Staff Website Endless REsources.........

I just wanted to let everyone know that on August 9th and 10th there will be an open to the public auction of lender owned properties. The good news on this is that they will pay out 1% if you register your clients and are present at the time of auction. For more information on this auction and how to register go to http://www.ushomeauction.com/auction_details.php?auctionID=H-036

A REALTOR® By Any Other Name

BY ELIZABETH ARTHUR
The year 1916 saw the introduction of a new name for the association’s members—REALTORS®. Coined by Charles Chadbourn, a past president of the Minneapolis Real Estate Board, the word quickly became a vital and enduring tool in conveying the benefits of membership in the association to both real estate brokers and the general public.

Recounting the tale of how he came up with the term, Chadbourn explained that the idea came to him in 1915 after seeing a news headline that read “Real Estate Man Swindles a Poor Widow.” He went on to make assurances that the case had nothing to do with the local board or national association: “A casual examination of the article showed that the ‘real estate man’ in question was not a member of our local real estate board, but was only an obscure speculator with desk room in some back office.”

Recently discovered information suggests that the real estate man referred to in the headline was not an obscure speculator at all, but more likely was August H. Frederick, who served as the first president of the association. Mirroring Chadbourn’s story, Frederick had been convicted in 1915 of swindling a poor widow. After his conviction, Frederick’s name was virtually expunged from official records. The downfall of Frederick, a well-known businessman, active church official, and aspiring politician who had been elected president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen the day before his arrest, was reported prominently in newspapers across the country. It’s highly probable that his story inspired Chadbourn.

On March 27, 1916, the Executive Committee passed Chadbourn’s resolution establishing REALTOR® to mean member of the association. In the same year, the association’s name changed to National Association of Real Estate Boards.

The term gained acceptance quickly, according to Jeffrey Hornstein, author of A Nation of REALTORS®: A Cultural History of the Twentieth-Century American Middle Class (Duke University Press, 2006). It wasn’t long, however, before people began using it to refer to any practitioner, as they might “doctor” or “lawyer.”

Inevitably, practitioners who weren’t members sought access to the term. As a result, local committees formed to ensure the word was being used correctly.

Chadbourn realized that the newly coined word needed to have lasting significance in the eyes of the public. He expressed this intention in the March 15, 1916, issue of the National Real Estate Journal by publishing a sample certificate along with his plan to have the association adopt the REALTOR® term. On the draft certificate, “copyrighted” appears immediately beneath the word REALTOR®.

Even paperwork filed with the Secretary of State of Illinois on May 18, 1917, shows the association’s intention to copyright the word. The Certificate of Change of Name reprints the language of the entire resolution, passed almost one year earlier:. . . RESOLVED, That we recommend to the Executive Committee the adoption of the title “REALTOR” to be used exclusively by members of this Association.

That the Executive Committee be and is hereby empowered to investigate the feasibility of copyrighting said title…

The man who led this effort was Nathan William MacChesney, who served as general counsel for the national association from its founding in 1908 until his retirement in 1947. At the time of the word’s adoption, federal law didn’t allow for it to be registered as a trademark. Many states did allow the registration of the term, however, and by the time he retired, MacChesney had successfully registered the trademark in 46 states. With the passage of the 1946 Trademark Act, known as the Lanham Act, the association was able to register the term as a collective membership mark.

The collective marks REALTORS® and REALTOR® were registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Sept. 13, 1949, and Jan. 10, 1950, respectively, under Registration Numbers 515,200 and 519,789. Since then, the association has maintained a vigilant defense of the trademarks, prevailing in numerous cases. Most recently, in Zimmerman v. NAR (2004), the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board denied a request to cancel the trademarks.

Research conducted for NAR in 2005 showed that the REALTOR® brand generates $32,000 in incremental income for every REALTOR® during an average membership length of ten years. Had Chadbourn known the power of his invention, he may have had second thoughts about assigning it to the association. He was paid the sum of $1.

The market continues to offer its challenges, despite an overall increase in activity as we ease into summer.

What are you going to do to be successful?

As we begin to get feedback from the mid year agent business plan meetings, one thing is clear: if you are trying to do what you did in the past, and it has not worked as expected, you need to make some changes. Now.

The weather report for our industry is still unsettled. The prognosticators and talking heads now have us well into 2009 (or 2010 or 2011!) before the market shows the kind of robust activity we are all hoping for.

Insanity defined: doing the same thing over and over with the belief the outcome will be different.

Sales professionals who have been dedicated to consistent interaction (read communication) with their past clients, friends and strangers are not only surviving this market, they are thriving in it.

They are not working harder, they are working smarter.

Here is what they tell us-

They are making sure the people they know are hearing from them regularly and are getting fair, accurate information.
All communication is followed up with secondary contact.
They are doing activities others in their market don't do.......there is no such thing as "we don't do that here" in their thought process.
They are focused on opportunities, not barriers.
They are organized.
They have a plan, written down, and they measure what is working and what does not.
They have been consistently prospecting.
They try and meet new people, anywhere and everywhere they can.
They have multiple venues for contacting consumers.
They usually have their own websites, and the websites are all about a search and community information.
They use technology.
They use as many of the tools we offer as possible.
They are tough negotiators.
They almost always mention they are going outlast the downturn, survive the market or beat it.

Whether you have already met with your manager, or soon will, be ready to talk about how many of these traits are part of how you work today, and see what you can add to your repertoire of skills going forward.

We intend to grow into this market every day.

We are consistently planning for it, and striving to stay ahead of the curve.

We need each of you to do the same. Share your successes and your ideas. Seek out the advice of agents in your office and the field who are having a good or great year in 2008.

Hope is never a good business plan. Do not let it be yours.

John Price, Professional Mortgage Partners will host lunch from 11-1:30 on 6/24/08
Gas card drawing also!
3119 Village Green Drive, Aurora
Take Ogden Ave. past Rte 59 to Long Grove north to Village Green Drive right.

There are statistics now on www.chicagorealtor.com for you to share with your clients. Many have asked if there are certain neighborhoods appreciating or depreciating and there are useful stats broken down by neighborhood that can guide these conversations with your buyers and sellers. Look under the “Realtor Tools” then “Statistics” and finally click on “Fast Stats”.

Also under the “Statistics” page you will find “Datalynx” which is a partnership between the Chicago Association of Realtors and the Cook County Assessor’s Office. Under the “Datalynx” page you can search through public housing records and obtain information from the square footage of a property to the year it was built.

Here is a great video regarding the shift to internet property searching!

Enjoy!

Direct link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3b6HsIsbV4

Please don't forget about our JULY FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB EVENT! Jeff Stone from Home Equity Partners will be here to discuss buyer assistance in home purchasing. Jeff's firm puts up the down payment in return for an equity position in ownership. Very interesting stuff. Please plan on attending.

This is a great time to meet other Pru SourceOne agents, visit our downtown office, and have a drink with the owners.

Your guests and agent Team Builder clients are all welcome!

Take the train in and make it a nice summer evening...

From our friends at NAR, via the June online version of Realtor Magazine.
Do you have the ability (and skill set) to send and receive text messages and emals via your PDA or phone?
In all of this is yet another reminder of the growing power and demands of the public for a higher level of service, as THEY define it.

This article was published on: 06/01/2008

Internet marketing
6 Best Practices for Online Leads

A well-thought-out strategy for responding to e-mails is central to your success with today’s Web-savvy buyers and sellers.

BY MICHAEL RUSSER

If you're like many of today's real estate practitioners, the majority your new leads come from the Web. An online consumer will shoot you an e-mail (often anonymously), fill out a form on your Web site, or maybe just send you a text message.

Given today's challenging market conditions, you want to treat these inquiries like gold. You must respond professionally — honoring prospects' desire for privacy while also providing valuable information that will eventually turn them into clients. Here are six general rules that will help you accomplish that goal.

Best Practice #1: Respond in Kind

If a prospect e-mails you, respond via e-mail. If a prospect text messages you, respond via text. (By the way, you will see more initial online inquiries via text messages as the “Thumb Generation” reaches the age where they are considering purchasing their first home.) The general rule is to respond in kind, unless the inquiry explicitly asks you to do otherwise.

Best Practice #2: Don’t Call Them

If you've somehow acquired a prospect's phone number and you're tempted to pick up the phone, stop yourself. It’s generally a bad idea. Why? You risk driving that potential client away because in all probability, he or she just wanted information, not a salesperson trying to set up an appointment.

Most human beings feel vulnerable and defensive when they’re on the phone with a salesperson with whom they don’t have a relationship. That’s one reason why Internet is such a popular place for prospects’ to gather information before speaking to a real estate professional.

So, is it ever appropriate to call an online prospect in response to an online inquiry? Yes, there are a couple of exceptions.
If the prospects explicitly ask you to call them and provide their phone number.
If it is clear that the lead has come directly from your highly targeted Web site, and the prospects offered their phone number voluntarily (in other words, they were not forced to reveal it in order to access information on your site or order a report). It’s so important the lead comes from your highly targeted Web site because then it’s more likely they’ve already learned about your business and have started trusting you. That’s a contrast from most inquiries from third-party lead generation services or “one size fits all” sites are actually quite cold.

Best Practice #3: Always Include Your E-mail Signature

An e-mail signature is an information block, usually at the end of your message, that includes your complete contact information. In addition to being professional, it is a required disclosure by some real estate regulatory jurisdictions. Once you have established a solid and ongoing client relationship with the prospect, including your signature in each e-mail message is no longer absolutely necessary. However, you still may decide it's a good idea, as it provides a convenient way for clients to find your contact information.

Best Practice #4: There’s No Such Thing as Too Fast

Online consumers are a very impatient bunch (remember, the Internet connects people around the world in just milliseconds). They expect a very fast response to their inquiries. Ideally, you will respond to e-mail within a few minutes. However, this presents a logistics problem if you’re showing property, at a listing appointment, or in the middle of a heated negotiation — or on vacation, at your child’s dance recital, playing golf, etc.

So, how can you be responsive without having to sit in front of your computer all day? The most practical answer, in my opinion, is to use a virtual assistant who specializes in online lead management. VAs do sit in front of their computer all day and therefore are in a position to respond immediately on your behalf. The best place to find a VA with specific real estate sales support skills like these is REVA Network (in the interest of full disclosure, I’m one of the founders of this network).

In addition to acting as your online proxy by providing immediate response to online inquiries, they can also help you stay in touch with those online leads who are not quite ready to move just yet. Should an inquiry arrive via text message, you at least will be in a better position to respond to it in a timely fashion since it arrives on your cell phone. Once again however, you could re-direct these messages to your VA to handle them as well.

Best Practice #5: Keep in Touch, Or Else

Or else you risk losing the prospects forever. I’d estimate that 19 of 20 valid online real estate related inquiries are prospects in the information gathering stage and can be three to 18 or more months away from taking action. So if you want any chance of doing business with this massive 95-precent segment of online leads, you need a way to stay in touch that doesn’t drive them away.

Drip marketing is a great solution for turn latent leads into closed transactions, If you follow these guidelines:
Give them value. Every message of your drip campaign needs to be perceived as highly valuable by the recipient. If the prospect is part of your specific target market (luxury buyers, first-time buyers, etc.), put them into a campaign that addresses their specific needs. If all you know is their interest in a particular property (typical for most third-party lead generation services), then provide them with ongoing, up-to-date information about properties and neighborhoods in the general area of their interest.
Don’t overwhelm or underwhelm. You want prospects to remember you for the right reasons. Avoid contacting them more than once a week or you’ll likely push them away. On the other hand, make sure your campaign keeps in touch with them no less than once a month.
Make it easy for them to say “no thanks.” At the bottom of each message (assuming you’re doing a drip e-mail campaign), include easy “one-click” opt-out instructions in case the prospect no longer wants to receive your messages. Online consumers don’t like to feel like they’re trapped into receiving something they don’t want. Also, since most email drip campaign systems track opt-out requests, you can see whether your campaign is doing its job or not.

Best Practice #6: Treat Online Leads Like Human Beings

Yes, there is a person on the other end of that e-mail you just received. Remember that online consumers are human beings just like you and me. The key is understanding human behavior in the online context, and then leveraging that understanding into practical communication strategies that result in the highest likelihood of converting casual inquiries into closed transactions.

Mr. Internet is the alter-ego of Michael J. Russer, an Internet speaker, trainer, author, and consultant. He co-authored the new book, The Real Estate Website Success Guide (2007).

Mr. Internet
Main Page

Click on the link below to view a PruCarolinas video they have posted to YouTube with NAR Internet and Newspaper statistics. Its a great little video specific to Pruential.

http://www.youtube.com/prucarolinas

TheFor Immediate Release
Contact: Bill McCaffrey, Department of Buildings
Phone: (312) 743-9096
E-mail:
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Vacant Property Ordinance Proposed

Amendment Requires Owners to Maintain Vacant Properties
The Department of Buildings today introduced an ordinance to the City Council that strengthens the maintenance requirements of vacant properties and increases the responsibilities of their owners.

The ordinance prohibits the use of plywood to cover doors and windows on any property that has been vacant for at least six months. Properties vacant for longer than six months will be required to be secured with steel panels, or have all windows and doors installed, a working theft-prevention system and an active account with a third-party security company. All exit areas will also be required to have lighting from dusk until dawn.

To enforce the ordinance, building inspectors will also be allowed to complete an interior and exterior inspection of vacant properties.

"This ordinance will help improve the quality of life in neighborhoods by holding vacant property owners responsible for their properties," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "Vacant properties pose public safety problems and can be havens for crime. Neighborhoods should not suffer the blight of these buildings because of irresponsible property owners."

City officials believe that a consequence of the heightened standards is that owners of such buildings will work to improve them and have them occupied. The ordinance may also influence lending institutions to consider refinancing home loans instead of proceeding with foreclosure where the bank will eventually be responsible to maintain the vacant building.

"If homes are abandoned after being foreclosed, the building is at risk for damage from the elements or by vandals, thereby lowering the value of neighboring properties," said Richard L. Rodriguez, Commissioner of the Department of Buildings. "This ordinance will require owners to maintain homes so that viable housing stock is not allowed to deteriorate, and will also encourage absentee owners to return the buildings to the market."

Under the proposed ordinance, fees to register with the Department of Buildings will rise from $100 to $250 for the first six months and can escalate for each six-month period thereafter. Buildings owners can avoid the increased fee by keeping their properties in compliance with the building code.

Officials estimate that the city spends between $5,000 to $14,000 a year to monitor and maintain vacant buildings.

The ordinance also allows buildings that violate the terms to be declared a public nuisance and provides the city with another avenue to force absentee owners to sell or lose their properties.

###

Disclaimer /

last press release regarding vacant property in the city...........

Teambuilder's six month anniversary quietly passed by this week, and we thought we should take a moment to reflect on what we have learned so far.

1. It works. We have some fine agents who have joined us through the program, and 50+ more currently in the database.

2. It isn't about the money. Sure, a little extra income is welcome in this market, but the agents doing the referring make a point of stressing to us they are doing it to make their offices and the company a better place to work and grow their business. On behalf of the rest of the agents in your office, we thank all of you who have made a referral into Teambuilder.

3. It works best when we remind you about it. When we mention Teambuilder in an office meeting, or event, an email or even in a blog, there is usually one or more referrals to the database in the following week. This next week would be a good time to keep this trend going ;-)).

Again, thank you to everyone who has participated so far in Teambuilder. A few moments to pop someones contact info into the program is all it takes. We have some great agents, but we know there are a few more out there who could definitely benefit from being part of Prudential SourceOne, and we continue to ask all of you to help us find them.

Just listed yesterday, MLS#06919864
4 bedroom 3 bath. Hardwood Flooring on 1st and 2nd level. Ceramic tile in kitchen. Finished basement with, living room, possible additional bedroom and bath with shower.
This is an REO property, sold as is. In good condition, just some minor wall repairs, paint and decor and call it home

Also the listings I have at:
7443 w 64th St Summit Il. MLS#06845028
Brick 4 unit in need of rehab has been reduced to $174,500

and

13454 Blackstone Ln Plainfield Il MLS#06840370
5 bedroom 4 bath Full finished basement, Fenced yard 3 car garage over 3100Sq ft Reduced to $318,155

If you have any clients interested in this hot Chicago neighborhood please send them on by. Just 3 blocks south of US Cellular field!! GO Sox Go! Great Bridgeport location, like new fabulous 1 bdrm+den condo. Enjoy your private 8 x 6 Balcony. New Kenmore in-unit laundry. Gleaming hdwd flrs, ktchn island, granite c/tops, S/S appliances. Master bdrm closet features custom $1000 oganizer system. Building features a rooftop deck w/ amazing views, a perfect setting for entertaining family & friends. Heated garage parking included! Must see,not to be missed

https://www.974w35th.com

See you there,

Dennis Ganski

Current DirectorsNational LeadershipCommitteesNAR Governing DocumentsGovernance MeetingsMeeting Policies
Special Board of Directors INS Report

NAR, DOJ Agree on MLS Policy
NAR has reached a favorable settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, resolving the litigation between them over the display of listings from the MLS on brokers' virtual office Web (VOW) sites. The final order, to be filed with the federal district court in Chicago today, validates NAR's long-standing Internet data exchange (IDX) policy and strengthens the membership rules governing multiple listing services.
"This is clearly a win-win for the real estate industry and the consumers we serve," said NAR President Richard F. Gaylord. "Today I can say with clear knowledge, underscored by DOJ's settlement compromise, that the real estate industry is dynamic, entrepreneurial, and fiercely competitive."
The order caps a three-year long battle between NAR and the Justice Department, which filed a lawsuit against the association in 2005 calling it anti-competitive for brokers to have unlimited say in where, and how, their clients' listings are displayed on other brokers' VOWs.
The final order expressly provides that NAR does not admit any liability or wrongdoing, and NAR will make no payments in connection with the settlement. The terms of the agreement preserve and strengthen the MLS as a means for broker-to-broker cooperation intended to serve real estate professionals who list or sell property in that MLS. "This will ensure that MLSs are used for what they were originally intended to do, which is help real estate professionals find buyers for people who want to sell their homes," said Laurie Janik, NAR general counsel.
NAR will be reinstating an updated version of its VOW policy, which governs the use of MLS data for brokers who offer brokerage services online by requiring customers to register with the brokerage before they can search for homes. That policy was rescinded in 2005 when certain provisions were challenged by DOJ. The revised policy continues to protect the rights of sellers who do not want their property or their property's address displayed on the Internet, and also protects sellers from having false information about their listings appear on the VOWs of a member of the MLS. Among other things, the revised policy requires brokers hosting others' MLS data on their site to turn off features--such as home value estimates and blogs--surrounding a listing at the request of the seller.
The agreement requires MLSs and local associations that operate MLSs to pass and implement the amended VOW policy within 90 days of the court's approval of the final order.
The revised policy comes at a time when brokers appear to be moving away from the VOW business model. "The response to VOWs hasn't been great because consumers can find sites throughout the Internet on which to gather information without having to register their name and contact information," said Mark Lesswing, NAR chief technology officer.
More about the settlement and related issues is at REALTOR.org.
Note: The following "Operation Tip-Off" document was sent to state and local association executives to help them handle media inquiries about the case. This document is confidential. Please don't forward or share with others.
OPERATION TIP-OFF
NAR AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REACH SETTLEMENT
Washington, D.C. (May 27, 2008) – NAR and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a favorable settlement, concluding a two-year DOJ investigation followed by two and half years of litigation regarding NAR’s multiple listing policy pertaining to the display of listing from the MLS on brokers’ virtual office Web sites, or VOWs. This will be a story reported throughout the news media today.
The settlement terms are favorable for NAR. We settled with the DOJ without financial penalty or admission of guilt.
The terms of the proposed final order validate NAR’s position – that MLS members must be actively engaged in real estate brokerage by actually helping people buy or sell homes. This will ensure that MLSs are used for what they were originally intended to do – to help real estate professionals find buyers for people who want to sell their homes.
It is likely that the DOJ will communicate this settlement as a victory for them and affirmation of its long persecution of Realtors®. This could not be further from the truth. NAR remained fully prepared to litigate the provisions of the VOW policy that were challenged by the government. However, the terms of the settlement are clearly in the best interests of NAR’s members and the consumers they serve, allowing the association to focus on finding ways to help Realtors® re-energize and strengthen the housing market for the long term, for their clients, customers and fellow community members.
Media Strategy:
Don’t call reporters. No need to be proactive and alert the media. NAR Public Affairs is prepared to implement a detailed communications strategy. Do respond if called upon; or refer call to NAR Public Affairs (202/383-7515). By participating in the story you can deliver pro-Realtor® messages and demonstrate to your members that you are on top of the issue. If you avoid questions, you can be assured that our opponents will dominate the coverage. Be prepared. Review the talking points below and prepare your own. Complete information is available at www.realtor.org/DOJ.
Media Tips: Should you receive a call from a media outlet regarding this event, here are some tips to help you handle the call.
Don’t overreact. There is no reason to make the story bigger by indicating concern. Stay on message. Bridge from a negative question to deliver a positive message. Everything is on the record. All that you can say can be included in the story. Don’t speculate. If you aren’t familiar with the issue, it’s OK to say so. Refer calls to NAR. NAR Public Affairs stands ready to handle any media inquiries you may get.
Settlement Overview:
Strengthened Membership Rule: The settlement permits MLSs to adopt a more stringent criterion for brokers seeking to be participants in an MLS. Instead of merely possessing a broker’s license, participants must be actively engaged in real estate brokerage by actually helping people buy or sell homes. This will ensure that MLSs are used for what they were originally intended to do – to help real estate professionals find buyers for people who want to sell their homes.
Revised VOW policy: The final order requires that NAR adopt a revised Virtual Office Web site policy, and that NAR request MLSs adopt the new policy within 90 days of the court’s approval of the parties’ agreement, expected by late summer. NAR has agreed to these revisions, which continue to protect the rights of sellers who do not want their property or their property’s address displayed on the Internet. The new policy also protects sellers from having false or other unwanted information about their listings appear on the VOW site of member of the MLS, and allows sellers to object to additional features near the listing. The revised policy also includes provisions confirming the opportunity for participants to use vendors to operate their VOWs for them.
Impact:
The resolution of this litigation fills the void in MLS policy created when the suit was filed challenging the VOW policy. MLSs and their participants will now have a policy to guide the use of MLS listings by brokers on their VOWs. Most consumers do not use VOWs because these sites require online registration. Today’s consumers can find sites throughout the Internet on which to gather information without having to register their name and contact information first.
Be Prepared:
Realtors® and Realtor® associations should be ready for the potentially negative or controversial news stories starting as early as May 27, 2008. The following general talking points should help answer questions from members or reporters.
Talking Points:
NAR has negotiated a settlement with DOJ that benefits our members and the clients and customers they serve. Although NAR was prepared to litigate the lawfulness of the VOW policy and rule governing MLS participation, the terms agreed upon are clearly in the best interest of NAR members. NAR did not admit any wrongdoing. Now that the lawsuit has been resolved, NAR can focus on looking ahead to continue to find ways to help members re-energize and strengthen the housing market for the long-term, for their clients, customers and fellow community members.
NAR’s efforts are focused on re-energizing the housing market – that’s what matters most to consumers. Realtors® are lobbying lawmakers and regulators at all levels of government to enact and implement public policies that will stimulate the housing market. NAR believes that it is time for Realtors®, regulators, policymakers and other leaders to work together to improve the housing market and strengthen the economy.
NAR has always encouraged innovation and competition in real estate brokerage, and favors no business model. The real estate industry is dynamic, entrepreneurial and fiercely competitive. The agreement restates our commitment to consumers and to maintaining one of the most competitive marketplaces in the world. NAR members represent almost every conceivable business model, including full-service, limited-service, discount models, and others. About one in eight Realtors works for a business model other than a full-service firm.
In this market, the value of Realtors® and the services and resources they provide, including the MLS system, has never been greater. The DOJ agreement implicitly acknowledges the important role played by the more than 800 MLSs across the country that help make buying and selling a home easier. The agreement strengthens the MLS system, and ensures that MLSs will continue to be a vital tool for broker-to-broker cooperation and compensation as they have for more than 100 years. Consumers will continue to be able to access and view listing information on the Web site of their broker of choice.
Additional Messages:
Multiple Listing Services are a powerful force for competition. MLSs enable small brokerages and new entrants can have the same access to this information as large and established ones. They make it easy for sellers to reach buyers and for buyers to find the right property. The American MLS system is so successful that many foreign countries are now establishing MLS systems based on the U.S. model.
The real estate industry has been effectively harnessing the Internet for years, to the benefit of sellers and buyers alike. No other industry in the world has virtually its entire inventory online at one site, but you can find more than 2.2 million homes for sale at www.realtor.com, which has 7 million unique visitors each month. The industry has made a multimillion dollar investment to create the infrastructure and systems to put millions of properties online through the MLSs. You can’t shop for property in your bedroom slippers in most other countries like you can in America.
Realtors® are industry innovators – they’re some of the greatest entrepreneurs in America. We’re always looking for innovative ways to provide the services real estate consumers want.
Questions and Answers:
Critics say the real estate industry is a cartel. What’s your response to that? The real estate industry is highly competitive and entrepreneurial. Today consumers can choose from 1.2 million Realtors® and a variety of different kinds of companies and business models, including discount brokerages and fee-for-service brokers.
Do Multiple Listing Services discriminate against brokers who operate VOWs? Absolutely not. Multiple Listing Services are a powerful force for competition. The MLS enables small brokerages and new entrants can have the same access to this information as large and established ones. They make it easy for sellers to reach buyers and for buyers to find the right property. The American MLS system is so successful that many foreign countries are now establishing MLS systems based on the U.S. model.
Has the real estate industry opposed innovations that would lower costs to consumers? The real estate industry has been effectively harnessing the Internet for years, to the benefit of sellers and buyers alike. No other industry in the world has virtually its entire inventory on line at one site, but you can find more than 2.2 million homes for sale at www.realtor.com, which has 7 million unique visitors each month. The industry has made a multimillion dollar investment to create the infrastructure and systems to put 2 million to 3 million properties on line through the MLSs. You can’t shop for property in your bedroom slippers in most other countries like you can in America.
For Further Information:
Contact Stephanie Singer, 202-383-1050.

TOUR OF COZY CAPE COD: inviting everyone to my broker tour, tues, may 20 from 11:30-2. 1436 Thornwood, Downers Grove. take 55th st to dunham (south) to first street on right (thornwood). lunch served and 2/$10 gas card drawing.

Current data for your next real estate conversation

Birdview sees increase in real estate Web traffic
(LOMBARD, Ill.) – Birdview Technologies is the latest company to release a study suggesting housing markets may be starting to turn positive.
The technology consulting firm says real estate Web sites have had an extraordinary amount of activity over the past several months compared to the dive in traffic last year.
"The sustained upswing we've seen so far this year at the very least signals that buyer interest has returned to the marketplace at levels seen during the boom years. Buyer demand is not necessarily indicative of increased transactions, but it's certainly a necessary ingredient in finding a bottom to the present downturn," said Bedros Bedrosian, President and Co-founder of Birdview.
Birdview’s Real Estate Activity index had dropped to 800 in November, but in April had recovered to just below 1400.

Hello Prudential Agents:
We have scheduled another QSC Training Class for June 19th at the Palos Park location from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The address to the Palos Park office is 8100 W. 119th Street, Palos Park 60464.

If you have not yet taken this class please make every effort to attend. Please RSVP to nnovak@ppcre.com by June 15th.

Thank you

Quote of the Day - Charles Kettering - "The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress."

We are proud to announce that the Do Not Call Utility has be released.
The utility is on the left hand side of the site.
Please feel free to use this addition to our site. Let us know how it is working.
~ST-TWO

I just wanted to let everyone know that Dell has double Realtor discounts on thier website until May 31st.
If you were looking for accessories or anything else, might be worth a look, only problem is that you have to call in to the order desk to see what the discount amount actually is.