass you by… Let’s get moving now and make it your most productive year yet!!