Century 21 North Star Realty-Peekskill Real Estate

Your Real Estate Agent By Text,Email, or Phone???

2011-01-25T07:42:00.000-08:00

We've always been the company to use technology. I like staying in contact with clients, agents I'm doing a transaction with, and my company via texting.

Why? I've never been one to interrupt an appointment with a seller or buyer simply to take a phone call....unless it's a dire emergency.

When I get a text, I'll know if it's an issue I have to address right away when one of my agents needs help or whether it can wait till I finish my appointment.

Or...whether I can call a client whose small child is sleeping.

In my business, it's really replaced voicemail.

Your opinion??

How Can We Do 2011 Better?

2011-01-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

2010 was an interesting year for Realtors. I saw many Real Estate companies of long standing either fold entirely, consolidate, or sell.

You know the old phrase, "What's the definition of insanity....It's doing the same thing and expecting different results."

In my opinion, we are at a crossroads in our industry. In order for our industry to survive, we can't keep doing the same things. We need to find a way to raise the bar for training and we need to get paid for the work we do...not just make it up on the backs of clients that actually close.

Here's how I see it:

Clients wish us to be always accessible, at the top of our game, and willing to pay for advertising on properties that may never sell. Yet, we don't get paid until we close on a property.

Quality work depends on quality training. If you don't get paid, you can't afford to spend more money on training or anything else...plain and simple. I believe that lack of income forced many agents who did work hard to leave the industry in 2010. This in turn, has forced some brokers to close their doors. We have to rethink this; not only to stay in business but to offer great service for our clients.

Clients should expect to work with quality Real Estate professionals, shouldn't they?? So, how does this get accomplished?

I am meeting with my staff tonight to try to come up with a solution! I think I may have an idea that helps both sides

How Do You Know It's Time To Buy A Home?

2011-01-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

Newspapers report that prices are dropping.

I find that in some areas, that's certainly true. However, prices are not dropping everywhere.

If you've heard of the phrase, "Location, location, location" it still holds true. Have a home in a great area, with a great school district, where neighbors maintain their homes, and you still have a desirable home in an area that just might be under the radar cause the neighborhood is appreciating in price.

How will you know? Ask your Realtor to do a pricing trend. Not all agents know how to do this.

If you wish to know how the 4th q of 2010 is different from the 4th quarter of 2009, have your agent find out what the average sales price and days on market are for each. Take the 4th quarter 2010, subtract info from the 4th q 2009, then divide by the 4th quarter 2009. To get the percentage, multiply that result by 100. You will then whether your market is appreciating or depreciating.

If you haven't bought a home to date, using this data will make you a more informed buyer and could save you thousands when buying a home in 2011.

Blizzard of 2010

2010-12-27T08:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to all that are reading my blog!
Being a Realtor means that I am filled with 8 day a week work days, so being snowed in means that it's a "catch up" day.

Time to follow up on offers (more than there were 12 months ago), time to update the company website, and time to follow up with old clients.

Like to see something not on our website or have a question about buying or selling now? Email me at century21nstar@aol.com. I'll be glad to answer!

Memorial Day 2010

2010-05-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

This is the first day in a long time that I actually had a day off!

It surprised me that I hadn't posted anything in ages, since this is a crazy business and interesting things happen every day.

What's going on with the market?
It appears, at least in my opinion, that the under $450k market is very active. More and more listings in every price range are coming on daily. but the under $45ok market has buyers that are actually buying.

That means that once these "first time" buyer homes are in contract, those homeowners will start trading up. That's great news for the coming months.

To sell now means that you should take a hard look at where you are, what kinds of marketing have been done to attract buyers. If everything has been done and there's not been any activity, it's time for a price reduction!

I'll stay on top of this as the weeks progress.

Here It Goes....

2009-01-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

This is my very first posting.

I promise I will get good at it cause most people tell me it's fun and I'm all about having fun!

As a Real Estate Instructor, it has been my blessing to teach and blogging seems to be a fun way to answer questions and to tell you about fun days and not so fun days that are involved in the life of a Real Estate Owner Broker

Please feel free to ask me anything you wish about the Real Estate market. I'd be glad to answer!