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June 2009
Real Estate Office Policy Manuals
June 19, 2009
How do you keep your office running smoothly? These days it's essential for companies to have written documentation about office policies and procedures. An easy-to-understand guidebook for salespeople to refer to in their daily business can help solve and prevent disputes, and helps ensure the success and reputation of your company. The articles and books in this Updated Field Guide provide you with the necessary tools and tips to create a policy manual for your real estate office, covering subjects ranging from policies and procedures to what to include in a policy manual to cell phone usage and more.
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Mentoring
June 17, 2009
Who benefits from mentoring? Everyone! In fact, current research in mentoring literature indicate that all parties gain from mentoring relationships - mentors, mentees and organizations. It's no wonder that many successful real estate firms have realized the benefits of establishing a mentoring program. And, in turn, many successful agents have realized the benefits of working with a mentor. This Updated Field Guide page will provide you with mentoring basics, mentoring programs and tips to locate a mentor. It also features a section dealing solely on mentoring and the real estate industry.
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Commercial Broker Lien Laws
June 15, 2009
Commercial broker lien laws allow liens to be filed on commercial properties for the full payment of commissions. In states that have enacted commercial lien laws, there has been a dramatic decline in commission collection litigation and arbitration. This Updated Field Guide page provides links to the laws that have been passed in twenty one states.
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Commercial Property Management
June 15, 2009
Whether you are new to commercial property management or have been at it awhile, you're sure to find useful information concerning leases, safety & security, marketing, and maintenance for commercial properties in this Updated Field Guide. You'll have access to full-text articles, and book suggestions from the NAR library.
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This month in real estate history: REALTORS® remembered the Maine
June 12, 2009
In June of 1912 REALTORS® gathered in Louisville for their fifth annual convention, where the National Association received a gift from Havana: a mallet made from a piece of American history.
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Water Rights & Resource Issues
June 12, 2009
Rising populations and housing growth puts a strain on municipal water resources, particularly in urban areas. Find links to resources, articles and books addressing the often contentious issues of water rights and resources in this Updated Field Guide.
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Retail Property: Development, Leasing, Management
June 12, 2009
The retail market has been hit hard by the recession. Not only are consumers tightening purse strings, but plummeting real estate values are impacting developers who face excess vacancies and tenants who are being squeezed by the current economy. This Updated Field Guide provides articles about the current retail state, as well as some suggestions to help minimize losses.
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Chinese Drywall
June 11, 2009
Imported drywall from China can emit sulfurous gases, corrode and blacken copper piping, computers and wiring, and possibly sicken family members. Read about the impacts and effects of Chinese drywall on health and the real estate market in this NEW Field Guide. Discover websites that provide helpful information on this developing topic.
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Recruiting & Retaining Salespeople
June 11, 2009
In this highly competitive real estate marketplace, how do you find and hire successful agents -- and what's the best way to prevent your top producers from switching to another firm? The material on this Updated Field Guide page will help you discover what makes a top producer and offers some of the latest tips and techniques for hiring successful, reliable agents and keeping them on your team.
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Zoning Laws & Ordinances
June 11, 2009
Zoning laws are found in virtually every municipality in the United States, affecting land use, lot size, building heights, density, setbacks, and other aspects of property use. This Updated Field Guide page features links to articles, books, and websites that will provide you with information on the concept of zoning, zoning's impacts on property values, and related topics.
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Housing Trust Funds
June 10, 2009
Housing trust funds are distinct funds, usually established by state or local governments, that receive ongoing public revenues which can only be spent on affordable housing initiatives, including new construction, preservation of existing housing, emergency repairs, homeless shelters, housing-related services, and multifamily building for nonprofit organizations. On this Updated Field Guide page you'll find more information on the housing trust fund concept, case studies, how REALTORS® can establish and promote trust funds in their communities, the effort to create a National Housing Trust Fund, and more.
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Condo-Hotels
June 5, 2009
Are condo-hotels still a good investment? Get the basics on this new hotel hybrid, read investment tips, investigate condo-hotel projects nationwide and much more in this Updated Field Guide.
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Working with Difficult Customers
June 4, 2009
Do you feel that you have to work with all clients, no matter how difficult they are? They may be more trouble than they're worth. Find out how to deal with difficult customers, when and how to "fire" a customer, and much more in this Updated Field Guide.
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New Books in the Library
June 1, 2009
What's new in the Information Central library collection? This month you'll find books on social technologies, real estate prospecting, short sales, working with small tenants and many more. Interested in borrowing any of these titles from the library? Simply click on the title to make your request right over the web!
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May 2009
New Urbanism
May 28, 2009
New Urbanism combines traditional planning and modern technology to create places that break the conventional suburban mold to strive for environmental balance, social integration and a sense of community amongst a mixture of ethnic groups. Find out if this process of reintegrating the components of modern life is popular with home buyers, planners, government officials, architects, developers, builders and the real estate community in this Updated Field Guide.
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Marketing Tips for REALTORS®
May 27, 2009
Marketing — no matter how you cut it, is an essential ingredient for the success of any business. The material on this Updated Field Guide page will give you a wealth of information to help market your services and expertise to potential customers — including special sections to help beef up your personal promotion campaign, increase your presence in a niche market, and strengthen your marketing plan.
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Escrow Accounts/Earnest Money
May 20, 2009
Escrow accounts are funds that a lender collects to pay the monthly mortgage insurance premiums, homeowners insurance policy premiums and yearly property taxes. Earnest money, on the other hand, is a good faith sum of money given to bind a contract, for example an agreement to purchase real property or a commitment fee to assure an advance of funds by a lender. This Updated Field Guide will provide you with details on escrow accounts (from the basics to escrow administration) and earnest money as well as information on escrow fraud. You'll also uncover a variety of case summaries on escrow mishandling, in addition to the numerous digital resources available from the Library's eBooks collection.
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American Home Week
May 8, 2009
American Home Week turns 58 in 2010 and will be celebrated locally April 11-17, 2010. This Updated Field Guide includes information about American Home Week, historical facts and more.
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Open Houses
May 8, 2009
Find resources, tips and statistics to help create a successful Open House. Also included are tips and suggestions for REALTOR® safety during Open Houses in this Updated Field Guide.
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Appraisal of Real Estate Office & Selling Your Book of Business
May 7, 2009
Whether you own a real estate firm or are thinking of buying or selling one, it's important to know what the business is worth. This Updated Field Guide includes articles and studies can provide some insight into determining the value of a real estate firm and its assets.
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Effective Online Marketing
May 7, 2009
An online presence is a vital component of a real estate professional's marketing strategy. Because today's consumers want accurate information quickly and conveniently, real estate professionals must harness the features, capabilities and opportunities of online marketing to meet these ever-increasing customer demands. Here you will find an overview of online marketing basics and well as tips and insights into marketing your website and how to effectively use e-mail and blogging. This Updated Field Guide will also put you in touch with an assortment of NAR's trademark and policy issues as well as a variety of useful websites that can take your internet marketing to new heights.
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Using GPS Navigation Systems in Real Estate
May 7, 2009
GPS technology is beneficial for REALTORS® because it can provide turn-by-turn spoken directions, access to MLS data, the ability to queue up numerous properties at once, detailed neighborhood maps, and more. This Updated Field Guide contains general information about GPS, its usage in real estate, and future trends that will keep REALTORS® in the know, especially in these economic times, we need technology that can boost business and satisfy customers.
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Marketing to the Hispanic Community
May 6, 2009
The growing Hispanic population (76-million by 2025) in the U.S. is impacting the business of REALTORS® now and will continue to do so in the future. This Updated Field Guide provides marketing tips, statistics, materials and websites in Spanish, a link to HUD's English/Spanish real estate dictionary and more to help REALTORS marketing to this growing segment of the home-buying community.
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Greening Your Office
May 5, 2009
What can you do to keep the spirit of Earth Day alive at your office? This NEW Field Guide provides practical tips and ideas to make your office a greener and healthier place through recycling, green architecture and smart use of office resources. Learn how you can help the environment and save money, too.
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April 2009
Real Estate Transfer Taxes
April 30, 2009
Unlike property taxes, real estate transfer taxes are state and local taxes that are assessed on real property when ownership of the property is transferred between parties. These taxes are used in many areas to fund programs designed to preserve rapidly depleting open spaces in commercial or residential areas, and to fund housing programs for low-income residents. However, transfer taxes are not without controversy. The articles and studies in this Updated Field Guide examine what transfer taxes are, their impacts on real estate, and how REALTORS® and associations can work with state and local governments on the issue.
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Balancing Work and Family Life
April 28, 2009
Real estate can be a 24/7 job. Learn how to balance work and family life, set up boundaries between work and home, and reconnect with your family in this Updated Field Guide. You'll also find out how working less can lead to greater productivity and much more.
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AE Speaker Sources
April 28, 2009
Your speaker selection is one of the most important elements in a successful meeting. Selecting the right speaker for your meeting can be a daunting task, as speakers are available in every fee range and specialty topic. The following articles, books, audiovisual materials and Web site links in this Updated Field Guide will help busy association executives in selecting the right speakers for any event.
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Tips for New REALTORS®
April 21, 2009
Are you new to the real estate business? This Field Guide can help you get started on the road to success with tips, hints, ideas and helpful advice. Learn about what other rookies have done to jumpstart their careers, find first clients, overcome objections, discover negotiation strategies, and more.
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Personal Assistants
April 17, 2009
In today's hectic and high-powered world of real estate, you may feel that there are not enough hours in the day to get the job done. That's where the personal assistant can be of use. But how do you hire a real estate assistant? What job duties can they perform? This Updated Field Guide may help to clarify some of these issues for you.
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Historic Properties
April 10, 2009
Love the history and romance of old homes? Become an expert in working with historic properties, learn about the pros and cons of these special houses, discover their unique appraisal and restoration issues and much more in this Updated Field Guide.
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Women in Real Estate
April 10, 2009
Historically, women have been involved in real estate almost since its inception in 1794 and its establishment as a legitimate business in the 1840s. In real estate's early days, women's skills were used as office and clerical resources, but by the 1880s women were already moving into the roles of agents and brokers, though at a relatively slow rate. Nationwide, women brokers dominate the residential real estate market, but have yet to make a major entrance into the more lucrative commercial market. This Updated Field Guide includes articles, books and Web sites related to issues facing women in the real estate industry.
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Association Shared Services
April 8, 2009
Meaningful partnerships are the foundation for success. Whether the motivation to "share services" or partner with another association is economic, or to offer new, increased and improved services for members, there is information to help you do just that. In this Updated Field Guide you will find a selection of articles and books pointing out the positive aspects, as well as, the 'how-to' to partnering.
Also visit the Shared Services page and RARE database on Realtor.org for sample agreements, manuals, and other material on shared services.
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License Recognition & Reciprocity
April 8, 2009
Several U.S. states have reciprocal arrangements for recognizing and granting licenses to real estate licensees from other states. These reciprocal agreements vary widely from state to state: some have reciprocal agreements with all other states, while others may have agreements with only one or two neighboring states. As international brokerage and real estate on the Internet continue to grow, reciprocity between states and other licensing jurisdictions is becoming an increasingly important issue. This Updated Field Guide provides articles, NAR policies, and other information on license reciprocity.
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Insurance Issues for Associations
April 1, 2009
Just like any business, associations and boards need a good insurance plan to protect themselves and their members. Use this Updated Field Guide to navigate the ins and outs of insurance for associations: how much coverage is enough, risk management, professional liability insurance, and more.
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March 2009
Fair Housing
March 30, 2009
Our multi-cultural society demands vigilant awareness of Fair Housing laws by REALTORS®. Find resources, statistical data, advertising issues and more on this Updated Field Guide. Also provided are links to several free fair housing resources including NAR’s latest 2009 Fair Housing Poster.
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Green Property Management
March 27, 2009
Energy and environmental performance are emerging as key benchmarks in how commercial real estate buildings are judged and priced in today's market. According to a recent survey, 88% of corporate and developer respondents expect to own, manage or lease some green properties five years from now. This NEW Field Guide introduces the importance and value of environmental sound practices in property management as well as giving some ideas on trends, certification programs, and other resources for the green property manager.
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Inclusionary Zoning
March 27, 2009
Inclusionary zoning is a land-use concept in which local ordinances require builders to include a certain amount of housing for low- and moderate-income households. In contrast, exclusionary zoning is a technique that effectively drives up the cost of housing, excluding lower-income households from the community. Exclusionary zoning practices have been under attack in communities around the country for decades, most notably in New Jersey, where the historic Mount Laurel decisions have led the way in promoting inclusionary zoning techniques and creating affordable housing. This Updated Field Guide includes background information on inclusionary zoning, case studies on what works & what doesn't, considerations in developing inclusionary zoning ordinances, and information about Mount Laurel, NJ.
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Goal Setting
March 27, 2009
Goals - we all have them. Discover helpful information on setting, prioritizing and achieving both your personal and professional goals in this Updated Field Guide.
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Transfer of Development Rights
March 23, 2009
The quest for controlled growth requires creative planning and foresight. Transfer of development rights (TDR) is just one tool used in the battle to contain sprawl . TDR is the exchange of zoning privileges from areas with low population needs, such as farmland, to areas of high population needs, such as downtown areas. These transfers allow for the preservation of open spaces and historic landmarks, while giving urban areas a chance to expand and experience continued growth. This Updated Field Guide includes information on what TDRs are and how they work, issues in creating a successful TDR program, case studies, and more.
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Complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
March 23, 2009
The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1992, is to assure equal access and services to disabled individuals. The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities. Title III of the Act prohibits entities that own, lease, lease to or operate a place of public accommodation from discriminating against the disabled. How does this impact the real estate sales office? This Updated Field Guide includes articles, books, videos and websites relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Creating Effective Classified Ads
March 20, 2009
Even with the popularity of the Internet, newspaper classifieds are still a popular means of getting information about real estate and homes for sale to consumers. The National Association of REALTORS®' research shows that 47% of buyers used print newspaper advertisements to find information on homes for sale from June 2007 to June 2008. However, only 3% of buyers found the house they purchased using print ads (Source: NAR 2008 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers). Check out the following articles to learn about advertising basics, legal concerns, and the relevancy of classified advertisements in today's market in this Updated Field Guide.
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Electronic Signatures
March 17, 2009
In 2000, President Clinton signed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. Find out what defines an electronic signature, learn about the benefits of esignatures in real estate and explore the legal issues in this NEW Field Guide.
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Vacation, Resort, and Second Homes
March 17, 2009
It is no question that the state of the economy has drastically impacted the second home/vacation market over the past two years. A booming market in 2007 reported 27.7% of all homes purchased were for investment while another 12.2% were for vacation homes. In 2009, the tables have turned. Today's economic conditions are showing an increase in the lease/rentals of these types of properties. There is a deluge of wonderful homes on the market, however financing options are getting tighter, and in some instances, a cash sale is the way to go. In this Updated Field Guide you will find information on the activity in the vacation/second home market and well as tips on working with the vacation/second home buyer. You'll also uncover a variety of resources available from the National Association in addition to updates on the RSPS certification.
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Association Mergers and Partnerships
March 16, 2009
Mergers and partnerships can be advantageous to a Board or Association for a variety of reasons, including: overlapping markets, similar services, geographic considerations, cost-savings, membership benefits and wider recognition in the marketplace. In this Updated Field Guide you will find information regarding association mergers as well as information specific to REALTOR® Association mergers. You'll also find helpful websites geared towards REALTOR® Associations in addition to resources available from NAR's library, including an assortment of related Field Guides.
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Diversity for Associations
March 16, 2009
Diversity can be defined in a number of ways, including characteristics such as age, ethnicity, race, gender, physical ability, religion, socio-economic status, professional choices and other facets of social diversity. As association members and potential members become increasingly diverse, associations must reflect this diversity in order to represent not only the membership, but also the public they serve. This Updated Field Guide contains articles, books, journal articles and Web sites on diversity and association management, inclusion and cultural issues.
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Lead-Based Paint
March 16, 2009
For many years, lead-based paint was used almost universally in homes and apartment units in the U.S. until it was found to have detrimental impacts on human health, especially in children. As with any environmental hazard, lead-based paint testing, disclosure and liability are issues of serious concern to REALTORS®. The following articles, studies, websites, and other resources provide information on all aspects of lead-based paint for REALTORS® and property managers, including disclosure issues, impacts on the industry, and lead poisoning prevention.
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Tech Tools for AEs
March 16, 2009
This Updated Field Guide will help you learn tips for doing information technology yourself, keep up with legal issues and learn new training ideas.
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Single Property Websites
March 13, 2009
Property marketing is always a challenge. How do you make sure your client's property gets the attention it needs? How do you make it easy for buyers to learn about your property? Some REALTORS® are turning to single-property websites to feature an individual property on a dedicated site. Is the time and effort of creating a single-property website worth it? See what others are saying in this NEW Field Guide.
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Effects of Low-Income Housing on Property Values
March 13, 2009
Are the sales prices of single-family homes made higher or lower when low-income housing is nearby? Most studies indicate that affordable housing has no long term negative impact on surrounding home values. In fact, some research indicates the opposite! However, local communities continue to believe the myth, raising a cry of "Not in my Backyard!" The articles and studies in this Updated Field Guide examine the effects of low-income, public, and subsidized housing on the values of surrounding properties, the challenge of NIMBY, and some possible resources people can use to educate community groups and local governments.
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Professional Standards
March 13, 2009
This Updated Field Guide provides quick links to essential information on NAR's 2009 Code of Ethics and Professional Standards Policy. Find out about the mandatory Code of Ethics training, Professional Standards Administrator training, and applying the Code of Ethics in real life. For a comprehensive listing of ethics and professional standards resources available from NAR, visit the Professional Standards/Code of Ethics page on Realtor.org.
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Time Management for Real Estate Professionals
March 13, 2009
Meetings with clients, open houses, listing presentations, marketing. . . How can a busy REALTOR® squeeze it all in without feeling squeezed? You'll find a few answers in this page of articles, books, and Web pages in this Updated Field Guide. Most items are available full-text online, others can be obtained directly from Information Central.
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Property Tax Appeals
March 4, 2009
You just received your property taxes and it has gone up. What can you do? Although each individual assessing body has a different method of filing property tax appeals, find out general information about this topic in this NEW Field Guide.
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Digital Cameras & Photography
March 3, 2009
Give 'em your best shots! 98% of homebuyers who searched for a home on the Internet found photos to be among the most useful features of REALTOR® websites, according to the 2008 NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers. Digital photography and virtual tours allow REALTORS® the ability to serve their clients like never before. Digital images can be used to quickly and professionally showcase a listing, and today's technologically savvy clients are sure to appreciate the convenience of a virtual tour for both long distance and local moves. This Updated Field Guide will guide you from the beginning to the advanced stages of how to chose and use one of real estate's hottest tools.
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Establishing a Charitable Foundation
March 3, 2009
In today's struggling economic times, the decision to establish or even to participate in a charitable foundation can be tough. The resources presented in this Updated Field Guide can help facilitate this decision-making process. You will find information pertaining to tax and legal issues, fundraising as well as general tips on how to start a non-profit. You'll also discover a wide assortment of useful web sites as well as many valuable resources available from NAR, including the Housing Opportunity Program (HOP)!
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Short Sales
March 2, 2009
What is a short sale? A short sale is a sales transaction in which the seller's mortgage lender agrees to accept a payoff of less than the balance due on the loan. This Updated Field Guide offers information about the basics of short sales and advice for the real estate professional.
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Sales Closings
March 2, 2009
A real estate closing is a complicated process that can be managed smoothly for all involved. Find out the best ways to organize a trouble-free closing, tips for REALTORS® and homebuyers, and much more in this Updated Field Guide.
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Strategic Planning for Associations
March 2, 2009
The strategic planning process is key in helping an organization develop a vision of where it will be in the future and determining the best ways to turn that vision into reality. This Updated Field Guide includes articles, books, and other resources on all aspects of strategic planning, from beginning the process to monitoring its implementation after the plan has been worked out. Also included are the strategic plan of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and sample strategic plans from RARE, NAR's resource exchange for state and local REALTOR® associations.
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February 2009
Using Digital Video as a Marketing Tool
February 26, 2009
With YouTube practically a household word and digicams and video-editing software becoming ever more sophisticated and affordable, digital video is suddenly where the action is. Property sellers and real estate professionals alike are finding out how easy and effective it is to create and post homemade virtual tours, neighborhood guides, and other videos to help sell real estate. This Updated Field Guide explores why and how to market real estate using videos on the Web.
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Sales Meetings
February 26, 2009
Meetings are a necessary part of business. Find useful tips and links for planning meetings, topics to encourage active discussion by your team as well as ideas for improving sales performance, exchanging ideas and inspiring agents to be their best in this Updated Field Guide.
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Investment Planning for Associations
February 23, 2009
Developing an investment policy for your association? Need help setting a strategy? No need to look further -- this Updated Field Guide will provide articles, sample policies from NAR's REALTOR® Association Resource Exchange, and web sites that will guide you in the right direction.
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Foreclosures
February 12, 2009
News about increased foreclosure numbers is everywhere and unavoidable. It can be depressing for the average citizen but to REALTORS® it is very much a challenge. Is there an upside to foreclosures? If you are a brave investor there is the potential of profiting from the current market. This Updated Field Guide provides statistics, information and links for REALTORS®, those facing foreclosure and the budding investor.
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Feng Shui and Vaastu
February 11, 2009
Feng Shui deals with the location and architecture of buildings, along with interior design and exterior landscaping. Vaastu, is the ancient Indian system of harnessing the positive energy of the environment to benefit those living there. Get more information on these two systems of placement and architecture in this Updated Field Guide.
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Home Inspections
February 9, 2009
Home inspections are a critical part of the home buying and selling process. Knowledge in the field of property inspection has become invaluable, especially in light of stricter legislation on both a state and national level. This Updated Field Guide will assist you in understanding home inspections, the home inspection process and working with home inspectors. You will also find helpful links to a variety of professional home inspection organizations and useful information available to you from the National Association.
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Preparing and Staging a House for Sale
February 3, 2009
Banish the clutter! Trim the bushes! Hide your Star Wars collection! Take down the family pictures! What things can you do to prepare a house for sale? In this Updated Field Guide you will find tips, hints, thoughts and ideas for sprucing up, cleaning out, decorating, staging, creating a great first impression and making a house appealing to buyers.
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Money-Saving Tips for You and Your Business
February 3, 2009
Times are tough! Get money-saving ideas for your business and yourself and learn how to rise above the financial bad news. We've gathered the best tips, websites and e-books in this NEW Field Guide to help you out.
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January 2009
Investing in Real Estate
January 29, 2009
Is now the right time to be investing in real estate? Some say yes, some say no, and some say it depends. In a declining market, there are bargains, but don't look for a quick flip. If you're thinking long term, you can find some great deals. So if you're ready to take the plunge or want to be ready for brighter days ahead, find out how to get started, invest with IRAs, use real estate as a retirement tool, get information on rental homes, buying tax liens, real estate partnerships and much more in this updated Field Guide.
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Ning
January 22, 2009
You've been on Linked In for years and have joined other social networks without getting the hits....what's next? Create your own niche social network with Ning, a fully adaptable network site that is free and user-friendly. This NEW Field Guide includes information on what Ning is and how to make it work for you, plus examples of how the real estate community is using it.
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New Year, New You
January 2, 2009
The New Year is here and it's time for a change--for yourself and your business. Get ideas about improving your life, finances and business. Find a new niche, become more positive and learn how social networking can change your marketing and much more in this NEW Field Guide.
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