The Dawn of the Digital Age
Fifty years ago, John Glenn launched into space and orbited the earth. Around the same time, an obscure idea known as the internet was conceived. Needless to say, times have changed since then. Today’s Ford 150 truck has more technology than Glenn’s Friendship 7 space capsule, and the internet is the infrastructure that informs and connects our lives. While the birth of the internet wasn’t as dramatic as the launch that propelled our country into the space age, it did create the foundation that would thrust us into the digital age.
A lot has happened in the past 50 years, but in just the last couple of years, the accelerated pace of technology has been mind-blurring. This is especially true in residential real estate. Consumers began using the internet about ten years ago for home searches, but the most recent online tools have revolutionized the way sellers reach out and connect to buyers.
Marketing Real Estate in the Digital Age
There was a time when buyers relied on the local paper to find homes for sale. They waited all week to browse the Sunday real estate section. But today, a property description of 4 BR, 2 BA, EIK, FR w/FP underneath a grainy black and white photo simply doesn’t cut it. Now home buyers expect instant results, attractive and robust content, convenience, simplicity, and real time information. Sellers hoping to connect with today’s buyers must market their properties not just in, but also for, this digital age.
Where the Buyers Are
If you were looking for a new home, where would you start your search? The internet, of course! Almost 90% of buyers do. Whether having morning coffee, sneaking a peak on the office computer, or after the nightly news, they want instant access to property listings. Most buyers start on one of the national sites — Realtor.com, Trulia or Zillow — but then move to a familiar real estate company’s website to fine tune their search. Buyers also check out Craigslist, search on Google and find YouTube videos of homes for sale.
Abundance of Information
The newspaper ads of yesterday have been replaced today by the virtual equivalent of a full page color ad, and in real estate, this translates into incredible exposure for each property. Buyers expect informative, attractive, robust format that includes an array
of professional quality photographs plus a virtual tour. Moreover, they are curious about what’s going on beyond the property’s lot lines. They want to know about the surrounding area’s amenities, parks, and schools, as well as real estate trends in that community. They can explore all of this online.
Convenience and Simplicity
Seeing a “For Sale” sign on a house may spark a buyer’s interest, but calling the phone number displayed on that sign doesn’t even begin to satisfy their curiosity. They want to know all about the property right then and there. So, today’s buyer texts a number, and voila! GPS gives them information about listings closest to wherever they are at that moment. Also, with the growing use of GPS enabled smartphones and apps, homes for sale are a single click away! Contemporary buyers also like each property to have its own website. They expect to key in a street address for an instant in-depth look, without having to search around. And while online, they’re only a few clicks away from setting up an appointment to physically tour their potential purchase with a professional.
Real Estate in Real Time
Buyers don’t want to get excited about a property if it’s already been sold. By the same token, they don’t want to miss finding out about a new listing. The internet allows real estate to be real time and allows buyers to make the best use of their time.
How Sellers Benefit from Real Estate in the Digital Age
Sellers also gain tremendous benefits in this digital age. There’s a flip side to buyers wanting fast facts from the internet about properties for sale. When your home is positioned properly in the virtual world, then real world buyers will find you at the speed of a keystroke. Marketing in a digital age gives properties maximum exposure and gives sellers access to high-tech reporting capabilities.
Priority Placement – Get “Above the Fold”
Advertisers in newspapers would pay a premium to be prominently positioned “above the fold” for greater visibility. The same concept applies in online marketing. Properties that appear first get the most exposure. If you’re a seller, it’s important that your listing gets priority placement.
Social networks
The richness of digital marketing provides the equivalent of a virtual color brochure. So why not show it off on Facebook and Twitter? Or email a link of your property’s website. It’s an easy and fun way to give your home additional exposure.
Reporting Capabilities
One of the best things about online marketing is the ability to see how many times your property is viewed and which sites are attracting the most views. With this enhanced reporting capability, you can easily monitor the online marketing of your listing.
Yet Some Things Never Change
The digital age has irrevocably changed residential real estate sales. It’s an exciting time for buyers and sellers, and for us, too! But no matter how much freedom cyberspace gives us, whether we are buying or selling a house, we still need a trusted advisor alongside us on our journey. Just like John Glenn relied on his crew to bring him back to earth safely, every buyer and seller relies on a team of experts to get them home. To learn more about real estate’s digital age and how it can work for you, visit pattwhite.com or contact your Prudential Patt, White sales associate and Premier Mortgage consultant today!
Bring it On
Nearly 90% of homebuyers use the internet to search for homes. The number of buyers who use the internet “frequently” to search for homes nearly doubles in the last few years.
Today’s economy…tighter credit…tougher financial demands…and a market that’s embracing the new media to find a dream home. Real estate may be moving away from traditional marketing, but buyers and sellers still count on traditional strengths – like an agent’s talent and experience and the significance of a real estate company’s regional dominance – to reach their goals in this brave new world.
In order to overcome these challenges and take full advantage of every marketing opportunity, we have created The Digital Home Marketing System. A unique package of powerful initiatives to give your home maximum web exposure.
On the Leading Edge
Of all the real estate sites, pattwhite.com is the one that really rocks. It’s a high-traffic site with the region’s largest “inventory” of homes, market updates, and more.
On the Map
For Maximum exposure, your property appears on our website -www.pattwhite.com – other broker’s sites and we syndicate your property listing to all major local, national, and international websites and search engines, which in turn feed hundreds of other sites. Your property automatically appears everywhere buyers are likely to look.
On Top
We’ve identified the top sites where buyers search for homes and made sure your property will get noticed. We’ve contracted with these sites for enhanced listings. Our listings automatically appear at the top of the search results, so buyers are more likely to view them.
When buyers look at the detail pages, they’ll see complete listing information – including images – plus full contact information, so they’re more likely to inquire about the property. With the Property Marketing Report your sellers can see the traffic on all digital destinations and the showings their home has received.
On its Own
Your Property gets its own high-quality, dedicated website with an easy-to-remember URL based on your property address. We can even add the URL to your property signage. A great marketing tool, this dedicated website gives buyers an in-depth look at your property, plus a market report tailored to your neighborhood and a link to your enticing virtual tour of your home.
On Camera
Real Estate is visual, right? That’s why we create an eye-catching virtual tour of your property and automatically post it on our website.
You get a beautifully produced, 60-second video with up to 12 panoramic photos set to music. There’s also a photo gallery, area map, school information, a mortgage calculator, a link to request a showing and more.
On Screen
YouTube is second only to Google as the most widely used search engine in the world – with more than 800 million unique visitors each month. We’ll post a 60-second video on YouTube and your sales associate can use it to promote your property through emails, facebook, and other venues.
On the Phone
With the new HomeText mobile texting solution, interested buyers can get information immediately on their smartphone or other text-capable mobile phone. We can add a texting sign bubble to your property signage, so it will catch their eye as they drive by. Buyers get the information they want – on the sport – and we’ll connect them with your sales associate.
On Demand
With the new Digital Property Advertising System, it’s as easy as clicking a link to post your property on Craigslist, social media, and other blog sites. Your Property information is attractively formatted and ready to start generating traffic.
Prudential Patt, White/The Premier Group congratulates Steve Slaski, an Allentown Office Mortgage Consultant, on being named in Mortgage Executive Magazine as part of the top 1%, of hundreds of thousands of mortgage originators across the United States. The minimum eligibility criteria are a total “personal” production of at least $30 million 
in 2011. In addition, Slaski was also named as part of the top 200 mortgage originators across the United States, as ranked by their total yearly mortgage volume. Ranked 199th, Slaski had a total volume of $48,973,412.
article:
http://viewer.epaperflip.com/Viewer.aspx?docid=54208ad9-e4a8-4b98-8344-a0010130dc8c
With a relatively small amount of snow accumulation around the country, the winter of 2012 stood in sharp contrast to the record-breaking winter of 2011. Without this snow cover or “white fertilizer” to act as insulation, lawns were left exposed to strong winter winds resulting in desiccation, or extreme drying. Add to this a spring with unusually mild temperatures arriving ahead of schedule and it means that homeowners could face a unique set of challenges this spring.
The following tips, compiled by SavATree, can homeowners counteract some of the common issues that come with an “open winter” and recover a lush, green landscape this spring:
Turn On the Water – Returning moisture to the crowns of your grass is essential. As soon as possible, begin watering your lawn to restore nutrients and combat the damage done by high winds. Irrigate long and infrequently rather than daily for short intervals. It is best to water each zone for 30+ minutes every other day than watering 15 minutes each day. By longer, infrequent watering the moisture will actually penetrate deeper into the ground resulting in the roots going down deeper for the water; a benefit now and during the stresses of summer heat.
Mow Early and Often - When it comes to mowing, it’s better to be too early than too late. As grass grows and pushes last year’s desiccated tissue to the top, sharp blades will take it off cleanly and make room for new, healthy grass. Mow often as grass grows quickly in the spring, but try to set your blades at 3″ or higher so as not to remove more than 1/3 of leaf blade. Leaving clippings on your lawn, rather than bagging, will help speed the return of nutrients to the soil.
Aerate - Aerating your lawn will help improve water, air and nutrient movement in the soil and also reduce compaction and break down thatch. Compaction and thatch make growing grass more difficult, because they impede air and water movement to the soil and work to weaken your lawn’s root system. Desiccation is also less of an issue for well-aerated soil since water is able to move more freely through it, making the grass above much more resistant to drought.
Control Pests - Milder temperatures typically allow greater numbers of insects to survive the winter and an early spring can mean a longer growing season and more generations of certain insects. Specifically, residents of New England might encounter an unusually high volume of deer ticks and the woolly adelgid—an insect that attacks hemlock trees—this season. The best way to keep these pests in check is to contact a certified arborist to evaluate your property and recommend a safe and effective solution.
Prevent Disease - When buds begin to swell and break open earlier in the season, diseases such as dogwood anthracnose, apple scab and leaf spots are able to gain an early foothold. The best approach to protecting against these diseases is preventive. By addressing and treating for these diseases ahead of time, you can lessen the chance of damage to your trees and shrubs during an early spring.
Source: www.savatree.com.
While you may be waiting for the temperature to rise before putting your home on the market, there are many ways to effectively market your home in late winter and early spring. Here are some great cold-weather tips from Florida REALTOR® Melanie Tisdale:
- Heat it up: If you are planning an open house or have showings scheduled, turn up the thermostat and make the home warm and inviting. A cold home shopper will race through a house and start questioning the windows and insulation.
- Light it up: For homes with fireplaces, this is the perfect opportunity to show the potential buyer how cozy a fireplace can be. Leave some marshmallows and sticks nearby and invite those seeing the home to test it out.
- Take care of snow and ice: If the property you’re selling is in a snowy climate, make sure that the walk is clear, the driveway is shoveled and put down salt to control any icy surfaces. If you aren’t currently living in the home that is for sale, make sure to hire someone to clear it for you.
- Use photographs: If you have a beautiful lawn, stellar landscaping or an outdoor pool or deck, take some eye-catching photos of these amenities during the warm months and display them during a winter showing so buyers can get a better understanding of what the outside truly offers.
- Schedule open houses: Winter and early spring is a great time to take advantage of less competition. Many serious buyers often come out during the winter months, including corporate clients who usually need to relocate within the first quarter of the year.
- Emphasize the positives: Does your street get plowed quickly? Is it near public transportation to make it easier to get to work in the snow? Is it within walking distance of stores? Does it have a great hill for the kids to sled down in a safe environment? If so, accentuate these features.
Since a lot of people are waiting until spring to put their home on the market, having your home ready to show now is a great way to beat the rush.
Fewer Americans are heading south to warmer temperatures than they did prior to the 
recession, according to a new study by the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. Researchers evaluated three years’ worth of data to reveal this new trend in the U.S. migration patterns.
Due to factors like the slowly-recovering housing market and a weakened employment picture, Americans are fonder of staying put rather than moving south. Although states such as Nevada, Arizona and Florida have had fewer residents enter their state since the beginning of the recession, experts say this decline will soon start to level off. State such as Massachusetts, California and New York, states whose residents had been packing up and moving, are now seeing far fewer declines in population throughout colder months.
For example, Florida had a net migration gain of 209,000 in 2005, but a loss of 30,000 in 2009, according to the study. On the other hand, New York had a net loss of 71,000 migrants in 2009, a drastic shift from the 170,000 migrants it lost in 2005. Likewise, California saw its loss of migrants shrink to 71,000 in 2009 from 201,000 in 2005.
It used to be that if you weren’t married or living with someone, the idea of purchasing a home was considered a bit outlandish, however, more of today’s home buyers are single than ever before.
According to the National Association of REALTORS, in 2010, unmarried women made up 20% of all home buyers and single men comprised 12%. Savvy men and women understand that now is one of the best times to buy a home and they can probably get a price that won’t stop them from enjoying their single lifestyle. These buyers may be just starting out and still envision getting married and having kids some day; some may be divorced and are looking to start fresh; still others may see it as an investment that will pay off down the line.
In her book, Buying a Home When You’re Single, Donna Albrecht walks through all the steps that take place when searching for a home, getting pre-qualified, finding an agent, and struggling though escrow.
“Before anyone buys a home — single or not — they need to consider what they want their future to look like,” Albrecht says. “If kids are a big hope, buying a studio condo could be a mistake. Going the other route and buying a five-bedroom place may not be the best idea either.”
Purchasing a smaller home, say with two bedrooms or less, has a number of advantages for a single buyer. The lower purchase price will likely net you a mortgage payment that is lower than rent and you will save on utilities, maintenance and cleaning costs. You will also have fewer rooms to furnish and decorate.
Another important point to consider is that it could be easier to sell when you are ready to move on. Single buyers know that their circumstances may change so they want to be prepared, so making sure that the home can be sold or rented out is often a key interest to this group.
Single parents are more inclined to buy a home to give their children a more stable environment and the chance of a great school system. According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Statistics State of the Nation’s Housing report, the nation’s 4.5 million single parents have greater space needs and must worry more about safety and school quality when choosing homes than households without children.
Since there is only one name and one person responsible for buying the property, a person’s credit score and ability to meet all payments is more important to single buyers. The FHA even offers a special loan for single mothers that can help reduce mortgage costs.
Mortgage experts recommend that a monthly mortgage for home buyers with one income should not exceed 28% of a borrower’s pre-tax monthly income.
By Keith Loria
In these tough economic times, most of us have already found ways to save a little money — from eating out less often to shopping at discount stores to driving no more than necessary. Here are ten surefire ways to improve your bottom line over the long haul:
- Slash the incidentals — Read your credit card statement carefully, being on the lookout for ongoing monthly fees you can eliminate — like club memberships, subscriptions and that daily stop for high-priced coffee.
- Pay yourself first — Start saving as through it were a monthly bill, dumping five or 10% of each paycheck into savings before you start writing out your checks.
- Make the payment wisely — Put that money into an interest-bearing online savings account or mutual fund — and make the payment automatic.
- Pay ahead on your mortgage — It may be tough, but adding even an extra $25 to your monthly mortgage payment can make a surprising difference in paying off the mortgage early and saving thousands of dollars over the period of the loan.
- Shed credit card debt — Use credit cards as sparingly as possible and pay for any balances monthly. If you are already in debt, ask the card issuer for a lower rate or transfer the balance to a lower interest card.
- Say goodbye to late fees — If it seems your credit card bill is always due before you get your paycheck, call the card company and ask to have your due date changed.
- Get the better of your “addictions” — Whether it is designer coffee every morning or cigarettes with their walloping “sin tax,” do your best to wean yourself and you’ll save more in the bargain.
- Analyze workday expenses — Brown bag it instead of eating lunch in restaurants. If possible, commute by carpool or public transportation. Avoid extra fees for same-day dry cleaning service. Where else can you save?
- Review your estate plan — If you don’t already have one, get a will or living trust — and review it every year. These are vital regardless of marital or family status and could help save measurably when the time comes.
Sources: MSNBC, Bankrate.com, the New York Times Home Finance Center, Kiplinger’s Persona Finance Magazine.
For some people, a warm glass of milk or cup of chamomile tea is soothing bedtime ritual. 
But what the human body really wants to do with the onset of sleep is to cool down. That’s why cooler temperatures are just what the doctor ordered when it comes to getting the best rest.
“A cool environment in your bedroom is one of the most important factors contributing to good rest,” says Dan Schecter, creator of SleepBetter.org. “Individuals vary, of course, but the consensus is the best sleeping environment is between 60 and 68 degrees.”
Research shows that temperatures above 75 degrees or below 54 degrees can disrupt sleep. It’s not surprising that the arrival of cooler weather causes many people to want to hunker down on chilly mornings.
The following tips can help you make the most of your sleep:
- Make sure your bedding is appropriate to the season; think about whether your sheets, blankets and pillows give you the right support and warmth.
- You don’t have to pile on heavy blankets; modern fibers and comforters can keep you warm without a lot of weight.
- When appropriate, open the windows and turn down the thermostat (you’ll save money too).
- If you’re waking up in the morning with aches and stiffness, maybe your mattress is not providing you with the correct lumbar support.
- If fall and winter sleeping leave you with a sore throat and dry nose, consider whether a humidifier might help.
Source: SleepBetter.org
From Renter to Homeowner: HSA Home Warranty provides peace of mind to R.E.N.T. participants
Realty Embracing New Technology, or R.E.N.T. (myrents.com), is leading the way to homeownership by providing a turn-key solution for success in the evolving real estate market via an efficient and proven rental process. Brian Herron and Meghan Ferguson, two of the principals responsible for establishing R.E.N.T., believe that in the next few years, the number of individuals opting to rent versus buy a home in the United States could approach 40%.
Their recent partnership with HSA Home Warranty is an added advantage for R.E.N.T. participants, offering peace of ind when it comes to the property’s systems and appliances. “I have always used HSA Home Warranty when working with my short sale clients and I use the program myself,” says REALTOR Holly Maloney, a partner with R.E.N.T.
The belief that many of today’s renters will eventually convert or return to homeownership led to the customization of the R.E.N.T concept. This rapidly-growing program serves those individuals today and in the future, once they are ready to establish (or re-establish) their own permanent roots.
As the economy began to slow down, Herron and Ferguson found it increasingly difficult to get properties sold and mortgages written, so they decided to open a leasing program, and that’s when the R.E.N.T. process came to fruition. Instead of simply focusing on becoming property managers, they went one step further and put a follow-up system in place that serves to incubate renters and eventually convert them into traditional real estate clients.
The R.E.N.T. system quickly gained a reputation for it’s comprehensive marketing and sales platform, which includes a robust management system that flow rental clients for up to three years, aiming to eventually convert them to traditional sales.
Working with HSA provides R.E.N.T. clients peace of mind and helps ensure that individuals with tight financial constraints don’t leave themselves exposed to a huge expense if they experience a mechanical or appliance failure.
For over 26 years, HSA has offered comprehensive home warranty plans to homeowners across the country, adding valuable protection and convenience to their clients. Now HSA offers this same level of service and peace of mind to R.E.N.T. participants.
“If a problem arises with a system covered by the HSA home warranty, the tenant can simply call the 800 number that they were provided — someone can be reached 24/7,” says Maloney. During the course of the rental experience, R.E.N.T. representatives will continue to follow up with any clients who may have chosen to forego the home warranty, giving them the chance to change their mind at any point.
“Not only does HSA provide the best warranty out there, they are also quick when it comes to adapting to the changing market and taking advantage of new technology as it becomes available,” says Maloney.
The R.E.N.T. system is currently available in parts of Ohio and Central Pennsylvania, Detroit, Chicago and Nashville, and will be launched in New Jersey in early November.
For more information, visit www.onlinehsa.com.
