The straight-up price discount Los Angeles, CA This bank-owned foreclosure near LA city college includes a three percent discount on the purchase price as credit toward the buyer’s closing cost. Bonus, you could walk to class and save on gas.

The early bird bonus Dallas, TX Time is of the essence, especially in this market. This builder is offering a $20,000 buyer bonus for closing before the end of September. Plus, scroll down to see the Google Street View during the renovation.

The future credit Tampa, FL Buy it and then redo it. The seller for this Tampa pad on a golf course comes with three fireplaces… and $25,000 toward renovations. Other potential perks include owner financing based on the buyer’s credit history.

Real Estate Eye Candy Ι Trulia picks

Three years after the devastating Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, New Orleans is looking on the up and up. Known for its cool combination of French, Creole and Victorian styles, many of these unique properties have been rebuilt with the same detailed finishes and exquisite touches. Check out four of our user favorites in the French Quarter, University Uptown, and more. From standalone fireplaces and patios with fountains to travertine floors and hand-tiled pools, these colorful picks are sure to be inspiration for your own home.   New Orleans, LA $825,000 3br / 3ba / 2,740 sqft   New Orleans, LA $487,000 3br / 2ba / 1,200 sqft     New Orleans, LA $899,000 5br / 5ba / 4,262 sqft   Belle Chasse, LA $879,900 4br / 4.5ba / 5,785 sqft

Happy House Hunting

The best place to start your real estate search Trulia Inc. 208 Utah Street #310 San Francisco CA 94103

Stay tuned for more house hunting and savvy selling techniques… or see them all at www.trulia.com/newsletter

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Yes they can! Last week we brought in Brett Crosby from Google Analytics and Rob McQuade from McMartin Real Estate to share a bit about their use of Google Analytics. Our goal was to get the inside story from Google and understand a bit more about how realtors are using it to really take advantage of their website or blog.

How to use Google Analytics

What’s the catch? As Brett says in our video, Google Analytics is free and really helps you better understand your website to better use it. With better use, we hear from Rob, that now over 50% of his business comes from his website. Not too shabby.

The more realtors understand about their website, who visits, what pages are popular, and from what websites visitors come from, our hope is that more realtors start using their website as a way to grow their business. With free products from Trulia like Brand Your Listings it’s easy for agents to get started to increase exposure for themselves.

Thanks Active Rain for helping spread the word!

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Check out his Trulia Pro stats below:

One of the tools Rob uses to measure these results is Google Analytics. Rob is able to see his Trulia page views turn into visitors to his website and then convert the visitors into actual clients. Pretty neat! Not to spill the beans, but on another topic as part of Trulia’s mission to share tips with the Real Estate community about how best to promote themselves online, keep on the look-out for a Google/Trulia sponsored video coming out in the near future on Google Analytics!

Check out Trulia Pro here!

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Trump Ad -Think of your Banner Ad as a real world highway Billboard - You have a Short time, to make an impression.

With the release of Trulia Pro, our new Local Spotlight advertising solution, I have noticed many agents enter the realm of banner advertising. Over the years, I have seen hundreds of slogans, catchphrases, “me, me, me’s” thrown on shopping carts, billboards, business cards and now websites. They offer “branding”, they “Get your name out there” - sure, I agree. But do they get results? Do they make your phone ring?

Dare I say, the typical broker/agent banner leaves a lot to be desired, and is easily ignored by today’s savvy online consumer, bored GenX/GenY web shopper. Therefore, I have come up with a few ideas on how you can improve your ads.

(more…)

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Image source: Winston Wang

Selling homes in this difficult real estate market is already hard enough.  You don’t want to handicap yourself even further by failing to show off your listing in the best light possible.   Your Internet listing partner, whether it be your broker’s website, your local MLS, or any of the new dot coms such as Trulia, allows you to upload photos of your listings to your hearts desire.  Let us look at some photography tips that can get the “SOLD” sign up on the front lawn as fast as possible and keep the foreclosure gremlins away.

(more…)

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Jennifer is a home buyer and seller on Trulia Voices who is thinking about becoming a real estate agent. She wants to know if now is the right time to get into the business and what skills she will need in order to succeed. These are fantastic questions with no magic bullet answers. I’ll share some my thoughts on this and if you’d like to add yours too that would be great.

So is it a good time to get into the real estate business? From my perspective, I don’t have a clear answer to that question. Just too many variables involved. It’s almost like asking, “How is the weather in the U.S. today?” It really depends on where your standing doesn’t it? So, what I’d like to do is share 3 tips that I learned when I entered the real estate business.

1. Spread the word - Before you even start taking your real estate classes, make sure you tap into your existing sphere of influence. Let everyone you know that you will be getting your real estate license soon. This includes informing all the people and businesses in your local neighborhood. You never know who might be in the market to buy or sell. This will prime your pipeline up and help you get a jump start. Because let’s face it, before you can become a superstar agent, you need to get your feet wet. Working with people that you or your sphere know will help you get over those awkward “green” agent hiccups a lot easier. This worked for me when I first started and it can work for you too.

2. Educate yourself - Research the brokerage models that are available in your local market. Don’t join the first one you see. Whether you choose a mom and pop operation or a national big box brand, find out what they can offer you and create a business plan. Then, make sure you have a mentor within your office that will help you learn the ropes. Watch them closely. Absorb everything they do and say. Let it simmer. Then digest. Apply what you feel comfortable with into your routine. Regardless, having a mentor is priceless. You will be amazed on what that course textbook did not teach you. Don’t get me wrong. By all means, continue to read real estate, marketing and technology books and trade publications. Knowledge is power. The more you know, the better you will be able to serve your clients.

3. Have some reserves - Don’t expect to be bringing home the bacon overnight. The real estate cycle is not an expeditious one by any means. You can go months before you generate any income. First you have to find a buyer and seller to work with. Then find a home for your buyer or a buyer for your seller. Then get into contract. Inspections. Etc……You know what I’m saying, right? So, depending on your financial situation and local market, make sure you have at between 3-9 months of cash in the stash. You need to live and take care of yourself and your family before you can take care of others.

Bonus:

Get Social - Home buyers, sellers and agents are online. They are having a two way conversation with each other. Engage them or someone else will. More on this in a follow up post….

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LIVE - 4/16/08 - 9-11am PDT

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Source: WellcomeMat

Everybody’s Voice Counts

It seems like lists are all the rage these days so we decided to create one of our own. Each Monday, we will feature the Top 10 Trulia Voices Questions by page views from the previous week. We think it’s important to highlight the fantastic online conversation that is happening between buyers, sellers and real estate agents everyday on Trulia Voices. With Voices receiving nearly 1,000 questions and answers per day, it can be a challenge to keep up even for real estate aficionados like myself.

This weeks results show 5 of the top 10 questions coming from home buyers, 3 from home sellers, 1 from a home buyer/seller and 1 from an agent. Serious home buyers and sellers are taking the time to ask questions on Voices. This is a great opportunity for local real estate experts to jump in and help them with their needs.

Top 10 Trulia Voices Questions of the Week:

[Click on the Images to read the thread]

1.

If the property is not priced correctly from the beginning based on the most recent comps and local market conditions then it will not matter what type of incentive you offer to a buyers agent.

2.

It’s best to find an agent with experience with short sales and foreclosures.

3.

Each person should assess their own personal financial situation and short and long term goals when considering buying or renting.

4.

The thread has a variety of thoughtful and informative answers and I think Jodie’s advice about asking your lender is the best way to go.

5.

Pricing your home correctly is the single most important factor when attracting potential home buyers. Having a savvy local real estate agent who has a solid online and offline marketing strategy on your side is also key.

6.

Depends on your short and long term goals as well as your overall financial situation.

7.

Some great sites were mentioned like Active Rain, Rain City Guide and Realtown. I think I’ll write an in-depth blog post about this.

8.

Melinda says asking her agent is the best way to go and Maureen reminds us that an REO is anything but normal.

9.

Find at least 3 local real estate experts who have a pulse on the market to provide you with CMA’s.

10.

Get a referral. Compare. Make a decision.

Whether you’re a home buyer, seller or real estate professional, Trulia Voices is a fantastic place to ask your specific real estate related questions. Showcase your real estate knowledge and establish yourself as the local real estate expert in your area by providing answers to our communities questions. Congrats to our friend and Realtor® Maureen Francis who reported her recent Trulia Voices success story over at Agent Genius:

This weekend I will be listing a condo for a seller who found me there. She will be buying when we get the place sold. She read my answers, checked out my blog and the listing presentation and interview were done before I knew she existed. (Thanks Pete, Sami, Rudy, et al.)

We’ll see you next Monday with some more great Trulia Voices Q&A.

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Next, we traveled to Orlando for the 10-day Realogy extravaganza, meeting agents from Coldwell Banker, ERA and Century 21. Again, agents were excited about the opportunities to connect directly with buyers and sellers on Trulia, signing up for MyTrulia accounts on the spot. And you never know who you’ll meet at a trade show: we had great time with Mark and Cathy Alba (yes, parents of Jessica Alba), and helped them get on Trulia Voices to expand their online marketing efforts.

But the coolest thing about all of these shows is the testimonials we hear from agents closing more business with the help of Trulia:

Century 21 International Trade Show and Convention

ERA International Trade Show and Convention

Keller Williams Family Reunion, Trade Show and Convention

Pretty awesome, huh? And look out – there’s more to come! We’ll be at the Prudential event in New Orleans, so stop by and give us your testimonial if you’re around.

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According to Mike Fanning, EVP at Windermere:

“Our mission is to give Windermere agents the ability to cast the widest net possible when it comes to exposing their clients’ listings to a national audience of serious home buyers. We chose Trulia as our first real estate online partner because it is the fastest-growing real estate Web site who puts our agents at the forefront of the sales cycle.”

Windermere has established itself as a leader in their markets. By prominently displaying their real estate agents and clients listings on Trulia, it will not only add to their local and national reach but increase their brand awareness. The more exposure listings have the easier it will be for consumers to find them; I’m sure all of Windermere’s home sellers will be very excited about this competitive advantage!

Here is an example of Kim Thomas’ listing on Trulia. Her listing is featured, and includes her photo, and a link to contact her directly. By clicking on the “Ask me about this home” button, house hunters can connect directly with Kim. Or, by clicking on the button: “See more photos & details”, consumers are taken directly to her detailed listing on the Windermere site.

Do you want to feature your listings on Trulia? Go ahead and do it now!

According to comScore, Trulia has been the fastest growing real estate site in the last 12 months. We have over 3.5 million unique monthly visitors and have experienced double-digit month-over-month growth. It’s a great place to market your clients listings, yourself and your business.

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