Register Real Estate Advisors

The other day, on the “Price of Business” on 1070 AM, Kevin Price, host, and I talked with Dr. Jim Gaines, Senior Economist at the Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, about his 2012 real estate forecast. This is the second of two segments. This first segment focused on real estate on a national level, and this one focuses on the state and local level. I hope you find this informative.

You can find the first segment HERE.

Yesterday, on the “Price of Business” on 1070 AM, Kevin Price, host, and I talked with Dr. Jim Gaines, Senior Economist at the Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, about his 2012 real estate forecast. This is the first of two segments. This first segment focuses on real estate on a national level, and the second focuses on the state and local level. I hope you find this informative.

You can find the second segment HERE.

HOUSTON (CBS Radio) – How’s Houston’s housing market faring? Is now a good time to buy? What will buyer confidence be like this fall and winter?
Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Jim Gaines addressed these questions and more last week on Realtor Shannon Register’s weekly radio show. You can watch the video online .

Dr. Jim Gaines, Economist for the Real estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, talks with Shannon Register on the “Price of Business” on CBS Radio 650AM about the outlook of real estate in Texas.

SAN ANTONIO (San Antonio Express-News, Dallas Morning News)
– Foreclosure-tracking firms are reporting drops in foreclosure rates around
Texas, but at least one housing expert cautions against jumping to conclusions.

“What we’ve had is a slowdown in foreclosure activity because of the
‘robo-signing’ scandal,” Dr. Jim Gaines told the San Antonio Express-News.
Gaines is a research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M
University.

Foreclosure postings around the rest of the country have dipped because of
fraud allegations leveled against financial institutions where employees
“robo-signed” volumes of foreclosure paperwork without verifying the
information. Gaines said Texas could be following the same pattern.

San Antonio-based foreclosure tracking firm RexReport reported 6.9 percent
fewer foreclosures in the first half of 2011 than during the same period last
year.

Foreclosure Listing Service said postings in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area are down 7 percent so far this year compared
with the first six months of last year.

On the other hand, 2011 could, in retrospect, be seen as the
turning point.

“At the local level, it really could be some early sign that we’ve gotten
over the hump of the big wave of problems of foreclosures. It’s a relatively
small drop-off, but at least it’s a drop-off,” Gaines said.

Aired live 12-14-10. “Price of Business” host Kevin Price and Shannon Register discuss the real estate outlook for 2011 with Dr. Jim Gaines, research economist with the Mays Business School Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University.

There is a formula to selling in this market:  Passion + Technology = SOLD.  It is working for my sellers.  Allow me to elaborate.

First, the house must be findable and appealing online because that is where 87% of the buyers start their home search.  This is essential to maximizing the value of your home in a timely manner.  It is not enough to simply add your home into the Multiple Listing Service. It is no longer enough to simply have “curb appeal,”  it must have “google appeal” as well and be search engine optimized and key word search-able for the scarce qualified buyer to find your home.  Professional quality pictures and video tours help turn visitors on the web pages into offers on your home.  As a Social Media Pro and ePro Realtor, I have geared my training to help me improve my web marketing and website to showcase listings with photos, videos, and information about the property that is trickled out to over 40 websites.  Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn also add to the listing’s “web footprint” and increase the odds of the right qualified buyer finding it.  I don’t leave the sale of your home to chance, I put it in front of buyers as well as the Realtors in the North West Houston area via e-fliers. 

Bottom line – my online marketing is proven to sell houses. I offer online home tours via videos and comprehensive real estate news and data and distribute this information through multiple channels. I am committed to cutting edge technology that improves your bottom line in real estate transactions.

Relocating to the area? With the tools for your research on my website, you can make a decision on a home without traveling or with a few days visit. I have recognized and responded to today’s consumer by staying on top of the market and the internet technology that ensures their home stands out from the crowd in any market. That’s why I can honestly tell my clients that Passion + Technology = SOLD.

Second, Passionate about Real Estate.  One of the ways I chose to drive traffic to my website is by writing my blog.  I have been awarded “The Best Real Estate Blog in Texas” according to The Mays Business School and Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. 

To sell in this market, you must have a Realtor that knows the market and knows that in a down market, marketing and packaging matters.  Don’t let my use of technology intimidate you if you’re not a social media bug, just use it to sell your home.  I continue to use the traditional Realtor marketing techniques as well.  My marketing plan is proven to work even in a down market.  If you need to sell your home, call me for the help it is going to require to sell in this economy.  I’d love to help you and since I am a relocation specialist, I can help you relocate to anywhere in the world.  Of course, I think Texas is the best place to live.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Episode one of the Real Estate Center’s new weekly podcast, Real Estate Red Zone http://recenter.tamu.edu/podcast/ , is on the air. To subscribe to the play-by-play descriptions of Texas real estate markets, just click on the RSS feed found on the podcast page.  The podcast also has been submitted to iTunes and is pending approval for listing there.  Plans are to broadcast a new podcast every Wednesday. So, now you can read about Texas real estate every Tuesday and Friday in RECON or if you prefer to listen, tune in on Wednesday. The Real Estate Red Zone is definitely hot.  Market News daily reports are generally posted weekdays beginning at 7:30 a.m.

VIDEO OF DOTZOUR’S TAR SPEECH ONLINE

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – The full video of Dr. Mark Dotzour’s speech at the Realtors’ convention in Dallas two weeks ago is now available on the Real Estate Center’s website.

An audio-only version of the same speech was posted on the Center’s website last week.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Judging by the response to last week’s call for votes in the final round of our “favorite blog” contest, Texas real estate professionals are, to say the least, passionate when it comes to who they read online.

A whopping 1,400 votes flooded the Real Estate Center.

When the votes were tallied, Shannon Register’s blog, which covers the Houston area, emerged as the winner.

Tying for second place was Ralph Bivins’ Realty News Report — also from Houston — and Candy Evans’ Dallas Dirt.

Third place honors went to Scott Nicholson’s Austin-area blog.

Congrats to all the winners! We look forward to seeing you at next year’s competition.