Real Estate Update

Adam Morien asked:




The 2007 National Association of Realtors study found that 84% of all homebuyers used the Internet as their initial source of information. With such limited time and resources these days, consumers are willing to do a little bit more of the grunt work to seek out the houses worth looking at. This is where the importance of photographs, professionally-written online marketing SEO copy and search engine optimization come into play.

“What we find is that selling real estate is intensely competitive,” said Professor Steve Sawyer of Penn State’s Information Sciences and Technology Department. “Consumers have more information, they demand more services, and they have more agents and business models to choose from than ever before.”

So how can the local real estate agents and firms get ahead in this increasingly competitive environment? Internet marketing SEO is crucial, experts say. First of all, consider your overall goals and objectives. Reaching a larger audience is one goal of a professional real estate agent. In the past, realtors had to sub-contract artists, printers and copywriters to construct elaborate pamphlets, brochures and direct mailing materials that, more often than not, wound up in the garbage. With the cost-effectiveness of traffic-directing online marketing SEO strategies (like email / newsletter marketing and search engine optimization), business professionals can get more bang for their buck. For instance, for something like $250 / month, realtors can send out email newsletters to over 5,000 subscribers. Many homebuyers are taking their time and waiting out the market right now, so it’s the perfect time to start collecting people with an offer to send them the latest houses up for grabs in their market, as well as area happenings, neighborhood information and special members-only offers (that will save them — not only time – but money as well.)

Search engine optimization is another online marketing SEO tactic that can yield enormous results, and executives of all industries find that simply reworking some of their site’s existing content can make all the difference in the world when it comes to visibility. “We have averaged 300-600% increased exposure for our clients just over the last six months,” said Adam J. Morien, Founder of OptiTrex Internet marketing SEO company, based out of Denver, Colorado. He adds that the bulk of his company’s clients are independent real estate agents looking to gain an advantage in their local markets. One of Morien’s clients, Tim Maitski of HomesAtlanta.com, went from the #1,000 Google listing for the search term “Atlanta real estate” and “Atlanta realtor” to #2! Since most consumers never look past page two in their web searches, achieving first page results in a given market is crucial.

Steve Proski asked:




There hasn’t been a better time to buy a home in a long time. That’s because there are so many new developments being constructed, leading to so many new homes on the market. This surplus of homes mean there’s a lot of choice for consumers, but also, lower prices. With so many options, who wants to pay top dollar? Excess homes are driving prices down, and that’s good news for buyers.

With home prices getting lower every month, and, according to the National Association of Realtors, over 5% more homes on the market, supply is outweighing demand. According to Chris Isidore’s recent article for CNNMoney.com, all the major luxury home builders are taking losses. Bad news for them is good news for you. Many new luxury master-planned communities are popping up in some of the most gorgeous regions in the state. Take advantage of this and get the lifestyle you’ve always wanted, for less than it would have cost a couple of years ago.

Those whose real estate investments are suddenly worth less than they were a few years ago shouldn’t be too discouraged. While selling now may gain you less equity than even a few years ago, if you purchased your current home more than 6 years ago, you are still making a hearty profit. Focus on your gains, not your losses.

Another thing for discouraged sellers to remember in a down market is this. Almost every seller is also a buyer. If you aren’t selling your home so that you can buy a new one and move, then by all means, wait until the market rises again. But chances are you are going to sell and buy virtually simultaneously. This means that while you may be selling your home for 10-20% less, you are also buying at the same discounted rate. If you choose carefully, it’s still easy to come out ahead.

If sellers are really concerned about their loss in profits, try doing all those little cosmetic upgrades that increase your buy ability. Eliminating clutter in your home and yard, combined with a new coat of paint, is almost guaranteed to get you closer to your asking price than a disorganized home that’s too full of your own personality. Buyers want a blank slate, and while this doesn’t mean an empty house, it does mean a more neutral and fresh house. Do what you can to add what they call “curb appeal” and make your home as attractive as the many new homes on the market, minimizing the negative affects of the housing surplus on your sale.