Harvest Business and Internet Blog » Real Estate

Weekly Search & Social News: 01/12/2010

cgseo — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:32:42 +0000

Welcome to another edition of ‘ 7 Days of Search and Social ‘ – We’re all back in the swing of things after the holidays, although I am still getting caught up over here…sigh. Anyway, it was a pretty good week out in the blogosphere and somewhat drama-free, (always a good thing). While there were plenty of interesting blog posts, the rest of the search geek world was still somewhat sleepy (other than some interesting patents). Without further adieu, the best from the week that was;

Twitter Success: You Gotta Show Up

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:15:38 +0000

Twitter is all the rage, but you don’t need me to tell you that. So, yes, this is another Twitter article. But hang in there, it’s a good one! Lately I’m hearing mixed reviews about the success companies are having with Twitter. After my own successes with Twitter, I was a little surprised, so I decided to dig a little deeper to try to find out why some are having success and others aren’t. Ready for what I found? I found that the people that are really participating are getting the benefit and those that aren’t don’t see much benefit! Wow! Imagine that. LOL OK, so there is no surprise there, but it’s still interesting. It tells me there are a lot of people out there that understand Twitter is important but they don’t know why. I suspect a lot of people think just being there is enough – just having a presence is all they need. I’m seeing great Twitter background pages and great bios and a handful of interesting tweets and then it stops there. Just being on Twitter isn’t enough. You have to participate. Join the conversation. Create conversation. It’s like getting all dressed up and heading to a party and then sitting in the corner by yourself not talking to anyone all night. While you may start the evening like that, just sitting back scoping things out – eventually, if you want to have a good time, you have to join the party. So c’mon in and join the Twitter party. J I know we are all busy, I know growing a business online has gotten harder. I often hear “you mean I have to do SEO, be on Facebook, write and syndicate articles, Blog regularly AND tweet???” My response is no you don’t have to. If you aren’t looking to aggressively grow your business and use all the tools available to you, then you can pick and choose what you want to do. Any of those strategies will work for you on their own, but the key is when combined they work so well together and you get a much bigger impact. It’s building on top of your efforts rather than a single pronged approach. I know it’s a lot of work. It’s also new. We’ve never marketed like this before. It’s confusing for beginners. So, here is a quick overview of some of the tips that my clients have found most helpful. Getting Started: Understand Your

Google Combines Search and Real Estate

cgseo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:16:43 +0000

What would you get if you combine web search and real estate listings? Well, there’s not a real name for this feature but Google is nonetheless rolling it out , direct from the labs of Google’s Australia office. This new feature lets you search for “real estate” properties as it appears on Google Maps. Isn’t it great that when you’re trying to look for a real estate property, you can actually see where it is located as well as the surrounding areas via Google Maps? the idea is to make it easier for you to find specific locations and some degree of accuracy when searching for real estate property via Google Maps. If you want this feature in action, check these sample searches given by Google Australia – “homes for sale sydney” or “homes for rent near Perth among other search queries. Aside from this feature, Google has also integrated real estate listing and hosted in on Place Pages. This gives Google users a day of rest, away from everything. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Google Combines Search and Real

Effective Real Estate Internet Marketing Ideas

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:28:22 +0000

by Alexis Jameson Thriving real estate businesses can continue to thrive and reap generous profits with quality real estate internet marketing. If you stay in the loop and continually educate yourself on the new internet tools that will successfully help you capture and retain audiences, you will be off to a fabulous start in getting your share of the market and getting a solid position in the marketplace. If you don’t have a website, that is the first stage to internet marketing. Not only is the website the key, what you have on it can make a difference. A good website will need to have fresh, frequently updated, and informative content. Visitors like tools to use like mortgage calculators, questions and answers, how to shop for home guides, free analysis, attractive pictures of homes, and even maps to plot your tours. Having ways for your potential customers to interact with your site is a good real estate internet marketing practice to begin with. One of the most favored methods that is becoming a norm is the ability to bookmark. This is a website vital feature for real estate companies to offer. This is an internet version of word of mouth. It is quick and makes it easy for your traffic to share pages with others who may be house hunting. A way to establish traffic directed to your website is through the use of blogs. Having information on real estate, buying and selling homes that are useful will draw people in groves. This helps establish a trusted reputation. Using virtual tours of homes that show the complete home is what will attract and keep visitors. A virtual tour that displays interior and exterior picturesque views is a sure winner. Adapting a couple of these real estate internet marketing ideas is a start to increasing your customer base. About the Author: Use social media to easily receive an additional 15-20 fresh buyers and sellers per month with simple real estate internet marketing strategies. Make $30,000 + per month and create multiple sources of income with this ultimate real estate internet marketing . Visit http://RealEstateCrusher.com right now to learn more.

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Effective Real Estate Internet Marketing Ideas

Getting Started In Residential Property Investment

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:34:40 +0000

by Layla Vanderbilt A residential investment property is a real estate property which is not occupied by the owner. Acting as a landlord, the owner rents out the property to tenants, or contracts tenant management to a property management company. There are a number of different types of residential investment property, and many people are introduced to the world of real estate investing through such properties, gradually acquiring skills which allow them to invest in bigger projects and to explore other types of real estate investment options. While it is good to have luck on your side, you need more than luck to make this work. The more information you have when making an investment, they better off you will be. You must research the residential property investment that you are considering. Your money is valuable and you will want to protect yours with a well-thought out strategy. Managing a residential investment property can be a lot of work. In addition to finding and keeping reliable tenants, a landlord must also be involved in the maintenance of the property, responding to tenant complaints and providing routine maintenance which keeps the property in good shape. Landlords must also be concerned with servicing a mortgage, keeping property taxes current, and obtaining the appropriate insurance for their property. The amount of income which can be generated from such a property varies, depending on whether or not it is mortgaged, the size and condition of the units, the area, and the landlord’s abilities. Expenses associated with residential investment properties are considered write-offs for tax purposes, just like the expenses associated with running any business. For example, when a landlord pays to have a house painted, hires a plumber to fix a backed up shower, or pays for the installation of landscaping at an apartment complex, these expenses are all write-offs Purchasing residential investment property is a major commitment and it can be tricky to make good investment decisions. Anxiety, fear and a feeling of being overwhelmed is common to first time property investors. While these feelings are normal, you need to be aware of the pitfalls they can lead you into. Sometimes excitement can get in the way of common sense and may keep you from making the best deal. Fear can stop you from doing the right thing. You should begin by considering these questions: ? What are your long-term goals for your investment? ? What are you personally looking to accomplish with this investment? ? What are your expectations for your investment? ? How do you plan on financing your real estate investment? ? What are your cash flow needs? You can also generate rental income from your residential home by renting out spare rooms, but this is finding compatible and reliable tenants can be tough. So, buying a separate investment property and using this to generate rental income is usually a better option. Benefits of Buying Investment Properties are Investment in property is usually prone to less volatility than shares. The investment in this sector is relatively a safe form of investment, the value of our property rises in the long term; we become eligible to receive tax deductions. We can include depreciation in the value of the investment property due to wear, tear and obsolescence as deductions in our tax returns, we can obtain tax variations and enhance our cash flows, we can earn from the rental income, we can earn from the rental income. By seeking proper advice from qualified experts such as accountants, financiers and quantity surveyors, it is possible to maximize the benefits you receive from your investment property. About the Author: Layla Vanderbilt is the content coordinator for a leading property management solution review website which connects people with the leading property management tools.

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Getting Started In Residential Property Investment

Start Investing In Real Estate

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:59:44 +0000

by Thommas Anderson A heartbreaking statistic is that only 5% of Americans are going to have enough money to retire. That leaves the rest of us in a dilemma. In spite of this, with meticulous scheduling and a simple comprehension of investing, you can easily join that 5%, even if you don’t yield that much money every year. A good way to become a member that 5% is through real estate. I appreciate that this is not a trendy sentiment right now given the state of the market. Regardless, investing in real estate has made countless millionaires throughout history. In addition, investing in real estate gives significant benefits over other investments These details are specially true in a down market because you as an investor have the opportunity to buy property at a low cost that ought to appreciate over time. So if investing in real estate is in fact an chance, how do you get started? The primary thing you must know is that there are three areas to focus on when buying an investment property. The biggest area of focus should be rental income. In addition to rent, you ought to forecast the overall appreciation for the property. The third area of focus is the consequence that the investment will have on your taxes. When you look at a latent investment property these are the primary issues that you need to address. Many real estate investors make the error of not completely evaluating the investment chance before buying the property. There are numerous real estate investment software products on the market, and a few of these real estate software programs are free of charge for investors to download. As a novice in real estate investing, you may not fully recognize all of the ratios and data that a retail or at no cost real estate investment software program gives, the data provided by the program is still necessary to guide you on your decision. For most software programs the simple data is moderately easy to understand and will allow you to get a feel for if the rent will cover the cost of the investment and if the investment property will truly be profitable. The more in-depth information returned from the real estate software could be better understood by bankers and accountants. Nonetheless, these are professionals that you ought to come to know as you start investing in real estate. About the Author: Freetrainer.com provides real estate investors with a free downloadable residential and commercial real estate investment software . Visit AgentsOnline today to learn more about investing in real estate.

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Start Investing In Real Estate

Managing Your Business Property Effectively

cgseo — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:43:26 +0000

by Layla Vanderbilt Proper management of business property has a lot of different complications and requirements involved. But the first things you should be concerned with in business property management is screening and analyzing the market properly so you know what’s going on with your competition and your potential partners. There are many people who need this kind of management. There are many specialists in this field who give help in the administration of the business. They set out targets which increase the profits. Their customer focused approach gives the business an edge over the others. Others assist and give consultation for the management of their property. They assist in various fields like use of land or marketing. Business to business and property management and five main functions: leadership, planning, coordination, regulation and control. Being because all these jobs require different tasks, competencies and capabilities, and business aspects of the ownership and management of the work did by various professionals and training for these roles. They all have skills and special abilities, and respect for the code of ethical conduct in business ownership and business management, and provide excellent services. Lead a major project for businesses in property and business management is a matter of great responsibility, as the leader must know the direction, and the main tasks of the property management process. The one with the Planning Officer should be aware of the tasks that must be accomplished, methods and how to deal with this process. Coordinating the various activities, events, market research, studies and statistics is another important part of business ownership and business management process. Being in control of the whole situation or several aspects of the other hand, cannot be neglected, and require skills and specific capabilities. Performance of the business of real estate companies, business management, should meet the high standards of economic and technological development. Professionals working in various business functions of the real estate and business display their abilities and to ensure performance, and a wealth of customer properties. Highly trained personnel involved in business ownership and business management to meet customer needs and requirements, and provide extensive reports, and inspections in the market and studies on effective and successful property management. Persons involved in business ownership and business management with specific roles and accomplish specific tasks, and contribute to achieving great results for the company they work for. Business and property management in the process involves a study of the market, and negotiate for clients, maintenance, repairs and other tasks. Business to business and property management and includes many of the tasks and responsibilities, which require much of attention, and the ability to develop and new tasks to be completed successfully. This business to business property management assumes of having unpleasant things like management of the salaries of employees as well as other things of repair and the maintenance of various things. People must have many qualities such as good knowledge and various qualities such as being patient. This is the secret of such companies providing help and consultation of various issues. These professionals solve the issues immediately saving the the time of the customer. This proves the importance of such companies in the industry. About the Author: Layla Vanderbilt is the content coordinator for a leading property management solution review website which connects people with the leading property management tools.

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Managing Your Business Property Effectively

DR Hortons Creekview Community And Kenn Renner Austin Real Estate Expert Set To Host Free On-Site Expo In February

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:19:31 +0000

Summary: Austin Real Estate Expert Kenn Renner with Keller Williams Realty and DR Horton’s Creekview Community are set to host free on-site seminar presentations in February to showcase their community and cover a myriad of home buying strategies. All meetings are open to the public.

Austin, Texas — January 20th, 2009 — On the weekend of February 7th and 8th DR Horton’s newest Cedar Park community Creekview will host a real estate expo and a series of seminar presentations featuring real estate expert Kenn Renner (www.BuyAustin.com) of Keller Williams Realty. The seminars will cover a myriad of subjects including:

1.    Buying your first home
2.    Move-up strategies
3.    How to negotiate with landlords
4.    Income tax benefits of home ownership
5.    $7,500 Federal First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
6.    Energy efficiency of new homes
7.    Lowest interest rates in decades

The one hour presentations will be held at 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM both days and Kenn will be providing all who attend a free copy of “Your First Home” written by best selling author Gary Keller – a $20 value. There will also be an opportunity to tour the current inventory homes that are available in Creekview. DR Horton offers substantial incentives to homebuyers on their completed inventory homes.

All homes in Creekview feature three sides masonry & two car garages and range from 1,508 square feet to 2,402 square feet with prices from the low $200s. For those want to build there is a fine selection of plans and home sites available.

“Creekview’s number one draw is its location,” says sales agent Daisy McLester. “Located in the heart of Cedar Park’s rolling hills, the community is a peaceful escape from busy traffic, yet just a short commute to downtown Austin with the new toll road 183A just five minutes away”. Parents can rest assured their children are receiving top-notch education in the highly acclaimed Leander School District. Artie Henry Middle School and Vista Ridge High School is within walking distance.

The new Ronald Reagan Elementary School is scheduled to open this fall. Creekview’s new pool and amenity center is scheduled to open this summer. “I am so excited about this neighborhood and with interest rates coming down our homes have become even more affordable” McLester adds, “And with Kenn explaining all the ins and outs of buying a new home I really encourage everyone to come out to the expo”

To get to Creekview take Parmer Lane to Brushy Creek Road and travel west. Turn right on Vista Ridge Blvd. and left on East Park Street. The Expo is all day and seminars are at 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM both Saturday and Sunday February 7th & 8th. The expo is open to the public and the admission is free.

For more information visit www.BuyCreekview.com or call/text Kenn Renner @ 512-423-5626

About Kenn Renner:
Kenn Renner (www.BuyAustin.com) is a national speaker & author on the subject of real estate and finance. He has been featured on HGTV’s House Hunters and is a guest expert on nationally syndicated radio talk shows. He has helped more than one thousand Central Texas families purchase their homes including over two hundred DR Horton home owners. Corporate Disclosure: Kenn Renner is a buyer’s representative and does not represent nor have an exclusive right to sell DR Horton homes.

About DR Horton:
DR Horton “Americas Builder” (www.DRHorton.com)is the number one selling builder in Austin and in the Nation. Creekview is DR Horton’s newest Cedar Park community.

Contact Information:
Kenn Renner, Broker/Speaker
Keller Williams Realty, Lake Travis
1921 Lohmans Crossing
Austin, TX 78634
(512) 423-5626 (call or Text)
Email: Kenn@buyaustin.com
Website: http://www.BuyAustin.com

At AustinFireSale.com, Real Estate Broker Kenn Renner Lists Below Value Properties Available Now In Austin And Lakeway

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:19:56 +0000

Summary: Top Keller Williams real estate broker, Kenn Renner, launches a new real estate website www.AustinFireSale.com to market significantly discounted real estate properties in the Austin and Lakeway Area.

Austin, Texas – December 5, 2008 — Top Austin Real Estate Broker, Kenn Renner (www.BuyAustin.com), in conjunction with Keller Williams Realty Lake Travis Market Center, has created a new website specifically geared to helping sellers needing to liquidate their property as soon as possible. The new website, www.AustinFireSale.com, will feature properties that are at least 10 to 20% below current market value. Kenn will also feature HUD foreclosures and REO (Real Estate Owned) properties, as well.

“Although my intention when taking a listing is to get the seller the maximum price on their property, there are times when a seller must sell and a discounted price is the best price to accomplish that objective,” Kenn mentions. “I have two properties right now that need to be liquidated — one is in Lakeway with an incredible 10 mile view listed for $199,900 with comparable properties selling in the $230-240,000 range and the other is located in North Austin that is an estate sale that was listed originally at $267,000 and is now being liquidated at a price of $210,000. Both properties would be great for first time home buyers, investors, or empty nesters who would like a one story plan,” adds Renner.

Kenn Renner, who is a national speaker and one of Central Texas’ top real estate brokers concludes, “We are in a shifting real estate market; now buyers have the upper hand. So, when selling a property, pricing and staging strategies are incredibly important along with extreme marketing exposure. Having the right real estate professional — whether buying or selling — is critical in this market; buyers and sellers should never try to ‘go-it-alone.’ I am a firm believer in educating and counseling my clients; I try to see into the future by observing and studying the trends of the past and the trends of today and price ahead of the market. I am always an optimist, but I am also a realist. My advice is: if you don’t ‘need’ to sell, then stay out of the market. If you ‘need’ to sell, then get with an experienced, top-selling real estate agent and price your home right. On the other hand, if you are in the market to purchase a home—enjoy the great selection of homes that this ‘buyer’s market’ has to offer. With interest rates nearing the 5% level on 30-year-fixed mortgages and the new tax incentives being offered, there is no better time in recent history to buy a home.”

This week’s below-market properties featured on www.AustinFireSale.com are as follows:

44 White Magnolia, Austin, Texas, 78734 (Lakeway). One Story, 1615 square foot, three bedroom, two bath built in 2005. Located in the Preserve at Lakeway with a 10-mile view over the Hill Country. Situated in Lake Travis ISD and just 5 minutes to the new Hill Country Galleria.
MLS # 3300198

7210 Chimney Corners, Austin, Texas 78731 (Far West Blvd.). One Story, 1606 Square foot, two bedroom, two bath townhome just 10 minutes from downtown Austin. Completely renovated with hardwood floors, new carpet, fresh paint, and an oversized two car garage.
MLS # 5429759

To view these fine properties and to contact Kenn for a private showing, visit: www.AustinFireSale.com.

About Kenn Renner:

Kenn Renner is a recognized national speaker on the subject of real estate, finance, and achievement. He has been featured on HGTV’s number one rated show “House Hunters” and is a guest expert on national and local financial radio shows. He has recently been elected to the Agent Leadership Council of Keller Williams Realty – Austin’s number one real estate company. For all of the latest real estate wisdom including upcoming free seminar presentations, visit www.BuyAustin.com.

About Keller Williams Realty:

Keller Williams Realty has recently opened its newest facility: the “world class” Lake Travis Market Center. The state-of-the-art facility boasts 15,000 square feet of high-tech triple-A office space, conference rooms, and training facilities; and is located just 14 miles from downtown Austin near beautiful Lake Travis.

To register for the seminar series, please contact Kenn Renner’s office at (512) 423-5626 or register on-line at www.BuyAustin.com

Press release edited and distributed by http://www.BestOnlineResults.com

Contact info:

Kenn Renner, Broker/Speaker
Keller Williams Realty, Lake Travis
1921 Lohmans Crossing
Austin, TX 78634
(512) 423-5626 (call or Text)
Email: Kenn@buyaustin.com
Website: http://www.buyaustin.com

Join French Place Austin Condos Grand Opening This Saturday April 26th

admin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:58:15 +0000

Austin- Texas April 25, 2008 – “Living in Downtown Austin is hip, and it will continue to be, as the landscape of downtown Austin matures,” says Ray Walter of Walter Capital Funding. Downtown Austin is regarded as one of the best burgeoning condo markets in the country. The landscape in the capital city of Texas is changing rapidly with the growth of new high rise apartments, luxury lofts and condos centered in, and around the downtown district.

The sudden increase of urban living, as is the case in other American cities, is most pronounced in the downtown area, where condominiums, apartments and lofts are being constructed or refurbished. The lure back into inner city is not an isolated phenomenon. It is a worldwide phenomenon that many city planners and developers are capitalizing upon.

“In less than 3 short months, French Place Austin is 30 percent leased out due to the affordability and proximity to downtown,” says Jeff Lewis of French Place Austin Condos (http://www.fpAustin.com). “We feel French Place Condos will likely be a top choice of many urban professionals looking to reside in downtown Austin. With the growth in Austin, we feel that downtown Austin will be a bustling metropolis within a metropolis,” says Ray Walter.

French Place Austin recently was converted into luxury condos and it has given Austinites new options in luxury apartments near downtown Austin. “The buzz surrounding French Place Austin and its’ early on success, can be simply summed up in three main attributes,” says Joshua Geary, Senior Marketing Consultant, Best Online Results Search Engine Optimization (http://www.BestOnlineResults.com), “perfect Location, Luxury at an affordable price and Lifestyle.”

Come join French Place Austin as they celebrate their Grand Opening. There will be free food, autographed Vince Young footballs will be raffled off at the event and free tours of the property will be offered by the French Place Staff. Austin we look forward to seeing you at the event. The event starts at 11 AM and ends at 4 PM this Saturday April 26th 2008.