Dennis Jonas - Denise Fuit

FHA just make selling your Listing harder.

2008-11-27T13:22:00Z

HUD-owned properties are offering special purchase incentives. As long as the borrower utilizes FHA financing, there are incentives to the borrower and the real estate agent.

$100 down payment with FHA financing (instead of the required 3 or 3.5% down payment.)

$500 bonus to the real estate selling broker who sells a HUD owned home using FHA financing.

$2500 Sales allowance paid to the borrower for closing costs, prepaids and /or repairs at closing when using FHA financing.

These are some of the incentives HUD/FHA are offering to get rid of their inventory. HUD requires the buyer on your listing to put 3% down and pay closing costs, yet gives the house down the street away. ( I guess this is the new subprime loan).

Now your seller can't continue to make their payments, goes in to default, lender foreclosues, obtains bailout funds, and now competes against your listing...

Now your 2nd seller can't continue to make their payments, goes in to default, lender foreclosues, obtains bailout funds, and now competes against your listing...

Now your 3rd seller can't continue to make their payments, goes in to default, lender foreclosues, obtains bailout funds, and now competes against your listing...

What a solution to the housing crisis. Thanks HUD, I love government solutions.

What is my house Worth?

2008-11-25T12:52:00Z

Everyone wants to know the answer to that question in todays market. This post isn't about market value but about what I think is one of the best websites for real estate agents. I would like to introduce you to a website that allowed me to make a video for my website. The website is www.animoto.com , it's a website I think every Point2Agent should that a look at. I made this video using still photos. This is my let's have some fun, while still promoting my business website. Everyone has tried to sale me something that would cost a bundle but produce nothing. This is the best investment I make in my real estate career each year, take a look at animoto.com. Dennis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24ywYizGIX8

Stop the foreclosures!!!

2008-11-21T04:42:00Z

Instead of writing about foreclosures, I'm trying a video Post. It's late tonight (by my standards), but I had this idea on my mind and thought I would share it with you. Thanks, Dennis (my speaking is as bad as my typing sometimes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwUkxx8RYcw

MLS Dues - Increasing by over 500% - Vote for me!

2008-08-25T00:48:00Z

I'm thinking about running as a write-in candidate for President of your local MLS System/Board. My platform is increasing your monthy dues over 500%, ($23.00 to $150.00 per month) and increasing your yearly board membership over 300% ($360.00 yearly to $1500.00 yearly). My premise is if you can't afford these type of increases, then maybe it's time you hang up your license, and quit doing those one, two, or three transactions that most agents do. What do you think? Would you vote for my platform? I think our local board would go from 5000 members to a 1000 members in six months. Enjoy the discussion.

Is Zillow.com killing the real estate market?

2008-08-19T04:30:00Z

"The Zestimate (pronounced ZEST-ti-met, rhymes with estimate) home valuation is Zillow's estimated market value, computed using a proprietary formula. It is not an appraisal. It is a starting point in determining a home's value. The Zestimate is pulled from data; your real estate agent or appraiser physically inspects the home and takes special features, location, and market conditions into account. Variations in price also occur because of negotiating factors, closing costs, and timing of closing. We encourage buyers, sellers, and homeowners to supplement Zillow's information by doing other research....."

Do you think that the information zillow.com is providing the public consumer is a true indication of the real estate home values in the real estate market? Zillow.com does not inspect the property or neighborhood, but will make a statement like this, list price, $400,000.00, Zestimate value $325,000. How can that not hurt the sellers position and reduce exposure and viewing of that subject property. What do you think? Zillow.com positive or negative for the real estate market? Is Zillow.com Zestimate increasing the number of foreclosures?

Having fun with Kyte.TV

2008-04-30T13:05:00Z

I have been developing some kyte.tv video channels. I think this is a site all point2agents should take a look at. It's real easy to post your video's to or create your own video, slideshow, etc. and it is free. I have attached one of my channels for you to take a look. You can add a real estate related slideshow or video to it. Develop your own channel on Kyte.tv I believe you can use this site to grow your real estate business.
http://www.kyte.tv/ch/51367-point2agents/125457-point2agents

Hope you have some fun with it, and grow your business with it.

Dennis

Video - It's getting easier!!

2008-04-21T23:41:00Z

I believe that video is the up and coming thing for our websites. I'm trying to teach myself about using video on my websites. I have attached a few youtube videos that are real estate related for my websites. Do you have any websites that you could direct myself and other point2agents to help with learning and producing video on our websites. I'm using a Logitech webcam ($100), I think it works great for in office use. Easy to operate and use. Thanks, Dennis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG1DQcAvLQM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R4VSpfhtMQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxe3XjZ2aaY

Barry Bonds -- Down 37% -- Baseball Tumbles !!!

2008-01-29T14:17:00Z

Stop attending any baseball games, baseball will never survive this down turn. Did you see these headlines when Barry Bonds home run production went from a baseball record 73 home runs, to 46 home runs the following year. Barry Bonds still had a great year. No one quit going to baseball games, were there still games that had less attendence, yes. We are coming off a couple of record years in real estate, we still have a great market in real estate, it just is not another record year. We will score more runs this year hiting singles and doubles, stealing second base, in other words, it's back to working everyday in our market. This is a great time to be in our profession, take time to hit a single everyday and your career will be just fine.

SHARE A WEBSITE WITH ME !!! Help is on the way.

2007-12-29T13:55:00Z

I liked a comment that I just read on this site. "We must work together..." The idea that in this market it is better to worked together, share ideas, the old idea that two heads are better then one. I'm looking for great websites that can help grow my business. Let's grow a list of 50-100 websites that can help us all. I know every agent has a site that they were inpressed with, share it with us. Thanks. "08 will be GREAT"
#1 - Point@Agent
My # 2 www.realbird.com
What is your # 3 ?

Spending $$$'s on search engine Placement.

2007-12-27T01:57:00Z

I just posted a comment on another question on this blog, and I started to wonder where agents spend their money on promoting their website. Is there any place to you would recommend your grandmother to place her advertising money to promote her website. I tend to believe all these companies promoting lead generation, site placement, sell advertising and have never sold a piece of real estate as an agent. Everything leads me to believe that the world wide web has become the neighborhood web. People want to work with someone who understands the market conditions in the area they live in. I believe that branding your website, as the leader in real estate in your market area will return more results, then money you spend on lead generation and website placement companies. What do you think?

Lease/Purchase: Do they ever Close?

2007-12-13T12:52:00Z

Lease/Option to Purchase are beginning to be used in our marketplace. I believe the the lease/option to puchase in just a big legal problem waiting to happen for the agents involved. What is your experience with dealing with these? What problems, issue, pitfalls that an agent should be aware of when writing a lease/option to purchase. Have you had success or problems with these transactions. thanks for your ideas.

Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

2007-12-09T20:51:00Z

Just a few weeks ago, seems like there was a great number of good posts to this site. Looked forwarded to reading and learning something from this site everyday. Must need to get a life, if this is what I call relaxing. I just happen to be thinking of the song "Where have all the flowers gone?", and it made me think of this site. The lyrics...'gone to graveyards every one, when will we ever learn?', made me think about this real estate market and P2A. Where have all the P2A leaders gone?, where have all the posts gone? Is the lack of posts on this site trying to tell us something about P2A future? Or am I just reading between the lines to much?

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWER GONE?
words and music by Pete Seeger
performed by Pete Seeger and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

©1961 (Renewed) Fall River Music Inc
All Rights Reserved.

NEW RULE: 30 MINUTES ON THE INTERNET

2007-12-03T15:04:00Z

I'm thinking about adding another rule for new agents that I teach in licensing classes. "The 30 minutes on the Internet Rule". I believe that the internet is changing our business so fast, that even many experienced agents do not even realize the changeing. After all these years in the business, I still get on the internet every morning, and learn something that will help me in my career. Many new agents depend on their broker for all their training, but I believe that the internet is an endless supply of information and training material. How much time do you spend on the internet developing your career? And, is this a good rule to give the new agents? Any great websites for the new agents or any for us oldtimers that you would like to share?

Training vs. Commission Splits!!!

2007-11-26T14:35:00Z

I do some recruiting of new agents (getting their license) for our office. We have a great training program and a separate training facility for our new agents. When we are recruiting, the first question all most all new agents ask about is the commission splits, then the training program. I think one of the most important decisions a new agent makes is the office they choose. I believe that to many agents pick the company based on commission splits instead of the training, education, mentoring they they will receive. I believe that the training will lead to greater success in the long run. What do you believe the new agents look at first, commissions or training? How important is the selection of the first office? Did you recieve what the broker promised to deliver in training and help?

Everyday is Turkey Day in Real Estate!!!

2007-11-23T02:13:00Z

Sorry, I can't add much discussion on preparing or cooking on that thanksgiving meal. My role on Thanksgiving Day is to consume the food, relax for a day, and enjoy football games on TV (must be a generation thing). So, let's talk real estate turkey. We have all dealt with them, the type of client we would like to stuff and roast in the oven. I believe the biggest turkey I have worked with happened early in my career. I had a transaction from date of listing to date of closing was 40 days.

Full price offer, everything the seller asked for in his transaction. To me the ideal transaction. He was so excited at the closing table, but I could see his excited turn to disappointment during the closing. After the closing, I asked him why he was upset, his answer was, he was disappointed that I was not upfront and honest with him.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his seller's net sheet. He pointed out that his net sheet stated at closing he would receive $16,885.00, but he only recieved $16,850.00, He let me know that he didn't appreciate me shortchanging him $35.00. Never did get any referral businees from him. Do you remember any of your turkeys on this Thanksgiving Day.