Colorado

Denver Colorado Real Estate Issues

Facing Foreclosure in Colorado?...Call for help

Colorado launched a Foreclosure Hotline this week. It's purpose is to assist people who are delinquent on the mortgages. Counselors will act as intermediaries between homeowners and lenders, to work out a game plan, help organize finances, avoid scams, reduce potential liability and possible sell or keep the home.

If you are delinquent on your mortgage payments, please call for help. The number is 1-877-601-HOPE (4673).

Irony in action

The Foreclosure Hotline is expected to cost $300,000- $500,000 over the next two years. It is being funded in part, by the Division of Housing. Additionally the Attorney General's office will be kicking in money it receives from Ameriquest a lender who has been involved in predatory lending practices. Ameriquest owes $295,000 million in a national settlement involving less than wonderful lending practices.

Foreclosures cost the taxpayer in the end

A study done by the University of Colorado-Denver last year found on average one foreclosure costs the municipality $10,000 per home.

Foreclosures drive down property values. Empty homes attract additional problems, they become playgrounds for kids who often times destroy the home, costing the lender more to bring it up to salable condition. Some empty homes become meth labs, creating worse dangers yet.

What's a neighbor to do about foreclosures?

Neighbors can help the community by watching vacant homes for unusual activity. If you see something out of the ordinary happening in a vacant home take it upon yourself to contact the authorities. Being a watchdog for the neighborhood will help solve the problem is less time. It's not a question of being a nosey neighbor but one of responsibility and pride. Protect your neighborhood and your property values.

(NOTE: I am not trying to preach to the choir! This blog will be linked from the Listserve for the WCR Mile High Chapter. I thought inviting the group to our neighborhood would be a great way to demonstrate the wonders of blogging!) kk

Blogging is a buzz word that is not always understood. Learning how to blog has benefits beyond just having a website. Blogging tends to be more current and topical. In today's world the speed of news and knowledge is a critical component in being relevant to consumer needs. Those that do it have learned the ropes and you can too. The following outline was prepared to give a basic overview of blogging, what it is, how it can benefit you and your business.

Why Blog?

1. generate leads and referrals
2. drive traffic to your website
3. improve website ranking
4. social networking
5. provides speed and relevance to a constantly changing marketplace

Definition of Blogging

The term is a contraction, coming from weblog. A blog is actually a website where the entries are made in reverse chronological order. Blogs elicit comments from readers, sometimes spurring conversations and additional ideas. Bloggers "link" their blogs to other blogs, depending upon topic, friendship and interest.

What's the point?

As a vehicle for social networking, blogging is a wonderful way to learn how others solve the same problems you come up against. Publishing your thoughts to the world, empowers others insight to you and how you do business, bringing a new level of intimacy to the realm of the business world. People like to do business with people they like, who have helped them with support, concern and knowledge. Social networking sites like this one on Active Rain achieve that goal.

Additional benefits involve the backbone of the Internet, search engines. As you blog about your business, the search engines index (catalog like an invisible librarian) your words. As a consumer keys into the their computer a query, you and your business will come up. That is the ultimate marketing result you want...and it's free.

Push vs. Pull Marketing

Blogs are pull marketing. The difference being best illustrated by analogy, "Consumers do not enjoy or want advertising pushed in their faces, until they need what it is you are marketing. By blogging you can be present and available for those consumers when it's time for them to find you. And it's free.

Is Blogging Difficult?

Absolutely not! Today's blog platforms (tools to blog) make blogging as easy as sending an email. You log on to your blog, write some thoughts and push a button to publish to the world. You can include photos and link to other sites, check your spelling, any number of things, it's very simple.

Where can I find a Blogging Tools?

There are a variety of programs available for blogging. Beginners can get their feet wet using a Free Blog. As one becomes more dedicated and serious about blogging, other blogging programs are available for a small fee. Some choices are

Blogger by Google (free)

Typepad by Six Apart (has 3 basic levels; Basic, Plus, and Pro)

MovableType by Six Apart (for business blogging)

Vox by Six Apart

WordPress (free)

Real Estate Industry Blogging Platforms

ActiveRain is a combination of blogging tool and social networking group. This relatively new phenomenon started this past summer (2006) and through viral marketing alone has over 6000 members. It's free, fun and incorporates the benefits of blogging into a responsive and supportive real estate community where you can learn new skills and share your expertise. Blogging on Active Rain can be directed to consumers, on a local or national level and/or to the industry users.

Participates on Active Rain have taken to calling themselves Rainers. The Rainers post blogs about events that occur in their lives, business situations and how they should be solved. Much advice is dispersed on Active Rain, with the various points of view taking on some controversy. It is not unusual for a Rainer to share suggestions for improving one's personal website content or positioning. Real estate is discussed more often than not, but other topics relating to the business are welcome.

For many blogging has become a way of life. It is fulfilling a need to communicate, learn and be part of a community. IF you would like to get started or learn more about blogging on Active Rain follow this link.

Colorado Licensed Broker ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist CRS - Certified Residential Specialist The Berkshire Group Realtors 3801 E. Florida Ave. Suite 400 Denver, Colorado, 80210 USA	Mobile: 303-589-2022 Fax: 303-953-5362 kristal@tbgdenver.com Denver Real Estate and Relocation Denver Home Search
Selling Denver and the 'burbs

Here is a basic primer for Newcomers to Active Rain (with special recognition to the members of the Mile High Chapter of WCR!)

As you participate in the network, you receive points for your contributions. The various ways you get points are:

1. Filling out your bio
   • Add a detailed description about your business and what you do.
     (You will see later this description shows up under your Name on your Active Rain Blog.)
   • Add more information about whatever you wish in two more sections (be sure to modify the title to fit your needs)
   • If you have nice testimonials from customers, be sure to add them also
   • Uploading your photo to Active Rain

   Once you are done filling out the site, Hit "SAVE". (In fact, every time you fill something out hit the "save" button.) Don't worry about being perfect the first time, or even filling everything out at once. The beauty of the system is that you can come back whenever you wish and change or add more material. It's not permanent!

2. Recruiting other members
3. Writing blogs
4. Commenting on blogs
5. Bonus points for getting your blogs noticed outside the community
6. Bonus points for writing a really good blog (like this one J )

What are points used for?

If you visit your Primary Market , you will note the members are ranked according to their points. Since the Network is relatively new, it is fairly easy to achieve good ranking on the system. All you need to do is participate on a consistent basis and invite all your industry friends.

What's the point?

The point for many is not about points, but about promoting yourself online:

1. your profile is indexed on Google (fill your service area into the "keywords" box)
2. when you blog about topics near and dear to you, they too will be indexed by Google
3. You will meet many new friends in the industry to learn from, share with and network

How and where do I blog?

1. From "My Home" you will see a "My Blog" link in the left column, click on it.
2. In the box "New Blog Entry", click on that. A new window will pop up, this is where you prepare your blog.
3. Start with a title, then enter your main thoughts in the "entry" box. Finish using "Tags"
4. Be sure to properly identify the content of your blog
   • For real estate professionals only?
   • For consumers
   • Regional
   • Advertising
   • Other advertising

It is important to list your blog in the proper category. Mislabeling a blog means it might not get noticed, or worse yet flamed! Another hint that could save you time and heartache, since it is very easy to lose your hard written work before it is published online, try writing your blog in MS Word, notepad or the fabulous new online wordprocessor called Writely. Thinking online is best when you can save your work as you go. IF the system burbs, you lose your work, so take my advice and write elsewhere, then "cut and paste" your blog content onto the Active Rain Blog.

Publishing Your Blog to the World

Once your writing is complete (after you spell check it of course!) you just click on the "Post Blog Entry" button...off it goes! In a few seconds you will see the results (as will everyone else) online. Now there are a couple of things to remember;

• If after you publish it, you need to correct it, don't worry, just click on "edit" and fix it, remembering to "Post Blog Entry" again.
• Realize this blog is on your personal blog space at Active Rain, BUT IT IS ALSO on the main collection of blogs too .
• Relax

What about Comments?

After your blog is online for awhile, you may notice on your "My Home" page some links indicating others have made a comment. Follow the link to see what the comments are. If you have something to add, you too can make a comment. This is how good discussions begin and keep going. Getting lots of comments is a good thing!

As you hang out here on Active Rain, you will find the benefits are enormous, the more you give, the more you will get. Hope you find this outline helpful...and by the way (BTW)

Welcome to Active Rain!

Want to join? Sign up here...

Real estate blogging on Active Rain has become a way of life for many. Others are just joining and are questioning our little social community. As we come together we all need to recognize the importance of our blogs and how it affects our future.

The blogs are getting indexed by the search engines. By this I mean what we say is being stored for future reference to the world. Is this important? You bet it is.

Blogging may feel like play at times, but in reality we are opening our minds and exposing our thoughts to the digital world. As Active Rain grows we will become more of a force...even more than we are now in our infancy.

While increasing your web presence remember to ADD VALUE when blogging. How do you deliver benefits?

• present a real estate problem and solve it
• feature a focused topic on real estate (in your town)
• respond to comments
• look to trigger thoughts, support or suggestions
• stimulate real estate discussion

Blogging will impact our real estate business. Finding YOUR own personal voice that will be heard in this community and beyond is important. Realizing what we do today will impact what happens tomorrow is exciting and frightening as the same time.

How could something so important be so much fun? And free too!!

Colorado Licensed Broker ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist CRS - Certified Residential Specialist The Berkshire Group Realtors 3801 E. Florida Ave. Suite 400 Denver, Colorado, 80210 USA	Mobile: 303-589-2022 Fax: 303-953-5362 kristal@tbgdenver.com Denver Real Estate and Relocation Denver Home Search
Selling Denver and the 'burbs