HomeXperts Inc.(HXI), a leading developer and integrator of online applications for real estate consumers and professionals will announce within a few days the launching of www.byownerhomes.com/. The Company will offer “For Sale By Owner” services throughout the United States territories including Puerto Rico.
ByOwnerHomes business model will offer Independent Sellers a wide range of choices and tools to market and sell properties in an effective, efficient and economical manner.
1.Properties will receive unparalleled local, national and worldwide exposure including their own web site. ByOwner believes that all properties are different and thus requiring a very specific marketing approach. What works in some areas may not work in others. ByOwner goal is to develop an advertising campaign to expose properties to as many potential buyers as possible.
2.ByOwnerHomes is committed to get the news out fast and within 24 hours homes will be listed in the most visited sites worldwide. Time is of the essence. It is not a secret that at least 80% of the buyers use the Internet to search for a home. Therefore, the Company's goal is to launch an ad campaign within 24 hours after receiving all the pertinent information about the property.
3.ByOwnerHomes.com is more than a web site ---Customers can always contact a ByOwnerHomes.com specialist. The Company does not hide behind a web site. As a matter of fact, the Company welcomes customers to visit its facilities and talk to its people. But if customers prefer, they can contact the Company's real estate specialists by phone or email. A ByOwnerHomes.com specialist will answer all questions on the process of selling a home, the benefits of the different marketing programs, places where homeowners can find price guidance, paperwork, closings, title insurance, and many other related topics.
4. ByOwnerHomes.com takes every step to make sure customers are 100% satisfied. The Company offers a offer 100% Money Back Guarantee when a homeowner purchases any of its listing programs. If at any time a customer decides to list with a full service agency, ByOwnerHomes.com will refer the customer to one of its Network Realtors or a Realtor of the customer's choice. After closing, the Company will refund the owner 100% of the listing fee.
Additional details can be found at the company's website www.byownerhomes.com/ or at www.homekeys.net/.
The Latest News in Real Estate Featuring News on Homes for Sale, Homes for Rent, Selling a Home, and Much More!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Do you have friends in real estate? Do they give you back 75% of their commission?
Our President Manuel Iraola was recently asked to comment of Homekeys' rebate policy and this is what he said.
"Most people have friends in real estate. Have you asked any of your friends in real estate if they are willing to give you back up to 75% of their commission in cash at the time of the closing?
At Homekeys, we do.
"Most people have friends in real estate. Have you asked any of your friends in real estate if they are willing to give you back up to 75% of their commission in cash at the time of the closing?
At Homekeys, we do.
- Why do we do it ? Because in today's environment the consumers are doing a lot of the work traditonally performed by traditional agents.
- How do we do it? Technology allows us to achieve economies of scale and this means that we can be more effectiove, productive and efficient. We use technology for the benefit of our clients thus enabling them to buy/sell cheaper,faster easier and smarter.
Bottom line, our transaction costs are lower and this enables us to give you back up to 75% of our commission in cash at time of closing."
For additional details vist www.homekeys.net
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Ad Campaigns Target Buyers of Real Estate
Real estate brokerage firms are launching ad campaigns that promote low mortgage interest rates, improving affordability, and the availaibilty of home loans. "Think you can't get a home loan?" some ads state. "Well, think again. You may be pleasantly surprised."
Another frequen message states, "Now is the time to make your move. If a home purchase is in your future plans, now may very well be the time to act. There is ample inventory on the market for you to capture that 'dream' home you've always wanted at a price and terms you can handle. But don't wait too long, because another qualified buyer may capture it first."
The battle is on to kick consumers off the fence and back into spending mode. And it could be an uphill battle, with news piling on of a possible recession, Wall St. losses and layoffs, and declining home prices.
Bottom line, there is not such a thing as a right time or a bad time as long as you buy for the right reasons. See www.homekeys.net for details on the richest cash rebate to buyers of real estate in Florida ---75% of our commission.
Another frequen message states, "Now is the time to make your move. If a home purchase is in your future plans, now may very well be the time to act. There is ample inventory on the market for you to capture that 'dream' home you've always wanted at a price and terms you can handle. But don't wait too long, because another qualified buyer may capture it first."
The battle is on to kick consumers off the fence and back into spending mode. And it could be an uphill battle, with news piling on of a possible recession, Wall St. losses and layoffs, and declining home prices.
Bottom line, there is not such a thing as a right time or a bad time as long as you buy for the right reasons. See www.homekeys.net for details on the richest cash rebate to buyers of real estate in Florida ---75% of our commission.
75 % Buyer Rebate in cash at closing!
With over 2 million people licensed as real estate agents in the United States it is almost a certainty that you have a realtor friend that can help you buy and sell. Are your friends willing to give you back 75% of their commission in cash at the time of closing?
At www.homekeys.net, we do.
At www.homekeys.net, we do.
Lease Option may be the way for many home buyers
Often the biggest obstacle to becoming a homeowner is coming up with enough cash for a down payment. One way for cash-strapped home buyers to realize their dream is to lease a home with an option to buy.
Here's how a lease option works. The buyer (called an optionee) leases the property from the seller (called an optionor) for a period of time. The lease contract gives the optionee the right to buy the property at the end of the lease period, or earlier by mutual agreement, at a price agreed upon in the contract.
The optionee pays a sum, called option money, to the seller at the onset of the lease. This money is applied to the purchase price if the option is exercised. The option money is forfeited to the seller if the optionee doesn't go through with the purchase.
Like any contract, the terms of a lease option are negotiable: the length of the lease, the amount of the option money, the purchase price and the rent. Sometimes, a seller will agree to credit a portion of the rent toward the purchase, providing an additional incentive for the buyer to go through with the purchase.
Even though the amount of the option money is negotiable, it's usually less than the down payment amount required to purchase an equivalent property. So, for relatively little upfront cash, a lease option allows the buyer to tie up a property at today's prices, and live in it before deciding to buy it. During the lease period, the seller cannot sell the property to another buyer.
And remember, http://www.homekeys.net/ buyers receive a cash rebate of up to 75% of our commission at closing. This can be the difference. Visit http://www.homekeys.net/ for details.
Here's how a lease option works. The buyer (called an optionee) leases the property from the seller (called an optionor) for a period of time. The lease contract gives the optionee the right to buy the property at the end of the lease period, or earlier by mutual agreement, at a price agreed upon in the contract.
The optionee pays a sum, called option money, to the seller at the onset of the lease. This money is applied to the purchase price if the option is exercised. The option money is forfeited to the seller if the optionee doesn't go through with the purchase.
Like any contract, the terms of a lease option are negotiable: the length of the lease, the amount of the option money, the purchase price and the rent. Sometimes, a seller will agree to credit a portion of the rent toward the purchase, providing an additional incentive for the buyer to go through with the purchase.
Even though the amount of the option money is negotiable, it's usually less than the down payment amount required to purchase an equivalent property. So, for relatively little upfront cash, a lease option allows the buyer to tie up a property at today's prices, and live in it before deciding to buy it. During the lease period, the seller cannot sell the property to another buyer.
And remember, http://www.homekeys.net/ buyers receive a cash rebate of up to 75% of our commission at closing. This can be the difference. Visit http://www.homekeys.net/ for details.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Better-trained Realtors keep buyers safe
By Manuel J. Iraola
I enjoyed Michael Miller’s timely article “Realtors insist ethics missing” (Feb. 4) at a time when our country is facing one of the most difficult real estate crises.There is no doubt many buyers — first-time or otherwise — lack the fundamental knowledge of basic finance. However, it is the moral, ethical and legal responsibility of the so-called experts in transacting real estate to protect the rights of the stakeholders involved in the process.Yes, the lending institutions failed by placing their own economic interest ahead of shareholders and borrowers. These institutions are the same that irresponsibly provided financing to developers and contractors to overbuild our communities.And, obviously, this same group provided the financing to many who should never have purchased. Bottom line: Record number of foreclosures and write-offs, and hundreds of thousands in many industries associated with real estate will now join the ranks of the unemployed. The industry system of “checks and balances” totally crashed or maybe it never existed. Our instant-gratification mentality fueled by an exuberant amount of greed has destroyed the American Dream and many of our communities.Elia Ceniceros is totally right. She said, “There’s a lot of unscrupulous and unethical agents out there that may have done that to clients, but the problem is that when the client turns around and needs the agent to help them, the agent is no longer in the business.” So true, but why are we surprised? The entry and exit barriers in our industry are among the lowest. It is easy to get in and even easier to get out. Very few Realtors have any skin in the game.Our industry has more part-timers and retirees than any other. These individuals are not committed to the long-term prosperity of the industry. When the tide is high and easy money is to be made you will find them in herds, but when the tide is low and they have to work hard for their so-called clients, they simply disappear.Most of these are there to make a quick buck and undoubtedly the means justify the ends. These individuals need to close in order to earn a commission and as such they have consistently manipulated the process to their advantage.We need to “professionalize” the Realtor’s role. This in turn should result in a significantly better-prepared Realtor and, among other things, a financially literate one. I have met many agents who do not have the slightest idea about basic finances. Immigrants are very vulnerable. Would you not think an agent could play an instrumental role in protecting them? It boils down to morals and ethics. It has nothing to do with legality. It is about time as an industry and individuals we become “socially responsible.”
MANUEL J. IRAOLA is chief executive of www.homekeys.net
I enjoyed Michael Miller’s timely article “Realtors insist ethics missing” (Feb. 4) at a time when our country is facing one of the most difficult real estate crises.There is no doubt many buyers — first-time or otherwise — lack the fundamental knowledge of basic finance. However, it is the moral, ethical and legal responsibility of the so-called experts in transacting real estate to protect the rights of the stakeholders involved in the process.Yes, the lending institutions failed by placing their own economic interest ahead of shareholders and borrowers. These institutions are the same that irresponsibly provided financing to developers and contractors to overbuild our communities.And, obviously, this same group provided the financing to many who should never have purchased. Bottom line: Record number of foreclosures and write-offs, and hundreds of thousands in many industries associated with real estate will now join the ranks of the unemployed. The industry system of “checks and balances” totally crashed or maybe it never existed. Our instant-gratification mentality fueled by an exuberant amount of greed has destroyed the American Dream and many of our communities.Elia Ceniceros is totally right. She said, “There’s a lot of unscrupulous and unethical agents out there that may have done that to clients, but the problem is that when the client turns around and needs the agent to help them, the agent is no longer in the business.” So true, but why are we surprised? The entry and exit barriers in our industry are among the lowest. It is easy to get in and even easier to get out. Very few Realtors have any skin in the game.Our industry has more part-timers and retirees than any other. These individuals are not committed to the long-term prosperity of the industry. When the tide is high and easy money is to be made you will find them in herds, but when the tide is low and they have to work hard for their so-called clients, they simply disappear.Most of these are there to make a quick buck and undoubtedly the means justify the ends. These individuals need to close in order to earn a commission and as such they have consistently manipulated the process to their advantage.We need to “professionalize” the Realtor’s role. This in turn should result in a significantly better-prepared Realtor and, among other things, a financially literate one. I have met many agents who do not have the slightest idea about basic finances. Immigrants are very vulnerable. Would you not think an agent could play an instrumental role in protecting them? It boils down to morals and ethics. It has nothing to do with legality. It is about time as an industry and individuals we become “socially responsible.”
MANUEL J. IRAOLA is chief executive of www.homekeys.net
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Reinventing Real Estate : The Power of Disruption
“We are going to see our industry go through dramatic transformation via the Internet and consolidation of agents and companies.” – eRealty Times Columnist Dirk Zeller once said. How prophetic!
Some industry observers have adopted Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen’s term “disruptive technology” to explain recent developments in real estate. Though it’s easy to point to the World Wide Web and advancing technology as the main changes in real estate, that’s only part of what’s shaking things up. Essentially, the real cause of disruption is not just technology, but technology-enabled real estate consumers.
Who are these Web-enabled consumers?
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than 80 percent of homebuyers now begin their home search online. The popularity of online real estate ads surpassed newspaper property listings back in 2001, and the gap is widening. You must advertise online because your potential clients “live and die” by the Web. They just do not know any other way. And the trend will continue to grow. Just remember, these web-enabled consumers do everything online, from dating to anything you can think of.
These consumers are tech savvy. They know what they want and where to find it. And if they don’t, one of their friends will. They also want to act on their time. They resent being pressured to act. And not least important, they have been accustomed to have free and unlimited access to information in every single aspect of life and real estate is not an exception. They are willing to pay but based on the value of the services received.
So, if you believe that you can survive without the web you are committing suicide. It is not going to happen.
On the other hand, there will always be a place and time for the “face to face” contact between clients and agents. This, however, will be the exception and not the rule.
Who will survive?
Let’s face it. The consumer is always right. Moreover, they always tell you what they want. The problem is that sometimes we do not want to listen. We cannot handle change. Change hurts especially when it attacks the foundation of the business model that has existed for the last 50 plus years. Is this a generational thing? Yes to a large degree. The older you are the more difficult it is to accept that there are ways to buy and sell real estate. It is even more difficult to justify the traditional 6 plus percent commission structure. So it boils down to the efficiencies and economies of scale that only technology can deliver.
Those that have access to those technologies will survive and prosper, the others will simply become part of larger tech based real estate technology companies.
But at the end of the day, many agents will be displaced and there will be fewer agents as we know them today.
Some industry observers have adopted Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen’s term “disruptive technology” to explain recent developments in real estate. Though it’s easy to point to the World Wide Web and advancing technology as the main changes in real estate, that’s only part of what’s shaking things up. Essentially, the real cause of disruption is not just technology, but technology-enabled real estate consumers.
Who are these Web-enabled consumers?
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), more than 80 percent of homebuyers now begin their home search online. The popularity of online real estate ads surpassed newspaper property listings back in 2001, and the gap is widening. You must advertise online because your potential clients “live and die” by the Web. They just do not know any other way. And the trend will continue to grow. Just remember, these web-enabled consumers do everything online, from dating to anything you can think of.
These consumers are tech savvy. They know what they want and where to find it. And if they don’t, one of their friends will. They also want to act on their time. They resent being pressured to act. And not least important, they have been accustomed to have free and unlimited access to information in every single aspect of life and real estate is not an exception. They are willing to pay but based on the value of the services received.
So, if you believe that you can survive without the web you are committing suicide. It is not going to happen.
On the other hand, there will always be a place and time for the “face to face” contact between clients and agents. This, however, will be the exception and not the rule.
Who will survive?
Let’s face it. The consumer is always right. Moreover, they always tell you what they want. The problem is that sometimes we do not want to listen. We cannot handle change. Change hurts especially when it attacks the foundation of the business model that has existed for the last 50 plus years. Is this a generational thing? Yes to a large degree. The older you are the more difficult it is to accept that there are ways to buy and sell real estate. It is even more difficult to justify the traditional 6 plus percent commission structure. So it boils down to the efficiencies and economies of scale that only technology can deliver.
Those that have access to those technologies will survive and prosper, the others will simply become part of larger tech based real estate technology companies.
But at the end of the day, many agents will be displaced and there will be fewer agents as we know them today.
What do you think? Please visit http://www.homekeys.net/ and give us your comments.
Tomorrow's topic : Displacement
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