If you're planning on attending the upcoming REALTOR® Conference & Expo next week in Orlando, you won't want to miss the YPN-sponsored education session that will teach you how to leverage video and TV to get ahead in the business and become a star in your community (or nationally!).

REALTOR® Magazine's Young Professionals Network will be hosting the session "Look, Clients! I'm on TV!," which will give you tips on using video on your Web site and how you can land a gig on a real estate TV show. Hear tips from Madison Hildebrand, star of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing," Matthew Phipps, star of "Rhode Island’s Real Estate Minute," and Kelly Roark from HGTV/Frontdoor.com.

The session is 3-4:30 p.m., Sun., Nov. 9, at the Orange County Convention Center, West Building, Room W224. If you go to the session, you'll be able to meet up with a group of other young professionals afterwards to head over to the YPN party at the Red Coconut Club at Universal's hip CityWalk.

Find out more details about the session and RSVP to YPN's networking reception.

Also, be sure to check out the YPN track, a conference schedule designed for young professionals to get the most out of your conference experience.

Posted on October 28 at 02:57 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

With today’s technology, I get most of my information from the Internet because it’s quick and easy. But I still think books are better if I want deeper information on a specific subject; because books are much more structured, portable, and easier on your eyes.

The books I keep going back to most I call my "Real Estate Bible." Share with us YOUR "Real Estate Bible" and recommendations! Especially if you specialize in a field — what is a good resource in that field?

Here are my top three favorite books right now:

(1) “The Millionaire Real Estate Agent” by Gary Keller
I’ve had this book since I started selling, and I still go back to it quite often.

(2) “Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands” by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway
Great resource if you work with diversity of clients. People appreciate you taking the initiative, time and effort in learning about their culture. Sometimes, the smallest gesture can mean a whole lot.

(3) “I Can See You Naked” by Ron Hoff
This is a recent book I was recommended and it’s a very fun read! I love it. It’s a book about making presentations and offers great practice for conducting your home buying/selling seminars.

Dina Takai, GRI, ABR®, SRES, CIPS, TRC, is a broker associate with Park Bench Realty in Arlington Heights, Ill.

Posted on October 23 at 12:32 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (1)

I learned a very important lesson from another real estate practitioner recently —that a deal is never truly dead, it too can rise from its ashes like a Phoenix and into a closed transaction.

This became evident to me when one of my deals was resurrected, after falling apart a few months ago. While we're still ironing out some of the details in the transaction, I feel that we will have it closed by the end of the month—thanks in large part to the listing agent who never gave up and kept working on behalf of his client to keep in contact with my clients and me.

Let me give you a little background on my story. I have clients who were looking to buy a piece of property catty corner to their restaurant. My clients inquired about the property, which was for sale for near $200,000.

My clients decided they would like to make an offer substantially lower than what the seller was asking. Needless to say, the seller rejected our offer and looked for other offers. I imagine other offers were received but were also rejected alongside our offer.

However, the listing agent was very diligent in calling me and the other agents who had clients interested in his listing. I received a phone call every time there was a price reduction. And every time the price was reduced my clients became a little more willing to make another offer.

When the property was reduced below what my client had initially offered for the listing, I

received a phone call to see if I could jumpstart the deal on my end. So I called my clients and relayed the information given to me by the other agent.

My client made another offer.

After a couple of counter offers back and forth, I feel we have a mutual agreement between both parties. Without any setbacks, this deal will be closed and it will be mostly due to the other agent's persistence. He never gave up, and he believed that this deal could be done regardless of the rejected offer in the beginning.

As agents, we should always be optimistic and unrelenting no matter the current situation or outcome. If things should go sour during a deal, we should find ways to make them better.

FOLLOW UP with every agent that has showed your listing(s), and inform them of any changes. I regard myself as diligent when it comes to clients and their needs. However, when it comes to following up with other agents, I often forget to contact them or I put contacting them aside for later.

As I learned from the agent on the other side of this transaction, a deal is never truly dead unless you allow it to die. You may be surprised at what you can accomplish with just a phone call.

Ulises Romo, is a REALTOR® for PRO-formance Realty Concepts in Phoenix.

Posted on October 20 at 03:36 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

RSVP online today!

Save the date for the hottest party in Florida – the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Mix and Mingle Reception.

This exclusive, invitation-only networking event for young REALTORS® will be held during the 2008 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Orlando. Connect with hundreds of career-driven real estate professionals.

Join us for free food and drinks, and the chance to win a Nintendo Wii and other great prizes! Don't forget your business cards!

You'll also have a chance to meet Madison Hildebrand, star of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing," and to mingle with some of REALTOR® magazine's 30 under 30 honorees.

Sun., Nov. 9 / 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Red Coconut Club
Universal Studios CityWalk (map)
6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, Fla. 32819
*Complimentary shuttle buses starting at 5 p.m. from Orange County Convention Center and other NAR neighboring hotels

The Red Coconut Club is steps from Universal Studios' Theme Park (find out how you can get in for free starting at 7 p.m.)

You must RSVP to attend this event. RSVP by Oct. 27.

View the invitation and spread the word

This event is sponsored by NAR's Community Outreach & Diversity, Intel, REALTOR® Commercial Alliance, HomeSteps, and the Center for REALTOR® Technology.

For more information about this and other YPN events, including the YPN-REALTOR® magazine session "Look, Clients! I'm on TV", visit the YPN Web site.

Posted on October 13 at 01:05 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

In the nautical world it always seems romantic when a skipper claims to be going down with the ship. Protecting the honor of the ship, but is the cargo and honor worth human life?

That’s a stupid question, I know.

However, how many times do you see agents and companies “stay the course” as their ship takes on water and eventually sinks?

Recently, I was in just that situation. Getting into real estate when the water’s were rough, my ship was never the most sea-worthy; however it was staying afloat. Not always the prettiest boat in the harbor my “ship” was right and heading straight out for deeper waters. Or so I thought.

It didn’t happen overnight, there were signs – potential listing follow-ups missed, sleeping in, etc. – that the ship was taking on water. However, in my view from the bridge, I didn’t see them. The alarms went unheard of until it was almost too late.

Today, my real estate career is safely in a life-raft and getting back to the basics of the business. What have I learned from my time aboard this life boat?

1. Stick with the basics. There are hundreds of ways to tie a knot, but they may not all work in

certain situations. When you find something that works, no matter how simple, stick with it.

2. Be diligent. Some days you want to spend the morning on the poop deck watching the waves roll over the horizon. But it is these days that require the most diligence.

3. Stick to the plan. Say what you are going to do, and do it. Not only what you tell your clients but also what you tell yourself.

The most important thing is to keep your eye on the horizon, but never miss those alarms.

Toby Boyce, MBA, is a real estate practitioner with Keller Williams Consultants Realty in Westerville, Ohio, and he was the 2007 Delaware Board of REALTORS® Rookie of the Year.

Posted on October 6 at 02:58 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (1)