July 30, 2010
By
Valerie Suelzer
While local real estate brokerages in the area have decreased their budget and focus on adding new technology for their agents and consumers, Danberry has done just the opposite in the last year. I’ve just returned from the Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco, held July 13-15, 2010. I attended along with many other members of the Enterprise Network, a group of brokers across the country who partner with Active Website for their technology needs. The synergy of being able to compare notes with other like minds in the industry is invaluable. Read Active Website’s Top Five Takeaways from Real Estate Connect.
The conference was an affirmation for the advancements that Danberry has made with Active Website over the last year.
Some items which were recommended at the conference that Danberry has already implemented are:
- Individual Property Websites – each property listed with Danberry gets its own site such as 123main.danberry.com.
- Danberry.com Mobile – No longer can we rely on just websites to deliver listing info. Danberry Mobile has just been upgraded for the iPhone and Android users, but can be used with ANY web phone.
- Share this – Allows the agent, seller and potential buyers to Share favorite listings to their Facebook, Twitter, Linked in, etc. Look for the Share This icon on the details page of any listing.
- Google Map Search – Use the Point of Interest tab on the map search to turn on all of the schools, coffee shops, restaurants or just about anything you are looking for. Use the street view to take a “walk” down the street and see the neighboring properties.
- Greater Search Engine Optimization – Danberry.com’s traffic is up 40% ytd over last year. This is largely due to increased traffic from search engines.
- Craigslist – Danberry agents can quickly create flyers with photos and lots of calls to action to post to Craigslist. Because of this, Craigslist has become the number one referrer of traffic to Danberry.com outside of search engines.
What’s new and upcoming?
“As an industry, we need to move towards the mindset that our customers come first in order to truly embrace the new age customer and build a successful online brand.” Ido Zucker, Managing Partner at Active Website.
Danberry could not agree more. Going forward, we will be adding and evaluating several new improvements to Danberry.com such as:
- Community Information for Every Listing – In the next 30 days, all listings on Danberry.com will have community information available. This includes a breakdown of age of population, climate and weather, education, median income, crime, comprehensive school reports and mapping of nearby establishments.
- Facebook – Bigger than Google? Facebook is approaching 500 million fans and has become Danberry’s number three referrer of traffic (a year ago they were not even in the top 50). Danberry will evaluate advertising to select demographics of Facebookers.
- “Like” to be added to all listings on Danberry.com – You’ve been doing it on Facebook for years – why not “like’ a property on Danberry.com? This feature along with others will be discussed at Active Website’s September Conference. Delivery date to be announced!
Valerie Suelzer, Director of Technology
Danberry Realtors
valerie@danberry.com
July 2, 2010
By
Dick Baker
…have truly become the mortgage of choice in the Toledo real estate market.
When I was a kid Realtor, we had a terrible time getting sellers to consider offers that called for FHA of VA mortgages. And I have to admit, there were valid reasons from the seller’s viewpoint. FHA appraisers would come back with lengthy lists of repairs that the seller was required to complete prior to closing, and even the ones that went smoothly seemed to take twice as long to close as conventional transactions. Even points often needed to be paid.
Fast forward to today’s market. The times, they have changed, as FHA mortgages have become the mortgage of choice. The primary attraction is the low down payment requirement (3.5%), which puts this financing within the reach of most buyers. And what makes sense for buyers has become the best action in town for most sellers.
So, how much do you know about FHA financing? Here’s a quick way to find out. Take this QUIZ from the National Association of Realtors, click the “submit” button, and you will instantly be shown the correct answers.
How can we help you? Danberry Co. professionals are ready to take your calls and answer your questions, as are the Home Mortgage Consultants from First Mortgage who can be found under the “Financing” button above. We’d love to hear from you!
June 21, 2010
By
Dick Baker
Any prospective homebuyers who backed off from their Toledo, Ohio, and metropolitan area house-hunting because they feel they missed out on the tax credits should consider this. Maybe a check won’t arrive from Uncle Sam, but you might get a mortgage today at a rate considerably below the one you would have gotten during the program. The net impact could be that you will actually realize a greater savings over the time you own your home than if you had gotten the tax credit!
Many “experts” nationwide speculated that the expiration of the tax credit program would take the wind out of the sails (sales?) of a rapidly improving real estate market, but the mortgage market is definitely propping up activity.
If you made it this far reading the blog, chances are good you might be among those searching for Toledo real estate who could benefit. What are you waiting for? “Historically low rates” will not last forever! Contact The Danberry Co., Realtors or a First Mortgage Home Mortgage Consultant today!
June 4, 2010
By
Dick Baker
You’ve probably heard the analogy comparing real estate markets to weather reports. Real estate markets, like weather reports, are local. What we really want to know is what’s going on in our neighborhood-with Toledo homes for sale-not half way across the country. The media constantly reports what is going on in Florida, California, New York and Las Vegas, but to make good buying and selling decisions here, you want to know about the Toledo real estate market, which brings us back to the title of this article.
We are facing a window of opportunity, but remember, open windows do close. We know that mortgage interest rates right now are at bargain levels – essentially mortgage money is “on sale”. With soaring federal debt and deficits, however, does anyone believe these historically low rates are sustainable? I don’t. Those low rates are also coupled with a high inventory of listings (great choices) and low prices. I’ll bet a year from now buyers will look back at June of 2010 and say “THAT was our window of opportunity. What were we waiting for?”
How can we help you? You can find a Danberry professional by clicking on “Agents & Offices” above. If you have mortgage questions, click on “Financing” to find a Home Mortgage Consultant at First Mortgage Consultants, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
