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Are July Prices Signaling the New Normal? | Bedford Corners Homes

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While extremes continue in some markets, the national trend in Clear Capital’s July data is moderation as markets at both ends of the spectrum stabilize and return to historic patterns.  Has the New Normal arrived?

Clear Capital reports that national home prices gained 9.3 percent over the last year and 1.6 percent over the last quarter. Yet national home prices remain 33.4 percent below peak values.

Regional yearly gains were led by the West’s 17.8 percent, while the Northeast trailed with 4.8 percent growth. The Midwest and the South continued to closely track, with yearly gains of 7.5 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively.

The top 15 performing metro markets, exhibited impressive yearly gains, with average growth of more than 20.0 percent. 14 metros posted yearly gains above 15.0 percent.

Las Vegas yearly gains grew to 31.2 percent, the first metro to surpass 30.0 percent since the start of the recovery. Quarterly gains of 4.3 percent, the strongest of all the metros, signal this metro could retain its number one spot over the near-term. While Las Vegas leads the recovery, its median price of $145,000 ranks it below 35 of the top 50 markets. This suggests low price points are in part driving Las Vegas’ gains. Conversely, San Jose has seen gains of 26.0 percent over the year, despite its high median price of $710,000, an indication that demand is fueled by a strong local economy. As such, these two markets will likely see a variance in their trends moving forward.

“While July home prices continue to ramp up throughout the country led by Las Vegas posting more than 30.0 percent yearly growth, let’s not forget a healthy recovery means moderation as the new normal takes hold” said Dr. Alex Villacorta, vice president of research and analytics at Clear Capital. “Over the last half of 2013, we continue to call for a moderation in home price trends. A rising price floor will dampen some potential homebuyers’ appetites, particularly as recent gains bring many markets back into pre-bubble equilibrium. In other words, homebuyers are starting to adjust to the new normal, where steep discounts from the peak are not as attractive as they once were. Having said that, if housing inventory continues rising, it should help alleviate some of the recent pressure on prices, as well as homebuyer’ confidence in the market’s health overall.

 

 

read more…

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/08/are-july-prices-signaling-the-new-normal/

 

How the Top 100 Global Brands use YouTube for Marketing | Bedford Corners Realtor

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Pixability just released a study called, “The Top 100 Global Brands: Key Lessons for Success on YouTube,” which showed how these companies (based on Interbrands’ top 100) have been using the platform.  From these findings, Pixability was able to derive some lessons that all marketers can use.  And they studied everything: what are brands doing with multiple channels, how they used social media, were they properly targeting the ads, did they post consistently, do some brands have channels that are basically dormant, and so on.  What are the best brands doing on YouTube?  Read on.

Top 100 Brands & YouTube: Key Takeaways

Here’s something that has probably been said on this site more than any other thing:

SEE ALSO: How VidIQ Grows Audiences: Announces YouTube Marketing Suite for Brands

1. Post content consistently.

The most successful brands publish 50 percent more videos per channel than the least successful ones.  They do it on a regular schedule.

2. Take YouTube SEO seriously.

Citing its place as the 2nd-largest search engine in the world, behind only its parent company Google, Pixability says discoverability is key.  YouTube SEO is very different from traditional SEO, and Google favors web pages with YouTube embeds.  The best 25 percent of brands optimize their videos properly, utilizing more playlists and tags than the bottom 25 percent.

3. No need for overproduction.

The best brands produce a variety of content.  This goes back to what Baljeet Singh said when referring to one of the biggest myths on YouTube.

4. Always On

The top brands integrate their video strategy with their offline strategy.  17 of the top 100 brands use less than 50 percent of their channels.  Brands should not be afraid to create web series for limited, but highly engaged audiences.

5. Put your brand on everything where it makes sense.

The top brands put the logo in the video and in the metadata.  Why is putting it in the video important?  Because people aren’t always watching your content on your channel.  The regular watch page on YouTube and any embed isn’t likely to have your branding anywhere, so use it where you can.  But don’t go overboard and start sticking it in so many places that you create brand fatigue.



Source: How the Best – Top 100 Global Brands use YouTube for Marketing http://www.reelseo.com/top-100-brands-youtube/#ixzz2bi8l6xqm 

 

 

How the Best – Top 100 Global Brands use YouTube for Marketing.

Australian House Prices Jump Most in 3 Years on Rate Cuts | Bedford Corners Homes

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Australian house prices rose by the most in more than three years in the second quarter as home buyers responded to a series of interest rate cuts by the central bank since November 2011.

Home prices across Australia’s eight major cities jumped 2.4 percent in the three months to June 30 after a revised 0.8 percent gain in the first three months of the year, according to an index of established homes released by the statistics bureau. The rise was the biggest since the first quarter of 2010, beating the median estimate of 15 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News of a 1 percent increase, and sent the index to the highest level since it was established in March 2002.

 

The Reserve Bank of Australia, which today continued its easing cycle with a 25 basis-point cut of its benchmark interest rate to a record-low 2.5 percent, is rebalancing the economy toward industries including residential construction as the mining investment boom fades. The cuts have boosted housing demand, with the number of homes available for sale in the biggest cities falling 2.5 percent in July from a year ago, according to real estate data provider SQM Research Pty.

“This is further confirmation that the housing market is starting to stir,” said Matthew Hassan, senior economist at Westpac Banking Corp. (WBC) “Lower interest rates have been the key catalyst, with the improvement in June, July and August coming after the last interest rate cut in May.”

Mortgage Rates

National Australia Bank Ltd. (NAB) said it will reduce its variable mortgage rate by 25 basis points to 5.88 percent from Aug. 12, following the central bank’s decision today. Westpac Banking Corp. and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) are reviewing their rates, and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. will consider its loan rate on Aug. 9, according to the respective spokesmen at the banks. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.

 

Australian House Prices Jump Most in 3 Years on Rate Cuts – Bloomberg.

Housing helps jobs with increased construction employment | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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What’s happening in housing is often an indicator of what’s happening in the economy. According to a report released today by the Department of Labor, the economy created 162,000 jobs in July, missing forecasted estimates. In other words, housing is helping jobs more than jobs are helping housing.

Trulia (TRLA) Chief Economist Jed Kolko noted that, despite a slow quarter for construction activity, residential construction employment continues to outpace employment overall. Year-over-year, residential construction is up 4.5% — ahead of overall national employment growth of 1.7% — an indicator that housing is putting more jobs on the market.

From its previous peak, construction employment is down 38%, while construction activity has dropped 56% from its previous peak.

However, job growth remains slugging for young adults, who are key to household formation, and job growth remains behind normal numbers in the metros that were hit hardest in the housing bust, aka the job market isn’t improving enough to give a strong boost to housing demand.

 

 

Housing helps jobs with increased construction employment | 2013-08-02 | HousingWire.

3 Unique Ways to Use Pinterest for Business | Bedford Corners Realtor

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Does your business have a clear Pinterest strategy?

Have you been struggling to figure out howPinterest could help market your business?

Pinterest represents a massive opportunity for both consumer-focused and business-to-business companies.

In this article, I’ll show you three ways to build a successful Pinterest presence for your business.

tips for a winning strategy

Strategy plays a vital role in success on Pinterest.

#1: Increase Your Brand Authority

Do you want to establish authority in your field? This is a common goal for many businesses on Pinterest.

Middle Sister Wines positions itself on Pinterest as an authority in the wine industry by creating several Pinterest boards that provide useful and educational informationto their followers while promoting their products in fun ways.

middle sister wines on pinterest

Middle Sister Wines.

You don’t have to create all the content that you pin on Pinterest. To help position yourself as an authority in your field, share from a carefully vetted combination of sources to ensure your boards contain the most accurate and useful information available.

Middle Sister’s Wine Tips and Tricks board contains videos from their YouTube account, alongside resources from other industry experts. The board addresses topics such as how to pair wine with food and what type of glass should be used to serve different kinds of wine.

Follow Middle Sister Wines’ lead and pin relevant and helpful resources. Your followers will come to think of your account as the go-to place for reliable information about your subject. And as you increase your authority, you’ll continue to build trust, which could lead to increased customer loyalty and referrals from brand advocates.

 

3 Unique Ways to Use Pinterest for Business | Social Media Examiner.

World’s biggest offshore wind farm will be built in Lincolnshire | Bedford Corners Homes

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Plans to create the world’s biggest offshore wind farm off the coast of Britain have been approved.

Work on the massive Triton Knoll site – 288 giant wind turbines off the Lincolnshire coast – can now begin after the £3.6bn project was given the go ahead.

It will dwarf Britain’s current largest offshore facility, the 175-turbine London Array in the Thames Estuary unveiled last week by David Cameron.

Go-ahead: An offshore wind farm off the coast of Skegness in Lincolnshire

Go-ahead: An offshore wind farm off the coast of Skegness in Lincolnshire

When complete, the new giant windfarm will generate 1.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power for 820,000 homes.

But critics say it will not come without a cost, as offshore power is currently subsidised by the taxpayer at three time the wholesale price of conventionally-produced electricity.

And the scheme is not without controversy. As part of the project, energy giant RWE are proposing building a substation the size of 30 football pitches connected to the offshore turbines, in the Lincolnshire countryside.

 

 

World’s biggest offshore wind farm with 300 turbines will be built in Lincolnshire | Mail Online.

Buyer Procrastination? No Thanks | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Plenty of people offer plenty of theories about what exactly selling is. Here’s my theory: Selling is about persuading someone to make a decision.

 

Trying to sell a job in one call isn’t easy. You’re there to get a decision, and it’s human nature to procrastinate. The bigger the decision, the more likely prospects are to put it off.

The sales process itself sets you up for this. If you’re selling the way you should be, you’re asking a lot of open-ended questions. You reach the end of your presentation and move to close. Now you’re asking a question that’s not open-ended but requires a yes or no answer. And yes or no is often the answer people are least inclined to give. They’d rather put off making the decision.

Need To Think It Over

They put it off with objections that are often excuses. Have you ever had a homeowner say, “I’ll think it over and call you back tomorrow”? Have they told you they can’t decide without consulting a friend, colleague, or relative? Certainly you’ve heard that they can’t make a decision without more estimates. And you’re familiar with the delay tactic: “I never make an immediate decision.”

Sometimes these aim to send you politely on your way. But let’s assume you’ve been at the prospect’s house for two hours and you’ve done a great job presenting yourself, your company, and your product. You go to close — Can we do business tonight? — and they tell you they need to see a few more estimates.

Instead of walking away, challenge the prospect by making them accountable. Ask “Who else are you seeing and when?” Or “Do you really want to sit through four more window company presentations?”

Let’s say the reason they give for not buying is that they want to talk to someone else. You can ask them what it is that they want to talk to the other company about. Let’s say the reason is that they never buy without thinking it over. OK, so why is that? What exactly do they need to think through? Maybe you can help them with that process.

Keep Them Talking

Prospects will answer the questions you ask because people are conditioned to answer. By challenging the excuses they give for not buying, you get them to say what’s really on their minds. It may be they’re not so much avoiding a decision as feeling you out in an effort to get better terms. OK, now you can negotiate. You also reestablish control of the conversation. That means you can direct the conversation to a certain purpose, which is to close them a second time or a third time. But if you want the sale, you have to keep them talking. Silence means the sales appointment is over. —Jake Jacobson is vice president of sales at Premier Window & Building, a Maryland home improvement company. Reach him at trainyes@verizon.net.

Phoenix housing market sees ‘boomerang buyers’ sooner than expected | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Early in the housing crisis, financial experts estimated it might take up to seven years for people who lost a home through a foreclosure or short sale to qualify for a mortgage to buy again.

Thousands of new Phoenix-area homeowners are proving the experts wrong. These “boomerang buyers” — so called by real-estate insiders because they were out of the market and have now come back — have returned as a major market force much earlier than expected. Many buyers are qualifying for a new loan only a few years after defaulting on their last mortgage.

Boomerang buyers are expected to account for almost one in every five home sales in metro Phoenix this year, according to a national housing analyst. That’s double the projected U.S. rate.

The boomerang phenomenon is being driven by several factors. Many former owners face rising rents, and now that their finances and the housing economy are more stable, they want to own again. And many of these tens of thousands of metro Phoenix families who are renting are attractive to mortgage backers and some lenders again because they have rebuilt their credit and because any purchases they make add strength to the real-estate recovery.

“Probably 25 to 30 percent of the borrowers calling us now have had a short sale or foreclosure in their past,” said Mike Metz, managing director of Scottsdale-based Sun State Home Loans.

Lenders and government agencies backing mortgages do require steep down payments and decent credit scores from most boomerang buyers. The sooner a loan application comes after a foreclosure or short sale, typically the more up-front money is required.

These former homeowners, like many other prospective buyers, are scrambling to make a deal before home prices and interest rates climb too high.

“Foreclosed homeowners who are now renting are in a panic,” said John Burns, a national real-estate analyst.

Metro Phoenix has a bigger pool of potential boomerang buyers than most areas. More than 250,000 houses in the region were foreclosed on during the crash, and 80,000 other borrowers sold homes through short sales to avoid foreclosure.

Approximately 22,000 home sales, or 19 percent of all home sales, in metro Phoenix this year will involve boomerang buyers, according to an estimate by Burns’ company, Irvine, Calif.-based John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

“Phoenix is the third-biggest U.S. market for boomerang buyers,” Burns said. The California metro areas of Riverside-San Bernardino and Los Angeles are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

The many prospective buyers also face a challenging market in metro Phoenix because of the shortage of the number of affordable properties for sale.

Buying again

Phyllis Borchardt is one recent boomerang buyer.

She and her husband, Larry Fetkenhauer, bought a Sun City Grand home in May for $138,000, blocks from the house they had rented for three years. The couple had moved from Temecula, Calif., in 2005 and bought a house for $250,000 in Buckeye.

As home prices fell and Phyllis’ business as a real-estate agent brought in less money, the couple tried to refinance to lower their mortgage payment through the federal Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP. After submitting documents to their lender for a year, the couple still weren’t approved for a loan with a lower interest rate. Then, in 2010, Fetkenhauer lost his job as a kitchen designer at one of the big-box home-improvement stores.

 

Phoenix housing market sees ‘boomerang buyers’ sooner than expected.

11 Brilliant Ways to Crush It on LinkedIn | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Are you using LinkedIn?

Personally I’ve spent most of my social media energy on Facebook.

But lately I’m thinking I should pay more attention to LinkedIn — since millions of businesses are thriving there.

I know LinkedIn has made a ton of important changes over the past year — many of which have caught my attention.

And their mobile app is better than Facebook’s!

So here’s a list of the best resources I could find on LinkedIn. Enjoy & please let me know if they’re helpful.

11 LinkedIn Resources You Can’t Miss

How to Effectively Use LinkedIn For Business

by Kim Garst

According to Kim, LinkedIn is an amazing tool to promote your product or service. It’s a place to start conversations with others in your niche.  It’s a place where having an up-to-date profile can land you your next big opportunity. And if you know how to use it well, the networking & growth potential is astounding.

3 LinkedIn Tools to Grow Your Presence on LinkedIn

by Ian Cleary

LinkedIn can be a very valuable tool for your business but only if you’re using the right LinkedIn management tools? In this article Ian outlines 3 tools that will really help you grow your presence on LinkedIn.

5 Creative Ways to Use LinkedIn Company Pages

by Social Media Examiner

Here Social Media Examiner gives us five brands using their LinkedIn company pages creatively. Check out what these businesses are doing so you can learn to tell your story, generate leads & engage your communities through your LinkedIn page.

LinkedIn: Revolutionizing the World of Recruiting [Infographic]

by MarketingProfs

To find out how LinkedIn is transforming job recruiting, the folks at MarketingProfs did some indepth research. It turns out HR folks aren’t flipping through resumes & paperwork anymore to help companies fill positions. Instead, they’re searching through profiles on LinkedIn, their go-to source for quality recruits.

Turn Your Profile Into Your Portfolio on LinkedIn

by Marketing Pilgrim

LinkedIn now lets you set your profile up to function as a portfolio! So if you have a visual backlog of work, you need to read this post to see how to make it stand out on LinkedIn.

How to Boost Engagement on Your LinkedIn Company Page

by Social Media Examiner

In a recent LinkedIn study, 50% of company followers said they’re more likely to purchase products & services from a business they engage with on LinkedIn. Here are 5 simple ways to boost engagement with your LinkedIn followers.

LinkedIn: Unlock Your Potential on the World’s Largest Business Network

by Kim Garst

LinkedIn is a powerful tool when it comes to finding potential employees, searching for a dream job & expanding your network. It easily outdoes any online job board in all of these areas. Kim covers some easy-to-follow ways to unlock your potential on LinkedIn — and maybe land your dream job.

How to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job

by The 60 Second Marketer

Most people know LinkedIn is used to find new jobs. But are you leveraging LinkedIn in the right way to do that? In this post, the 60 Second Marketer gives you some practical tips on how to land your new job via LinkedIn.

 

 

11 Brilliant Ways to Crush It on LinkedIn – Yahoo! Small Business Advisor.

10 kitchen storage essentials under $10 | Bedford Corners Real Estate

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Garlic keeper

Thanks to a lid that blocks out sunlight and a small grid of ventilation holes, garlic lasts days longer when kept in this tiny terra cotta pot. Garlic Keeper, $9. crateandbarrel.com.

 

 

10 kitchen storage essentials under $10 – MSN Living.