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Where is the Best Place to Get Started in Real Estate?

If you’ve been thinking of working in the real estate industry, you’re going to enjoy every moment. This field is exciting with flexible working hours and the opportunity to meet and interact with customers from different demographics. Statistics indicate that there are close to 1.2 million realtors currently working in the US. That’s a clear indication of how a career in real estate is a viable option.

Consider this example: The average sales price for houses in 2019 was $299,400. If you’re working on 6% commission, a single sale gains you $18,000. It’s not surprising that many professionals working in other spheres opt to show houses as a second job, eventually moving on to taking up the career full time. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, here’s how to get started.

Get Licensing to Work as a Realtor in Your State

The first step is to check your state real estate commission’s website where you can get detailed information about the licensing requirements applicable in your state. You’ll also find a list of accredited pre-licensing agencies that offer training in the mandatory courses. You have the option of taking the course online or in person. Expect to train in the legal aspects of the business along with gaining an understanding of real estate practices like how to assess a property’s value. You’ll also learn about terms like “encumbrance,” “lien,” and “escrow,” among others.

The required number of hours vary by jurisdiction and state. For instance, if you intend to get licensing in Oregon, the mandatory hours is 150, including 30 hours of Real Estate Law, 30 hours of Oregon Real Estate Practices, and 20 hours of Real Estate Brokerage. On the other hand, California realtor licensing requires a total of 135 hours of training, including 45 hours of Real Estate Practices and 45 hours of Real Estate Finance.

Having completed your training, you’ll take the state licensing exam for a fee of $100 to $300. Expect to answer 60 to 100 multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge of general real estate principles and both state and federal laws. The pass rate is typically 50%, so it helps to take preparation seriously. Take the California Real Estate license practice test as many time as you need to evaluate your competency and raise your chances of passing. Once you clear the exam, you’ll get the necessary licensing to work as a realtor.

The Real Estate Industry is Multi-Faceted and Interesting

Once you gain adequate experience working as a realtor, you can consider specializing in a particular area. If you’ve always thought that real estate was all about helping clients buy and sell property, that’s not exactly accurate. You can choose careers such as:

Property Management

If you also have a degree in finance, think about working as a property manager. Such professionals can work for a company or as a freelancer. Your job description includes taking care of property issues for owners who don’t have the time or expertise. For instance, overseeing maintenance and repair tasks, marketing the rentals, collecting rent on schedule, dealing with evictions, and responding to complaints and problems that the tenants may have.

Apartment and House Sales and Purchases

Many people approaching retirement like to move to locations where the weather is warmer. They often seek a lower cost of living, or they just to be closer to family and friends. Others prefer to move into smaller apartments that are more economical and easier to maintain. You could assist senior citizens moving to Eugene, Oregon, starting with finding a good buyer for large houses and purchasing compact apartments or assisted living facilities.

Retail Leasing

Realtors who specialize in retail leasing have an extensive database of prime properties that become available for leasing. You’ll find locations ideal for your retail company clients to set up their business. Helping with the legal requirements and preparing the necessary paperwork for renting the property are all a part of your job in retail leasing. Most such professionals work over the weekends and after hours to identify viable options that their clients might like.

Real Estate Appraisal

Since determining the value of a particular property is a part of your training as a realtor, you could find a job with a business broker in NJ. When finalizing deals for mergers and acquisitions, one of the key elements of the process of due diligence is conducting evaluations of the partnering companies’ assets. Your job involves checking for the validity of the lease or ownership deeds and whether it is necessary to retain the property for ongoing operations.

A real estate appraisal can be critical to the outcomes of the merger deal since its value can influence the status of the balance sheets. Accordingly, your expertise may also be needed to check for the site’s profitability if it is sold, leased out, or used as is.

Real Estate Development

As a realtor, you’ll find and identify properties that have the potential for bringing attractive ROI for their buyers. Such buildings may be run-down, empty, or obsolete. Your job is to evaluate the cost of repairing the structures to make them fit for living, leasing, or accommodating a running business.

If you’re planning to work as a specialist realtor, you might need to get additional training and licensing. Check for the regulations in your state when choosing the career that interests you most.

5 Important Factors to Consider when Investing in Healthcare Real Estate

Healthcare is one of those industries that is on a never-ending upward trajectory around the world. Simply put, every country has a need for a better healthcare system and a greater number of top-quality medical institutions from a variety of fields within the medical profession. As a highly lucrative and ever-expanding industry, healthcare is one of the best industries to invest in in the real estate realm.

Whether you own a real estate business and want to make a long-term investment or if you have a team of medical professionals who are looking to buy a property and build a thriving medical practice, you need to know the key variables that are at play before signing on the dotted line. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five key factors you need to consider when looking to invest in healthcare real estate.

The pros of owning vs leasing medical real estate

Many medical professionals who are looking to open their own practice will first look into leasing a space instead of owning, and there are some wise reasons behind it. Firstly, leasing allows you to move fairly easily to a new location once the lease term is up, and it doesn’t incur the risks and responsibilities associated with ownership. However, over the long-term it can be overly expensive and wasteful. While you might be tempted to lease, any experienced real estate agent will tell you that buying is the best long-term option.

Owning medical real estate brings numerous advantages to the table, like avoiding the risks of elevated rent, which is bound to happen at some point. If you do your research and pick the right location, then you won’t have a need to move and will retain full ownership of the property so that you can build your brand’s reputation and visibility in the local market.

Conducting due diligence on the property

Of course, you shouldn’t invest in healthcare real estate without conducting thorough research and ensuring a comprehensive due diligence process. After all, this is a grand investment you’re about to make, so you have to make sure that all papers are in order and that there are no liabilities that might catch you off guard in the following months and years.

With that in mind, be sure to check the property’s tax history and make sure everything is in order. Next, check the property’s condition and assess the amount of work and investment capital needed to bring it up to code. Lastly, make sure that the property has a clear title by checking for any outstanding liens.

Purchasing a property with sustainability in mind

As an investor in such a competitive and oftentimes wasteful industry, one of your primary goals should be to ensure sustainability and eco-friendliness in order to minimize financial waste and build an appealing brand. After all, medical professionals want to work in a top-quality workspace, while modern patients want to enjoy their stay at their chosen institution.

You can start by considering the long-term potential for energy savings, and plan to install LED light fixtures like those made for clean rooms that serve a specific purpose while helping with energy conservation. Next, consider the equipment you’ll be using and how it helps conserve energy, as well as the potential of the property to be outfitted with sustainable materials.

Calculating and preparing for operating costs

All this talk about sustainability isn’t for naught, because it will help you minimize operating costs in the long run. In turn, this will allow you to plan your investment and allocate financial resources more efficiently. You might even be able to take out a smaller loan than you initially planned. Be sure to talk to your key players to assess all the costs and prepare your budget for procurement, maintenance, and even expansion in those first few crucial years.

Consider the market trends and locations

Choosing the right location for your medical practice, however big or small it may be, is crucial for your long-term success. On the one hand, the property needs to be accessible and close enough to make it worth the patient’s while to drive over, but it should also be far away enough from the competition so that you don’t have to compete with other clinics. Make sure to do extensive market research to find the ideal location, one that will facilitate long-term growth and help you build a recognizable and trustworthy brand in your local market.

Wrapping up

The healthcare industry is growing around the world, and it’s important that investors know how to choose the ideal properties to build their medical practices. Take these considerations to heart to find the best real estate opportunities in the healthcare sector.

About the author:  Mike Johnston is an avid blogging enthusiast and experienced freelance writer with a focus in real estate, home improvement, and the construction industry. He is a regular contributor to the Smooth Decorator blog.

September 2020 New Properties

New properties are added daily to RealtyHive, but each month we publish a roundup of our favorite new properties and hottest deals. Check out the newest properties now available on RealtyHive!

Newest Time-Limited Event Properties

Newest Marketing Matters Properties

Newest Business Opportunities

A Taste of Beautiful RealtyHive Developments

Although buying international properties comes with a number of benefits, it can also be extremely difficult finding the right one for you. There are so many variables that go into purchasing a property in general but even more so when you’re buying abroad. The simplest to purchase properties abroad is to purchase a unit in a real estate development. International developments also offer amenities that other properties don’t have such as gated communities/security, concierge services, social spaces, and so much more! Want to learn more about real estate developments and whether or not its the right choice for you? Click here!

1. Estepona, Spain

This is a stunning residential development located in a privileged area of Spain. A number of amenities nearby such as golf courses, shopping centers, and much more. This development offers 187 one, two, three or four bedroom properties distributed amongst three different residential spaces. All residences are just minutes from the beautiful sandy beach!

2. Hua Hin District, Thailand

This gorgeous villa boasts 165 sqm of living and dining space! The unique “H” layout of this home makes it just as functional as it is stunning! My personal favorite feature of this home is the upper terrace that boast stunning views of the surrounding mountains. If mountains aren’t your thing the home also includes a 36 sqm private swimming pool. So thats pretty cool.

3. Long Bay Village, Anguilla

This development is the newest beachfront resort in Anguilla. There is much excitement around this new luxury boutique resort as it lies on one of the world’s most beautiful white sand beaches! This beautiful waterfront resort offer 15 professionally-managed 1-3 bedroom condominiums! Each residence includes an outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the sea along with a hot/cold tub!

4. Bonita Springs, FL

Seaglass at Bonita Bay is committed to providing a relaxing yet luxurious waterfront living environment. Seaglass combines lovely coastal interior design with jaw dropping panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico! Resort offers amazing amenities such as steam/massage rooms, state-of-the-art fitness center, theatre room, resort style pool, and so much more! You will never be bored in this Bonita Bay beauty!

5. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This development property is located in Playacar Phase II which is one of the most exclusive gated communities in Mexico. Mara Playacar is surrounded by 18 hole golf courses, restaurants, shopping centers, and is only 2 blocks from the best beach in the Riviera Maya! The luxury amenities and stunning ocean views will make you never want to leave. And since Mara playacar has everything you could ever want or need… you never have to.

6. Roches Noires, Mauritius

5 years ago this large estate was made on the north east coast. Since then it has metamorphosed into a tight knit and lively community! This development is offers luxury residences on a golf course right by the sea. These gorgeous residences also offer stunning natural surroundings, a safe neighborhood, convenience, and a sense of community.

7. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This luxurious apartment project located in a once-in-a-lifetime location that overlooks 150,000,000 gorgeous blooming flowers. Each apartment is designed to offer uninterrupted views of Miracle Garden & Butterfly Garden. This development is particularly perfect for lovers of the architectural designs of the Roman era, an inspiration for the design of this real estate project.

8. Paradise Island, Bahamas

Situated on Nassau Harbour, Bahamas in between an Ocean Club and One&Only Resort, This beautiful development combines amazing location with stellar views! This gorgeous piece of waterfront real estate has a never ending list of amenities including a large pool, fitness center, concierge services, underground parking, 24hr gated security, and a marina! Residences are filled with natural light, luxury, and premium appliances!

9. Chicago, IL

74-story tower designed by Helmut Jahn, an internationally-renowned architect. Located in the windy city this development was made for urban connoisseurs and city dwellers! The floor to ceiling windows provide unobstructed views of the city, Lake Michigan, and Grant Park! This development also offers some amazing and luxurious amenities! This development just all around screams luxury and lavish living!

10. Sosua, Dominican Republic

This beautiful development offers private villas ranging from 2-5 bedrooms and starting just $199,900! With an amazing location just minutes from beautiful beaches, shopping, and restaurants and a number of luxury amenities, you’ll never run out of things to do! Property owners can play mini-golf, tennis, bocce ball, and shuffleboard. A waterpark, gym, and BBQ will be opening soon and there is A perimeter walking trail that surrounds the development. Finally there is beautiful communal grounds and a waterfall for owners to enjoy!

11. British Virgin Islands

Surrounded by the stunning turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, this development is a visual representation of what “luxurious living” means. Experience the finest of private island living while staying at on of Oil Nut Bays exclusive luxury villas! The development has a number of amenities including a private staff, seaplane, helicopter, or boat, a kids hangout space with movies, video games, and arts & crafts along with much more!

Enjoy this article? Read some more!

JULY 2020 New Properties

New properties are added daily to RealtyHive, but each month we publish a roundup of our favorite new properties and hottest deals. Check out the newest properties now available in July 2020 on RealtyHive!

New International Escapes

July 2020

Commercial Properties

Investment Properties

Luxury Living in Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin’s hidden gem!

When people think ‘Wisconsin’ I’m confident cheese, beer, and The Packers also come to mind. Which as a proud Wisconsinite, I can say is a very and I mean VERY accurate representation of our state, but I do believe something is missing. Lake Geneva is a resort city on Geneva Lake. The shore of Geneva Lake is dotted with gorgeous mansions that are just as breathtaking as the scenery that surrounds them. It’s time the real estate in Lake Geneva gets the attention and appreciation they deserve. With that said, may I present to you, luxury homes in Lake Geneva!

1. The Lakeside Oasis

This is a gorgeous 3 level lakefront home with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. This New England coastal style mansion includes a number of spectacular amenities including multiple decks, 5 fireplaces, Wolf/SubZero kitchen with expansive island, luxury master suite w/attached nursery or sitting room, 2-story great room fireplace, and a wall of windows allowing for an abundance of natural light into this lakeside dream! With a finished lower level and full entertainment kitchen, guest room, exercise and playrooms, this is the perfect family home or lake day getaway! LEARN MORE!

2. The Custom Built Brick Estate

Just steps from the water, this custom built brick frontage estate is the perfect place to enjoy the breathtaking Geneva sunsets. When you enter this home you are immediately welcomed by the gorgeous 2-story foyer. The foyer looks straight into the great room which includes a wall of windows allowing you to see the spectacular views from anywhere in the room. The kitchen comes with a breakfast bar island, 42” maple cabinetry, SS appliances, recessed lighting & french doors leading to the patio. The perfect single family home along the beautiful shore of Geneva Lake! LEARN MORE!

3. The Coastal Shingle Inspired Design

New outstanding lake-front luxury home Located East of the Narrows with wide view of Geneva Bay and Lake Geneva. Some notable additions include a Screen room with fireplace, lakeside patio,  large level lawn for entertaining, and a 3+ car attached garage. This home is lakeside living…but up a couple notches. LEARN MORE!

4. Exclusive Lakefront Estate

This exclusive lakefront estate, which overlooks the south shore of Geneva Lake, offers exquisite views from every room in the home! With a number of amenities including: a pool, spa, bi-level patio grills, sauna, steam shower, state of the art exercise room, walk-in cooler and much more, this is the perfect lakeside escape! LEARN MORE!

5. The Quiet Cul-de-sac Home

Perfect for all the golf fanatics out there, this home has outstanding views of the golf course! In addition to the golf course you can enjoy all the Geneva National amenities (some shown in pictures). With a 3 car garage, split bedroom design, gas fireplace, vaulted and tray ceilings, a lower level bedroom suite and so many builder extras, this home truly does have it all! LEARN MORE!

6. Stunning Modern Farmhouse

This breathtaking luxury home transitions modern farmhouse into comfortable lakeside oasis. This home brings luxury to the lakeside with stunning interiors and a number of amazing amenities. These amenities include A De Giulio kitchen with Sub Zero, Wolf and Miele anchors the west side of the home, with a two story family room separating the kitchen from the lakefront bluestone patio and covered porch. LEARN MORE!

7. Prime Lakefront Home

Prime lakefront home on Geneva Lake’s south shore boasts a number of amazing amenities including, cathedral ceilings & stone fireplace in great room, updated bathrooms, large kitchen, hardwood floors, main floor laundry, and fresh coat of paint throughout. This open concept home is situated on 1.7 acres in Trinke Estates and has some spectacular lake views! with a vast yard down to lake & pier, gazebo, and patio area w/ paver stone this home offers the most amazing outdoor atmosphere! LEARN MORE!

8. Residence in Geneva National Golf Club

This spectacular residence in Geneva National Golf Club brings warmth, elegance and spaciousness to the lakeside! Some of the notable features in this home include a spacious great room with access to the large outdoor deck, adjacent dining room, high end kitchen with updated appliances, study, laundry/mud room, master suite with a custom fireplace, and luxury bathroom with heated floor. There is so much to enjoy in this luxury Lake Geneva home! LEARN MORE!

9. Magnificent Country Retreat

This home is a gorgeous country resort just a short walking distance from downtown Lake Geneva. This home lies in the prestigious Lake Forest Estates on 2.3 acres of private land. With views of the countryside from every room and views of the lake from the front of the home, this home is a stunning and peaceful escape! The back yard is beautifully landscaped with a heated pool and a spa/whirlpool tub, you will never want to go inside! LEARN MORE!

So if you don’t want to purchase a house in Lake Geneva by this point, then I don’t think you really read the article accurately. So go back, take it all in and rejoin when you’re ready. Alright, now that we are all on the same page and in agreement that Lake Geneva is THE place to be, let me tell you about a way you could get money back at closing for any of these properties! Cashifyd is our cash back program that gets you money back when buying or selling real estate! Cashifyd helps buyers and sellers connect through a cashback at closing offer. The results of this are $100’s to $1,000’s to $10,000’s in cashback depending on the unique property you are looking to buy or sell. All the homes shown above are eligible for Cashifyd, so if you saw something you liked or have something you’d like to sell, maybe this is the time to unleash your real estate superpowers! LEARN MORE ABOUT CASHIFYD!

Enjoyed this article? Enjoy some more!

vacant-home-for-sale

Should I buy a vacant home?

Advantages and Considerations for Vacant Homes

In a blazing hot real estate market, a vacant home that’s not newly constructed can raise some questions. How long has the property been vacant? Has it been properly maintained so that there are no weather issues? Are there pests? Are there ghosts? At RealtyHive, we feature many types of properties, both vacant and occupied, from all types of sellers. This is what you should know.

Vacant Home Advantages

You can see it on your schedule

Unlike an occupied home where you have to coordinate schedules with current owners or tenants, vacant homes are often able to be shown at any time of the day. While the convenience factor is one benefit, there’s another reason this is so beneficial for a prospective buyer. 

Imagine you’re looking to buy a home in an unfamiliar area. Maybe you don’t know the area or the neighborhood well or only pass by during a certain part of the day. Depending on your location, the character of the neighborhood may change from day to night. Knowing there’s a loud and rowdy bar down the street or a school-induced traffic jam every afternoon may change the price you’re willing to offer. It’s not just properties in the city center that can be affected. What about a property that should have a wonderful view of the night sky, but instead has industrial lights coming from the nearby farm?

Viewing a vacant house multiple times allows you to see these details — the kind you normally find out about after the fact — ahead of time and without inconveniencing the seller.

It’s easier to picture yourself in

When looking for real estate, you should make it a point to look past the current tenant/owners personal items. Sure, you might fall in love with the current furniture and design, but more likely you’ll find yourself thinking “Why would you chose that couch?” or “How do you live in this mess?” 

When you look at a vacant home, you don’t run into this issue. Instead, you get to see a room with it’s permanent features. While some sellers use staging to create a more “homey” feel, the majority of the “stuff” is typcially removed allowing you to see how much space you have to work with and how the rooms flow without much distraction.

The sellers are probably motivated

The biggest advantage of buying a vacant home tends to be the sellers. From mortgages to maintenance, an unoccupied property costs the owner each and every month they hold on to it. Even if the property doesn’t have the mortgage, taxes, maintenance, and in some locations, required utility payments, that all need to be paid.

These holding costs, in addition to the labor and stress of having an additional property, can add up. For this reason, sellers of vacant homes are often highly motivated and more open to discussing all offers. One of the ways you can find motivated sellers is to check out the properties in upcoming RealtyHive Time-Limited Events. These sellers have committed to competitively pricing their properties and are willing to entertain all reasonable offers.

Vacant Home Considerations

How long has the property been vacant?

When a home is occupied issues are noticed quickly. Leaks in the basement or roof are addressed, heating or cooling systems are being used, and the property is often more or less maintained simply by being occupied. None of this applies to vacant homes. In the southern US, homes that sit vacant too long can attract unwanted guests like spiders, snakes, and scorpions, while homes to the north run the risk of freeze damage if homes are not property winterized.

Can the property serve its current use?

This one gets into the weeds of real estate law a bit, but if you’re looking at buying a vacant property, you should know about non-conforming use laws. In regard to a vacant home, this could mean that what appears to be a multifamily home or duplex would be allowed to be used as such.

Is buying a vacant home a good idea?

As with all real estate purchases, it’s important to do your homework. Vacant homes offer buyers the ability to see the property without any distractions, but may come with some unique considerations or challenges. Choose a great agent (find one who offers incentives to buyers here!) to assist you and help you through the process.

man speaking at conference

More than a meeting: Why conferences are still worth attending

Conference season is upon us, ladies and gentlemen. From the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in early January to South by Southwest in March, the early months of 2020 are filled with opportunities to learn and connect, regardless of which industry you’re in. While the educational and networking opportunities abound at these events, are they really worth the sometimes astronomical cost of attending? Here are some of the advantages to attending conferences.

Learn from the experts

Yes, we all know how important continuing education is, but let’s be honest, it tends to take a backseat to the day-to-day work. Sure, you’d love to learn about the latest trends in your industry and keep abreast of the newest technologies, but you’ve got clients to meet, staff meetings to attend, and a non-work life to uphold. By attending conference you’re able to pack all that learning into the span of a couple of days.

Meet new people

One of the biggest advantages to participating in a conference is that you get to meet and network with others in a face-to-face manner. While being introduced through email or being a member of a group on a social network is a great way to meet people in your industry when you’re not at an event, getting to meet in person is the best way to form a relationship. Whether you’re looking for new clients, partners, or even mentors, conferences offer the chance to identify and introduce yourself to these key players.

Scope out the competition

Sure, you keep tabs on your competition now. Maybe you do watch their social media accounts or monitor their keywords. But, events are a great way to really suss out what’s going on with your competitor. Are they unveiling a new product? Does their booth match the rest of their branding? What kinds of items or information are they giving out? You can learn a lot about a company by just stopping by their booth at an event like this.

Learn what you didn’t expect

You never know what you don’t know is a great thing to keep in mind at conferences. Regardless of your field, most conferences will pull in speakers who cover topics that you wouldn’t normally think to have looked into yourself. From workshops on marketing to seminars on legal implications to a roundtable discussion on ethics, these horizontally integrated sessions can provide a ton of value where you didn’t realize you were lacking.

Do you plan to go to any conferences this year? This year my team is attending many conventions for the real estate industry. Hope to see you there!

lady looking at computer

Move over Branding: The key to success in 2020 is not what you’d expect

It seems like some agents have all the luck. We all know someone that seems to have a pipeline of dream properties and buyers clamoring hand-over-(money-filled) fist to sign themselves into a new home while you sit and watch your listings grow stale. How do these agents do it? While nothing can compare to a well connected network, having a “secret weapon” in your real estate tool kit is the secret of success in 2020.

So what’s the secret? How can you get and keep more listings in 2020? It’s not about completely changing your method or reinventing the wheel, but rather it’s about having something different to offer your clients– something your competition can’t or won’t offer. It’s no secret we live in a global and tech-connected world, but have you thought about how you can merge your real estate business into the digital world? Event marketing is one of the best ways to do this.

What is event marketing?

Similar to a traditional auction, event marketing starts with a property being offered for sale at an attractive opening price. This price appeals to buyers which creates competition and the deadline of an impending auction creates urgency, ultimately resulting in a higher sale price. In this model, the seller retains control of the final sales price and the transparency the process provides helps the seller see the true market value. For agents, this can help overcome objections to price reductions or avoid them altogether. Buyers benefit from being able to determine what their highest/best offer may be.

hands signing a contract 

For Signing New Listings: Bring something new to the table

Between working on your “personal brand” via social media and networking or making sure that your advertising fit your “brand image”, 2017 was the year of “branding”. Designed to make you stand out from your competition, branding is great for marketing, but results are what really pay off. To extend your listings or to sign new ones in 2020, you’ll need to offer something to clients more results-oriented than industry buzzwords. Offering a solution or tactic that your competition does not will be the key to getting ahead this year.

RealtyHive Tip: Make a list of all the services you offer clients and potential clients. Everything from creating a BPO to the individual marketing channels you use for your properties. Now go through that list and cross out anything that your competition can do as well. If the remaining items are pretty thin, consider partnering with RealtyHive to have a true “differentiator” in your back pocket.

person using computer on www.realtyhive.com 

For Selling Your Listings: Show up and be successful

Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” While he probably wasn’t talking about online property listings, he could have been! According to the National Association of Realtors, 51% of home buyers found the home they purchased online, but the average NAR member reports that their website only brings in 1% of their business. In a sea of online noise, do your listings stand out or do they just show up like everyone else’s? With the market as strong as it has been you should be selling upwards of 90% of the properties you list–the key is to position those listings for success and having a strong online presence is the way to do that.

RealtyHive Tip: Do you know what your website traffic looks like? What about your search rankings? Where is the traffic coming from? Are they real buyers or junk bot traffic? If your online traffic isn’t where you want it to be, you might consider joining the RealtyHive marketplace to create additional exposure and make all your listings have a unique marketing presence whether or not you utilize the event marketing platform.

handshake business deal 

For Untapped Success: Branch into new markets

With housing prices up, inventory down, and demand through the roof it’s fair to say that parts of the housing market are on fire! However, for every can-barely-get-it-listed-before-accepted-offer there’s a stuck-on-the-market-for-years property. From land to luxury, FSBO to commercial, every market has its own hard-to-sell niche. While most agents will run from this segment, you can stand out by confronting these challenges and land the listing by offering a new, exclusive solution.

RealtyHive Tip: Look at your market to discover where a need isn’t being met. Has a local department store sat vacant for years or has the same plot of land set vacant for as long as you can remember? These are indicators that tradition processes haven’t worked and you can use the RealtyHive Event Marketing platform as a never-tried-before solution to help land these listings.

Want to learn more about how event marketing can take your business to the next level in 2020? Check out realtyhive.com for more information or to schedule a meeting with a RealytHive representative. In less than 20 minutes you’ll learn how RealtyHive’s event marketing platform can help your listings reach a global audience, extend your listings and avoid price reductions–all at no cost to you!

What Makes a Good Investment Property?

No matter the route you go for real estate investing — such as fixing up your own home, flipping, or renting out a home or commercial property — you want to make sure you’re choosing the right property. These tips can help your income property bring you ROI instead of regret.

The necessary changes are relatively minor.

Some real estate investors pass on home inspections in favor of a faster closing date. These investors typically have an experienced team of contractors who complete renovations quickly. Time is of the essence with investment properties, because the longer you’re holding onto a vacant home, the longer it will take for you to generate a profit.

This is true for flipping or renting out a property, though less so if you’re renovating for your own home. That being said, in nearly every instance you want a property that doesn’t require massive changes. Foundation problems, mold, or other damages will massively eat away at both time and your savings.

The location is a selling point.

Investment property success lies heavily in where the property is located.

  • For most commercial properties, lots of traffic and visibility is crucial. This isn’t always the case if your commercial property is a huge space, such as for corporate offices. But for local shops, you need a location that requires little to no commuting time for your clientele.
  • When buying your first rental property, consider the demographic you’re targeting. Near a college town? Look for a house that’s on-campus or close to it. Single-family home? Suburbs or just outside the hustle and bustle of a city are great locations.
  • If wanting to renovate and sell your own home later on, you should pick a location that’s on the up and up. It’s not ideally located right now, but it will be in 5-15 years. Smaller cities or cities that are remote (such as places out West) are a good place to look.

The property has potential.

It’s OK if your potential rental investment is a carpet nightmare out of the ‘70s. But qualities like hardwood floors (beneath all that carpet), high ceilings, and killer views make this a property with potential. Again, you don’t want a money pit for an income property, but the underlying beauty can turn out incredibly valuable.

Similarly, if your property is in one of those “up-and-up” locations, there is a ton of potential in appreciation. Property owners in cities like Fort Collins and Boulder experienced insane ROI, selling just as these cities became increasingly popular. Even commercial property owners can see huge success from renting out or selling in an area that’s on the come-up.

No property is perfect, but considering these factors can help turn your investment into a successful one. Find the perfect investment property or sell the one you have with RealtyHive! Learn more about time-limited events and get started today.