Real Estate Listing doesn’t have to be a back-breaking experience. It doesn’t have to be expensive either. Countless people have listed real estate property for little to no money, and a majority of these people are likely to have listed their properties on the Internet according to Findmyroof.com. The web site offers its users 100% free nationwide real estate listing service in the United States. Some of the places where real estate listings can be posted are in real estate directory sites, Internet classified advertising listings, and auction sites. Furthermore, some independent real estate agents will even have their own websites created where they will showcase some of their finest properties for sale. Real estate and investment properties can also be listed in many local news publications which have classified ads in them, and these advertisements are usually published in print form and on the Web.
Listing a home online is very easy. All a person usually needs to do is register for a free account, or pay for a real estate listing account either as a one-time monthly fee or per listing. Then, they will put all the information requested in the required fields on the real estate entry page. Usually if a person needs help with listing a piece of real estate online they can find it by reading the FAQ section of a site, or the Help section of a site. In some cases further real estate listing assistance is offered via e-mail, or even by phone. When a person lists a home, recreation property, business, or other item online it is important to offer as much details as possible about that particular real estate. This means that descriptions of homes included on a real estate site should indicate details such as how many rooms, baths, or garage stalls a home may have.
Furthermore, any extras that the home may have with it that are included such as pool, new kitchen appliances, sauna, bar, deck, fireplace, basement, recreation room, and so forth should also be listed. The type of home that it is should also be listed as well. For example, potential buyers need to know if it is a ranch style home, cottage, two-story home, townhouse, condo, or other type of residence. The square footage of a home should usually also be included in a home listing.
Business and commercial real estate should include similar details, such as how many bathrooms it is or how many acres of land are included. The square footage of the property should also be indicated as well, and whether or not the building is new, used, or just recently renovated. Usually it is good for a real estate sales person to also include a floor plan of the entire commercial property. For investment property such as hotels, cottages, resorts, or amusement parks, the same principles would apply when listing that item for sale on the Internet.
In addition to all of the above, usually when a seller lists a building, piece of property, home, or resort for sale there usually is information posted about the exact location or address of a place. Furthermore, extensive photo or video coverage of a building or property usually is displayed which further helps buyers know what they would be buying. Contact information would also be necessary to include in case the buyer wants to make contact with the seller about the property or real estate for sale.
Archive for the ‘Real Estate Listings’ Category
Real Estate Listing Made Simple
Sunday, June 20th, 2010How to Design a Powerful Real Estate Listing Presentation
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010A powerful real estate listing presentation is key to becoming a top producer. Everyone in real estate knows, the agent who controls the listings, controls the market. Regardless of who sells the listing, you get paid. So how do you become a master at listing real estate. Follow these steps and I guarantee you’ll secure more listings and gain control over your business.
Make sure when you set the appointment for the listing presentation, all decision makers will be present. Explain to the seller what’s going to happen. You’ll be meeting with them to gather information about the property and their needs.
Then you’ll do your research and set up a second appointment to discuss your marketing strategy and pricing recommendation.
The first visit is your opportunity to see the property, build rapport, trust, and determine the sellers needs. When you’ve accomplished that on the first visit your chances of walking out with a saleable listing on the second visit greatly increase.
Remember, your in charge. Your the expert. So take control.
When I sold real estate, I put together a three ring binder that contained information about me, my company, articles about pricing, condition and other related topics. A copy of a listing presentation. The awards I had won. Certificates from courses I had completed. And most important, pages and pages of testimonials from satisfied clients. I left it with the seller during my first visit.
By leaving it with the seller until the second visit, you give them an opportunity to fully study it instead of letting them browse through it while sitting with them at the kitchen table.
Now it’s time to do the research. 90% of my time on most real estate listing presentations was spent on research.
Prepare your CMA with sold, active, expired and FSBO’s. Don’t forget the FSBO’s. List the pricing history and days on the market. Drive the neighborhoods and take pictures of the properties. Make note of the positives and negatives in comparision to your sellers property?
Become the neighborhood expert!
Next, prepare your pricing strategy. What’s price range will get the property sold in the sellers time frame? What possible objections could the seller have to your pricing strategy? What’s their net proceeds and does that amount meet their needs?
Now you prepare for the listing presentation. Layout exactly how you’ll present all the information. You should already have a generic listing presentation. Now customize it to fit the particular needs and situation of this seller.
Spend time developing and rehearsing your presentation. Prepare for all possible scenarios. The more prepared you are, the more likely you’ll walk out with a saleable listing. One last thing, fill out the listing agreement with all the information, except the price.
You’ve done your research and preparation, now it’s time to present.
Arrive at the house a few minutes early. Gather your thoughts and take a minute to visualize the outcome you want before going to the door. See them signing the listing agreement at your recommended price.
When you get in the house, begin to establish rapport immediately. Spend as much time as necessary to warm them up and gain their trust.
Direct the sellers where you want them to sit at the table and continue to build rapport. Don’t cut yourself short on this part. Rapport and trust are key ingredients to your success.
Ask for the notebook you left during your first visit. That will bring up any comments they want to make about you, your company and other issues covered in the notebook. It’s a great way to get the listing presentation started.
When you feel the time is right, lay out the agenda. Let them know what you’re going to cover and in which order.
Get agreement on the agenda before you continue.
Review the needs they expressed during your first visit. Make sure everyone is clear on what the sellers needs are and get an agreement on them. Establish goals that both you and the seller can agree on. Make sure you cover this step thoroughly before you proceed.
Next, talk about your company, yourself, how you’re different and why they should hire you. Present your detailed plan for marketing their home. Use what ever visual aids you’ve prepared to emphasize your points. The binder you left with them is a great tool to use at this time.
Once you’ve established your credibility and expertise, get an agreement from them that you’re the best person to list their home. Handle any objections that arise up to this point before moving on to the price.
Now it’s time to go over the CMA. Show them all the research you did, the pictures you took, how you drove through the neighborhoods, called the FSBO’s. Everything you did to arrive at your suggested price range. This will also set you apart from the competition. Even though other Realtors may do the same things, few will explain it in such detail.
Once you present your recommended price range, show them how much money they’ll net. Then handle any objections they raise.
When you’ve reached agreement on price, go over the filled in listing agreement and enter the ageed upon price. Hand them the pen and show them where to sign.
Take the time now to let them know what will happen next.
A powerful real estate listing presentation is to the point and focused on the desired outcome of the agent and seller. Be professional, stay focused and you’ll create a win – win situation for everyone involved.
Arizona real estate listings
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009Arizona Real Estate Listings
Are Enticing Purchasers
Arizona real estate listings are disappearing like never before! Back in the month of January of 2001, at the height of the real estate bubble, there were 114,402 Arizona real estate listings. The following year, as builders kept making new upscale residences, that number had risen to 125,738. Over the next few years, housing stock fluctuated: up to 133,424 in 2003, back down to 127,625 in 2004, up to 143,988 in 2005, up to 173,363 in 2006 and down to 165,615 in 2007 and 162,181 in 2008. Then, in 2009, something strange occurred : Arizona real estate listings dropped sharply to an amazing 62,653! Despite the recession and all the tales of “doom and gloom” across the nation, the Phoenix MLS was reporting nonstop house sales. From January to February, 1,095 homes sold. Housing inventory began to creep back up from February to March, but March to April witnessed more than 3,000 Arizona real estate listings disappear! The latest figures from June exhibit that houses are still moving by the hundreds.
So what gives? What makes Arizona real estate listings and Phoenix real estate listings such hot commodities? One would logically assume that builders and sellers are simply slashing prices to easily entice buyers into foreclosed properties. However, the Arizona Real Estate Multiple Listing Service reports that prices have remained stable. In March 2009, the average price of new listings in the Phoenix MLS was $247,507 and in April 2009, the average Arizona real estate listings price had actually gone up to $251,019! By May, the average price had dropped back down to $247,508, which shows that surely list price cannot be the primary motivator for these unbelievable sales. (Although it should be noted, the prices have come down a modest $18,102 since 2001.)
Despite the list prices, the average sales price of Arizona real estate listings have been tardily, but steadily, rising since the March low of $159,080. In April, sale prices crept to $159,681 and in May, they skipped up to $163,486, which shows a market on the rebound. The majority of houses in the Phoenix MLS are selling between $150,000 and $350,000, indicating a balanced market.
There are many possible reasons for the rise in sales of Arizona real estate listings. One is the low mortgage interest rates, which are well below historic averages, alluring purchasers to “get in while the getting’s good.” Another reason is that big home auctions are getting desirable properties into the public’s eye. Thirdly, in April, Arizona received $121 million in funding to aid bolster its housing market, renegotiate mortgage loans and stop real estate foreclosures. The Phoenix real estate listings region received the most cash, with $39.4 million going to aid homeowners. Some homeowners are saving as much as $20,000 off the price of their Arizona real estate listings through a program called “Your Way Home AZ.” Lastly, the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit offered through the federal government until December 2009 is exciting new homeowners. Arizonans are realizing that Phoenix real estate listings offer stable prices, fair market values and excellent opportunities.
Quality Real Estate Listings=quicker Sales
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Real Estate Listings: Compete with Quality
Introducing your real estate for sale in a well thought out listing is the first introduction your prospective buyer will have for the property. The real estate listing should be complete and the facts contained in the listing should be accurate. The prospective buyer should find the listing easy to understand and tempting enough to make them motivated to learn more and come out to view the property. As technology moves forward with advances in print and the internet getting the attention of buyers can be an easier assignment.
How many times have you read a real estate listing with vital information left out? Basic things like number of bedrooms or the amount of property tax paid. On the other hand others put in such an excessive amount of information, or with nothing by abbreviations that the prospective buyer will just move on to the next listing. You can’t go wrong starting with the basics. Numbers of bedrooms, if raw land the zoning, size of the lot and so forth. Detail the properties most attractive selling points like large lot, or remodeled master suite or location. Color pictures always support the written real estate listing.
Your real estate listing should not only be factual but honest. Many prospective buyers invest a lot of time and energy to get out and view properties. They are therefore not likely to appreciate finding that the home they see listed as lakefront property is actually overlooking the lake from a block away and has lake access. There really is a difference. The more inflated the claims, the less likely buyers will be willing to work with a property owner. Since buyers ultimately want to feel good about their purchase, it is better to be honest and show credibility than to be dishonest and run the risk of having no one to sell to. Plus in many areas it’s against the law not to disclose all the facts about the property.
Online real estate listings are a great option to marketing a home. Visualization plays an extremely vital role when it comes to marketing a property and the internet is a perfect venue for creating stunning visual portfolios. The number of technological advances, such as the 360 degree camera shot, allows prospective buyers to pan around and see a property from every angle without ever having to leave the comfort of their home. This is a bonus for those who find themselves in need of a residence in an entirely different city or state. Properties with these types of listings are also likely to get a higher number of views as compared to the conventional real estate listing.
Studies have shown in a variety of sales situations, everything being equal, that you’ll make the sale sooner and closer to the asking price if a larger number of prospective buyers are motivated to take the next step and view the property. So with a proper balance of facts, technology and good old fashioned sales savvy will go a long way toward selling your property.
The Benefits of a Good Faith Estimate and Pre-approval When Buying Real Estate
Monday, October 26th, 2009Most real estate purchases are bought with loans so getting a good faith estimate and pre-approval letter from your lender helps the process start off on the right foot. The good faith estimate, or GFE for short, is required by law to be provided by lenders when you are seeking a loan. It lists out the estimated closing costs, monthly payments, and interest rates for the loan program you are looking at getting. The pre-approval letter is provided by lenders once they have run your credit and get your income / debt information. By getting the GFE and pre-approval letter, you can be confident that the loan will get processed with no surprises. There are also additional benefits to getting pre-approval and GFE before you even begin the property search. For one, by discussing your debt to income ratio with your lender and obtaining the GFE, you can determine your maximum price. It helps to know the maximum sales price when shopping around so that you do not waste time and energy looking a over-priced properties, and also vice verse, you do not waste time and energy looking at under-priced properties. You can find an area in your price range that fits your needs and narrow down your search. You also will determine your monthly payments with the GFE. The monthly payments should include the property taxes, insurance, principle, and interest plus any private mortgage insurance (PMI). If the monthly payments are higher than you wanted, then you can adjust your sales price to be lower. Another reason to get your pre-approval and GFE before starting your home search is that you may find out some issues with your credit or financial situation that you could clean up before moving forward with a purchase. For example, the first time I bought a house, I found out that I had a $50 charge on my credit report from 3 years ago, which brought my credit score down. And with a lower credit score, I would have gotten a worse interest rate on the loan. I say ‘would have’ because I was able to pay off this collection and clear up the ding on my credit before going into the loan underwriting process. Finally, by getting a pre-approval letter, you have proof for a seller that a lender has confidence in being able to fund the purchase on your behalf. This helps with presenting offers and negotiating. Many sellers will not even accept an offer unless it is accompanied by a lender’s letter. Furthermore, if you do not have a letter, the seller may counter higher given that he feels he is taking on more risk that you may not be qualified for the loan amount. Also, if you happen to get into a multiple offer situation, your offer will be much stronger with a pre-approval letter.
What to Look Out for in Commercial Real Estate Listings
Saturday, October 24th, 2009Choosing to buy commercial property is a big decision. You require a high level of investment and have to ensure that you don’t make a costly mistake. A number of websites provide commercial real estate listings of properties for sale. These lists are regularly updated. One can search these lists to gain a general idea of the quality of the properties that are available within a given budget. The prices of commercial real estate typically vary according to their location, size, and quality of construction. If you are planning to invest in commercial real estate, you should look at these lists these lists. Looking at these lists requires a great degree of skill, as it is important to read between the lines to uncover the true value of a listing.
Find out how many Commercial Property Listings there are in your local area
Your first step should be to find out what the best locations to buy commercial properties are. Often you will find that certain areas will have a high density of commercial real estate for sale, be wary of such pockets lest you find yourself buying a ticket aboard a sinking ship. Although it may cost you more money at times, make it your mission to find an area where companies such as your own have a proven track record of doing well.
Once you find an appropriate property from a commercial real estate listing, perform a thorough inspection before you buy Commercial Real Estate. While you may feel that a thorough inspection is not necessary as you are not going to be living there, this could not be further from the truth, as this is a business premises inspection it is just as prudent to thoroughly examine as a residential property.
Are you Buying Commercial Property in a Rural or Urban Setting?
When you look at a commercial real estate listing, the type of development where you are purchasing commercial real estate is very important, for instance if you are in a rural setting then you will be looking for very different features than if you were looking for a ware house for sale in an urban setting. Another thing to consider if you are in a rural setting is the cost, you can expect to pay lot less to be in a less developed area but if you are in a more developed district, especially a retail shop for sale or lease inside the city center you can expect to pay a premium.
Will you be buying this Commercial Property to rent out?
It is also important to consider whether you are buying commercial property for your company to actually move into, or whether you are going to rent it out to someone else. If your goal is to own the commercial property to let, then don’t get hung up on want you would like to see when buying commercial real estate, rather find out what the widest possible market is looking for in a commercial property for lease and acquire something that fits that description.
What are the tenant’s assets and liabilities?
It is a good idea to obtain a financial statement from the potential tenant that is occupying the space that you buy. The financial statement will list the tenant’s assets and liabilities. This will give you a good idea of how financially stable the tenant is. Would you like a tenant with $0 cash in the bank, a negative net worth, and credit problems? The answer is of course, no. Once again it’s surprising how many commercial investment property owners don’t do this and find out after the fact that it’s something they shouldn’t have done in the first thing. Now, this is all pretty easy as long as you do a good job of checking out the tenant in the first place.
While on the face of it a commercial property listing may appear straightforward, it is important to dig deeper and find out more before signing on the dotted line. Don’t be afraid to ask the right questions. Only when you are absolutely sure that all your questions have been answered to your satisfaction, you should proceed with the purchase.
The Residential Real Estate Selling Process in Austin Texas
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Decide to Sell
Deciding to sell your home is a big decision. The first step in this process should be to understand your motivations, expectations, financial considerations, goals and what you plan to do upon the sale of your home. Many people begin the sale process with unrealistic expectations or unclear goals. It then becomes difficult to meet their goals because these goals have never been clearly defined. You must begin to view your house, no longer as your home, but as an investment property that you want to market.
Setting the Price
Of course one of your most difficult questions is the listing price of your house. What price should you ask? This is an important part of the sales process. If you set the asking price too high, you may scare away buyers. Agents who feel that your house would not be a good investment may not even show the house. After the house sits on the market for a while, people begin to feel that there is something wrong with it because it hasn’t sold. Even if you could sell your house for an inflated price, many times a lender won’t approve a loan on a house that doesn’t appraise for that amount and the sale might fall through at the last minute. If you under price the home, you won’t realize the maximum potential of your investment.
Marketing Plan
Decide on incentives that to be offered to buyers, determine the best places to advertise, and determine how to show the home. Remember that that goal is to sell the home for the highest price, in the least time, with the fewest hassles.
Prepare the Home for Showing
There are two important ways that you can have an impact in making your house attractive to buyers: property condition and listing price. After deciding on a listing price, setup an appointment with a decorating company. They will give you some suggestions for making your house look its best. This process is called “staging.” The suggestions might be simple such as clearing cluttered counter tops. Or they might be more involved such as painting front doors or repairing obvious defects.
The staging company will look at your house from room to room and will offer advice on how to make each room show great. They will also look at the exterior street appeal, backyard and garage. They have a lot of tips that can make your house shine. After this meeting, you will have a list of what you should do to prepare your house for sale. Following these suggestions in a timely manner will ensure your home shows at its best.
Remember that “staging” addresses the appearance of the house and not necessarily other problems, which might become evident during an inspection. An inspection will uncover most defects that eventually may have to be repaired. In this way you can have the repairs done before a potential buyer’s inspection uncovers a defect that might cause a buyer to either change his mind or to want a substantial repair allowance deducted from the price. It is a signal to buyers that you are a responsible, reputable seller. It also allows you to have plenty of time to schedule any work that might need to be done.
Offer a residential service contract to buyers. This guarantees the major appliances in your home as well as other systems and structures. You can also include coverage for your house while it is on the market so you don’t have to pay for any unexpected repairs.
Marketing the Home
Now the fun begins. Here are some ideas that can be used to promote your home.
It is important for you to keep your house in perfect condition everyday because buyers or agents might come by at any time. Keep the kitchen clean, make your bed every morning and keep clutter out of sight. It is especially important to keep pets and pet odors under control. Some wonderful added touches are fresh flowers and potpourri or freshly baked cookies.
As agents and potential buyers begin visiting your home either virtually on the Internet or in person, try to obtain feedback from the buyers. Make changes to the showing state, condition, and price as feedback deems necessary.
The Offer and Negotiation
You have an offer, now what? Sometimes the buyer will offer you the asking price and have no special requests. In this case, you sign that you accept the offer. Sometimes, the buyer’s offer is a lower price and might have other requests. You should consider what is best for you and make a counter offer. Consider carefully your response because if you counter offer, there is no guarantee that the buyer will respond again. Also remember that, once agreed upon and signed by all parties, an offer becomes a legally binding contract. Never get involved in oral offers and negotiation. If you verbally accept an offer, a buyer has no legal obligation to buy the house and may want to continue to bargain with you to see how low a price you will accept.
No matter how well you have prepared your house and how fairly you have priced it, there is always the possibility of receiving a low offer. It could be a limit to the buyer’s ability to purchase. Don’t take it personally and react angrily. This is business, it’s not personal. You can either reject the offer or make a counter-offer. Try to find out as much as you can as to why the offer was low. Certainly if other offers come in very low or if your home is not being shown or not receiving any offers consider adjusting the pricing.
Once the buyer and seller agree on the terms, the buyer will have the home inspected. If there are any problems that are found during this time period then the buyer can withdraw from the contract. The buyer might request that you complete certain repairs before closing or that you contribute a certain sum of money at closing to cover these repairs. If this happens, try not to let contract fall through. After the limited time period is up, the buyer is legally bound to buy your house unless they are denied financing. In the event of cancellation, the buyer would lose any earnest money. One exception to this is in the case of the buyer not receiving funding from the lenders. In that case then the buyer is not held responsible. For this reason, always ask the buyer’s agent for a letter showing that the potential buyer has been prequalified for a loan and, once a contract is signed, ask the buyer’s agent to keep you informed of the buyer’s loan application progress.
Closing
The exciting day is finally here! Verify in advance that all of the paperwork is in order. Request a copy of the HUD1 statement sheet so that you can read over it before closing. Feel free to ask any questions either before the closing or during the closing itself. Typically this is when you relinquish possession of the house so take the keys to give to the new owner.
Finding Online Commercial Real Estate Listing
Thursday, October 15th, 2009The commercial real estate business is definitely picking up, and now may be a good time to invest. In past few years, prices of commercial real estate properties rose exponentially – 26 percent for apartment complexes, 21 percent for industrial properties, 14 percent for retail properties and six percent for office buildings. The first step to buying commercial real estate property is knowing what you are buying. Commercial real estate refers to any real property, excluding a dwelling, or property with one to four dwelling units used for residential purposes. The phrase “commercial real estate”" consists of (but is not limited to) properties used for industrial, commercial, medical or educational purposes, and properties with four or more units used for residential purposes.
When people need to relocate, apart from hiring expert movers and packers, and making all the necessary arrangements, it is also important to locate appropriate housing facilities. Online real estate listing companies, place available property in different categories. This differentiation depends on property area and its value. Real estate listing online companies may charge a service fee for listing, and are paid a commission as and when a listed property is sold or bought. Listing companies use property management software that enables them to present their lists online in a systematic manner. Property details that are made available are short and concise and do not include property addresses, or owner/buyer contact numbers. This prevents interested individuals from contacting each other directly, undercutting the listing company. However, when available, many listing companies will provide photos of the properties or floor plans.
Listing companies work with a large network of specialized estate agents. Online real estate listing is a flexible option for both buyers and sellers as they are time efficient. These listing can be viewed from outside the state and country because they are online, so they save people the time of heading out to look at properties that aren’t right for them. Online real estate listing company agents accompany interested clients on their visits to a prospective property, once they have chosen the property from the list.