September 23, 2010
Posted by mike_fischer in Marketing
At Coldwell Banker ®, we refer to our global network of 100,000 agents and the 3,500 local offices and companies as “Generation Blue”…as you can see, we are very proud of our corporate color!
So what IS Generation Blue?
Well, after touring the country and hearing discussions from experts about what a Baby Boomer is supposed to do, vs a Gen Yer or Xer, and putting people into neat categories defined by birthdate, I was having trouble jiving this thought with what I was seeing from the over 20,000 agents and managers I actually met. They don’t fall into nice neat categories. What they do and how they adapt to new technologies, or their abilities to negotiate the best real estate transactions for their clients depends on their mindset and not their age.
While on the road, we heard about the 72 year old agent that bought an iPad and now does all his listing presentations to potential clients on the iPad. Very cool, and he has seen his client base increase as a result. Or, the twenty-something agent that handles properties in the tens of millions because she knows real estate and is a keen negotiator on behalf of her sellers. I’ve also met mother-daughter and father-son teams, as well as aunt/nephew and every possible family and neighbor category under the sun, with each professional adding some core competency in the mix to make the customer’s transaction better, easier and more successful. But they all have the mindset for success.
Today on AOL, I saw this article about Stuart and Chris Damon and to me, it was a perfect illustration of this concept. I met the Damon’s while at a conference in LA earlier this year, and what I loved about their teaming up was that they both brought a strength to the partnership that ultimately makes them and their clients more successful. They embody what is so great about Coldwell Banker Real Estate. It’s what makes us special. Expertise in Technology without a foundation in real estate sales is not ideal for the consumer. Sales experience without knowing how to market to today’s buyers and sellers is also less than ideal. Marrying both is the winning combination.
So don’t be fooled by someone’s age when determining if they have the experience to help you in the most important transaction of your life. It’s their mindset, coupled with the tools that they have at their disposal — whether online marketing, training, or a successful broker, manager or team member to support them – that makes the difference. And at Coldwell Banker, we have the systems and tools, but most importantly, we have the professionals in your hometown to call upon when you need the best real estate advice and support.
That’s Generation Blue.
Technorati Tags: coldwell banker, generation blue, real estate, real estate agents, stuart damon
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The city has updated their website. I thought this info worth sharing with all.
Just click on the link http://www.rockymountnc.gov/aboutrm.html
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With our Independence Day, July 4rh, 2010 being tomorrow, this article by Mark Alexander seemed very appropriate to post.
May you and your families have a wonderful and safe Independence Day. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.
http://patriotpost.us/alexander/2010/07/01/independence-forever/
Thank you and God Bless.
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1]RISMEDIA, July 3, 2010—FHA Pros, LLC, a national FHA condo approval service, has developed a list of facts speaking to the top misconceptions associated with FHA loans in order to help home buyers better navigate an already confusing market. FHA loans are mortgages issued by qualified lenders and insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
“We have seen home buyer interest in FHA loans go from practically zero three years ago to upwards of 87% today,” said Christopher Gardner, founder and president of FHA Pros, LLC. “Despite this rapid rise in popularity, many buyers still do not fully understand the benefits of these loans, and we believe it’s time to change that.”
1. FHA loans are not only for lower-income borrowers. FHA loans are available to everyone. There is no maximum income restriction associated with FHA loans, but borrowers do need to substantiate income and assets by submitting proper documentation. This requirement ensures that borrowers are well-vetted and truly able to afford their future homes.
2. FHA loans are not only for first-time buyers. Many people believe FHA loans are available only to first-time home buyers, but this is not the case. Whether borrowers are making their first home purchase or their fifth, they can look to FHA loans as a home financing option.
3. FHA loans are not just small loans; in fact, loan amounts can be as high as almost $800,000. The government recently raised the maximum loan amount from its original cap of $362,790 to $793,750 as a way to help stabilize the housing market. The amount a buyer can borrow varies from county to county though. Later this summer, condo buyers interested in FHA loans can visit www.checkfhaapproval.com [2] to instantly identify FHA-approved condo associations and review maximum loan amounts for a given location.
4. FHA loans are not affiliated with the section 8 housing program. While both programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHA loans have nothing to do with low-income subsidized housing. FHA loans are simply mortgages insured by FHA. This insurance provided by the federal government allows lenders to lend more freely by assuring them that they will be repaid in the event of default. Most traditional lenders, including Wells Fargo & Co., JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup are able to provide FHA loans to their customers.
5. FHA loans are often more affordable than conventional loans. While FHA loans typically offer the same interest rates as other loans, borrowers benefit from a much lower down payment of as low as 3.5%.
6. FHA-approved condo developments are more desirable to buyers. With 87% of home buyers indicating that they plan to use FHA loans, condo associations that are not FHA approved are missing out on a significant pool of prospective buyers. Under rules in place since February 2010, an entire condominium development must now apply to HUD and be granted FHA approval before a buyer can purchase a unit in an association with an FHA loan or before an existing unit owner can refinance into an FHA loan.
Due to the general unwillingness of today’s lenders to extend credit with respect to conventional loans, many borrowers find that FHA is their best bet. Lenders don’t mind lending when the federal government (FHA) assures them of repayment.
Homeowners associations (HOAs) should note that although FHA-insured mortgages might be easier to obtain, they are not “risky” loans, due in large part to the strict “full documentation” requirements placed on borrowers. Individual buyers or sellers can initiate the approval process or current owners can encourage their HOA to apply.
7. FHA loans are assumable. In addition to lower down-payment and credit-qualifying requirements as compared to conventional loans, FHA loans are assumable. This means that when a seller with an FHA loan sells his or her property, the loan and its financing terms (interest rate) can be transferred to the new buyer. This unique feature will certainly make a property more valuable in times of rising interest rates.
“Now, more than ever, buyers and sellers need to understand the options available to them when it comes time to buy a home,” continued Gardner. “At FHA Pros we have worked with countless HOAs, attorneys and individuals to easily and efficiently navigate the historically tricky FHA-approval process.”
For more information, visit www.checkfhaapproval.com [2].
Article printed from RISMedia: http://rismedia.com
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