NAR Announces 2023 Fair Housing Champion Award Winners
The National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com honored three winners of the Fair Housing Champion Awards during NAR's Fair Housing Month event, "At What Price? Overcoming Barriers to Homeownership." Honorees received recognition for their efforts to widen homeownership access in their communities. With the Fair Housing Champion Award, Realtors® are recognized for going above and beyond to promote fair housing and increase homeownership in underserved communities. Sponsored by Realtor.com®, the Award provides a $5,000 prize that winners can dedicate to a housing-related nonprofit organization of their choice. "In every ZIP code in America, NAR is dedicated to fostering the development of thriving, inclusive communities," said NAR President Kenny Parcell. "Affordability and fair housing are the biggest challenges facing the real estate industry today and I am so proud of all the work our winners have put in to increase access to homeownership. They have set an example of leadership and I hope their work will motivate others to take action." This year's winners: Abra Barnes is the broker-owner of Barnes & Associates, REALTORS® in Birmingham, Alabama. The brokerage is a full-service firm assisting with residential sales, commercial sales and leasing, investor coaching, new construction marketing and acquisitions. Barnes & Associates is also passionate about working in low- to moderate-income areas in Birmingham, empowering clients with the knowledge they need to purchase real estate and build generational wealth. Although Barnes' 41 agents' focus is residential real estate, Barnes primary focus is commercial real estate. She works with affordable housing developers, nonprofits, and fledgling business owners who are seeking their first brick-and-mortar space. Barnes helped raise awareness of the lingering effects of past discrimination as executive producer of "Lenders, Landlords, and the Law: A Fair Housing Reflection on Diversity and Inclusion." Sofia Crisp is the executive director at Housing Consultants Group in Greensboro and High Point, North Carolina. Crisp, a 30-year veteran in the business and 2023 president of the Greensboro Regional REALTORS® Association, leverages her industry knowledge and community connections to build bridges to homeownership. She operates HCG as a nonprofit brokerage working with the city of Greensboro, nonprofit organizations, lenders, and a nonprofit builder to help clients get into new homes at an affordable cost. Frank J. Williams is the managing director of F.J. Williams Realty in Chicago, Illinois. Williams has been a fierce advocate for fair housing legislation on the state and local level where he believes fair housing isn't just about integrating neighborhoods—it's also about integrating the industry. He was president of the Southside Chicago chapter of the NAACP from 1979 to 1985, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® in 1989, CAR REALTOR® of the Year in 1992, and an inductee into the CAR Hall of Fame in 2017. Williams opened his real estate brokerage on the southwest side of Chicago in January 1971 where he continues his crusade as a broker, educator and leader today. "Discrimination and a lack of housing affordability disproportionately impact marginalized communities and that makes it harder for many individuals to gain access to homeownership and start building generational wealth," said Realtor.com® Chief Marketing Officer Mickey Neuberger. "Reator.com® applauds these Fair Housing Champions for their progress towards ensuring greater fair housing access for everyone and embodying the core values of our "To Each Their Home" tagline by helping close the homeownership gap." See more information and read more about the award winners here.

Our Top 10 Most-Read Articles of March
Spring has sprung, and it's safe to say that the busy season is officially underway. To that end, we published a host of articles to help you get a leg up on your competition. This includes a pair of articles on how to attract home buyers and home sellers by targeting their most frequently googled questions with ads. Those articles are #1 and #3, respectively, on our list below of last month's most read articles. We also offered March-specific marketing ideas (article #6) — and in a few days, we'll debut a bunch of ideas just for April, so stay tuned! In the meantime, check out articles about nifty things you can do with a new iPhone (#2) and recommended desktop apps (#10). Discover what else agents and brokers were reading in March on the full list below: 1. 10 Common Questions Home Buyers Ask Google (and 30 Key Phrases to Target with Google Ads)Real estate agents looking to drive querying buyers to their own website can target buyers' most asked questions with Google Ads. To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 10 common questions that home buyers ask. Each question is paired with three related key phrases you can use to target askers of that query with an advertising campaign. 2. 3 Magical Things You Can Do with Newer iPhonesApple's latest software update (iOS 16) introduces features that leverage AI and new built-in tech, putting a little magic in your pocket. Apple bills the new enhancements to the iPhone as "all-new personalization features, deeper intelligence, and more seamless ways to communicate and share." Here are three new features that are wowing folks and should benefit agents on the go. 3. 10 Questions Home Sellers Ask Google (and 40 Key Phrases to Target Them)We recently published a list of common homebuyer questions and keywords for targeting buyers with Google Ads. But what about sellers? Never fear—we wouldn't dare overlook this valuable demographic. That's why we're providing this list of common questions homeowners ask when considering selling their home, and corresponding key phrases for each. 4. 3 Vertical Video Ideas for Real Estate MarketingGone are the days when the traditional horizontal video was king. Thanks to social media and the widespread consumption of content on smartphones, vertical now rules the roost. But don't let the format change intimidate you—let it save you time instead! There's no need to use fancy equipment, set up shots, or spend much time in post-production—your smartphone is all the tool you'll need! Learn how to get started ASAP. 5. What Are You Getting Paid for? Explaining Your Real Estate Agent RemunerationLet's talk about money. Big commissions are why you got into real estate, but how do you justify the amount you charge for your services? "Why do I need a real estate agent?" is often the first question sellers ask themselves when thinking about selling their house. Highlight your value to give the consumer a better understanding of why it is important to use a professional real estate agent and forgo the FSBO route. 6. 9 Real Estate Marketing Ideas for MarchSpring selling season is nearly upon us, and if you haven't already revved up your marketing engine, March is a great time to start. We want to help you get off the starting line, so here are nine ideas you can use for all your real estate marketing needs. 7. How to Sync Your Google and Apple CalendarsAre you an iPhone owner who uses Gmail? Or a MacBook owner with an Android? If you're any kind of technology cross-pollinator, chances are good that you've had some issues synching things, like your calendar. Syncing your Apple and Google calendars is a great way to make sure no important dates slip through the cracks. Here's how. 8. How to Close 1 Home and Get 3 More ClientsSuccess begets success, as the saying goes. And the successful sale of a home is an opportunity to gain more business. How? Realtor Jaime Resendiz has a system for gaining new clients when a transaction closes, and he shares his method in this video. 9. The Hidden Costs of DIY Presale Renovations: A Guide for Real Estate AgentsAs a real estate agent representing sellers today, you may find homeowners are eager to maximize their return on investments and be tempted to take on DIY improvement projects. To help your sellers make the right choice, it is crucial to understand the risks and potential pitfalls of pre-sale renovations. 10. Software and Desktop Apps Every Real Estate Agent NeedsThere's quite a few software and desktop apps you might not be aware of that can help you and your real estate business. Get help with accounting, graphic design and layout, project management, CRMs, social media scheduling and more. Here's RPR's list of desktop apps that real estate agents need to take for a spin.

Our Top 10 Most-Read Articles of January
New year, new you? Judging by our most-read articles of January, starting 2023 off on the right foot was exactly what our readers were thinking about last month. For instance, scroll down to article #6 to get five free checklists that will help you whip your lead gen efforts into tip-top shape. Next, check out article #9 to learn ways to start the year strong, and then see #7 to see predictions of this year's market trajectory. If your goal is to better yourself professionally, check out article #3 for the low-down on earning certifications and designations. Finally, see article #2 to get daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that will distinguish you in your marketplace. For more of what agents and brokers were reading last month, check out our full list below: 1. The Facebook Ad that Home Buyers Can't ResistA sale, a bargain, a good deal—if there's anything consumers love, it's getting more value for their money. Realtor Jaime Resendiz uses that to his advantage in his advertising. By creating "price drop" ads for listings on Facebook, he attracts a ton of quality buyers. After all, even house hunters are looking for a good deal—especially in this economy. 2. What You Need to Do Daily, Weekly, and Monthly to Be the Go-to Expert in Your MarketFrom how you spend your time to the big decisions you make, what you do today impacts the experience you'll have tomorrow. The past shapes the future, but you have control over your situation right now. If you're ready to become the best real estate team in your market, start today. 3. A Guide to Real Estate Certifications and Designations: What You Need to KnowReal estate certifications are an important part of the real estate industry. With so many benefits associated with certification, it's no wonder why more and more real estate professionals are seeking out certification programs to boost their career prospects. 4. 7 Adjustments That Will Make You Better on CameraVideo is an increasingly important way to connect with real estate consumers, but how much engagement are you getting? If your answer is "not much," you may need to make a few tweaks to your on-camera presence. Learn seven simple adjustments you can make to improve your on-screen persona—and ensure your videos get the maximum amount of views. 5. 6 Creative (and Useful!) Closing Gift IdeasClosing gifts are a nice way to thank your clients for their business. But how do you come up with something that will really wow them and, in turn, help you drive referrals and repeat business? We did some research and came up with some excellent closing gift ideas to share with you. 6. Friday Freebie: 5 Checklists to Optimize Your Lead Gen in 2023We're well into the first month of the year—how's your lead gen plan going? If it needs a little nudge off the starting blocks, or if you just want to audit your processes and tools, nothing makes doing that easier than checklists! Whip your lead gen efforts into quick shape with these five free checklists for optimizing all aspects of your lead generation strategy. 7. What the Housing Market Could Look Like in 2023The housing market is influenced by a variety of factors, including economic conditions, interest rates, and the availability of homes for sale. While it's always difficult to make predictions, there are a few key trends that experts are watching as we head into the new year. Here's a look at what we might expect to see in the housing market throughout 2023. 8. Top 5 Reasons Why Homes Today Need to Be Move-in ReadyWhile there will always be circumstances where an "as-is" listing is the best option for a seller, innovative new ways for homeowners to offer a move-in ready home solves the most common seller obstacles. Why is it vital that sellers avoid an "as-is" listing and bring their home to market move-in ready? Here are the top five reasons sellers will want their agents to list a move-in ready home. 9. 5 Ways to Start 2023 StrongRPR is here to help you elevate every aspect of your business by giving you access to data, reports, tools and inspiration that you can utilize to "wow" clients and close more deals. These five pointers will help you increase your productivity and expertise. Try one or all five to be more prepared and more successful in the coming year. 10. How to Create High-converting Landing PagesIf you could increase your return on investment (ROI) in your real estate business today, what marketing strategy would you use? Our best guess is to use landing pages. A landing page has a high chance of converting visitors into leads or potential clients. It gets even better when your website attracts massive traffic. Here are a few tips on creating a high-converting landing page for your real estate website.

Our Top 10 Most-Read Articles of November
If there's one thing on agents' and brokers' minds, it's the shifting real estate market — according to our most-read articles of November, that is. No fewer than three articles made it onto our monthly top 10 most popular articles list. To learn why you shouldn't panic about the market, check out article #7. To find out how to take advantage of this market, scroll down to article #5. And to discover which Realtors are least likely to survive the shift (hint: it doesn't have to be you!), see article #2. In other news, November saw the release of NAR's latest Technology Survey. You can see highlights from that in article #9. For everything else, check out the full list of November's most-read articles below: 1. Buyer Leads Think You're a Tour Guide? Here's What to SayHave you ever encountered buyers that want you to show them houses... but they "don't want to buy for at least a year"? Those aren't serious buyers, and any time spent showing them homes isn't likely to result in you being compensated for your efforts. So how do you handle these buyers? 2. The 7 Types of Realtors This Market Will CrushRising mortgage rates have caused many buyers to put the brakes on their home purchasing plans. That means there's less business to go around these days—and not every agent is going to make it. We believe, however, that there's not only room to survive this market shift, but to thrive. That belief comes with a caveat, though: if you're one of the seven types of agents in this video, your chances of making through are... not great. 3. Friday Freebie: 64 Graphic Templates for Promoting Your Listings on Social MediaWhat's eye-catching, easy to edit, and perfect for promoting your listings on social media? Why, it's this Friday Freebie! We're highlighting a free collection of 64 digital listing flyers that you can use to attract the attention of potential buyers online. All 65 templates are completely editable and professionally designed to make your listings look good. 4. 5 Reasons Agent Teams Get More Leads Than Solo AgentsHave you ever considered working as a real estate team, or are you already part of one? If so, there are a lot of benefits to working as a dynamic duo, and if not, you may want to think about it. Stats from around the industry show that team agents tend to get more leads than solo agents. But why? 5. How to Take Advantage of This Real Estate MarketAgents, how are you viewing this market shift? Rather than seeing it as a slow-down period, you should be thinking about it as your chance to gain the upper hand and boost your business for years to come. Here's how you can take advantage of the market conditions to get ahead in your business. 6. The Real Reasons You Should Be Using a Professional Real Estate Photographer (It's Not What You Think)Why hire a real estate photographer if you can just grab some photos and measurements from a smartphone app? Here are some reasons you should be using a professional photographer for all your listings. 7. 5 Reasons Why the Sky Is Not Falling: By the NumbersHeadlines are causing an overreaction among many real estate agents, resulting frequently in panic. The good news is that 2023 is not 2008. The numbers prove the difference. So, let's stop talking about single-source predictions and economic forecasts and instead focus on what the data tells us about today's real estate market compared to 2008. 8. 10 Video Marketing Ideas for Real Estate AgentsVideo content has become more widely available and accessible thanks to the internet and cellphones. Today, it's essential to create video content that engages your customers. There are countless ways to make real estate marketing videos. Here are 10 video ideas to connect with your audience. 9. New 2022 Realtor Tech Survey Reveals Advances, ShortcomingsThe National Association of Realtors released its annual Technology Survey of members, which provides excellent insight into how tech innovations are impacting the real estate business now and in the future. This new research confirms the acceleration of tech adoption as one positive factor fueled by the pandemic. Here are some quick highlights. 10. Real Estate Farming: Sowing, Growing and Expanding Your BusinessOf the myriad lead generation strategies available to real estate agents, one of the most consistently successful is real estate farming. But is farming for real estate the right strategy for you? Even if you're happy with your current marketing plans, having a more profound understanding of farming methods and concepts can prove beneficial in any real estate market.

2-Minute Read: Changes Coming to NFIP Flood Rates + 2021 Hurricane Season Projections
In case you missed it, two major news items are making 'waves': 1. Changes to NFIP Flood Insurance Pricing Starting October 1, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) risk rating is changing to a new methodology called Risk Rating 2.0. The government is seeking to modernize NFIP to match private flood insurance pricing models so that we have one, consistent manner of pricing flood insurance from coast to coast. We wrote this article surveying NFIP flood insurance compared to the emerging private insurance market. Key Dates: Phase IBeginning October 1, all new policies will be subject to the new rating methodology. Also beginning the same date, existing policyholders eligible for renewal will be able to take advantage of an immediate decrease in their premiums (to the extent applicable). Phase II All remaining policies renewing on or after April 1, 2022, will be subject to the new rating methodology. State-by-State NFIP Cost Impact: FEMA has posted individual PDF analysis of what Risk Rating 2.0 will mean for each state. Please click here to research your state. 2. 2021 Hurricane Season Projections Two reputable sources have made their predictions for the upcoming 2021 Hurricane Season, and both anticipate an active summer for the Atlantic States and the Gulf Coast. AccuWeather Issues 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Colorado State University: Forecast for 2021 Hurricane Season: Another Busy Year If you are interested in learning more, access our free eBook: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Flood Insurance* (*But Were Afraid To Ask) Or, Join our weekly, free REALTOR® training on Tuesdays at noon EDT. Sign Up Here. Note: Tuesday, April 27 Training in Spanish. Sign Up Here (Spanish) CartoFront is a technology services company that is simplifying flood insurance for REALTORS®, their clients, and insurance agents.

5 RPR Report Customizations You May Not Be Using
Reports are one of RPR's most popular features. From the Market Activity Report that gives your sellers a snapshot of recent market trends and activity, to helping your buyers hone-in by using RPR Mobile to create a Buyer Tour Report. Sending reports such as these to your clients via email or text are only gaining in popularity due the current virtual presentation demands. However, you might not be taking advantage or even aware of all the report customizations you can apply to strengthen your communications. RPR allows REALTORS® to tailor each report according to client needs and expectations, starting with these five useful report customizations:

Top 10 Most Popular Articles of March
It's time for our round-up of the most read articles of the month--and I bet you can already guess which topic dominated our top posts. That's right, it's all things related to the coronavirus pandemic. Our #1 article highlights the government's recent classification of real estate as an "essential service." To learn how to disinfect your smartphone and computer, see article #2. For real estate marketing best practices during this pandemic, mosey on down to article #7. As for the rest of our list, we have a post about real estate scripts (#9), how to download free reports to generate leads (#5), real estate app recommendations (#6), and more! Check out all ten of the most popular articles of March below: 1. Real Estate Is Now Considered an Essential Service According to U.S. GovernmentOn Saturday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) updated its list of essential services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and expressly included residential real estate. However, we'd like to underline the need to continue to follow all safety and health protocols. Here are a few ideas to consider. 2. How to Prevent Coronavirus by Cleaning Your Smartphone and Computer TODAY!Last week, Apple announced the following recommendations and guidelines for cleaning your Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, display, or peripheral device. Here's what you should do and what you should avoid when cleaning your iOS or Android devices. 3. 5 Social Media Habits Agents Should Leave Behind in 2020Social media algorithms are placing greater emphasis on personal, meaningful content over vanity metrics like numbers of followers and likes. Make those algorithms work harder for you this year by ditching these five detrimental social media habits. 4. 10 Thank You Notes That Will Generate BusinessAmid non-stop e-mails and social media bombarding everyone each day, there is a powerful answer to help you stand out above the noise. How can you make an impact that is both remembered and generates additional business for you? It is the power of the handwritten "Thank You" card. 5. Friday Freebie: 6 Downloadable Reports for Connecting with ProspectsWhile we all may be stuck socially distancing for a while, there's still ample opportunity to connect with real estate consumers. The trick? Offer something of value… like these six free reports. (And with legions of people stuck at home right now, there's no better time to offer good reading material.) 6. 5 Real Estate Apps that Will 'Wow' You and Your Clients‍With an app on your phone or device, you can schedule showings, manage documents, create CMAs and complete just about any task in a transaction. Here's a look at buzzworthy real estate apps that can help you "wow" your clients, be more productive and efficient, and stand out from your colleagues. 7. Real Estate Marketing Best Practices in a COVID-19 SocietyPeople are self-isolating and relying on social media to stay entertained, connected, and informed. This reality creates an incredible opportunity for us to become the centerpiece, facilitator, moderator, and conduit and for our communities to stay engaged and up-to-date with the latest, most relevant lifestyle information. Here are a few ideas to help you leverage the opportunities created by this potential health crisis. 8. Drive More Foot Traffic to Your Open House‍Picture this: You're hosting an open house at a home that's a little out of the way—the sellers live in a cul-de-sac that takes a few confusing turns to get to. Yes, you've done your traditional open house marketing, but still, you're worried people aren't going to find it or simply won't bother navigating a tangle of unfamiliar roads. What to do? Here's an idea. 9. Your Complete Guide to Real Estate ScriptsSome say scripts are just a shallow representation of a natural conversation between the real estate agent and the client. Others claim that it's a very helpful tool—especially for a less experienced real estate agent—and scripts may help them overcome many unexpected situations. Well, we think there is a grain of truth in both of these statements and we should examine the scripts case more carefully. 10. 5 Fun and Easy YouTube Content Ideas for Real Estate AgentsWhat are some content ideas for real estate agents? Are you worried about creating good content that your potential clients will want to watch? Here are some YouTube content ideas for real estate agents you can use right now to build your credibility and get leads.

Real Estate Agent Sets New Guinness World Record
America's No. 1-ranked real estate agent, Ben Caballero of HomesUSA.com in Dallas, Texas, has been honored by Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking achievements, for selling 5,801 homes last year. Caballero broke his own industry-first Guinness World Record title for 3,556 verified home sales in a single year. He continues to hold the Guinness Worlds Record title for "Most annual home sales transactions through MLS by an individual sell side real estate agent – current."

May in Review: 5 Amazing Things that Happened in Real Estate Technology
From AI-powered property search, to the debut of .realestate website domains, to the latest crop of real estate tech startups, May was an exciting month. What happened? Here's our round-up of the latest and greatest developments in real estate technology during the past month.

The Top 10 Most Popular Articles from April
Know what your lockbox and the Google Maps app have in common? They both offer ways to keep you safe. That's one handy fact, courtesy of last month's 10 most-read articles (check out articles #2 and #3 on our list below). April offered our readers plenty more tech tips, like how your public records tool can help you sell more (#4), and how to build a sales funnel for your Facebook ads (#9). If you want to find out what hot new apps are debuting at NAR Midyear in May, check out article #8. Want more? No problem—just check out the list below for the latest and greatest in real estate tech! 1. 5 Seller Tips for Speedy Home Sales It's every seller's dream to have their home listed under perfect conditions in order to sell quickly and for top dollar. While putting on a great open house and making a remarkable first impression are crucial to attracting buyers, there are other variables to consider when selling a home in 2017. Luckily, 2017 is a great year for your seller clients. Here are the top five things for sellers to consider to list their home to sell. 2. Hidden Features: 3 Google Maps Tricks Agents Should KnowGoogle Maps is a free tool with a lot of neat features that real estate agents can appreciate, and the program has advanced leaps and bounds in the last few months. Did you know Google Maps offers a personal safety app now? Neither did we. And that's just one example—there's a lot more where that came from. Here's a look at the latest Google Map features you may not have heard of just yet. 3. 3 Ways Your Lockbox Can Keep You SafeA tool that real estate agents use every day could be a powerful ally in staying safe on the job. That's great news for REALTORS®, 77 percent of whom report being always or often alone when showing a home to a new prospect, according to the WAV Group Real Estate Victimization Study. Here's how the humble lockbox can help you stay safer in the field.

Top 10 Most Popular Articles of April
It's official—spring is here and real estate markets across North America are about to heat up. If you're looking to better prepare yourself for the busy season ahead, look no further than our most popular articles from April. We've got everything from door knocking and open house scripts (#3), generating seller leads (#10), and even advice on recording a sales-oriented voicemail (#5). Want to know what else captured the attention of agents and brokers last month? Check out our list below: 1. 6 Proven Ways Consumers Find Their Agents If you could predict the method that consumers use to find you, would you make more of an effort to be available and prominent on those channels? We know how they're finding you... you don't have to guess. Consumers choose their agents thanks to two main agent efforts: marketing and relationship skills. Within both of these categories, there are some big winners. 2. Learn How to Make a Killer Listing Presentation in Under 12 MinutesWhat kind of listing presentation do you show to your potential clients? Make your listing presentation stand out from the rest with these fun and inspiring tips from one of the best in the business. Learn the secret to creating an incredible presentation in this short video! 3. 4 Lead Generating Scripts for Listing AgentsSouthern California based Realtor April Kass signed 16 listings and closed 9 escrows in her first year in real estate. Part of her secret to winning so many listings is how she approaches conversations while door-knocking or at open houses. Due to popular request, here we share four scripts April uses to generate seller leads in person.

Top 10 Most Read Articles of February
Communication was on the minds of RE Technology readers during the month of love. Our #1 article, on appropriate email providers for agents, sparked controversy and many a passionate response. Data on what makes an email subject line alluring and what channels are best for communicating with clients captured your attention, too. What else were agents and brokers reading this month? See the list below to find out! 1. Why Agents Should Never Use Personal EmailI saw a news article recently about why real estate agents should use their personal email addresses. The article talked about the 10,000 selfish reasons why it benefits the Realtor®. It was a grand display of the underbelly of self-centered real estate professionals. I am here to tell you that using a personal email for real estate business is STUPID and perhaps illegal. 2. How to Educate Buyers to Make Good OffersRealtors see this again and again. As a listing agent, you are required to submit all offers to your seller, even the lowball offers. It is a horrible situation for the agent. Indeed, it is probably a horrible situation for the buyer's agent, too. It is embarrassing for a buyer's agent to submit a lowball offer to a seller. Buyer's agents should spend some time educating their buyer on the best tactic to win the home they are looking for with a good strategy for success. Here's how. 3. 5 Super Easy Tips to Make You a More Successful Real Estate AgentMany real estate agents are successful because they are focused and have a consistent game plan that they follow on a daily basis. Today, I won't tell you how to run your business. Instead, I want to share a few common and helpful tips that we sometimes forget during our daily grind that can benefit you moving forward.

Top 10 Most Popular Articles of November
With Thanksgiving behind us and the major winter holidays just ahead, we're sprinting towards the year's end. Before we settle in to our December routines, let's pause and take a look back at our most read articles of last month. From apps to advertising and lead gen ideas, November offered helpful advice for powering through the winter months ahead. 1. 3 Apps for First-Time Home Buyers Owning a home for the first time can be scary. With that new set of keys comes concerns about property upkeep that former renters have never had to worry about before. If you sense anxiety from first-time buyers that you work with, direct them to the following apps. They ease the apprehension by helping new homeowners understand how their home works and offering actionable steps for keeping up with critical maintenance tasks. 2. 7 Funny Things Real Estate Agents DoReal estate agents mean serious business... most of the time. But every now and again we have to take a minute to laugh at ourselves. Probably no other job can be as stressful, as rewarding and, happily, as humorous. And now, as the joke goes, you might be a real estate agent if... 3. 5 Ways to Find Buyer and Seller LeadsWhen it comes to real estate, there is one unavoidable truth: leads are life. Of course, if leads were easy to come by and, more importantly, close, you wouldn't be reading this post. That's why we'll be going over buyer and seller leads today, giving you the information you need to...lead. See what we did there?

The 10 Most Popular Articles from September
What were your peers reading on RE Technology last month? Our top 10 most read articles provide insight into the interests of Realtors. Safety was on the mind of everyone last month. This September marked the one-year anniversary of the murder of Realtor Beverly Carter--and Realtor Safety Month. To help prevent similar tragedies from happening, all month long we published excerpts from a course on Realtor safety and crime prevention. These weren't just your typical boring safety tips--readers learned about the mindset of criminals, how they choose their victims, and how to read and behave with unfamiliar prospects so that you stay as safe as possible. Several articles from our "Safety series" made it into the list below. Click on any to gain access to all 12 articles in the series. 1. Realtor Safety: Screening Prospects Before a ShowingUnderstanding how to evaluate the prospect, property, and circumstances is the first step in assessing the overall risk of an appointment so you can make better decisions about your safety and the safety of your colleagues. Evaluating a prospect in your initial conversation is easily done with a sales technique you are probably already using – Active Listening. In addition to allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of a legitimate prospect's needs and wants, it also allows you to uncover inconsistencies and red flags if a prospect is not legitimate. 2. How to Back Up Your Text Messages, Email, Calendars, and MoreWorried that a lost or broken phone means losing all of your text messages and all of the important conversations you've had with clients? You're not alone. An RE Technology reader recently wrote to us in search of an easy way to archive her text messages and prevent disaster from happening. Here's how you can backup not only your texts, but your email, calendar, contacts, and more! 3. Emergency Items Every Agent Should Keep in Their CarAs an agent, you spend a great deal of time in your car zooming off to showings, meeting new clients, and running errands for your business. And while your car should always be clean for clients, it should also be prepared for possible emergencies. Mother Nature is unpredictable at best, so it's important to have a car survival kit that can get you through floods, blizzards, basic medical distress, and the occasional flat tire.

Top 10 Articles from July
With July a thing of the past, it's a mad sprint to the summer finish line--and to closing transactions before the new school year begins. Between all the hustle and bustle, take a moment to check out our top articles from last month. You'll likely find something to help you in your dash towards fall. 1. 6 New Headshot No-No's for Agents Your agent photo is a critical component of your marketing. In this very personal business, your face is your brand more often than not. But no matter how confident you are in real life, stepping in front of the camera can be unnerving and even intimidating. To help you keep your cool—and avoid looking like one of these agents—we've put together this list of headshot no-no's that you can refer to on picture day. 2. What Successful Agents Do Before, During, and After the Open HouseThe most successful real estate professionals know that getting the most from your open house requires more than just cleaning the house and placing an ad in the paper. It's important to have a strategy for each phase of the open house: before, during, and after. 3. How to Set Up Your First Facebook Ad!You can get your first Facebook Ad up and running in under 10 minutes by following these eight easy steps.

Top 10 Articles from May
May was a whirlwind of activity, from NAR Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C. to the release of our 2015 Technology Guide. And with the spring/summer selling season finally underway, things are only going to get busier! So relax and take a minute to catch up on what your fellow agents have been reading lately. We've rounded up our most popular articles of May right here for your reading pleasure. 1. 4 Examples of Automatic Responses for Agents (Yes, You Can Steal These) If you're setting up emails to automatically follow up with your leads, we want to help. Here are some templates of automatic responses that let your leads know you have their information and you'll be in touch soon. 2. How to: Create a One-page Property Flyer in RPRAn exciting new option has been added to the already robust line-up of RPR® reports--the one page property flyer. As of February 2015, REALTORS® can now create a customized, branded marketing piece for any property. Here's a step-by-step guide. 3. 3 Ways to Wow Sellers at a Listing AppointmentWinning more listings is a key way to grow your real estate business. If you're getting plenty of seller leads but can't seem to seal the deal, try one of these strategies at your next listing appointment.

Top 10 Most Popular Articles from February
We're almost there, agents--just three weeks from the official start of spring. That means warmer weather and the industry's busy season are just around the corner. Many of you are already gearing up, judging by our site traffic last month. Here's a list of the top articles that drew you to RE Technology in February. You can use these posts as a starting point for preparing for the transaction-filled months ahead. 1. The Top 10 Listing Turn-Offs that Kill DealsOnce you secure a highly coveted listing, the last thing you want to do is blow your chances at securing a hot offer. But making one of these mistakes could sink your sale. Find out how to avoid these all-too-common listing pitfalls and the smart staging, photo and marketing tips to turn it all around. 2. 5 Facebook Cover Image Ideas for AgentsAgents, how often do you update your Facebook cover image? Monthly? Annually? Never? This is prime marketing space that you could be using to attract prospects. Used wisely, your Facebook cover image can get leads to visit your website or even give you a call! Here are 5 easy ways real estate agents can optimize their Facebook cover photos. 3. How to Find Quality Real Estate LeadsIs real estate lead generation one of the primary things on your mind when it comes to your business? If so, you're not alone. Considering the average REALTOR® gets only 12 leads per year, it's no wonder many agents are researching ways to obtain more high quality real estate leads. This blog post shares some valuable real estate lead generation ideas and examines the tips and tricks for how an agent can get more quality leads.

Top 10 Articles from January
Making 2015 the best year it possibly can be is a theme that runs through our list of the most popular articles from January. The latest edition of our monthly coutdown includes all three parts our "preparing your business" Friday Freebie series. Each article features a free download that you can use to organize your business, set goals for 2015, and develop an achievable plan to meet those goals. Checklists and mobile app suggestions were other popular items in January. But don't think it's too late to put into practice the suggestions you'll encounter in the list below! 2015 is still young and you still have every opportunity to meet and exceed the goals you've set for yourself. Read on for some needed inspiration. 1. 15 Remarkable Apps for your Real Estate Business Our phones and the apps we use have become central to our daily productivity. Some apps streamline an existing process, or simplify a task, while others introduce new services we never thought we'd use on our phones. What's great about each app is the freedom and anytime access it affords us. With 2015 underway, I'd like to share 15 fresh and powerful apps that should be on every Real Estate agent's phone. 2. January To-Do List for Real Estate AgentsHappy New Year, agents! We wish you all a very prosperous 2015. To help you get started on the right foot, we've created this easy, week-by-week to-do list for the month of January. These weekly tasks will clear out last year's clutter and position you to close more sales than ever before. 3. 5 Most-Loved Listing Photos and Best Practices for Capturing ThemIf you really want buyers to fall in love with your listings in 2015, you need to make a mega-splash with your online listing photos. Trulia research shows that visitors not only spend most of their time on our site looking at photos, but also that when it comes to pictures, having a single shot from your cell phone is not enough. To create the listing love you need to sell during this market season, follow these five simple tips.

November's Top 10 Articles: Apps for 2015, Listing Presentations, and more
Welcome back from the long holiday weekend everyone! Before we settle in to our December routines, let's pause and take a look back at our most read articles of last month. November is that time when we start to see the year ahead appear on the distant horizon. In fact, our most popular article last month offered app suggestions for a successful 2015. What else was popular last month? Read on to find out! 1. 15 Apps that Will Make Your Job Easier in 2015 It seems that every time you turn around, there's a slew of so-called top apps that people claim to be "game changers." Well, as you may know, this is not always the case. Apps are supposed to make your job easier, but it seems that most them are just another thing to keep up with. This list offers apps that will help streamline your operations, better manage your business and help your clients enjoy their home. 2. 5 Things Real Estate Agents Should Do Every DayBeing a real estate agent is tough, and there are always plenty of ways to fill your workday. No matter how busy you are, here are five things you should make time to do every day. 3. 4 Statistics that Sellers Love and Can Win ListingsWhen it comes to standing out amongst the competition and getting a signature on the dotted line, agents need to know how to show off why they are the best agent in their market. So how do you do that? The answer is simple: Data. To increase our listing business, we have to level-up our ability to deliver the data points that trigger potential clients' trust and confidence that we can, in fact, do what we say we can do.

September's Top 10 Articles: Photos, Freebies, and more
The best part of our monthly 'Top 10' posts is getting a glimpse into what type of articles our readers care about the most. This month? It's free stuff. Three of our 10 most popular articles from September are Friday Freebies! We can't blame you, because a) free stuff is awesome; and b) we arranged a couple of great deals just for our readers. Read on to discover what else rounds out the rest of our Top 10! 1. The 4 Biggest Listing Photo Mistakes Even when the market is hot and homes are selling fast, you've got to make sure your listing sets itself apart from competing homes in order to get the best deal. Pictures move the masses and if you're not careful, they can move prospective buyers away from your listings online. Check out these four buyer photo turn-offs to avoid then read tips for making sure your listings are getting the right attention online! 2. Rock Your Next Open House with this iPad AppAgents are replacing traditional pen-and-paper sign-in sheets with their iPads --and reaping great benefits in the process. For one, most open house apps play nice with your CRM system, making it easy to add anyone who attends your event directly to your contact database. Today we'd like to introduce you to the latest app to enter the open house scene. We've even wrangled a special 90-day free trial for our members, too. Read on to learn more! 3. 1 Way to Get Back in Touch with Neglected ContactsHaving a real estate CRM you barely use is almost as bad as not having one at all. When you neglect your CRM, what you're really neglecting are your prospects, clients, and lucrative future business. However, if your current CRM is complicated to the point of being difficult to use, we sympathize, but offer a few words of advice: Get a new one! Today we're going to introduce you to one that will let you try before you buy.

Top 10 Articles from July
July may be the glorious middle of summer vacation, but the educational content never stops at RE Technology. In addition to articles on taking mobile photos and generating leads, we launched a new article series. In the "Tech 101" series, we explore the spectrum of technology products available to real estate professionals. Each post covers what a specific type of technology does, how to evaluate solutions in that category, and available options. You can read our latest here. Then check out our list of the 10 most read articles from July to catch up on more educational posts. Consider it real estate summer school! 1. Tips for Taking Better iPhone® Photos Nearly 90% of prospective home buyers surveyed said that photos were more important than any other feature. How can you take advantage of the technology at your fingertips to take better photos? We polled our tech-savvy team to find out which apps are worth the money and which free products can brighten up even the darkest photo. 2. 6 Ways For Realtors to Sell More HomesIn real estate, 20 percent do 80 percent of the business. Whether you're new to the game, looking to join the 20 percent or resistant to slipping into the bottom 80 percent, here are some ways to increase your home sales. 3. Become a Stronger Listing Agent in 4 StepsA healthy real estate strategy includes cultivating both buyers and sellers. After all, the two groups have a symbiotic relationship with each other. A robust pool of buyers to market to enables you to sell listings faster, while a set of solid listings helps you attract higher quality buyers. Here are four strategic steps to attract listing leads, convert them into clients, and sell their homes.

Top 10 Articles from May
What a month! May was a whirlwind of activity, from NAR Midyear in Washington, D.C. to the public reemergence of broker Krisstina Wise (see #6 below) to the release of our 2014 Technology Guide. And with the spring/summer selling season well underway, things are only going to get busier! So relax and take a minute to catch up on what your fellow agents have been reading lately. We've rounded up our most popular articles of May right here for your reading pleasure! 1. Beating Zillow and Trulia at Their Own Game What if I told you that just about everything you find unfair about the way that Zillow and Trulia display your listings can be changed? Guess what? An insider understanding of how these sites work has allowed thousands of listing agents to get hundreds of dollars worth of free marketing on these sites without paying a dime. 2. 4 Great Mobile Apps to Help Real Estate Agents SucceedThe power of the World Wide Web is now as portable as a pocket watch, and this is changing the way real estate is bought and sold. How can you keep up? Here are a number of tools that may help you become a more productive and successful agent. 3. 5 Things That Should Not Be on Your Real Estate WebsiteWhen deciding what to add to your website, keep the user in mind. Ask yourself this one simple question: What are their real estate needs and how is adding this particular piece of content going to meet those needs?

Top 10 Articles from April
Spring selling season is underway--a fact underscored by our list of last month's most popular articles. In April, articles on open houses, home improvements, all varieties of marketing and preparing homes and clients for real estate's busiest time of year were all the rage. Here's a look at what else captured the attention of agents and brokers. 1. Home Improvements: Make them Count! - by Kristen Hernandez Have you ever sat with a client who asked you what their remodeled bathroom is worth? Clients want to get the most for their house, and who can blame them? For most homeowners, every penny counts. And as a REALTOR®, you want to provide them with accurate information to make these decisions. Here's how. 2. Common Real Estate Myths for Home Sellers - by Geneva IvesWhether someone is selling a home for the first time or the fifth, these real estate myths can lead to major gaffes that cost sellers money. How many of these sound familiar to you? 3. 5 People You Will Meet at Your Next Open House - by Katie WeismillerWhen planning an open house, attracting visitors is the first step to find the perfect buyer for your listing. Despite your best efforts, not all open house visitors arrive with the intention of purchasing a home. Here are the five types of people you may meet at your open houses and tips on how you can turn these browsers into potential buyers.

Top 10 Articles from February
February may be a short month, but that doesn't mean we were short on good content. Last month, for example, saw the return of our monthly blogging plans--a series of articles that maps out topics for agents to blog about for every week of the month. For the latest list of topics, see March's blogging plan. Then, check out our list of the most popular posts from February below. 1. 6 Easy Questions to Ask an Expired Listing - by Tanya Fears The expired listing is one of the easiest sources of inventory for a savvy agent. Most homeowners who have experienced the marketing process without a sale may have had a bad experience or were unprepared from their initial listing experience. This makes it an easy addition to your inventory when you simply ask the right questions! 2. The Importance Of An Email Address For Real Estate Agents - by James Harris There are a lot of things that go into crafting your image as a real estate professional. While you may think an email address is just a means of communication, it really does speak volumes about you and can serve as a first impression to your potential customers. 3. Top 10 Ways to Sell Your Client’s Home FAST! - by RET Staff Great news! You were able to secure a new client interested in selling their home. Now what do you do to sell the home as quickly as you can? Well, we've got a few suggestions for you.

A Portrait of the Agent – Realtor® Habit Survey
This post comes to us from the Market Leader blog: Market Leader surveyed 1,967 Realtors® in August 2013 to learn about their habits. We asked questions about offbeat topics not covered in NAR's Annual Member Profile or similar studies. Questions touched on topics as diverse as their procrastination habits, cell phone usage while driving, and favorite cuisine. Read on to discover what Market Leader's survey uncovered about Realtors® – from habits common across the profession to the differences in habits between the most and least successful Realtors®!

Top 10 Articles from November
It's December. While we're still wondering how exactly that happened, let's take a moment to reflect on the month that just ended. So what was on the mind of real estate professionals in November? Craigslist (or "Hurricane Craig" as one of our contributors called it) definitely caught the attention of our readers. A rule change at the classified ads website has forced agents to re-think their posting strategy (see article #2 below). Agents and brokers are also beginning to think about the year ahead, judging by our round-up of November's most popular articles. For more on what your peers are reading, see our list below. 1. How to Lose a Listing - by Emily Williams My neighbors really like their original real estate agent, Agent One. They wanted to work with her again. But they tell me that they probably won't choose her to list their home. This is pretty catastrophic for her, whether she knows it or not, because repeat and referral business is a real estate agent's bread and butter. 2. How the New Craigslist Changes Affect Real Estate Ads - by Properties Online Craigslist has recently made changes to its posting guidelines, specifically around what HTML tags are allowed in their sales categories. The Craigslist changes are having a dramatic effect on the real estate industry, because images and links posted using HTML code or the use of images to link to external pages do not work post-change. 3. Write Listing Descriptions That Sell - by Shannon O'Brien Writers are admonished to always remember their audience. Real estate agents would do well to remember that advice too, but to also keep in mind that their audience is two-pronged: buyers and other real estate agents.

Top 10 Articles from September
School started last month, but judging by the list of our most popular articles in September, it looks like your kids weren't the only ones with learning in mind. Agents and brokers devoured our articles about new products and--perhaps reflecting the slower autumn selling season--lead generation strategies. Read on to find out what other RE Technology posts got the mental wheels turning during September. 1. Which Real Estate CRM Should I Use? - by Matthew Collis of IXACT Contact Are you looking for a real estate CRM? There are so many systems on the market these days that weeding through them is often difficult and time-consuming. We feel your pain! That's why we want to make it as easy as possible for you to understand what to look for in a real estate CRM. 2. Do's and Dont's for Thriving in the Electronic Information Age - by Home Zone MediaBeing 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. 3. Lead Generation: What Works? - by Maya PavezaI am often asked about lead generation systems: What online services work? Where should I be investing my money? What's the best product? What do I like? What do I use? You know what? It's not really relevant what I like and what I use. The reality is that any lead generation system or leads are only as good as you, who's working them.

Top 10 Articles from July
We publish well over 100 articles each month, so it's inevitable that some get lost in a sea of content. That's why we like to take a moment at the beginning of every month to highlight 10 of our best articles. Read on to see RE Technology's most popular articles from July! 1. 10 Real Estate Contact Management Tips Every REALTOR® Should Know - by Matthew Collis of IXACT Contact From using listing and closing activity plans to identifying hot leads with email campaign reports, these 10 tips will help agents get the most out their CRM solutions--and their client relationships. 2. Choosing an iPad App - by Emily Williams Real estate agents are notoriously on-the-go, covering a great deal of ground in a hurry. Thankfully, technology has finally caught up with the realities of our industry – with mobile devices that provide key functionality no matter where you are. The applications (or "apps") that are built to run on these tablets can help real estate agents with many of the nuts and bolts of their trade. 3. Do's and Don'ts of Creating Real Estate Videos - by Jared Daniel of Homes.com Innovations in technology, along with our ever increasing on-the-go lifestyle, has shifted real estate marketing away from traditional practices toward an online approach with more visual stimulation. Of all of the online tactics used by marketers, videos are proving to be the most valuable way to reach home seekers.

Big Announcements Kick Off NAR Midyear Trade Expo
Day one of the National Association of REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo saw major news break in the real estate technology space. The biggest announcement of the day came this morning, when DocuSign announced its acquisition of transaction management platform Cartavi. Reactions to the deal were more delighted than surprised. The two companies have been partners for 16 months, with DocuSign providing eSignature capability to Cartavi users (see our recent webinar for more on how this works). That integration has proven so successful, that today's marriage of the two solutions seems inevitable in retrospect and, well, just right. Cartavi co-founder Glenn Shimkus said as much in a blog post earlier today. In it, he looks back to the early days of the partnership, where he previewed the integration for the first time at Inman Connect NY 2012: The reception for [the integration] was even better than what we had hoped. In fact, it was at that show that I met Krisstina Wise and Jack Miller from The GoodLife Team for the first time. [By the way, that one interaction led to The GoodLife Team becoming a customer of Cartavi and what has turned out to be an AMAZING partnership!]. I'll never forget Jack Miller's words after I showed him a demo of our integration with DocuSign. He said, and I quote "Wow. Amazing. DocuSign is going to buy you guys!" [Jack, you nailed that one!].

ChangeLog: Has your real estate vendor released important updates lately?
Has your real estate tech vendor made important updates recently? RE Technology's new column, ChangeLog, will keep you up to date with changes you need to be aware of. Since we always keep a close eye on real estate technology news, let us share our knowledge with you! Here's our round-up of the latest changes in the tech sphere. To learn more about each update, click on the links provided in each story. Check below to see if any of your vendors are on the list. Imprev unveiled an upgrade to the RE/MAX Design Center last week at the RE/MAX R4 Convention in Las Vegas. New features include single property websites with responsive layouts, YouTube ready video tours and easy-to-manage campaigns. To celebrate, the company also released a "40-Touch" social media campaign in Design Center. The campaign is available to a all Premium subscribers, as well as those who have purchased the Campaign product. Cartavi released version 2.7 for iOS devices late last week. The update includes a new bulk action feature, map view for mobile devices, as well as extra security provided by new passcode capabilities. Additionally, in response to customer input, Cartavi has enabled "envelope owners" to rename and delete documents. In his monthly update, CEO Dale Ross announced RPR's new alliance with Fannie Mae. This partnership is designed to help REALTORS expedite the short sale approval process by expanding REO listing information, among other features.

Inman Connect NY: Day 3
In its final day, this year's Inman Connect conference in New York City set its sights abroad with a morning of sessions focused on the global real estate market. Sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, "The Globalization of Real Estate and Its Impact on You," taught agents about luxury real estate and how to attract foreign buyers interested in investing in US property. Selling internationally can be complicated, though, so we've compiled a handful of resources from the sessions to guide you: Read about the Know Your Customer law from the Patriot Act Learn about the EB-5 visa for foreign nationals who invest in the US Read Attracting Global Real Estate Buyers by Philip White, President and COO, Sotheby's International Realty Join FIABCI: International Real Estate Federation to connect with international agents Check out NAR's Global Resources page See The Foreign Buyer's Guide from Manhattan Miami Real Estate Once again, we followed the conference on Twitter and have compiled the best tweets of the day, organized by session. See our coverage of Day One and Day Two here.

Inman Connect NY: Day 1
Though our CEO, Victor Lund, is attending Inman Connect in New York this week, the rest of the RE Technology team is holding down the fort in sunny California. If you're like us, though, you're still anxious to keep up with all the conference goings on. That's why we turned to Twitter, where we followed the hashtag #ICNY to watch the conference unfold in real time. We're sharing our favorite tweets here, organized according by presentation. Agent Reboot Opening Keynote, Marc Davison, 1000Watt @TuckerWanna - Being curious is 1st tenet of being innovative. Being open is second. Invite serendipity into your life. #ICNY @LisaArcher - How empathetic are you to your clients? Being innovative requires being empathetic to your customer. @1000wattmarc #agentrb#ICNY @kerrybarger - "Be great at one thing, not good at ten things." @1000wattmarc#ICNY #agentrb @NikkiBeauchamp - Creativity is about immersing yourself deep into your ideas. [email protected] #agentrb #icny #nycre   How to Use Real Estate Data in Your Business @RebeccaChandler - #icny An agent's only value is not access to data. It's using the data to better serve their clients. @Onboard_Info - "Data is the most powerful thing we have at our fingertips to build a sustainable business." #icny #agentrb

Highlights from NAR Annual in Orlando
Today marked the final day of the NAR Annual conference in Orlando. Attendees left with new connections, new ideas, and tons of inspiration to push them to new heights in 2013. We followed the conference on social media--the perfect medium for such a tech-oriented event! We saw lots of Instagram photos (like Chris Nichols' pic of NAR President Moe Veissi), iPad giveaways, educational sessions on digital marketing, and so much more. We were especially impressed by NARconferencelive.com--a fantastic site full of up-to-date conference happenings! For those of you who couldn't make the conference--and for those who did, but couldn't possibly attend every session--we've compiled a list of Twitter updates from the conference. Each one is a bite-size nugget of great information. Real Estate Trends @RETrends - ECONOMIC TRENDS: Lawrence Yun, NAR’s Chief Economist, on His 2013 Forecast (video) @NAR_Research #NARAnnual Rod Alderink @NAIwmRod - "You can't sow the seeds of mediocre patterns and expect extraordinary results" NAR Convention #cre #NarAnnual #naiwwm

Top 10 Articles from September
True to its back-to-school spirit, September was chock-full of educational topics. We saw a lot of trends in the articles we published this month--plenty of discussions about the importance of Google+, and tips for improving your blog and website. We also strove to keep you up-to-date with technology related events that occurred during the month. When GoDaddy crashed, we took the opportunity to teach our agent and broker audience more about the ins and outs of website hosting. Take time to peruse our Top 10 articles from last month and learn more about how technology can help you grow your real estate business. 1) 5 Mobile Apps That Streamline Your Real Estate Business - by RE Technology Staff Everyone's got a favorite--so we've compiled a list of ours! These fabulous apps let you to keep your business moving on-the-go and help you stay organized. 2) Closing Gifts That Give Back - by Karli Larson A wonderful way to make a lasting impression with your clients is by giving them a unique closing gift. Long gone are the days that a bottle of wine or a calendar with your logo on it will impress your clients. Your closing gift may be the last contact you have with them for quite some time, so it's important to let your clients know you care.

Introducing Inman’s 2012 Innovator Awards Winners
Inman News recently announced the winners of their 2012 Innovator Awards during this year's Real Estate Connect conference in San Francisco. Here's a look at the creative thinkers and companies shaping the real estate industry today. Innovator of the Year (individual award) Austin Allison, co-founder and CEO, DotLoop - As a former real estate agent, Austin Allison found that the greatest threat to his efficiency was "the 'choke points' in the paperwork process." DotLoop was his solution--transaction management software that integrates online forms, e-signatures, and a custom CRM onto a cloud-based platform that's accessible from anywhere. Allison's success has been impressive. His business savvy helped DotLoop gain over 100,000 paying subscribers in its first year alone. In 2011, he appeared on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list and was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders by Inman News. This spring, his company launched DotLoop-NOW, a free version of their popular transaction platform. Perhaps RE Technology's own Victor Lund best summed up Allison's forward thinking mindset in our Follow the Leader profile: "Austin reminds me of Steve Jobs at Apple. The reason: he has created a product that is not underdeveloped or overdeveloped. This is difficult for a leader, as they are so personally invested in their products – they have a hard time stopping, even when they've hit the 'sweet spot' of usability and functionality. Austin is a leader because he understands this balance."

#ICSF: Day Two
Many of my RE Technology teammates are representing at Inman Real Estate Connect in San Francisco this week. Unfortunately, I am not among them. So that I don't feel like I'm missing out completely, I'm following the conference on social media and sharing it with you nice people. If you missed my coverage yesterday, you can read it here. Now let's get started with today's highlights from ICSF. Follow ICSF 2012 If you'd like to follow ICSF yourself, you can check them out here: Twitter – also check out #ICSF Facebook RealEstateConnect.com/sf12 #ICSF on Twitter Some of my favorite Tweets for Thursday, August 2nd: Alain Pinel Realtors @alainpinel : Quote: "Can we stop calling it social media? It's media! Why call them Internet consumers? They're consumers!" @MattBeall #ICSF Matthew Shadbolt @Corcoran_Group : Nice advice at #ICSF from @LisaArcher "Any time you receive a compliment, ask for a referral, and build your lifelong book of business." Jeffrey Kershner @jeff_kershner : 5 ideas to get the mobile experience right: 1. Play to your strengths. @1000wattbrian #icsf Jeffrey Kershner @jeff_kershner : #2 Deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of users. Search should be simplistic. Forget the weirdos. @1000wattbrian #icsf Jeffrey Kershner @jeff_kershner : #3 Care about the design: Think about the beauty of your application. Make the interface pleasing. @1000wattbrian #icsf Jeffrey Kershner @jeff_kershner : #4 Kill friction. Don't make it hard to use your mobile app, ie remove passwords, usernames and barriers @1000wattbrian #icsf Jeffrey Kershner @jeff_kershner : #5 know what you want: define the goal of the mobile app. Is it to generate calls, leads, showcase brand etc. @1000wattbrian #icsf Cynthia Hoskins @Cynthia_Hoskins : "Pulling Your Listings from Aggregator Sites: Who Wins?" session at #ICSF. Now this conference is going to get good!

Get Ready for Real Estate Connect SF!
Inman News is hosting another spectacular Real Estate Connect convention in San Francisco this year! The event is scheduled for August 1st through 3rd at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. If you haven't already, take a moment to register today. Why Real Estate Connect is Awesome RE Technology will be attending the Inman Real Estate Connect convention for a variety of reasons – opportunities to network with and learn from other industry thought leaders, exciting technology announcements and education, and robust learning opportunities with cutting edge sessions. But perhaps Inman News explains it best on the convention website: At Real Estate Connect you'll experience: Unparalleled networking with industry leaders including the executives at the top real estate franchises; entrepreneurs bringing new products to market; marketing execs; top-producing real estate agents and brokers; and executives from the leading financial service and title companies...in other words, the people who are driving change in our industry. A fantastic set of exhibitors representing the players you already know and our Startup Alley participants that have new and exciting products you haven't heard of yet. Keynote presentations and fireside chats featuring leaders and innovators describing what's ahead for the industry In-depth tracks such as Broker Summit, ConnectTech, Digital Marketing and MLS Solutions If you are an industry leader, or you just want to rub elbows with them, you've got to be at Real Estate Connect. Register now to reserve your space!

What we can learn from the new Nike+ website
Running is quite arguably one of the most uncomplicated fitness activities in the world (unless of course you count the Ab Flattener). Now as more runners hit the road with the GPS and pace tracking slapped on, the beautifully simple sport of running is yet another thing potentially at risk for drowning in what is being buzzed about in the industry as big data. With Nike+, the omnipresent running coach application for Apple devices, a ton of data is stored and processed with each stride. But the outputs are as simple as the inputs on feet on pavement. Nike understands that I'm not coming to the website because I want to look at a bunch of numbers, or even do analysis on crisply-presented charts. I'm here for answers. How far do I run on average? Is my pace improving since my ACL surgery recovery? At what point in the run do I lose momentum?

Good Industry News and How to Use It
For the real estate news hound, good news might seem hard to come by in general, but during the last few days headlines have surfaced that could make real estate agents feel good about the future. But how agents take advantage of the news is crucial. The first story is about investment property sales and second home sales projections. According to the National Association of Realtors' 2012 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, investment home sales increased 64.5 percent in 2011, and vacation home sales rose 7.0 percent. According to NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun, "During the past year investors have been swooping into the market to take advantage of bargain home prices. Rising rental income easily beat cash sitting in banks as an added inducement. In addition, 41 percent of investment buyers purchased more than one property."  

How Can The iPad 3 Help Real Estate Agents Sell More Listings?
We spotted this article on the Showing Suite blog. Rumors have been swirling ever since Apple announced the release of the new iPad, unofficially dubbed the “iPad 3”, which will be available for delivery March 16th. If you’ve been curious but still on the fence about purchasing an iPad, with the new iPad coming out, is it finally time to give in and utilize the iPad as a tool for real estate? Technology is changing faster than you change your clothes, is it a good idea for real estate agents to invest in the new iPad, and can it really help you sell more listings? High Resolution Display The new iPad will have a 2048 x 1536 resolution Retina screen, which means the pixels on the tablet’s screen will be virtually indistinguishable to the human eye. Basically, the iPad will have 1,000,000 more pixels than your 1080p living room TV. But how can the new display help you sell more listings? This allows you to show your clients beautiful, visually stunning pictures of your listings from the MLS. Clients will also love the idea of home video tours being displayed on the new, ultra high resolution screen.

Real Estate Marketing: How to Avoid Your Buyer Calling Another Agent
I had a listing flyer on my doorstep last night with a sticker across the top that said “Buyers Wanted!”. Of course it’s implied that a buyer is always wanted for a listed home, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen an Agent advertise that they really need one. Having a client who is looking to purchase Real Estate is always of value, but in most “markets du jour” with excess inventory and economic uncertainty, Buyers have become a highly valued commodity. As such, competition can become fierce for Buyers and, as any Agent knows, a potential buyer spends a lot of time on the internet researching listings on their own. What they find there, other than Real Estate listings, are loads and loads real estate marketing online for many other Agents in the area – some of which will have a listing that your Buyer is interested in.

Video: Regulatory Changes
Today, MRISTV tackles the regulatory changes that will be impacting real estate agents and brokers. Their panel of experts weighs in on regulatory changes that may be in our future and their potential affects on the real estate market. To watch the video, click on to the next page. To view more videos, visit MRISTV.com.

HomeGain Releases 2nd Quarter 2011 National Home Values Survey Results
Guest Contributor Louis Cammarosano from HomeGain Says: Fifty percent of surveyed real estate professionals nationwide expect home values to decrease over the next six months; Sixty-five percent disapprove of Obama’s performance as President. HomeGain, the first company to provide free instant home valuations online, announced the results of its nationwide second quarter 2011 home values survey. Over 750 real estate agents and brokers and over 2,600 homeowners were surveyed. Most real estate professionals and homeowners continue to expect home values to decrease or stay the same through the middle of the year. Fifty percent of agents and brokers and forty-two percent of homeowners think that home values will decrease over the next six months. In the first quarter 2011 HomeGain National Home Values Survey, thirty-nine percent of agents and brokers and 30 percent of homeowners thought that home values would decrease over the next six months.  

Smooth Operators: Android vs. iOS
Okay. You've made the wise decision to buy a smartphone. Now what? You're going to be offered several options (determined largely by your cell service provider). Which smartphone, with which operating system, is right for you? Today, I'm going to discuss the main contenders: Android and iOS. These aren't the only operating systems you'll find running on smartphones, but they're the two I've been reading the most about lately. The Basics Here's the basic info you should know about these operating systems before you start your selection process.

Bringing the U.S. Housing Market Back TOGETHER!
Are you sick of watching the real estate market flounder in these trying economic times? Have you spent many an hour on a soapbox outlining where the fault lies? You are not alone. But instead of simply spouting the ills of a market, consider joining with other thought leaders in crafting a solution to the problem this Thursday, April 21, 2011. In an effort to bring some of the main players in the U.S Housing and Real Estate markets together to create a blueprint for housing reform. Industry thought leaders, Congressmen, CEOs and real estate professionals are gathering in San Diego at the end of this week to bring about change to our complicated industry. Presented by 1parkplace, the Real Estate & Housing Symposium is the brain-child of Steve Hundley, CEO and founder of 1parkplace. This is the first symposium of its kind and it has been generating a great deal of interest. As a hot topic this spring, we decided to interview Steve Hundley.

The Queue: A Look at RETechSouth, Bob Hale, and 4 New Technologies!
I have been to a conference or 12 this year. I had a chance to attend RE Tech South in the Atlanta suburbs this past week and for lack of a better analogy I am dubbing it the Roy Jones Jr. of real estate conventions. Pound for pound this was the best event of the year.          

Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED) Offers Service to Speed Up Short Sales
 If you feel like you need more assistance with Short Sales, consider asking your local MLS to provide a technology solution to meet your need. A modern example of an MLS expanding services to meet their customers' needs is MRED. Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED) recently announced a new service providing short sale assistance to their customers. Yesterday MRED announced it has entered into an Agreement with Fannie Mae to provide its customers the Fannie Mae Short Sale Assistance Desk (“Assistance Desk”). The Assistance Desk provides brokers and agents the ability to significantly shorten the time they have to wait for approval from Fannie Mae on short sale transactions.  It helps real estate professionals with the handling of post-contract issues such as loan servicer responsiveness, the existence of a second lien or issues involving mortgage insurance.  

The Queue: Live from the Keller Williams Family Reunion
I have to say that the Keller Williams Family Reunion conference was a blast. In this week's episode of The Queue I was able to interview several industry thought leaders and get the inside scoop on some innovative new technology solutions. This week I cover Ben Kinney, Stefan Swanepoel, eEdge, Tiger Leads, Howard Tager and more.

Google Eliminates Real Estate
The real estate industry is ever changing.  For better or for worse Google just made a big annoucement that could make a difference to real estate professionals.  Tech Savvy Agent reports below: This just in. Google has announced that they will be removing all listings from their Google Maps platform on February 10th of this year! We have written in the past about gaining exposure via Google Maps and also about the fact that they include foreclosure data in their system.    

Are You Onboard for Inman?
Many attend Inman's Real Estate Connect for the opportunity to discover the trends that will help shape the real estate industry in 2011. For Onboard Informatics, however, it's an opportunity to continue the conversation about lifestyle search, a paradigm shift in looking for property online. "Real Estate Connect helps set the tone for 2011," said Scott Petronis Senior Director of Product Management for Onboard Informatics. "There are many great sessions talking about the trends driving the industry that help focus effort and are good reminders for the year to come."