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From Realtor.com

According to a NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® survey of 3,793 adults conducted by Harris Interactive and released in January 2011, home owners and renters agree that home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy.

Here you’ll find highlights from the research report plus easy ways to share the information.

Among the findings of NAR’s “American Attitudes About Homeownership” survey:

* The vast majority of both home owners and renters say that owning a home is a smart decision over the long term. Even in today’s challenging economy, 95% of owners and 72% of renters believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home.

* Home owners are much more likely to be satisfied with the quality of their family and community life than renters. While more than half of owners (56%) are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with the overall quality of their family life, only about one-third (36%) of renters report the same levels of satisfaction. Also, 43% of home owners are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with their community life, compared with 30% of renters.

* An overwhelming majority of home owners are happy with their decision to own a home. A full 93% of owners surveyed would buy again.

* Most renters aspire to home ownership. The majority of renters (63%) say they are at least somewhat likely to purchase a home at some point in the future. Among them, young adults (18- to 24-years-old) have the strongest aspirations for home ownership.

The survey also confirmed that home owners and renters continue to have concerns about the economy:

* In today’s market, many aspiring home owners face worries about job security and credit worthiness. Among renters who are “very” or “extremely” likely to buy a home in the future, three out of five consider confidence in job security or creditworthiness to be an obstacle.

* Home owners and renters both believe that the mortgage interest deduction should not be targeted for change. 74% of owners and 62% of renters say it’s “extremely” or “very” important that the MID remain in place.

Given the strong public support of and aspirations for owning a home, we need to keep in place policies that support and encourage responsible, sustainable home ownership.

Have you thought about using Video in your Real Estate Marketing? Not Video or Visual Tours, but actual point and shoot video? It’s easier and cheaper than you may think.

Video cameras used to be bulky and very very expensive. Remember the huge over the shoulder video cameras for $700 – $1,000? Now you can point and shoot as small as a credit card and for as little as $60! Many phones even have video capability. (Here are a few video cameras ideas from Staples.)

Now you  have a camera, what in the world would you video tape?

1. Areas of your Community/Communities highlighting the beauty and the charm.
2. Landmarks
3. Historical Markers
4. Bustling business district
5. Super shopping malls or shopping courts
6. Scenery – beaches, forests, mountains
7. Local wildlife
8. Golf courses
9. Seasonal Festivals – 4th of July Celebration/Parade (samples or snippets)
10. Cultural Centers like Theaters, Music Centers
11. Sports Centers
12. If you are in Commercial Real Estate, the Industrial Park(s)
13. Really personalize it with your narration on Buying or Listing Advice or “How To’s”

Next: How to download and upload your videos

Have you ever been employed? Did you depend on what others thought of you and what your worth was? Did that conflict with what you thought your worth was? When you were employed, were you turned down from a raise because you were at the cap of that position? Were you turned down from a raise because your employer just didn’t want to give it to you?

Do you know you are NOW the only one in charge of your worth? It’s not your clients, broker or other agents. It isn’t even the economy. It’s you. You are the one who is in charge of what your worth is and how much you are making. Wow. That’s sobering, isn’t it? Because it’s up to you to determine your income – or not.

If you want to make more income – you have to do more to make more income. You have to think like a business person – your buck stops with you.

So, what are you going to do about it? How are you going to give yourself a raise this year??

I got a scare this morning. As usual, I logged into my gmail account and up popped a big red notification that my gmail account may have been compromised.

WHAT???

Then up popped another  notice of the IP address, time and a suggestion I change my password should I think my account had been compromised …. uh, yeah. Immediately visions of spies in the further most regions of the earth popped in my head. Hackers with sharp saws wanting to hack into my most personal information – or worst yet, my identity. (I could save them trying to steal that – not that interesting ….) I immediately went and changed my password – which I really thought it was very strong – showed green/strong on the password-o-meter. I never thought I had to really worry about it now – but someone found it and compromised my gmail.

I started changing passwords left and right – I looked over my gmail account looking in my most private of private of areas to see what they would have seen or found. (Again, like my identity, not that interesting).

I searched my Norton to see if they caught it …. nope, nothing. Then I went back at the big red noticed and looked at their IP address ….. hmmmmmm. I right clicked and copied it. With shaking hand on mouse, I was about to see who was my intruder ….. was it my recent visitors from Russia who had visited my website? Was it the little South Korean who read 5 of my website pages the same day North Korea blasted missiles at them? Was it the kid down the street with thick glasses and pocket protector.

I hit enter …….

It was the Democratic Party!!

Ah ……. yup. As my patriotic duty to send on patriotic information, I tried upload some contacts from my gmail account. (didn’t like that none of them were blind-copied so I backed out of the email) … However,  I had given them my sign-on and password and they were able to access my email list. I NEVER DO THAT - and here I did.

So …. do change your passwords ….. and watch who you give your information to online. I’m sure the Democratic Party will not do anything with my information ….. but my password is changed anyway.

It’s January 2011! What are you going to do different than the previous years?

• Build a website?
• Build or Update your Blog?
• Join Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, ActiveRain?
• Make a Plan to maintain contact with your Client Data Base?
• More?

Great Plans! Super Goals!! How are you implement them?

Do you plan on doing all the work yourself? And if you get busy, how will it get done? How much time would it take for you to build a website …. build your blog? How much time would it take to put together your Social Media Campaign – and again, if you get busy how will it get done?

Doing it yourself may not be as cost effective as hiring a professional to have it done for you. If you hire a professional, your projects will be designed quickly, effectively and it will look how you want in – without the headaches!

The Great thing? It’s by project only! No long term contracts! And while you’re busy listing and selling, your project  is still being worked on. And it will be done when you need it!!! It won’t be that project you’re always meaning to get finished. Additionally you will receive support and tips while you’re learning how to use your blog and social media effectively!

Now, there’s no reason to not have a working Blog,  have a working Social Media Campaign or to maintain contact with your clients!

For a Limited time, I’m offering special Project Pricing which you can have a basic blog built AND your social media designed for less than $300!

Find out more!