Dave Thurman's Real Estate Blog

I have been searching the Internet, reading the local newspaper and analyzing my own recent listing / sales information trying to find something positive about the real estate market in Stockton, California and other parts of our country; but I think that I have failed!!!

• First-time buyers running out of time to use the $8000 tax credits
• Unemployment is high almost everywhere
• Americans have again lost faith in the government nationally & locally
• San Joaquin County listing inventory has decreased almost 60%
• Closed sales in the county are down 35%
• Median prices are up by over 10%

I refuse to give up…I will work weekends, hold open houses and go door knocking… just like a brand new agent! Please help me find something more positive to blog about next week. Please comment…are you out there?

As a proven real estate professional; I have often been asked why did you purchase a Realty World franchise? Especially, when many of the other larger real estate brokerages have been dropping the franchise and going independent. Well, there are many reasons…but here are a few of them.

• A successful and internationally recognized brand name
• A structured business operating system with proven technology, marketing, advertising and training
• The most successful online advertising program available in real estate
• Economies of scale on all types of products and services that are absolutely affordable for even a one-person office

The power of a brand name!

Realty World Corporate Update.

Last week we signed a one-year deal with Zillow.com to feature your listings on their website above your competitors. What this means is that when buyers and sellers are searching properties on Zillow, all Realty World listings show up first. This delivers five times the amount of buyer traffic for your listings and huge exposure. We already feature your listings on Trulia.com, and with this new Zillow contract, you have the highest amount of exposure for your listings on two of the biggest real estate sites in the world.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Trulia Also Experiences Record Growth, Shift Towards Mobile in 2009  searchenginewatch.com)
• Zillow Wants a Home on Wall Street  gigaom.com)

The new “F” words in business…friend, fan, follow, farm, feed…is it all just a fad? No, I don’t think so! Facebook has over 200,000,000 people signed up and it is free.

Over 50 million professionals use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas and opportunities.

If you can’t find the time or you find it difficult to write a paragraph about yourself or your business why not sign-up on Twitter. Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web.

If you would like to learn more about social networking; I would recommend this fun and easy to understand website. What Is Social Networking?

I hope to learn more! I will be attending a Realty World seminar tomorrow about how one can make the most of their social media, technology and online experience.

If you are considering going into the real estate profession or if you are a REALTOR®  trying to decide if you should stay in the business; I would highly recommend that you listen to what Carole Rodoni has to say.  I am not easily impressed by others, but I feel her very strong opinions about the real estate business and our nation’s economy in general are “right on”!

Carole Rodoni is a highly regarded speaker, author and advisor in the Bay Area Real Estate Industry. Formerly President of Fox & Carskadon Realtors, COO of Cornish and Carey Real Estate, President and COO of Alain Pinel Realtors, and now the President of her own consulting firm, Bamboo Consulting.

I had the pleasure to hear her speak at our Realty World convention held last August 14th and was very impressed by her knowledge. She seems to know what is really going on in the real estate market and also what is happening in Washington D.C.

Please take the time to listen to this lady…youtube.com or purchase her newsletter for $100 per year. http://www.bambooconsultinginc.com

Friday, August 14th, 2009 – Realty World Northern California & Nevada held our Annual Convention in Pleasanton. Wow, even in this tough market there was a full house with approximately 500 REALTY WORLD Agents and Brokers!

Scott Leforce, President welcomed the Realty World brokers promtly at 9:00 AM at the “Brokers Council” as we all got down to business. One of the most unique characteristics about Realty World is the fact that our company is helped run by our brokers through a Brokers’ Council.

I was very impressed by “Featured Keynote Speaker” Carole Rodoni, President of Bamboo Consulting  and a Real Estate Industry Expert and News Columnist. Her comments and understanding of the current real estate market and our nation’s economy were “right on”, in my opinion.

The agenda also included:

• Keynote Speeches & Panel Sessions
• Exhibitor Hall
• Free Lunch
• Professional Agent Photos & Videos
• Prize Giveaways

The Realty World Strategy For 2009…”Our goal by year’s end is to have the largest online presence by our associates of any real estate company in the United States.”

www.realtyworldnca.com