R E F U E L I N G R E A L E S TAT E C A R E E R S VO L N o . 3
YO U CAN MAK E A DI FFE R E N CE
Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is the way we stay connected to what is really important in life. Since 2010, Carrington Charitable Foundation (CCF) has supported a variety of nonprofit causes, including those that impact children’s charities, food banks, animal shelters, military troops, and more through fundraising, in-kind donation drives, volunteer opportunities and the annual Golf Classic. Through CCF’s signature program, Carrington House, the Foundation provides housing to our returning wounded servicemen and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country’s freedom. CCF honors their selfless sacrifices by building one-of-akind, permanent automated homes for severely wounded Veterans and their families across the United States. With these forever homes, CCF hopes to provide each veteran and their family a place where they can live comfortably and a home they can be proud of. To get involved and learn more about the Carrington Charitable Foundation, or to give a donation, please visit carringtoncf.org. Thank you!
R E F U E L I N G R E A L E S TAT E C A R E E R S c a r r i n g to n r e a l e s t a te . c o m
THIS ISSUE
TIPS TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL NOW / Page 4 CREATIVE WAYS TO ADVERTISE YOUR LISTINGS / Page 5 RISING INTEREST RATES — THERE IS A SILVER LINING! / Page 6 8 TYPES OF MOBILE APPS EVERY AGENT SHOULD HAVE / Page 8 CHAMPION CIRCLE 2016 / Pages 9-12 DIY: HOW TO MAKE A VIDEO WALK-THROUGH THAT BUYERS WILL ACTUALLY WATCH / Page 13 5 GREAT NETWORKING OPTIONS FOR AGENTS / Page 15 2015 FOURTH QUARTER TOP 10 PRODUCERS / Pages 16-17 FHA PREMIUM REDUCTION CAN BOOST YOUR BUSINESS! / Page 18
First Quarter 2016, VOL No. 3. FUEL is a publication of Carrington Real Estate Services, LLC. 1600 S Douglass Road, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92806. 877.330.2773 Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. ©2016 Carrington Real Estate Services, LLC. All rights reserved.
E D I TO R ’ S N OT E Congratulations! We are so excited to showcase and celebrate the achievements of our 2016 Champion Circle winners and the Top 10 Producers for fourth quarter 2015. Based on criteria in the categories of units sold, sales volume, and self-generated sales volume, these top 25 Champion Circle winners are not only strong performers in their local neighborhoods but they also embrace and deliver the Carrington brand promise of FUEL! From everyone at Carrington — congratulations to all the top performers featured on the pages that follow! You’ll also notice on the back cover of this issue an award that has increased our brand awareness and positions us again as a major player in the real estate industry! The Swanepoel Power 200 (SP200) annually ranks the top "Power Players" in the business and I am delighted to have been named one of the Top 20 Trendsetters for 2016! This list features the innovators, dealmakers, and those that are up and coming and are anticipated to make a difference in the industry. A difference that will be exclusive to #teamcarrington and taking your business to the next level! Did you know that taking your business to the next level starts NOW? Inside this edition are some great articles that you can put to work for you today. Give yourself the best gift ever and commit to using at least five ideas you read and watch your bottom line grow. Happy Selling!
Wendy Forsythe EVP/Head of Global Operations Carrington Real Estate Services Wendy.Forsythe@carringtonres.com
R E F U E L I N G R E A L E S TAT E C A R E E R S
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HERE ARE 4 THINGS TO CONSIDER AS YOU ALIGN YOUR BUSINESS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MARKET OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMING MONTHS: 1 / WHAT DOES THE JOB GROWTH LOOK LIKE IN YOUR AREA? Are newly employed workers moving in and struggling to find homes? Are people enjoying wage growth and looking to enter the market? If so, think about how you can better appeal to and serve first-time homebuyers. A recent NAR report shows that new home construction is still lagging behind demand. What can you do to better interest first-time buyers in existing homes? 2 / ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, CAN YOU HELP CLIENTS WHO ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT SELLING BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD? For instance, are you keeping an eye on pricing trends in your market to determine which homes have moved to positive equity positions? If so, reach out to homeowners within your area to see if they want to list their properties now. Go through your prospect database and flag homeowners who might be ready to sell. Now is a great time to check in with those people and to review your local MLS activity to identify homes that were listed over the past year only to be pulled off the market. Are they ready to move now?
TIPS TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT
LEVEL NOW
3 / IN ADDITION TO FINDING NEW CLIENTS TO WORK WITH, FIND NEW WAYS TO BROADEN YOUR EXISTING NETWORK. Have you considered engaging with real estate investors in your area? Networking within the investing community can open up a whole new range of buying and selling opportunities for motivated real estate agents. To work in this market segment, you should investigate areas where apartment occupancy rates are near 100 percent, in addition to locating nearby homes that would make good rental properties. 4 / TO FURTHER GROW YOUR NETWORK, CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH LOAN OFFICES AT CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES. Our mortgage professionals can be key resources as rates and the market change. Seek out ways to work with these professionals to better serve your market — consider offering borrower seminars on how to get a loan or a session specifically for first-time homebuyers. They can be reached at 877-277-7256 There’s a wealth of opportunities for savvy real estate professionals looking to take their business to the next level. You should do whatever you can to be a critical resource — whether to buyers, sellers, or the community in general. If you show yourself to be invaluable, people will turn to you with their business. To learn more, call 877.330.2773 or email customercare@carringtonres.com.
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Creative Ways TO ADVE RTIS E YO U R LISTI N GS
Let’s jump in and take a look at 5 creative ways you might want to consider to advertise your listings! HIRE A CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER We all know that the pictures we submit to the local MLS for each listing are one of the most important factors in how many people will contact you about a particular listing. Most real estate buyers today start their searches on one of the major national real estate sites, and the pictures that those sites pull from the MLS can either make or break a listing. Since there is no avoiding the importance of the pictures, why not hire a creative photographer to make your pictures truly unique and interesting? Anyone can walk through a house and snap a bunch of pictures with a smart phone. But having someone creative take some more inspired photos of your listing will represent it in a totally different light. VIDEO WALK-THROUGHS Another way that you can differentiate your listing creatively is to put together a video walk-through. Just about every listing these days has a couple R E F U E L I N G R E A L E S TAT E C A R E E R S
dozen pictures submitted with it, but video adds a whole other dimension for prospective buyers to really get to see the benefits of a property. You can easily put together a video by filming yourself walking through the house, or you can hire a professional to really make an outstanding video. PARTNER WITH LOCAL WEBSITES If there is a local website covering different aspects of your community, make sure that you are first in line to partner with them on promoting local real estate. Locally focused websites are growing in popularity and offer the benefit of advertising directly to a very local audience. They also tend to be much more cost-effective than buying zip codes from national websites. If a website about your local community does not exist yet, maybe it’s a good idea to start one! MASTER FACEBOOK ADS Keeping with the idea of local targeting, you can do exactly that with Facebook ads for any post about a particular listing. Whether you are using your personal account, or a business page you created for your listings, you can run ads targeted at the ideal location and demographic for a particular listing. This is very powerful, and usually the pricing is quite reasonable.
START AN EMAIL NEWSLETTER Starting an email newsletter is actually a twofold approach to creative advertising. You will be building an audience of people who know, like, and trust your opinion on various listings. And at the same time, you will also be building a platform to advertise your own listings. If you don’t already have an email newsletter in place, you can use software like MailChimp to get started 100 percent free of charge! Real estate advertising is all about finding creative ways to reach people who would likely be interested in learning more about specific listings at a reasonable price point. Thinking just slightly outside of the standard advertising box is a great way to lower your costs and increase your conversions. To learn more, call 877-330-2773 or email customercare@carringtonres.com.
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This could spell trouble for potential homebuyers who then will be facing increased debt-to-income ratios (DTI). Smoke’s analysis indicated that the average DTI would increase by 4 percent, which could lead to as much as a 7 percent increase in rejections of mortgage applications. The increased monthly debt burden could mean that potential homebuyers have to look in a different price tier or they might not qualify for a loan altogether.
Sales prices could decrease
These increases, however, could be offset by lowering sales prices. Increased interest rates likely will put pressure on the housing market, and sales prices might decrease, especially in the first wave of interest-rate increases. With lower prices come lower down payments, which could open the door for some potential homebuyers. However, this impact will vary by market. High-cost housing markets where jumbo loans are popular likely will see more buyers priced out of the market as first-time or lower-income buyers no longer meet qualification guidelines.
Rising Interest Rates — There is a Silver Lining! The real estate market has enjoyed historically low rates since 2008, when the Fed drastically cut interest rates to help the market recover from the housing crisis. Since then, home prices and sales have increased steadily, and buyers have become accustomed to low rates and relative affordability.
THE SILVER LINING : ) Expand your business to work with new borrowers If interest rates increase, conventional and jumbo loans are more likely to hit the upper limits on DTI, while FHA and VA loans are less likely to hit the upper limits. This could signal a significant boost for FHA and VA loans as some buyers no longer qualify for conventional loans.
For FHA borrowers, though higher interest rates mean a higher monthly payment, a lowering of home pricing might help offset the increased rate with an additional lower amount down.
Many real estate agents are concerned that increased rates this year will mean on-the-cusp buyers might be priced out of the market or that housing gains will stall.
Savvy real estate agents will want to position their business accordingly if interest rates increase as expected. Agents who do a large amount of business with jumbo or conventional borrowers might want to consider expanding their business to work with FHA and VA borrowers or lenders that offer credit to underserved borrowers with lower credit scores and lower down payments.
So far the rates are pretty low but it is always wise to be prepared.
Agents who are looking to work in this market for the first time should aim to partner with lenders that are experienced with FHA, VA, and Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans. They should also seek out lenders that offer lower minimum credit scores, lower down payment requirements, and extended eligibility to more property types.
Small rate hike still means bump in DTI
Agents who are versed in what a rate hike could mean — and how it will affect potential buyers’ ability to qualify for a mortgage — will be able to better withstand any market fluctuations caused by a change in the Fed’s rate policy.
Even a relatively small interest rate increase of 50 basis points could have serious consequences for the housing market, according to realtor.com Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke. According to his analysis, a 50-basis-point hike could mean a 6 percent increase in monthly payments for new mortgages. 6
To learn more, call 877-277-7256 or visit carringtonhomeloans.com.
Jumpstart the home buying process
by prequalifying your buyers!
Prequalifying is easy, doesn’t require your clients to disclose their Social Security number and creates no obligation — for them or Carrington. In return for completing this simple process, prequalification offers you and your potential buyers some serious benefits: • Demonstrates the seriousness of your buyer’s intent to purchase • Gives you and your buyer an idea of how much home they can afford • Helps you better target the right homes to visit Get your buyer’s prequalification started by calling today.
866-288-5497
© Copyright 2007-2016 Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC headquartered at 1600 South Douglass Road, Suite s110 & 200A, Anaheim, CA 92806. 800-561-4567. NMLS ID 2600. Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) Consumer Access website: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. AZ: Mortgage Banker BK-0910745. CA: Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, File 413 0904. CO: To check license status of your mortgage loan originator, visit www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm. GA: Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee 22721. IL: Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee. KS: Supervised Loan License SL.0000313. KY: Mortgage Loan Company License MC21112. MN: This is not an offer to enter into an interest rate lock agreement under Minnesota Law. MS: Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Mortgage Lender License 2600. MO: Missouri Company Registration 14-1746-A. NH: Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department. NJ: Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance. NV: Mortgage Broker License 4068 (Residential Mortgage Origination/Lending). NY: Licensed Mortgage Banker—NYS Department of Financial Services. New York Mortgage Banker License B500980/107664. OH: Ohio Mortgage Broker Act Certificate of Registration MB.804213.000; Ohio Mortgage Loan Act Certificate of Registration SM.501517.000. OR: Mortgage Lender License ML-4886. PA: Licensed by the Department of Banking. RI: Rhode Island Licensed Lender, Lender License 20112809LL. VA: Licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission MC-5382. NMLS ID 2600 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) WA: Consumer Loan License CL-2600. Also licensed in AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, ID, IN, IA, LA, MD, MI, MT, NE, NM, NC, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV, WI, WY. NOTICE: All loans are subject to credit, underwriting and property approval guidelines. Offered loan products may vary by state. There is no guarantee that all borrowers will qualify. Restrictions may apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Terms, conditions and programs are subject to change without notice. This information is for industry professionals only and is not intended for distribution to consumers. Carrington Mortgage Services is not acting on behalf of or at the direction of HUD/FHA or any government agency. All rights reserved.
MORTGAGE CALCULATOR Once again, there are a lot of options here, but having a mortgage calculator handy can help you answer an awful lot of client questions right away while you are showing a property.
LISTINGS
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CAMERA
8 TYPES OF MOBILE APPS EVERY AGENT SHOULD HAVE The real estate business is moving more and more towards being a completely mobile profession every single day.As agents, we typically spend more time in our cars and showing properties than we spend with our families, much less in our offices. So when the topic of mobile productivity comes up, real estate agents have a lot to gain. Fortunately, there are a plethora of apps out there for both Android and iOS devices that make it easier than ever to run your entire real estate business from anywhere in the world. If you are looking for an edge to help you stay organized and get more accomplished, here are eight apps that you absolutely must be using on a daily basis. REAL ESTATE LISTINGS APP First and foremost, you are going to want to have an app that will let you pull up the MLS data on any property you notice while out in the field. There are tons of options here, but the most powerful apps are the ones from Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. As real estate agents, many of us have a love/hate relationship with these massive realty sites, but they aren’t going away at this point, so we might as well make use of the tools they offer, and get familiar with the same sites and apps our clients are using. MAPS & DIRECTIONS The last thing you ever want to do is get lost on the way to a property that you are trying to sell. That’s why you should be sure to have a directions app like Google Maps or Apple Maps to help you navigate areas you might not be familiar with. 8
CONVERSION TOOL Another common question that many agents struggle with is converting different types of measurements in the field. Vert is an app that takes care of that for you by handling all different types of measurement conversions right on your smartphone. REMOTE ACCESS & STORAGE Since you probably have a virtual office, it is very important to be able to access your documents remotely. Dropbox is the most popular app for this type of access, but Google Drive and Box are also great options. NOTE TAKING For many agents, the Evernote app has been an absolute game-changer. Other agents feel it is a bit too much for them and prefer simpler note taking apps like Drafts or the native Notes app. No matter where you stand, you should always be utilizing your smartphone to take notes on everything you need to remember about buyers, sellers, and specific properties. TAX DEDUCTION APPS Another difficult thing about being constantly on the move is that you have to come up with a way to keep track of all of those tax deductible receipts so that you can write off all of your business expenses at the end of the year. Luckily, there are apps like Deductr 2 and MileIQ that can track those client meeting receipts and even the mileage on your vehicle. UPGRADED CAMERA APP The pictures you take to promote your listings are more important than ever. That is why smart agents have upgraded to more sophisticated camera apps like Camera+ for their phones. Even if you generally use a DSLR camera or hire a professional, you should still have a better camera app on your phone for those times when you need a quick picture and it has to look great. With over three million apps available on the Android and Apple app stores combined, finding the right mobile apps to help your business can be overwhelming, but the apps mentioned here would be a great start to any agent’s mobile arsenal. To learn more, call 877.330.2773 or email customercare@carringtonres.com.
-INTRODUCING THE-
Congratulations to the 2016 Champion Circle winners! They represent the top 25 performers in units sold, sales volume, and self-generated sales volume. We are extremely proud and honored to be in partnership with these dedicated and committed sales professionals. We encourage you to reach out to them and ask for their insights. It will take your business to the next level.
BASED UPON 2015 PRODUCTION
TO P 2 5 SALE S VO LU M E
1
2
Sandra Rub & Rossana FRANCO Sunny Isles, FL
3
4
Steve Webber ESCONDIDO, CA
Melody Kramer Vacaville, CA
Steve.Webber@carringtonres.com
Melody.Kramer@carringtonres.com
Sandra.Rub@carringtonres.com Rossana.Franco@carringtonres.com
5
SEAN BATES HOLLY RUHLIG TAMPA, FL
Alice Greliak SAN DIEGO, CA Alice.Greliak@carringtonres.com
Sean.Bates@carringtonres.com Holly.Ruhlig@carringtonres.com
6
7
8
9
10
Sandra Hadley CARLSBAD, CA
Michael McCaffery DEL MAR, CA
Joseph Weinstein SAN JOSE, CA
Bonnie Maloney ESCONDIDO, CA
Joseph.Limo@carringtonres.com
Sandi.Hadley@carringtonres.com
Mike.Mccaffery@carringtonres.com
Joseph.Weinstein@carringtonres.com
Bonnie.Maloney@carringtonres.com
11
Andrew Sawyer
LAS VEGAS, NV
Andrew.Sawyer@carringtonres.com
12
Alfonso Torres III
ASHBURN, VA
Alfonso.Torres@carringtonres.com
13
Elisabeth Ceja
LONG BEACH, CA
Elisabeth.Ceja@carringtonres.com
14
David Moore
McLean, VA
David.Moore@carringtonres.com
15
Vanessa Ainzuain
Sunny Isles, FL
Vanessa.Ainzuain@carringtonres.com
16
Larry Zanas
NAPLES, FL
Larry.Zanas@carringtonres.com
17
Lisa Harris
LAS VEGAS, NV
Lisa.Harris@carringtonres.com
Mary Russo Andrews &
DEL MAR, CA
Mary.RussoAndrews@carringtonres.com
18 19
Christel Carylyle Mary Nguyen
Christel.Carylyle@carringtonres.com SAN JOSE, CA
Mary.Nguyen@carringtonres.com
20 Gonzalo Gonzalez
Irvine, CA
Gonzalo.Gonzalez@carringtonres.com
21
Baltimore, MD
Harriett.Love@carringtonres.com
22 Dennis Keefe
El Dorado Hills, CA
Dennis.Keefe@carringtonres.com
23 Brian Daddona
Bethany, CT
Brian.Daddona@carringtonres.com
24 Patrick O'Donnell
BOSTON, MA
Patrick.Odonnell@carringtonres.com
25 Chris Boone
ASHBURN, VA
Chris.Boone@carringtonres.com
Harriett Love
#CHAMPIONCIRCLE2016
Joseph Limo RIVERSIDE, CA
TO P 2 5 U N ITS SO LD
1
2
SEAN BATES HOLLY RUHLIG TAMPA, FL
3
4
5
MELODY KRAMER Vacaville, CA
Chad Crookes Bristol, CT
Brian Daddona Bethany, CT
Deon Paul PALM COAST, FL
Melody.Kramer@carringtonres.com
Chad.Crookes@carringtonres.com
Brian.Daddona@carringtonres.com
Deon.Paul@carringtonres.com
Sean.Bates@carringtonres.com Holly.Ruhlig@carringtonres.com
6
7
8
9
10
George Brown PALM COAST, FL
Melanie Croft Chicago, IL
Paul Wallace HOUSTON, TX
Chong Yi Baltimore, MD
Andrew.Sawyer@carringtonres.com
George.Brown@carringtonres.com
Melanie.Croft@carringtonres.com
Paul.Wallace@carringtonres.com
Chong.Yi@carringtonres.com
11 12
13
14 15 16 17 18 19
David Brown
King of Prussia, PA
David.Brown@carringtonres.com
Noah Bates
LAS VEGAS, NV
Noah.Bates@carringtonres.com
Joseph Limo
RIVERSIDE, CA
Joseph.Limo@carringtonres.com
Steve Webber
ESCONDIDO, CA
Steve.Webber@carringtonres.com
Heidi Cordray
Preston, CT
Heidi.Cordray@carringtonres.com
Robert Miller
ORLAND PARK, IL
Robert.Miller@carringtonres.com
Harriett Love
Baltimore, MD
Harriett.Love@carringtonres.com
Crystal Moore
Boca Raton, FL
Crystal.Moore@carringtonres.com
Lisa harris
LAS VEGAS, NV
Lisa.Harris@carringtonres.com
Alice Greliak
SAN DIEGO, CA
Alice.Greliak@carringtonres.com
Ron Memo
LAS VEGAS, NV
Ron.Memo@carringtonres.com
Luz Heredia
PALM COAST, FL
Luz.Heredia@carringtonres.com
John Plepel
Chicago, IL
John.Plepel@carringtonres.com
HOUSTON, TX
Hank.Molenaar@carringtonres.com
CHARLOTTE, NC
John.Bradford@carringtonres.com
Michael Lan
Boca Raton, FL
Michael.Lan@carringtonres.com
Niall McCall
King of Prussia, PA
Niall.Mccall@carringtonres.com
Victor Mineo
Boca Raton, FL
Victor.Mineo@carringtonres.com
Duluth, GA
Keith.Johnson@carringtonres.com
MT LAUREL, NJ
Nicole.Bartolone@carringtonres.com
Jose Concepcion Jr.
Boca Raton, FL
Jose.Concepcion@carringtonres.com
Demetrice Pearson
Plano, TX
Demetrice.Pearson@carringtonres.com
Cesar Ramirez
HOUSTON, TX
Cesar.Ramirez@carringtonres.com
ALEXANDRIA, VA
David.Moore@carringtonres.com
Randall Peraza-Borbon
HOUSTON, TX
Randall.Peraza@carringtonres.com
Kymberli Saragaglia
Chicago, IL
Kymberli.Saragaglia@carringtonres.com
Baltimore, MD
Ana.Park@carringtonres.com
20 Hank Molenaar Jr 21 John Bradford
22 Keith Johnson 23 Nicole Bartolone
24 David Moore
25 Ana Park
#CHAMPIONCIRCLE2016
Andrew Sawyer LAS VEGAS, NV
TO P 2 5 S E LF - G E N E R ATE D SALE S VO LU M E
1
2
Sandra Rub & Rossana FRANCO Sunny Isles, FL
3
6
SEAN BATES HOLLY RUHLIG TAMPA, FL
Steve Webber ESCONDIDO, CA Steve.Webber@carringtonres.com
Sandra.Rub@carringtonres.com Rossana.Franco@carringtonres.com
4
5
Melody Kramer Vacaville, CA
Alice Greliak SAN DIEGO, CA
Melody.Kramer@carringtonres.com
Alice.Greliak@carringtonres.com
Sean.Bates@carringtonres.com Holly.Ruhlig@carringtonres.com
7
8
9
10
Michael McCaffery DEL MAR, CA
Bonnie Maloney ESCONDIDO, CA
Joseph Limo RIVERSIDE, CA
Alfonso Torres III ASHBURN, VA
Sandi.Hadley@carringtonres.com
Mike.Mccaffery@carringtonres.com
Bonnie.Maloney@carringtonres.com
Joseph.Limo@carringtonres.com
Alfonso.Torres@carringtonres.com
11
Vanessa Ainzuain
Sunny Isles, FL
Vanessa.Ainzuain@carringtonres.com
12
Joseph Weinstein
SAN JOSE, CA
Joseph.Weinstein@carringtonres.com
13
Larry Zanas
NAPLES, FL
Larry.Zanas@carringtonres.com
14
Mary Russo Andrews
DEL MAR, CA
Mary.RussoAndrews@carringtonres.com
Christel Carylyle
15
Patrick O'Donnell
BOSTON, MA
Patrick.Odonnell@carringtonres.com
16
Teri Garcia
ESCONDIDO, CA
Teri.Garcia@carringtonres.com
17
Ryane Johnson
ASHBURN, VA
Ryane.Johnson@carringtonres.com
18
Chris Boone
ASHBURN, VA
Chris.Boone@carringtonres.com
19
Gonzalo Gonzalez
Irvine, CA
Gonzalo.Gonzalez@carringtonres.com
20 Jason Zhang
BOSTON, MA
Jason.Zhang@carringtonres.com
21
CARLSBAD, CA
Shirley.Vance@carringtonres.com
22 Steve Leach
CARLSBAD, CA
Steve.Leach@carringtonres.com
23 Edward Swauger
ESCONDIDO, CA
Edward.Swauger@carringtonres.com
24 Lisa Ganz
GREAT NECK, NY
Lisa.Ganz@carringtonres.com
25 Aslam Ansari
GREAT NECK, NY
Aslam.Ansari@carringtonres.com
Shirley Vance
Christel.Carylyle@carringtonres.com
#CHAMPIONCIRCLE2016
Sandra Hadley CARLSBAD, CA
11
Here are some of our favorite tips for making walk-through videos that are both interesting and helpful for potential buyers, which means they will have a better chance of converting into sales. Plan Out Your Video The basic real estate walk-through video generally contains an agent who turns on their smartphone and takes a video walking through the house. This is a great start that will put you miles ahead of most agents, but you can also do a whole lot better. Take a few minutes before you start shooting to plan out exactly how you want the video to flow throughout the house. Make a quick bullet point list of the areas you want to highlight (and the negatives you might want to downplay). You should pay particular attention here to who your target audience is for this listing and see if there is any way you can cater your video towards that particular type of buyer.
DIY:
HOW TO MAKE A VIDEO WALK-THROUGH THAT BUYERS WILL ACTUALLY WATCH
important that you appear relaxed and don’t stumble over your words. If you are using a tripod, you can shoot it yourself and take your time to make sure you get it right.
Highlight Nearby Businesses Use a Tripod One of the biggest reasons that most real estate videos are hard to watch is that the camera work is so shaky that it makes the viewers feel seasick. This does not result in a good impression of your listing. The easy fix here is to use a tripod. You can get a basic tripod on Amazon for around $30, and for another $10 you can get a universal smartphone holder that attaches right to the tripod. Adding this steady base to your footage will make a significant difference in the watchability of your walk-through video.
Face Time Another great way to differentiate yourself as a leader in the local real estate market is to actually get in front of the camera at some point during the walk-through. This will help get your face out there in the community as a trusted local agent who knows the market inside and out. Your face time could be as simple as standing in front of the house giving the basic information about the listing. It is
R E F U E L I N G R E A L E S TAT E C A R E E R S
Taking a tip from some of our favorite HGTV shows, you could splice in a few shots of the local parks, downtown area, and business district to highlight some of the positive aspects of the community where the listing is located. This could work as an intro or outro portion of your video. The goal is to reinforce what a wonderful experience it is to live in this neighborhood.
Drone Footage If you want to take the local footage idea a step further, you might look into having a drone film your listing and the surrounding neighborhood from above. Drones are becoming both more common and more affordable, so you can either look into getting your own to take these shots yourself or you might want to find a drone photographer to partner with on your walk-through videos. This will add some totally unique and really cool shots to your videos. Just make sure that you are aware of the drone regulations in your local area to ensure that you are within safe flying areas.
Make Videos Easily Accessible Even the most well produced videos won’t help you sell your listings if no one can find them. If you are going to invest a significant amount of time in making these videos, then you should be prepared to invest an equal amount of time in promoting them! Whether you share them through a YouTube channel, promoted Facebook posts, or your own local website/MLS, it is important to get eyeballs onto your videos if they are going to convert into sales. With all of the recent advances in video technology, shooting and editing your own walk-through videos is easier than ever. And if you implement some of these simple ideas, you will be making videos that are significantly better than anyone else in your area. To learn more, call 877-330-2773 or email customercare@carringtonres.com.
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THE NEXT
LEVEL
STARTS
MyFuelCenter.com/Marketing/Sellers
HERE
BOOST YOUR LISTING POWER YOU KNOW THE AGENT WHO CONTROLS THE LISTING CONTROLS THE MARKET, RIGHT? ARE YOU THAT AGENT? WE HAVE TWO BUSINESS BUILDERS that can demonstrate to sellers how you will make their property stand out from the crowd! This means that they will want YOU to sell their property, which helps take your business to the next level. To get your copy of these powerful documents, go to MyFuelCenter.com/Marketing/Sellers or email askmarketing@carringtonres.com.
Great Networking Options for Agents Referrals are golden in the real estate business. And any top agent will tell you that the best way to increase the number of referrals heading your way is to expand your network, both personally and professionally. Of course, that whole “expanding your network” thing is an awful lot easier said than done. You can’t just snap your fingers and have a larger circle of influence. You can’t really buy that type of influence either. You have to work hard to cultivate relationships, which is exactly what separates the novice agents from the true superstars. There are no shortcuts when it comes to expanding your network, but there are some methods that work a lot better than others. Here are five great networking options that will help you kick-start your networking efforts.
1. Local Chamber of Commerce
One great place to start looking for opportunities to network is with your local Chamber of Commerce. These organizations are designed around the idea of giving local businesspeople the opportunity to network with each other. Most local Chambers hold networking events where you can make regular appearances and build relationships with other people who are doing the same thing. This could lead to more than a few mutually beneficial relationships with people in complementary businesses.
2. Local Networking Groups
The next step up from your local Chamber is finding a local networking group that meets more regularly and may require application fees, regular dues, and insists on consistent attendance. Don’t let these types of requirements intimidate you though. Many groups put them in place to ensure quality membership. If you can find a good quality networking group, the members of that group will become walking advertisements for you as you build relationships with them over time. Of course, you will also be expected to reciprocate that effort. R E F U E L I N G R E A L E S TAT E C A R E E R S
3. Social Media Networking
It’s hard to replicate the power of in-person networking online, but with all of the tools that are available through social media, you are definitely going to want to take advantage of those options. Search Facebook and LinkedIn for local groups and become an active contributor to those groups. Before you know it you will be interacting regularly with a number of local people who could all be potential clients down the road.
4. Community Events
They might not have the structure of a Chamber meeting or networking group, but you can get an awful lot of face time with a large number of people at any community events you are able to attend. Everything from big events such as local community festivals, car shows, or business grand opening celebrations right down to events as small as church bake sales is game here. The more events you attend, the more familiar your face will become to other people attending those events.
5. Happy Hours
Another great place to get out and meet people is at the popular happy hour spots in your community. You’ll be surprised how often just sitting down next to someone and chatting about sports or the weather can eventually lead to deeper conversations and the exchanging of business cards. One thing to keep in mind in any networking situation is that people can smell selfish intent a mile away, so don’t bother mentioning real estate. Just look to meet and get to know people and let the rest follow naturally. If the people you are meeting like you because you are a genuinely good person, they will go the extra mile to refer business to you. To learn more call 877-330-2773 or email customercare@carringtonres.com.
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CONGRATULATIONS
2015 FOURTH QUARTER TOP 10 PRODUCERS OCTOBER UNITS SOLD Sean Bates Patrick O’Donnell Ana Park Maristela Deoliveira Kevin Watson Luz Heredia Brian Johnson Andrew Sawyer Gail Manion Chong Yi
Tampa, FL Wellesley, MA Baltimore, MD Mt Laurel, NJ Tampa, FL Palm Coast, FL Wakefield, MA Las Vegas, NV Chicago, IL Baltimore, MD
SALES VOLUME Rossana Franco Sandra Rub Patrick O’Donnell Vyacheslav Akopyan Kevin Harris Jennifer Connolly Mantas Kudrinas Andrew Lynch Bryan Whalen Ryane Johnson
Sunny Isles, FL Sunny Isles, FL Wellesley, MA Sunny Isles, FL Boston, MA Boston, MA Sunny Isles, FL Westborough, MA Great Neck, NY Ashburn, VA
AGENT-GENERATED Rossana Franco Sandra Rub Patrick O’Donnell Vyacheslav Akopyan Kevin Harris Jennifer Connolly Mantas Kudrinas Andrew Lynch Bryan Whalen Ryane Johnson
Sunny Isles, FL Sunny Isles, FL Wellesley, MA Sunny Isles, FL Boston, MA Boston, MA Sunny Isles, FL Westborough, MA Great Neck, NY Ashburn, VA
NOVEMBER UNITS SOLD Sean Bates Brian Daddona David Brown Ijlal Munir Robert Miller Randall Peraza-Borbon Chong Yi Larecia Tucker Joseph Limo Victor Mineo
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Tampa, FL Great Neck, NY/CT King of Prussia, PA Orland Park, IL Orland Park, IL Houston, TX Largo, MD Orland Park, IL Riverside, CA Boca Raton, FL
SALES VOLUME Maureen Hobbs Ragina Hoover Bill Bonning Joseph Limo Sean Bates Michael Sumner Raini Gordy Chong Yi Carla Lambert Sandra Keirns
SD Downtown, CA Escondido, CA Del Mar, CA Riverside, CA Tampa, FL Escondido, CA Del Mar, CA Largo, MD Great Neck, NY Carlsbad, CA
AGENT-GENERATED Maureen Hobbs Ragina Hoover Bill Bonning Sean Bates Michael Sumner Raini Gordy Sandra Keirns Rebecca Philpott Kandy Klee-Crabbe Rich Berland
SD Downtown, CA Escondido, CA Del Mar, CA Tampa, FL Escondido, CA Del Mar, CA Carlsbad, CA Escondido, CA Riverside, CA SD Downtown, CA
DECEMBER UNITS SOLD Diane Amato Robert Miller Randall Peraza-Borbon Paul Wallace Marilynn Audain-Liddell Melody Kramer Joseph Limo John Bradford Monique Owens Chong Yi
Boston, MA Orland Park, IL Houston, TX Houston, TX Orland Park, IL Vacaville, CA Riverside, CA Lilesville, NC Largo, MD Baltimore, MD
SALES VOLUME Christel Carlyle & Mary Russo Andrews Adrineh & Alena Betcheri Alice Greliak Steve Webber Maureen Hobbs Melody Kramer Joseph Limo Bill Bonning Diane Amato Nancy Rinehart
Del Mar, CA Riverside, CA SD Downtown, CA Escondido, CA SD Downtown, CA Vacaville, CA Riverside, CA Del Mar, CA Boston, MA Del Mar, CA
AGENT-GENERATED Christel Carlyle & Mary Russo Andrews Adrineh & Alena Betcheri Steve Webber Maureen Hobbs Melody Kramer Joseph Limo Bill Bonning Nancy Rinehart Alice Greliak Sandi Hadley
Del Mar, CA Riverside, CA Escondido, CA SD Downtown, CA Vacaville, CA Riverside, CA Del Mar, CA Del Mar, CA SD Downtown, CA Carlsbad, CA
R E F U E L I N G R E A L E S TAT E C A R E E R S
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FHA PREMIUM REDUCTION
CAN BOOST YOUR BUSINESS!
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced a significant reduction in its mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for new borrowers in 2015. Many hoped that this reduction would spur more home sales, particularly for firsttime homebuyers. Some buyers recognize the increased buying power that the FHA premium reduction has afforded them, but why aren’t more seeing it?
W H ER E A R E TH E B U Y ERS ? Borrowers not utilizing the resources available to them represent a serious opportunity in the marketplace for real estate agents who are aware and know how to seize it. Being familiar with the FHA loan process, its requirements and lenders that specialize in these loans could be a serious boost to your business. Real estate agents must use all the tools at their disposal to help potential homebuyers break into the housing market, and FHA purchase loans and FHA 203(k) loans for purchase and rehabilitation could be just what today’s homebuyers need. In addition to reduced mortgage insurance premiums, which are helping more borrowers qualify and at larger amounts, the FHA also offers an appealing alternative to conventional loans as interest rates begin to rise. FHA loans typically require a lower down payment (as low as 3.5 percent), and many lenders allow for lower credit scores (some as low as 550), as well. For potential buyers who are looking at homes in need of serious repairs or rehabilitation, the FHA also offers the 203(k) loan, which allows borrowers to roll the costs of renovations into the overall mortgage. 18
H OW YO U C A N H ELP H O M EB U Y ER S ? For real estate agents who are unfamiliar with FHA and other government loans, they should look to partner with lenders who have significant experience with these types of loans. Not only will these lenders be able to help educate you on the finer points of these loans, but they will also be better able to serve your clients. If you have clients with lower credit scores and lower down payments, you should look closely at any potential lending partner’s ability to manually underwrite loans and to provide a continuum of support for its customers. Does the lender service the loans they originate? This can be critical, especially with lower credit score originations. By researching and partnering with experienced FHA lenders, you can enter this market niche with confidence and build your business accordingly. Real estate agents who are prepared to inform borrowers about the opportunities that the FHA loan programs offer potential homebuyers can help their business — and even expand it in the face of upcoming interest rate increases. FHA loans are powerful tools in the housing market today, and real estate agents should not overlook the potential to increase their sales. By partnering with lenders that are experienced in FHA and government loans, real estate agents can learn more about the loans themselves and how they can better utilize them to serve their clients — and they can help turn potential homebuyers into homeowners. To learn more, call 877-277-7256, visit carringtonhomeloans.com, or contact your local Carrington Mortgage Services Loan Officer.
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS
with Co-Marketing efforts!
A host of business-building opportunities are waiting to be explored with your local Carrington Loan Officer. Contact your local CMS Loan Officer to find out how we can market together or call our CRES Concierge at
877-277-7256
PRE-SET, READY-TO-GO, CUSTOM CO-MARKETING PROGRAM
Professionally-designed marketing materials available for purchase n Advertise open houses, news listings and recently sold properties n
EVENT CO-MARKETING n
First-Time Homebuyer Seminar opportunities help educate your customers on the best financing options
ﾂｩ Copyright 2007-2016 Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC headquartered at 1600 South Douglass Road, Suite s110 & 200A, Anaheim, CA 92806. 800-561-4567. NMLS ID 2600. Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) Consumer Access website: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. AZ: Mortgage Banker BK-0910745. CA: Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, File 413 0904. CO: To check license status of your mortgage loan originator, visit www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm. GA: Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee 22721. IL: Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee. KS: Supervised Loan License SL.0000313. KY: Mortgage Loan Company License MC21112. MN: This is not an offer to enter into an interest rate lock agreement under Minnesota Law. MS: Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Mortgage Lender License 2600. MO: Missouri Company Registration 14-1746-A. In-State Office: Missouri Residential Mortgage Loan Broker License 14-1746-A1. 251 SW Noel, Lees Summit, MO 64063. NH: Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department. NJ: Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance. NV: Mortgage Broker License 4068 (Residential Mortgage Origination/Lending). NY: Licensed Mortgage Banker窶年YS Department of Financial Services. New York Mortgage Banker License B500980/107664. OH: Ohio Mortgage Broker Act Certificate of Registration MB.804213.000; Ohio Mortgage Loan Act Certificate of Registration SM.501517.000. OR: Mortgage Lender License ML-4886. PA: Licensed by the Department of Banking. RI: Rhode Island Licensed Lender, Lender License 20112809LL. VA: Licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission MC-5382. NMLS ID 2600 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). WA: Consumer Loan License CL-2600. Also licensed in AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, ID, IN, IA, LA, MD, MI, MT, NE, NM, NC, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV, WI, WY. NOTICE: All loans are subject to credit, underwriting and property approval guidelines. Offered loan products may vary by state. There is no guarantee that all borrowers will qualify. Restrictions may apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Terms, conditions and programs are subject to change without notice. This information is for industry professionals only and is not intended for distribution to consumers. Carrington Mortgage Services is not acting on behalf of or at the direction of HUD/FHA or any government agency. All rights reserved. CO-MARKETING - 121715 - RA
P R O O F.
Wendy Forsythe
THE NEXT LEVEL STARTS NOW. As an entrepreneur in today’s market, the best way to maximize your earning potential is to create strong business partnerships. Agents need a brokerage whose leadership is constantly striving to innovate and create new ways to help take their agents' businesses to the next level! Carrington is that company and we have the PROOF to back it up!
WENDY FORSYTHE EVP/Head of Global Operations Carringtonrealestate.com/Join careers@carringtonres.com