Improving Your Business

Stories, articles and advice aimed at improving your business

Why You Should Ignore the Homeownership Rate

Media outlets the industry over are reporting on the Commerce Department latest homeownership report, but is the data reliable? The coverage was quite widespread – earlier this week, the Commerce Department reported that the homeownership rate in the U.S. hit

3 Surefire Ways to Damage Your Brand

In real estate, you’re only as good as your brand; make sure you avoid these damaging habits! #185410990 / gettyimages.com As a real estate agent, your value is in your brand – and no, we don’t mean your brokerage!

3 Implications of Zillow’s $3.5 Billion Acquisition of Trulia

The Zillow/Trulia merger could mean serious alterations to how agents and consumers interact. After a weekend filled with rumor and speculation, news dropped this morning that Zillow will indeed acquire Trulia for a cool $3.5 billion, creating by far the

The 3 Best Ways to Make Sure Your Transaction Closes on Time

With the tightening of lender guidelines ever since the recession, and with the increase in homebuyers currently in the market for real estate, more and more real estate professionals and homebuyers are finding it challenging to get to the

4 Phrases to Avoid When Communicating with Clients

It’s important that agents avoid any possible slip-ups when communicating with their clients. #184312545 / gettyimages.com When you’re a real estate agent, communicating with clients is often like ballet, with emotions, expectations, hopes and dreams all lying in the

NAR/Move Win Opening Battle in Legal War Against Zillow

NAR and Move, Inc. have prevailed in their opening salvo against Zillow. #128520267 / gettyimages.com A Washington state judge has ruled in favor of Move, Inc. and the National Association of Realtors in what promises to be a long

The 4 Big Challenges Housing Faces in the Coming Years

Housing has made definite progress the last couple of years, but what hurdles remain for the industry? #488933561 / gettyimages.com There’s little doubt that the U.S. housing market has made notable improvements in recent years. For instance, delinquent mortgages

How a Single Goal Can Make You No. 1 in Your Market

“Take heed: you do not find what you do not seek.” English proverb When I started working as a real estate coach, one of my first clients explained her goal to me about as simply as it could be

Vast Majority of Millennials Still Aspire to Homeownership

Millennials have been missing in action thus far in the housing recovery, but a new survey suggests that the future holds good things. #163372008 / gettyimages.com The housing market may have shown an encouraging blast of activity in 2013,

The 4 Big Things That Will Shape Housing in the Coming Years

The post-bubble housing market have many moving parts, but what components will have a lasting impact on its future? #178684401 / gettyimages.com Many things go into a housing market – so many, in fact, that it can prove dizzying

Defining Your Market

How-To Define Your Target Market as a Realtor As a Realtor, defining and reaching your target market can be the key to successful marketing practices. By taking the extra step to define your target market, you will gain better

5 Eye-Opening Stats on How Referrals Truly Work

We all think we have a handle on how real estate referrals function, but the following stats are still eye popping. #151910629 / gettyimages.com Everyone and their uncle knows that referrals for the bedrock of any flourishing real estate

The 7 Important Things to Know about Residential Construction

The Census Bureau’s new data on residential construction is out, but as always, we’re here to report on what lies between the lines. #482869355 / gettyimages.com Housing starts in the month of May reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate

In Real Estate, It’s Not Only What You Know, But Who You Know

Remember when all available inventory was listed on the MLS, when sellers and buyers shook hands at the closing table, and buying and selling homes was a relatively straightforward proposition? Me, neither. Today’s real estate landscape is more complex

The 3 Things that Could Hold Housing Back in 2014

The housing market has made considerable strides in the last few years, but what could hold it back from a true recovery? #173807241 / gettyimages.com There are many uncertainties in this world, but here’s something we can be fairly

Regulators Close to Chucking 20% Downpayment Requirement

The 20 percent downpayment in the Dodd-Frank bill proved quite controversial, but it’s looking like it will not become a reality. #112781338 / gettyimages.com A newly announced compromise between the SEC and federal regulators will likely result in the

Oops! We could not locate your form.