What&#8217;s new

Meeting Agents Where They Are, Getting Them Where They Want to Go

With the powerful training and technology resources of Keller Williams Realty at their backs, Nancy Marcotte and JD Pierce can turn their full attention toward what matters most: the success of their agents. Understanding that success means something different to everyone, the operating partners of Louisiana-based Keller Williams Realty The Gulf South Group are there to run alongside each agent, providing whatever it takes to guide them toward their respective goals. In this interview, find out how this servant leadership approach has led to the company’s growth and profitability…and why there’s no end in sight.

Maria Patterson: Please briefly describe your career path in real estate and how you came to lead Keller Williams Realty Premier Partners.
Nancy Marcotte: I got my real estate license in 2001, right before 9/11. I started with Keller Williams in Mandeville, La., and six months later my husband got transferred to Lafayette. I interviewed with some of the other real estate companies there, but they just weren’t Keller Williams. So, I started Keller Williams Realty Acadiana in Lafayette, La., in 2003. About five years into it, I hired JD Pierce as my team leader. We then moved into the Lake Charles, La., market very successfully, and from there, JD and I were offered many opportunities to take over failing or stagnant Keller Williams Market Centers. We caught a few folks’ eyes. Initially, I was operating partner of all the offices, and JD was my partner and general manager. We then decided to split them up; Premier Partners in Denham Springs is one of the Market Centers I kept as operating principal.

MP: JD, how about you?
JD Pierce: I had spent 23 years in the restaurant business as a restaurant executive and owner, and needed a second career. I am now in my 12th year in real estate.
NM: I had a different team leader when I started the business and he and I interviewed JD, who at the time mentioned management. I called him to see if he was interested in management, and that proved to be a really great choice.

MP: How many offices and agents does the firm currently have?
NM: PM Partnership, which JD and I started, has six Market Centers and two Business Centers, currently. With all of them combined, we have a total agent count of 831 as of mid-July, but the number grows monthly. For example, in January 2017 we started out with 740.

MP: What is the difference between a Market Center and a Business Center?
JDP: A Market Center is a fully-staffed location, and a Business Center is more of a support satellite office. Business Centers help us get into geographic areas where we may not be able to open a full office.

MP: Your growth is very impressive. What would you attribute that to?
JDP: Our growth is really supported by our culture and commitment to our agents. We have a saying around here: “Yes is the answer; now what’s the question?” We take care of our people first—for us, our primary customer is our …read more

From:: Real Estate News

Felicia Hengle: Setting Agents Up for Success

There was a time when Felicia Hengle was working in the restaurant and entertainment industry, leaving her mark as director of Operations for the Hilarities Comedy Club in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, when a chance meeting with a commercial real estate agent changed her life forever.

Hengle was convinced to give real estate a try, and in no time at all, she was on her way to becoming a member of the Mega Million Dollar Club for sales—seven times over. In 2016, she became president of Ohio Operations for Coldwell Banker Schmidt Family of Companies (CBHR).

“I’ve been in this business 20 years and it never gets old,” she says. “We are ‘dream makers.’ It is a gratifying business on many levels. Helping people achieve the dream of homeownership is one side, but the other is helping agents by tying them to a business plan designed to get them to live their dreams.”

Hengle’s firm believes in organic growth by adding agents who are a “cultural fit”—those who are collaborative, professional, prideful and have a servant heart.

“We believe growth is at the heart of everything we do, including recruiting and retention, and helping agents grow their businesses,” Hengle says. “Whether as a solo agent, or when it’s time to hire an administrator or you’re ready to launch a team, we have the platform to help you succeed.”

The firm is focused on increasing agent count and mergers and acquisitions, primarily within its marketplace.

“We are under new ownership with the Schmidt Family of Companies and that is a great success story to share,” Hengle says. “We brought on 100 new agents in 2016 and already have brought in 73 year-to-date as of July. Agents want to be part of a winning team and we are offering that platform with all of the state-of-the-art innovation that the Coldwell Banker brand has to offer.”

The outlook in 2017 has been strong. The Northeast Ohio region of Coldwell Banker is up 23 percent and is outpacing the MLS.

“We are seeing multiple offers, below-average market time, escalation clauses and a continued shortage in inventory,” Hengle says. “Aggressive agents need to be at the top of their game to win in this market.”

The biggest opportunity for success right now, she believes, is in establishing builder programs and target-marketing to high-demand neighborhood sellers.

“In addition, I would say it is a time more than ever to get back to the basics: calling your sphere, working the FSBOs and expireds, and establishing yourself as the local economist of choice, truly educating the consumers on the market and how to position themselves in this market,” Hengle says. “We educate consumers on why they need an experienced agent to guide them through this process, whether they are a buyer looking to get the best value or a seller looking to optimize their ROI on their home sale.”

One way the firm stands out is by being paperless, a huge advantage when time is definitely of the essence.

“Using digital signature technology can make the difference between sealing the deal …read more

From:: Real Estate News

Economic Forecast Perks Up

Analysts are amending their economic forecast due to higher GDP expectations, even as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma weigh on growth, according to Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) Group’s recently released Economic and Housing Outlook for September 2017. The Outlook projects the economy will perk up 2.2 percent over the course of the year, up from the 2.0 percent initially reported.

“For the first time in 2017, we have increased our full-year growth outlook,” says Doug Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae. “The upgrade reflects economic activity gaining momentum at the end of the second quarter, though we see a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the forecast. The list of uncertainties now extends beyond the geopolitical and legislative, as the effects of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma will require time to untangle.

“Historically, natural disasters that hit heavily populated areas led to substantial near-term declines in economic activity but meaningful rebounds in subsequent quarters due to rebuilding efforts,” Duncan says. “Thus, economic growth in the second half of 2017 could still average a slightly stronger pace than the first half. Unfortunately, we continue to expect home sales to be flat during the second half of the year compared to the first half due to strong home price appreciation and lean inventories.”

Source: Fannie Mae

For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.

The post Economic Forecast Perks Up appeared first on RISMedia.

From:: Real Estate News

Economic Forecast Perks Up

Source: Fannie Mae

For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.

The post Economic Forecast Perks Up appeared first on RISMedia.

From:: Finance and Economy

Personal Relationships Reign Supreme

In the following interview, John Colvin, broker/owner of CENTURY 21 FM Realty in Fargo, N.D., discusses the advantages of Century 21 Real Estate, the local market, and more.

Region Served: Greater Fargo, N.D.
Years in Real Estate: 19
Number of Offices: 1
Number of Agents: 21
Best Tip for Getting the Right Listing Price: Emphasize the fact that list price is not a negotiation, but a realistic number based on local comps and current market conditions.
Best time management tip: Schedule everything.
Can’t-Live-Without Tech Tool: My tablet. It does everything from communicating, staying in-touch with my sales associates, and scheduling and running meetings to ordering supplies and approving ads.
Best Recruiting Technique: There’s no amount of technology that replaces a face-to-face meeting and the formation of personal relationships.

How much do you lean on technology to facilitate your agents’ work?
Technology is a tool that makes some processes easier; however, it should never replace the personal interaction with our clients. Being face-to-face with our clients enables us to physically see when they become concerned or have questions we need to address. Technology should be used to support and enhance our marketing and services, but it should never replace our presence with our clients.

What’s the most exciting thing happening with your company today?
In May, we converted from an independent company that’s been in this market for 16 years to a franchise affiliate of Century 21 Real Estate LLC, and then acquired another local franchise on June 1. We’re also in a unique spot because our market hasn’t suffered at all going back to before the housing bubble burst. In fact, it’s been growing every year since I’ve been here.

What are the prime drivers that bring buyers to your firm?
The connection our sales professionals have in the communities in which they live and work, coupled with the CENTURY 21® Platform and the support and services we deliver to market. Plus, we’ve got a new hospital opening up—a regional Trauma 1 center—which will bring all levels of housing clients to the area. This includes medical professionals, the rest of the hospital’s staff, support businesses and the educational facilities that feed it. We also have a fairly large Microsoft facility in the area that has doubled its corporate campus over the past three years.

Do most of your clients come to Fargo and stay?
We continuously draw people from many of the surrounding regions to our excellent colleges, most of which have health and medical training curriculum. I find that people generally come here for school, fall in love with the region, get educated and then stay here to work in the medical industry. Vacation homes in our lake country make up another 20 percent of our market. Having lived all over the place, the bottom line is that the people in this community are the nicest I’ve ever met.

For more information, please visit www.century21.com.

For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.

The post Personal Relationships Reign Supreme appeared first on RISMedia.

From:: Real Estate News

Mortgage Firms Keep Up With Mobile Adoption

As more data emerges confirming the continued adoption of mobile technology in financial services, home lenders and service providers are capitalizing on the trend.

A survey conducted on behalf of the American Bankers Association indicated that more than a quarter of consumers use their mobile devices most often to conduct their banking business.

For users between 18 and 29 years old, 46 percent use mobile banking the most. The higher usage reflects millennials who have largely grown up constantly using a smartphone.

From:: Financing

Refinances Drive Down New Mortgage Business

Driven by refinance transactions, new mortgage activity retreated this past week. While adjustable-rate business was down the most, the category had the biggest year-over-year gain.

A predictor of upcoming single-family loan originations, the U.S. Mortgage Market Index from Mortgage Daily, was 139 during the seven-day period ended Sept. 22.

The index, which is determined based on average per-user rate-lock volume by clients of OpenClose, declined 3 percent from the previous week. No seasonal adjustments were made.

From:: Financing

HUD ends 32-year receivership of East St. Louis Housing Authority

The Department of Housing and Urban Development took the East St. Louis Housing Authority into receivership in October 1985, citing “years of deteriorating physical conditions, financial mismanagement and a lack of effective leadership.” Ever since then, the East St. Louis Housing Authority has been under HUD control, but on Thursday, HUD returned control of the East St. Louis Housing Authority to local authorities. …read more

From:: Real Estate Wire