But buying a house is serious, life-changing business, so some level of deliberation, concern and even rethinking the whole thing, before signing on the dotted line, is actually sensible and smart.

So it can be tough to know the difference between (a) the normal, unwarranted buyer’s remorse every home buyer should expect, think through and move past, and (b) the mental alarm bells that should be heeded because there is truly good reason to revisit whether this purchase is the right thing to do.

Home buyers, we’re here to help. If you’re suffering from a case of buyer’s remorse at any stage before your contingencies are removed, list out the things that come to mind when you fantasize about backing out of the deal.  If your list contains any of the following items, express your concerns to your spouse or co-buyer and your agent. Then, consult with your mind and your heart about whether you’re ready to move forward – or not.

1. It’s too expensive.  If you’re buying a house in 2013, it’s completely understandable to have a moment of panic at the sound of the price you’re paying or the sight of all those zeros. It’s a big purchase you’re making, possibly the biggest one you ever will, and those who enter into it with not even the slightest twinge of being nervous might not be taking it as seriously as they should.

That said, fears that a home are too expensive vis-a-vis the other recently sold homes in the neighborhood or the town’s market and future appreciation prospects in general are worth exploring and evaluating before you decide on your offer price or sign a final counter-offer. Your agent can help you understand the complex interacting factors you should consider, including the likelihood of the home to appraise at a given price point and the historical data on sales and home value trends in your area.

2. It’s too expensive for you.  For years, I’ve heard buyers express concerns about being ‘house poor,’ meaning that they spend so much on their monthly mortgage payments that they are too broke to do much else. Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in one of those parts of the country in which it is less expensive to own than to rent a home, it’s almost inevitable that there will be some sort of lifestyle revision you’ll need to make post-homeownership.

Most people who have been renting for a long time will find themselves having to make some sacrifices after they buy, in terms of eating out less, going out less, splurging on vacations, clothes and other discretionary spending – this is just par for the course, sensible, and not a good reason not to buy.

On the other hand, there are occasions in which buyers are approved for mortgages beyond what they can truly afford and maintain financial integrity, in terms of still having enough money left over post-mortgage payment for saving, investing and other monthly budget line items that the mortgage banks don’t consider (e.g., children’s school tuition, medical expenses, etc.). If you have set yourself a home buying budget lower than your lender has set for you, get and stay clear on what the wiggle room is – if any. If you feel like you’re exceeding it or getting in a red zone with a particular property, heed those internal read flags.

3. The location is not quite right.  I’d probably rank location choice right up there in the top 3 home selection regrets I hear after the fact from home owners.  Clearly, the location you can live in is limited by your budget – you can’t expect to live in Beverly Hills on $100K.  But I’m talking more about the various location choices and judgments every buyer has to make within their price range:

• between a home in the city, near work, or a home in the quiet suburbs where you get much more space – and a much longer commute,
• near shops and conveniences, or off the beaten path
• next door to a school or at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac
• in a row of town homes with shared walls and an HOA or in an older neighborhood with lots of land between homes - you get the gist.

Location compromises should be made carefully and consciously. If that electrical pole in the front yard really bothers you and you talk yourself out of that concern, ask yourself: are you going to end up hating to drive up to your house every night?  The neighbors who seem to take a lot less care with their yards now might become a real thorn in your side over time.  That extra 20 minutes of commute time might not be as minor a lifestyle change as you can talk yourself into believing – in fact, researchers have found that the longer commutes lower overall happiness, so don’t lengthen yours without serious consideration.

In particular, don’t dismiss noise and traffic concerns without giving it real thought – a friend of mine quickly moved his young family out of the home they’d bought in a new town when they realized that the street was so busy that it was nearly impossible to even pull in or out of their own driveway – much less to let the kids play outside.

4. You have qualms about the future of your job.  I’ve known people who felt a need to fast forward their home buying plans when they get wind of changes coming down the pike at their companies.  This happens a lot for buyers who have been house hunting for a long time and are concerned that a layoff would render them unable to qualify for their mortgage.

This is likely. And that’s unfortunate.  But what’s more unfortunate is to proceed with buying a home, taking on a mortgage obligation and depleting your savings for the down payment, then having an interruption of income because you get laid off or – worse – being forced to sell quickly because of a job transfer out of the area. If you’re confident you can get work at another company or you have sufficient cushion to handle a temporary interruption in income, go for it. But if you have serious concerns about the short-term stability of your job, think long and hard before buying a home without a well thought-out financial plan in place.

5. You and your co-buyer are at odds.  Whether or not you are legally married to your co-buyer, you will effectively be legally bound by your real estate and mortgage obligations if you buy a home together. If you are having intense, intractable conflicts about the sort of home to purchase, how much to spend, when to buy, where to buy or even whether to buy, think twice, thrice, pause and rethink once more before you sign on the dotted line.

Unless a deep, respectful compromise is reached that everyone feels good about, these conflicts can turn into long-term resentments and disrupt the relationship on a larger scale.

6. You think you’ll be okay – so long as you can sell at a profit or refi in the next 12 months.  Are you a professional contractor or investor? A real estate professional who can buy and sell with very low costs? Do you have so much cash to burn that you could sell at a loss and not sweat it?

If your answer to these questions is no, you should not buy a home planning to refi or sell it in a super-short time frame.  In fact, this was one of the ways people got into trouble at the top of the market during the last cycle – buying homes so pricey they couldn’t afford them after attractive short-term financing terms changed, on the assumption they’d be able to refinance before they ever had to truly pay the piper.

If the house you’re buying doesn’t seem likely to be able to work for your life and your family for at least 5 to 7 years, and you are pretty certain you’ll need to sell it sooner than that, consider:
(a) whether a different type of home might be a better, long-term choice, or
(b) whether it makes sense for you to buy a home at this stage of your life.

This time frame gives you a good bit of space to ride out shifts in the direction of the market, if you need to, minimizing the chances of living in a home that no longer meets your needs and being unable to sell it.

If you have fears on this list, and address them, you might decide to move forward anyway. But if you do, it’ll be with the calm, unpanicked assuredness of having faced your fears, articulated them and put an action plan in place for handling theses issues. And that’s a position of power from which you can feel good about moving forward with your home purchase, even if you once had qualms.

The post 6 Things To Consider Before Buying A House appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.

With good credit, persistence and some shopping skills, you can still snag phenomenal deals this year — even if you are underwater on your loan.

Image courtesy to http://blog.badcreditwhiz.com

Here are 10 Mortgage Tips to help you with your mortgage decisions in 2013.

Tip 1: Stop procrastinating and refinance
If you haven’t refinanced recently, you’re probably paying a higher interest rate on your mortgage than you should. Take advantage of today’s record-low mortgage rates while they last. Rates are expected to remain low during the first few months of the year, but they should gradually increase. When they do, many borrowers will regret having missed the opportunity to grab the lowest mortgage rate in history.

Tip 2: Buyers, get moving
With rates near the bottom and home prices on the rise, it’s still a perfect time to buy a house. If you can afford a home and qualify for a mortgage, this may be your last chance to take advantage of the market and own a home for less. To speed up the homebuying process, get a mortgage preapproval before you start shopping.

Tip 3: Compare FHA vs. conventional loans
Many homebuyers opt for a Federal Housing Administration mortgage because it allows them to buy a home with as little as 3.5 percent down. But the already costly FHA fees that are added to your loan will increase again in 2013. As the costs of FHA mortgages rise, some buyers may consider saving a little extra for a conventional loan. Buyers need at least 5 percent down to get a conventional mortgage, depending on their credit. If you can afford the slightly higher down payment, get quotes for FHA and conventional loans, and compare the costs.

Tip 4: Ensure that your credit is golden
Credit standards remain tight. As new mortgage rules are unveiled in 2013, the standards are not expected to loosen. If you plan to get a mortgage anytime soon, you must treat your credit as one of your most valuable assets. Most lenders want to see a spotless credit history of at least a year on your credit report. You’ll need a credit score of at least 720 to get the best rate. Borrowers with a credit score of 680 or more can still get a good deal, but the lower your score, the harder it will be to get approved.

Review your credit report before you apply for a mortgage. Sometimes, paying part of your credit card balances can boost your credit score quickly. Generally, if you are using more than 30 percent of the available credit on your cards, you may be hurting your score. Also, check for credit errors and have them corrected before you apply for a loan.

Tip 5: Want to pay off your mortgage earlier?
If you are one of those homeowners who dream about being mortgage-free, the low-rate environment may be a good opportunity to refinance your 30-year mortgage into a 15- or 20-year loan. But make sure you can really afford the slightly higher payments on the shorter loan and that you have some money saved for emergencies.

Tip 6: Underwater refinancers: Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer
If you owe more than your home is worth and have tried and failed to refinance, why not give it another shot in 2013? The Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP 2.0, was revamped to allow homeowners to refinance regardless of how deeply underwater they are.

Even after revisions to the program, many borrowers still found obstacles when refinancing. But the situation is improving. Lenders are much more open to HARP 2.0 refinances these days than they were a few months ago. If one lender says you don’t qualify for a HARP refi, don’t take “no” for an answer, and try to find a lender willing to do it.

Tip 7: Give your lender a chance
If you have trouble paying your mortgage, don’t ignore your mortgage servicer. There are new programs available for borrowers who struggle to keep up with their mortgage payments, including forbearance for those with FHA mortgages. Lenders have been more willing to work out delinquent loans through loan modifications and even short sales for homeowners who can’t afford to stay in their homes. It can be a frustrating process to deal with your lender, but communication is still your best tool.

Tip 8: Shop for a low rate and good service
Even with rates hovering near record lows, you should still shop for the best mortgage deal. Get quotes from at least three lenders and compare not just the interest rate but closing costs and the quality of their service. Favor lenders that have a reputation of closing on time. Start with referrals from friends and relatives when shopping for a lender and read online reviews from other borrowers about the particular lender or mortgage broker you are considering.

Tip 9: Approved for a mortgage? Leave your credit alone
Most lenders order a second credit report for the borrower a few days before closing. Don’t open new accounts or charge up your credit cards at the furniture store while you wait for closing day. New credit lines and maxed-out cards may hurt your score. If you were on the edge when you qualified, your mortgage loan could be rejected at the last minute.

Tip 10: It’s not over until the loan closes
You’ve submitted your mortgage application and locked a rate. The race has just begun. Submit any documents requested by your loan officer or mortgage broker within 24 hours, if possible. Any delays in responding to the lender or in letting the appraiser into your house are wastes of valuable time. Lenders will remain overwhelmed with the large volume of refinance applications at least through the first few months of 2013. It doesn’t take much more than lost paperwork or last-minute requests from your lender to delay your closing. If that happens, you risk losing the locked rate. Follow up with your lender or mortgage broker at least once a week to ensure the process goes smoothly.

The post 10 Mortgage Tips for 2013 appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.

Over the years I’ve studied the lives of numerous successful people. I have read their books, watched their interviews, researched them online, etc. And I have learned that most of them were not born into success; they simply did, and continue to do, things that help them realize their full potential. Here are twelve things they do differently that the rest of us can easily emulate.

1. They create and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Successful people are objective. They have realistic targets in mind. They know what they are looking for and why they are fighting for it. Successful people create and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

2. They take decisive and immediate action.

Success hinges on the simple act of making a decision to live – to absorb yourself in the process of going after your dreams and goals. So make that decision. And take action.

3. They focus on being productive, not being busy.

Slow down. Breathe. Review your commitments and goals. Put first things first. Do one thing at a time. Start now. Take a short break in two hours. Repeat.

And always remember, results are more important than the time it takes to achieve them.

4. They make logical, informed decisions.

The best advice here is simple: Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence. Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.

5. They avoid the trap of trying to make things perfect.

Remember, the real world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done. And the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time. Only by wading through years of practice and imperfection can we begin to achieve momentary glimpses of the perfection. So make a decision. Take action, learn from the outcome, and repeat this method over and over again in all walks of life.

6. They work outside of their comfort zone.

Significant moments of opportunity for personal growth and success will come and go throughout your lifetime. If you are looking to make positive changes and new breakthroughs in your life, you will need to embrace these moments of opportunity even though you will never feel 100% ready for them.

7. They keep things simple.

If you’re selling a product line, keep it simple. And if you’re trying to make a decision about something in your life, don’t waste all your time evaluating every last detail of every possible option. Choose something that you think will work and give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, learn what you can from the experience, choose something else and keep pressing forward.

8. They focus on making small, continuous improvements.

Henry Ford once said, “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small pieces.” The same concept configured as a question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time. This philosophy holds true for achieving your biggest goals. Making small, positive changes – eating a little healthier, exercising a little, creating some small productive habits, for example – is an amazing way to get excited about life and slowly reach the level of success you aspire to.

9. They measure and track their progress.

The proper approach is to figure out what your number one goal is and then track the things that directly relate to achieving that goal. I recommend that you take some time right now to identify your number one goal, identify the most important things for you to keep track of, and then begin tracking them immediately. On a weekly basis, plug the numbers into a spreadsheet and use the data to create weekly or monthly trend graphs so you can visualize your progress. Then fine-tune your actions to get those trends to grow in your favor.

10. They maintain a positive outlook as they learn from their mistakes.

Remember, every mistake you make is progress. Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal. The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.

So don’t hesitate – don’t doubt yourself! Don’t let your own negativity sabotage you. Learn what you can and press forward.

11. They spend time with the right people.

Successful people associate with people who are like-minded, focused, and supportive. They socialize with people who create energy when they enter the room versus those who create energy when they leave. They reach out to connected, influential individuals who are right for their dreams and goals.

12. They maintain balance in their life.

When you let your work life (or social life, family life, etc.) consume you, and all your energy is focused in that area, it’s extremely easy to lose your balance. While drive and focus are important, if you’re going to get things done right, and be truly successful, you need to balance the various dimensions of your life. Completely neglecting one dimension for another only leads to long-term frustration and stress.

The post 12 Things Successful People Do Differently appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.

 Some Stock Free Photo  & Clipart Sites

 Stock Xchng

iStock Photo

Public Domain Photos & Clipart

Free Digital Photos

Tips For Using Stockfree Photos For Your Marketing

•  You can choose to use stockfree photos for marketing your real estate properties. Many websites have hundreds of good quality images that you can use for this purpose, some for free, others for varying amounts.

• Good quality images are worth more than a thousand words and buyers find them useful to assess the property and be pulled into promotions.  Avoid images that are blurry or underexposed, as they may not be able to make a lasting impression on the buyer.

• First impressions count. So display the images of homes for sale in the best possible way on your website.  Highlight the unique features of the homes for sale so that the visitor sees interesting things about the property.

• When using stockfree photos, make sure to give credits to the original source especially if you will be using free photographs. Some sites will give you suggestion on how to do this.

It is important to remember that these photos are presented in a professional manner.  You can make use of stock free photos to market your properties successfully online and off, using blogs, websites, flyers, postcards, and more. With stock free photos, you have entire collections of pictures at your disposal that provide plenty of marketing aid for your business.

The post Using Stock Free Photos For Your Marketing appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.

That shopping is no longer about showing up in a store or a broker’s office or open house to get information is something Google calls the Zero Moment of Truth or ZMOT.  Google says “the sales funnel isn’t really a funnel anymore,” instead there is a generation that does its homework ahead of time. They shop in traditional ways; watching or reading ads, walk into stores to look at products, talks to friends, check styles and prices but alternate these with digital sources.  They watch “how-to” videos on You Tube, read product and service reviews, look up specific brands on search engines, and even research on the go with smart phones and tablets.

The study found the real estate-related searches on Google have grown 253 percent over the last four years and that Nine out of 10 homebuyers rely on the internet as one of their primary research sources, and 52 percent as their first step in buying a home.  They also found that home buyers used specific online tools at different points during their home search process.

When they start the process buyers tend to rely on search engines and general websites.  They frequently search terms like FHA loan,” “FHA,” “home grants,” and “home buyer assistance.  They tend to use maps more in the middle of the process, and engage mobile applications most toward the end of their search.

Both first-time and repeat buyers rely on Realtors^® in their home search.  Multiple listing services and Realtor.com are popular destinations with the latter attracting more than 20 million unique visitors in an average month and traffic to that site increased 31 percent between March and October of 2012.  Fifty-three percent of users who actually register on a major real estate site are female.

According to data from Realtor.com, today’s buyers search most frequently on numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms; square footage; garages; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and swimming pools.

Mobile devices are significantly changing the way people search for homes, as well.  About 20 percent of real estate searchers are done from mobile devices.  A Google/Complete home shopper study found that 48 percent of people who used a mobile device in their home search used the device to get directions to homes for sale, and 45 percent used the device to request more information about specific home features or real estate services.

Agents still bridge the gap between internet research and viewing and buying a home.  Eighty-eight percent of buyers us an agent and 67 percent do so frequently. Real estate consumers who use the internet while researching a home are more likely to use multiple sources such as newspapers, yard signs, and open houses but these play a minimal role in decision making, so Realtors would be wise to incorporate digital marketing into their offline efforts.

“Increasingly, online technologies are driving offline behaviors, and home buying is no exception,” said Google Head of Real Estate Patrick Grandinetti. “With 90 percent of home buyers searching online during their home buying process, the real estate industry is smart to target these people where they look for and consume information – for example through paid search, relevant websites, video environments, and mobile applications.”

“Technology has transformed the way Realtors^® do business, but in real estate, high tech doesn’t come at the expense of high touch,” said Steven Berkowitz, CEO of Move, Inc., which operates Realtor.com. “Rather than displacing real estate agents, the Internet is actually helping connect them with home buyers. And Realtors^® are responding by leveraging resources like Realtor.com, Facebook and YouTube to engage buyers and sellers in ever-evolving ways.”

You can read the full report here.

View Article: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/01072013_home_buying_behaviors.asp

The post Real Estate Web Searches Climb 253% in Four Years as 90% of Homebuyers Use Internet as Primary Research appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.

What Are The Blogging Trends Today?

•  Display all your listings as this is what consumers are looking for and you may be able to get maximum traffic to your website.  You can make use of paid services for your purpose like dsSearchAgent and dsIDXpress or opt for featured listings that are free like WordPress Property Plug-in.
• It is advisable to get local and connect with the local community to whom you are trying to sell your real estate listings.  You can establish yourself as a local expert and this can help convert the traffic into a closed sale.  Blogging can help demonstrate your expertise and can be used as a cost effective means of marketing your site successfully.
• Develop fresh content on a consistent basis and focus on what you are trying to market.  It is advisable to stick to a schedule and provide valuable information to the customers.

You may be able to achieve success with your real estate blog if you focus on the needs of your customers.  Blogs are becoming more important in promoting real estate business as they help reach the targeted audience easily.

Blogging Resources

If you are starting a real estate blog or promoting an existing blog, you can use various resources.  These are free and paid, and you can use them to drive more traffic to your website.

Top 3 Blogging Resources

1. If you are new to blogging, WordPress is the recommend platform as it is easy to use. You have an endless option for templates, and a wide choice of plug-ins makes it easy even for the most non-technical bloggers.  There are a lot of free WordPress themes, too, and you can choose the ones you’d like to suite your needs and individual requirements.
2. Buy your own domain name, as a free blogging platform for hosting may not allow you to present the blog in the manner you like (ie without paid ads of others on it).  You can make use of Bluehost as this company provides unlimited space and reliable hosting, or HostGator or any number of hosting providers.
3. You may want to use an email service if you need to send newsletters to subscribers, and there are many email marketing services that you can use for this purpose. Also consider adding the “WP Autoresponder And Newsletter Plugin” to save money and use your own database for  this purpose.

Although there are hundreds of blogging resources that are available online, it is important that you make the choice after adequate research, as not all of them may be useful for you. You can be successful in the real estate industry if you are able to use the various blogging resources that are available in an efficient manner.

How To Set Up Blogs

Real estate blogging can help your business retain existing customers and attract new leads. However, setting up a blog can seem overwhelming if you do not have any prior experience of doing so.

4 Simple Steps To Set Up Blogs

1. It is important that you have a plan before you start.  Choose a domain that is easy to remember.  Many free blogging services are available and these can enable you to create a domain easily but you need to remember that you may not get your own domain when you choose free services.
2. Choose a hosting service that is reliable.  If you are on a budget, you can choose hosting services that are not expensive.
3. The theme should be professional and you should remove information that is unnecessary in the theme to enhance its appeal.
4. You can enter all the content or information that you want in the blog. Add pictures and videos to enhance its appeal. Allow people to comment so that you become aware of your customer expectations and start a conversation with them.

You can build a successful blog and attract traffic to it if you provide valuable information to customers. The entire process of setting up a blog is very easy.

How To Maintain A Blog

If you do not maintain your real estate blog, you may be losing many business opportunities that could be coming your way.  You can make the most of your real estate website if you maintain your blog and this can help you retain old customers and get new prospects and leads.

Tips To Maintaining A Blog

• The content that you write for your blog should be local keyword rich and appropriate for your audience. You need to remember that you are writing for your customers and not just for search engines. You can receive inbound links to your blog when you have relevant content on your site.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of real estate by providing expert information and opinions to your clients. You may be viewed as an expert in your area when your provide information that is useful to your customers.
• Do not forget to share your blog posts as they are cost effective ways to get a regular flow of leads.  Invite people to leave comments as this type of activity can help start a discussion on your page.

You may be able to capture the attention of customers from the clutter of real estate blogs that are available online, if you are able to provide informative information.

Outsourcing Tips To Help With Your Blogging

Outsourcing your real estate blogging can help you focus on your core business and is a cost effective solution to managing your operations in a systematic manner. Keeping existing customers and finding new ones is one of the toughest tasks in the real estate business and blogging is a wonderful tool that can be used to achieve success.

What Are The Outsourcing Tips To Help With Your Blogging?

•  Before you start outsourcing your real estate blogging, it is important to determine the skills and experience of the individual to whom the services are been outsourced. This can help you determine if they are the correct fit for your business needs.
• It is important to determine how much it may cost for making use of this service to promote your blog. You can choose blogging services that fit your individual budget.
• Determine the type of content or posts that you need and the number of times these need to be posted each week. You can provide useful information to the customers and this can help build your real estate business.

You can make use of outsourcing to promote a bulk of your real estate business and engage with your customers in an effective way.

What To Avoid With Blogging

Blog articles posted by real estate agents often contain mistakes that can be easily avoided.  If these common mistakes are avoided it can enhance the appeal of the content and result in more visitors to the website.

What Are 4 Major Blogging Mistakes To Avoid?

1. You may be more successful in generating real estate leads if you have a one-to-one conversation with the reader.  You need to avoid too much of “me” in the content and replace it with “you”. I. E. stop telling readers about your family and your credentials and so on. Focus on how you can help the reader, speaking to them using the “you” voice: you will receive personal consulting and a personal marketing plan for your property listing, etc.
2. Most real estate agents start blogging and after a couple of weeks do not include any new content that is interesting to the reader.  If the blog is not updated and provided with new information then the reader loses interest and stops visiting the blog.
3. Readers usually do not read the blog word by word and it is important that you have catchy words and phrases that get their attention. If your content reads more like an essay then the reader is most likely to get bored and stop reading.
4. If you do not use proper and relevant keywords in your content then it may not rank well in the search engines and this can be easily avoided by using relevant keywords.

Your blog may be able to generate real estate listing leads if you avoid these blogging mistakes. Always proof your posts, too, and have good grammar and spelling in your content.

The post Overview Of Blogging Today appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.

Activity is expected to remain strong in 2013 as robust job growth, rising apartment rents and historically low mortgage interest rates result in more demand for housing in the Austin region.

“For 2013, Metrostudy expects new home starts in the region will increase again over last year’s total,” said Eldon Rude, director of the Austin market for Metrostudy, a provider of primary and secondary housing market information.

Metrostudy’s most recent residential survey indicated there were 7,981 new single-family home starts in the Austin region in 2012. This represents over a 30 percent increase in starts from 2011.

MotoGP MAY GENERATE $25M FOR AUSTIN
*”Mark your calendar ~ April 19-21″*
Austin Business Journal, Wednesday, January 9, 2013

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/morning_call/2013/01/austin-may-see-2

5m-impact-from-motogp.html

NEW DOWNTOWN CONDO SALES AVERAGE $1M FOR FIRST TIME Austin Business Journal,
Wednesday, January 9, 2013

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/morning_call/2013/01/new-downtown-con

do-sales-average-1m.html

STRONG HOUSING MARKET FORECAST FOR AUSTIN kvue.com, January 8, 2013

http://www.kvue.com/news/editors-pick/A–strong-housing-market-forecast-in-A

ustin–186095862.html

AUSTIN HITS POPULATION MILESTONE
Austin Business Journal, Monday, January 7, 2013

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/morning_call/2013/01/austin-hits-popu

lation-milestone.html?ana=lnk

VERITAS ACADEMY BUYS 97 ACRES IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN FOR NEW SCHOOL Community Impact, January 3, 2013

http://impactnews.com/articles/veritas-academy-buys-97-acres-in-southwest-au

stin-for-new-school/

Wishing You A Prosperous 2013!!!

The post AUSTIN HOUSING MARKET RECOVERY CONTINUES AUSTIN (Austin Board of Realtors) appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.

3 Simple Tips For Using Real Estate Mobile Marketing

1. Real estate agents can start using mobile communications to advertize and promote the properties that they want to sell to their targeted customers easily. Include mobile / text numbers in your promotions: business cards, postcards, web pages, blogs, mobile websites, etc.
2. Check out free and low cost communications services like Google Voice, a single number for all your phones with call blocking, cheap international calling, transcription to text and other features included, too.
3. Customers will be able to see images and videos of the property that they are interested in wherever they want with smartphones. This data provides them with a lot of convenience. You may be able to receive information sent by these customers immediately, too, via forms, text messages and other means of mobile communications, and this can help build loyalty quickly and easily.

Compared to the traditional marketing methods, real estate mobile marketing offers consumers easy accessibility to the services you provide. As technology evolves, mobile communications will continue to have a deep impact on the way potential customers look at properties they want to buy. Plus you will be able to find more and more ways to build your online presence easily using smartphones and mobile devices to reach these targeted consumers.

More Into Mobile Marketing

 Mobile marketing has become a popular choice for real estate agents as they are able to successfully market their properties to a wider audience. It offers a new channel to reach the prospective customers fast.

Top 4 Tips For Using Mobile Marketing To Promote Real Estate

1. Mobile marketing of properties can contain slideshows of text, images, audio and video, and this data can be sent to customers so that they are able to shop easily.  You can also make use of these marketing techniques to highlight specific features of the properties that you are selling so that you are able to make a lasting impression.
2.  You can send customized information to your prospects and customers based on their specific location. This helps increase your conversion rate as you are targeting customers based on their individual requirements. For instance, use Google Adsense ads to target specific regions, cities or other areas, drawing in online shoppers to your website or blog.
3. Invite your prospects and clients to text you. As your promotions are sent to these people in follow up, you can close more deals in the long run.
4. Search for mobile applications like one for Realtor.com, developed specifically for the real estate industry, and see how you can take advantage of its features and benefits to grow your business.

More and more customers are using their mobile devices to research real estate opportunities. So real estate companies need to devise new strategies to catch their attention.

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My Top 5 Tips For Real Estate Listing

1. When listing a property, it is important that your clients and you are aware of the fair market value.  You can set a fair market value by researching the price of the houses in the area using the MLS and other tools you can find right online.
2. All details need to be mentioned in the listing.  Details such as wooden floors, granite countertops, dryers and washers should be included.
3. Special area and local features such as a great view or historic significance or any other features that are of importance can be mentioned so that this info can catch the buyer’s attention.
4. Research other listings to get ideas about how to describe your own properties listings.
5. Identify what people are looking for and focus on these things so that it becomes easier to sell the house to the prospective clients easily. Check out first time buyer rates, for instance, and any other special financing programs to mention in your description and promotions.

The property market has once again started gaining prominence. So take charge of your promotions and you may be able to convert more opportunities into sales if your plan your property listings accordingly.  Follow my tips for real estate listing now!

Did you know that you can enjoy the power of Social Media Marketing for YOUR LISTINGS?

There’s nothing to lose here! I have partnered with ePropertySites.com to help many Realtors in giving them the best, proven and tested Social Media Marketing! Interested? Click that button now and let’s get started!

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Real Estate Internet Marketing

Top 3 Internet Marketing Tips The Real Estate Industry

1. It is important to attract buyers and sellers to your website.  Add links to and from other websites so that your site popularity goes up in the search engines. And ensure that your website URL is found on all marketing materials that you use and on your own sites and web pages like your Facebook profile and / or business page, your Twitter profile and so on.
2.  Use virtual tours of your property to grab the attention of the prospective customer. A good series of photograph ensures that the customer is more likely to contact you to know more about the property. Hire help making your videos at freelance sites like Elance or top Internet marketing forums like the Warrior forum .
3. Since the competition in the real estate industry can be high, depending upon your location and housing market, conduct keyword research so that you are able to determine the most searched keywords related to your local real estate market on the Internet. You can then have a higher conversion rate if you are able to target specific customers using these keywords in your website and promotional content online. One free tool to use for this is the Google Adsense keyword tool .

The Internet is one of the most cost effective ways to inform prospective customers about property listings. So reach out and grow your own web presence.

The post Internet Marketing Tips For Those In The Real Estate Industry appeared first on Ann Jones - Austin Mortgage Lender.