Search Results for "10 years"
There is a lot to be said about that title. But I would not buy or sell a home in the Santa Clarita Valley without first getting the Local Market Data. In fact, when we do purchase property ourselves – this same data resource is used by Paris and I. The same goes for our families.
When we Represent Buyers and are writing offers on their behalf – this is a necessary part of the process. The reason has to do with the market dynamics associated with any Real Estate market. I would not want to pay too much for a home. In general, the home buyer does not want to pay too much either. “Too Much” has to do with the home being over market value. I also don’t want to rely on the appraisal to save my buyers bacon with regard to paying too much. We run the market data with our clients. We have monitors set up in all of our offices at Paris911 that face the our Exclusive Clientele. They can see for themselves what we see and that shows we are all about maintaining transparency in Real Estate.
If I were selling a home in any Real Estate Market this Local Market Data would be on the forefront of my mind on a weekly basis. We wanted to get the Data Directly from the Source. Knowing what I know now, about the intricacies of the Real Estate Marketplace, this is imperative. There is a lot of the behind the scenes interaction and negotiation, in Real Estate representation, between the agents and vendors. Sometimes data is skewed and bent (believe it or not). That is what separates a Tactically focused(the current transaction) from the Strategically coded Realtor(one that wants all of the future referrals because they did their client right). This data gives our clients and my Real Estate Team factual insight into whether the information I am receiving is true or not. When you are spending an amount of money that takes you 30 years to pay off – You need to be dealing with Truth not Fiction 
For Realtors Eyes Only: (sure, like this will stop you from reading this…)
If you are a Realtor – Real Estate Agent – you will know that The Paris911 Team at REMAX of Santa Clarita keeps our clients on the cutting edge with the Massive Resources that we have available. This is another winner that I have found and researched that gives our clients exactly what they will need to make their best real estate decisions – whether they are a buyer or seller this data will serve them well.
If you will assist your clients no matter what the cost and have a play it forward approach to your Real Estate business – BTW – I get nothing for referring Kristin, from her or Altos – Nor will I every accept anything – Simply, it will bring value to your clients!!!
Kristin Evans
Altos Research
1-888-819-7775
1-888-819-7775 Ext. 2
415-932-8152
Kristin@AltosResearch.com
www.AltosResearch.com – Website
follow me on twitter: @AltosKristin
REMAX Agents continue to hold an edge over other Real Estate companies
Posted by: | CommentsNothing is like a good edge. Whether you are talking about edged fighting implements or Real Estate companies. I have been to two overturned vehicles in my previous 17 years with the LAPD, where needing to get the people out of the car was very important and could not wait for rescue/paramedics.
Did you know when the vehicles are overturned, the seatbelts don’t release due to all of the body weight being on the belt that transfers to the detach mechanism? True – So, that is when an knife with a super sharp edge comes in. Seatbelts are tough to cut, if your blade is dull. Sometimes, you don’t get a second chance to attempt to cut through the belt. You want to make your first cut your best.
When you are selling or buying a home – the same holds true. We get asked a lot about discounts and other types of kick backs. I’ll tell you this, I did not carry a cheap knife on the PD. Neither did I carry a knock-off brand firearm. All of my “emergency” equipment was top notch – because my life and other lives depended on it working the first time, unfortunately – sometimes we did not get a second chance…
Selling or buying your biggest investment in life – should be treated with the same HONOR and CARE.
I’m finished now. Hey how about watching a video about Buying a Home – it is fun and safe for Kids! Here it is – right before the RE/MAX EDGE numbers:
Here are the numbers – and have a GREAT Day… If you are wanting us to do a Real estate Search for you – give us a call or contact our team. 661-513-4620 or connor@paris911.com.
NEW REPORT CONFIRMS RE/MAX AGENT EDGE
Another major study confirms that RE/MAX Associates, on average, out produce their competitors at other national franchise brands. Realtor Magazine’s annual Top 100 Companies report appears in its July/August issue and ranks U.S. brokerages by 2009 transaction side sales and sales volume.
Here are the top seven National Franchise Companies, in transaction side’s per agent, for 2009:
# 1 RE/MAX – 14.3
# 2 Coldwell Banker – 10.3
# 3 ERA – 9.1
# 4 Century 21 – 7.8
# 5 Kellar Williams – 5.6
# 6 Prudential – 5.5
# 7 Better Homes & Gardens – 4.0
Here are the top seven National Franchise Companies, sales volume ( millions ) per agent, 2009
# 1 RE/MAX – $3.38 M
# 2 Coldwell Banker – $2.05
# 3 Prudential – $1.84
# 4 Century 21 – $1.74
# 5 ERA – $1.60
# 6 Better Homes & Gardens – $1.57
# 7 Kellar Williams – $1.19
How do I figure out how much my payments will be?
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When thinking about jumping into Real Estate – There are a few questions that are asked more often than others. All of these questions relate to payments. Which is smart in this and any real estate market. If you look back to 2004, 2005 and 2006 – you will remember that financing seemed quite easy. In fact, that was the cause of some of the fallout that we are experiencing today.
Payments and Mortgage Calculations seem to be on the tip of all of our clients tongues. “How much home can I afford?” “How much will my mortgage payments be?” “How about Renting versus Buying – what are the advantages?” To name a few.
Real Estate ABC gives us many options when it comes to providing our clients calculators that will answer the above questions and more. Here are a few great options that will have you in the “know” in a very short time period.
A couple of points should be made to give you the best advantage. Get with a Lender and find out from them how you look on paper with the many banks out there. Ask direct Questions. We cover all of these topics in our Buyer Briefing Meetings.
When purchasing Real Estate – you are not buying a pair of shoes (as Paris loves to say), you are about to embark on a journey with payments that will take the next 30 years to complete.
There are other options for you to pay off the home early, move up, downsize, and relocate to another city or state. But if you were not going to change anything after you purchase a home – and did not take any money out – having a 30 year fixed mortgage, it will take you making payments for the next 30 years in order to own your home free and clear.
If I were buying a home today, knowing what I know now – I would ask these questions of a lender:
- Are you a Mortgage Broker or a Direct Lender and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each as you see them?
- Will you provide for me a full copy of my credit report?
- If the interest rate drops while we are in escrow, will you lock me at the lower rate?
- Are your fee’s negotiable?
- Will you give me Good Faith Estimates before I have a home identified?
The reasons for the above questions are very pertinent to purchasing real estate and are explained in much more depth when you call or contact our Paris911 Team for our Confidential Buyers’ Briefing.
The “Are your fee’s negotiable” question might give some heartache – But, I said these are questions I would ask if I were buying a home today, with my knowledge and experience.
When Buying a home – you are not paying the agent’s fee. The Real estate agents get compensated by the Sellers of Real Estate. Bank Owned homes, foreclosures, short sales, equity sellers and most all other property sales profiles – all include compensation for the Agent that is presenting the offer for their clients.
Exception – Some HUD home sales do not include the commission for the Realtor representing the Buyer. In this case, that is negotiable with your agent and placed within contract on top of the offering price.
As I mentioned in the questions I would ask a lender – Here is the “Fair Play”…
– a good question to ask your agent when they are representing you with the purchase of a HUD home – How much will you charge me to purchase this home and why? Is your Fee negotiable and why not? If they are worth their salt as a Real Estate agent – they will give you the 20/20 as to why they charge what they do and you will not have any problem paying that specific fee.
Another Topic for Another time.. Why do Agents seemingly get offended when you confront them on what they charge to sell your home? Explaining to a Seller how and why about our very own “Worth” should have been taught within the first few hours of “Real Estate 101”!
Have you ever taken typing class?
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Remember back in the day. Typing class was offered in High School. I took it as an elective due to the typing instructor was dating the football coach. Their relationship was a bonus for us foot ball players due to us not having to work as hard as others in the class.
I do happen to remember a time, about the beginning of the second semester, when the coach and typing teacher broke up. I had to actually apply myself and some of the other players in the class actually failed.
Win some lose some – that brings me to the typewriters that we used. I love to write and type. In fact, I type much faster than I can write. Which is usually the case with most people.
I go through keyboards like they are water. I usually wear out the one that comes with the computer. After time, the keys are not as responsive as before and the keyboard is just not as fast.
I have used wireless – I have purchased replacement keyboards, and island type to name a few. But it was not until today, as I am typing this post, that I have arrived to paradise. (for typists that is)
Have you ever heard of a DAS keyboard? I hadn’t either. In fact, I just stumbled onto them. The most interesting thing is they way in which they are designed. “To keep your palms from resting on the keyboard.” That is one of the things that I remember from the two years of typing that I took in High School – the teacher used to make a huge point of how wrong it was for us to rest our palms on the keyboard. She would walk around with a ruler slapping the students on the backs of the hands if they made the mistake.
The second thing that I love, is the tacticle response of the keyboard. I purchased the silent model – they have one that clicks as the IBM typewriter that we used to practice on, that would not have been my first choice.
But these keys respond and have such a wonderful feeling – I which I would have started this the over 5 millions letters ago. I think you will be impressed with this keyboard – enjoy.
BTW- they are not as cheap as a replacement – but I think I am going to never regret this decision.
Let me google that for you and Santa Clarita Realtors
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Let me tell you that Google has it together. In fact, if they haven’t already, soon they will have it as a part of the Dictionary. To “Google” or “Google that”, has become something that we have become accustomed to hearing our kids speak.
You will notice that we are “googling” everything. When I get a new Client, I Google them, their address, and employer. I am doing my research, not to use it against them, but to see if I can learn something we have in common.
If I have an agent that I know I am up against with regard to a listing – I Google them as well. When sitting at the appointment, I never bring up anything negative about other agents. I don’t believe in that sales model.
However, if I am confronted by the seller with something the other agent stated that they do that has an exclusive nature i.e.,
- Advertising
- Sell it or they will Buy it
- Internet Exposure
- Local Expert Claims
- Pocket Buyers for the Listing
- Number 1 Realtor or Top Team
- Social Media
- Years in Real Estate
I have done my homework to shine the light on such claims.
When I Google Connor MacIVOR – there is quite a lot that comes up. You will find some press releases from when I was with the Community Traffic Services Unit with the LAPD. There are a few from when I was with the DUI watch working with Drunk Driving enforcement.
The most pronounced entries come from all of the written pages that I have put together about the Clients wanting Value first and foremost in Real Estate agent or team.
Adding that value to the consumer/client. Talking about Real Estate – Adding to it’s transparency. Giving up all of the “secrets” this industry has gone to great lengths to shield from criticism.
The only way that we are successful in this market is because of our Clients. The only way we can keep those clients is to be up front and shoot from the hip with them. “People don’t like to be kept in the dark, when they want to purchase a home, they want the full story, not media hype…”
Opinions are like As%@$%es… You have heard the saying, we back up our opinions with factual Market Research and Data. So you can Google It!!!
Google has been huge for our team – try this – take a listing that just came onto the market for sale and type the address into Google – Chances are you will see us near the top or at the top advertising it.
If we can do that with a listing that is not ours directly – just imagine how many people we can get to see Your Home for Sale!
The better we Brand ourselves – The Better we can Brand your Home
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Looking back just over the past three years, I used to get a lot of flack from others in my industry as to why I was spending so much time writing as much as I could about Real Estate.
While they were out interrupting folks having dinner after a hard days work, I was busy on the WWW and Social Media Platforms advertising ourselves and our clients listings. I don’t know about you, but to get interrupted after a hard day by someone telling me they took a listing down the street or wanting to see if I knew anyone that wanted to sell or buy a home, disturbs me greatly.
I always thought, as I was closing the door with attitude, “If I want to see if a home is for sale I’ll look on the internet…” Did you know I was not alone in my thinking? Apparently 85% of those looking for real estate or trying to find an agent to represent them are doing the same – Starting their search on the Internet.
We started to see an increase of buyers for our sellers listings almost overnight. We had always placed listings into the MLS, multiple listing service, and done t
- Jeff Turner and I share the same Haircut!
he virtual tours, but this was completely different.
I had my mind opened up to two items:
- The BLOG
- Social Media
Jeff Turner was instrumental in this process. Click on Jeff’s name to get a glimpse of what he is about.
I started to take our listings and write about them. I then started to write about the areas where our listings were located. I thought is would also be great to speak about what had sold in those areas and how much. I then went out and started to record some video’s of those areas and place them on You Tube. Today, I don’t even remember all that I do – but proof is in the pudding (or I should say by our Sellers and Buyers Achieving their goals…)
Facebook/Twitter – I started to meet people from my past, friends from my sphere of influence, and those folks that I had come into contact via my past life (lapd) while I was a Part Time Realtor (Paris was the full time end during those years 1998-2007…).
Then it struck me – “Why not let these 2500+ friends know that we had taken a listing??”
The increase in page views hit the roof. Our Brand, Paris911, was becoming stronger as were the offers that we were able to get for our own sellers listings.
Couple RE/MAX International and RE/MAX of California and Hawaii with our Local Brand of Paris911 – it gives our Buyers 
and Sellers a very long, sharp and consistent edge.
I had started to write about Foreclosures as well – Then I was contacted from a representative of Citi Bank. We started to sell their Foreclosure Properties for them.
Is it the right thing to become a Realtor or Real Estate Agent? I cannot answer that question, it was for Paris and I. I love what we can do for our Sellers and Buyers. I love seeing us assist our Clients in achieving their goals – especially when others in our industry had failed.
Bottom Line – If you are not adjusting with Technology – you are doing your clients a huge disservice!
Distressed homeowner options other than Foreclosures and Short Sales
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In the Santa Clarita Valley we have our fair share of Distressed Homeowners. Most that contact our team, have been doing their research online, to see what their options are.
Most come into contact with the so called, “Short Sale Experts”, pressing hard to represent the owner with the Negotiation of their short sale. Most of the information is written in order to display to the owner that a Short Sale is the best option. Sometimes, Short Selling is not the “best” option. Email our Team so we can have a confidential appointment to discuss everything related to your personal situation.
As was written thousands of years ago, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Banks are reliving the age old option of having the Homeowner agree to a Deed-In-Lieu-of-Foreclosure. It saves the bank money with its many less moving parts than an actual “attorney monitored” foreclosure.
FYI – Bank of America sent out 100,000 letters to distressed homeowners offering this option in the last 60 days…
Advantages –
- a Deed in lieu of Foreclosure is a strategy that some of the major banks are sending out letters in order to get the distressed homeowners on board.
- It reflects on a person’s credit as a short sale does, “Not Paid as Agreed”, on a person’s credit. This is less impact than having a Foreclosure reflected on credit.
- 30-45 day closings
- Cash Incentives Offered to Sellers
Disadvantages -
- Rarely offered if there is a second loan on the property or any other encumbrance other than the primary loan.
- When the Owed amount versus the market value amount is too large, the deed in lieu of foreclosure is not offered.
- Time from Agreement to Sale could be as little as 30 days. Short Sales and Foreclosures are sometimes months from listing or default to sale.
Some homeowners just want out to start fresh. Some are wanting to do as much saving during the default process as they can.
Either way, education is the key. Make sure you are reading and understanding what you are signing. Whether the signatures are required by your bank or Real Estate agent.
We are head quartered in the Santa Clarita Valley and survive in any real estate market by the dissemination of factual information related to real estate. Feel free to contact or call us with any questions. We are here to help by doing Real Estate in a Client Centered and Focused way.
Think Big work Small – Santa Clarita comment by The Paris911 Team
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I have been an advocate of the refreshing, outside the box, style that are displayed by the two showmen that are on the TWBS daily. Brian and Frank are a total breath of fresh air.
I can imagine how some might be offended – However, if you are in Sales and are thinned skin, being offended easily… After re-reading the questions I just posed – I am not sure how that can be.
It is like a cop that gets offended when he pulls over the drunk guy and the drunk calls him some choice names. If they are frequent to go off at those types of confrontations – the cops usually get indicted.
Charts and Graphs are great – but when you lean too hard on a client attempting to prove your case, you not only look desperate, but you cause the client unneeded stress.
I just wrote a “Featured Post” on active rain about pressure. The meeting came about when we were talking to a couple of new clients, one of which is LAPD, the other works for another city as a dispatcher.
Back in 2006, Close to the height of the market, they were looking to buy a home. The were in escrow, at the same time talking to some of their family and friends, they got a glimpse that the market was going to start a rapid decline, so they proceeded to call their agent wanting to cancel escrow.
When we have clients that want to cancel escrow, we cancel escrow… Are we Weak – no, we are relationally motivated, not commission dependent and focused.
When the call was made, it was well within the 17 day timeframe and the contingencies had not been removed. The agent showed up to the client’s apartment, charts and graphs in hand and did some fancy footwork, coupled with pressure, and convinced the client and his wife that all would be peaches and cream – and that they should go forward with the purchase – that there was too much to lose not too.
I remember at the time when this was going on, Paris and I had instructed our team to tell buyers that now was not a good time to buy because prices were coming down. We were instructing Sellers that they better hurry due to Real Estate value starting to slip away.
In this cops case, he was being hard sold by one of his own. Someone like me that resigned after several, pre-retirement years on the job, to take up Real Estate full time. Sadly, this case is not all too uncommon. When you have someone that you view as a brother and as a friend, a confidant, you give them more trust than you would give a stranger.
Our new client and his wife, explained to this agent they indeed wanted to cancel escrow. He insisted, countered, conspired and giving enough of a “tactical” spin on the market that our new client, begrudgingly, continued with the purchase.
Today is a different story, today, we are in the process of Short Selling his home. The home that he is upside down at over $300,000. He and his wife, sat in front of Paris and I, telling us this story. He has repeated it to more than one person at the Police Stations where he is assigned, I have no doubt.
When you do good for a client – they might tell a couple of people… When you screw a client they will tell everyone.
“In the Real Estate business in the Santa Clarita Valley, this type of high-pressure, reputation does not catch-up with you over night. It sometimes takes a while. But when you become known as someone that loves to pressure clients and just focus on the checks, not the people, your time will come to an end sooner or later.”
Is Diversification the key to Realtor’s surviving in a down real estate market?
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Diversification? All right I had to look it up to make sure I actually understood the true meaning. Before looking at Wiki on Line for the definition – I was sure it meant having your eggs in many baskets which would go opposite to having all your eggs in one.
This stems from an article that references that specialization and diversification are the two reasons that Realtors are still in the business during this difficult time.
I think it is because of hard work. I know I am up at 0300 most days, Because from 0300 to 0630, it is quiet with no phone calls and very few emails – Except spam. Today, May 17 I am 41 years old and I was up at 0400hrs – I thought I would sleep in on my birthday
I am not sure I agree with all of the interaction we have with other agents that are still “in the business”. I do know there is a bit of a noticeable vacancy at the Real Estate offices in the Santa Clarita Valley. With a lot of the “survivors” at the water machine speaking as if all of those that did not pack the gear to serve in real estate, should have listened to their advice when the market was going down.
When I hear that crap, it just dumfounds me. But I get my coffee and retire back to my office to serve the clients best interests. I don’t hang with those in the industry that are bellyaching all of the time. It drains me and then I start viewing life from their point of view. So I decided a long time ago not to be associated with the complainers, the mal contents, or anyone else in the industry that has a negative view of anything.
I know this market will not be here for very much longer. There has been a true thinning of the flock in real estate. But I know that true “client representation” businesses will always have a place in any market, whether up or down. If you are in sales, just keep swimming and you will see that it will work itself out!
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