What qualities do successful real estate agents share? We’ll start with an uncontroversial statement – real estate is a darned difficult business to make a living. From the ruthless competition, to the contrasting personalities, to the whims and sways

Buying a home in the post-boom market is akin to ballet, and there are certain steps that no client should take. For the vast majority of consumers, buying a home hinges on securing a loan, and among the vast

What is it? Updater, (www.Updater.com), is one of the few new real estate startups that takes real world client issues into consideration when releasing a product. While walking through the halls of “Startup Alley” at Inman New York this

Realtor.com does not yet have the winning combination for an online ranking platform for real estate agents. Like Redfin and the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) before it, realtor.com  recently stopped its attempt to accurately rank Realtors in a

Do this for me: think of your website not as a piece of technology or a fancy, digital brochure, but as an actual employee. Something that can be productive, that can deliver results just like a real person. The

I came from the corporate world with a near 25-year tenure before becoming a broker. I had never known what it was like to work anything but the nine to five. Juggling marriage, motherhood and work had become routine

Sure, email may be convenient, super fast and free, but nothing can top the beautiful simplicity of a phone call. We live in an email world. Everything nowadays – bank statements, credit card bills, personal correspondence, coupon mailers, company

Are you currently working with a condo buyer who only qualifies for an FHA loan? If so, you may be finding it difficult to find buildings that are FHA approved. A few years ago, the FHA changed it’s rules

In this evolving market, it’s even more important for Realtors to understand how to maximize their borrower’s purchasing power. Although I am of the belief that outstanding service, customized mortgage product offerings and timely closings should be the primary

There are rumors around Washington that the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (MFA) will be extended yet again. Such an extension would be very good news to our improving real estate market for a variety of reasons; however,

It is hard to believe it is already 2014, but it is almost harder to believe we have a full year of upswing recovery under our real estate belts. At this point, I’m sure sellers have caught wind of

Have you done your monthly Facebook page tab check-up yet? What, you don’t check your Facebook page tabs? First, for those thinking, “what is a ‘Facebook tab,’” let me take a step back. Facebook page tabs are the images

What kinds of factors did homebuyers consider in 2013 when making their purchase? Homebuyers have a multitude of factors to consider when deciding upon a home purchase, but inevitably, certain factors will be more important than others. For an

No two years in real estate are ever the same. With the changing regulations, market and economy comes a new focus for Realtors each year. Here are five recommended areas to focus on for 2014: 1. Calm Anxiety Over

When you look up “Stalking” in the dictionary you will find various definitions. But the context I’m referring to is, “to pursue obsessively” or “to track an every move.” Our buyer clients tend to be “All In” or “All

Recently, I observed a fairly new agent fight for a listing with two of Chicago’s top agents and win. With enthusiasm and full attention, the new agent explained that she takes only five clients at a time in order