A different sort of housing bubble

Housing prices continue to go up, but then so does the average size of new homes. A new home had 2,080 square feet of space in 1990, and by 2004 had increased to 2,349 square feet. On July 4, National Public Radio ran a lengthy story on the growing size of American homes, especially 10,000+ square-foot McMansions. Big houses have their advantages, such as more space for the family, better neighborhoods and better schools, but they can also mean longer commutes, less open space for neighbors to enjoy, and a diminished sense of community. Says John Halsey of the Peconic Land Trust on Long Island: "Who needs 15,000-square-foot houses? I worry about the future of a culture and a society that has this extent of excess in it. I think there is a disconnect, and we are in a bubble."

Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)

Tools For Finding Real Estate Leads

The business of real estate is a competitive field finding agents on the constant lookout for the best means possible to gain an edge over the competition. Some use strategic tactics, others use technology. Whatever your speed might be, it is wise to be informed of what tools and strategies are currently used now by real estate agents to promote their business.



Automated telephone systems

Cold calling is a thing of the past. Especially now with the DNC rule, it is becoming harder and harder to contact leads using the traditional phone call prospecting. Today, automated telephone systems can field inquiry calls from interested parties responding to a printed ad you placed which indicates a hotline number.



Some of these systems also feature options like: voicemails where callers can leave a message for you to get back to them with; document fax-back where information like floor plans or brochures can be faxed to the caller directly; or direct call transfers where a call can be routed to your direct line or mobile phone.



An addition to this tool is an ad-tracking system that monitors which ad placement a caller is acting on. This is helpful because it shows you how effective each placement is in terms of reaching and generating inquiries to your business. That way, you can pool your resources more on those kinds of ads.



Websites

Whether you?re a large agency or working independently, a website is almost as important as your business card. Nearly 75% of American households access the Internet regularly so having your presence there for them to check out will help bring in the leads.



Make sure your website offers important and useful information. It will help to see things from your leads? point of view when deciding what is important and useful. For example, you may think your performance record is something important, but your lead may not think so. Also remember to update your site regularly, so that they will keep coming back.



Outsourcing Call Services

If you simply cannot afford to maintain a telephone staff but still feel that you need live agents to field your calls, you may want to consider outsourcing. There are several companies who offer this service at competitive prices. Their payment schemes vary from commissions to performance-based results. Check out different companies and their offers and see which one works for you.



These innovations generate leads more effectively and efficiently, So while you keep abreast with the latest tools that can help you, continue to build on the character and reputation that will ultimately decide whether these leads become deals or not.

About the Author:

Discover How To Generate Real Estate Leads Like A Pro http://www.free-online-course.com/realestateleads

A good mix of economic news

NAR's Pending Home Sales Index for July was released today, showing signed contracts on homes for sale down 16.0 percent from July 2005. Accompanied by another report today of a slowdown in home construction and last week's existing home sales report for July, the Pending Sales Index provides further evidence that our record-breaking housing market is beginning to calm down. ...The index shows existing-home sales should continue to ease after a stronger-than-expected decline in July, but are likely to flatten in the months ahead," said NAR Chief Economist David Lereah.

"Increasing pressure" but a moderate slowdown for housing, says Harvard report

Rising interest rates and increasing energy costs put the squeeze on the housing boom in 2005, says a new report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. More people are stretching to be able to purchase a home and afford the mortgage, but the housing market continues to benefit from strong job growth, a recovering rental market, good home price appreciation, and other factors. "As long as these positive forces remain in place, the current slowdown should be moderate," says the Joint Center's The State of the Nation's Housing 2006. For those not already familiar with it, the Joint Center's annual report is an excellent overview of the housing market and the demographic, economic, and political forces that shape it.

Westchester Spotlight

A lot of us think that buying a home is a tough process, needing a large down payment, although this isn't always the case.

Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)