Robert Schantz
Phone:
619.398.3916
Mobile:
619.985.5074


Fax:
619.512.4693
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DRE #01360786

10 Reasons to be Optimistic in Today's Real Estate Market

  1. FSBO's (Fastest Source of Business Opportunities), Expired's, Cancelled and Withdrawns need realtors now more than ever.
  2. Less competition amongst agents as NAR estimates there will be 500,000 LESS agents in 2008.
  3. Builders and developers don't treat us as step children now. They need us now more than ever as well and they are making great deals to buyers.
  4. Sellers don't try and negotiate on your commissions as much as they did in the past so you can ask get that 6% on listings. What they heck, try for 7% and 8%.
  5. Investing opportunities are aplenty. Try and find something to buy if you can afford it. Why buy when it is too late and you are competing against other buyers.
  6. Tumbling prices means more opportunites for FIRST-TIME homeowner's to enter the market. In San Diego, it is 40% of the market.
  7. New niche opportunities in foreclosures and short sales. Know how to do these markets the smart way. Ask me and I will tell you for FREE.
  8. Your opporunity is here to show yourself as a Real Estate Professional and offer advice to all who ask. They see you as the one with all the knowledge as you have your pulse on the market.
  9. Increased inventory means excellent choices for your buyers.
  10. This market also will force you to SHARPEN your skills and if you do that, you will be ahead of your competition.

 Thoughts for the 2008 Real Estate Market

With 2007 behind us and a new 2008 at our feet, I am reminded of past markets and what being in this industry really means. Remember, this is a market that is, was and will always be cyclical. To those of you who have never been in a market like this, here is my advice:

  1. There is NO SUCH thing as a BAD MARKET. Bad markets are only created in your head or mindset. You can do just as much business in this market as you could when it was traveling at warp speed. In fact, if you see the data being released, home sales are on the rise. Don't buy in to this as a bad market just because they say prices are falling. In real estate, there are two markets. A seller's market or a buyer's market. END OF STORY. So right now we are in a great buyer's market. I call it buyer's revenge for dealing with seller's who had control of the ball. So my suggestion, go find a buyer who wants to find a deal as there are plenty of them out there.
  2. The economy remains good. Not only do we have low interest rates, but most areas of the country are experiencing economic gains. Inflation is also under control and the gross domestic product is growing.
  3. Real Estate is a LONG-TERM INVESMENT. Shall I repeat this??? Since when was real estate meant to be traded like a stock. Buy it and then six months later sell it for a huge gain?? Nice...but this doesn't always happen. Those that got stung in this cycle, are the ones that will pay. But the smart money knows this and is now out there looking for these deals. Be the one to find that smart money and make these deals.
  4. Bad news is good news and vica versa. The media always makes negative headlines to sell papers and get the publics attention. But if you read most articles, there are always silver linings in evey story.
  5. Not all markets are national, markets are local. This means that most "national" stories relate to a national theme. Don't buy in to this. Look at your "local" market and see where the business is and go get it.
  6. Use advertising that works. Consider this in your ad's, emails and wherever. "We are experiencing one of the best buyer's market in years. If you are considering buying, contact me and I will show you the great deals that are out there." Investigate all opportunities in your market whether they are FSBO's (Fastest Sourc of Business Opportunites), Expired's (Sellers who have already raised their hands), Foreing buyers because of the weak dollar, First Time Buyer's (hold seminars for this), it's easy and Investor Seminars (getting sellers to sell invesment property and move them in to an industrial TIC so they won't have the headaches of being a landlord.

4 Ways to Get Business in Today's Real Estate Market

 You will always here me say this day in and day out.

1. You must prospect a minimum of 3 hours per day.

2. You must direct mail your farm, sphere and past clients.

  • This can be done by snail mail or email and does not have to be expensive
  • It should be simple, clear and powerful
  • The piece must hit them within 10 seconds and then lets them move on
  • It should make a positive impression so when they think of real estate, they think of you
  • You should automate this by setting it up at the beginning of the year
  • You must do this a minimum of 24 times per year whick will equate to every 2 weeks
  • You can make them 12 buyer messages and 12 selller messages
  • You can also mix in investor options if that is a market you are familiar with
  • You can also reach your farm, sphere and past clients by doing charity events, client appreciation parties and pumpkin give aways.
  • For the direct mail piece to send to your farm you should do the following
  • Send a jumbo post card in white. On one side you will say the following: "Know the value of your home 24/7 in TODAYS REAL ESTATE MARKET by going to http://www.yourstealthsite.com/ On the other side you will put either a buyer or seller message. Mix this up. Put "For information on buying or selling in todays Real Estate Market, visit http://www.mothersite.com/
  • This can be set up in advance as part of your marketing plan

3. You must have a web presence. this business is becoming a web based platform and if you are not up on that, you will be left in the dust. Your web strategy should include at least 4 websites which include

  • A mother site - Mine is http://www.discoversandiegohomes.com/ This is a very powerful website when you are a Listing Agent and a powerful Buyer Lead Generation Website. I use NUMBER1Expert. Don't be fooled. This is the ONLY way to go
  • A site for sellers - This is a STEALTH unbranded site that you can target sellers in your jumbo postcard campaign, classified ads, etc. The idea, is to drive potential sellers there by looking as if they won't be hounded by an agent. Mine is http://www.talmadgehousevalues.com/ This is targeted to one of my farms.
  • A site for buyers - Mine is http://www.sd-mlssearch.com/ This I place ads in homes magazines, really cheap classifieds, etc to drive buyers to search the MLS. It tags their information, allowing my team members to follow up with them.
  • Finally, a niche site. This can be one for second home owners, investors, Luxury Hirise Downtown Condos.

4. You must set up a blog. What your blog should talk about is the following:

  • The REAL ESTATE Market, imagine that
  • Localism - talk about things going on in your farm
  • Client Questions and Concerns
  • Pictures - preferably of homes in your farms
  • Something fun. Show them a good side of you that you will be fun to do business with
  • Other Local Blogs. Direct them to local blogs that you think will be helpful
  • Blog and blog often. You need to blog daily if possible and keep it short and sweet
  • Interesting vs Interested in