6 Ways Real Estate Agents Should Be Using Pinterest

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Ken Horst

Real estate agents should be fully capitalizing on the pictorial power of Pinterest. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a “Pin” could be worth thousands of dollars in sales. So what is Pinterest and how can real estate agents use it to their (and their clients’) advantage?

What is Pinterest?

luxury homes pinboard pinterest real estatePinterest is a social network for sharing images. Pinterest lets you create virtual “Pinboards” upon which you can “Pin” pictures that you like, feel like sharing or want to reference in the future. When you pin the image, not only is a copy of the image saved on your pinboard, but a link to the site where you found it is saved as well. You can manage, categorize,  arrange, and share all the photos and images of things that interest you, whether you create the pin from your adventures on the web with the “Pin It” bookmarklet or by “Re-Pinning” other people’s Pinterest pins. It is an excellent tool for finding, saving and sharing ideas on a variety of topics, including home interior decorating, DIY projects, home staging, home organization and even dream homes.

How Real Estate Agents Can Use Pinterest

You can probably see where this is going. Pinterest can be used for real estate in so many great ways. Here’s a short list of ideas.

1. Pin the homes you’re selling or that clients have bought. If you’re selling homes, pinning beautiful photos of the homes of your clients to your pinboards could help get your MLS listings circulating among potential buyers. If you’re a buyers’ agent, pinning images of happy people in front of their new homes could make for great social media marketing material.

2. Pin information about the communities you represent. Help potential clients see what makes the communities you represent great, as well as showcase your expertise about the area. Pin photos of local parks, schools, shopping centers, bike paths and more.

pinterest real estate community information

2. Pin DIY and repair projects. Be a helpful resource to potential home buyers and home sellers by pinning images associated with DIY and home repair projects. If the photo associated with the DIY or repair project article isn’t very descriptive, let the viewers know what they can expect to learn about when they click through to the site where the photo originated.

3. Pin Ideas for home staging. Make a pinboard just for decorating and home staging ideas. Give your home sellers a place to come to make their homes more attractive to potential buyers. Another thing to include in this category is home storage ideas so home sellers can declutter as much as possible.

pinterest staging tips

4. Pin infographics and photos from other resources. Use Pinterest as a resource for yourself! Pin photos from blog posts and articles that you found helpful to doing your job. Things such as unique marketing ideas to try and infographics about real estate are other good things to pin for yourself.

5. Follow pinboards of people in the industry and related fields. You can get a lot of ideas from other people in the field. Follow other real estate agents, home stagers, home builders and other people in related industries to see what they pin and what information they share.

The key to this social platform is gaining recognition, being seen as an expert in your field who is trustworthy, and to help drive traffic to your website for potential sales. Even so, remember that it is still a social network and to not make your Pinterest activities all about selling, selling, selling. Creating boards that will teach or inspire will help you draw the attention of people who may not need a Realtor now, but may need one in the future. If you can become memorable to them on Pinterest, they may just seek you out in the future when they are ready to buy.

Humans are visual creatures, which is why this platform is appealing and growing. You likely already know about content you want to share, you just needed someplace to capture it and organize it. Well, Pinterest is your chance! It is a great enhancement to any online marketing strategy for real estate.

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5 Tech Tools To Help You with Buying a Home

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Ken Horst

There seems to be a bit of a housing recovery going on. In some places, one might even call it a housing boom. That hasn’t happened, oh, since 2006 or so, when the real estate bubble burst.

mls listing services high tech home buyingAnd even since then, the home buyer experience has changed drastically. Back in the early 2000s, home buyers would have still been (gasp!) perusing the classified ads of a newspaper for listings, driving from house to house to see every home that fits your criteria, and using a phone as a primary means of communication with real estate agents. Now you can surf the web to find homes, see full color photos and take virtual video tours to decide if a house is worth seeing in person and texting, emailing and Tweeting your real estate agent (and talking on the phone, too, but not nearly as much as “back in the day”).

It’s 2013 and buying a home has gone high tech. Technology has made it easier than ever to pinpoint and purchase the perfect home. Now, 9 out of 10 home buyers use the Internet as their primary home search source, and for more than half, the first place they go to when looking for a home is online, according to a joint study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Google.

If you’re in the market to buy a house, here are five technology tools to have in your hands to make the process go more smoothly.

1. Credit Monitoring Services. The home buying process begins with making sure that you are credit-worthy enough to be approved for a mortgage. Online credit monitoring services and products are great for getting your credit report and credit score in good standing. Of course, all three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — and a host of other financial services companies — offer credit monitoring. Most of them allow you to access all of your credit report information in real time, review your credit scores, view how certain credit choices may affect your overall score, and receive alerts when something new shows up in your credit report or influences your score.

2. Online Mortgage Pre-Approval and Applications.  When you have a down payment, you’re credit score is fit and you’re ready to start looking, you need to get pre-approved for a loan. This will let you know how much money banks are willing to lend you and, therefore, how much house you can afford. Naturally, the Internet makes it easy for you to shop around and get the best rate while sipping coffee in your pajamas. Then when you’re actually ready to buy, you can initiate the credit review and mortgage application process online. The final approval, however, may need to be accomplished face to face. But that’s slowly changing as more and more lenders upgrade their websites to offer official loan approvals without meeting a bank representative face to face.

3. MLS Listing Services. Searching home listings is still the most common way to find houses to visit, except instead of in newspapers, it’s on the internet. MLS listing services basically help distribute information about homes for sale. From national sites, like MLS Maps, to the websites of smaller local realtors, multiple listing services offer consumers access to a broader database of available homes than newspapers ever could.

4. Real Estate Websites. Local real estate websites pull information from MLS listing services and can include additional information about homes, especially if the firm happens to represent the seller of the home. Local real estate websites offer information such as quality of local school districts, what the neighborhood is like, potential public transportation options and more. Between the MLS listing information and Realtor website, you should be able to discover its prominent features, see photos of the home and get a good feel for it before ever stepping foot inside it. Additionally, real estate websites can be a resource to help you discover information about the home buying process.

5. Mobile Apps. So back before the last housing bust, people could search for real estate online, just not quite to the same extent as they can today. But what they couldn’t do was search for homes from their phone. Now mobile phones, whether their Androids, iPhones or some other thing, there are apps galore available to help you find a home. Search MLS listings, locate homes for sale that are nearby or use something simple, like Google Maps, to discover what amenities are within walking distance of a home you like.

Trying to find a home is easier today than it ever has been in the past. There are so many tools available, literally at your fingertips to help you make the most informed decision. Use them wisely to help you get the best rates, find the best house for you, and make a move to your dream home.

Looking for your dream home? Take a look at our MLS search page and find out what’s available in the community where you want to live.

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5 Top Dog-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Ken Horst
dogs at home in seattle

Seattle’s transit system is dog-friendly. Photo via Rover.com.

Previously I wrote a post about the 5 Most Bikeable Cities in America. But not everyone is passionate about biking, right? Many people love their dogs though, and there are plenty of “dog people” out there in search of a home.

Estately recently compiled a list of the best cities in America for dogs. They factored in weather, Walk Score, yard size, dog activities, meet-up groups, and the availability of dog sitters on Rover.com. Here are the top five dog-friendly communities according to their list.

5. San Francisco, California

Dog lovers searching homes for sale in San Francisco will probably find one near a dog park. San Francisco has the third most dog parks of any city in the U.S. with 27, and Walk Score has ranked is second for walkability. Dogs are also allowed onto the ferries and iconic San Francisco trolley cars. Want a brew with your bowwow? The Stray Bar and the Lucky 13 are two of several local dog-friendly watering holes. There are even a few gyms where you can take your dog while you get fit. San Francisco is also one of two cities in this list that is also in the top five for bikeability.

4. Austin, Texas

In a previous post about Austin TX real estate, the city is a great place for people to live. It was selected as the No. 2 Best Big City in “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine in 2006, and No. 3 in 2009. It was also labeled the “Greenest City in America” by MSN. In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch. Of course it would rank at No. 4 as a good place for dogs to live. There are 11 dog parks in town, meaning many homes in Austin are near one. There’s a variety of pet boutiques, health food stores for Fido, and no shortage of dog-friendly activities, including the Austin Dog Fair. Bow-Wow Chow is even Austin’s first mobile food truck for dogs. Austin is also in Rover.com‘s Top 20 Cities.

3. Seattle, Washington

What Seattle lacks in sunshine it makes up for with a local culture that loves to see happy, active dogs – and happy, active people. In recent years, Seattle’s dog population has grown quickly, surpassing the number of children living within the city limits. Unlike in many other cities, dogs are welcome on Seattle’s bus lines, ferries, and light rail. Seattle Dog Spot’s calendar lists a variety of events each week for dog lovers.  There are also several dog parks dispersed throughout the city, putting many of them within reach of Seattle WA homes for sale.

2. San Diego, California

Homes in San Diego CA already have so much going for them: Great weather, nearby beaches, and a good economic base. Add to the list that it’s super dog-friendly! Many of those beaches are also dog-friendly and 16 dog parks make San Diego a happy home for hounds. There’s an array of activities that both dogs and people can enjoy together, including visiting local bars and restaurants with dog-friendly patios and even a National Dog Party Day. The city is also the dog surfing capital of the world and even hosts an annual dog surfing competition called Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon.

1. Portland, Oregon

Portland. It’s been the top city for bikeability repeatedly in recent years and now it’s also here at the top for being dog friendly. One look at what this city has to offer and it’ll be easy to understand exactly why it’s fantastic for Fido. At the last count of 33, Portland has the most dog parks per capita of any large city in the entire United States. That means homes for sale in Portland OR could be close to more than one dog-friendly parks. After romping at the park, pick an item for her off the Doggie Menu at Tin Shed Garden Café or get the Kibbles-N-Bits breakfast at Lucky Labrador Brew Pub. After a bite to eat, help your dog relax by taking him to one of 19 pet massage therapists in Portland. Portland is also one of Rover.com‘s Top 20 Cities.

Of course, this was just pulled from one lists. It seems that there are quite a few lists out there about dog-friendly cities. I also particularly liked this top 10 list from Livability. It’s an entirely different set of cities and based on different criteria. And even so, Portland is ranked at the top. Again! That place sure does seem to be adding up to a great place to live.

Have you found the perfect dog-friendly community for you – in Portland or otherwise? Then find a place there to call home with our MLS listings search page.

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Austin TX Real Estate Highlights

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Ken Horst

Austin TX real estate is abundant and in-demand. The housing market in Austin is pretty hopping. That probably has to do with how well the Austin economy has recovered from the downturn.

Austin tx real estateThe City of Austin is also the capital of Texas and Travis County’s seat. Situated in Central Texas near the eastern edge of the American Southwest, the city is the cultural and economic epicenter of the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area. Austin is the fourth most populated city in Texas and the 13th most populous in the entire U.S., with approximately 820,611 residents.

What’s it like living in Austin? Well, the people have spoken and life in Austin is awesome. Austin was selected as the No. 2 Best Big City in “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine in 2006, and No. 3 in 2009. It was also labeled the “Greenest City in America” by MSN. In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch.

Employment openings in Austin TX are abundant, as this city is a hub for technology and business. Austin is also evolving as a center for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Austin is home to numerous headquarters or regional offices of Fortune 500 companies, including Apple, Google, IBM, Intel, Texas Instruments and 3M. Some of Austin’s largest employers are the Austin Independent School District, St. David’s Healthcare Partnership, Seton Family of Hospitals, Texas State University-San Marcos, and the University of Texas at Austin. The region’s swift development has led Forbes to rank the Austin metro area No. 1 among all large cities for jobs for 2012 in the publication’s annual survey.

Due to its huge size, there are numerous Austin homes for sale, throughout the city. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including condos, town houses and single-family homes. And Austin TX real estate is affordable: There are homes for sale in Austin to suit basically any budget, from as low as $10,000 for a house that needs some work to large multi-million dollar estates with all the amenities.

If you want a home in Austin TX, though, you might want to get in while the market is still relatively low. The Texas Quarterly Housing Report shows surging demand for Texas homes during the first quarter of the year as well as rising prices and shrinking inventory, fueled by population and job growth. The average sold price of home in Austin was $412,124 in April and is about $74k higher than the average sold price in April 2012. The median sold price of $299,000 for April is $49k higher than last year’s median price of $250k. Year to date comparisons are $275k for median price in 2013, compared to $250k in 2012, for an increase of 10 percent.

Searching for a home in Austin TX or another major U.S. city? Our MLS listing search can help you find what you’re looking for.

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5 Most Bikeable Cities in America

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Ken Horst

May is National Bike Month. Bike Month celebrates the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons people ride, such as to save money or time; to preserve health or the environment; or simply to get to a destination.

With gas prices expected to rise over the years, the bike as a preferred form of transportation is getting a second look. For people who want to do what they can to prepare themselves for this inevitability, seeking out a bikeable city in which to live is a pretty good idea.

Many U.S. cities have embraced the upsurge in bicycle commuting.  They’ve installed bike lanes, started shared-bicycle programs and tries to build in a way that makes people feel safer while biking. Even if a city isn’t on the most “bike-friendly” list, the number of homes, town homes, condos, apartments and even whole neighborhoods are catering to cyclists is growing nationwide.

In honor of Bike Month, let’s take a look at some of the five most bikeable cities in America, according to Walk Score’s 2013 rankings.

Portland, OR

Population: 583,776

homes for sale in portland or

Portland is often ranked at No. 1 or 2 as the most bikeable city in America, as determined on the number of bikers on the road, bike lanes, connecting roads and destinations. Portland is the only large city to earn Platinum status from the League of American Bicyclists. With 180 miles of bike lanes and 79 miles of off-street bike paths, there are many homes for sale in Portland OR within bike commuting distance of many of the places people want to go, like businesses, restaurants, grocery stores and more.

Over the years, Portland’s bike culture has only grown, due in part to the popular TV show “Portlandia.” In this bike-friendly city, 6 percent of its commuters do so by bike, in comparison to the .05 percent that bike to work nationally. Portland was the first city in the U.S. to implement bike boxes at intersections and elementary-school bike commuting trains.

homes for sale in san franciscoSan Francisco, CA

Population: 805,235

You might think this city’s steep hills would deter cyclists, but San Franciscans would prove you wrong. San Francisco has a goal of becoming the North American city with the highest per-capita bicycle use. So far, they’re well on their way, earning the No. 2 ranking in this year’s bike-able cities list. San Francisco has installed 20 new bike-lane miles, 25 bike-parking corrals, and traffic signals that give riders the right-of-way. With all of the bike paths, trails and amenities, there are a variety of San Francisco homes for sale that would be a bicyclists dream.

The biking innovations have led to a 71 percent increase in bike trips around the city over the past five years and moved San Francisco closer to its goal of a 20 percent bicycle commuter share by 2020. There was a time when the bike messenger was the stereotypical San Francisco bicyclist, but now it’s everyone from blue-collar workers to executives riding in the bike lanes. Twitter – which claims up to 25 percent of its employees ride bike to work – has just recently leased a building near the bikeway.

Denver, CO

Population: 600,158

homes for sale in Denver

Denver is a very bike-friendly city with miles of bike trails and a substantial bike-sharing program, in spite of its high elevation nearly a mile above sea level. The Mile High City has 850 miles of paved, off-road bike paths, and more than 300 days of sunshine every year that make for prime biking weather. There are a variety of homes for sale in Denver that are great for bicycle commuting, from condos and townhouses near the city’s downtown, and all of the amenities it has to offer, to single-family homes in walkable areas with a more suburban feel.

Revamping the extensive but 25-year-old trail system to accommodate a strong recreational cycling community has been a challenge, but now bicycle commuting is increasing in popularity. Denver also had the first widespread bike share program in a major U.S. city: B-cycle features 56 B-stations located in convenient spots and will increase to 86 stations by the end of 2013. Ultimately, many of Denver’s most unique and fun neighborhoods will be connected by bike path.

homes for sale in philadelphiaPhiladelphia, PA

Population: 1,526,006

Philly is a relative newcomer to the most bikeable cities list. Philadelphia has dedicated more resources in recent years to its cyclist commuters, with over 200 miles of bike lanes and trails. Whether you want to live in a downtown condo or more towards the suburban-like areas on the outskirts of the city, there are homes for sale in Philadelphia to suit many bicyclists’ needs.

Out of the 10 largest cities in the U.S., it has the most bicycle commuters per capita, as well as one of the highest percentages of female cyclists nationwide. Wind your way through Philly’s skyscrapers or take off for the recreational and mountain-bike trails in 9,200-acre Fairmount Park.

Boston, MA

Population: 617,594

boston homes for sale

After three appearances on the worst-cities for bicycles list, Boston changed its ways. Boston now has a bike score of 68 out of 100 for its dedicated bike lanes and paths, as well as its newer bike-share program, according to Walk Score. It has become a beacon of bike friendliness, with bikes accounting for up to 14 percent of traffic during peak hours. Just as with many of the previous cities we’ve discussed, whether it’s a downtown condo you seek or a single-family home on the outskirts of the city, there are Boston homes for sale to suit many bicyclists’ needs.

Not only are citizens taking up an interest in bicycles and bike commuting, but businesses are, too. Boston’s Bike Friendly Business Awards recognize companies that incorporate bike-friendly practices that encourage employees or customers to ride bikes. Basic practices include installation of outdoor bike racks, financial incentives for bike commuters, or frequent use of bike messengers.

Want to find a bikeable community close to home? Take a look at the whole list of bicycle-friendly cities, then search for a home with our MLS listings search page.

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Salt Lake City UT Real Estate Highlights

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Ken Horst

salt lake city UT real estateSimilar to larger-than-life Dallas, Texas, and sunny Riverside, California, the real estate market in Salt Lake City is heating up. Sellers might not be able to keep up with demand.

According to the Salt Lake Board of Realtors, single-family home prices in Salt Lake County shot up 19 percent to $228,750 in the first quarter of 2013. The median price during the same period last year was $192,500.

The number of new and existing homes sold was basically the same as previous quarters, though, underscoring the shortage of homes for sale even as home buyer demand rises and the economy picks up. There were 2,190 homes sold from January through March this year – just 7 fewer than how many were sold during the same time period last year.

Salt Lake City, often called simply Salt Lake or even SLC, is the capital of Utah. With a population of about 189,899 people, it is also the most populous city in Utah. Salt Lake City UT real estate covers a total area of 110.4 square miles in the northeast corner of the Salt Lake Valley, just southeast of Great Salt Lake. SLC is the heart of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.

There are jobs available in Salt Lake City. The unemployment rate was just 4.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The economy of Salt Lake City is service-oriented, with major industries that include trade, transportation, utilities, government, and professional, health and business services. Some of the biggest employers in Salt Lake City include Intermountain Health Care, University of Utah, Sinclair Oil Corporation, and the North America Delta Air Lines hub at Salt Lake City International Airport. Salt Lake City is the location for one Fortune 500 company, Huntsman Corporation, and two Fortune 1000 companies, Zions Bancorporation and Questar Corporation. The Salt Palace convention center attracts many conferences, tradeshows and conventions.

There are many Salt Lake City homes for sale. Salt Lake City UT real estate comes in many shapes, sizes and prices to suit most styles and budgets, including condos, town homes and single-family houses. Prices on homes for sale in Salt Lake City start as low as $60,000 for single-family house to beautiful multi-million dollar estates with all the deluxe features.

Searching for a home in Salt Lake City or another major community? Our MLS listing search can help you find your Utah utopia.

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