The real cost of social media

Landing prospects through social media requires an investment of time

BY DAVID FLETCHER, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012 Inman News®

Infinite time image via Shutterstock.

With the help of a marketing professional with a doctorate in psychology, I am gradually overcoming what I thought was an incurable disease: socialmediaphobia.

I fear what I don't understand, and I have not understood exactly what social media I needed, why I needed it or what it would cost.

Fortunately, thanks to LinkedIn, a social media site known for its business contacts, I met someone who could help.

Barbara Lemaire, owner of Social Media Made Simple.info, invited me to connect with her on LinkedIn. When I saw that she was a Ph.D. with a website that said she was "first and foremost a marketing professional," I practically blurted out my concern about social media and its cost to operate.

The gathering storm

Commentary: US may be alone in capacity to tackle debt and budget gap

BY LOU BARNES, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2012 Inman News®

Western meadowlark image via Shutterstock.

"It's quiet out there -- too quiet."

That line appeared again and again in 1950s horse operas, and we Western kids practiced daily the eye-squinted and growled delivery. We also worked at whistling the call of the meadowlark, the way the Native Americans in those oaters signaled each other before their attacks. In our games, the short straws were the cowboys; our Sioux and Cheyenne always won in thrilling slaughter.

It is August, traditionally void of news, but this is really quiet. Eerie quiet.

Europe has fallen silent. Even the European Union no-content boys in Brussels have paused posturing. Monti, Rajoy, Hollande ... so quiet you could hear a euro drop in the Rhine.

How my MLS levels the playing field

Realtor Notebook

BY TERESA BOARDMAN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012 Inman News®

topten22photo / Shutterstock.com

I am a raving fan of my multiple listing service, Northstar MLS. But because I talk to agents around the country, I know that not all MLSs are equal.

Over the years, Northstar MLS has added many features, and now offers several services that I used to pay for separately. For a mere $450 a year, I not only get access to a sophisticated database of local real estate, I also get most of the basic software that I need for my business.

Northstar MLS levels the playing field between the big brokerages and the small ones, and makes it possible for agents and brokers to stay focused on clients and selling real estate instead of technology. The products and services are high-quality and affordable, with accurate and up-to-date data in a system that has very little down time. Most of it is very easy to use, and there are classes and instructions available to all agents.

5 ways seasonal marketing is good for business

Sell real estate clients on listings, lifestyle

BY BERNICE ROSS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012 Inman News®

Oak tree in autumn image via Shutterstock.

It's hot and muggy, lots of folks are on vacation, and it's tempting to head to the beach or the pool instead of work. But fall is only four weeks away, and with it, fall selling season begins in earnest. This is your last chance to meet the production goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year.

If you want to kick up your production now and throughout the fall, here are five ways to capitalize on this great time of year.

How to buy a home like it's a car

Questions to ask before signing on the bottom line

BY ALISHA ALWAY BRAATZ, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012 Inman News®

Gary Whitton / Shutterstock.com

Everyone who knows me knows how much I love cars. I told my roommates in college that I would be driving a '69 Camaro by the time I was 30 -- a really hot one with a great sound system.

I bettered that. I married a man with classic cars. Besides the fact that he's my best friend, I must say, it was a great car decision. Why? I've got the best of both worlds.

During the work week I drive a very conservative four-door sedan. And then, in my free time I do burn-outs in the '63 Impala.

This is a very good compromise because if something goes wrong with my muscle car I must choose one of the three following options: call Husband, call Dad, call AAA. I don't even know where the oil pan is, and I don't care to find out.

5 reasons to make the leap to Mountain Lion

Realtors using Macs will appreciate features of new Apple OS

BY TOM FLANAGAN, TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012 Inman News®

Mountain lion image via Shutterstock.

Apple Inc. has equipped its newly released OS X Mountain Lion operating system with features from the company's mobile platform, including some that are popular with real estate agents. But before rushing to the App Store to upgrade your Mac, it's important to make sure the critical software you're using today is compatible.

For those keeping score at home, Mountain Lion is version 10.8 of Apple's operating system for laptops and desktops. The system is available via the App Store as an upgrade for $19.99. Most Macs made since 2008 and 2009 can be upgraded, and iMacs and MacBook Pros made as long ago as mid-2007 will also run Mountain Lion.

FHFA streamlines short sale standards for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

By Kerri Ann Panchuk

• August 21, 2012 • 1:45pm

New short sale requirements for servicers proposed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency are giving financial firms a battle strategy for dealing with reluctant subordinate-lien holders who attempt to delay short sales on points of negotiation.

Some parties in short sales are able to delay the process by objecting to certain conditions and attempting to negotiate higher prices.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac launched new short-sale guidelines for servicers to speed up and streamline the process of moving distressed borrowers through a short sale. The guidelines take effect Nov. 1.

3 Web tools that can make an agent's job easier

School your sellers on intricacies of moving, dangers of overpricing

BY BERNICE ROSS, MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2012 Inman News®

Agent offers three real estate choices image via Shutterstock.

While everyone is wild about apps these days, some of the most useful tools for your real estate business continue to be ordinary websites. In fact, many older sites are still rich with resources to make your job easier.

Here are three resources that can help you with your business.

Monsterdaata.com
Monsterdaata.com is an old site that has a wealth of resources on it from the California Association of Realtors. While much of the data on this site hasn't been kept completely up to date (e.g., the census data is based on the 2000 census), there are numerous resources that are still quite useful. Here are three examples:

Why mortgage rates are rising

Commentary: To foster recovery, something has to give, but what?

BY LOU BARNES, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 Inman News®

Dollar sign sinking image via Shutterstock.

Two things this week: Explain the sudden rise in Treasury and mortgage rates, and then provide a simple tool for understanding budget issues in the election. Nuthin' to it.

In the last two weeks the 10-year T-note has run up from 1.45 percent to 1.85 percent, taking many mortgages from below 3.5 percent to above 3.75 percent.

Explanations offered by sharpies: The economy has turned for the better, no longer sliding toward recession. Or because the Fed will not soon begin QE3, either because the economy is better, or because it won't do any good, or because of the election, or because of internal politics. Or rates have risen because Europe might save itself.