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Americans have more equity in their homes than ever before. Total U.S. home equity increased almost 20% in the first quarter to $27.8 trillion, a record high, according to the Federal Reserve. The increase is another consequence of a red-hot housing market. Double-digit price gains have driven some would-be homeowners out of the market. At the same time, rising home values are boosting the finances of the Americans who already own them. Still, rising rates have made it more expensive for homeowners to use that equity, the difference between the market value of a property and the mortgage balance. About 60% of equity was withdrawn via cash-out refinances in 2021, according to mortgage-data firm Black Knight. Homeowners are likely to turn to home-equity lines of credit, said Andy Walden, vice president of enterprise research strategy at Black Knight. Borrowing costs on such products are more closely tied to the Fed’s benchmark rate, which has moved less than mortgage rates this year. The Fed is expected to raise rates again at its meeting this week. With home-equity lines, borrowers pay interest on the amount of credit they use; with a cash-out refinance, the cash taken out of the home gets added to the outstanding mortgage, meaning the new rate is applied to a higher balance. The amount of trappable equity increased by a record $1.2 trillion in the first quarter of 2022, to more than $11 trillion, according to Black Knight. Close to 75% of it belongs to borrowers with mortgage rates below 4%, the Black Knight data show. The rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.23% near the beginning of June, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Orla McCaffrey

Chicago is all about chrome-and-glass skyscrapers, bright lights, and shops and restaurants on every corner. But take a few minutes’ drive north or ride on the L-train or Metra and you’ll be transported into what feels like a whole new world — the suburbs. Chicago suburbs feel nothing like the frantic city. Leafy streets, acres of open spaces, and sprawling homes replace busy streets and massive buildings. But while these communities often feel worlds apart, quite a few are just a stone’s throw away from the Windy City. If all these sound like home to you, take a look at some of the best-known suburbs to explore north of the city limits. Buffalo Grove Popularly known as BG, this neighborhood is a family-friendly community with a diverse population and an array of attractions and festivals. It has its own business parks, so you’ll find quite a few job opportunities without having to commute to the city. Northbrook Northbrook is home to a charming downtown where you’ll find dozens of family-owned shops and restaurants, as well as popular national and international brands. This rather dense suburban community also boasts acres of parks and golf courses – one reason it’s popular among retirees and young families alike. Easily accessible via the Metra, Northbrook puts you just less than an hour away from the Windy City. Evanston With a great location along Lake Michigan, just 23 minutes from downtown Chicago via the Metra, Evanston is a wonderful college town with one of the region’s best arts and culture scene. Home to Northwestern University, the city’s residents love its vibrant cultural attractions, peaceful neighborhoods, and charming homes. Barrington This charming village is the hub of an area comprising around 12 villages. Less than a 40-minute drive from downtown Chicago, Barrington is an ideal bedroom community that offers its own economic and job opportunities. But what it’s best known for are its historic attractions and small-town lifestyle, as well as a host of gorgeous nature destinations that put outdoor recreation practically at your doorstep. Skokie Chicago’s northern neighbor, the Village of Skokie’s appeal lies mainly in its accessibility and convenient location combined with a welcoming suburban charm. Skokie is consistently named one of the most livable suburbs in Chicago, thanks to its numerous parks, updated amenities, and topnotch entertainment options. Palatine Palatine has always been a popular Chicago suburb, and it’s easy to see why. Apart from a convenient location just around 35 miles to the Windy City, Palatine also offers excellent job opportunities, top-rated schools, and an undeniably suburban feel with great community spirit. Palatine residents enjoy a host of amenities, including sprawling parks, recreational facilities, and a host of fun community events. Find the perfect home for you in the neighborhood you most desire. Explore your real estate options with us at United Realty Group. We are local experts who know these communities by heart. Get in touch with us today to start your search. One Republic Mortgage offers the best customer service, financing of your new home and refinance the property. Call, chat, text or email now! #Chicago Suburbs #Buy New Home #Better Home #Better Mortgage

Homes with high curb appeal command higher prices and take less time to sell. The way a property looks from the street - attractively landscaped and well-maintained - will make a memorable and lasting first impression. Potential buyers are going to love the little and big details put in with love. Wash Your House’s Face REALTORS® say washing a house can add $10,000 to $15,000 to the sale prices of some houses. A bucket of soapy water and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush can remove the dust and dirt that have splashed onto wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, and fiber cement siding. Washing windows inside as well as out will let light in and add sparkle. Power washers (rental: $75 per day) can reveal the true colors. Another option, depending on ones’ budget, is a professional cleaning crew, will cost hundreds — depending on the size of the house and number of windows — but will finish in a couple of days. Freshen the Paint Job The most commonly offered curb appeal advice from real estate pros and appraisers is to give the exterior of your home a good paint job. Buyers will instantly notice it, and appraisers will value it. Of course, painting can be expensive and time-consuming facelift, but will ear dividends. Resist the urge to make a statement with color. An appraiser will mark down the value of a house that’s painted a wildly different color from its competition. Clean the front door and give it a couple of coats of paint. If it’s not an option to paint the entire home, then, paint the trim — or just the window trim — in an accent color. This is a relatively simple upgrade that provides plenty of pop. Neaten the Yard A well-clipped lawn, fresh mulch, and pruned shrubs boost the curb appeal of any home. Swap overgrown bushes with leafy plants and colorful annuals. Surround bushes and trees with dark or reddish-brown bark mulch, which gives a rich feel to the yard. Put a crisp edge on garden beds, pull weeds and invasive vines, and plant a few geraniums in pots. Cover bare spots with seeds and sod, get rid of crab grass, and mow regularly. If you’re selling anytime soon, any work you do now will reap benefits in your home’s selling price. “Clutter,” of course, is in the eye of the beholder, so think of it this way: Buyers need to imagine your home as their own, with their possessions and their style. Go for a clean, streamlined look. Glam Up Your Mailbox An upscale mailbox, architectural house numbers, or address plaques can make the house stand out. High-style die cast aluminum mailboxes range from $100 to $350. A handsome, hand-painted mailbox runs about $50. If you don’t buy new, at least give your old mailbox a face-lift with paint and new house numbers. Keep Up With Maintenance Nothing looks worse from the curb — and sets off subconscious alarms — like hanging gutters, missing bricks from the front steps, or peeling paint. Not only can these deferred maintenance items a home, but they can decrease the value of the property by 10%. Keep these maintenance routines in mind, they will dramatically help keep the look: Refasten sagging gutters Recoat bricks that have lost their mortar Seal cracked asphalt Replace cracked windows Old fixtures often seem dated and unappealing to buyers. Newer exterior light fixtures can quickly give a home an updated look #NewHouse2018 #RealEstate #BusinessTips #GoodTip

Niche has compiled what it says are the top schools at every grade level in Illinois, including both private and public schools. Niche.com, which specializes in all different types of rankings, released a new 2019 list slightly different than its usual rankings. This time around, Niche ranked what it says are the top schools in Illinois, including both private and public schools, and spanning elementary, middle and high schools. In Illinois, Niche seems to prefer public schools, which make up the overwhelming majority of spots on the list, including the top four. It is important to remember that every school on this list receives either an A+ or an A for an overall score from Niche. Niche's methodology is based on an analysis of academic and student-life data from the US Department of Education along with test scores, and feedback from Niche.com users. Here are top schools in Illinois for 2019: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, public, Aurora Walter Payton College Prep, public, Chicago Northwide College Preparatory High School, public, Chicago Adlai E. Stevenson High School, public, Lincolnshire University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, private, Chicago Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, public, Chicago Lake Forest Academy, private, Lake Forest New Trier Township High School, public, Winnetka Jones College Prep High School, public, Chicago Vernon Hills High School, public, Vernon Hills North Shore Country Day School, private, Winnetka Latin School of Chicago, private, Chicago Hinsdale Central High School, public, Hinsdale Libertyville High School, public, Libertyville Lane Tech College Prep High School, public, Chicago Glenbrook South High School, public, Glenview Francis W. Parker School, private, Chicago Neuqua Valley High School, public, Naperville Naperville Central High School, public, Naperville St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, private, Chicago Call us today (888)848-6065 #GoodTip #BusinessTips #Marketing #RealEstate

PINTURA Debido a preocupaciones relacionadas con la pintura con plomo, la casa no puede tener pintura descarapelada. Comúnmente encontrado en: Hogares construidos antes de 1978. Solución: se requiere repintar o quitar toda la pintura existente. SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS Todos los tomacorrientes GFI, luces, plomería, electrodomésticos y sistemas de calefacción y refrigeración deben estar operando y encendidos en la fuente de alimentación principal antes de la inspección. Comúnmente encontrado en: Propiedades vacantes, propiedades propiedad de bienes raíces, ventas cortas, ejecuciones previas a la hipoteca. Solución: los accesorios y sistemas de utilidad defectuosos deben repararse o reemplazarse. VENTANAS El Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD) de los EE. UU. Y algunos inversionistas convencionales requieren que las ventanas de los dormitorios con barrotes sin acceso exterior tengan cierres de seguridad. Comúnmente encontrado en: unidades de jardín y propiedades a nivel de calle en áreas urbanas. Solución: Ventanas sin cierres de liberación de seguridad debe ser modificado. PASAMANOS Para cumplir con los estándares de seguridad de la propiedad de HUD, todos los pasos y escaleras deben tener pasamanos. Comúnmente encontrado en: Propiedades con más de un piso o entradas de nivel elevado / bajo. Solución: los pasamanos deben instalarse cerca de los escalones y las escaleras que no los tienen. POZO, ABASTECIMIENTO DE AGUA Y SISTEMAS SÉPTICOS El pozo o tanque séptico y las líneas de lixiviación deben estar equipados, identificables y a una distancia aceptable de las líneas de propiedad y las fuentes de contaminación. Comúnmente encontrado en: Propiedades antiguas, propiedades rurales. Solución: Estos sistemas deben actualizarse o reemplazarse si fallan una prueba de pozo de agua. #Appraisal #NewHouse2018 #Mortgage #Spanish

1. Declutter and set the stage Just as you wouldn’t want houseguests or friends to see your home in disarray, you definitely don’t want potential buyers to know what brand of cereal you buy or to spot an old stack of newspapers. This is where staging comes in. Apply some time on the particulars: Organize bookshelves, reorganize desks, and get rid of rugs or decorative furniture that will block the view in your photos. Place yourself in the area where you plan on snapping the pic…… What do you see that distracts you? Remove it to get the finest shots. 2. Arrange images to tell a story When buyers come across your online listing, you have only a few seconds to capture their attention — randomly arranged photos can be confusing. Organize your photos like a virtual tour of your home. First, welcome them through the front door and around the first floor before proceeding to other parts of the home. This will help the buyer get a better sense of the layout of the house. Sometimes less is more. Listing photos are an invitation to a potential home for the customer. Don’t make the mistake when trying to completely sell it online. A useful idea is also, to post pictures of garage, gazebo, pergola and additional amenities to the house story. 3. Focus on choice parts of your listing While you may love the three freshly painted bathrooms, make sure to photograph the spaces you think will catch a potential buyer’s interest — and leave out the rest. For instance, if you have an amazing spa bathroom, use an image of that to put viewers in a relaxed mindset, as opposed to overwhelming them with multiple shots of similar spaces. 4. Don’t take unrealistic photos Honesty is always the best policy, especially when it comes to listing photos. “I like the photos to be accurately representative of the house, so people come and they either see exactly what they thought they’d see or they comment that the house looks better in life than it does in the photos,” says Sheri a RE agent in Los Angeles, CA. Save experimental new lenses for your next art project, and be sure to shoot rooms from the corner as opposed to straight on. 5. Show off architectural details Now is the time to really brag about the crown molding, coffered ceiling, and large bay window you’ve always loved about your home. Potential buyers are drawn in by interesting architectural details that add to the value of the property (not to mention the home’s character), so show them off in the listing photos! 6. Take aerial photos Really want to make a great impression? Show off your home and acreage from above. Try drone photography!!! The ‘wow’ factor alone is usually worth the cost. 7. Let in natural light Selling a home is about creating a feeling for potential buyers, and nothing says this more than bright, happy images. Natural sunlight can have a tremendous impact on the presence of the property, One of the best things about natural sunlight is that it’s free! Dark and gray light can produce very dull photos that won’t draw people into your property. With that in mind, try to schedule picture taking on sunny days, which will highlight your home. #RealEstate #BusinessTips

Today, the kitchen is the focal point of the home, the place that brings everyone together at the start of the day or after a long day way. As with any modern design trend, clean and simple styles have become favorites for homeowners with natural light becoming an essential aspect of the overall look and function of the kitchen space. Clutter-Free Counters With so little visible on their countertops, homeowners are requiring more storage. The majority of homeowners are prioritizing new storage solutions over all other functions of their kitchens, followed by creating open spaces that allow for working, playing, and living. The top requested features revolve around cabinet storage and organization, including pull-out waste or recycling baskets, organizers, revolving corner trays, pull or swing out trays and shelves. Surfaces - Quartz is #1 For high-end kitchen countertops, quartz still reigns supreme. The material is extremely hardy, can last virtually forever, is a breeze to maintain and is anti-microbial. Granite, the main competitor in the high-end bracket, requires slightly more maintenance. There is a notable trend toward softer and more neutral colors. More and more homeowners are opting for colors like: grey, taupe, creamy or white finishes. Smarter Assistants and Technology Smart kitchens are an evolving aspect of design. In fact, a lot of kitchens today are built smart from the ground up. Ease add-ons are motion sense-equipped kitchen faucets that can sense the presence of hands underneath and will come on automatically or try a one-touch feature. Refrigerators that can alert you when your groceries items are running low or a coffee maker programmed to have your coffee ready when you wake up. Technology integrated kitchens are becoming more popular as homeowners experiment with novel equipment. This is one of the biggest trends going into 2018. White is Still Hot White is still a big favorite for kitchen cabinets. Homeowners love it for its clean look, which is especially beneficial in a space that tends to get cluttered. White cabinets are simply beautiful and timeless and can be used in almost any kind of kitchen style. We expect white to remain a popular cabinet color in 2018 and probably for years to come. To break up the all-white kitchen expect to see islands in a variety of different paint colors or wood stain colors. The mixing of finishes create a needed accent piece and additional pops-of-color for the brave of heart. Transitioning Styles More renovating homeowners are opting for a completely different kitchen style compared the previous two years. Iconic modern and traditional styles are giving way to transitional, contemporary, and farmhouse styles. Half of kitchen remodelers are also updating their kitchen layout (50%) and are favoring L-shaped layouts versus a traditional U-shape. Appliances: New Styles and Preferences One of the hottest trends we are seeing for 2018 is gray-toned appliances in a dark brushed metal finish. Stainless steel appliances have dominated the market for quite some time, so seeing a different finish come into play is not surprising. Homeowners seem willing to experiment with a wider range of tones around the kitchen these days. More and more kitchens want to include induction cook-tops with separate single wall ovens. This trend can be more expensive than commercial ranges and often take up more space. But as in many of these trends, aesthetics is a major issue. Changes are also happening in the oven world. Steam ovens are fast becoming the new “must-have” appliance. They cook food much faster, retain food nutrients and flavor better than conventional ovens. Are you limited on isle space, then consider getting a French Door wall oven. Let these upcoming trends serve as design ideas for your 2018 kitchen renovation or new home construction. These ideas combine the best in functionality and aesthetics to create the ultimate kitchen. #Kitchen #NewHouse2018 #RealEstate #BusinessTips

First impressions are very key, so consider all senses, and make it a great showing! Collecting feedback, whether it’s positive or negative, from customers and agents, is a great way to help industry professionals improve. To that extent, we have put together a small list of common suggestions from both sides of real estate sales transactions. When organizing an open house or creating a planned showing schedule, consider the “Rule of 5”, charm the senses of those possible buyers/agents, and leave a memorable experience. Sight First sense to target of the potential buyers is the visual WOW effect! Make sure to really spend time with your sellers on going through curb appeal suggestions. Initial impressions are the most important as they create an emotional reaction, the goal is to make it positive. Entrance to the property is a huge deal. Seeing the exterior is one thing, but that moment of opening the front door and walking in, is focal! A dirty front door and a cranky wobbly door lock should be addressed, must be a smooth entrance. Taste If you think water and pretzels will seal the deal you cannot be more wrong. Show the potential buyers you really care about them and the neighborhood! For snacks, it would be cool to find a local small business, something creative, and place a seasonal and organic to the area snack. I.E. Lake Geneva WI, amazing local popcorn shop (use their many flavored popcorn as snacks and conversation starter. Sound Regardless if you live in a busy city, or quiet countryside you want to make buyers feel welcome. Play some neutral music and help the potential buyers visualize themselves in your property. Take advantage of surroundings, use those spring birds chirping outside, and open the window for sound to enter. Smell Air quality, is huge!!!! Today people are more prone to allergies and asthma. Keep the air crisp, clean, and well regulated temperature. If the home smells, is stuffy, has an animal odor, your potential buyers will be out of there before making it to the second floor. Take some steps to make the property a pleasant environment for all. A little bit of extra light plus a delicate smell can be effective. Touch At One Republic Mortgage we work very hard on gathering useful information for real estate agents. We strive to be a useful tool, a point of reference, and your preferred mortgage lender! Give us a call or an email today! We would love to talk, help, and build a relationship. Contact us to learn more (888)848-6065 #NewHouse2018 #RealEstate #BusinessTips #GoodTip

PAINT Due to lead paint concerns, the home cannot have any evidence of peeling or chipping paint. Commonly Found In: Homes built before 1978. Resolution: Repainting or removal of all existing paint is required. UTILITIES All outlets GFI, lights, plumbing, appliances and heating and cooling systems must be operable and turned on at the main power source prior to the inspection. Commonly Found In: Vacant properties, real estate-owned properties, short sales, pre-foreclosures. Resolution: Encourage your clients to take note of which outlets are not functioning in the home and replace them. They may want to consider hiring an electrician to make sure both outlets and the electrical box are updated and in proper working condition. WINDOWS Have your client take a quick inventory of the windows to make sure they’re in good working order. Replace windows that are cracked or broken before the inspection to save time during the selling process. Also, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and some conventional investors require that barred bedroom windows without exterior access must have security release latches, that are commonly found in garden units and street-level properties in urban areas. HANDRAILS To comply with HUD property safety standards, all steps and stairways must have railings. For properties with more than one floor or elevated/lower-level entrances handrails must be installed near steps and stairways that don’t have them. WELL, WATER SUPPLY AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS The well or septic tank and leach lines must be equipped, identifiable and an acceptable distance from property lines and sources of pollution. Commonly Found In: Older properties, rural properties Resolution: These systems must be updated or replaced if they fail a water well test. #Appraisal #NewHouse2018 #Mortgage

While real estate agents are still key in the home buying process, buyers are increasingly looking to do more leg work online before involving the experts. Here are our Real Estate marketing ideas for those looking to win the digital marketing game. Set Yourself Up For Social Make sure you have social media accounts on all the big networks (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and even Instagram if you snap a lot of house pics). Interact with users, share good press, and promote your properties. Create a Killer Business Card Get an awesome looking business card and hand them out like pizza flyers on a Friday night. Create a Newsletter Email marketing is one of the best strategies for building client relationships. Collect emails from your website, local outreach, or any other methods you can think of. Send your email subscribers the stuff they’re looking for – notices about upcoming open houses, new houses on the market, news about seminars you’re offering in the area, etc. Hire a Photo Pro Successful real estate relies heavily on great photography. Bad photos will diminish interest in even the greatest of properties. It’s absolutely vital that you have gorgeous photos of your properties. Hire a professional photographer (preferably with experience photographing homes and architecture), or, if you have sophisticated equipment and are confident in your abilities, have your own hand at it. Just remember this is one of those scenarios when it pays to bring in the professionals. Get Branding Branding is your buddy – that means pens, cellphone holders, coffee cups, and all those other freebies people love. Give out some branded goodies at local festivals and events to spread your brand. Ask for Testimonials From Former Clients Testimonials are tremendous trust signals. Showing that real, live people endorse your services means the world to potential clients. When a homebuyer has had a great experience with you, reach out to them and ask for a testimonial. If possible, try to get a photo of them as well. Make the most of these testimonials by placing them strategically on your website and sharing them now and then on social networks. Create an Awesome Website Today’s consumers like to do a lot of legwork themselves online when making major purchases, and that includes home buying as well. Make it easy for users to access all this information – make sure all your property pages have great photos, virtual tours, and easy access to Google Maps and Google Earth. List the hot spots nearby and their respective walking distances (mention the bus stop that’s just a five minute walk, or the Starbucks at the end of the block). Create a Referral System Provide incentives for past clients to refer you to future homebuyers. Keep In Touch Stay in touch (even months and years later) with past buyers in order to build in that good relationship. Send anniversary cards, holiday cards, etc. to stay fresh in their minds. When they have a friend who is ready to buy, they’ll pass along your info. Source: wordstream.com ORM is always just one call away and will work diligently to ensure that your borrowing and buying experience is clear, professional and customer-focused. We guarantee that you are in good hands and be with you every step of the way. Call us today (888)848-6065 #GoodTip #Mortgage #BusinessTips #RealEstate #Marketing

1. Establecer un escenario Del mismo modo que no desearías que los invitados o los amigos vieran tu hogar en desorden. Definitivamente no deseas que los posibles compradores sepan qué marca de cereal compras o que descubran una pila vieja de periódicos. Aquí es donde entra en escena. Dedique tiempo a los detalles: Organice estanterías, arregle escritorios y quite alfombras o muebles que bloquearán la vista en sus fotos. Scott Curcio de Coldwell Banker en Chicago, IL. Sugiere. "Párate en el lugar donde fotografiarás cada habitación, ¿qué ves que te distrae?, Quítalo para obtener las mejores tomas del espacio." 2. Arregle sus imágenes para contar una historia Cuando los compradores se encuentran con su lista en línea, solo les quedan unos segundos para captar su atención: las fotos al azar pueden ser confusas. Arregle sus fotos como un recorrido virtual por su casa. Primero, deles la bienvenida a través de la puerta principal y alrededor del primer piso antes de continuar hacia otras partes de la casa. Esto ayudará al comprador a tener una mejor idea del diseño de la casa. "Menos a veces es más", dice Patrick McLaughlin, un agente inmobiliario con Douglas Elliman en Sag Harbor, Nueva York. "Las fotos del listado deben ser una invitación a una lista. No cometa el error de intentar venderlo completamente en línea.” 3. Concéntrese solo en algunas partes de la casa Aunque puede que le encanten sus tres baños recién pintados, asegúrese de fotografiar los espacios que cree que atraerán a un comprador potencial, y deje de lado el resto. Por ejemplo, si tiene un increíble baño de spa, use una imagen de eso para poner a los espectadores en una mentalidad relajada, en lugar de abrumarlos con múltiples tomas de espacios similares. 4. No tome fotos poco realistas La honestidad es siempre la mejor política, especialmente cuando se trata de incluir fotos. "Me gusta que las fotos sean exactamente representativas de la casa, por lo que las personas ven exactamente lo que pensaban que verían o comentan que la casa se ve mejor en la vida que en las fotos". 5. Muestra los detalles arquitectónicos Ahora es el momento de alardear sobre la moldura de techo, el techo artesonado y la gran ventana salediza que siempre ha amado en su hogar. Los compradores potenciales se sienten atraídos por interesantes detalles arquitectónicos que aumentan el valor de la propiedad (sin mencionar el carácter de la casa), ¡así que muéstrelos en las fotos de la lista! 6. Toma fotos aéreas ¿Realmente quiero causar una gran impresión? Muestra tu hogar y superficie desde arriba. Jim Brooks de Realty One Group en Las Vegas, NV, sugiere probar la fotografía de drones, si su vecindad o la asociación de propietarios lo permite. "El factor 'wow' solo generalmente vale la pena el costo", dice. 7. Deje entrar la luz natural Vender una casa se trata de crear un sentimiento para los vendedores potenciales, y nada dice más que imágenes brillantes y felices. "La luz solar natural puede tener un tremendo impacto en la apariencia de la propiedad", dice Kameron Kang de ENG Garcia Properties en Washington, DC. " ¡Una de las mejores cosas de la luz solar natural es que es gratis! Los días nublados y oscuros pueden producir fotos muy aburridas que no atraerán a las personas a su propiedad. Con eso en mente, trate de programar la toma de fotografías en días soleados, lo que resaltará su hogar” #RealEstate #BusinessTips #Spanish

In today’s ever-evolving workplace, having a professional development plan increases both engagement and retention. Key insights for professional growth and developing your marketing skills. Social Media In today’s day and time it is impossible to conduct any business, especially a service driven one without the use of social platforms. Do not be intimidated. Everyone starts with 1 friend or follower in the beginning. Using tools such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, will keep you always on the radar with the people you interact with in person and even ones you never met face to face. Be fun and creative with your posts, especially if you are original and not just re-posting a lot of the time. Individual Blog Make it fun and personal! Are you a cook? A cyclist? Music buff? Actor? Everyone has a hidden talent. Being more approachable, and providing a fun side of yourself will get your potential customers and business contacts to remember and connect with you. A lot of people use blogs as a step in relationship development. This secondary form of connecting, is a way to expand potential client’s list, and convert them into primary sales goal. Business Cards still Alive and Well Have a fun challenge! Set aside 500 business cards today and gone by December 31st. bring them everywhere with you, give them to your mechanic as well as your yoga instructor, everyone wants one, distribute to all with a smile. Break the 500 into 10s, and make sure these small batches are gone and out each week. Re-Engage Previous Clients and Lost Opportunities Write hand written notes to referral sources and current clients every time you get a referral. Most people say that they do not use their realtor more than once is because they forget who they used years ago. Stay in touch, and do it with a personal approach. Network Like a Champ Be a useful source of information. Seek Public Speaking Engagements, and make an effort to present your knowledge and experience with a useful educational topic. Talk to professionals in the financial sector and build on those relationships with advisers, retirement specialists, CPAs, and insurance agents​ Team at One Republic wishes you much success and we are here to provide all possible methods of residential mortgage loan financing. Best of luck and stay in touch! Call us today (888)848-6065 #GoodTip #BusinessTips #BusinessDevelopment #Marketing