For example, let’s say that on a scale of 1-10, agents in your area rate the market at a 7 or 8.  Yet, you might rate the market at a 4 or 5.  While their opinions may not seem to matter in the beginning, the simple fact that they reveal a more optimistic outlook could mean that they have figured out ways to do better than others.

It may be that they have identified a new market, decided to specialize in an active market such as foreclosures or short sales.  Perhaps they have implemented new online marketing and social media strategies that are delivering more results.

Information on how agents and brokers are doing in your market and other markets is key.  Information is knowledge, and this knowledge can help you flag an opportunity to build upon.

This is the reason we have developed the Real Estate Confidence Index.  A complete analysis, including commentaries from fellow agents can be found right here.  Have a look at how other agents in your state are doing, and use it to help elevate your own outlook and expectations.

Every month you participate, you can be the first to receive the latest report.  Together, let’s build valuable information to help every real estate professional be the best they can be.

Take the survey:

United States Survey

Canadian Survey

With the 44th (or XLIV if you love roman numerals) game this weekend, we at Point2 would like to extend our kudos to one of our syndication partners, HomeAway.com who will have an ad running during the broadcast.  If you’d like to take a sneak-peek at the ad before it airs, you can check it out below:

The Griswold’s! How cool is that? I never thought I would say this, but I am legitimately excited to see something with Chevy Chase in it. The spot, which was shot in a faux-movie trailer style, will direct viewers to a HomeAway site where they can view a 15 minute short film starring the actors reprising their famous roles, as well as a shot at winning $40,000 in prizes.

If this ad has piqued your interest, you can also check out more Superbowl ads at Superbowl-Ads.com – which contains a repository of all the commercials aired for the past twelve years, including such famous spots as EDS’s “Cat Herders” and Apple’s iconic “1984“.

Just thought I’d toss it out there…if you find yourself glued to the television on Sunday (even us canucks watch the Superbowl), be sure to keep an eye out for the HomeAway spot!

Ps…go Saints!

Alright, alright, I’ll stop shouting.  But just in case you haven’t been subject to the media bombardment surrounding Apple’s newest tech toy, the ‘bigger-than-an-iPhone-and-smaller-than-a-laptop’ gadget has been causing quite the stir among technology lovers everywhere.

Reminiscent of Star Trek’s PADD (Personal Access Display Device), the iPad has been proclaimed as “the best way to experience the web, email, and photos”.  This may be true, but I was hoping the newest Apple wunder-gadget would have a few more of the things that most people consider essential in a personal computing device.

No USB port?
No multitasking?
No camera?
No SD Card Slot?

I mean, c’mon…when held captive, Dr Arik Soong was able open every lock in an entire San Francisco prison using nothing but his PADD! Alright, maybe that was in space, on television, and about 150 years in the future. But still… no camera?!  Even my bulky laptop has a camera in it.

Call me a Luddite, but I’m pretty content with my current technology setup.  Perhaps I will be more inclined to pull out my credit card when version two or three comes along – or when the elements I consider a necessity are included.

But that’s just my opinion.  The bigger question is:  How will the iPad fare in the eyes of increasing tech-savvy real estate agents?  The iPad has the potential to be a game changer for real estate.

Just how, you ask?  Here’s just a few of the benefits we spotted…

- Real Time Access – make appointments, check your email, or make VOiP calls anywhere
- High def video, pictures, and virtual tours of properties
- Digital listing presentations
- Bring up neighborhood goodies from the likes of Google Street View, Yelp, or Zillow
- Possibilities for future killer apps are almost limitless. Custom mobile-CRM anyone?
- Go paperless – take care of contracts on the fly. Faxes are so 1980.

So what do you think?  Do you plan on investing in your very own modern day PADD?  Will you pre-order or brave the mobs when the iPad hits store shelves and give ‘the best online experience ever’ a try, or is this just another case of too much hype and not enough substance?

You or your clients are not alone in this stress. I too went through the mortgage process and was almost crushed by the paperwork came out alive.

Here is an overview of what to expect when entering the land of mortgages, ways to simplify the process, and ways to keep your luscious locks in the process!

A survey conducted back in 1998 of 24 American cities by Fannie Mae expected the number of downtown residents to grow by 2010 – some by more than 200%.  Well, 2010 has arrived, and not only has ‘downtown’ living risen; it’s probably not going to slow down any time soon.  In fact, a survey conducted of baby boomers found that only 49% of respondents even had a backyard to begin with!

Uh-oh…

If you’re like me, you enjoy the perks that come with having a backyard.  In particular, one of my most treasured parts of having a backyard is having a garden.  I don’t have the greenest of thumbs, but I don’t mind planting a few things – and if it grows, even better!  Not to mention a garden allows me to scratch a few things off my grocery list.  But if these urbanization trends do continue unabashed, the whole concept of a garden might evaporate.

But not is all lost for the gardens of old!  The other day, a colleague of mine showed me a site demonstrating the art of Window Farms – a type of urban agriculture rapidly growing in popularity.  While this idea may be tailored for those in dense urban centers like New York or Tokyo, its concept can be adopted almost anywhere.  Not only are these vertical veggie farms healthy and low energy, but they also make a pretty unique window display.

  
(Photos from Britta and Rebecca’s photostream on Flickr)

The idea came to life when Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray, (an artist-in-residence duo at Eyebeam – a nonprofit art and technology center in the US)  developed the ‘Window Farms experiment’. Utilizing social networking, the pair developed a Do It Yourself and community support system for creating vertical gardens.

Window farms can be constructed using recycled materials and are completely hydroponic.  There is dedication involved, but the end result is definitely worth it.  If you’re next buyer is a garden enthusiast seeking out urban living, offer up this enviro-friendly solution.

Window Farms Introduction from BRandRB on Vimeo.

Why not save a few bucks, and earn yourself some dinner in the meantime!
Check out more on Window Farms right here.

While we encourage you to support charities that you already have relationships with, the Red Cross is another good way to help. In the United States, this has been made easier than ever. If you’re in the US, you can just text ‘Haiti’ to the number 90999, and through the U.S. State Department, a $10 donation to the American Red Cross will be added to your next cell phone bill.

Here in Canada, the Canadian Government has pledged to match all charitable contributions up to a total of $50 Million dollars through the Canadian International Development Agency – that means every dollar you donate immediately becomes two.

Please consider following one of the links below (or even just sending a text!) and send help and support to where it’s needed most.

Canadian Red Cross
American Red Cross
US Department of State
Canadian International Development Agency