Exit Realty Diversified - Nashville Real Estate Blog

Nita Reed Joins Exit Realty Diversified

For Immediate Release

Local Real Estate Agent joins the Nashville office of Exit Realty Diversified (Grassroots Newswire) 07/28/2008 --

 "Our office continues to grow and we are happy to add Nita Reed as a Realtor Associate.  Nita is a great addition to our team.  She is dedicated to her clients and we look forward to helping her reach her full potential in real estate with our top notch training system," said Darren Wilmoth, Managing Broker of Exit Realty Diversified. 

EXIT Realty Corp. International boasts over 1,200 franchises sold and over 45,000 agents recruited across North America. EXIT Realty provides sales associates with residual income over and above their own transactions and an enhanced retirement and beneficiary benefit; all of which have been unheard of in the real estate industry until now.

 For more information about Exit Realty Diversified, please call Darren Wilmoth at 615-463-8740. Exit Realty Diversified is located at 4525 Harding Rd # 200 Nashville, TN 37205.

Angelo DiStefano Promoted to Position of Vice President Operations

Angelo DiStefano Promoted to Position of Vice President Operations

Nashville, TN  August 2, 2007 -

Exit Realty Diversified, Belle Meade/Green Hills, is pleased to announce that Angelo DiStefano has been promoted to Vice President Operations. In this capacity, he is dedicated to meeting the needs of our professional agents, and servicing their clients’ needs through high touch office operations.

Mr. DiStefano has over 20 years of business and entrepreneurial experience in such industries as real estate, healthcare, advertising, and transportation. He received his undergraduate degree in Finance and MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. A native Nashvillian, Mr. DiStefano is also a licensed Affiliate Broker in Tennessee.

“Angelo is keenly mindful of the agents’ needs at all times. He strives to create win/win situations and remain flexible and open-minded, helping to enhance their business and make their jobs easier.  We are thrilled to announce his promotion, as Exit Realty Diversified offers a competitive advantage through cutting-edge technology and agent career development” Lisa Chapman, Owner/Broker, Exit Realty Diversified.

###

Mistakes Real Estate Websites Make and How to Fix Them

Mistake:

Not Targeting Your Niche – If your site is all about YOU, you’re missing the boat – and a lot of potential business! Don’t make your site just one more Realtor biography, selling yourself and how many awards you’ve won. Internet visitors don’t really care.

 .

Fix:

The internet-savvy Realtor is also marketing-savvy, and starts with DEFINING the target market:

• Do you want to focus on serving Buyers or Sellers?
• What do you naturally enjoy….what are you good at?
• To whom do you deliver the best results?
• What do you do that no one else can or is willing to do?
• What are unmet, underserved or upcoming needs in your market?
• What do YOU offer them that makes you UNIQUE?

Narrow it down until you have a well-defined focus. Your website should clearly market you vis-à-vis this niche focus, with meaningful content aimed at your target audience. Offer them real value and they will likely stay on your site. BE SURE TO INCORPORATE KEYWORDS SPECIFIC TO YOUR NICHE. When you do, the visitors who land on your site will be those visitors you want!

 .

 .

Mistake:

Not Using Well-Researched Keywords – About 240,000 website are targeting the keywords “Nashville Real Estate”. You’d have to spend a truckload of money to get listed on page one of Google for those keywords.

 .

Fix:

After carefully considering YOUR NICHE, what are the words that those folks would search for? For instance, if you are a relocation specialist, looking for prospects who are planning to move to town, how about something very specific, such as, “Nashville Cost of Living” or “Nashville Home Price Comparison”?

Keyword research is the basis of designing your content and targeting your specific niche. Do the research BEFORE writing the descriptive paragraphs for your site. This theory is no different from any other well-executed, professional form of advertising. However, the techniques are very different….it’s a brave new world out there.

 .

 .

Mistake:

Poor Website Layout - A cluttered or confusing site will turn your visitor away in 2-3 seconds. They’ll be on to the next website in a heartbeat. PROSPECT LOST.

 .

Fix:

Keep each page well organized and easy for the visitor’s eye to navigate quickly. Make sure your home page offers what visitors are looking for and that they can spot it easily within 3 seconds.

 .

Most visitors are looking for property information – LISTINGS – with lots of PHOTOS and details. A link or button to SEARCH for properties should be prominently displayed on the home page. Do your research on other top content items for real estate websites, and carefully consider how they layout on your page to keep your visitor interested. Stick to one focused topic per page. (After you involve them in their information search, THEN they’ll be curious about you and find your ‘About Me’ page.)

 .

 .

Mistake:

Not Promoting Your Site – You can have all the real estate search bells and whistles, build in all the keywords and content, but if you don’t promote your site, search engines simply won’t find you. There are 100 million+ websites out there!

 .

Fix:

A few simple, inexpensive techniques can get you started. First, add a blog. Write about topics that your TARGET NICHE wants to learn about. Fresh new content is a magnet for traffic. People love to find and pass on interesting, informative stuff. Second, submit your site to search engines. Google, Yahoo & MSN are the top three. Third, submit your site to web directories. There are lots of real estate directories out there, and some are free. Fourth, set up a mailing list and publish a newsletter. Fifth, always include your website on every marketing piece you do….email signature, business cards, brochures, flyers, etc.

 .

 .

Mistake:

No ‘Backlinks’ – Most Realtors are way too busy doing their business to learn about, much less spend time getting, links from other websites to their own. BIG MISTAKE. Backlinks are a very important website element if you want search engine ranking.

 .

Fix:

Building backlinks to your site can be accomplished in a number of ways. You can spend time doing it manually, you can utilize an online tool to automate the process (be careful…..some are better than others), or you can hire it done by an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) professional.

 .

Link building strategies differ greatly, and it’s best to discuss it with someone who knows the pros & cons of linking. In this environment, search engine and link building strategies are changing fast, so do your homework here or you could waste a lot of time and money.

 .

 .

About Lisa Chapman:

Ms. Chapman is a licensed real estate broker and owner of Exit Realty Diversified, dedicated to serving the needs of discriminating Nashville real estate buyers and sellers.  Exit Realty Diversified, conveniently located minutes from I-440 in the Belle Meade area of West Nashville. We will handle all the complexities, and make your real estate transaction as easy and pleasant as possible. It is integrity and commitment that get the job done. www.ExitDiversified.com

.

Ms. Chapman is currently active in real estate investing, holding rentals and rehabbing residential properties in Nashville. She received an undergraduate degree in Accounting and MBA from the University of Houston. Visit her website www.LisaChapman.com or email her:  Lisa @ LisaChapman.com

Increase Your Real Estate Website Traffic - Top 'Must Haves'

These things will make a big difference in successfully generating online real estate leads that are worth your time and attention.

 .

Search Engine Optimization - Coordinate the Browser Title, Meta Description and Content to get the traffic you want – qualified prospects! Your niche keywords should be thoughtfully defined and researched BEFORE you write the content of your site. Attracting good real estate prospects that convert to actual closings doesn’t happen by accident. It is a well-planned and well-executed marketing strategy. Ensure that your site uses these niche keywords in the Browser Title (heading at the top of the web page), Meta Description (often the paragraph that comes up in search engines) and throughout the content, especially on the Home page. (Remember, “Nashville Real Estate” is too broad. Find a more specialized niche such as “Downtown Nashville Condos for Sale”.)

 .

Lead Capture Mechanism – Ask your visitors to register for information they want, such as access to search MLS listings, comparative market analysis on the value of their home, checklists and reports, etc.  If you offer something of real value to them, they’ll be willing to give you their name, email address and phone number. This commitment by the visitor qualifies them as a more serious real estate prospect. If they’re willing to give their personal contact info, they know you’re going to call.

 .

Lead Notification System – Real estate research shows that 67% of online buyers selected their real estate agent because he/she was the FIRST to respond to their inquiry, or he/she was the MOST responsive. That makes sense, because online leads are no different than others – it’s all about SERVICE! If you don’t sit at the computer 24/7, then you’re not aware of each lead immediately. Your site must notify you immediately of each lead that comes in – as soon as it arrives. Use an instant messaging notification system from your website to your cell phone to notify you of new prospects. Anything less, and you risk losing them to the next real estate agent!

. 

Follow up System – Your website should have a follow up system that not only captures, but also tracks prospects and follows up with them. Many internet clients are long term. By systematically emailing them, you keep your name in front of them. When they’re ready to take action, YOU”RE the real estate agent they’ll call. Choose a drip email system that’s easy to customize. Prospects don’t want one more piece of stock text, meaningless email. Make sure your drip email campaigns are relevant marketing pieces, with content that  your prospects will enjoy and that create goodwill toward YOU.

 .

About Lisa Chapman:

Ms. Chapman is a licensed real estate broker and owner of Exit Realty Diversified, dedicated to serving the needs of discriminating Nashville real estate buyers and sellers.  Exit Realty Diversified, conveniently located minutes from I-440 in the Belle Meade area of West Nashville. We will handle all the complexities, and make your real estate transaction as easy and pleasant as possible. It is integrity and commitment that get the job done. www.ExitDiversified.com

.

Ms. Chapman is currently active in real estate investing, holding rentals and rehabbing residential properties in Nashville. She received an undergraduate degree in Accounting and MBA from the University of Houston. Visit her website www.LisaChapman.com or email her:  Lisa @ LisaChapman.com

Cutting Edge Real Estate Agent Websites

 .

About Exit Realty Diversified

Exit Realty Diversified is dedicated to serving the needs of discriminating Nashville real estate buyers and sellers.

.    

We feel the key to great service is our ability to listen, to really hear our client’s needs and wants. With our knowledge of the Nashville real estate market, we bring enthusiasm, teamwork and experience you can trust. Exit Realty Diversified, conveniently located minutes from I-440 in the Belle Meade area of West Nashville, will handle all the complexities, and make your real estate transaction as easy and pleasant as possible. It is integrity and commitment that get the job done.

 .

EXIT Realty is the fastest growing real estate company in the history of real estate with 1,140 franchises and over 36,000 real estate associates since its inception in the U. S. over eight years ago. 

For more information, contact Lisa Chapman, Owner/Broker ( www.LisaChapman.com ) at 615-477-8412 or email:  Lisa @ LisaChapman.com   www.ExitDiversified.com 

.

Niche Marketing Works for Real Estate Agents

There are about 10,000 licensed Nashville real estate agents, so competition can be tough. But take heart, niche marketing can give you an advantage over 95% of your competitors. Use the internet’s natural information machine to reach a target audience you care about and offer them value.

.

Niche marketing narrows your focus, so you spend less time and money reaching your audience. There are thousands of DIFFERENT niche markets for real estate agents to focus on and serve.

.

For instance, one Nashville real estate agent loves horses, riding, and horse farms. She’s involved in it for recreation, so guess what? She can’t wait to read about it, talk with people about it, write about it, and connect through her newsletter and marketing campaigns. Does she get referrals from these relationships? You bet she does. She’s the expert, and people respect her.

.

Niche marketing works for real estate agents. Here’s why.

.

Niche marketing:

• Is more fun! You’ll be more likely to spend time doing it.
• Creates long term brand value. Folks remember you for it.
• Saves you marketing dollars wasted on reaching a broad audience.

.

Here are some examples of focused niche markets:

• Lofts
• Single Moms
• First time homebuyers
• Internet marketing expertise (listings)
• Your children’s school & activities (family focus)

.

What niche works for you? Spend some time narrowing your focus and it will pay off for you in long term relationships.

.

About Lisa Chapman:

Ms. Chapman is a licensed real estate broker and owner of Exit Realty Diversified, dedicated to serving the needs of discriminating Nashville real estate buyers and sellers.  Exit Realty Diversified, conveniently located minutes from I-440 in the Belle Meade area of West Nashville. We will handle all the complexities, and make your real estate transaction as easy and pleasant as possible. It is integrity and commitment that get the job done. www.ExitDiversified.com

.

Ms. Chapman is currently active in real estate investing, holding rentals and rehabbing residential properties in Nashville. She received an undergraduate degree in Accounting and MBA from the University of Houston. Visit her website www.LisaChapman.com or email her:  Lisa @ LisaChapman.com

Sarah DiStefano Assumes Position of Director of Agent Development

 Exit Realty Diversified Announces Staff Enhancement

Exit Realty Diversified, Belle Meade/Green Hills, is pleased to announce that Sarah DiStefano recently joined the Brokerage as Director of Agent Development. In this capacity, she is dedicated to listening to and understanding the needs of current and prospective professional real estate agents, and ensuring that the brokerage continually ensures win/win business communication & opportunities.

Ms. DiStefano’s business development acumen evolved with such stellar Fortune 500 companies as Johnson & Johnson, Pitney Bowes and Bank of America. She has also owned and managed successful businesses in the advertising and transportation industries.

“Sarah’s experience gives her keen insight into a variety of business settings, as well as an intuitive understanding of their staffing and management needs. We are thrilled to welcome her focus on agents, as Exit Realty Diversified offers a competitive advantage through cutting-edge technology and agent career development” Lisa Chapman, Owner/Broker, Exit Realty Diversified.

Ms. DiStefano may be reached at 615-463-8740 or by email: Sarah @ ExitDiversified.com

Real Estate Agents - Turn Your Website into a Lead Generator

Home Price Analysis for Nashville Region

The Research Division of the National Association of Realtors©  has declared that there are few concerns about a price bubble or a large correction given the highly affordable conditions in the Nashville real estate region – particularly in relation to other large metro markets. Excerpts from their report:

.

-Job gains in Nashville have been respectable in the last five years. A total 36,000 jobs were added during that time. Many new job holders seek their own housing units.

.

-The Nashville region added 69,300 new housing units, of which 59,100 were single family units.

.

-If history is a guide, the robust job gains of 17,700 net new jobs in Nashville the past 12 months will keep home prices from falling.

.

-Home prices have underperformed in relation to the country as a whole. So there is an opportunity for a measurable "catch-up” effect in Nashville real estate in the coming years.

.

-The ratio of price-to-income is in a comfortable range. By this measure, local home prices are underpriced.

.

-Baby boomers are in their peak earning years and have been active in purchasing second homes, which many consider as their future retirement homes. The baby-boomer impact will continue for another 10 to 15 years and the southern markets will benefit from the migration trend into these

regions.

.

-Even in the unlikely event of prices declining by 5%, most Nashville homeowners will maintain sizable equity build-up in their homes.

.

-A likely scenario is for Nashville home prices to rise, though at a much lower rate than in recent past years.

.

-Home price declines are very rare. In fact, the national median home price has not declined since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Stock market collapses, OPEC oil crunch, economic recessions, and even wars have not negatively impacted national home prices since the 1930s.

.

-There have been few times when local prices declined. In nearly all these cases, the price declines were accompanied by sharp prolonged job losses. It is difficult to foresee a price decline in a job creating economy.

.

-Homes trade far less frequently than financial assets (about one home sale every 7 to 10 years for most homeowners). There are also larger transaction costs associated with selling a home due to the lengthy careful examination demanded by home buyers and sellers. Therefore, home prices are not prone to fluctuations as in the stock market.

.

For more details, visit the National Association of Realtors (NAR) ‘Home Price Analysis for Nashville Region’ at: http://www.realtor.org/Research.nsf/files/06TNNashville.pdf/$FILE/06TNNashville.pdf

About Us:

Exit Realty Diversified is dedicated to serving the needs of discriminating Nashville real estate buyers and sellers.    

We feel the key to great service is our ability to listen, to really hear our client’s needs and wants. With our knowledge of the Nashville real estate market, we bring enthusiasm, teamwork and experience you can trust. Exit Realty Diversified, conveniently located minutes from I-440 in the Belle Meade area of West Nashville, will handle all the complexities, and make your real estate transaction as easy and pleasant as possible. It is integrity and commitment that get the job done.

EXIT Realty is the fastest growing real estate company in the history of real estate with 1,140 franchises and over 36,000 real estate associates since its inception in the U. S. over eight years ago. 

For more information, contact Lisa Chapman, Owner/Broker ( www.LisaChapman.com ) at 615-477-8412 or email:  Lisa @ LisaChapman.com   www.ExitDiversified.com 

Real Estate Classifieds Increasingly Available Online

Classified advertising has long been a staple of real estate marketing. According to the Newspaper Association of America, classified advertising in print media, primarily hard copy newspapers, made up over 26% of the total $17.3 billion spent nationwide in 2005. That’s up from 18.6% in 1995.

.

It’s anticipated that this spending will swing dramatically to online classified spending. By 2010, only a few short years away, Borrell Associates expects that over 32% of all real estate advertising will be spent online.

.

Additional findings from Classified Intelligience confirm that the dynamics in real estate advertising are changing swiftly. Many industry experts and professionals believe that the internet is the only way to go. Online listings and ads give more information than print ads can, and they have the ability to instantly link to agents’ websites, providing an unparalleled marketing tool.

.

Agent websites are the preferred marketing vehicle of the future. Agent sites now work extra hard, including current MLS listings, new listings notifiers, financial calculators, helpful home buyer and seller information, community links and relocation information, tools to syndicate online classifieds (many are free!), and ‘keep-in-touch’ communication tools to prospective customers.

.

A great website is a must for the successful real estate agent in any market.

.

About Us:   

Exit Realty Diversified's website platform, Point2 Agent, is the industry’s most highly integrated, end-to-end solution that combines all the critical, advanced technology tools real estate professionals require today to effectively acquire, market, manage and sell real estate listings, in a single, easy-to-use package.

 .

Agents of Exit Realty Diversified can join Point2 NLS for free and receive the standard agent website. The site is specifically designed to increase online referrals through internet search engine exposure.

.

Each site is loaded with content & agent tools, is fully automated, optimized for search engine recognition, and is ready to use (or customize.) Click here: What Do I Get? for a detailed list of agent features and tools.

EXIT Realty is the fastest growing real estate company in the history of real estate with 1,140 franchises and over 36,000 real estate associates since its inception in the U. S. over eight years ago. 

Real Estate Buyers Look Online First

At least eight out of ten buyers use the internet to search listings before calling an agent. Online listing information and direct consumer access are quickly transforming the real estate business. Internet-savvy agents are grabbing market share and positioning themselves for a vast network of future referrals.

.

“The real estate industry bears little resemblance to the way we did business ten years ago. It is hard to find another industry that has adapted technology so readily to its customers,” said NAR President, Thomas Stevens.  Realtors have invested a lot of time and money in building information technology, and because of these efforts, more consumers than ever are using the internet in their home search.”

.

Does this mean that the real estate agent is going to be squeezed out of a meaningful and financially rewarding role in the home buying/selling process? Industry pundits believe that online home searching will NOT replace the value added by the agent. The industry is embracing online technology, and it certainly means that roles will change. But it is largely believed by experts that the agent will not be replaced by internet technology.

.

According to Mr. Stevens, “Buyers who use the internet in searching for a home are more likely to use a real estate agent than non-internet users.” An NAR survey of internet users showed that 81% of buyers who use the internet to search for a home also use an agent to handle the transaction.

.

Clearly, real estate agents must bring their services to the online market in order to compete in the game of the future.

.

About Us:.    

Exit Realty Diversified's website platform, Point2 Agent, is the industry’s most highly integrated, end-to-end solution that combines all the critical, advanced technology tools real estate professionals require today to effectively acquire, market, manage and sell real estate listings, in a single, easy-to-use package.

Agents of Exit Realty Diversified can join Point2 NLS for free and receive the standard agent website. The site is specifically designed to increase online referrals through internet search engine exposure.

.

Each site is loaded with content & agent tools, is fully automated, optimized for search engine recognition, and is ready to use (or customize.) Click here: What Do I Get? for a detailed list of agent features and tools.

EXIT Realty is the fastest growing real estate company in the history of real estate with 1,140 franchises and over 36,000 real estate associates since its inception in the U. S. over eight years ago. 

How to Predict Real Estate Market Trends

 History has shown us time and time again that real estate is a strong investment in the long run. But some real estate buyers these days seem to be somewhat reluctant to make a purchase commitment. They ask, “What’s going to happen to interest rates?  What’s going to happen to home prices?” Many buyers are adopting a ‘wait and see’ attitude.

.

Is there really a way to foresee real estate market trends? To answer this question, we’ll focus on two underlying economic principles: 1.) National Interest Rates and Bond Rates, and 2.) Local Supply and Demand for Jobs and Housing.

.

National Interest Rates and Bond Rates

The Federal Reserve acts to manipulate the prime rate in order to stimulate or suppress the demand for money, business growth, and ultimately, jobs. When interest rates go down, companies borrow more, build their business, and create jobs. Conversely, when rates go up, companies borrow less and inflation is reigned in.

.

The prime rate doesn’t actually affect mortgage rates, but it does affect the bond market, where mortgage rates are determined. If the economy is strong, buyers are confident in real estate prices and will continue to buy real estate at high prices. However, if buyers fear that the economy has peaked, they are more likely to put their investment dollars into something they perceive as more stable – bonds. If demand for bonds and bond rates increase, so do mortgage rates.

.

Local Supply and Demand for Jobs and Housing

It all begins with a job. When the demand for jobs is strong, the demand for housing will parallel it. Makes sense, doesn’t it? In a slow or contracting economy, prices may decrease when there are more houses than jobs. On the flip side, in an economy that attracts new businesses and jobs are growing, demand for housing will also grow and prices will reflect that. If there aren’t enough houses to meet the demand, then new development will occur and prices will increase. 

.

One factor to keep in mind – real estate is, and always will be, a local market product. The value of any investment in real estate will ultimately always be determined by the local economy.

What it all boils down to is this: At its core, the real estate market may be predicted as a function of supply and demand. National economic factors as well as local market trends play important roles in our ability to forecast future real estate market trends.

About Us:

Exit Realty Diversified is dedicated to serving the needs of discriminating Nashville real estate buyers and sellers.    

We feel the key to great service is our ability to listen, to really hear our client’s needs a