Eugene, OR

Which chart do you prefer?

Same data. Different look.

Which do you think is most effective at showing what's really happening to

single family homes for sale in Eugene, Oregon's

Just how big a factor are distressed properties?

Here are the Closed Sales numbers for the last many months for EUGENE, OREGON's

I regularly read the GeekEstate Blog, written by a team of authors and contributors. A recent post, How to Get Started in Real Estate, presents a list of items that new agents should keep in mind to be successful:

What to Expect.

Treat real estate as a profession, not a hobby
Focus on both leads and listings, buyers and sellers
Put in the hours
Remember that you are an entrepreneur
Be open to clients and opportunities at all times
Measure and evaluate your performance
Set concrete, time-specific goals for improvement areas
Research trends, practices, and conventions in your local market
Know that you may work weekends
Have some savings to live on for the first 6 months
Be a cheerleader for what you do
Start prospecting and don’t stop
Use a CRM
Invest in your business and in your education
Consider a real estate coach
Do the stuff no one else wants to do
Work harder than your competition

Build Your Network

Get involved in your community
Join your local realtor’s association
Get to know public officials
Volunteer
Join a mastermind group
Participate at your child’s school
Join the board of an organization you care about
Treat everyone you meet as a potential client
Use a personal touch to stay connected with former clients
Maintain a presence online
Preserve your reputation by focusing on quality, not quantity
Embrace your personality
Promote causes and organizations you believe in
Be friendly, but professional
Build and keep up relationships with coworkers
Seek mentors, share concerns
Shadow and request feedback from more experienced agents
Research and talk to top producers in your community/region

Embrace Technology

Setup a website to build your brand and drive leads
Use a CRM to keep track of clients, listings, and leads
Consider syndicating your listings for greater reach
Consider Craigslist to get buyers and sellers
Become a master of lead generation
Learn how to do SEO
Think in terms of building good systems so you can focus on creating relationship and closing deals
Set up your profile on the major social media sites
Educate yourself with books and blogs
Take classes and talk to more experienced tech users
Attend conferences to keep abreast of emerging trends
Recruit experts to help you build your technology portfolio
Market yourself with social media and networks
Get comfortable with smartphones, mobile technology
Use video
Don’t be a Luddite!

Choose Your Broker Wisely

Research company earnings
Research company clients; compare to your preferred niche
Research company, agent reputations
Compare franchise agencies with local/family-owned in your area

Interview brokers regarding:
1. Commission splits
2. Technology and administrative support
3. Marketing/advertising budgets
4. Training and education programs

Interview other agents regarding:
1. General satisfaction
2. Company culture
3. Management styles
4. Future plans

Do you agree with this list? What would you add to it?

THE MOST MEANINGFUL (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) LOOK AT DATA FOR

HOMES FOR SALE IN EUGENE, OR

IS TO COMPARE

THE CURRENT MONTH WITH THE SAME MONTH IN PRIOR YEARS

Below you'll see that the number of Closed Sales in JANUARY in Ferry Street Bridge ties the decade high - while the inventory of Active Listings is at a six-year low.

At the January rate of sales, Ferry Street Bridge now has a 5.5 month inventory.

Those factors certainly explain the month's up tick in Average Price.

Let's hope it is a sign of things to come.

Now for the

FERRY STREET BRIDGE

RMLS Market Area, HERE ARE:

A decade's worth of supply (Active Listings) and demand (Closed Sales)
for the

Months of JANUARY

2001 - 2012:

And a decade of Average Prices for Closed Sales
for the

Months of JANUARY

2001 - 2012:

Every seasoned agent would probably do things differently if they could start their business fresh. They'd channel their knowledge, time, money, and effort into areas that experience has taught them to be effective in generating leads, converting them to prospects, and closing transactions.

Realtors can't begin anew, but they can help to mentor new agents entering the profession. Now is a difficult time to become a real estate agent. New agents don't have the luxury of time and a rising market to bail them out of their early business mistakes.

If a brand new agent approached you for advice about building their real estate business, what would you say?

I posted this question on Trulia and received a number of frank answers from experienced agents:

• Annette Lawrence in Palm Harbor, FL warns against broker promises and slick brochures and recommends finding a good mentor;
  
• Judi Monday in Green Valley, AZ suggests having a first-class website and lead capture system;
  
• Rob Hughes in SE Pennyslvania wrote a long answer with many good points.

ActiveRain members have posted to their blog with their thoughts on what they would tell a new agent:

• Michelle Gibson from Wellington, FL wrote a post called I'm a New Agent how can I Compete?;
  
• Margaret Woda from Crofton, MD wrote Advice to New Maryland Real Estate Agents;
  
• Bonnie Erickson from St. Paul, MN wrote Advice for New Agents;
  
• Julie Escobar from Tampa, FL wrote What Every New Agent Needs to Know ... Part II;
  
• Liz and Bill Spear from Mason, OH wrote So You Want To Be A Real Estate Agent? Some Unsolicited Advice;
  
• Nickolas Underwood from Lawrenceville, GA wrote The New Agent Survival Handbook;

If a new agent approached you to become his or her mentor, what advice would you give?