Though we’d like to think that everyone is real estate is wonderful, there are undeniably some bad apples out there; here’s how you can deal with them. Real estate is a buzzing, active industry with a wonderfully diverse group

The benefits of good communication are obvious, but how can you ensure that your message is being communicated effectively? Effective communication is among the most important qualities for a successful career in real estate. From initial consultations, to listing presentations,

Inevitably, there will be some aspect of one’s living arrangements to regret, but how do the regrets of owners and renters compare? It’s the most unfortunate of situations – a consumer spends the time researching a home purchase or

What principles should you keep in mind when negotiating for your clients? Christine Groves of Coldwell Banker in Wheaton explains. With a busy market with multiple offers and low inventory, it is our job as agents to present our

When you own a bookstore, you want your shelves to be filled with good books – just like agents should always have good listings, explains Craig Witt of EXIT Realty. I want you to pretend you are in small

Keeping your focus can be a Herculean task sometimes, but we’ve got three tips to help you lead a clear-minded, centered business. Imagine, if you will, a most common of scenarios in the real estate life: you’re browsing the

Bidding wars are normally the ultimate sign of a hot real estate market, that demand for real estate is so stratospheric that prospective homebuyers are nearly falling over themselves with offers for the homes. Bidding wars had been in

A “pinball property,” “pinball listing” or “setup listing,” as it’s also called, can be a real estate agent’s best friend – just as long as they’re not the ones listing the property. It’s not a new term, but the

“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”-Yogi Berra Wouldn’t the real estate business be so much easier if we all had crystal balls? Well, you do have a crystal ball. I have one, too. We all do.

Cell phones and email may make communication more convenient, but they pale in comparison to the most traditional form of all – in-person communication. Few industries are more reliant on clear communication than real estate. As any agent will

A real estate agent’s referral sources are paramount to maximizing sales success. While name recognition within a particular market and consistent advertising, among other things, are important to growing your business, nothing beats a loyal and robust network of

Oh yeah, can you feel it? The real estate market is on the upswing across the country, and I predict another seven-year cycle ahead. Everywhere I go and everyone I talk to is telling me how busy they are

Now that the dust has settled on the fiscal cliff vote, most short sale sellers, prospective short sale sellers and agents have heard that the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 has been extended another year. Savvy short sale

“I look to the future, because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.” George Burns Yep. It’s here again – a new year on your doorstep with its hand up and ready to knock loudly

Another year is upon us, and if you are like me, you have set goals and put a plan in place to improve over last year’s results. You see, I start my planning in late October for the next

How good it is to begin a year with so much opportunity! For those of us in real estate, the start of 2013 is a welcome departure from news about challenges to news of