Real Estate Blog

Yes, the title gives it away! The secret to your blog success is YEO. YEO, a now popular term used by bloggers (coined by Jeff Turner) to describe the process of building your network and facilitating blog success via YOU ENGAGING OTHERS.  I’m not even going to mention the other term that makes us sweat, and also has an “e” and “o” in it. That aside, what have you done lately to reach outside your real estate blog? Have you employed tools or strategies to keep your readers enticed to come back for more great information? What about making your blog more than just a resource but a REAL community of readers who interact with each other via offline, as well as online?

Finding ways to connect offline can be more of a challenge with a larger audience, say nationwide. However, with a smaller niche blog connecting in person is great way to get involved and build relationships in the community you work in. And, of course it’s much easier.  Check out Jeff’s Rules of Engagement.

One way to throw yourself into the community mix is by joining the conversations that are happening at your local Starbuck’s, grocery store, hair salon, restaurant, etc.  Listen and gather information. And casually let people know that you are doing something great! You’re a real estate professional looking to support and connect the community via your blog. Be sure to have business cards with your blog address on hand or obtain their emails and send them a link. And let interested business leaders know that you’d like to interview them or involve them in some way on your blog.

 Schools offer a great avenue for discussion and community connecting. Education conversation will be happening in most households forever. If you live near or have a student in the school that makes it even easier to get more involved.  But you don’t have to have students to participate.  There are plenty of ways to reach out to your community using school information and local insight. And schools make for a great topic both off and online. Parents who turn to the Internet to find school scores and profiles are probably looking for homes online as well. So why not combine the 2, and throw in some helpful hyperlocal content that your market cares about!

If you are looking to utilize school data, reports, scores, and the people behind it all to create community in and outside of your blog, here are a few tips to get you started.

Building Your Offline Community:

1. Interview the school principal and find out their current “need”. Could be anything from needing more computers, musical instruments, or even hiring additional yard duty.
2. Interview teachers and get grade level homework tips.
3. Interview parents on school success stories or upcoming events/fundraisers.
4. Create your own Education Committee or Foundation (EX: Realtors Getting Real About Schools)
5. Volunteer for school food drives and walk-a-thons (take donations or help publicize).
6. Start a School Garden Project (get help and donations from local businesses).
7. Volunteer as a crossing guard and share safety tips both on and offline.
8. Create and distribute a print marketing piece with a snippet of school tips and scores…allude to more on your blog.

Supporting Your Online Community:

1. Write about the school budget, spending per student, and current needs.
2. Write about teachers making a difference one student at a time.
3. Write about parents and their educational concerns and expectations.
4. Integrate school scores and reporting with your blog. GreatSchools offers a framable version for $250 a year. Use it for your blog, as well as post it next to property listings to provide an overview of the community. So, the fee covers multiple uses.
5. Add an Educational Widget to your blog. Both GreatSchools and Education.com will be releasing widgets in the near future. Users will be able to search for schools, scores, stats and more.
6. Add podcast advice to your blog on how to read and interpret school scores, as well as other school facts and resources.
7. Write posts on school events (ex: School Walk-a-thon, Book Fair, Plays, etc.).
8. Offer a free e-book for “Understanding School Scores and Your Child’s Achievement” via email sign-up.

Schools or not…involve yourself with a section of the community.  Utilize your blog as your relationship builder and start getting to know the neighbors.  YOUR RESULT: (1) further your expert status, (2 ) gain trust by supporting shared interests, and (3) expand your network of friends, colleagues, readers, members, and when the time is right…new clients.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• No related posts.

Read more from the original source:
The Secret to Blog Success: YEO, You Engaging Others

You gotta love Jon Stewart of the Daily Show. He is making news more accessible to young people (my kids and, of course, me) by delivering it as entertainment. He’s had some interesting guests on the show to cover the housing market. The housing market situation is so ridiculous, it is a natural fit on this kind of show.

John Stewart: People would come in and say “I don”t have good credit, or a job, and my car has been repossessed and I’d like a house, what do you think?

Lender: Ok

Last night I saw the interview with Richard Bitner who is humping his book, Confessions of a Subprime Lender. I was in a BN a few weeks ago and almost picked it up. I had read the interesting review in Daniel McGuinn’s Newsweek Resident Expert column in the spring but was already OD’ed from subprime talk.

But after hearing the interview last night, and the fact that he speaks with such clarity, I would imagine it’s a fun read. He was a wholesale lender, providing mortgage money to mortgage brokers…and guess what?…underwriting standards eroded.

Looks like another reason to delay reading War & Peace.

See the clip [it starts at 15:00]

Read the original:
[This Just In] There IS Meaningful Housing News On Comedy Central

I think most of us love Google or the idea that we can pretty much query anything at anytime. Two days ago Ray over at Money Blue Book told me this blog, Matrix, was no longer indexed on Google.

Huh?

I reached out to friends like Chris Miles and Dustin Luther to figured out what to do - it’s never happened before and since I didn’t change anything on the site recently, I didn’t know where to start. We ended up poking around and found advertisements for viagra embedded in my sidebar (WordPress). I’d been hacked!

I went to this page My site’s no longer included in the search results. What happened?

…not much help!

I went to my Google Webmaster Tools page and sent a reconsideration letter (allow 4-6 weeks for changes).

Its the “Guilty Until Proven Innocent” law of the Internet - after all, it is only a series of tubes.

See the rest here:
[Big Bang Theory Meets Black Hole] Google De-Indexes Matrix

In an effort to be proactive, the FDIC has created a web site that simply allows a depositor to “select a bank” from a popup list. It seems to be built for maximum scalability.

Expect increased usage over the next few years. Hopefully FDIC won’t actually issue subprime loans in any of lenders:

It turns out that the U.S. government itself was one of the lenders giving out high-interest, subprime mortgages, some of them predatory, according to government documents filed in federal court.

The unusual situation, which is still bedeviling bank regulators, stems from the 2001 seizure by federal officials of Superior Bank FSB, then a national subprime lender based in Hinsdale, Ill. Rather than immediately shuttering or selling Superior, as it normally does with failed banks, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. continued to run the bank’s subprime-mortgage business for months as it looked for a buyer. With FDIC people supervising day-to-day operations, Superior funded more than 6,700 new subprime loans worth more than $550 million, according to federal mortgage data.

Read more:
New Scalable FDIC Web Site Built For Easy Expansion Of Bank Failures

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government sponsored enterprises (GSE). Yet they have shareholders and are profit driven. They play a critical role in the stability of the US mortgage market (and housing) by promoting liquidity, helping mortgage rates and availability consistent throughout the country.

One of the things that made them have a competitive advantage over others was their inferred backing by the federal government.

In the New Yorker this week, James Surowiecki writes in his column Sponsoring Recklessness

The two companies have long been required to tell investors that their securities are not guaranteed by the federal government. But in the financial markets everyone has always assumed that this demurral was just window-dressing, and everyone, it turns out, was right. Last week, when fears of a possible collapse of the two companies threatened to spark a major financial crisis, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve quickly came up with a rescue package. What had been an implicit guarantee became an explicit one

Fannie was privatized in 1968 so president Johnson could move the debt off the federal books to help sell the Vietnam War budget, not to help the mortgage market.

Help to the consumer in terms of their impact on keeping low mortgage rates may be exagerated.

A paper by the economist Wayne Passmore, of the Federal Reserve, suggests that in fact Fannie and Freddie have only a small effect on the interest rates that homeowners pay, saving them less than one-tenth of a percentage point.

The GSE self-preservation mechanism has been aggressive lobbying using former high placed government officials, very effective in enabling them to grow to $5 trillion in mortgage debt. A blip on the radar could cause more damage than Congress is able to burden the taxpayers with.

More than $10 billion in losses in the past two quarters, the GSEs (and FHA) are looking for more money to capitalize to help bailout the housing market at Congress’ urging.

Holden Lewis over at Bankrate wrote a great post on this last week called The GSEs and moral hazard.

Daniel Gross, my friend over at Slate and Newsweek, makes a better argument for the help GSEs provide to the taxpayer/homeowner suggesting that a bailout of the GSEs would actually be a bargain.

I guess I have a hard time accepting that anything the federal government would do would be a bargain and the long term concept of nationalization of the GSEs would be cost effective, but hey, I don’t have to refinance my mortgage.

View original here:
[GSE Reminder] Hey, There Are No Guarantees

Here’s a collection of phrases that caught my eye for our newfound understanding about our new housing/credit morality/thinking:

Moral Hazard - I have linked to Holden Lewis’ brilliant post before: Moral hazard is when people take unwise risks because they are sheltered from the consequences. For example, if you wear a seat belt and drive a car with airbags, you’re more likely to tailgate.

Rally between Concern Phase and Fear & Capitulation Stage - Comstock Partners has some great commentary about the housing market: Now even Fed Chairman Bernanke has caught on to the dangers of the bursting of the bubble.  He stated in both Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s testimony before Congress, “the housing market is the central element of the financial crisis.  Anything we and Congress can do to strengthen the housing market, or strengthen the mortgage financing market, will be helpful.  We can do this by restoring confidence in the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs).”  We are happy to have Mr. Bernanke on board, but are not too happy about begging Congress to slow down the process by trying to get bills passed that would postpone the inevitable decline and make the eventual decline even worse. We have to let the free market work its way through the housing crises.

Flat is the new up - Daniel Gross of Slate’s column captures the feeling of victory in today’s economy. Last weekend, at a suburban barbecue, I asked a friend who works for an asset-management company how his firm was faring in these turbulent times. “We’re actually doing OK. Keeping our heads above water.” At which point another guest chimed in: “Hey. Flat’s the new up.”

Nexus between fear and greed - I wrote about this one before.

Foreclosure Contagion - Zubin Jelveh’s Odd Numbers blog in Portfolio.com offers a wealth of sharp insight on an array of economic topics: The researchers also find that the negative hit from a foreclosure is strongest right before a lender takes control of the property. They argue “that when foreclosure is inevitable, efforts to speed the foreclosure process would be effective at reducing the contagion effect.”

It’s a good time to buy real estate - housing prices double every ten years - NAR is hard selling and yes, it may be a good time to be real estate in certain markets and for some people. Because NAR says this 24/7, it’s hard not to cast a jaded glance their way.

See more here:
Catch Phrases That Capture Our Housing Hindsight Morality

I have had the pleasure of providing a monthly chart for the Economic Spotlight section of Crain’s New York Business magazine since September 2003. Here is the latest, which appears in the current issue of Crain’s New York Business.

Source: Crain’s New York Business

Go here for a complete archive of my Crains’s New York Economic Spotlight charts that have been published. They are organized by year.

Credit:
Crains New York Business Economic Spotlight Chart - July 2008

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I used to teach my first graders a really fun game to learn about how plants grow. Each student would get a laminated “secret identity card” (sun, soil, water, air, seed). The seeds (excitable first graders) would travel through the air (run from one side of the blacktop top the other) looking for the elements (other excitable first graders) needed for their growth. But the elements were not so easy to acquire.

The seeds had to ask individual elements one at a time to divulge their secret identity. They did this by running up to one of the scattered students on one side of the blacktop and just asking, “Are you air?” If the element was indeed “air” that student would link up to the seed. Then, together as a connected team they would run to the opposite side of the blacktop to acquire another element. As this went on you can see why we moved the game to grass as kids became winding chains with all elements needed for plant growth.

This game was fun, but more importantly the kids learned very quickly what environmental factors affect seed growth (sun, soil, water, water). The fun for me came in rigging the game so some little seed couldn’t grow. It would always a good way to get conversation flowing about why plants do NOT or CAN’T grow.

So if a seed requires sun, soil, water and air to grow. What environmental or external factors does your blog require to grow and succeed?? Let’s take a look…

(1) Foster community interaction

(i.e. Neighborhood Wiki, Q & A Forum, Instant Messaging,  Local Sponsors & Interviews, etc.) To maximize your community interaction try integrating a feature that requires readers to get involved. Invite dedicated parents or business leaders in your community that want to contribute to your blog, help out with a wiki, or become regulars in a Q & A forum.  Create a directory of “best” neighborhood services and get testimonials.  Volunteer and provide updates for the local food drive or school walk-a-thon. Schools, by the way, offer a fantastic avenue for connecting with your community.

(2) Provide additional content, features, or tools to supplement your voice

(i.e. Podcast Advice, IDX MLS Search, Mortgage Rate Widget, Calculators, Neighborhood Maps, School Scores & Info, etc.) I’ve met very few people (if any) who are experts in EVERYTHING! (Okay, maybe Martha Stewart!) Whatever your expertise, share it. Then supplement your voice with content features that provide additional information in other areas of expertise. Here are a few ideas for you. Zilllow just released some bomb digity mortgage rate widgets. Consumers love searching for homes online, so give them the opportunity to do it freely from your blog. Integrate school scores for your niche market, transportation schedules, neighborhood maps, etc. Invite a great lender to contribute weekly updates, rates, and tips.

(3) Integrate social media with your blog

(Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Zolve, Real Seekr, Trulia, Zillow, etc.)Adding any collage of social media features to your blog provides transparency and creates a cross-over effect.  Create profiles at your favorite social networking sites and then be sure to add links or a “connect with me” section to your blog. Give interested readers the opportunity to connect with you via networks they are comfortable with, as well as get to know YOU as a person. Some readers may prefer sizing you up and communicating using their preferred media. Then once your new connections warm up to you or become fans, their newfound trust may result in an increased level of participation on your blog. It’s the cross over effect…don’t deny! Click here to learn more about social media.

(4) Regularly podcast or vlog

While this may not be a comfortable strategy for you, it’s definitely one that can get you noticed. Besides, not every person enjoys their information in the same form of media. My teaching experience led me to develop several modes of communicating lesson plans as people tend to have preferred learning styles (i.e. audio, visual, kinesthetic, etc.) This is the age of the iPod afterall, so why not make yourself available on iTunes with regular podcast advice and tips for buying and selling in your market area. Click here to learn more about podcasting. As for video, well, I’m still taking baby steps myself but here’s a great example of a provlogger.

(5) Create a call or action/Capture leads

(i.e. email newsletter, IDX MLS Search, e-book sign up, drawings or contests, etc.) Create a way to collect email addresses or contact info via your blog. Don’t be too pushy or require info for all your great blog tools and resources. But offer an opt-in email newsletter. Create an e-book (market tips, mini relocation guide, school score report, etc.) and give it away for free via email sign-up. Hold a monthly contest or drawing with local business giveaways. If you have a particular expertise people would find helpful (investing, short sale coaching, school info, etc.) consider holding online trainings. Invite readers and/or clients, but require a RSVP via email.

(6) Share content in a way that nobody else is

You are unqiue! So think long and hard about what makes you unique! And then create a way to share content on your blog via your uniqueness. For example, I focus my uniqueness around education. I enjoy sharing information and teaching, so I choose to write many of my blog posts in a how-to format. Additionally, I know that researching ideas and topics can sometimes be a bitch! So I don’t want to make readers look for their next resource, I want to be the next resource.  Well, I aspire to that anyway! We all have to have a goal!

Plants…blogs…they all require a combination of environmental factors necessary for growth and success. Consider your plant type and feed accordingly!

Stay tuned for the last article in this series: The Secret to Your Blog Success

Other posts you may enjoy:

• “Does my blog REally rock?” An Assessment for Serious Real Estate Bloggers
• Internal Factors Affecting Your Blog Success
• Add Cyberhomes To Your Real Estate Website, Blog or Single Property Site

See the original post here:
External Factors Affecting Your Blog Success

Is there a right way to lose your home? And is there any good reason to pay for “expert” advice on how best to do it?

Here is the original post:
Foreclosures and Short Sales, Equal Ills

Before dozens of cute shops, before the town-engulfing craft fairs, Occoquan’s history had as many ups and downs as its topography.

Source:
Occoquan’s Old-Time Charm Outlasts Calamity

Carylin Waterval’s mother had no will — and no time to prepare one.

See more here:
Mom’s House, Your Responsibility

As you’re preparing to sell your house, don’t overlook the windows.

Read more:
The Squeegee Dividend

Mortgage rates fell this week, with the average interest rate on a 30-year loan dropping to its lowest level in six weeks.

Excerpted from:
Rates Drop Across the Board

There’s always something blooming in the Washington area — even on the hottest days of summer.

Go here to see the original:
A Midsummer Garden’s Blooms

Last week I reported favorably on one part of HUD’s reform proposals. A new and substantially improved good-faith estimate would make it easier for borrowers to shop for loan providers.

Original post:
New Good-Faith Estimate Would Help Rein In Closing Costs