The Agent University

As we prepare for the first day of a new school year, we are reminded of the importance of school districts and the huge role they play in the real estate world. School information is so important. It’s among the many reasons that it is included on every property listing on Foreclosure.com. It is common knowledge that in many cases, a school district can make or break a property sale.

Realtors(R), are you using school districts to your advantage when you list properties? Do you market the property to the prospective school district? In many cases, buyers are not willing to leave their current school districts, so these become target rich environments. In other cases, there is a steady stream of families willing to relocate to neighborhoods with great schools. The value that an excellent school district adds or subtracts to a home is often immeasurable.

As a real estate agent, it behooves you to farm prospective leads in the most desired neighborhood school districts in your coverage area. For example, you could get involved in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), attend school bake sales and network at athletic events. The relationship between real estate and school districts is valuable and should never be underestimated.

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act was introduced to Congress in Sept. 2007 and was signed into law three months later in Dec. 2007. The act was designed to provide relief for homeowners who were facing foreclosure. Under the act, homeowners would no longer owe taxes on forgiven mortgage debt.

This act is now set to expire on Dec. 31, 2012.

At this point in time, short sales are a better alternative for those who may be facing foreclosure. However, when the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 expires later this year, short sales will become very unpopular. That’s because under the 2007 act, if a taxpayer owns a property that is upside-down (negative equity), he or she may opt “short sale” it, which typically means that the debt different will be forgiven. In other words, the federal government would exclude that debt as taxable income. When this act expires at the conclusion of 2012, all that debt will become taxable.

There is a possibility, and maybe even a likelihood, that the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act could be extended past the Dec. 2012 deadline. However, as a real estate agent, it is important to create urgency among your clients. Whether buying or selling a home, it is certainly safer to take advantage of this act before the opportunity is gone.

So agents everywhere, make sure that your clients are aware of the deadline before it’s too late.

The Agent University would like to congratulate our most recent graduates! These professionals are highly trained and equipped with the expert training to become leaders in their fields.

Debra Watts- Certified Foreclosure Agent Specialist

Richard Womeldorf- Certified Foreclosure Agent Expert

Rick Woodring- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Charlie Fesperman- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Duane Lowrey- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Vanessa Roberts- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

David Lewchuck- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Sandra Ayers- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Mildred Cestone- Certified Short Sale Agent

Darren Siegel- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Diana Ramirez- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Cynthia Gustin- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Daniel Hall- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Alfred Burnett- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Stan Amramov- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Stephen Hubble- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Cheryl Barker- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Linda Klinger- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Roosevelt Broach- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Robin Barnes- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Tracy Cornett- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Donna Marshall- Certified Foreclosure Agent Specialist

David Patrician- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Scott Carlton- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Carl Riley- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Betty Upchurch- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Dianna Thomas- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Juliett Douglas- Certified Foreclosure Agent Expert

Lauren Searfus- Certified Foreclosure Agent Specialist

Lauren Searfus- Certified Short Sale Agent

Alan Allio- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Bernard Fleming- Certified Short Sale Agent

Sarah Laban- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Michael Knight- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Chuck Tonyan- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

Anton Levdanskiy- Property Preservation & Field Service Specialist

The United States housing market has been in a treacherous state since the bubble burst a few years ago. Housing prices reached a peak in 2006, followed by a record increase in foreclosure rates and low prices in the years that followed. We have heard mixed reports in 2012, as we are seeing even lower prices in some places, coupled with signs of a housing rebound in other parts of the nation.

In May 2012, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that sales of existing homes rose and median home prices climbed 10.1 percent from the same time in 2011. Real estate professionals are thrilled to hear positive news, but many agents report that they are not seeing the improvement in their daily businesses. On the other hand, some real estate agents tell us that 2012 has been a great one for business; in fact, quite possibly their best in a decade.

Mixed reviews from real estate agents all over the nation remind us that while national measures of the real estate market are helpful, housing rebound is very much neighborhood specific. What really matters to your business is what you see in your own backyard. As a whole, we are hearing more and more positive remarks from real estate agents this year. Here’s hoping that your neighborhood is the next to experience a housing rebound!

Ron April is a consistently performing agent in the Newburyport, Mass., area; so consistent, in fact, that he has been named a RE/MAX Hall of Fame agent. He attributes much of his success to his back-to-basics philosophy of respect and attention to detail.

But, how exactly is he accomplishing that with his clients?

“By caring about the people I service,” Ron answered. “Whether someone is selling conventionally or by short sale, or buying a home, I make sure that every move is calculated and makes the best sense for that situation. I think people sense that I am genuine and that’s it’s not about the commission for me.”

Sure, you’ve heard agents give that song and dance before, but Ron isn’t kidding when he says that it isn’t about the money. In fact, he is so serious about his customer service that he offers his clients an iron-clad guarantee: 100 percent satisfaction, or you don’t owe him a penny.

It’s a bold promise, indeed. But if you are finding yourself thinking that Ron must be crazy, you only have to look at his documented success to realize that he doesn’t end up with unsatisfied clients very often.

Ron is also a regular student of the training sessions through Foreclosure.com and The Agent University. “I learn so much with every seminar I take,” Ron told us. Timely education helps him stay on top of the market and anticipate what his clients need.

It’s all part and parcel of giving his clients the service they deserve.

What advice does Ron have for other agents and brokers hoping to do as well as he is doing?

“Be ready to work,” said Ron. “The real estate business is just that: A business. And when it comes to being successful, don’t measure it in numbers of sales or dollars earned, but by the look on your clients faces when the deal is done.”

And if you’re still hung up on the potential risk of Ron’s 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, maybe you should be asking yourself why. Are you giving your clients the attention they deserve? Are you ready to work hard for them to actually earn those top commissions?

It is possible, in this or any other economy, and Ron April is proof of that.

Thanks to the fraudulent foreclosure practices and the epic market crash, the United States government has really tightened the leash when it comes to real estate practices.

If you want to succeed as a real estate investor or broker, you owe it to yourself – and your clients – to get educated about how the industry has changed and what pitfalls need to be sidestepped.

That’s the reason we have put together this important training session, which will take place live on Thurs., July 26, 2012 at 4:00pm E.T. – Mark your calendars, clear your schedule and register so you won’t miss it!

This live webinar will be led by real estate expert James Gage, a self-made real estate guru who knows the ropes when it comes to the legalities of investing in today’s real estate market. When it comes to buying real estate, it is absolutely critical that you learn to navigate the tricky waters of today’s legal requirements for real estate investment.

This crucial webinar will teach you to:

• How to avoid loads of legal trouble – with just five minutes of research
• Get the legal advice you need without blowing your budget
• Ensure your documents are valid
• Tactics to get yourself out of hot water if you are accused of wrongdoing
• Navigate today’s legal maze to close your deals quickly and for more money

Whether you are an agent representing real estate investors or someone interested in investing yourself, you owe it to your future profits and growth potential to get on board with the newest real estate laws and initiatives.

Let’s face it: We are in a new era of real estate and, if we want to stay on top, we owe it to ourselves and our clients to get educated about the current legal climate as it is. Don’t bury your head in the sand!

Reserve your spot for this important training session now — CLICK HERE.

As long as the market is flooded with foreclosures, real estate investors need to be aware of how to keep their properties in tip-top shape so that they can earn maximum profits from rentals or flips.

As a real estate agent or broker, the fact that the foreclosure market is big business means that you can develop a substantial income stream by catering to real estate investors.

The first step in bringing real estate investor clients through your door is understanding the real estate market from an investor’s perspective. And a great place to start is with The Agent University’s brand new training, the Property Preservation and Field Services Certification curriculum.

In this course, you will put yourself ahead of the game as you learn about:

• Which vendors and contractors investors need to have in their corner
• Property inspections and what investor clients need to be looking for in foreclosures and other distressed properties
• How to keep your real estate investments secure while waiting to rent or flip
• … and more!

Real estate agents and brokers are advised not to pass up this important training. Be on the cutting edge of the industry by educating yourself about everything your investors need to know so that you can position yourself as the go-to agent for people in your area looking to get involved in the distressed property game in your area.

As a special bonus for our Property Preservation and Field Services Certification trainees, we are offering four complimentary videos with specific protocols for service vendors – landscapers, contractors, handymen and more – interested in cashing in on the distressed property market. This is must-know information for your investor clients to help manage the wide variety of workers who will be helping them along their path to real estate investment riches.

This course is also invaluable for real estate agents and brokers who are interested in becoming real estate investors themselves. Do not miss this valuable opportunity to be among the first to earn their Property Preservation and Field Services Certification. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can start profiting.

Foreclosures are still dominating the real estate market and, by all accounts, will be for the foreseeable future. That’s among the many reasons we have expanded our offerings to include a network especially for vendors who service foreclosed homes.

Vendors – contractors, landscapers, junk removal companies, etc. – can register for our vendor network to put themselves in front of the biggest audience of foreclosure investors in the country: Foreclosure.com.

Real estate agents and brokers can (and should) be promoting this groundbreaking service to their investor clients, as well as any contractors that they know. Registration is currently free, which means that you can let your contacts and clients know about this opportunity as an incentive to help fast-track their success. There’s nothing like a little goodwill to help give your business a boost!

Our vendor network is ideal for contractors who want to separate themselves from the competition. They can register for our network using their preferred zip codes, to get maximum exposure to their target markets.

For real estate investors, the vendor network is an invaluable resource for quality leads for reputable electricians, plumbers, handymen and much more. Your clients will breathe a sigh of relief when they learn that you are able to help them take the apprehension and guesswork out of selecting the right vendors to assist them with their real estate investments.

Don’t miss the opportunity to spread the word about our new nationwide vendor network! Let your clients and your contacts know about this exciting new service right now.

Being there for your clients – that’s the key to success as a real estate agent or broker, regardless of the current state of the real estate market.

This month, we want to encourage you to go where the business is: Foreclosures and other forms of distressed real estate.

If you haven’t already started marketing your services to real estate investors, now is the time. The market is full to overflowing with foreclosures, which means that the market is also full to overflowing with people who want to invest.

They just need a solid agent to point them in the right direction!

The Agent University June 2012 Newsletter contains a variety of essential tips and tricks to help attract real estate investors to your business like a moth to a flame. And, if you’re thinking about getting involved in distressed real estate as an investor yourself, you can rest assured that there has never been a better time than right now.

Here’s to a profitable summer!

The housing market keeps showing signs of life. However, another round of bad news that brings the recovery to a halt. The good news is recent data released for the first quarter of 2012, and some astounding figures for May, are showing a housing rebound that has little bad news attached.

During May, median asking price for a home was $190,000. This is up $7,000 from just the previous month, and an 8.2 percent increase over the previous year. This is terrific news for the housing market. It shows that regardless of the amount of distressed properties on, or entering, the market, sales prices are starting to grow.

There is a smaller inventory of distressed properties. Shadow inventory properties are distressed properties, which are either seriously delinquent or in the foreclosure process. These properties are not currently listed as available on the market. Many housing market analysts believe that the shadow inventory can drive down home values and cause a secondary crash. The great news is there are fewer homes in this sector of the market than at first believed.

It is anticipated that there are only 1.5 million shadow inventory properties, showing a four-month supply. It was first believed there were over 2 million properties in this category, leading to over a six-month supply. This simple decrease will have many positive effects on the market.

Foreclosures are increasing as anticipated. Starting in November 2010, many banks stopped foreclosing on properties due to the robo-signing scandal. Until February of 2012, these lenders have been keeping these distressed properties on the “back burner” until a settlement was reached with the government.

Part of that settlement was a standardized procedure for foreclosures. Banks now have guidelines to follow to ensure that any property that does reach the foreclosure stage is processed correctly. In addition, there have been many concessions made to encourage mortgage modifications and increase the possibility of short selling a property to avoid foreclosure altogether. All of these changes are very beneficial to the housing market and home values.

Now, banks are moving forward with foreclosures, clearing up the backlog and removing worry from the market as to how many properties are going to come to market. Once this backlog is completed, the market should return to normal.

Borrowers have more equity and less debt. Nearly 50 percent of home owners who are refinancing to lower interest rate mortgages are paying down debt and reducing their mortgage burden. Of this 50 percent, nearly all of the applicants applied for shorter term loans with higher payments in an effort to become debt free. Mortgage debt has decreased by seven percent in the last five years.

Overall, the state of the housing market is looking very good. Experts believe that, except for any unforeseen events, the housing market should be in full recovery mode for the remainder of the year. It is anticipated that 2013 will even see the first real rise in home values since the crash in the housing market.