Top 10 regional Realtor associations

Top 10 regional Realtor associations:

* Miami Association of Realtors* (23,493 members)
* Houston Association of Realtors (22,992)
* Long Island Board of Realtors (21,888)
* Chicago Association of Realtors (12,547)
* Metrotex Association of Realtors (Dallas, Texas -- 12,235)
* Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (12,229)
* Mainstreet Organization of Realtors (Downers Grove, Ill. -- 10,982)
* Pacific West Association of Realtors (Anaheim, Calif. -- 10,749)
* San Diego Association of Realtors (10,563)
* Orange County Association of Realtors (Orange County, Calif. -- 10,171)
* Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors (Mesa, Arizona. -- 10,044)

*Name change pending approval by NAR.

But not all Realtors think bigger is better. A planned merger of the San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR) and the smaller North San Diego County Association of Realtors (NSDCAR), backed by the boards of both associations, was scuttled after NSDCAR members rejected the plan in a June 30 vote.

"It probably doesn't make sense to have Miami and Orlando in the same association, because of the distance," Kinney said. "But think about MRIS, the largest MLS in the nation. If (it) can serve 55,000 people, providing probably the most important service we offer to members, why couldn't an association do that with the right focus, offices and team?"

The merger makes the Miami association the biggest regional association in the nation -- and larger than all but 12 state associations. Only California, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Arizona, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia are bigger, according to National Association of Realtors statistics.

Hipotecas Prestamos 06:40 PM | The Real Estate Market

Miami Area Realtor Association Merger Benefits

Miami Area Realtor Association Merger Benefits - Tony Maurer, broker and managing partner of Tradition Realty LLC and president of SPAAR's board of directors, said the association had budgeted for a 10 percent decline in membership but has seen a rebound in the last year.

"Miami Area Realtor Association Merger Benefits"

Hipotecas Prestamos 06:27 PM | The Real Estate Market

New Miami Area Realtor Associations

The merger of two Miami-area Realtor associations and merger talks in the St. Paul, Minn., market are driven not by financial woes but by the conviction that bigger is better when it comes to providing services to members, backers of both efforts say.

With 23,493 members, the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches (RAMB) can now claim to be the largest regional Realtor association in the nation, following the association's Aug. 2 merger with the Realtor Association of Miami-Dade County (RAMDC).

"New Miami Area Realtor Associations"

Hipotecas Prestamos 06:25 PM | The Real Estate Market

Housing Prices Survey 2010-2014

Housing experts have taken an even more negative view of the industry, with a recent survey showing that expected price growth over the next four years has dropped by one-third.

The August MacroMarkets Home Price Expectations Survey found just 21 percent of experts believing that prices will rise in 2010.

"Housing Prices Survey 2010-2014"

Hipotecas Prestamos 06:19 PM | The Real Estate Market

The History of McMansion Homes Real Estates

In the past few years, there have been an increasing number of references made to the "McMansion glut" and the "McMansion backlash," as more towns pass ordinances against garishly large homes, which are generally over 3,000 square feet and built very close together.

What sets a McMansion apart from a regular mansion, according to Wikipedia, are a few characteristics: They're tacky, they lack a definitive style and they have a "displeasingly jumbled appearance."

"The History of McMansion Homes Real Estates"

Hipotecas Prestamos 09:43 AM | The Real Estate Market

Social Media Linked Hub Marketing Real Estate

Small Business Marketing - Necessary tools of the trade include a personal digital assistant (PDA) with camera and a text and Internet plan, and a notebook with a wireless card. While those won't come free, their cost compares favorably to print advertising costs, Harmon said.

Other handy tools for managing your Internet presence include TweetDeck (for postings to multiple Twitter accounts and monitoring other's Tweets), Google Analytics (for gauging reader interest in your blog posts), Google Alerts (for staying abreast of breaking news and other topics), Facebook Insights (Facebook's free metrics tool), MailChimp.com (for creating and managing e-mail campaigns), Bit.ly (to abbreviate hyperlinks and track clicks), and Picnik.com (for managing images).

"Social Media Linked Hub Marketing Real Estate"

Hipotecas Prestamos 09:59 PM | The Real Estate Market

Real Estate Social Media Marketing Mix

Small Business Marketing - Realtors must demonstrate that they are willing to collaborate, innovate, scrutinize, simplify.

The ability to connect with agents online, through a blog, Facebook page, or other mediums, gives consumers the ability to almost be a voyeur into our business, and see what it would be like to work with us. Most are advised agents to focus their branding on neighborhoods or communities, and use social media tools to demonstrate their expertise. More and more people are making buying decisions around neighborhoods than around inventory.

That's the strategy employed by Virginia-based Realtor and blogger Heather Elias. Elias and consultant Stacey Harmon of AgentApplause.com talked about how any agent can use the "hub and spoke" system Elias employs to manage their Web presence.

Elias' "hub" -- the centerpiece of her online presence -- is her blog, LoCo Musings, named after Loudoun County, Va., where her business is located. The "spokes" are Elias' Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other sites she uses to drive traffic to her hub.

"When I sit down and write a blog post about local events like holiday celebrations or the Fourth of July, after I post I do a status update on Facebook" with a link back to her blog, Elias said.

You don't have to be a blogger to employ a hub and spoke strategy, Harmon said -- a LinkedIn profile or Facebook page might also serve as a hub. But be careful about using a site you don't have total control over as your hub, Harmon warned, because you might have to start over if you are unable to continue using it.

Hipotecas Prestamos 09:56 PM | The Real Estate Market

Social Media Marketing Mix Real Estate

Small Business Marketing - Agents learned from real life examples Monday at Inman News' Agent Reboot conference how they can use a "hub and spoke" strategy to manage their Internet presence and drum up business.

Attendees also got insight into how consumer behavior is changing from Wendy Forsythe, vice president of network services for Realogy's newest franchise, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.

The days' presentations also included a briefing by executives with three San Francisco Bay Area brokerages, who detailed the attributes and skills agents need to succeed in today's changing world.

The move away from traditional branding on for-sale signs, billboards and bus benches to "lifestyle branding" means that agents need to have a Web presence that demonstrates their integrity, authenticity and ability to perform, Forsythe said.

"Social Media Marketing Mix Real Estate"

Hipotecas Prestamos 09:44 PM | The Real Estate Market

Phoenix Real Estate Buying Opportunities Arizona

Arizona Real Estate Buying Opportunities - 2010 is a buyer's market right now in real estate. While there are attractive deals to be had nationwide, certain areas have a big inventory of affordable homes available now.

Phoenix Real Estate Buying Opportunities Arizona - This city has one of the strongest economies in the country right now, according to our experts.

"Good universities in the area have provided a skilled and educated workforce, which has positioned Phoenix as a competitive force in business," says Bill Humphrey, senior vice president and managing director of XONEX Relocation, which provides global relocation services for transferring employees.

Phoenix is projected to see more growth, especially since the technology, green energy and healthcare/life sciences industries have started to put down roots in the area." Humphrey says houses that were selling for $500,000 before the recession are now in the $300,000 range

Hipotecas Prestamos 06:59 PM | The Real Estate Market

New Orleans Real Estate Buying Opportunities Houston Texas

Real Estate Buying Opportunities Houston Texas - "The Houston market has a very diversified economy and is home to numerous industries including technology, energy, aerospace and aviation, logistics and manufacturing," Humphrey says. Humphrey credits Houston's solid employment numbers - and the projected growth - to its business-friendly environment, adding that the city's crime rates have seen double-digit decreases over the past ten years.

"There is lots of inventory available, and prices are still very reasonable."

New Orleans Real Estate Buying Opportunities - Needless to say, the Big Easy is in a rebuilding period right now, in the wake of some challenging times. The silver lining: "the city has major growth potential and is on the cusp of a big renaissance," says Humphrey. "The community has really come together to rebuild its infrastructure, pride and spirits, making it a nice place to live. Also, Louisiana has shown the greatest unemployment improvement and New Orleans has the lowest jobless rate of any other metro city in its class."

While Humphrey admits there is still some work to be done, he says the city is headed in the right direction and smart shoppers will buy now. "Prices are low and inventory is available."

Hipotecas Prestamos 06:57 PM | The Real Estate Market

Atlanta Real Estate Buying Opportunities Orlando

Real Estate Buying Opportunities Atlanta Georgia - "Prices have tumbled dramatically, and there are multiple 'mini-mansions' available at bargain prices," says Robert Eisenstein of HomeRun Homes, which operates the Lease2Buy.com site targeting rent-to-own buyers and sellers.

"Most of the properties are not in need of anything more than a little bit of cosmetic work." Inventory seems to be plentiful in this area. According to HousingTracker, there are currently 87,000 single family homes and condos available in Atlanta.

Real Estate Buying Opportunities Orlando, Florida - The central Florida area has always been a hotspot for bargains, says Eisenstein, "but with the recent beating the market has taken, prices are lower than ever. There is a mix of very beautiful homes that don't need any work - and there are also homes that need some renovation, but the prices are reflective of this."

Hipotecas Prestamos 06:55 PM | The Real Estate Market