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Arkansas foreclosure filings flare up | South Salem Real Estate
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Daily Archives: March 19, 2013
InmanNext | Social media: Are you in or are you out? Either way, I still love you | Cross River Real Estate
What should I do with my Facebook page? Do I need to be on Twitter? Should I care about Instagram? All questions I get asked, a lot. I don’t mind; I just wish I had an easy answer.
I like to talk about new apps, technology, and of course my beloved Evernote and as much as my life – work and personal – revolves around Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram (oh and don’t forget Untappd! craft beer anyone?) that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. In my eyes that should be a beautiful thing but it can lead to confusion and frustration. Understandably so.
The world of social media is one that I think about a lot. What does it mean now? What will it look like in a couple of years? How will it change and in what new forms will it appear? So many questions to ask and only you can answer them for yourself. I wholeheartedly believe what you get out of something has to do with what you put into it.
Here are three things I want you to chew on:
What is your business plan and where, if at all, does social media fit into that?
Facebook business page or not, I leave that up to you. What kind of time do you have and what are you comfortable putting into it? I’ve talked about going on a vacation from Facebook, but I know people that have gotten rid of it all together. If it doesn’t make sense for you and your business plan, then get rid of it.–>
Twitter is amazing for engagement and conversations with people from all over the world that you may have never met otherwise.
But, if you’re sitting on the sidelines with that funny egg shape as your profile picture that’s not exactly screaming engagement or even that you care. If you don’t take the time to put in a headshot of your handsome/pretty self and fill out your profile and contact information, it’s time to move on, and that’s okay. I’m not here to judge.
Honestly, I love when I meet an agent or broker that knows Twitter is not for them. They got their feet wet and gave it a go. Maybe they even found 15 minutes in the day to do Twitter, but it just wasn’t worth their time. You won’t know until you honestly try.
For some, it’s more of a time suck. Don’t be afraid to go against the flow. Only you will know what your goals and strategies are for you and your business.
How much time do you have to spend on engagement and conversations?
Maybe answering this will allow you to know which pieces of the social media puzzle fit into your life. If you’re not able to respond and pay attention to those around you, Twitter, Facebook, etc. may not be it for you.Is it fun for you? Are you showing people the real you?
Pictures can be worth so much more than the 140 character limit on Twitter. A lot of great people in real estate are using Instagram beautifully. Check out three of my favorites:
1. Greg Fischer, @fischrealestate has a consistent aesthetic behind all things Fort Worth that he shares.
2. Jennifer Kjellgren, @intownexpert shows us who she is as a person and an experienced agent in Atlanta’s Intown neighborhood
3. Brooke Derby, @bderby is another great example showcasing life in beautiful Hawaii.People want to see more to you than just that house you’re trying to sell. Be real! New apps and technologies will continue to come out of the woodwork. Take the time to educate yourself and figure out what works for you. How does all of this relate to your personal goals and strategies for your business?
via next.inman.com
Clinton, Branson Lend Helping Hand to Haiti Forest Initiative | Bedford Hills Realtor
by Allyson Koerner March 18, 2013
Categories: Causes, Environment
Tags: bill clinton, richard branson.
Photo: Flickr, WikimediaTwo very powerful and eco-friendly men are embarking on a new journey and taking their resources to an entirely new level. Former President Bill Clinton and Richard Branson have joined forces in helping the Haiti Forest Initiative.
Last Sunday, Clinton, Branson and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, announced their new social and environmental goal. The Haiti Forest Initiative’s mission is to solve social and environmental problems throughout Haiti. It aims to do just that by bringing sustainable, productive and socially responsible forests to the country.
“I am pleased that my Foundation is working with Yunus Social Business and Virgin Unite,” Clinton said. “Through this partnership, we hope to create a replicable model for programs that demonstrate long-term, positive social and environmental impact as well as economic benefits across Haiti.”
The project will not only bring forests to Haiti – the country lost most of its forests over the last half-century – it will provide affordable food, timber and most importantly employment for residents.
The initiative wishes to accomplish four main goals including the re-forestation of Haiti; providing sustainable livelihoods to farmers; helping mitigate Haiti’s dependency on food imports; and identifying alternative fuel sources to reduce usage of charcoal.
“This project will create much-needed economic opportunities for many and is wonderful way to do something good for our planet and the people of Haiti,” Branson said.
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About Allyson Koerner
Allyson Koerner is a graduate from Emerson College where she obtained her Master’s in Print & Multimedia journalism. Passionate about writing, reading and entertainment, she is looking to make her way into the journalism profession.
via ecorazzi.com
The Market Pulse Survey: 9 Years in Retrospect (Part II) | Bedford NY Homes
The Market Pulse Survey: 9 Years in Retrospect | Chappaqua Real Estate
Home Improvements After the Home Purchase | Pound Ridge NY Real Estate
Experts See Soaring Home Values Busting the Bubble | Bedford Corners NY Homes
A nationwide panel of 118 economists, real estate experts and investment and market professionals expects home values to end 2013 up an average of 4.6 percent and rise cumulatively by 22 percent, on average, over the next five years, according to the first quarter Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey.
Survey respondents predicted home values will rise another 4.2 percent on average in 2014, before moderating somewhat to annual appreciation rates between 3.6 percent and 3.8 percent for 2015, 2016 and 2017. On average, panelists predicted home values to rise 4.1 percent annually from 2013 through 2017, exceeding the pre-housing bubble (1987-1999) average annual appreciation rate of 3.6 percent.
This is the first time the predicted average annual growth rate for the next five years has surpassed pre-bubble levels since the survey’s inception three years ago. “The panel is quite bullish on home prices near-term, considering a pre-bubble average appreciation rate of 3.6 percent per year,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. “That said, their expectations are a bit shy of the home value gains of 5.5 percent that we saw in 2012, implying some moderation in the pace of gains. The panel expectations are consistent with continued strong home value growth this year fueled by tighter-than-normal inventory of for-sale homes and robust demand attributable to high affordability and a stronger general economy.”
The most optimistic quartile of panelists predicted a 6.1 percent increase in home values in 2013, on average, while the most pessimistic predicted an average increase of 3 percent. Through 2017, panelists predicted cumulative home value changes of 22 percent, on average. Expectations for cumulative home value change projections ranged from 34.2 percent among the most optimistic quartile to 11.7 percent among the most pessimistic, on average.
The first quarter 2013 Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey asked the panel to indicate their view of a reasonable timeframe for “winding-down” government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The majority of panelists (59 percent) indicated that a reasonable and appropriate timeframe for winding-down the GSEs is within the next five years. On the opposite ends of the spectrum, 13 percent suggested a timeframe within the next two years, and 10 percent said they believe a period of more than 10 years is sensible.
