The Week In Real Estate.

Every week I participate in a national podcast/ radio show, The Week In Real Estate..TWire.

If have yet to discover TWire, let me tell you – it’s a great way to spend 60 minutes. The format is: 3 Real Estate Professionals…Ken Brand, Brian Wilson (and me) discuss various goings-on in real estate. We dig deep into some of the most controversial topics in real estate.

This past week’s topic was: Real Estate Teams vs. The Lone Wolf.  Specifically, when you listen to this show, you will hear the real truth behind ‘teams’ and why most old-style teams are doomed to fail. You will also learn how the new generation of real estate Superstars are building their teams. (Hint: the new teams look very little like the teams of yore.)

Listen NOW: Real Estate Teams vs The Lone Wolf.

We discuss many critical real estate topics and challenges during these sessions…

WARNING: We are NOT politically correct and accept no sacred cows on these ‘radio shows’. Don’t listen if you are overly sensitive or close minded.

For example:

(Click the ‘Radio Show’ call topics to listen now)

Blogging...worth doing or waste of time?

Facebook…passing fad for teenagers or a great source for real estate business….is anyone really making any money from social networking?

MLS...is there a future in the traditional, board controlled local MLS’s…or…will companies like Zillow de-throne the establishment?

Short Sales…Why do agents still avoid short sales…and what happens when an agent doesn’t have the skills to actually close a short sale?

Training…(this was a great topic). We discussed the various ways agents learn their skills. Coaching, etc. Best part of this call was the focus on talking about the little-known fact that many so-called real estate coaches….never sold real estate!

Twitter….Another fun topic. We discussed if Twitter is something an agent should be doing to build their business or a complete waste of time.

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Facebook For Realtors

Did you miss today’s Superstar Interview? If you did, no worries…here is the replay for today’s call.

Here is a something for you that I know you can use to:

1) Get into action and help others….

2) Make money.

Listen to this intense 90 minute teleconference now. You will learn directly from 3 HREU Agent Tech Students who have learned how to use social networks like: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube to make money now.

This was a fun call….listen now:

Agent Tech Secrets Teleconference Replay.

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Hello,

What I have for you here….

….is a great opportunity for you to experience the same hands-on “transformational” process…..

…that Top Producing agents (agents selling 100+ homes per year) freely admit opened the floodgates of success for them, changing their lives forever.

The best part?

You will learn what the in-the-know Top Producers are doing now to make money…and how you too can quickly and easily follow in their footsteps……

Tomorrow, Friday August 21^st at 9am PST/ 12nn EST we will be interviewing several agents who are way ahead of the curve and making a fortune from….

Social networking and online marketing.

Yes, I am talking about Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin…and many others. You must know by now the importance using these sites….now we will show you how.

Here is the link for tomorrow’s event. (It’s Fr-ee)

Social Media/ Agent Tech Secrets Call (or Webinar)

This is a journey ALL successful agents must take. You already know that virtually every buyer and seller starts their search for an agent online….the question that you must be asking yourself now is…are they finding YOU or your competitor?

Attend this FR-EE event tomorrow you will learn how-to:

1)   Make it so your name always comes up high in Google.

2)   Correctly and effectively interact on the social networks.

3)   Generate leads NOW from Twitter…Facebook.

4)   Most importantly, we will show you exactly how to make money from the social networks.

Here is the link for tomorrow’s event. (Its Fr-ee)

Social Media/ Agent Tech Secrets Call (or Webinar)

And let’s cut the bull here: You may be quite capable of figuring it all out for yourself, but it will take you a few years to get good at it, without help. I know that many of you are a little scared of all this Internet Social Media stuff…..some of you were probably hoping that you could get away with not ever having to adapt to this new technology.

But I am here to tell you that not only is all of this stuff easy to learn….it also can be a heck of a lot of fun.

Should you attend this Fr-ee Agent Tech Secrets teleconference or webinar?

Answer these 3 questions:

1)   Are you generating at least 20 leads per month from your website, blog, social networks?

2)   Have you closed any transactions as a result of your online efforts?

3)   When your city’s name is ‘Googled’ for example: “Columbus Ohio Homes”…does your name come up on the first page of the search results…(or does your competitors)?

4)   Do you have ‘profiles’ set up with at least 20 of the top social networking sites?

If you answered “no”…or even “maybe” to any of these questions, tomorrow’s Agent Tech Secrets call is for you.

Listen, we won’t waste your time. We are giving you the no-bull, in-your-face…”here’s how it’s done” information you need to master to make money NOW from social media and Internet marketing.

This is a Fr-ee call but, we have limited space.

Here is what you need to do now.

Go to here for all the event information:

Social Media/ Agent Tech Secrets Call (or Webinar)

(Tip: Call in (or log-in on the webinar) at least 10 minutes early to be guaranteed your spot. We are limiting the size of this call to the first 300 agents.)

You owe it to yourself to get the full story, and get it now (while spots are available).

Again – you know that the Top Producers in your market are already making money from the Social Networks and online marketing. This is your opportunity to learn how you can do the same.

Last chance:

Here is the link for tomorrows event. (Its Fr-ee)

Social Media/ Agent Tech Secrets Call (or Webinar)

Speak with you tomorrow!

Tim and Julie Harris

HREU

P.S. Even if you already are ‘online’ and have a blog…maybe you are already on ‘twitter’…are you closing any transactions..making any money from your efforts? Attend this call tomorrow and you will learn a few tips and secrets that you may not know.

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A follow up on this story..

Think we are at the bottom of the housing market and there will be a fast rebound in house prices….think again:

Americans fell behind on their mortgage payments at a record pace in the second quarter as job losses and falling real estate prices thwarted government efforts to stabilize the housing market.

Now, the staggering facts:

The share of loans with one or more payments overdue rose to a seasonally adjusted 9.24 percent of all mortgages, an all- time high, from 9.12 percent in the first quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association said in a report today. The inventory of homes in foreclosure increased to 4.3 percent, the most in three decades of data, and loans overdue by at least 90 days, the point at which foreclosure proceedings typically begin, rose to 7.97 percent, the highest on record.

As we reported months ago on this blog…the problem is no longer just a ’sub-prime- problem….

“We’ve seen a significant drop in the problem with subprime loans and we’ve moved now to a problem with prime fixed-rate loans,” Jay Brinkmann, the Washington-based trade group’s chief economist, said in an interview. “Job losses are driving it, and we expect that to continue into next year.”

Homeowners fall behind on their mortgage payments when they lose their jobs, and declining prices mean they can’t sell to pay off loans, Brinkmann said. Companies have shed 5.7 million jobs since January 2008, the biggest employment loss since the Great Depression. The median U.S. home price fell 16 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the steepest drop on record, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The percentage of loans on which foreclosure actions were started was 1.36 percent, down from 1.37 percent in the first quarter, driven by the decline in subprime loans. New foreclosures on prime loans increased to 1.01 percent from 0.94 percent, while subprime loans dropped to 4.13 percent from 4.65 percent, Brinkmann said.

The delinquency rate for prime loans rose to 6.41 percent from 6.06 percent, and the share of prime loans in foreclosure increased to 3 percent from 2.49 percent.

Bottom line, more foreclosures and REO listings. Expect to see a significant increase in luxury home foreclosures. In other words, no housing market..no price segment is going untouched…Agents, its NOT too late for you to become a REO Listing Agent. Watch the FREE How-To List REOs video now.

Jobless Claims Rise

The number of people filing claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, the Labor Department said today in Washington. Applications increased to 576,000 from a revised 561,000 the week before. Economists had forecast claims would fall to 550,000 from a previously reported 558,000, according to the median of 39 projections in a Bloomberg News survey.

U.S. banks raised requirements for all types of loans in the second quarter and said they expect to maintain strict criteria on lending until at least the second half of 2010, according to the Aug. 17 Federal Reserve Senior Loan Officer survey.

None of the 51 respondent banks eased standards on prime mortgages in the latest survey, while 39 said demand for home loans was about the same, moderately stronger or substantially stronger.

Housing starts unexpectedly fell in July, pulled down by multifamily dwellings, while single-family starts that make up 75 percent of the industry rose to the highest level since October, a Commerce Department report showed this week.

The 1 percent decline in starts to an annual rate of 581,000 was the first drop in three months and followed a 587,000 rate in June. Construction of single-family houses rose 1.7 percent to a 490,000 rate.

source: Bloomberg News.

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What can I say?  A lot apparently   It’s been 1 year and this is only the beginning.  I am so excited and so grateful.  I am grateful for you, Tim and Julie and HREU.  This has been my best year ever in real estate…and it’s far from over!

Market Pro RE / Team Hall Properties

Real Estate…Results.

HREU Certified Short Sale & REO Specialist

208-340-2823 PHONE

208-498-6161 FAX

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I remember the first time Julie and I were introduced at a large national real estate conference as ‘Published Authors’.

“Introducing Tim and Julie Harris, Authors of the best selling book..’0 to 10 Million In One Year’.

The audience gasped.

In the eyes of those in the audience we were immediately seen on a higher plane. You see, the public sees people who have written and published a book as the ‘Expert’.

Once you have established yourself as the expert you will find very few agents who will be able to compete with you. In peoples minds there is room for only one expert. Now that will be you.

Watch the Video now that gives you all the details.

Ask yourself this question: How does the public see Realtors now? Do they see agents as offering basically the same service for the same price? What makes you unique?

If you are being 100% honest with yourself, you know that the public thinks all agents are the same. Even and experienced agent has to work to prove that they are different..that they are a better choice…over a new inexperienced agent.

In the old days agents would get certifications. Now it seems that every Realtor has certifications in something. ABR, CRS etc are
all great designations to have but, does that really make you stand apart from the herd of other agents with the same designations?

You already know the answer, no.

But, being a Published Expert Author DOES make you stand apart from the masses of other agents. Not just stand apart…you are seen as being on an entirely different level.

Here’s why:

• There is something uniquely powerful about being an ‘Published Author’.
• You will be the expert on the subject of the book.
• You can sell your book from your website or even on amazon.com
• The local and national press will seek you out for your ‘expert opinion’.
• Buyers and Sellers will choose you over the other agents because you are the ‘Expert’ having published a book.

Whats included with your book:

• Reprint rights. You can sell your books or give them away.
• All books are sold as unlocked PDFs in digital format.
• Your name will be on the cover along with ours. Written by YOUR NAME HERE and Tim and Julie Harris.
• Your picture and bio info will go on the back cover of your book.
• Ability to print hard copies of your books. Give them away as gifts or as promos to generate new leads.

Also, you get exclusivity for your zip code. In other words, you are the only agent in your zip code (1 zip code per order) who will own
this book. For up to a year after you purchase your book you will own exclusive marketing rights to sell (or give away the book) Yes, you can buy additional zip codes. Yes, you can renew your zip code every year.

Watch the Video now that gives you all the details.
Total cost to you to become a published expert author?
$47. Thats it.

Once your zip code is taken that zip code will be locked up.
Order your turn key book now.

You may order up to 10 zip codes for $47 each.

Now, lets get started…follow these 5 simple steps;

1. Enter in the zip codes you want to reserve in the box below. You can only enter one zip code at a time.
2. Click the ‘Check This Zip’ to confirm your desired zip code is available.
3. Click ‘Buy These Zips!’
4. Check out.
5. Become a Expert Published Author!

Watch the Video now that gives you all the details.

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Breaking News: Negative Equity Data from First American CoreLogic shows that Nearly One-Third Of All Mortgages Are Underwater.

Here are the bullet points….

• More than 15.2 million U.S. mortgages, or 32.2 percent of all mortgaged properties, were in negative equity position as of June 30, 2009 according to newly released data from First American CoreLogic. As of June 2009, there were an additional 2.5 million mortgaged properties that were approaching negative equity. Negative equity and near negative equity mortgages combined account for nearly 38 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage nationwide.

• The aggregate property value for loans in a negative equity position was $3.4 trillion, which represents the total property value at risk of default. In California, the aggregate value of homes that are in negative equity was $969 billion, followed by Florida ($432 billion), New Jersey ($146 billion), Illinois ($146 billion) and Arizona ($140 billion). Los Angeles had over $310 billion in aggregate property value in a negative equity position, followed by New York ($183 billion), Miami ($152 billion), Washington, DC ($149 billion) and Chicago ($134 billion).

• The distribution of negative equity is heavily skewed to a small number of states as three states account for roughly half of all mortgage borrowers in a negative equity position. Nevada (66 percent) had the highest percentage with nearly two?thirds of mortgage borrowers in a negative equity position. In Arizona (51 percent) and Florida (49 percent), half of all mortgage borrowers were in a negative equity position. Michigan (48 percent) and California (42 percent) round out the top five states.

There are some interesting tables and graphs in the article that inquiring minds are investigating. Here are some partial alphabetical lists.

click on any chart in this post to see a sharper image

Negative Equity Share

Property Values and Loan-To-Equity Ratios

Nevada, not shown has a near-negative equity share of 68.9% and a Loan-To-Value ratio of a whopping 115%!

Mortgage Facts and Figures – Select States

• California has $2.4 trillion in mortgages debt. 42.0% of the properties have negative equity.
• Florida has $923 billion in mortgage debt. 49.4% of the properties have negative equity.
• Illinois has $447 billion in mortgage debt. 29.4% of the properties have negative equity.
• Arizona has $298 billion in mortgage debt. 51.0% of the properties have negative equity.
• Nevada has $149 billion in mortgage debt. 65.6% of the properties have negative equity.
• Nationwide there is $10.1 trillion in mortgage debt. 32.2% of the properties have negative equity.37.6% of the properties have “near-negative” equity.

Summary……32-37% Of All Mortgage Holders Are Stuck, Unable To Sell. What does this mean for Realtors? Simple, if you are not listing and selling Short sales you are making it so you will be cut out of nearly 40% off all available listings? Get started NOW, watch the FREE Agent Short Sale Secrets video and grab your FREE Short Sale Secrets crash course book.

California alone has $2.4 trillion in mortgages debt. 42.0% of the properties have negative equity! Nearly half of all home owners (with Mortgages) are upside down in their homes!

Nationwide there is $10.1 trillion in mortgage debt. 32.2% of the properties have negative equity, another 5.4% are nearly underwater. Don’t believe the green-shoots story…we are no where near the end of this real estate correction.

If underwater sellers want to sell they have 3 choices:

1) Foreclosure.

2) Bringing cash to the closing to make up the difference between what is owed vs what the home sells for.

3) Short sale. For many reasons a short sale is often the best solution for the seller. Clearly, there is an enormous demand for agents who know how to do short sales. Agents, watch the FREE How-To do short sales video now.

When will the housing markets recover to peak 2006 values? Experts are expecting the recovery to take 10+ years. Read this story here.

We have been warning HREU students for over a year that the biggest wave of foreclosures would come in late 2009…early 2010…
And it appears that we were correct.

Realtors: its NOT too late for you to become a REO listing agent. The biggest opportunites to make money listing and selling REOs (bank owned homes) has yet to come. Watch the FREE Agent REO Secrets Video NOW. Learn how to list REOs.

California Foreclosures

Nationwide Foreclosures

California Pent Up Foreclosure Demand

Why will the foreclosures (and REOs) hit harder now than ever?

• The number of people underwater in their mortgages is increasing NOT decreasing.
• The stigma of a foreclosure is all but gone. Now if you lose your home to a foreclosure you are called a ‘foreclosure victim’.
• The reported nationwide unemployment figure is 9.4% with the real unemployment above 16% and rising.
• Wages are falling.
• The jobs market will suffer losses for another year.
• Notices of Default and Trustee Sales are high and rising.
• People now see ‘walking away’ from their homes as a prudent financial move vs. being irresponsible.

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