Black History Month: Books to Learn About Racial Disparities in Real Estate
In honor of Black History Month, we're sharing a list of books that highlight previous and existing racial disparities, biases, and discrimination within the real estate industry. It's important to learn about the ways our industry has perpetuated racial disparities and erected barriers to Black and African-American people. The Voucher Promise: Section 8 and the Fate of an American Neighborhood by Eva Rosen The Voucher Promise examines the Housing Choice Voucher Program, colloquially known as "Section 8," and how it shapes the lives of families living in a Baltimore neighborhood called Park Heights. Eva Rosen tells stories about the daily lives of homeowners, voucher holders, and renters who receive no housing assistance, and the landlords who provide housing. While vouchers are a powerful tool with great promise, she demonstrates how the housing policy can replicate the very inequalities it has the power to solve. Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor By the late 1960s and early 1970s, reeling from a wave of urban uprisings, politicians finally worked to end the practice of redlining. Reasoning that the turbulence could be calmed by turning Black city-dwellers into homeowners, they passed the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, and set about establishing policies to induce mortgage lenders and the real estate industry to treat Black homebuyers equally. The disaster that ensued revealed that racist exclusion had not been eradicated, but rather transmuted into a new phenomenon of predatory inclusion. The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein In this groundbreaking history of the modern American metropolis, Richard Rothstein, a leading authority on housing policy, explodes the myth that America's cities came to be racially divided through de facto segregation—that is, through individual prejudices, income differences, or the actions of private institutions like banks and real estate agencies. Rather, The Color of Law incontrovertibly makes clear that it was de jure segregation—the laws and policy decisions passed by local, state, and federal governments—that actually promoted the discriminatory patterns that continue to this day. Family Properties: Race, Real Estate, and the Exploitation of Black Urban America by Beryl Satter The "promised land" for thousands of Southern blacks, postwar Chicago quickly became the most segregated city in the North, the site of the nation's worst ghettos and the target of Martin Luther King Jr.'s first campaign beyond the South. In this powerful book, Beryl Satter identifies the true causes of the city's black slums and the ruin of urban neighborhoods throughout the country: not, as some have argued, black pathology, the culture of poverty, or white flight, but a widespread and institutionalized system of legal and financial exploitation. American Apartheid: Segregation and the Making of the Underclass by Douglas Massey and Nancy Denton American Apartheid shows how the black ghetto was created by whites during the first half of the 20th century in order to isolate growing urban black populations. It goes on to show that, despite the Fair Housing Act of 1968, segregation is perpetuated today through an interlocking set of individual actions, institutional practices, and governmental policies. In some urban areas, the degree of black segregation is so intense and occurs in so many dimensions simultaneously that it amounts to "hypersegregation." The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America by Lawrence T. Brown The world gasped in April 2015 as Baltimore erupted and Black Lives Matter activists, incensed by Freddie Gray's brutal death in police custody, shut down highways and marched on city streets. In The Black Butterfly—a reference to the fact that Baltimore's majority-Black population spreads out on both sides of the coveted strip of real estate running down the center of the city like a butterfly's wings—Lawrence T. Brown reveals that ongoing historical trauma caused by a combination of policies, practices, systems, and budgets is at the root of uprisings and crises in hypersegregated cities around the country. *All book summaries were sourced from goodreads.com. To view the original article, visit the Rental Beast blog.

Keep Your Education Going for Your Business' Health
Being an agent is more than just helping with residential or commercial transactions. It's about nurturing your relationships and educating your client base to make the processes that much easier to handle for all parties involved. However, there is a facet to real estate that isn't often recognized: education. Education Goes Beyond Continuing Education Classes While continuing education classes and the credits earned are an essential part of having a successful career in real estate, there's more to your education as a successful real estate agent. In fact, an agent should go above and beyond just the real estate licensing exam and National Association requirements. Think beyond the basic definition of "continued education." Continued education also refers to understanding the tools within your vertical, how they change, how practices change with them and ways to integrate them into your everyday processes. On top of your tools changing, the platforms where your tools are most likely to reach others outside the real estate industry also have their own sets of rules. For example, best practice for social media is to post between 15 and 30 times a week, depending on your preferred platform. On top of learning those best practices, you may need to break down the psychology behind why certain pitch lines work over others, or why some email subject lines are getting more attention over those you may have painstakingly created. Maintaining your education beyond real estate courses is a great way to keep your skills sharpened while staying openly informed about the changes in both the digital landscape and within the industry itself. Ask Your Broker for Direction If you're struggling with a place to start for your furthered education, ask your real estate broker. While a brokerage firm may have their set requirements for maintaining your education, they may have additional resources for those hoping to expand beyond their current position. If your broker doesn't have exactly what you're searching for, open conversation for more educational resources trending with the industry and consumers. They may be able to negotiate with companies and services to provide trainings within the office. Best Business Practices Should Always Be Top of Mind As a real estate professional, you should always think of your real estate business as a living facet of your career. Maintaining the best business practices, such as developing a personal growth plan or content marketing strategies, is an assured way of maintaining your professional presence and helping your business grow to scale. Being a new member of the industry out to get your license or seasoned within the market, always find ways to scale and maintain your business. Keep your education at the top of everything you do, acknowledge where you could learn more, and adapt to ensure you and your clients are getting the most out of your business. Want to boost your expertise? Explore education with Elm Street Academy Elm Street Academy offers online and in-person educational experiences that are designed to educate, entertain and inspire. Whether you are just starting your business journey, or are a seasoned professional looking to "up your game" with the latest tech tools, marketing masterminds, and on-going continuing education, Elm Street Academy is focused on supporting you every step of the way. Explore all Elm Street Academy educational opportunities here.

New Classes for Real Estate Agents Unlock How to Work with Home Builders
HomesUSA Alliance, founded by the real estate industry giants Ben Caballero and Bob Hafer, is offering in September and October new real estate agents coursework on how to work with home builders. Open to all real estate agents nationwide, Texas agent can earn coveted continuing education credits required to maintain their active state real estate license status. Real estate agents completing the six classes offered over two days will receive a new home sales certification. The Alliance has already helped over 4,000 real estate sales professionals learn to work with home builders better. Available remotely via Zoom, agents can sign up online for the two-day certification at the HomesUSAAlliance.com website here. The next two-day certification is set for Wednesday and Thursday, September 14 and 15. Hafer, who created and taught the coursework, notes the September classes include "Building Your Real Estate Business Through New Home Sales," "Everything You Need to Know About New Home Construction," "How to Recognize a Green Built New Home," "How to Successfully Negotiate with a New Home Builder," "Understanding New Home Builder Contracts and Addendums," and "New Home Blueprint for Realtors." Then in October, HomesUSA Alliance is offering two classes: "Building Your Real Estate Business Through New Home Sales" on Wednesday, October 12 and "Everything You Need to Know About New Home Construction" on Thursday October 13, 2022. The Texas Real Estate Commission approved the classes for continuing education (CE) credits. Agents can earn 11 credits from the six courses during the two-day program. Individual classes are priced at $29 each and the two-day certification is priced affordably at $160. Once agents complete all six CE courses, they will earn their New Home Sales Certification from HomesUSA Alliance. "Having a niche can make an agent’s business rich," said Ben Caballero, America's top new home sales specialist and No. 1 ranked real estate sales professional. "Agents who learn how to work with home builders gain a specialization that can help them grow their business significantly," he added. Hafer points out that the Texas Real Estate Commission requires agents to take 18 hours of approved Continuing Education credit every two years. "Agents can complete about two-thirds of their two-year requirement in just two days by taking these classes online," he said. "Most importantly, agents unlock how to work with builders – and that’s not available anywhere else," Hafer added.

Friday Freebie: The Simplified Homebuyer Guide
Leverage it as a lead gen magnet, or use it to educate clients -- this week's Friday Freebie offers double the utility. This free guide can be placed behind a lead capture form, or given to buyer clients to help guide them through the home purchasing process. Keep reading to learn how to download your free copy. Free download of The Simplified Homebuyer Guide, courtesy of Zurple The homebuying process is complex, and buyers have a lot of questions. The Simplified Homebuyer Guide aims to answer buyers' questions and give them resources like worksheets and timelines to move them through the buying process. That's great for agents. After all, an educated buyer is a buyer that is best able to compete in today's market. In addition, if you're looking to target leads, this guide lists homeownership benefits and reasons for working with an agent. Here's what else this comprehensive guide offers: Homeownership benefits for moving hesitant buyers off the fence Why buyers should work with an agent Common mistakes to avoid Flow chart of the homebuying process Overview of how mortgages work Worksheet of home features for helping buyers evaluate listings Homebuyer questionnaire Homebuying game plan with write-in deadlines for staying on track Glossary of common real estate terms And more! Download The Simplified Homebuyer Guide now to educate buyers and capture new leads!

Reduce Buyer Frustration with Effective Financing Education and Preparation
Money may or may not buy happiness, but you for sure need it to buy a house. For most people that means getting a mortgage. Thirty-five percent of frustrated homebuyers in the WAV Group Homebuyer Frustration Report pointed to the mortgage process being a source of their frustration. One respondent in the study suggested, "There needs to be more workers in the mortgage field to make it run faster." Buyers just want a seamless experience from home search to the closing table. This is one of the reasons more brokerages have started offering ancillary services such as title and mortgage. Financing complications or delays are a constant struggle in any market, and when the market is moving fast and is super competitive, like it has been recently, it can get even more stressful. Here are some important points your team should add to their initial buyer education consultation. Review Their Credit Report Even if there is nothing incorrect or alarming to find on the report, it is quite likely that there is something on their report they could clarify or update which may get them a better score and possibly a better rate on the mortgage. So it is certainly worth the effort. Suggest they do this BEFORE trying to qualify for a mortgage. Get Organized Buyers will need to track down their tax returns, print out paystubs, and if they are self-employed, they will want their profit and loss statements for at least two years. There will likely be delays with the mortgage company processing documents. Do not add to that delay by not having the documents ready to submit and re-submit when requested. Get Pre-Approved Even before they find a house to make an offer on, buyers need to know how much they can afford. The pre-approval letter is an important step in the process, but it is not the end of the road. Buyers need to understand that there is still more work to be done once they find the house they want to buy. Put the Mortgage Company on Speed Dial Once a house is selected, there is an entirely different approval process before the mortgage will be ready to fund. Buyers should be prepared to stay in touch with the lender throughout the process, and the agent should be tracking the process as well. They should proactively check on the status of the mortgage consistently once the offer is made until it is ready to fund on closing day. Even the most prepared of buyers can sometimes get frustrated. As another respondent in the WAV Group Homebuyer Frustration Report said, they wish there were "Clearer financial requirements to close." As a neutral third-party, your agents can act as part counselor and part advisor for homebuyers trying to figure out the mortgage process. Sometimes they will just not understand what the mortgage company is asking for, or why they are asking for it. If your team can explain a term or help them get a document, that can help relieve some of the stress. Get all the insights and data from the WAV Group 2022 Homebuyer Frustration Report to see how you can set your next buyer up for a smoother home buying experience. Download now! To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Grow Your Business with Monday Morning Mentor
Have you heard the exciting news? Due to popular demand, the ever-popular Monday Morning Mentor series hosted by Elm Street Academy is back! This refreshed series will offer jam-packed, yet bite-sized sessions filled with impactful education to help you improve your business. This series has provided action-oriented information to thousands of real estate professionals, and we can't wait to dive back in with YOU! The Monday Morning Mentor series will provide insights on topics such as: Social Media Strategies Brand Building Marketing Expertise Lead Generation Best Practices Lead Engagement Mastering Tools and Technology And much, much more! Whether you have joined Elm Street Academy in the past for Monday Morning Mentor or you are just hearing about it, we are looking forward to spending our Mondays with YOU! Join us LIVE every Monday on the Elm Street Facebook page or catch us on-demand. To receive updates about the exciting content that will be covered each week, sign up HERE. [SIGN-UP FOR MONDAY MORNING MENTOR ALERTS]

Friday Freebie: 2022 Home Seller's Guide
With record-high housing prices comes record-high commissions. However, getting a listing in today's low inventory market? It can be a challenge. That's why in this week's Friday Freebie, we're highlighting a free guide for home sellers that's great not just for educating existing clients, but as a lead magnet to attract more seller prospects. Read on to learn how to get your free copy! Free download of the 2022 Home Seller's Guide template, courtesy of Zurple Selling a home is an involved and complicated process. When consumers are beginning to consider selling, they first research what they should know before diving in. Zurple's 2022 Home Seller's Guide template is a comprehensive resource of everything a potential home seller needs to know: Common real estate terms The timeline of selling a home How to hire an agent How to price a home How to prepare a home for sale How to evaluate an offer The ins and outs of closing a sale What to know about moving day And more! You can share this guide on social media, on your website, in person, via email, and more. Put it behind a lead capture form on your website to ensure you get the contact information of potential parties. The guide is brandable, with space not only for your contact information and logo, but it also concludes with a page featuring your bio and a call-to-action. You can link that page to your email or a CMA request landing page to acquire even more leads. Ready to get started finding more seller leads? Download the 2022 Seller's Guide template now!

How to Educate Clients and Prospects About the Dangers of iBuyers
iBuyers continue expanding across the country, and there's one silver lining for real estate agents: It gives you a tangible way to prove your value to prospects and clients. Instant might be great for oats and noodles, but it isn't in sellers' best interest. As a market expert and real estate pro, you already know this -- but what you might not know is the best way to educate clients and prospects about the downsides of selling to an iBuyer, and why working with you is in their best interest. There are multiple ways you can approach the topic. The most important thing, though, is that you don't stay quiet and assume that sellers won't be interested in iBuyers. More than 70% of sellers reported that they would consider using an iBuyer, so you need to be ready with a talk track that clearly explains why you are irreplaceable. Be proactive and use our recommendations to ensure your sellers stick with you. 1. Address iBuyers in your listing presentation You need to consider iBuyers your competition and treat them as such. Discussing the pros and cons of iBuyers during your listing presentation allows you to lead the conversation instead of being put in a reactive, defensive position. To make this pitch successful, you need to do your homework and thoroughly understand the competition. You can't very well dissuade sellers if you can't speak confidently about the issues or answer their questions. Find out which iBuyers are operating in your area, how their process works, what the fee structure is, the average variation between local iBuyer offers and agent-negotiated sale prices, and any other public information you can get your hands on. 2. Be clear on the benefits of working with you A guaranteed all-cash offer is pretty compelling, wouldn't you agree? But the iBuyer experience is akin to selling a valuable piece of art to the corner gallery for less than it's worth because it's convenient, instead of soliciting quotes from multiple interested collectors and maximizing your return on investment. Review all your services with prospects so they understand how working with you will net them better results. Will you provide a home assessment and recommendations of simple repairs and upgrades that could increase the sale price? Can you offer a thorough, tech-forward marketing plan that maximizes the number of eyes on your listings? Do you have a track record of impressive negotiation skills? Help your sellers see that by accepting an iBuyer offer, they'll be settling for a significantly lower sale price on their home. 3. Put your network of industry contacts to work In addition to getting your sellers the best possible sale price, you can also show your value by leveraging your network of industry-related contacts. Share your referral list with prospects and clients so they know how well-connected you are, and then make introductions when they're needed. Get your sellers in the door with your go-to inspectors, appraisers, lenders, and contractors. Facilitate communication with movers, handymen, cleaners, painters, and any other third-party services they may need. Making the experience easier for your sellers is part of what they're paying you to do, and it's something iBuyers can't replicate, so ensure you're showing your value every step of the way. 4. Boost your marketing How well does your marketing and online reputation reflect your real estate experience? Sellers' perceptions of your abilities could either persuade them to work with you or make them question their decision. So much of marketing is helping your audience form a particular opinion about you and your services. If you are consistently running ads on the most powerful networks—namely Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Waze—then you're able to get in front of your audience more often and shape their opinion of you as an experienced, trustworthy agent. Make sure your ads spotlight your experience, abilities, and successes. Show that an iBuyer algorithm is no match for your earned expertise. Build up reviews and star ratings on your Google business profile so prospects can read testimonials from the past clients you went above and beyond for, which will undoubtedly make them excited to work with you. Finally, beat iBuyers at their own game. They're constantly touting how easy it is to use their service. It's easy to work with you, too, right? Highlight the services you provide that remove hassle and headaches from the selling and post-sale experiences — and why you're able to do it better than your competition, whether sentient or digital. To view the original article, visit the Homesnap blog.

Friday Freebie: Educate Buyers and Attract Leads with this Homebuying Guide
We've got a two-fer for you in this week's Friday Freebie: a comprehensive (and brandable!) guide that you can use to attract new leads and educate first-time home buyers, all at the same time. Let's dive in. Free download of The Simplified Guide to Homebuying, courtesy of Zurple An educated buyer is a buyer that is best able to compete in today's cutthroat real estate market. The market is especially tough for first-time buyers, who may not yet know all the steps in the homebuying process or even the lingo. This lack of knowledge makes them less able to move quickly and puts them at a disadvantage in today's market. Enter The Simplified Guide to Homebuying. This brandable guide makes your job easy by clearly explaining everything a buyer needs to know and even gently holding their hand with worksheets, game plans and questionnaires. Here's a look at just some of what this comprehensive guide offers: Homeownership benefits for moving hesitant buyers off the fence Why buyers should work with an agent Flow chart of the homebuying process Overview of how mortgages work Worksheet of home features for helping buyers evaluate listings Homebuyer questionnaire Homebuying game plan with write-in deadlines for staying on track Common real estate terms And much more! This guide is available in both PDF and PowerPoint formats, and comes with instructions for customization and branding. Share it with your buyers or leverage it as a lead magnet that prospects can download in exchange for their contact information. Download The Simplified Guide to Homebuying today!

The Pros and Cons of Real Estate Designations
Are those three letters that follow your name really that important? What benefits do they have? Are there any downsides? Let's take a closer look at what real estate designations have to offer. Here are the pros and cons of real estate designations: Cons They Cost Time and Money To take the classes, it will take some time out of your day. With good time management skills, this shouldn't be a big detractor from your business. It will need a financial and time commitment if you decide to pursue a designation. Consumers Might Not Know What They Are Do real estate agents even know what most of the designations are? Do you know what an RHT designation is? You probably don't because that one is made up. Consumers won't be able to tell the difference between an RHT and SRES designation unless you explain it to them. Pros Help with Google Ranking Did you know that it will benefit you in the long run to have a page dedicated to your designation on your website? For example, if you have the CRS designation you can have a page dedicated to what the means for your prospective real estate client. If you have the GREEN designation, the copy you write can help attract millennial homebuyers looking for an eco-friendly real estate agent. The Knowledge There is something that can never be taken away from you, and that is the knowledge you acquire from earning a real estate designation. You can always go out and learn anything yourself. There are plenty of resources available for self-learning. However, to follow a curiculum with concentrated information will be more effective. You don't have to waste time doing your own research, and learn from others who were once in your position. This knowledge directly benefits your real estate clients! The designation isn't for bragging rights, it's to improve the customer experience. You Can Increase Your Network Some designations will offer a community that you can tap into. For example, the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation will hold conferences. You also have access to a wide network of agents that can give you referrals because home buyers are always looking to relocate. To view the original article, visit the Zurple blog.

Friday Freebie: Lead Conversion Masterclass
There are a lot of "how to" articles out there on how to convert more real estate leads, and they all offer some variation of "respond quickly, be persistent." That's all well and good, but we're sure you've heard that advice so much that you're bored by it (we are too). So in this week's Friday Freebie, we're going to point you to lead conversion instruction that's actually helpful—and not the same ol' song and dance that you've heard a million times already. Even better? It's a full-on, six-class series taught by two real estate experts. Free Masterclass on Lead Conversion, courtesy of Ylopo You've probably heard a lot of lead conversion expertise that's focused on processes. While process is important, it's nothing without the human element that actually forges a connection with a lead. Ylopo's free masterclass focuses on just that—lead conversion as a carefully mastered interpersonal skill. The masterclass can be completed online, all at your own pace, and consists of six lessons: Mindset Reframe the Conversation Digging Deeper Challenge Their Thinking Mirroring and Matching Putting It All Together The lessons are led by Barry Jenkins, a real estate agent who ranks in top 10 of Real Trends Top 1000 Agents, and Robby Tefethren, a top real estate coach and trainer. Sign up for this FREE lead conversion masterclass now and learn how to win more clients!

New Learning Resources to Help You Learn the New RPR
You may have noticed that things look, well, a little different in RPR. Along with launching a completely revamped RPR website, we've also published a new RPR blog, Learning Center and Knowledge Base. And much like the RPR website, these new learning resources are cleaner, simpler, and easier to navigate. These new learning resources can help you train, learn and get up to speed in no time.

10 Skills You Can Learn in Quarantine
Are you looking for ways to make the most of your time in quarantine? You can master the basics of these ten skills from the comfort of home in just a few weeks. Pick the one that interests you and start learning!

How to Score a Touchdown in Your Career with a Real Estate Seminar
We're nearing the end of football season, where our favorite teams battle it out to make it to the playoffs, and later, the Super Bowl (we hope). As loyal fans, we expect our favorite players to bring their A-game — a task that requires some training behind-the-scenes. While your favorite players get to work to land touchdowns on the field, you can pursue your own training to score big in your real estate career. You'll be sure to take the win by getting hands-on at a real estate seminar this year! Here are three things you'll do at a real estate seminar to totally change your game. 1. Get Familiar with the Game If you want to win, you have to understand the game. Real estate is a large, complex industry, and there's always something new to discover. A real estate seminar helps you better understand the field you're in while teaching strategies for success. You learn the industry inside and out to help you make the smartest plays and gain an advantage over your competition. 2. Huddle with the Best Players Look for seminars that share advice from the folks at the top of their game. Learn what the pros are doing, and determine which tactics you can implement in your own business. These events tend to attract like-minded people, so you are bound to meet others with similar business goals and positive attitudes. That energy is electric. Network at these seminars to build relationships that will take your real estate game to the next level. 3. Practice, Practice, Practice When the top teams train for the big game, they practice certain skills over and over — tackling, passing, running, etc. It's the same for you in real estate! A hands-on seminar gives you the opportunity to perfect your game through practice at the event. By attending the event, you will emerge with strategies and tactics you can implement immediately to improve your business. While your favorite teams compete to win a spot in the playoffs, you can win in your business with the perfect networking and training event. The brand new Buffini & Company Master Class is a great start — this one-and-a-half-day, immersive real estate seminar is coming to ten cities in North America with networking opportunities, success strategies and a panel of local Buffini & Company top agents to share their insights on working by referral. Register today so you can get out there and become the champion of your business!

Elevate Your Real Estate Marketing Success with an Elevate Educational Boot Camp
It's no secret that brokers and agents need to continually self-educate in order to stay competitive and tackle new technology, but not all education is made equal. Busy real estate professionals can easily waste time and money on "educational" training programs that are nothing more than thinly masked sales initiatives that provide little actionable takeaways. Luckily, there's the educational field team of Elevate to save the day and ensure that brokers and agents walk away with tips, tricks and strategies that can easily be implemented the moment they walk out of the room. What started with a single Social Media Boot Camp has grown into a nationwide phenomenon due to the Elevate Field Team's high-energy, interactive educational style. Brokers and agents alike are treated to an experience designed to inspire and empower, led by a group of industry professionals who help turn marketing "toys" into "tools." Although the Elevate name may be fairly new to the real estate space, the founders and stakeholders behind the company are seasoned professionals coming from top technology companies, franchise organizations, and investment firms who've joined together to develop Elevate, the highly anticipated CRM and digital marketing solution that recently hit the real estate market. But no technology can succeed without strong education, training and understanding, which is where the Elevate Boot Camp series enters. Collaborating with MLSs, mortgage companies and brokerages across the country, Elevate's Boot Camp series has evolved to include a variety of one-hour, two-hour and half day educational sessions, including the ever-popular Social Media Boot Camp, Secrets of Lead Generation Boot Camp, and the hot NEW Broker-Only Mastermind. Custom deep dives are also available on such hot topics as Facebook intensives, developing engaging content for consumer audiences, agent recruitment and retention strategies, and developing a website designed to capture and convert. Want to see if a boot camp is coming to your area? Visit tryelevate.com/events for the upcoming schedule, or call 844-812-8914 to inquire about booking a boot camp in your office or MLS. Bondilyn Jolly is the Managing Partner at 3sixtyfive.agency. You can contact her at [email protected]

Why You Should Host a First-time Buyers' Seminar
First-time buyers bring a lot of specific questions and anxieties to their home search. That's why hosting a first-time buyers seminar is a great real estate marketing move: It will help establish your expertise and expand your network, while offering them some valuable advice. Not only will your personality be on full display, but you'll establish your authority on the local market and local laws and procedures. You'll show that you can disentangle real estate jargon for intimidated home-seekers.

Understanding the Real Estate Market to Generate More Sales in 2019
There are many ways to generate more sales for your real estate business. Learning new sales techniques and understanding different ways to market yourself is important. But what about understanding the local real estate market around you? That's what Pam Ermen did to become a great real estate agent.

Rewind! The Top 5 Educational Webinars for Agents from 2018
From artificial intelligence to predictive analytics, 2018 was the year when our readers learned how today's high tech offerings can help them earn more business--and more commissions. It was also a year that saw two of our favorite real estate tech platforms debut new looks--and sophisticated new features. Throughout 2018, we hosted a series of live webinars that took an in-depth look at these new developments and more. With a bit of quiet downtime before 2019 gets into full swing, it's an opportune moment to learn more about the technologies that can boost your business' bottom line in the year ahead. This list of our top webinars can help you do just that. So curl up with your laptop, play a webinar or two, and take notes on your favorite strategies and tech products for success in the year ahead!

How to Join Online Meetings and Webinars
There are many benefits to attending webinars and meetings online. They allow people located far distances from each other to connect and share ideas. They conveniently allow us stay in our own offices and desks during the work day. They don't require expensive software or technology to use. They allow for more attendees than traditional meetings and training sessions. Online meetings and webinars are great, but if you haven't attended one before, they may be a little confusing. If you've been invited to an online meeting using GoToMeeting, here's a great resource explaining how to join your meeting. Attending a webinar? In this post, we'll explain four things you should know!

Chris Smith Will Be National Speaker for Homes.com
If you have been around real estate technology, you know Chris Smith. His career started in the days authoring and managing the B to B blog and social media for Realtor.com, followed by his recent success promoting both DotLoop and Curaytor. The agreement with Homes.com will have Smith touring cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and other major markets to train agents on how to use real estate technology effectively in their business. Homes.com offers one of the most complete technology platforms for real estate agents and brokers today. Their platform ties together all of the ingredients that an agent needs to succeed including a website, CRM, CMA, drip marketing, online advertising, and more. Smith will be tying the content of his series, "Secrets of Top Selling Agents LIVE," with the executional capacities of the Homes.com platform. If you attended any of the live events that Smith delivered last year, you will appreciate that three hours with him is an awesome opportunity to learn the best practices that lead to success in real estate. Homes.com will be offering complimentary tickets to agents on a first-come, first-served basis. The first event will be the RE/MAX R4 annual convention at the end of February. Smith will be holding seminars in the Homes.com booth. Here's the full press release: Homes.com Partners with Sales Marketing and Social Media Expert Chris Smith Exclusive U.S. tour planned for "Secrets of Top Selling Agents LIVE" Thousands of real estate agents throughout the U.S. will learn how to take their business to the next level as Homes.com®, a top consumer real estate resource and leading provider of marketing solutions for real estate professionals, has announced an exclusive partnership with Chris Smith. One of the real estate industry's most proven sales, marketing and social media experts, Smith will host "Secrets of Top Selling Agents LIVE" events coast to coast.

10 Must-Read Books All Agents Need to Study
Any successful business person knows that to be the best, they need to study their craft and perfect their skills. So in the interest of continuing to learn, Kevin Ward of YesMasters Real Estate Success Training lists 10 books that every real estate must read and how it benefits them. The fourth book is sure to help you up your game.

Real Estate Smarts: 51 Resources to Pass Along to Clients
You have the opportunity to educate your potential clients so that they can make an informed decision in the process of warming them up—and, yes, that even includes educating them to understand whether you're the right solution for their need. In the case of real estate, there's a good chance that you, as an agent, have missed out on key opportunities to educate your clients around what they needed to do or how to prepare in order to buy their first home. You have the best opportunity to add value into their experience with you and this is one of the easiest ways. We know you're an expert in this field, but having a list of resources to add as supplements to your knowledge to pass along to your clients will go a long way. Library of Real Estate Agent Resources: While we know you know the answers to most, if not all, of these common questions, it can be overwhelming and time consuming to have to explain it all to your clients. Simplify and back up the points you may make by sharing some articles that your clients can peruse on their own time and digest without feeling like you're giving them a lecture. To make your educating process a bit simpler, we've compiled some articles and guides that can help your clients through the home buying journey, and give you an opportunity to reach out and provide some value in a way that will keep you positively top-of-mind. How to prep for buying your first house: It's easy for your clients to come to you and say they're ready to buy their first home. But are they fully prepared? These are great articles to pass along to those eager clients to set them up for success as they get ready to go down that road. They cover everything from the financial to the 'secrets' on how to get prepared for that big purchase. 1. How to Prepare to Buy Your First Home via Money Under 30 2. 4 Smart Steps to Take Before Buying Your First Home via Kiplinger 3. 9 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your First Home via Business Insider 4. The Newbie's Roadmap to Buying a First Home via U.S News & World Report 5. 10 Best-Kept Secrets for Buying a Home via HGTV

How Technology Training Revolutionized One Realtor's Business
It was a fluke that led John Diaz to the training program that changed the direction of his real estate career. In August of 2013, he had been in real estate for over a decade, and a broker since 2005. Diaz already knew that leveraging technology was important for success in real estate, but he struggled with how to implement it. He planned to get an iPad, but hadn't yet. He had also tried Evernote, but "could never put my arm around how to use it for my business." That all changed when he travelled from California to Chicago for a conference hosted by his franchise. There, he hoped to learn how to better use technology in his business, but was largely disappointed—with the exception of one fleeting moment. "What I had flown to Chicago for I didn't really find," said Diaz. "But what's interesting is that the speaker I went to listen to briefly mentioned The Paperless Agent. He's actually the one who pointed me in their direction." The Paperless Agent is a training program owned and operated by the leaders of GoodLife Realty. GoodLife is an independent brokerage in Austin, Texas that's well known for driving sales through their innovative use of technology. Through The Paperless Agent, they share the technology systems and best practices they successfully use at GoodLife Realty with other real estate agents and brokers. On his flight home, Diaz took advantage of the onboard wi-fi to work through the first training session of The Paperless Agent. He was so impressed with what he saw, that he immediately went out and bought his first iPad and started implementing what he had learned.

The Paperless Agent Launches New Digital Marketing Certification
Too many agents are guilty of breaking an unspoken promise to their sellers, according to The Paperless Agent. The company, which is owned by the leaders of GoodLife Realty, is "declaring war" on an antiquated industry practice at the root of this breach of trust. "When sellers list their home with an agent, they're expecting that the agent will market their home in a competent manner," says Garry Wise, co-founder of The Paperless Agent. "This implies that the agent is knowledgeable about what they're supposed to do, including how to market the home online. However, far too many agents just do the absolute minimum that everyone does--put the listing in the MLS and hope for the best. That's not an adequate amount of action." Relying on listing syndication doesn't gets you off the hook, either. While it may be enough to sell a home in some markets, it's still a passive method that does nothing to actively market your seller's property. "If sellers knew that's all agents did, they wouldn't be willing to pay those commissions," says Chris Scott, President of The Paperless Agent. "Ask the owner of an expired listing why their home didn't sell, and what do they say? 'My agent didn't do anything.'" The Fight for Higher Standards According to The Paperless Agent, this poor customer service causes a breach in trust that spreads across the industry and creates a negative reputation for agents everywhere--and that's why they're declaring war on the practice. The company is leading the fight through education, and recently introduced the Real Estate Digital Marketer (REDM) certification course to teach agents how to leverage digital marketing to promote and sell their clients' properties.

Crime Prevention for Real Estate Agents: An Introduction
This is the first in a series of articles that teaches Realtors how to prevent being a victim of crime. All month long, we'll be publishing content from an educational course on Realtor Safety in partnership with safety app creator Real Safe Agent. Please consider sharing this important information with your colleagues, agents (for brokers), and membership (for MLSs and associations). Real estate agents face an entirely different set of challenges than the general population when it comes to safety. The general population stays safe by not being alone with strangers in areas hidden from the eyesight and earshot of others. However, this is how a real estate agent makes a living. The general population removes themselves from a situation where they begin to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, but a real estate agent will keep himself/herself in a situation where he/she feels uncomfortable or unsafe because he or she does not want to risk losing the sale. These are calculated risks that a real estate agent makes in order to make a living, and therein lies the key to staying safe as a real estate agent: Evaluating the prospect, property, and circumstances Assessing the collective risk Reacting appropriately This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge of how to evaluate the prospect, property, and circumstances so you can assess the collective risk of all three and make better decisions about which actions are appropriate to minimize risk and keep yourself safe, as well as what can be done as a community do to keep each other safe.

Always Learning and Growing: 10 Tips from NAR
Early this summer, we teamed up with the National Association of REALTORS® to bring our readers weekly educational content. Over the past six months, these articles have offered REALTORS® advice on everything from from growing their business to maximizing the value of their NAR membership. These articles were wildly popular, and with the year winding down, we thought now would be a great time to revisit the most and engaging and informative ones. Below is our round-up of the top ten articles from NAR. Think of it as your guide to getting ahead in 2014. 1. 5 Reasons why your next listing presentation should feature RPR You know that old saying, "You only have one chance to make a first impression"? Well, it couldn't be truer than when describing a listing presentation appointment. You must show up prepared. You need to stand out from all the other agents the sellers are interviewing. You must prove your local market expertise. Without a doubt, you know you're the best REALTOR® for the job, but you must convince the sellers. 2. 5 Ways to Use RPR to Impress Buyers But that's only half the story. RPR can help REALTORS® impress buyers too. In fact, by making RPR part of your process with buyers, you can help ensure they will refer you to their family, friends, and those they overhear talking about buying or selling a home. 3. 7 New Technology Companies to Innovate the Real Estate Industry To bring the latest cutting edge technologies to the real estate industry, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and its investment arm launched the REach™ Accelerator Program. This unique program was developed to help technology companies connect to the more than 1 million REALTORS® driving the U.S. real estate market.

5 Ways to Grow Your Business with Designations
Real estate agents are busy people, right? Between prospecting for business and working with clients, who has time to earn real estate designations? It's true that only a small percentage of agents have completed the requirements for one of the official designations or certifications awarded by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). But don't assume they have plenty of time on their hands. Rather, designated agents represent the upper echelons in their field, go-getters who consistently outperform other agents. Here's what they gain from their designations: 1. Fresh ideas. Every agent can benefit from learning new and better ways to do things. NAR's designation courses are packed with regularly-updated information on the best ways to work with buyers and sellers—and deal with other agents. If taken in a classroom setting, designation courses also provide a great opportunity to hear fresh ideas from some of the best instructors in the industry, as well as other attendees. 2. Time savers. Designations are about much more than training and education. They also provide members-only access to many time-saving tools that simplify your work with buyers and sellers, including professional marketing materials, consumer education tools and other benefits. 3. Competitive edge. In a crowded market, designation training helps agents bring more skills to the table and tout their credentials online. It's tangible evidence that you've set the bar higher and could easily be a key difference-maker when consumers compare your credentials to a competitor's.

Do’s and Dont’s for Thriving in the Electronic Information Age
Being a top agent means more than listing and selling more homes. Today's agent must be tech-savvy and prove to potential clients that they can leverage leading edge tools. Real estate technology is moving at such a blistering pace, most agents will eventually fall behind if they don't have a strong electronic marketing campaign. Here are a few "do's" and "dont's" to help get you started. Don't Use the "Buckshot" Approach It's not enough to simply haphazardly toss your listings online – a buckshot approach that lacks precision. Intention and strategy are essential. This means two key things: Carefully fine-tuning your listings, making sure they are optimally crafted for the online environment; Making sure they're seen in the right places (as well as keeping them from ending up in the wrong places). Electronic real estate marketing is becoming more competitive every day, and your listings have to stand out from the crowd. Do Rely on the Experts There are so many avenues and options, finding a combination that continues to work, and implementing all the necessary tools for every listing, is a full time job. Don't hesitate to take advantage of the many people who specialize in this area. After all, we live and breathe online marketing–so you can allow us to do our jobs, enabling you to focus on your job (helping people buy and sell houses).

5 Business-Building Tips for Buyer’s Representatives
Polishing your buyer-representation skills builds your reputation as a trustworthy, knowledgeable real estate professional who adds value at every stage in the home buying process. Here are five ways to grow your buyer-representation business. 1. Become a community expert Recognition as a community expert wins referrals and repeat business. You could create a blog to showcase both your business expertise and community knowledge. A blog builds credibility and keeps potential buyers coming back for news and information. Home-buyer seminars provide another opportunity to demonstrate your real estate expertise and community knowledge. Prospects can check you out before making a commitment and when they are ready to buy, your name will be at top of mind. 2. Build a team of experts Access to a team of experts is a double win for buyer agents. You and your buyers can tap into valuable knowledge and services and other professionals may refer business to you. Invest the time to learn what your community has to offer and research your team of experts.

Real Estate Glossary for Your Clients
Do you work with first-time buyers and sellers? We bet you do! If you want to provide above and beyond service to clients who may be new to the real estate industry (or getting involved again after a really long time), consider helping them get comfortable with real estate terms by providing access to a real estate glossary. Whether you choose to add a page to your website or create a print out to include in your new client package, a glossary will empower buyers and sellers with knowledge, as well as increase the level of understanding as you work together to achieve results. Below we've provided some simplified definitions for some commonly used (and commonly misunderstood) real estate terms. Feel free to share these with your clients as you choose. Of course, there are many other terms we didn't include. If you want to add to this list, take a look at a more in-depth glossary like this one. If you don't feel like creating your own glossary or sharing ours, there are even real estate glossary apps. Clients can have on-the-go access on their smartphones or tablets by clicking here for iOS or here for Android. Common Real Estate Terms and Their Definitions Appraisal – The process of estimating or setting the market value of a piece of property, partially based on an analysis of comparable sales of similar homes in the area. An appraisal usually takes the form of a written report. Appraisals are usually required during the mortgage loan approval process. Closing Costs – For buyers, closing costs consist of expenses that must be paid in addition to the purchase price of the home, like... For sellers, closing costs include expenses that will be deducted from the proceeds of the sale, like... Commission – Compensation paid to real estate professionals for services rendered in connection with the sale or exchange of real property.

Consumer Education: The Why
RE Technology's resident video blogger, Maya Paveza, continues her series on the importance of consumer education. See part one (intro) and part two (the "what") here. Determining motivation can make all the difference in the customer service you provide, and the value the consumer receives. It should always be a top priority to understand your clients needs, and especially their motivation to buy or sell.

Consumer Education First for Success
RE Technology's resident video blogger and social media guru, Maya Paveza, on why educating clients is crucial to real estate success.

Top 4 Real Estate Success Principles that Every Agent Must Follow
Disclosure: I believe you must be passionate in order to be successful. I want to help you find your passion and realize the opportunity and potential that is inside of you! Most real estate professionals get their initial education from a real estate school. They take a test, receive their license and then step into the industry with little more than a hope and a dream. The challenge in this is the simple fact that while real estate courses are designed to teach you the legalities of real estate, they fail to teach you sales or marketing strategies that affect your bottom line. They also fall short when it comes to sharing how to structure and manage a successful business. This leaves most real estate professionals at a significant disadvantage right out of the gate. Unless a decision is made to align with a brand that offers a solid training program, any newbie might tend to flounder. So how do you gain the knowledge and skills that matter most to your business growth? Below are my four success principles that when applied will propel your success! 1. Collaborate Build your resources and relationships Identify your resources – If you don't have them, develop them. Immediately! Develop your "A-Team" – Mortgage officer, inspector, repairman, title agent, and insurance agent. Understand the process – You must have an understanding of what each person does within the purchase or sale transaction. Meet with them and ask what they contribute and how they manage that part of the process. This knowledge allows you the true ability to gauge the severity of a concern in a sale and better control the emotions in yourself, your client, and the transaction.

Real Estate Tech: Terminology and Definitions
This post comes to us from BrokerageU: If you have tried to purchase a domain name or even had to manage your own website in the past, I'm sure you noticed that there is an entire new set of words and phrases that you feel like you need to learn in order to understand the process and be able to intelligently answer the questions of the support representative on the other end of the phone line. It isn't completely necessary for you to be an über expert at any of this; but it will be beneficial for you to learn the basics. We will take a look at the most important phrases and definitions so that you can feel fully equipped to purchase and maintain your domains. Domain A domain is the website address or URL that you purchased. If your website is setup correctly, your content will technically live at this online address. If you own multiple domains for one website, you will need to choose one as the primary and the rest can be set up to forward to the main domain. PS: Did you know having a bunch of domains doesn't help? Registrar You can purchase your domain from a registrar. These are companies that can check available domains and sell them to you for a predefined period of time. Typically, the longer you wish to own the domain, the cheaper your per year registration cost. The registrar does not directly control any of the content on your website. A registrar simply assures that the URL is owned by you and that you are able to edit the basic settings of your domain name and send different types of Internet traffic to the right place. There are so many different registrars to choose from, but an example of one of the most common is GoDaddy. (You can use our discount code to get domains for just $7.49 / year – use CJC749FAT.)

Learn how to be a Paperless Agent™ with the GoodLife Team and RE Technology!
"I've begun to wonder how many agents who own iPads actually know how to use it in their business. I've speculated that the majority of these agents do not. Anyone can buy an app from the app store – that's a piece of cake – but what they're missing is the knowledge of what to do with the application once it's been downloaded." -- Krisstina Wise, Why You Must Be A Paperless Agent RE Technology is proud to present a free webinar with Krisstina and Garry Wise of the GoodLife Team next Wednesday, January 23. Whether you're an iPad expert or a rookie, you'll learn how to use your tablet for everything from home tours, listings presentations, transaction management, and more! See the video below to learn more about becoming a Paperless Agent™, then register for the webinar.

The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Facebook and Twitter
Don't know the difference between hash tag and a timeline? Don't worry. These two video tutorials from My Computer Works show you how to get up and running on Facebook and Twitter in less than five minutes. Part of the "How My Computer Works" educational series, these videos assume no prior working knowledge of social networks. They're easy to follow, so total rookies need not be intimidated. After all, it's never too late to learn about social media! Facebook A lot of fuss was made last year when Facebook switched member profiles to the Timeline design. While plenty of users pooh-poohed the changes, Timeline is actually a clever way to create a digital scrapbook of your life. Watch the video below to learn how to organize photos, post status updates, and add milestones like weddings and graduations to a chronological "timeline" of your life.

Weekend Homework: Improve Your Real Estate Business
What are you doing to improve your real estate business this weekend? Between the open houses, showings, relaxation, and errands, we know your schedule is packed. So we've come up with three easy tasks you can complete this weekend that will make your real estate practice better. Organize Your Contacts Earlier this week, Dr. Maya Bailey showed agents how to double their income by leveraging their sphere of influence. Her very first tip? Get your contacts in order! This weekend, your assignment is to use your CRM software to organize your contacts into the categories below. See Dr. Bailey's article for more information. A = Someone likely to refer to you B = Someone who, with a little more contact with you, would refer to you C = Questionable D = Delete

Stop! Check Your MLS Before Making That Purchase
We're real estate tech geeks at RE Technology. We love to answer questions from agents wondering how to streamline and grow their business with innovative technology solutions. Explaining the differences between document management and transaction management or giving advice about what to do when the bank rejects your e-signed documents are both part of a great day at work for us. However, if you ask us which CMA, Electronic Signature, Showing Appointment Software or other solution you should use, you'll get a question back: Have you checked your MLS? The tool you're thinking of purchasing--be it client relationship management software, market statistics package, or something else--may already be included in your MLS membership for free. If you don't check your MLS's member benefits BEFORE you buy, you may be spending money needlessly. Not Free? A Discounted Rate May Be Available Even if your MLS doesn't include the solution you're looking for with your membership, check to see who their partners and vendors are. Chances are that your MLS has negotiated with technology companies for a discount on their products. Again, if you don't check your MLS first, you may be losing money.

Weekly Video Tip: Advanced Editing Technique Part I – Time-Lapse and Fast Motion
Today we're going to be talking about an advanced editing technique that's referred to as time-lapse and fast motion. All right, you're feeling confident and you want to spice up your next video with some cool editing effects. That's great! But you may need to calm down a minute and let me tell you about using fast motion to really take your video to the next level.

Listing Syndication Definitions
Just when I think I "get" listing syndication, I'll find myself in conversation with someone about it and completely out of my league. Tired of feeling underprepared, I enlisted the help of a syndication expert, Celeste Starchild at ListHub. I asked her for a crash course in listing syndication and she explained to me that the first thing I needed to do was get the terminology right. She's spot-on. In order to have an intelligent conversation about anything you need to properly use the correct vocabulary. Perhaps I'm not alone. I have a feeling that many of us could use at least a little refresher on what these commonly used (and commonly misunderstood) terms mean. Listing syndication Listing syndication is the distribution of active real estate listings by brokers/agents (or by the MLS on behalf of brokers/agents) to third-party websites, for the purpose of advertising to consumers. Listing syndication is different from IDX or VOW, which we will discuss next, in that it shares data with third parties who are not members of – or participants in – the MLS (such as property search portals like Zillow, Trulia, Yahoo! Real Estate, etc.). The value to the broker or agent is the opportunity to attract a buyer to their property listing, and the value to a third-party website is to acquire listing content for consumers who visit their website. Listing syndication gives brokers the ability to selectively choose the sites to which they syndicate their listings, based on their advertising goals and business model. Of course, each broker may syndicate only their own listings.

"The Cloud" 101
Prabakar Mahalingam of GoPaperless Solutions says: You've heard so much about "the cloud," but do you really understand what it is and what the impacts are for your business? Maybe it's time to get back to the basics – with a crash course in Cloud Computing 101. Definition The cloud isn't up in the air; it's actually a bunch of servers in a data center, somewhere on the ground. What most real estate agents need to understand about cloud computing is that it is essentially any form of computing (particularly applications or storage) that takes place on the Internet. It's obviously more complicated and technical than this, but that other stuff matters for our developers – not for you, the end consumer. Use in Real Estate Each industry leverages cloud computing in a slightly different way. Some of the primary uses for real estate include: Storage – Saving and accessing data is one of the primary applications of cloud computing in any industry (just look at the popularity of Dropbox). In real estate, this is certainly true as agents seek to store signed documents, forms, contracts, photos, and other crucial information. The online vault is an example from our Real Estate Dashboard solution, where agents can access their contracts and documents anywhere, anytime, plus provide permission-based access to their clients and contacts. Fax – Sending and receiving fax electronically with cloud-based systems can help agents reduce the waste and inconvenience of paper fax. This is one of the popular features in our REDfax solution.

Tech and Marketing 101 for New Agents
Victor Lund, RE Technology CEO, brings us this crash course for new real estate agents. Real estate is a popular second career to many Americans. NAR and local REALTOR® Associations combine with local real estate brokers to support you in learning the industry and preparing for the license exam. However, getting your license is only a foundational step to starting your career. There is much more to learn. The local Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, is the first software that you will need to learn and master. As you are learning the MLS system, be sure to take advantage of training offered by the Association and MLS. The MLS system is the most important business tool that you will learn. In most markets around the nation, the local Association or MLS also offers a forms product. The contracts used in real estate have been digitized to make them easy to fill out, sign, and manage electronically. There are many (check out some options in our product directory); it is important that you ask your broker which solution they suggest. These forms are very important, and represent a key element of customer representation. Practice reviewing commonly used forms with a friend or family member to gain confidence in your ability to explain them. You may also want to inquire about the electronic signature tools. You may even want to contact the software vendor to see if they have training or will provide you with a system walk-through. You will find that they are only too happy to help.

What’s driving the changes in the real estate market and how will they impact your business?
What’s driving the changes in the real estate market and how will they impact your business? Ian Morris of Market Leader, Inc. and Steve Murray of REAL Trends, Inc. are industry leaders who answer this question and offer valuable insights in their new book, Game Plan: How Real Estate Professionals Can Thrive in an Uncertain Future.Ian Morris will share “The 10 Trends That Will Drive the Next 5 Years,” featuring key findings from Game Plan on the evolving real estate environment and the trends you need to watch.When:                                            Friday, August 5Time:                                             10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM EasternCost:                                              NONETo Register:                                   https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/538866571 Who should attend:                       Real estate brokers and agents You’ll learn about: 10 trends that could affect your business Factors affecting brokerages and sales professionals Real estate challenges and opportunities Steps to thriving in the ever-changing industry You’ll learn how to create your game plan for the future and help your business thrive for years to come! Your questions are welcome in this live Q&A format.  

Tuesday Tech Tip with Maya Paveza of TheHipRoof.com
Maya strikes again, dropping some knowledge on our RE Technology readers. In this week’s video, she answers three important questions: Android or iPhone? How can REALTORS® use QR codes? How should agents discuss crime stats? Pulling from her own substantial experience and her research, she provides in-depth answers and actionable advice. For example: have you ever considered adding a QR code to your business cards? Read on to the next page for the video!

Tuesday Tech Tip with Maya Paveza of HipRoof.com
Tech Tip Tuesday We’ve paired up with real estate and social media guru Maya Paveza to keep you up-to-date on all the latest tech tools. This week, Maya’s video unravels the mysteries of StumbleUpon as well as hash tags on Twitter. Do you have a question for Maya? Post a comment here and we’ll suggest the topic for future videos. Do these tech tips answer your questions? Watch and see!

Meeting Gen Y's Demand for Online Transparency and Information
I interviewed a top-producing agent in San Francisco a few days ago. We were talking about the role of technology in the real estate process. It was a fascinating discussion. She is on the top of her game. Many listings, many successful transactions with buyers this year and yet she struggles with how to stay relevant with her younger clients. She told me:   “I am absolutely frightened of new technologies, and yet I KNOW I need to communicate and provide information differently than I used to. I believe it is much more difficult to create a deep personal relationship with younger consumers because they don’t want to sit down and talk about what their real needs are. They want me to provide information on my website so they can do their own research and then tell me what they’ve found. They require that the agent provide as much information as they can to empower the consumer to get comfortable with the information themselves.”

Get the 411 on Facebook Secret Groups, MouseFlow and More!
It's that time of the week to hear the technology update from Tech Savvy Agent Chris Smith. This week is episode four of The Queue featuring four technologies that are no brainers to implement in your business. 360 Panorama and Photaf are mobile apps that allow for 360 degree and panoramic photos that can be shared via social media and email. MouseFlow.com is an amazing technology that will reenact the mouse movements and clicks of your web traffic in an effort to increase conversions and user experience. Animoto is one of the easiest to use and tech savvy video creation tools that is sure to impress buyers and sellers. Finally, Facebook has an option for creating secret groups that are great for private masterminding and client communication. Enjoy and as always please share this on Facebook, Twitter and via email and if you have any feedback or questions on anything covered this week feel free to leave that in the comments below.

How To Take Listing Photos in Wintertime
Wintertime photography can be an intimidating endeavor to say the least. As winter life is really more about getting cozy with a hot chocolate, some popped corn, and a movie or three, it’s hard to get motivated to go out into the icy cold and shoot photos – especially photos of houses. Can you imagine? Standing outside shivering, trying to take pictures, while people drive by laughing at you from their warm cars… terrible.

Want the Inside Scoop about 5 New Products? Be the First to Know!
In episode #2 of The Queue I covered some amazing new services and products that can really help you grow your business and improve your new media marketing efforts as a Realtor®. Real estate technology is moving faster than ever and my weekly webshow The Queue is exactly what was needed to help you all keep up!       This weeks topics included reviews of: About.Me Qwiki Pip.l Evernote A wifi digital frame from Kodak

Use QR Codes to Avoid Facebook's Pay-per-Click Charge!
  I considered just holding onto this for my coaching clients, but decided this was too cool and wanted to share it with everyone. For a long while I have been recommending to agents that they use the Facebook advertising system, besides the insanely powerful demographics and ability to target your ad campaign, the price for the pay-per-click (PPC) model is really great. What I discovered today was a total stumble upon moment. After I did the Future of Marketing 60 in 60, there was a rise in the discussion of QR codes in real estate and how effective they are, or will be. I know Lesley Lambert has been using them for a while and I defer to her as the expert for that, she is a rockstar. Some of the debates I have had have included the value of tracking the QR code to the user.