Glen Oaks Escrow

Happy Holidays from Glen Oaks Escrow

Wishing you seasons greetings and good wishes.  Thank you for your continued readership of our blog.

May your holidays and New Year be filled with Hope, Joy, and Peace!

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Virtual REBarCamp | January 4th | Live Social Media Webinar for Realtors

Tuesdays, here at the Glen Oaks Escrow website, we post Technology Tips designed to help you, the REALTOR®, grow your business, keep up to date on the latest technologies, and move you forward into the new era of real estate.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to jump on an opportunity to learn more about how social media can grow your business in 2010, then save the date for January 4th to get started on your goal.  Virtual Real Estate Barcamp is back and all you need to attend is a computer and an internet connection.  This webinar is free for you to participate in and is pulling some of the best national trainers on the real estate social media scene.  Pango Group, the parent brand of Coachella Valley Escrow, is a sponsor of Virtual REBarCamp and I have been invited to present during the webinar.  I’ll be available after my webinar session to field question in the live chat room.  Hope to “see” you there!

Event Details are as follows:

• When:  Monday, January 4th, 2010, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm PST
• Where:  Online Webinar
• How to Attend:  Information Here
• Cost:  Free
• Registration: Participate by registering here
• Schedule:  Calendar of Sessions
• Presenter Bios

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All Inclusive Trust Deed and Note-The Advantages and Disadvantages

In these tough economic times, many homes have been languishing on the market, making it difficult for Sellers to move on to other homes and locations.  In order to make a sale, a Seller can offer to do a “carryback”.  A carryback loan, also known as a “seller carryback” or “seller’s second”, is a loan which is financed by the Seller of a property to help a Buyer purchase the house. Normally, this aids in the completion of the sale of the property. It could also refer to the part of the purchase price the Seller is able and willing to finance for the buyer.

For instance, the typical seller carry back situation is 10% down, 10% seller carry back and 80% first mortgage. This is a percentage of the purchase price. An example is a $1,000,000 house would have a $100,000 down payment, a $100,000 seller carry back and a $800,000 conventional first mortgage deed. Another scenario for a seller carry back is if the seller owns the property free and clear and the seller carries a first mortgage or trust deed. Sometimes there is a first trust deed which the buyer can take over and the seller carries a second mortgage.

Utilizing a seller carryback works well when the Buyer cannot come up with a big down payment or they may not fit into the “conventional” loan process because of their career or past credit history. Understanding the potential pitfalls of doing a seller carryback, but also knowing the rewards, is crucial to this type of sale.  In a seller carryback scenario, both parties need to exucute an All Inclusive Trust Deed.

An “All Inclusive Trust Deed” or AITD is a “Seller Carry” that “wraps” or includes an underlying loan or loans of record. It is usually recorded at the close of escrow with a Grant Deed conveying full to title to Buyer and Title Insurance is issued.  The AITD’s face amount includes the unpaid balance(s) on underlying encumbrances, plus the remaining unpaid balance of the Sellers equity.

Sellers remain responsible for the payment on the underlying loan(s) or until they are paid in full. The Sellers equity position in the note is always the difference between what is owed to the Seller and what the Seller owes the underlying lender.

The AITD becomes a junior trust deed, subordinate to the underlying trust deed(s).  The inputed interest rate (9% or applicable Federal securities rate, which ever is lower) is the minimum interest rate allowed for Seller financed transactions. The Documentary Transfer Tax on the grant deed is based on the purchase price LESS the liens of record.

Advantages:
The Buyer does not need to qualify for a loan with a lender and closing costs are minimal.  The Seller has advantage of installment sales income tax recording method, so long as payments are received in more than one tax year. The Seller, by agreement in writing with buyer, may prohibit prepayment of up to a 12 month period following the sale.

Because the underlying loan(s) may have a lower interest rate, or may have been paid down considerably, the Seller’s effective interest rate yield may be higher than the actual note rate.  The Seller benefits from the “Interest Override” which is the difference between the interest rate on the existing loans of record and the rate negotiated on the AITD.

Disadvantages:
Recording may alert an underlying lender to enforce the “Acceleration Clause” or “Due on Sale Clause” and require the underlying loan to paid in full.  At this time, the underlying loan would be considered in default and said lender could start foreclosure proceedings.

Paying off an AITD:

There are two types of AITD payoffs:  Equity Payoff and Full Payoff.

The AITD should not be reconveyed until such time as any equity of the seller and the existing deed(s) of trust have been paid in full. At all times the seller is responsible for the underlying loan(s) of record, since there has been no release of liability given by the existing lien holder(s). Any late payments and/or default, will reflect on the Seller’s credit accordingly.

Being able to sell a house quickly by not having to wait for a mortgage company to approve a buyer or having to rely upon an appraiser to come in with the “right” price can sometimes make this type of an arrangement attractive. However, be sure to consult a real estate attorney and professional tax advisor on the implications (or benefits) before entering into a transaction.

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What IS IDX? The Answer Revealed!

Tuesdays, here at the Glen Oaks Escrow website, we post Technology Tips designed to help you, the REALTOR®, grow your business, keep up to date on the latest technologies, and move you forward into the new era of real estate.

Realtors often ask about IDX, the method and rules that allows for Realtors and brokerages to display the MLS inventory on their websites.  It’s one of the more complex terms in real estate technology and probably one of the least understood.  Why?  First, to most Realtors, the terminology is foreign and vague.  Then each MLS has their own IDX rules that can range from archaic to progressive.  Finally, there are hundreds of choices for IDX vendors whose offerings vary as wildly as their prices.  These variables make it a complex and confusing topic.

However, giving  potential clients access to IDX listing search on your website is an absolute must for any modern brokerage or agent.  So, wading through the waters of the process is a necessity.  This post is designed to make it easier to understand.

What does IDX mean?

IDX stands for Internet Data Exchange.  It’s the rules and procedures that allow real estate brokers and agents to display listings from other companies on their website.  Most IDX rules require the broker or agent displaying the listing on their site to display the name of the listing brokerage with the listing.

A key point to remember is that IDX and the underlying rules only apply to brokerages and agent websites.  For example, Zillow does not fall under IDX rules since Zillow is not a brokerage.  Therefore, on non-brokerage and non-agent sites, such as Zillow, only the listing agent would be able to advertise their property (vs. all listings appearing on Zillow as part of an IDX feed if they were a brokerage).

Vendor Selection:

As an agent, there are options on how to present listings on your site, and there are a variety of vendors who offer different IDX solutions.  The different options yield different benefits.  If you listen to real estate search engine consultants speak, you’ll hear terms like Drop-in vs. Built-in.

Drop-In vs. Built-in IDX:

A drop-in IDX solution means that the code to run the search and display any of the listings actually occurs on a different website.  In other words, the code does not live on your site.  The benefits of a drop-in IDX solution include that they are readily available, generally affordable, easy to implement, and can display listing data in a way that is appealing and easy for the consumer to use.  However, this solution offers no search engine optimization benefit for your site.  However, for many agents, drop-in IDX solutions can be suitable solutions to displaying listings for the benefits listed above (and search engine benefits can be gained from other web strategies – blogging, for example).  Examples of a drop-in IDX providers are Diverse Solutions and iHomeFinder.

With Built-In IDX, all the listings display right on the agent or brokerage website.  This means that if a search engine finds the page, it will see all the listings and potentially make them searchable.  The more pages that a search engine finds on your site, the easier it is for potential clients to find you on the web.   Very few practical options currently exist for agents right now in regards to built-in IDX (the current leading option is a custom coded website built by a vendor which requires a coder with a specific skill set, and a large sum of money on your part).  However, if you have a WordPress based blog or website, Listing Press is a new option to consider and more options are in the works.

Map Based Search:

An important question to ask a potential IDX vendor is whether they offer map-based search.  Up until recently most vendors offered IDX search that was based upon the user making selections such as 3 beds, 2 baths, $500,000-$600,000 and a list of options would display.  Now that list can be used in correlation with a map.  So when a potential client sees their options they can also get a good idea of where the home is located, how close it is to parks, schools, the freeway, etc.

Lead Capture System:

The most important item to look at when considering an IDX vendor is their lead capture system.  What’s the point of running a website and paying money to have all the listings on there if you don’t get clients from it?  A good lead capture system will allow a potential client to request information or schedule a showing on every listing.   Also check to see if the vendor offers the ability for users to save listings, receive listing email alerts, and track what has been viewed.

Pricing

IDX pricing can run from $20 / month to more than $100 depending on which solution you choose. Also, make sure to ask your MLS if they charge any fees for gaining access to the IDX data.

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Defining “Assumption” vs. “Subject To” Loans

There are many implications of loans that are either “Assumptive,” or “Subject To.” Here is a general overview of some of the definitional differences between the two and how the differences affect the escrow process.

Assumption Loans:

The term “assumption” is used when a buyer incurs personal liability for an existing deed of trust.  If the buyer were to default on their future mortgage payments, the seller would no longer have any responsibility as the buyer has “assumed” the loan.

When a buyer “assumes” a loan it is with the lender’s knowledge and approval. An assumption agreement is prepared by the existing lender of record and signed by the buyer as part of the escrow process. The seller may also be required to sign the assumption agreement and the terms may release the seller from responsibility. The lender usually requires a credit history from the buyer before approving the assumption and the payment of assumption fee(s). The loan will be brought current (if it is delinquent) and interest will be pro-rated through escrow and charged to the seller.

Subject To Loans:

In contrast to an Assumption Loan, the term “taking subject to” is when the buyer incurs no liability to repay the loan. The loan stays in the seller’s name, but the buyer gets the deed and therefore controls the property.  Although the buyer makes the mortgage payments, the seller remains responsible for the loan.

When a buyer takes title to property “Subject To” the loan of record, the lender is not notified of the transaction or asked for their approval. The Lender has not approved the transfer of title; therefore the seller is not released from responsibility. In this case, the buyer is simply making the payments instead of the seller. The seller will be asked to provide escrow with their last payment record which will be used to calculate the exact principal balance at close of escrow. The lender may have the right to accelerate their due date or call the loan all due and payable when (and if) they receive notification of a transfer of ownership.

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10 Ways Realtors Can Use Twitter And Why Its a Valuable Tool

Tuesdays, here at the Glen Oaks Escrow website, we post Technology Tips designed to help you, the REALTOR®, grow your business, keep up to date on the latest technologies, and move you forward into the new era of real estate.

Previously, I wrote a post called “Twitter: What Is It and Should You Be On It? which defined Twitter and explained what it is.  This post is designed to express the value of Twitter, and explore some of the potential uses for Twitter for the real estate professional.

I’m often asked, why Twitter?  What is the benefit? Furthermore, how is this relevant to the Realtor?

Let’s start with the benefits of Twitter that I see and experience:

• Twitter is real time.  Twitter provides the opportunity for me to get an immediate pulse on news and events, often before the mainstream media can report on it.  For example, last month, there was an earthquake in Southern California.  The twitter conversation about the earthquake occurred within seconds of the earthquake.  It took several minutes before it appeared on the internet, and about a ½ hour before I could find the news reporting on it.
• I learn from Twitter...a lot.  People I choose to follow on Twitter often send out links to things that I’m interested in (blog posts, news stories, photos).  When they  send out a link, it is a basically a referral from them, and I’m often interested.  It helps me to stay current and informed.
• Trend watching:  By watching Twitter conversations, I stay current on the pulse of what is hot…current events, technology, public opinion, rates, weather, etc.
• Exposes me to a larger community: Realtors reach with traditional media is generally restricted by geographic distribution.  Because anyone can follow you on Twitter (it doesn’t require mutual agreement to “connect” as Facebook does), who you connect with is not limited by geography.
• I keep up with a geographically diverse group of people, easily, and in real time.
• Twitter is easy to use and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time. 140 characters (the maximum allowable length of a tweet) is a pretty low commitment.  With the right technology, you can tweet from almost anywhere.  Real estate is a business of hurry up and wait.  If you have a client that is running late for a showing, why not send a tweet from your cell phone. It can be an efficient use of downtime.
• Twitter is fun. There are some funny things on Twitter.  I’m constantly amused.  It is a great way to be entertained and connect with others through humor.
• It’s a new communication channel I didn’t know I needed.  I suggest that Twitter is akin to email in this regard.  We were all living quite happily without email at one time.  Clearly, email is now a mainstream communication channel.  Twitter has the potential to be the same.  As a note, I’ve also noticed that as my twitter usage goes up, my email usage has gone down (not a scientific study, but a personal observation).

So then, given these benefits, how can the Realtor can use Twitter?  Here are 10 potential uses I see that, properly executed, could lead to expanded business for a Realtor.

1. Network & Make New Friends: Use 3^rd party sites and applications such as Twitter Search to find and watch for conversations related to things you are interested in.  Add active users that are saying things that are interesting to you.  Engage with them.  A Twitter acquaintance can be developed into a long lasting friendship.  And, in the immensely social business of real estate, where the adage “its all who you know” certainly holds true, we know that the more friends you have, the better.
2. Read News:  Keep up with the industry in real time.  Follow industry news sources such as Inman News as well as lenders who tweet about mortgage rates.  Learn about events industry events designed to teach you about social media and real estate like REBarCamp Orange County.
3. Attend, or Organize, Face-to-Face Meetings (aka Tweetups):  Use Twtvite to find or organize events with like minded individuals, or those who are interested in what you have to share (for example, you could host a first time homebuyers seminar and promote it via Twitter). Use Twitter as a catalyst to meet people in real life.
4. Build Your Referral Network.  One of the key benefits of twitter is the ease at which you can keep in touch with a geographical dispersed group of people.  There are LOTS of Realtors from all over the United States and the world on Twitter.  Connect and engage with them.  Think about the possible referrals!
5. Prospecting: I see Twitter as the new-media equivalent of cold calling.  Because you don’t have to have mutual agreement to connect with people on Twitter, it is easy to make connections with complete strangers.  Unlike Facebook, where interacting with people you don’t know can be perceived as creepy, Twitter is set up to engage with anyone.  It is culturally acceptable.  And, there ARE clients to be found on twitter.  Take this example from Gary McNich, a Realtor in the Seattle, WA area:



6. Follow Local Discussions: Use 3^rd party sites like TwitterLocal to search out discussions about your area and watch those discussions.  Gain a pulse on what the hot topics are in your area.  Use this as an information source for blog posts or general conversations with clients.
7. Get Feedback: Twitter is a great medium for asking a question, and getting answers.  Want to know what people think about why buyers are sitting on the fence, or what they think of the new website you just put up for you listing?  Maybe you want some feedback about a vendor you are considering hiring.  Ask the twitter-sphere and you will get all kinds of answers.
8. Direct Traffic to Your Blog or Website:  A very powerful part of twitter is in the links that you can include in your tweets. When you send out a link, it is a referral to somewhere.  And, if you have built a network of people on twitter who trust you, you have a great chance that your followers will view your link, which will effectively drive traffic to your website and/or your blog.
9. Extend Your Personal Brand: Your profile page, and the content you tweet, says something about you.  Twitter provides a great opportunity to extend the brand that you have built in off-line marketing materials onto the web and into a social network.  If done properly, you will position yourself as a trusted advisor and have an easier time utilizing twitter to enhance your business opportunities.
10. To Broadcast: This is my least favorite Twitter usage suggestion, but if done in moderation, after building a following that trusts you, Twitter can be a way to promote your services or your listings. However, WORD OF CAUTION, if not done properly, using Twitter as a strictly broadcast medium will be perceived as spam and you will not only loose followers, but damage your credibility and reputation in this social network. It is really about tone and frequency and this strategy is not the first you should embark upon when joining Twitter.  I’ll discuss more about this in a future post.

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Understanding Probate and the Escrow Implications

A probate sale is defined as the sale of a property where the owner is deceased and the sale is being conducted by the deceased estate.  An Administrator or Executor signs on behalf of the deceased person with either full or limited authority. Sometimes the deceased has a will. Sometimes they don’t.  Although the escrow process is fairly similar for both scenarios, the time frames associated with the two situations can vary dramatically.  Understanding the core differences between the two can assist agents and clients in successfully closing a transaction.

Situation #1 – The Deceased Left a Will:

From the standpoint of escrow and most buyers, this situation is a far preferable probate sale due to the predictable time frames this situation provides.  When the deceased leaves a will, the property falls under the Independent Testamentary Act and the court designates an Administrator or Executor of with full authority over the estate.  Typically this person will be a close remaining relative.  It then becomes the responsibility of this person to decide the future of the property.  Because this person has full authority, the process from an escrow perspective is very similar to that of a standard sale.  However, there is one additional document that will be required by title in order to close the transaction.  They will need certified copy of the “Decree of Distribution of Letters of Testamentary”.  This is official paperwork issued by the court that designates the Administrator of Executor and is required by title in order to insure the transfer of the property.  Glen Oaks Escrow also will want to receive a copy of this document in order to proactively review it for potential hiccups in the transaction.

Situation #2 – The Deceased Did Not Leave a Will:

In the event that the deceased did not leave a will, the property sale will have to go through the court probate process.  The court will approve and assign an Executor or Administrator for the Estate of the Deceased.  This Executor will be an independent court representative.  The court will also issue an Order Confirming Sale which basically stating that the listing price is at fair market value and it authorizes the sale of the property.  A certified copy of this document will be required by title in order to close the transaction.

The challenge for escrows on Probate Sale listings in this situation where the deceased did not leave a will is that the time frame for the court probate process can vary from 60 days to 6 months or beyond.  This creates a challenge in negotiating escrow times.  Agents should be prepared to properly set buyer expectations about the time it can take to close a court appointed probate sale.  It is not uncommon to require an extension of escrow.  And, unfortunately, sometimes the extended escrow duration can become a deal breaker.

If you’re ever in a probate property sale transaction, understanding the process and what you must do to transfer the property can affect the success you have in closing the deal.  Your escrow officer can be an excellent resource to inform you of the paperwork and time frames that will be required to complete the transaction.  In addition, consulting your family attorney or estate planner is your best course for answering specific and legal questions in these types of transactions.

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As a REALTOR, Should You Blog? Know the Pros and Cons First!

Tuesdays, here at the Glen Oaks Escrow website, we post Technology Tips designed to help you, the REALTOR®, grow your business, keep up to date on the latest technologies, and move you forward into the new era of real estate.

Blogging is the cornerstone of the new media marketing movement, and the promise of business for the Realtor who embraces it is tempting.  This post is designed to give the pros and cons of blogging, and help you decide if blogging is something that you should incorporate into your real estate business.

First, what is blogging?

In October, I did a detailed post answering this very question.  Basically blogging is an on-line journal.  It consists of posts, or articles, that the blog author writes and adds on a regular basis to the blog.  The most current post resides at the top of the blog, and the prior posts move down the page.

Success in blogging results from two things:

1. Providing content of value to your target audience
2. Frequency

What content is of value in real estate?

I view the following topics as good topics for Realtor blogs:

• Market Data: Answer the question, how is the market? This is likely the most common question in real estate and makes for excellent blog post fodder.
• Neighborhood Info: Talking specifically about different neighborhoods and farms will help build your credibility, establish your expertise in an area, and help you with what is called the “long tail” search in Google. When it comes to buying decisions, people are very interested in the nuances of a particular neighborhood. You discuss this in the car with prospects, and you work to show sellers your neighborhood expertise with post cards mailings, and in your listing presentations. Take this information to the web in the form of blog posts.
• Lifestyle Information: Every buyer wants to know what the lifestyle is like in various cities, communities, and neighborhoods, and you as a Realtor are selling not only the houses in a particular area, but you are also selling the lifestyle. Blogging about the events, people, restaurants, schools, and area information are all great topics for a blog and paint a picture about the local lifestyle in the area.
• Transaction Education: For most people, the process of buying a home is complicated and overwhelming. As the Realtor, part of your job is to navigate buyers and sellers through that process. By discussing the process and providing an education on the nuances of the transaction, you have the opportunity to establish your professional credibility and attract buyers and sellers who appreciate the education you are providing them on the process of home buying and selling.
• Competent Advice/Perspective/Interpretation: No doubt about it, there is access these days to almost any information someone could want. The problem is that the amount of information is overwhelming. This presents a blogging opportunity for the Realtor who can provide an interpretation of all the data. From all the stats, what is the most important piece of information for today’s buyer to know? Why is it important for them to know? What is meaningful about that?

And what about frequency of blogging?

How often you blog is going to vary for each Realtor.  I suggest that blogging once or twice a week is a good target.  The key is to do it on a regular basis.  This keeps your blog fresh, reminds people that you are active and current in the market, and helps you with Google.

Blogging has several advantages for the Realtor.

Blogging Pros:

• Establish Your Expertise:  Keep in mind that when you are positioned in the mind of the buyer or seller as THE trusted advisor, you have a client. There is no better way in social media to establish yourself as a trusted advisor than with blogging. Blogging provides you a golden opportunity to establish your real estate expertise. It allows you to express your perspective, your professionalism, and you market knowledge in a way that reflects your tone and personality.
• Google Friendly (Search Engine Optimization – SEO): By definition, blogging is Google friendly. The platform of blogging is designed to be indexed by Google and if you are blogging using words that are relevant to your market (key words), you are helping yourself naturally appear in search results when people search Google for terms that match what you are blogging about. So, for example, if you are frequently blogging about items related to La Quinta real estate, when someone types in “La Quinta real estate” into Google, you are more likely to rise to the top or be on page one.
• Subscribe Feature:  Blogs have the ability to have people subscribe to them so that any content you post is automatically distributed to the reader (vs. them having to come to the site to see new content). When this channel is properly respected (and not abused, which would result in the reader “unsubscribing”), the blogger creates a drip marketing opportunity to all of the readers who are “reminded” of you ever time you post a new blog post.
• Brand Building Opportunity:  Through blog subscribers (as described above) and in the visual design of your blog, you have the opportunity to establish, and extend, your personal brand. What you say on your blog, and how it looks, is a reflection of your professionalism and your personality and gives people an impression about you.
• “Long Tail” Opportunity:  This benefit relates to the opportunity to reach people who are searching for specific terms in Google, vs. broader terms. For example, “La Quinta Real Estate” is a very general term that yields about 1.6 Million results in Google. Compare this to “The Hideaway La Quinta Real Estate” which yields about 8,000 results and you can see that there is a much greater opportunity to be found on the long tail search. Another benefit is that people who search long tail terms tend to be closer to a purchase or sale decision as they have gotten specific in what they are looking for.
• Can be a Lead Generator:  Blogs can generate great leads. When you are effective in articulating your real estate knowledge, answering the questions of your target market, and positioning yourself as a trusted advisor, people will contact you through your blog. Those that do contact you are generally attracted to your perspective and generally stronger leads than you may get off of an ad or other form of marketing. People tend to watch a blog for a while. They will get a feel for you. When they do contact you, it is because they have a feel for who you are and they are interested in working with you.

Blogging Cons:

• Time Consuming:  No doubt about it, blogging is a time consuming endeavor. It takes a commitment from the Realtor. Keeping in mind that frequency is a key element to successful blogging, you really need to view blogging as a strategy that you have a plan for. It takes time to generate good content.
• You Need Average, or Above Average Writing Skills. Blogging is a content driven marketing vehicle. If you are not generating good content, you are not going to get good results. If you do not have the ability to articulate your perspective easily with the written word, blogging will be a challenge for you. There is an alternative – video blogging. With a very affordable piece of equipment called a Flip Video Camera, you can post a video blog instead of writing one. A video blog doesn’t carry the same SEO benefits that the written word does, but it can be a very effective way to articulate your perspective, or actually show your market area. A video blog can also be an efficient use of your time (maybe video tape yourself while you are sitting at an open house and waiting for traffic).
• Several Nuances to Learn:  Although the actual process of posting a blog is not much more difficult than sending an email, to succeed in blogging over time, there are many nuances to learn about the blogging platform. For example, there are better (vs. worse) ways to title your posts so that you rank well in Google and/or capture the attention of your readership. There are best practices to follow in terms of naming your images and inserting links into your posts. Although none of these items are particularly challenging, all of these little items tend to present a learning curve for the Realtor just getting into blogging.
• Becoming Competitive:  Blogging has been popular in real estate for several years now, and in some markets, there are some very established real estate blogs. In these areas, the landscape for blogging is very competitive. You should survey the blogging competition for your market and determine if there is a great opportunity for you there. Even in markets where blogging is very established, there are still ample blogging opportunities on a hyper-local level. You don’t have to blog about Palm Springs. You can blog specifically about Rancho Las Palmas. This would be a hyper-local topic and one where you have a strong chance to stand out and dominate a niche area. Alternatively, you could also define a niche market – maybe foreign buyers or sellers for your area. Or , seniors. Or, first time home buyers. Think about segments that may be under-represented by blogs that are focused on larger areas and geographies and you will find some great blogging opportunities.

I’ve pointed out the reality of the challenges of blogging in an effort to give you a realistic view on what it takes to succeed in blogging.  Blogging may or may not be for you.  But, if you are searching for a new strategy, or you actively farm a geographic area or demographic niche, and plan to be in business for 5 years or more, I suggest you seriously consider establishing a blogging presence.  There is just so much to be gained.  In a future post, I will lay out the leading blogging options for those who would like to pursue a blogging strategy for their real estate business.

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