Comments for The Real Estate Grapevine http://www.therealestategrapevine.com Real Estate blog bringing the relevant reading to consumers and industry insiders Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:25:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Sarasota Association of REALTORS - are they Acting Anti-Competitive? by Marc Rasmussen http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/sarasota-association-of-realtors-are-they-acting-anti-competitive/#comment-77 Marc Rasmussen Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:11:02 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=40#comment-77 Thank you for the post Ryan. This issue is much larger than me. I have received several calls and emails from people who use a domain name that contains MLS. There are a lot of people watching this case. Thank you for the post Ryan. This issue is much larger than me. I have received several calls and emails from people who use a domain name that contains MLS. There are a lot of people watching this case.

]]> Comment on Ask A Question by Kevin Koitz http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/ask-a-question/#comment-74 Kevin Koitz Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:13:38 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?page_id=10#comment-74 Hey all, just playing around a little...really slick. Love the top nav. blog organization... Hey all, just playing around a little…really slick. Love the top nav. blog organization…

]]> Comment on Case-Schiller Index Shows a 16.4% Decline Year over Year by Marc Rasmussen http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/case-schiller-index-shows-a-164-decline-year-over-year/#comment-73 Marc Rasmussen Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:48:15 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=39#comment-73 I believe it. I am amazed at some of these prices. Sarasota home prices really got out of hand. I had a client close on a home recently for $233,000. The same home sold 3 years ago for $450,000. We probably just came back to reality. Prices are rolling back to pre-boom levels. We all would have been better off if these real estate markets just increased a modest 5-10% a year instead of back to back years of 20-30%. I believe it. I am amazed at some of these prices. Sarasota home prices really got out of hand. I had a client close on a home recently for $233,000. The same home sold 3 years ago for $450,000. We probably just came back to reality. Prices are rolling back to pre-boom levels. We all would have been better off if these real estate markets just increased a modest 5-10% a year instead of back to back years of 20-30%.

]]> Comment on HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus by Marc Rasmussen http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/homegain-continues-to-innovate-with-real-estate-agents-as-their-focus/#comment-72 Marc Rasmussen Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:57:28 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=36#comment-72 Ryan, I have not looked at Homegain's website in years. I recently just realized that they have a blog. They kind of annoyed me like 5 years ago with their constant calls to get me to buy leads. I will lose the attitude and check our their site more thoroughly. Ryan,

I have not looked at Homegain’s website in years. I recently just realized that they have a blog. They kind of annoyed me like 5 years ago with their constant calls to get me to buy leads. I will lose the attitude and check our their site more thoroughly.

]]> Comment on HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus by Michael Sosnowski http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/homegain-continues-to-innovate-with-real-estate-agents-as-their-focus/#comment-57 Michael Sosnowski Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:22:03 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=36#comment-57 In my opinion, no big company really provides any value to agents. We are affiliated with RE/MAX, but the vast majority of the so-called tools they provide are for agents that are in the lower tiers - those that do not have marketing skills of their own. For more professional, professionals, custom created solutions are still the best. When it comes to corporate websites and the leads generated from them - Please! The results are so poor that if you depended upon them for you business, you would be out-of-business. That is why I continue to belief that individual agents must FIGHT for their own online space! Maybe companies such as Home Gain might (and that's a big might) have agents interests at heart, but I am jaded. In my opinion, no big company really provides any value to agents. We are affiliated with RE/MAX, but the vast majority of the so-called tools they provide are for agents that are in the lower tiers - those that do not have marketing skills of their own. For more professional, professionals, custom created solutions are still the best. When it comes to corporate websites and the leads generated from them - Please! The results are so poor that if you depended upon them for you business, you would be out-of-business. That is why I continue to belief that individual agents must FIGHT for their own online space! Maybe companies such as Home Gain might (and that’s a big might) have agents interests at heart, but I am jaded.

]]> Comment on HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus by Ryan Ward http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/homegain-continues-to-innovate-with-real-estate-agents-as-their-focus/#comment-56 Ryan Ward Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:43:37 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=36#comment-56 Althought the barrier to entery is relatively low, the barrier to success is relatively high. I think a Five Forces Analysis would be interesting and I can't say I have seen one. Anyone reading this can see what it is <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_5_forces_analysis">here</a>. Here is my take on your theory cut and pasted from your comment and moved around some to make my theory. "My theory — which may be dead wrong, of course — is that consumers (for the most part) could care less - at least at first - who they are dealing with. I think it's really just the nature of the internet. If you are looking for information, the BRAND is Google. - <i>this would be a good post in my opinion. </i>- Furthermore, the Real Estate 2.0 companies (and 1.0 companies, since many still do a great job of giving consumers what they want to see - houses) for that matter, do not disintermediate the agent; they do disintermediate the BRAND, AND the BROKER." Althought the barrier to entery is relatively low, the barrier to success is relatively high. I think a Five Forces Analysis would be interesting and I can’t say I have seen one. Anyone reading this can see what it is here.

Here is my take on your theory cut and pasted from your comment and moved around some to make my theory.

“My theory — which may be dead wrong, of course — is that consumers (for the most part) could care less - at least at first - who they are dealing with. I think it’s really just the nature of the internet. If you are looking for information, the BRAND is Google. - this would be a good post in my opinion. - Furthermore, the Real Estate 2.0 companies (and 1.0 companies, since many still do a great job of giving consumers what they want to see - houses) for that matter, do not disintermediate the agent; they do disintermediate the BRAND, AND the BROKER.”

]]> Comment on HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus by Rob Hahn http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/homegain-continues-to-innovate-with-real-estate-agents-as-their-focus/#comment-55 Rob Hahn Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:03:11 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=36#comment-55 Thanks for the in-depth and very thoughtful reply, Ryan. FWIW, I think THAT makes for a fascinating post right there. The thing that really strikes me about this industry -- and I'm in the process of thinking through a Porter's Five Forces analysis -- is just how low the barrier to entry is. I'm just trying to understand fully what it is that a brand (like KW) or a big brokerage (like CB United) provides its agents. Then comparing that basket of services to the basket of services that the new generation of companies, such as HomeGain or Zillow or Trulia, provide to their "members". My theory -- which may be dead wrong, of course -- is that the Real Estate 2.0 companies do not disintermediate the agent; they do disintermediate the BRAND, then the BROKER. Controversial, perhaps, and every RE 2.0 company will deny that is their intent. And I don't doubt their intent; but consequences often have very little to do with intent.... -rsh Thanks for the in-depth and very thoughtful reply, Ryan. FWIW, I think THAT makes for a fascinating post right there.

The thing that really strikes me about this industry — and I’m in the process of thinking through a Porter’s Five Forces analysis — is just how low the barrier to entry is.

I’m just trying to understand fully what it is that a brand (like KW) or a big brokerage (like CB United) provides its agents. Then comparing that basket of services to the basket of services that the new generation of companies, such as HomeGain or Zillow or Trulia, provide to their “members”.

My theory — which may be dead wrong, of course — is that the Real Estate 2.0 companies do not disintermediate the agent; they do disintermediate the BRAND, then the BROKER.

Controversial, perhaps, and every RE 2.0 company will deny that is their intent. And I don’t doubt their intent; but consequences often have very little to do with intent….

-rsh

]]> Comment on HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus by HomeGain Launches AgentView Marketing Tool for Real Estate Agents http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/homegain-continues-to-innovate-with-real-estate-agents-as-their-focus/#comment-50 HomeGain Launches AgentView Marketing Tool for Real Estate Agents Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:40:16 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=36#comment-50 [...] HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus (The Real Estate Grapevine) [...] […] HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus (The Real Estate Grapevine) […]

]]> Comment on HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus by Ryan Ward http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/homegain-continues-to-innovate-with-real-estate-agents-as-their-focus/#comment-49 Ryan Ward Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:41:00 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=36#comment-49 Hi Michael, As with all things, some are better than others. HomeGain doesn't have adds on theirs. You see, at least in my opinion, ALL 3rd party vendors are not created equally. Yes, most are generic out of the box solutions which are not overwhelmingly helpful. Others, like HomeGain actually provide very good tools to help agents convert leads. Leads cost money whether you buy them or generate them yourself. Most will never be able to generate enough leads online themselves because of the work and skill involved in doing so. I have no problem at giving kudos to anyone who does a superior job at what they set out to do. Hi Michael,

As with all things, some are better than others. HomeGain doesn’t have adds on theirs.

You see, at least in my opinion, ALL 3rd party vendors are not created equally. Yes, most are generic out of the box solutions which are not overwhelmingly helpful. Others, like HomeGain actually provide very good tools to help agents convert leads. Leads cost money whether you buy them or generate them yourself. Most will never be able to generate enough leads online themselves because of the work and skill involved in doing so.

I have no problem at giving kudos to anyone who does a superior job at what they set out to do.

]]> Comment on HomeGain Continues to Innovate with Real Estate Agents as Their Focus by Michael Sosnowski http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/homegain-continues-to-innovate-with-real-estate-agents-as-their-focus/#comment-48 Michael Sosnowski Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:33:28 +0000 http://www.therealestategrapevine.com/?p=36#comment-48 I continue to rail against ALL lead generators. There only sole purpose is to make money on the backs of real estate agents. In nearly all cases the so called "tools" they provide are watered-down, one size fits all templates that offer some very generic attempts at customization. Each lead aggregating site is filled with ads, which consumers don't really want or appreciate. Agents should focus on building their own personal websites and provide local expertise. I continue to rail against ALL lead generators. There only sole purpose is to make money on the backs of real estate agents. In nearly all cases the so called “tools” they provide are watered-down, one size fits all templates that offer some very generic attempts at customization. Each lead aggregating site is filled with ads, which consumers don’t really want or appreciate. Agents should focus on building their own personal websites and provide local expertise.

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