Many real estate agents are missing the boat, when it comes to making a large six figure income selling homes. In fact, even the principle brokers, and broker owners are not teaching what needs to be done today to become a big earner.

What I’m going to give you in this article is 1 simple method you can use tomorrow to start prospecting, generating listing appointments, and producing qualified buyers.

Before I do that though, let me let you in on a big secret…

The top real estate agents in the world, all have 1 thing in common that they do everyday…

They plan 1hr or more in their calendar to call people who will bring them closer to selling another home.

That’s their secret…

So how can you use this in your life, to make more money and grow your real estate business?

What I’m about to give you is a detailed step-by-step on how to become really profitable at real estate prospecting…

First, block out 1hr per day in your calendar everyday. The time doesn’t matter just make sure you can stick to it, no matter what.

Second, figure out who you want to work with. Buyers, sellers, banks etc.

Third, figure out how you are going to communicate to them what you have. Most real estate agents rely on the phone exclusively. I wouldn’t differ from that if you are new in your real estate career. It’s simple, in expensive and everyone has one.

Fourth, get a list of their contact information.

For example, you can call expired listings. Getting the contact information of expired listings is simple as apple pie. If you were to FSBO, get a stack of magazines with the owners information. You can even pull title records to get complete information on the owners.

Next, figure out what you are going to say. And the compelling reasons you are going to give them to take action with you. Also, develop some good questions to engage them.

For example, if you are calling expired listings. Ask them why they haven’t relisted, if they have urgency and if they were to relist what type of things would they expect their new agent to do, that their last agent didn’t do.

I’ll let you in on another big tip: It’s not what you say, but how you say it. Make your tone sound more conversational, low key and friendly.

If you are an aggressive A type person, tone it down. Remember, you have to sound non-threatening. Especially, if you are calling people and have no clue what their last experience was with a real estate agent.

Lastly, and the most important… CALL THEM!

Sounds simple right?

Well to be honest, the fear of picking up the phone is what keeps people broke and frustrated in the real estate game. And it doesn’t happen right away, it’s after many days of not picking up the phone where you develop true phone fear.

Break it today and pick up the phone. You’ll be happier and richer!

The real estate business sees different people playing different roles. These include mortgage brokers, bankers, home inspectors, contractors, appraisers, property managers, and several others. That’s not even counting the seller and potential buyers, for any property listed. The various contributions they make are too numerous to list, but are all very important. One thing that remains constant: it is the Real Estate Broker who ties it all together. That’s right, he or she calls all of these different people out where needed, to get the client’s needs met. They facilitate communication between all of the people involved, and keep track of the progress. So the question begs asking: what are the qualities of a top Real Estate Broker?

Many people can become a Realtor of one sort or another and start a real estate career. Only a rare select few rise to the top. One of the qualities they require from Day 1? The ability to wear several “hats” at once. At various stages in the process, a great Broker alternates between consultant, buyer’s advocate, salesperson, analyst, and negotiator… to name a few. Naturally, not everyone is born with the ability to juggle all these tasks at once. Some skills are instinctual, some are taught, and some we copy from other successful people. Similar to other fields, however, certain characteristics keep coming back when top Real Estate Brokers are studied.

PASSION

It’s extremely difficult to make it in this business without a genuine heartfelt passion. Many long hours, hard work, persistence, and a commitment to long-term goals lead the list. You don’t accept so many rejections and keep working that darn hard, without passion. Enough said.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

This isn’t just about becoming wealthy, it’s the intangibles: self-starter, endless motivation, strong drive, free thinker, patience, and good instincts. Staying open to new ideas -because you’re not convinced you know everything- allows for learning. Being cooperative with other Brokers around town allows for joint efforts down the line. Putting their motivation to grow the business ahead of their ego.

Being your own boss is a lot easier than it sounds, but it’s not for everyone. Only those with the desire to control their own professional destiny. To be successful in real estate requires large amounts of “guts” and a risk-taker attitude. Lastly, being persistent and tenacious, without being annoying to the other side. These are the qualities of a top Real Estate Broker.

GREAT COMMUNICATOR

This not only means the ability to speak freely, sound educated, or knowing how to pick up a phone or compose an email. This also refers to passing along important details to the right people, and leaving out unnecessary stuff to others. It’s a regular flow of info via phone, text, e-mail, or whatever medium the client prefers; while expressing yourself effectively on each. Saying more while using less words is also among the qualities of a top Real Estate Broker.

BE POLISHED

Punctual, well-dressed, well-groomed, using proper language skills, chewing with your mouth closed, and always maintaining class and sophistication. Most of this category is superficial, indeed, but the exterior is what makes the first impression. This also includes not taking 7 other phone calls or texts while meeting your new client for coffee. Remain confident but never arrogant.

PART-TIME PSYCHOLOGIST

There’s so much emotion involved in Real Estate transactions -especially residential- that removing the human element is almost impossible. This means that reading people, both in what they do and do not say, is crucial. Interpreting your customer’s non-verbal signals and behaviours allows you to better understand their needs.

There is so much they will not tell you outwardly, but from the small cues you need to get a feel for:

A client’s time frame. Are they in a hurry?

The real motivation to buy or sell, which affects their decisions.

Are they more price-sensitive than willing to admit?

Who’s the opinion leader in a married couple?

How much information becomes too much?

Knowing when to use humour to lighten the mood.

LARGE NETWORK

Another of the qualities of a top Real Estate Broker. They start with a small network of people (family, friends, etc.) but have the ability to grow it very quickly. This is done in many ways, and the most important are:

1- Being a people-person, not shy to introduce themselves.

2- Surrounding themselves with top professionals in complementary businesses.

3- Staying true to their word as they ask clients for referrals.

MOVING QUICKLY

A top Real Estate Broker returns calls and e-mails at crazy fast speed, recognizing that every lead for a new client or scoop on a property is invaluable. They make immediate contact and always follow up, since time is of the essence in keeping that lead “warm”. They are the champions of quick communication and use technology all day long. IE. Not falling asleep at the switch, so their new client doesn’t think they forgot about them.

PATIENCE

Everyone in this business eventually learns that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Many seeds are planted, months and even years, before the crops can be harvested. Most of the cold calls for soliciting new clientele are met with a “No”, and the majority of viewings don’t end with a sale. A top Real Estate Broker also needs to deal with many interesting characters along the way: some unreliable, some dishonest, some anxious, some indecisive, and the list goes on. The most patience is needed with the clients who ask as many questions as humanly possible, then pause to think of some more. This is normal, and part of human nature. Another of the qualities of a top Real Estate Broker is the patience to answer every question and stay on the phone with nervous clients as long as necessary.

ALWAYS PROSPECTING

This absolutely has to be one of the top qualities of a top real estate broker. This refers to finding new leads, or prospective clientele, on a regular basis. How it is done could fill an entire book (or at least another article) all on its own. For the time being, let’s recognize that one can never have too many potential customers in their pipeline. The well can “run dry” for anyone at any time, and there are no shortage of ways to prospect in our times.

Technology has added so many mediums to the traditional TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, and billboards. The number of web-based available tools are almost uncountable, but sufficed to say that a real estate website and strong social media presence are absolutely essential. There are also specialized lead generating platforms which could make life a lot easier. A top Broker uses all of them.

BEING A “NEIGHBOURHOOD EXPERT”

Local knowledge is extremely important among the qualities of a top Real Estate Broker. Not only will it save time when searching listings and answers to specific questions, it also provides immediate selling points. Nearby schools, daycares, sports arenas, churches, local shopping malls, and public transportation are great seasoning on the dish a Broker is serving up to buyers in his/her neighborhood. Knowing what developments are coming down the road is even more impressive. Future plans for a region are helpful, and so is knowing the history. Don’t get caught off guard with a question about an old burial ground or water contamination issue from last year, from a buyer who did their homework.

A broker who shows they’ve never done business in that part of town looks like a beginner (even with years of experience elsewhere), and that doesn’t inspire confidence in anyone.

ORGANIZED AND DETAIL-ORIENTED

This is absolutely essential to managing a busy schedule. If a Broker can’t keep their commitments straight on an hourly basis, they’ve lost already. If electronic tools don’t work for him or her, they should keep an old-school planner book in their pocket. The more appointments they keep and phone calls they return, the more impressed their clients and contacts will remain.

Attention to detail can mean all the difference in closing a sale. A top Real Estate Broker knows that the smallest changes can make a property far more attractive. They are creative with their beautiful real estate listings and take the best photographs of every home. Spotting the key details in homes they deal with can give a Broker the upper-hand in negotiations.

7 Top Real Estate Investing Excuses that Real Estate Investors must overcome

Everyone has a vision of fortune and a dream of riches…and 95% of Americans have excuses as to why they haven’t yet achieved either. Investing in real estate is no difference. Most Americans recognize that all wealthy people own real estate, therefore, the secret to becoming wealthy lies in real estate. So why do so few people take action? Here are the top 7 Real Estate Excuses I hear people tell me for not taking action in their desired career.

Top R.E. Investing Excuses 1 | Have-do-be mentality

When I have the money, I’ll do real estate investing, and then I will be wealthy. This ‘have-do-be’ excuse plagues more Americans’ psyche now than any flu epidemic possibly could. If you condition your thinking on having to have the money in order to take action and you don’t have the money to take action, then you’ll never have the money to take action! Consider this secret that most self-created millionaires figured out: reverse ‘have-to-be’ with ‘be-do-have’. I will be wealthy because I do invest in real estate and I have all the money I need. This simple change in philosophy will allow you to develop the millionaire habits that lead to wealth creation.

R.E. Investing Excuses 2 | I have no money

“I like the ‘do-be-have’ mentality, but seriously dude, I have no money.” Then find someone who does. If you find a potentially profitable transaction, the money will find you; or at least those with money will find you. Plus, there are investing strategies, such as wholesaling, that will allow you to profit from such relationships without using any of your own money or credit.

Top R.E. Investing Excuses 3 | I have no time

Finding properties isn’t necessarily as time consuming as you think. Do you go to work everyday? Leave 30 minutes earlier, take a different route, and cruise different neighborhoods on the way to work and write down addresses to ugly houses. If you’re picking your kids up from school, do the same but have them write down addresses. Finding an extra couple of minutes each day to farm an area doesn’t take up much time. Plus, there are other marketing ideas that you can outsource to others as well (especially if you have children). Finally, if time is a huge problem for you, unplug the T.V. and you will find a couple of available hours for your business.

Top R.E. Investing Excuses 4 | Too much competition

I live in Austin, TX, and among the top 3 counties in Austin, there are about 1,200 homes that go to foreclosure each month. And Austin is one of the top housing markets in the U.S! This also means that there are probably 3x the homes that are in distress every month. So if there is too much competition, why are all these homes going back to the bank? Other investors, the housing market, and the economy needs more people finding, buying, and selling distressed properties to get this great country back on its feet again.

Top R.E. Investing Excuses 5 | But the housing market is falling

The secret to making a profit in anything is to buy low and sell high. Right now, houses are on sale. Prices are projected to appreciate in 40% of the housing markets in 2011 and 60% in 2012. Buy discounted properties and resell for a profit using either traditional or unconventional methods.

Top R.E. Investing Excuses 6 | I don’t know the unconventional methods

Consider the possibility that these unconventional methods do exist. Now, once you’ve considered these possibilities, go out and try to find how to learn about these. Search online, buy eBooks, read articles, join real estate forums, and go to networking events at your local Real Estate Investing Club. If you haven’t learned about creative real estate acquisitions, then you just haven’t put yourself in the right situations yet to learn. If you adjust your reading and networking habits, then you will adjust your knowledge.

Top R.E. Investing Excuses 7 | I don’t know how to get started

Most people procrastinate in area where they don’t understand something or fear rejection or fear making mistakes. Therefore, knowledge and education is a great way to begin overcoming these fears. Also, networking with others who are experienced and successful in real estate will help you see how realistic profitable investing can be. Take a series of small steps in educating yourself and you will overcome your fear of failure.

It’s undeniable that the U.S. is going through one of the worst housing markets in recent memory. It seems that every time we think we’ve reached bottom, average prices drop another 10% to 20%. For those trying to sell their homes, the numbers can be disheartening. However, it’s important to keep in mind that even though we are in a ‘buyer’s market’, houses are still getting sold, and a good real estate agent can be very helpful in getting a home sold even in a market like this.

Choosing a realtor that is one of the top real estate agents in the marketplace can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Here are 5 qualities that a top real estate broker or agent will possess:

1. A commitment to his career.

The first thing you need to know when considering a real estate agent for which to list your home is if they do this as a full time career. These days, there are many people who work full time jobs during the week, then work as a part-time realtor on the weekends. Back in the days of the housing boom, it may have been okay to work with someone like that, but in today’s market, you need a real estate broker with a commitment to getting his/her client’s homes sold.

2. Membership in the National Association of Realtors

Here is another indication of how serious the real estate broker/agent you are considering is. Have they taken the basic step of becoming a member of the nation’s largest realtor trade group? If they haven’t, this is a strong indication that this person is not as serious about selling homes as he/she should be.

3. Knowledge of your local community

When you are looking for a real estate agent to get your home sold, doesn’t it only make sense to choose someone who is located close to your neighborhood and has worked with other homeowners in your community? A realtor who is close by will have a much better ‘feel’ for what’s happening with other homes in the area and be able to get your home priced appropriately, so it doesn’t sit on the market for months without being sold.

4. A first class team of associates

These days, the best realtors out there have a good team of various experts they work with. For example, a top real estate agent will normally work with first class mortgage brokers, home inspectors, and staging professionals that are able to combine their talents to insure a prompt and smooth transaction for the seller (and buyer).

5. Cutting edge marketing techniques

These days, it’s not enough just to be committed to the sale, know the local community, and work with the best team, a top real estate broker must also be using ‘out of the box’ marketing techniques (both online and offline) to deliver the most possible traffic from prospective buyers. Remember, sales of any kind comes down to a ‘numbers game.’ The more people look at your home, the more likely you are to find a buyer willing to pay close to your asking price within a reasonable period of time.

Selling a home these days is not nearly as easy as it was 5 or 10 years ago. And in today’s real estate market, you need every advantage you can get. One of the ways you can really gain an edge over other home sellers out there is by working with a top real estate agent.

But what does a top-notch real estate agent look like? Here are 4 things to look for to make sure you’re dealing with a top-tier agent:

Work With a Full Time Agent Only

To some, this may sound like basic common sense, but it is surprising the number of home sellers who choose to list their homes with agents that only work part time. The common scenario is a person who has a full time job during the week, but wants to “get into” the real estate business without giving up their steady full time income. So they become a part-time agent, working mostly on the weekends.

This may be alright for someone who is just casually listing their home and testing the market to see if they can get some interest. But if you’re at all serious about getting your home sold, you best avoid these part time “weekend warriors”. It is nearly certain they will not have the time to dedicate to making sure your home is properly marketed and gets the prospective buyer traffic it needs to get sold.

Check Their Associations

Here’s another tell-take sign of how serious the real estate agent takes their career. Did they go through the process of becoming a member of the major trade organizations like the National Association of Realtors? If not, you’ve again got to seriously question their commitment to the business.

Check Their Negotiating Skills

Whenever you’re selling a home, you best have a good negotiator in your corner. This could mean the difference between getting your desired asking price and taking a loss on the home. While judging negotiating skills can be difficult, there is one way to examine them-ask what kind of commission split they have with the company they represent. Most realtors have a 50/50 split. Top-tier realtors keep 75% or more of the commission for themselves. This is a sign that they know how to bargain.

Check Out Their Marketing Techniques

Marketing is a HUGE piece of the home-selling puzzle, and this is often where they “separate the men from the boys” so to speak. A top realtor is one that doesn’t just employ all the traditional marketing strategies that everyone else does. A top real estate agent goes much further. They know how to think creatively and employ tactics (both online and offline) that most other realtors have never even thought of. When you sit down with the realtor under consideration, ask them straight up what they do to market their properties. Pay careful attention to their answers. If they give you 3 of 4 strategies that are both out of the ordinary and effective, then you may have found the right real estate agent.

Real estate agents are independent licensed professionals. Many people call this a job but it really is an entrepreneurial, independent position, IE: Business. It is better classified as a business because it carries the following characteristics:

1. It has multiple start up costs.

2. Licensed by State or Province.

3. Many agents operate under business names.

4. Expenses such as: Shuttling potential clients around, dinners & lunches with potential clients, advertising costs & office expenses etc.

5. Most agents right off most expenses as a business for tax reasons.

Jobs on the other hand are generally free to find & get started. You do not have the opportunity to right off expenses because you will be classified as an employee.

How much can you make as a real estate agent?

First of all real estate agents get paid by commission. They usually get paid anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of the selling price of the home. This can be good for you if you are a good salesman. The more homes you sell, the more income you can make.

Here are the 2006 US Estimates from the lowest to the highest:

o The lowest 10 percent earned less than approximately $20,170.

o The average agent (25 – 50 %) earned approximately between $26,790 – $39,760

o The top 5 percent earned approximately $111,500 +

How much does it cost to become a real estate agent?

It may cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 to go through the full licensing procedure depending on what state or province you are located. This is only the bare requirements of obtaining a real estate license. Find a licensed school near you for more detailed information on obtaining your license.

How many positions are there?

Based on the constant up & down real estate market, it would be very hard to say exactly how many positions there are currently. You would have to take in to consideration how many agents may be potentially leaving this industry, the amounts of properties for sale & the current market (buyers or sellers).

In 2006 in the US there were approximately 432,000 positions. You would also have to take in consideration to what area you are planning to business in. Generally if you are in a big city there will be more positions available but also a lot of competition as well.

What does it take to succeed in real estate?

The real estate agents who do extremely well are usually in the top 5 percent. You can drive down any street in your neighbourhood & plainly see the main names of these top earners almost everywhere. Most of these people have one thing in common. They are achievers & very good in sales. More than that, they are very good communicators, quick thinkers, organizers, & excellent in customer service. It takes a special breed to become a top realtor. It all starts with a burning desire or passion for this business. Many have gotten in to this industry & out just as fast mainly because of the transition from employee to entrepreneur. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to make this transition because of the whole principal behind this. Most people want job security & have a hard time digesting the fact that their commissions are not guaranteed. The flip side on this issue is that the top real estate earner has surpassed this level of thinking & reaps the rewards of being an entrepreneur.

If you are considering real estate as a career & are prepared to do what it takes to succeed then this can be a very rewarding career move. If you are the type of person who wants to stay safe with a steady pay check this may not be for you. Please keep in mind that anyone who makes $100,000 + per year most likely has made a commitment to their business & themselves.

The top realtor’s have gone the extra mile in this career & are highly compensated for their efforts.

Other options instead of real estate:

1. Life insurance agents.

2. Mortgage specialists.

3. Car Sales.

4. Travel Agents.

5. Direct Sales Consultants (Home Based)

Real Estate investing has long been proven to make tons of
CA$H for the active investor and many of the real estate
investing methods and techniques used to make some of
the biggest (and quickest) CA$H only require a little time
and a bit of knowledge (i.e., NO MONEY and NO CREDIT!) to
rapidly bring home a really big check!

That is the appeal of Real Estate investing courses to most
people ¨C to do deals that require little/no money or credit
yet pay back huge rewards for the time and knowledge you
get from following their systems.

Yet, the “investing” gets a bit lost in most of the world of
“Real Estate Investing” – there is no “investing” other than
a bit of time – there is no ROI (Return On Investment) other
than the time-for-money factor.

That is why I call these activities Real Estate Investing Jobs –
they stop bringing income as soon as you stop working
them.

Real Estate Investing through these jobs, while they make
you CA$H, will never give you financial freedom as they only
generate quick money and not long-term, passive income.

This article will look at some of the more popular methods of
Real Estate Investing jobs.

One of the biggest challenges to overcome is the fact that,
when discussing the money made through Real Estate
Investing, the numbers of dollars are much more than your
common corporate job, and many people simply are not
ready to handle such discussions.

You see, when you were very young, you were
programmed to think that $X was a large amount and often
this amount was only a few hundred, or perhaps, a few
thousand, dollars.

Yet, when discussing Real estate investing deals, there are
often multiple thousands of dollars at stake.

Most people simply are not used to discussing such
numbers, and wind up not making the money they could.
They simply have not learned the language of Real Estate
Investing.

One of the first lessons I teach my students is how to get
past the fear of discussing hundreds of thousands of dollars
and changing the programming you were given as a child to
form open ideas about money and investing to make even
more money.

One quick step you can do to begin this journey is to look
deep inside yourself and ask yourself how you feel about
money. Can you comfortably discuss figures in the hundreds
of thousands of dollars?

Most people learn quite quickly – with just a little bit of
practice.

With that in mind, it is time to look at these Real Estate
Investing Jobs more closely.

These ‘jobs’ bring you various levels of income, depending
on your area, so instead of discussing them in dollar values,
we will look at them from a percentage standpoint.

Of course, with these examples, the amount of work, time
and knowledge you put into it will certainly pay off more (or
less);

1. Property Profiling (birddogging) – this popular way to get
started in real estate investing provides a real estate
investing job with a decent income – something along the
lines of what a factory worker would make in the area.

2. Lease Purchase – this powerful tool can be utilized to buy
and sell property with no money out of your pocket (a Real
Estate Investing sandwich), while keeping a nice pocketful
of money for your time (can you tell this is one of my
favorites?) An active person can make about 1.5 – 3 times
more than the Property Profiler, on average.

3. Subject To – with a bit of training, you can make this
method of real estate investing really pay off big. Once you
know how to negotiate these deals, your real estate
investing income will reach that of corporate executives –
with much less of a time requirement.

4. Foreclosures – while highly lucrative and one of the top
income producing methods of real estate investing, the time
and knowledge required to actively pursue such deals is
becoming more difficult all the time.

The payoff to those that can perform these deals is huge –
about 10 times that of the Property Profilers, however,
finding deals is much more difficult due to the number of
people looking for them.

5. Tax Lien certificates – this is a true form of Real Estate
Investing – actually putting your money into something that
produces a return – one of the safest investments around
with returns that beat any other form of passive investing.
If you have money to invest, this is a great area to get into
with 15%+ return with almost no down side.

This is still a real estate investing ‘job’ as tax lien
certificates are short term, quick turn profit generators, not
sustained over time, plus they take skill and talent to make
the maximum profits.

6. Short Sales – this form of Real Estate Investing is another
job, as your knowledge level and timing are extremely
important. A lot of money can be made with this type of
Real Estate Investing job – as much or more than any other
form – once you know how.

7. Secondary notes/Purchasing Equity positions – a ‘higher
level’ of real estate investing, where more knowledge is
needed to limit the risk, however, the returns on equity
position purchases can be extremely high – from 6%-10%
for fully passive results and ‘sky’s the limit’ for purchasing
equity positions.

Yes, once you get past the internal false programming – the
LIES you have been taught all your life about money, you
can begin a successful career in Real Estate Investing –
through a variety of Real Estate Investing Jobs and then
onto true, full, watch-your-money-grow Real Estate
Investing.

Today’s real estate market is continually meandering towards recovery amidst a slower-than-normal pace and an ongoing world economic distress. With almost six years of excruciating struggle, this sounds like a good deal for buyers-and-sellers, and realtors in the market. But what are the current emerging trends in the real estate market nowadays? To give you a closer perspective, here are some top trends most investors, realtors and independent home buyers and sellers have observed.

Low Mortgage Rates

As the economy slowly perks up, it is understandable for the fixed 30-year mortgage rate to nosedive. This could mean an impending increase anytime soon. But contrary to previous prediction, this will not skyrocket abruptly. The Federal Reserve is wise enough to keep it low for at least the whole year to help hasten recovery in the housing market. As it scale back its stimulus program, expect rates to gradually rise but, as a rule, never at an abrupt pace. For buyers, this could mean that now is a great time to buy your dream home.

Dynamic Bidding Wars

With the purported recovery, bidding wars have become even more dynamic and forceful in various places like Southern California, Seattle, Boston, New York and Washington. This has, however, shown a decline in other states like Pennsylvania, Maryland and Baltimore. But with the ever fluctuating norm of the real estate market and the economy as a whole, dynamism of bidding wars has great rely on present locale situation.

Flexible Tenure and Adaptability

Before the economic upheavals, buyers are expected to stay in their purchased homes for a certain amount of time. Current trend, however, has shown that almost half of home buyers do not have clear expectations on their tenure in a particular property. As economy continually shifts, so does the mentality of a home buyer. With this, sellers must ensure to market their homes according to what a buyer needs taking into consideration a buyer’s future needs. You might want to promote flexible space characteristics like a convertible garage or basement.

Increase Demand from Married Couples

The current driving force in home buying lies on the hands of married couples who are not necessarily first-time buyers. This could be affected by the sudden shift in the economy and employment market. For sellers, staging a property that appeals to couples will definitely increase its appeal.

A Steady Influx of Renters

Unlike couples, the growing number of yuppies escaping their parent’s overcrowded basements and extended garage pave the way for the rise of demand on rental properties. As young people start moving back into the employment market brought by an improving economy, moving out of the family homes has become a norm steadily giving rise to a lucrative rental business. For sellers who are uncertain on their decision, renting out their property can be a good opportunity.

Rise of City High Rise Living

Whether the real estate market dip low or jumps up, the demand for high rise living like condominiums continually climbs at a steady pace as cities are becoming more compacted. The problem in space and more employment pouring in to these niche locations pave the way for accelerating demands and prices in condominiums. For sellers this could be a great time to invest as it can both capture both renter and buyer markets.

Consistent Rise of Digital Marketing

Of course, reliance on online trend persistently continues as the top search engine for both buyers and sellers. Digital data has become the most important resources of information. This also posed a good opportunity for realtors and private sellers as online marketing is much cheaper and wider in scope.

Let these real estate marketing trends give you a heads-up on where to put your investment. Finding which markets or sectors offer the best incentive to your hard-earned money can be quite challenging. With steadfast expectation and a competent realtor handy, home buyers and sellers can productively manage sudden shift on these trends to their advantage.

Crafting a business plan is one of the first steps that any smart entrepreneur takes when they first decide to go into business for themselves. While real estate agents fall into the entrepreneur category, there are many agents out there that don’t take the time to formulate a solid business plan. It is a time consuming process, and one that requires difficult decision making and goal setting. It can seem tedious to an agent who would rather be out in the field, generating leads.

In the real estate industry, changes occur all the time, with a bustling housing market one year and a slump the next. What is the point of having a business plan in such an unpredictable industry like real estate?

Planning is the key to any good business, and real estate is no exception. You need to figure out what you want to achieve and then formulate a plan to get there.

To start, experts recommend coming up with a wish list for your business. How much would you like to make over the next few years? Be realistic, yet optimistic. You don’t want to set your sights too high and feel like a failure, or set them too low and not realize your full potential.

Once you have your income goals and a time line set, you need to decide which tasks you will undertake to achieve those goals. Where will you place your energies and resources? Generating internet leads, or meeting people locally? Figure out how many clients you will need to have during an average year to meet your meet your needs. Then you need to your calculate all of your fixed and variable expenses, which is hard for many agents to do. Be very specific, and budget carefully. Vaguely described expenses are almost always higher than anticipated. Once you have your expenses figured out, you may have to readjust your revenue goals appropriately.

It is also a good idea to do a market analysis, and to always be on top of developments in the industry. You need to consider the potential rising and falling of local markets so you have the ability to ride out a slow period.

Making a business plan is different from simply outlining your goals. While it is good to have an overview of what you want to accomplish with your real estate business, it is vital that you sit down and map out the details. These details are what make up the business plan. It is action oriented and offers specific measures that you need to take, and in what time frame in order to accomplish your goals. Plan now, and a bright real estate future will be yours.

The media is currently full of real estate ‘doom and gloom’ – real estate repossessions and arrears are up and real estate prices are down … its almost as if the ‘sky is about to fall’! This situation has seen many real estate developers, and property investors generally, leave the market – and for those thinking of starting out in real estate development, these are scary times indeed.

What seems like the worst time to get into real estate development can, in reality, be the best time. Successful real estate developers today realize that they can use time to their advantage – their real estate development projects will typically not be ready for sale or rent for 2 to 4 years from inception. So if they have bought well, they are less likely to be affected by the economic situation at the time of purchasing their real estate development site.

In fact, a weak market is a real estate developer’s paradise, because a weak market is a buyer’s market, and one of the first steps to any real estate development project is securing a viable real estate development site on the best possible terms.

Although we know that the real estate development business is cyclical, and many parts of the world are in a property downturn, we also know from history that knowledgeable real estate developers are successful in any market – falling, flat or rising.

We’re working towards what we believe the economic conditions will be in 12 to 36 months time. Indeed we ourselves are still active in the market – seeking Council permission for a number of real estate development projects. This gives us the opportunity to act quickly and build our approved real estate development projects when the market does become buoyant.

It is our opinion that the following market signals are some of the key factors that will lead to increased future opportunities, especially for real estate developers:

· The pent up demand for housing. In March 2008 leading Australian economics forecaster, BIS Shrapnel chief economist Dr Frank Gelber argued that housing prices across Australia will rise by 30% to 40% over the next five years because of the built-up shortages of housing.

· The current Federal Government has stated that they will work towards increasing Housing Affordability and have begun to announce incentives including Tax Credits of $6000 per year if the housing is rented at 20% below market rent.

· We believe that an increasing number of people, in the short to medium term, are likely to require the rental accommodation that we intend to build. This is due to either their financial stress (can’t afford to purchase a home) and/or demographic trends (including Gen-Ys who are less likely to buy Real Estate).

Even if our ‘crystal ball’ is incorrect, we know we have the resources to hold real estate development sites during possible further market fluctuations to come, and increasing rents are certainly helping with that!

Our belief is that this is a golden time to act – perhaps a once in a generation opportunity. Maybe it is not the time to sell completed real estate development projects at the moment, but it is certainly a great opportunity to secure the development site and obtain development planning approval. Now this strategy is not for everyone – you must have the necessary resources to hold the development site and especially the knowledge of real estate development to take advantage of these opportunities.

The best approach for anyone contemplating real estate development will depend on his or her own personal and financial circumstances, but the key message here is that you must do something!

There are many strategies that small real estate developers are currently using, if they don’t have the resources to complete a real estate development project right now, including to turn their real estate knowledge into cash by locating ideal property development sites, perhaps taking out an option on the site, and on-selling the ‘Development Permit Approval’ to someone who does have the resources.

Successful real estate developers know that times of opportunity like this only come along once in a while, and they’re taking action so they don’t miss the boat.

Regardless of your immediate financial situation, this is the perfect time to leverage your real estate development knowledge into current or future income. If you have any doubts about your ability to do this, or you would like an experienced real estate development mentor to guide you, act now to get the knowledge and mentoring that you need. There is no time to waste!

Adrian Zenere is a Registered Architect and Licensed Home Builder along with his wife Amber they have built a multi-million dollar sustainable property portfolio through Real Estate Development. Together they run their own architectural practice http://www.archizen.com.au specializing in Holistic Architecture combining eco sustainable development with feng shui principles and creating harmonious living that is respectful of our environment. Their projects are regularly featured in the Australian Property Investor, Luxury Home Design, Lifestyle Magazine, Home at Yellow and several newspapers.