Industry Interviews

Russell Shaw - An interview.

REPORTER’S NOTE: There are many people that we can interview for Real Estate Industry Watch. There are very few as colorful, fun and most important, as successful and experienced as Russell Shaw. REIW’s Eric Blackwell caught up with Russell (via phone) at the Star Power Seminar in Orlando Florida. This has been my favorite conversation to date.

Russell Shaw is a real estate success story. He and his team have closed over 500 sides in a single year. They year over year continue to be among the best of the best in the real estate business. His experience is proven and his smarts come from the street and years of experience.
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Marketing

Video Gaining Popularity Among REALTORS for marketing.

REALTORS continue to search for tools that provide impact to potential buyers. One of the latest trends is REALTORS using videos of both properties and themselves to drum up business. Are they alone? It appears not.

According to a 2008 comscore report Google owned YoutTube actually overtook and passed Yahoo for number of searches. Aside from the obvious implications that come from Google now holding the first 2 spots in searcn sites, it says something about what users what. They appear to want video as well as plain search.

YouTube is a popular platform with REALTORS due to the exposure that they can receive from that alone.

Franchise Watch

RE/MAX Launches New Website

According to a recent press release from RE/MAX International the new site is “Clean. Simple. Smart. Powerful.” It’s been redesigned to make buying , selling, and managing real estate more intuitive with loads of new features and tools some of which include an easier way to search for homes, a RE/MAX agent or a RE/MAX office. Read more »

Real Estate Marketing Ideas / Trends

Video Gaining Popularity Among REALTORS for marketing.

REALTORS continue to search for tools that provide impact to potential buyers. One of the latest trends is REALTORS using videos of both properties and themselves... 

May 13, 2009

Facebook Groups gain popularity

With the reach of Facebook extending well over 200 million accounts and now gaining popularity rapidly in the middle aged demographics, Facebook Groups are rapidly... 

April 26, 2009

HomeGain now powers Washington Post home valuation tool

HomeGain announced today that they are now powering the home valuation tool on the Washington Post’s website. HomeGain’s instant home valuation tool allows... 

February 12, 2009


International Real Estate Watch

Canadians Find U.S. Property More Attractive

A recent report in the The Sierra Vista Herald reflects that U.S. property has become an increasingly more attractive opportunity for Canadian home buyers and investors. Reports... 

June 29, 2009

Economic Decline Deepens in Europe

A full-scale recovery in world trade and foreign investment may be slowed by the sluggish economies of Europe. The recessions in the European Union, as well as the... 

June 24, 2009


NAR Watch

REALTORs look for positive changes

The National Association of REALTORs (NAR) annual convention is kicking off this weekend.  At the forefront, REALTORS are looking for positive changes for the economy... 

November 7, 2008

National Association of REALTORs Supports Economic Bailout

Not surprisingly, the National Association of REALTORs (NAR) supports the economic bailout currently packaged as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008... 

October 3, 2008

REALTORs demand Health Care Reform

In a recent survey, most REALTORs polled expressed concern regarding the current health care that is available for most small businesses is lacking and insufficient. ... 

June 16, 2008


Real Estate Industry Headlines

Banks May Decide to Hold On to Troubled Loans

According to an article in Reuters, some banks may be taking a play out of the 90’s handbook.  Instead of selling or taking a loss on troubled loans, some... 

June 29, 2009

Canadians Find U.S. Property More Attractive

A recent report in the The Sierra Vista Herald reflects that U.S. property has become an increasingly more attractive opportunity for Canadian home buyers and investors. Reports... 

June 29, 2009

Green Certification Moving Toward Common International Metrics

Currently, a number of green building rating systems exist throughout the world but there is no international standard. The leading rating systems per ClimateChangeCorp.com... 

June 19, 2009


Real Estate Blog Watch

Listing Syndication? Not for this Broker!

Curtis Reddehase, a real estate broker in Austin Texas recently wrote announcing his decision regarding Listing Syndication and why his brokerage will no longer... 

May 19, 2009

Sarasota Association of REALTORs Actions are Questioned

An enlightening article on recent Sarasota Association of REALTORs (SAR) actions are questioned.  The Sarasota Association of REALTORs recently acquired a ruling... 

October 22, 2008

Home Sales Are Up in Some Areas

A bit of good news that not everything in the real estate world is negative.  Home sales are up in some areas.  Overall, if you compare August 2008 to July 2008,... 

October 10, 2008


Real Estate Technology Review

This column is the work of 3 real estate technologists. David Smith, from Tucson Arizona, Cheryl Johnson from LA and Eric Blackwell from Louisville KY.