Chris Ross

Are land sales coming back? My partner Andrew Johnson and I have noticed an up tick in land sales about 40 to 50 percent of what we do is land and we've noticed that land sales have been getting some phone calls and e-mails. From traffic coming back on our listings to more phone calls and e-mails. I feel like they are you like people are looking to buy a good piece of dirt at a fraction of what it cost just a few years ago. It feels to me at least here in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia it seems like you're starting to come back. That's if you have your land priced right you.

Is the stimulus package working? Whether you're on the left or the right, this is the question that is in front of us. My answer would be yes, I feel we've had more phone calls, more e-mails in the last few months then we would have through the past winter months. I feel like the $8000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers has definitely made a difference. The spring market is here, you already have people coming out of the woodwork looking for great price home deals. They are looking for foreclosures trying to get a great deal, or a short sale, which you can get a great deal on if you're in it for the long haul. But more importantly I think the $6500 "move up buyer tax credit" has made a difference. I also have people that bought during the before the bubble that now have an option of selling and making some money on their house and getting a great deal in another house. So the question I get from other agents is the home stimulus work tax credit working out. I believe it has I feel it has made a difference. I do feel that it won't be extended. What do you think?

Are short sales working? My partner and I Andrew Johnson have processed probably over a dozen short sales within the last year. What I tell customers/clients during this process as you breathe on both the buying and selling side. What seems to be happening to somebody who thinks they have found this really great deal, they offer on it expect the bank to get them an answer back very quickly. Only be only to be disappointed. What is happening is they go three four weeks down the road expect to get an answer from the bank. When you look at these big banks like Bank of America and Wells Fargo what they are doing is an injustice to both the American people and themselves by not getting an answer in a timely fashion. People need to understand that this is not a short process even though it says short sale, the only thing short about it is your nerves as you start to get frustrated by not getting answer. So if you do decide to look at a short sale, and believe me you can get a great deal on it, just be prepared to be in it for the long haul it could take six months, a year time or never. Just realize that it's not a short process even though it's called a short sale.

Are you losing money by not texting? That's the question I pose to a lot of agents in my area who don't text message. I can tell you with the new technology coming out with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, this is a game changer for Realtors. Text messaging is almost become another language to younger generation buyers and sellers. I can tell you I get communicate more business through text messaging than anything else. I make it real easy for Buyers and Seller to text message me on a regular basis during a deal. This being said are you losing money by not using text messaging? A lot of agencies in this business feel that it's not a necessity when it really has become the norm. Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace have evolved and become another way of communicating with friends, family and also clients. Taking this into consideration you would almost be smart to integrate these things in their daily life especially Facebook to be able to communicate with their clients or even get new clients and customers on a regular basis by not being afraid of using new technology.

I have now discovered Twitter. It's a great place for networking and contacted new clients. I have already picked up a few out of town investors. Plus, I am following a few successful people that are in both the real estate and entrepreneur ventures.

http://twitter.com/callchrisross