By Patricia Kennedy Last week, I found myself packing for the most amazing vacation I’ve taken in years, maybe ever: three weeks on the beaches of Maui with a man who makes my heart skip beats every time I look at him, and a convertible. As I was packing, it occurred to me how Type-A I have become over the …
An Open Letter to a Facebook SPAMer
By Nobu Hata It’s amazing how far one SPAMer or MLMer can get just by friending a couple people on Facebook. We Facebook users glance at friend invites blindly accepting those with one or two commonalities, notably a common friend. There was someone on my friends list who I will call “Kevin.” Dear Kevin, We’re “friends” right? – And for …
Santa, Dude You Owe Me
By Brian Copeland Dear Santa, When I was 4 years old, I asked for an Easy Bake Oven. You brought me some Garanimal outfits. When I was 8, you obliged my request for a Glo Worm with that cowboy comforter set my brother wanted. Each year, you have threatened me that if I wasn’t good, I wouldn’t get my gift. …
Is Instruction Part of Your 2010 Business Plan?
By Nobu Hata Let’s face it, when it comes to sharing our expertise on forums such as the YPN Lounge, Twitter, even Facebook, we sure spend a lot of time preaching to the choir. Social Media how-to’s, blogging tips, Twitter in your marketing plan… The fact is, the majority of us have already figured out how to implement new media …
Five Must-Have Real Estate Tools
By Dawn Miller If you’re a new REALTOR® or if you’ve been in business awhile and re-evaluate your budget every year, I am here to reassure you there are only five tools you need to start or maintain your real estate business. I’ve complied a short list of the must-have’s for those REALTORS® newer to the business who are questioning …
Practitioner Rating Systems Are Here to Stay
By Nobu Hata, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger It’s been an interesting couple days home! Your thoughts, Joe-Six-Pack? We’ve got a site for that. Lost amid the cocktails of the YPN get together, and the hubbub of HouseLogic/RPR/NAR Second Century Initiative babble, was the Houston Association of REALTORS®’ win of NAR’s Visionary Award. Taqi Rizvi, CTO of HAR, “created one of …
Live From San Diego: YPN’s Biggest 2010 Challenge
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger This week in San Diego, I had an opportunity to interview three YPNers about the biggest challenge they face going into 2010. Here are the results: Agree or disagree? Answer in the Web poll below. What is YOUR biggest challenge? Make a live audience poll at Poll Everywhere
CRS Pre-Conference International Presentation: VERY Encouraging
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger Entering the Westin, you definitely get the Wizard of Oz Emerald City feel that its known for. As mentioned in my other blog, the interesting architecture abounds in San Diego. I made my way to the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) pre-conference meetings. This morning’s topic, International Affairs, lead by Jed …
What’s Wrong with the Real Estate Industry?
By Drew Burks Very few REALTORS® are following their true passion! Make your own rules, be authentic, transparent and have fun … Real Estate can be a challenging business and the majority of licensed REALTORS® struggle to succeed, but it doesn’t need to be this way. In fact, real estate can be a great deal of fun and rewarding when …
Tricks and Treats for the Real Estate Market
By Heather Soldonia More scary than mummies, black cats, or cobwebs is the looming question: Has the real estate market bottomed out? We REALTORS® have been asking Congress “Trick or Treat? … Please come up with some creative ways to revive the real estate market. Pretty please?” When Forbes reported the 10 worst real estate markets of 2009, eight were …