MELNICK JOINS WILKINS ORGANIZATION

Stroudsburg – Melanie Melnick, Realtor, has joined Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates as a Salesperson in their Stroudsburg office. Melnick took the required courses and passed the examination to receive her Pennsylvania Salesperson’s license. Melnick attended the Pocono Real Estate Academy.

Over the years, Melnick has accumulated 20 plus years experience in sales, primarily in the food industry, most of which were in management positions.

Said Dennis Mooney, Company Recruiter, “Melanie scored extremely high in the Simulator test that we ask all our new perspective agents to take. It’s a service we subscribe to and the Simulator really gives us an assessment into the applicant’s sales skills, assessing their knowledge and also a personality assessment illustrating the prospects’ characteristics as compared to successful real estate agents.”

The Wilkins organization also has free in-house training that covers such areas as Listings, the Agreement of Sale, Rentals, Internet Marketing and other one-on-one courses to teach conduct and salesmanship.

Melnick is originally from Long Island, New York, lives in Blue Mountain Lake Estates and has lived in the Poconos for the past 6+ years.

Melnick was recruited by Dennis Mooney, Vice President/Associate Broker.

Selling homes since 1988, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates services the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow area, historic Milford and all towns in between. Better Homes and Gardens Realtors handle listing, rentals and sales of primary, vacation and starter homes, as well as estate and farm properties. Buyer services include first and second home buyers, relocation buyers and transferees. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates have three offices in the Pocono Mountains. All offices are open 7 days a week. Visit Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates online at www.wilkins1.com.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS WILKINS & ASSOCS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS EXPLORER GLOBAL AWARD

Addison, Texas – Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates has received the Explorer Global Reward presented by Global Home USA in recognition of their selling home warranties to buyers in 2010.

Global Home USA, located in Addison, Texas, sells home warranties throughout the United States.  The home warranties cover major operating systems and appliances regardless of age, make or model for a buyer when they purchase the warranty at closing. Said Thomas P. McDonough, Director of Sales, “The Wilkins organization is our main representative for Northeast Pennsylvania.  2010 was Wilkins’ first year, but it seems like they’ve been in the home warranty business for a lot longer.  They do an excellent job representing buyers (and sellers) with home warranties.”

Said Dominick J. Sacci, Pres, “There’s no doubt about it, a home sells quickly when there’s a home warranty attached to the sale of the property; especially attractive when you have a foreclosure and are not sure of the condition of the appliances and such in the home.  It’s an added value to the sale.”

The Explorer Global Award will be presented to Wilkins at the February quarterly Sales meeting at which time top Realtors who sold the home warranties will also receive recognition for the job they did in 2010.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates services the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow area, historic Milford and all towns in between. Better Homes and Gardens Realtors handle listing, rentals and sales of primary, vacation and starter homes, as well as estate and farm properties. Buyer services include first and second home buyers, relocation buyers and transferees. Visit Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates on line at www.wilkins1.com

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates Announces Top 5 Realtors That Produced Most Business For the Independent Family of Home Buying Services

Stroudsburg – Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates announced the top 5 Realtors® that produced the most business for the Independent Family of Home Buying Services, a program unique to the Wilkins organization.

The top five Realtors® were James Martin, Todd Hallman, Mike Meilinger and Sylwia Sacci of the Stroudsburg office and Barbara Nannery of the Bushkill office.

The five were announced by Dominick J. Sacci, President.  The criteria for being named as a top producer of the Independent Family of Home Buying Services focused on those agents that most successfully used the Family members which include Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Pennsylvania First Settlement Services, “Get-Connected” and Small & Son Insurance.

“These top agents understand the benefit to the buyer and the speed by which we can close a transaction when the agent makes sure that the buyer utilizes all of the Family services. It makes for a very smooth transaction.” stated Sacci.  “We’re expecting the Independent Family to be even stronger in 2011 than it was in 2010 because of its success in 2010.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates operate 2 offices and cover the entire Northeast Pennsylvania region.  All offices are open 7 days per week.  For more information visit them at www.wilkins1.com.

The Poconos- One of THE TOP 10 PLACES TO BUY A HOME IN 2011

Last decade’s bipolar housing market is over. The ups, the downs, the thrills, the spills — largely behind us. Yes, prices and sales are stuck in neutral in large swaths of the country.

But let’s ring in the new decade optimistically, with Walletpop’s Top 10 List of the Best Places to Buy a Home in 2011. This mostly unscientific and partially biased list is based on a grab-bag of lifestyle priorities and, yes, thorough reporting.

Here we go, in no particular order:

Austin, Texas: Best all-around city
Population: 799,267
Median home price: $122,921

Why here: Texas’ capital and a great college town, Austin is beautiful and the 12th-most-affordable American metro area. Job growth from 2000 to 2010 was 14.1 percent, according to Trulia; unemployment currently is 7.1 percent, compared with 9.8 percent nationwide. The city’s population is growing too. These positive indicators are expected to continue in the coming decade. Fortune 500 companies abound here; it’s home to more than 2,000 tech companies. Home prices are reasonable for the $73,747 median family income and let’s face it, nobody does BBQ better than Texas.

Deerfield Beach, Fla.: Most affordable town with a view
Population: 74,584
Median home price: $89,400

Why here: There may be cities with lower median prices (not many), but I’m guessing you need a down coat to live there. This burg comes complete with year-round warm weather and beachfront properties that not too long ago cost a bundle ($400,000+). It’s close to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, where residents can go for professional sports and cultural events.

Broomfield County, Colo.: Best jobs
Population: 55,000
Median home price: $239,000

Why here: Jobs! It also doesn’t hurt that the county is tucked between Denver and Boulder, so the scenery is nice too. Job growth in this area exploded 50% during the last decade. High-tech giants Oracle, Ball Corporation and VMware employ lots of folks, and IBM and Avaya are nearby. If you’re college-educated, you’re in good company: About 38% of the county’s residents hold a bachelor’s or higher degree, according to the Broomfield Economic Development Corporation. If you ski and hike, we’re talkin’ bliss!

Durham, N.C.: Best city to retire in
Population: 223,284
Median home price: $174,900

Why here: Since we’re talking about retiring, first on the list of pluses is Duke University’s renowned medical center. Also, Duke’s popular senior learning program offers 100 courses every term, on campus. So if golf’s not your game, but mathematics is, there you go. If, however, golf is your game — you’ve got that too. Plus Broadway hit shows, concerts and lots of places to hike. Home prices are a steal for what you get.

Woodbury, Minn.: Best place to raise kids
Population: 58,515
Median home price: $245,000

Why here: There are so many great places to raise kids, but this suburb 10 miles from St. Paul has a lot going for it. Yes, winters are cold (not a small thing), but it’s Minnesota — we’re talking thousands of lakes. Woodbury has 100 miles of trails for hiking and biking, and is a stone’s throw from thousands of acres of parkland. The schools are great, including the Math & Science charter school. 3M employs multitudes, as does state government. What’s not to like? OK, the winters. Deal with it.

Warner Robins, Ga.: Best military town for the buck
Population: 53,629
Median home price: $124,900

Why here: Located midway between Atlanta and Savannah, Warner Robins’ housing affordability is the big draw. The median price of a home is $110,000, while the median family income is about $63,000. That leaves some extra dough to hit the local aviation museum, motor speedway and golf club. The city’s main employer is the military (home of Robins Air Force Base), bringing engineers and employees from around the globe, so the population is eclectic. The city fared well during the recession.

Madison, Wis.: Best college town
Population: 562,000
Median home price: $199,900

Why here: A gem of a city located between two lakes, Madison is where it’s happening in the Midwest. Home of the state’s capital, it’s got a top-rated, Big 10 university (with all the sports and cultural events that come with it); affordable housing; tons of eateries and shopping; smart people; friendly atmosphere. You don’t have to be a student or the parent of one to buy a home here. A never-ending supply of renters keeps your investment solid. You may end up living here yourself.

Pocono Mountains, Pa.: Best vacation-home location for the price
Population: 340,000 for the whole region
Median home price: $78,000 for Pocono Lake; prices vary throughout the region

Why here: Year-round playground, with skiing in winter, equestrian activities in spring, summertime sailing and hiking in autumn. You can get a two-bedroom home with 1,256 square feet for $99,999 in Mount Pocono; a three-bedroom cottage in 1,255 square feet is listed for $139,000 in Pocono Pines, according to HomeAwayRealEstate.com.

Portland, Ore.: Best city for Gen-Y
Population: 551,302
Median monthly rent: $1,200

Why here: It’s green (literally and figuratively) and it’s gorgeous. Rents are a bit higher, but some big companies pay well, such as Intel, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Legacy Health System, Fred Meyer Stores. The attitude is way-laid back and there are tons of venues for merry-making: music clubs, coffee shops and art galleries. When it’s not raining, you can bike through the city, hike Mt. Hood and hit the zillions of hiking trails nearby.

San Francisco: Best city, period, price be damned
Population: 815,358
Median home price: $682,800

Why here: If you have to ask … The Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Bay, the hills, the views, the museums, street cars, cable cars, clubs, nightlife, architecture, coffee houses, bookstores for bibliophiles (City Lights, anyone?), hiking and biking everywhere, Tony Bennett (OK, just in your head), famous hotels and restaurants. Yes, it’s foggy in summer, but who cares?

Sources, median home prices: trulia.com and zillow.com

Homeowners Recoup More with Exterior Replacement Projects, REALTORS® Report

RISMEDIA, December 16, 2010—As part of the 2010-11 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® recently rated exterior replacement projects among the most cost-effective home improvement projects, demonstrating that curb appeal remains one of the most important aspects of a home at resale time. “This year’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report highlights the importance of exterior projects, which not only provide the most value, but are also among the least expensive improvements for a home,” said National Association of REALTORS® President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “Since resale value can vary by region, it’s smart for homeowners to work with a REALTOR® through the remodeling and improvement process; they can provide insight into projects in their neighborhoods that will recoup the most when the owners are ready to sell.”

Nine of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects. The steel entry door replacement remained the project that returned the most money, with an estimated 102.1% of cost recouped upon resale; it is also the only project in this year’s report that is expected to return more than the cost. The midrange garage door replacement, a new addition to the report this year, is expected to recoup 83.9% of costs. Both projects are small investments that cost little more than $1,200 each, on average. REALTORS® identified these two replacements as projects that can significantly improve a home’s curb appeal.

“Curb appeal remains king—it’s the first thing potential buyers notice when looking for a home, and it also demonstrates pride of ownership,” said Phipps.

The 2010-11 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 80 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 13th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine.

REALTORS® provided their insight into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets. Overall, REALTORS® estimated that homeowners would recoup an average of 60% of their investment in 35 different improvement projects, down from an average of 63.8% last year. Remodeling projects, particularly higher cost upscale projects, have been losing resale value in recent years because of weak economic conditions.

According to the report, replacement projects usually outperform remodel and addition projects in resale value because they are among the least expensive and contribute to curb appeal. Various types of siding and window replacement projects were expected to return more than 70% of costs.

Upscale fiber-cement siding replacement was judged by REALTORS® as the most cost effective among siding projects, recouping 80% of costs. Among the window replacement projects covered, upscale vinyl window replacements were expected to recoup the most, 72.6% upon resale. Another exterior project, a wood deck addition, tied with a minor kitchen remodel for the fourth most profitable project recouping an estimated 72.8% of costs.

The top interior projects for resale value included an attic bedroom and a basement remodel. Both add living space without extending the footprint of the house. An attic bedroom addition costs more than $51,000 and recoups an estimated 72.2% nationally upon resale; a basement remodel costs more than $64,000 and recoups an estimated 70%. Improvement projects that are expected to return the least are a midrange home office remodel, recouping an estimated 45.8%; a backup power generator, recouping 48.5%; and a sunroom addition, recouping 48.6% of costs.

Although most regions followed the national trends, the regions that were consistently estimated to return a higher percentage of remodeling costs upon resale were the Pacific region of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington; the West South Central region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; the East South Central region of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee; and the South Atlantic region of the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

The regions where REALTORS® generally reported the lowest percentage of costs recouped were New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont); East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin); West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota); and Middle Atlantic (New York and Pennsylvania).

“It’s important to remember that the resale value of a particular improvement project depends on several factors,” said Phipps. “Things such as the home’s overall condition, availability and condition of surrounding properties, location and the regional economic climate contribute to an estimated resale value. That’s why it is imperative to work with a REALTOR® who can provide insight and guidance into local market conditions whether you’re buying, selling or improving a home.”

For more information, visit www.realtor.org.

LTS Builders Sees Sharp Increase in Home Sales With Newly Priced Home and Land Packages from $178,900

East Stroudsburg, PA – LTS Builders, the Poconos’ leading home builder for 34 years, and its skilled team of architects, construction managers, and home financing professionals have sharpened their pencils to create home and land packages starting from $178,900. LTS customers are responding with enthusiasm to the new, low price point developed by LTS Builders to satisfy the home buyer’s need for cost effective homes which complement modern family living.

“Our new home and land packages are resulting in our briskest sales of the year,” expresses Rita Smith, Director of Sales. “Our customers excited about the amazing value they are receiving.”

The increase in LTS Builders’ home sales is also a reflection of the changing home buying climate as federal interest rates have started to rise.

Smith explains, “LTS customers are savvy and realize that interest rates are on the rise; this is motivating our customers to take advantage of their buying power and the cost savings available now before the interest rates creep any higher.”

Also inciting a flurry of sales activity at LTS this month was the debut of a new series of LTS Builders home designs. These exciting new home styles are efficiently sized and feature packed, offering families affordable luxury and enhanced lifestyle. The new styles are available in 3 or 4 bedroom floorplans and can be personalized with any number of featured items shown in the new must see LTS Builders Design Studio.

“At LTS Builders, we listen to our customers,” conveys Smith. “We have incorporated all of the most desired home details in an economical package that meets the needs of today’s buyer. People are really excited about these new floorplans; they are exactly what our customers are looking for.”

LTS Builders combines the industry experience, award-winning home designs, and choice of beautiful home sites in the best locations to make dream homes a reality for each of its customers. LTS Builders also has access to financing options that offer low interest rates and give the customer superior buying power. Bringing this all together with premium home features and incomparable LTS quality translates to the lowest cost of home ownership in the Poconos.

Additionally, LTS Builders offers home buyers the closest locations to New York and New Jersey, with scenic surroundings and easy access to area shopping, schools, and more. With so many benefits to the customer, it is easy to see why LTS Builders continues to be the region’s home building leader year after year.

Now is the time to visit LTS Builders and see for yourself why LTS Builders is the Poconos’ leading homebuilder for 34 years running. Call 1-800-LTS-5432 to schedule your tour of LTS Builders communities and model homes, open every day. Appointments are filling fast; be sure to call now. To visit, take the GWB to I-80 west into PA, then take Exit 309 onto Rt. 209. LTS is 1 ½ miles ahead on your right. Check out www.LTSbuilders.com for more information.

Tips to Keep Your Home Safe & Sound

RISMEDIA, November 1, 2010—The well-being of our family is a priority all year, but is especially considered during the holidays when statistics about accidents abound. Most of us, with the possible exception of Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, take extra precautions for the holiday season. If you’re buying or selling a home, here are a few tips for safety and security that ensure a safe and happy home during the holidays, and all year long.

1. Protect little ones.
Whether you are preparing for a visit from your grandkids, nieces and nephews, or you have kids of your own, a child-proofing kit makes safety easy with grip-and-twist doorknob covers, latches and plug protectors.
• Child-proofing kit (Safety 1st, #42023), oven lock (Safety 1st, #62342), cord channel kit (#69682)

2. Mark and secure entries.
The holidays can be prime time for burglaries, but updating your locks with an electronic deadbolt system can provide added peace of mind. If you install a set with a numeric keypad, you’ll never have to worry about leaving keys for your guests again. Mark your entry with path lights that clearly guide the way to the door.
• Deadbolt entry set (Schlage, #40179), LED metal path lights (Portfolio, #284341)

3. Clear the air.
Place an air purifier in the guest room and common areas to remove allergens (especially pet dander) and prevent the spread of cold and flu germs. Choose one with a true HEPA filter for maximum effectiveness.
• 200 CADR air purifier with UV-C (Idylis, #302654)

4. Be fire smart.
With holiday lights, candles and lots of cooking in the kitchen, it’s important to be prepared. Safeguard your family by keeping an extinguisher on hand for small fires, and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Check the batteries frequently to make sure they are in working order.
• Basic fire extinguisher (Kidde, #3741), voice-alert carbon monoxide/smoke alarm (Kidde, #143036)

5. Equip your bath.
It’s a snap to convert your guest bath into a safer place for older guests and young children. Add a grab bar to make getting in and out of the tub easier, and a durable bath mat to help prevent slips in the shower.
• Bath safety bar (16½ -inch, #191936), rubber bath mat (Style Selections, #6777)

For more information and ideas, please visit www.lowescreativeideas.com.

This article is adapted from Lowe’s Creative Ideas for Home and Garden®, November/December 2010 issue, Style & Solutions – Home Safety.

4 Reasons Why Buying A Home Now Is Taking Advantage Of An Opportunity Of A Lifetime

RISMEDIA, September 17, 2010—(MCT)—As the economy continues to suffer and home prices continue to fall, numerous Americans across the country are staying away from the real estate market. But, if you are looking to take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime, now is the perfect time to get off the sidelines. Playing by your own terms may be the name of the game today. Ask for price reductions, improvements, closing costs—whatever—and sellers, who are desperately trying to get a contract, are very likely to work with you, said Jay Papasan, one of the authors of the book Your First Home.
If all the pieces are in place—you’re qualified to buy a home, the purchase makes sense for your situation and you’re prepared to live in the home for at least five years—according to Papasan and the experts at ForSaleByOwner.com, the following reasons should be motivation enough to get you back in the market.
1. You have a large inventory to choose from
In many places it is taking months to sell a home, which is creating a lot of inventory for those looking to buy. A large selection of homes on the market gives buyers more choices and drives down prices as well. And home sellers have gotten the picture—it’s fair to say that home sellers have become “increasingly desperate,” Papasan said. “People who have had for sale signs in the yard for six months are starting to become in tune with the reality of the situation,” he said.
2. Builders are offering big discounts
Homebuilders are getting even more aggressive with their pricing today. In fact, Eddi Fadel, author of Don’t Rent, Buy! recommends looking at completed new homes first because builders are offering such steep discounts. Plus, you’d have a warranty not only on the home itself, but also on the home’s appliances, he said. “Builders want to save their credit, save their brand, save their reputation and clear out inventory,” he said. “They can go buy cheap land today with that cash.” His advice: Walk in with a preapproval for a mortgage, make an offer, then walk away without making a deal if you have to. Chances are, a builder will call back and reconsider that offer rather than let a potential buyer get away.
3. Mortgage rates are historically low
It’s not just the price of the home that will affect affordability; mortgage terms will also affect your monthly payments. In fact, according to Bankrate.com’s weekly national survey, mortgage rates moved lower this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate retreating to 4.54%. Rates on the popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage came in at 4.54%; 15-year fixed-rate mortgages were down to 4.00% and 5/1 ARM mortgages were as low as 3.78%. But low rates don’t mean lenders are handing out mortgages easily. You’ll still need good credit, a substantial down payment and a willingness to document your income in order to qualify for these great rates—if you can qualify at all. In addition, low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today’s record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. This allows new homeowners to have a little give to absorb any ups and downs as housing market continues to gain traction.
4. Houses are in move-in condition
Many homeowners have decided to wait out to the market and instead stay in their current home and take care of home improvement projects to make the home feel like new again. Because of this, many homes coming onto the market today are in good condition and ready for buyers to move in.
2009, MarketWatch.com Inc.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

9 Killer Content Creation Ideas for Your Real Estate Blog or Website

RISMEDIA, September 2, 2010—What’s the number one absolute best way to get more organic traffic to your real estate blog, website or lead capture pages?

Content creation. (“But, what on earth am I supposed to be writing about or videoing, and how will it get me business?”)

We’ve talked about this concept a number of times before, and a few months ago we detailed a plan for how this might work, called the 2010 Real Estate Broker Market Domination Plan. The plan itself lays out a strategy for how you might go about creating an architecture for leveraging agent created content to zoom the GCI of your office or team, but it doesn’t go too much into specifics about what kind of content you might create.

So here’s a list of possible topics you and your team might be contributing to a central real estate blog monster site on a regular basis.

9 killer niche content creation ideas for real estate agents and brokers:

Before you read the rest of this, imagine that you have one person on your team assigned to each of these ideas, with the requirement that they deliver the related content to the site you own on a regular basis. Or if you are a single person shop, simply pick one or more and make it your job to create one piece of content for your real estate blog or website each and every day.

1. Weekly market update – Take a 5 minute video or screencast interpreting data from your MLS and the general mood amongst buyers and agents in order to deliver a public update on the state of the local real estate marketplace

2. Daily/weekly transaction report - Cut and paste the reported transactions from your MLS as this will garner a lot of organic traffic especially long tail stuff related to property addresses in your area. Be sure to include “real estate sales transactions” in the title of each post—wherever you are, people are searching those keywords.

3. Restaurant of the week - Want to charm the pants off of a local restaurant owner and provide a valuable resource for folks relocating to your area? Do a restaurant review once a week and be sure to include a picture of your dish and why you loved it so much. Chances are good that especially for smaller restaurants and markets, your post will rank organically for people doing a direct search of the restaurant name.

4. Business of the week – This is the same as the restaurant idea listed above: recommend doing actual video tours of each business highlighting the coolest service/product to buy from the place. Can you see this helping you gain top of mind status with the local business owner, then a bunch of referrals as he talks you up to other patrons?

5. Local dog parks – People moving to your area with pets are going to do a search engine search for dog parks in the area. Talk about a non-competitive keyword.

6. “Where in (insert your area here)?” - Take a random photo of a person, place, or thing in your area and post it to your site. Offer a prize to the first reader who guesses what the picture is. Be sure to offer an e-mail signup for folks to receive your latest pictures so they can be one of the first to take a guess.

7. Weekly neighborhood news update – Give each agent in your office an assigned neighborhood and require a piece of hyper local content. Run with this for a month and see what happens to your recruiting/retention efforts.

8. Resident interviews – Interview someone in your area and ask them what they like about their town, what they like to do, where the best place to grab a drink with friends is and anything else along those lines. This is an easy way to generate content that’s interesting to onlookers.

9. Contract chronicles – Grab a clause from one of your real estate forms and tear it to pieces—a nice way to demonstrate competence while creating content that’s sure to be indexed and searched. If you don’t already have an article and a downloadable copy of the standard “Residential Lease” for your state on your website, be sure to get this on your site now.

Here’s the thing, the content you create today will most likely equal traffic to your website tomorrow, next week, next month, next year and probably years and years for now.

If you invest a few minutes creating content for your website today, it’ll pay off for years to come.

If you get 20-50-100 agents in your office each investing a few minutes a week to create content, it’ll pay off for years to come, help you establish local market dominance and make your website the most valuable asset your business has—your piece of cyberspace could be worth 6 figures a year from now if you play it right.

Now that we’ve given you nine great ideas, find out the simplest way to put those ideas into action (hint: its video) by visiting http://realestatevideotoolbox.com.

Josh Schoenly and Ryan Hartman are co-owners of ReTechulous, LLC.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Survey Says.. Homebuyers Are Ready To Move From The Sidelines

RISMEDIA, August 30, 2010—Are more Americans positioning themselves for home purchase? Although May’s data showed that home sales were down 26.8% as the home buyer tax credit concluded, a new survey conducted by Relocation.com suggests some families are opting for renting while they research—cash in hand—for deals on a new, more desirable home in their area.
Among the key findings of the survey: Of the 60% of individuals moving into rentals, 24% were previous homeowners who are renting temporarily while they look for a new home to purchase. Underscoring this finding is the fact that for many of these families, foreclosure was not the reason for moving—in fact, the number of consumers who moved due to foreclosure dropped by 70%.
Furthermore, many of these families stayed in the area (one in three made a short distance move of 100 miles or less), opting to remain in a location where they already know their schools, shopping districts and prime neighborhoods.
“While the housing market continues to flux from month to month, we’re seeing strong, continued interest as consumers looking to move start their research with us,” said Relocation.com Chairman and Founder Sharon Asher. “These findings suggest that more Americans may be poised to re-enter the housing market this year.”
The Relocation.com survey was conducted in early June 2010 and is a continuation of consumer surveys conducted since March 2009 to gauge moving and relocation attitudes and behaviors.
For more information, visit www.relocation.com.
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

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