"What's New in the Library" Archive
June 2008
Marketing with Blogs
June 25, 2008
Blogs, short for "weblogs" are a great marketing tool for your real estate business. You can provide a snapshot of your local market, have a forum for your thoughts about real estate and market yourself. Find out the benefits of blogging, getting started with blogs and see what real estate practitioner are writing about.
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Condo-Hotels
June 20, 2008
Condo-hotels are the latest trend in lodging. 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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Schools and the Home Buying Decision
June 17, 2008
Of all the local neighborhood amenities that can influence a buyer's decision to purchase a home, proximity to good quality schools is one of the most influential. According to the 2007 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, schools were listed as a deciding factor for 28% of home buyers. This updated Field Guide includes articles and studies on the importance of schools for home buyers and how schools impact local property values, along with a sampling of Web sites that provide data on school districts.
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May 2008
REALTOR® Income
May 29, 2008
How much does the typical REALTOR® earn in a year? The material listed in this updated Field Guide includes research studies from NAR's Research division, reader surveys by REALTOR® Magazine, and other sources offering details about the income of agents and brokers and what determines how much they make.
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Opening a Real Estate Brokerage
May 13, 2008
Thinking about opening your own real estate business? Find out if you are ready to be a boss, tips on writing a business plan and much more in this updated Field Guide.
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April 2008
Fair Housing
April 8, 2008
April 11, 2008 marks 40 years since the Fair Housing Act was passed. This updated Field Guide will provide valuable resources for REALTORS®including statistics, advertising guidelines, free downloadable posters as well as the REALTOR®Fair Housing Declaration.
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March 2008
National Homeownership Month & American Home Week
March 17, 2008
A nationwide celebration of homeownership will take place during National Homeownership Month in June 2008. American Home Week turns 56 in 2008 and will be celebrated locally April 13-19, 2008. This updated Field Guide includes information about National Homeownership Month, historical facts and more.
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February 2008
January 2008
Sale-Leasebacks & Synthetic Leases
January 14, 2008
Often used as a financing alternative, sale-leasebacks offer financially struggling companies access to cash to pay down debt and improve the bottom line. And in a post-Enron environment, sale-leasebacks provide an alternative to the less favorable option of synthetic leases. Find out how sale-leaseback transactions have helped the balance sheets of hotel, restaurant, retail, and other businesses, in this updated Field Guide.
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Hotel & Motel Properties
January 14, 2008
Hotel/motel investment is a specialized part of the commercial real estate world. But what are the tricks of the trade? Find out what you need to know about management, security, brokerage and appraisal in this updated Field Guide to Hotel Properties.
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Compensation Plans for Real Estate Agents
January 14, 2008
Are salaries a better idea than commissions? What's the best way to modify your compensation plan? Find the answers to these questions and much more with this updated Field Guide which contains the latest news on compensation plans.
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Military Base Closings
January 11, 2008
Military base closings in the '90's were often met with great opposition. But base closings in the 2000's seem to viewed as golden opportunities by many in the real estate industry and by the local communities surrounding them.
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Buying vs. Renting
January 11, 2008
Should your buyers keep renting or is it time to purchase a residential property? The information listed in this updated Field Guide will assist you in helping them answer this question. Included are statistics and studies on homeowners and renters as well as financing options and tips.
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December 2007
Social Networking
December 28, 2007
Last year, Information Central reported on social networking tools in A Web 2.0 Sampler: YouTube, ActiveRain, and iTV. Since that time, many more technologies have gained momentum as powerful networking and marketing tools for REALTORS®. As expected, social networking websites and applications continue to take the lead when it comes to "must have" technologies. In this new report you will find tech tools you absolutely must know about to reach those tech savvy consumers. Find out more in the latest technology report from NAR's Information Central.
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Recruiting and Retaining Salespeople
December 28, 2007
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 in this updated Field Guide 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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Short-Term Rental Restrictions
December 26, 2007
According to The 2006 NAR Profile of Second-Home Owners, approximately 40% of home sales in 2005, equivalent to more than 3.3 million new- and existing-home sales, were second homes. 65% of vacation-home owners say their investment is better than stocks. Renting out a vacation home can offset the costs of this investment until retirement. But, what happens when a community acts to restrict short-term rentals? Read this updated Field Guide ... and you'll find out!
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Commercial Green Buildings
December 26, 2007
Green buildings are popping up in just about every American city. And for good reason -- green design elements not only help save environmental resources, they also boost the bottom line and are good for human health and morale. More and more sophisticated buyers and companies leasing office space are willing to pay a premium for the benefits green buildings offer. This updated Field Guide page provides REALTORS® with information on green buildings and their benefits -- including information on NAR's own green building in Washington, DC.
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Family Firms
December 26, 2007
Family firms have their own special type of problems and concerns--hiring children who aren't interested in the family business, concerns of favoritism among non-family staff, succession issues and much more. Find out how to tackle these problems from the following articles and family business organizations in this updated Field Guide.
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Family Time
December 14, 2007
There are no rules about how to create Family Time -- there is no greater gift you can give each other than your time and attention. Find out more about the FamilyTime® program and how families can make the most of their time together with the resources in this updated Field Guide.
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Land Investment
December 13, 2007
While land investment may not provide the instant gratification of a home purchase, this sort of venture can be quite lucrative. Land investors have different needs and concerns than those of typical real estate investors - zoning, planning, environmental issues are just a few of the challenges they must face. This updated Field Guide will help those who wish to take on this interesting branch of the real estate industry.
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Agricultural/Farm Land
December 13, 2007
On the surface, buying a farm has a very 'get away from it all' sort of appeal. The reality is that farming can be emotionally and financially stressful with success dependent upon many variables, including the weather, taxes, domestic and foreign competition, etc. The rewards, however, can be considerable. This updated Field Guide explores the pros and cons of owning farm property.
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Appraisal of Real Estate Offices
December 4, 2007
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. The following articles and studies can provide some insight into determining the value of a real estate firm and its assets.
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Remodeling
December 4, 2007
What remodeling job has the best return on investment? Where should you start when remodeling an older home? The home remodeling industry has enjoyed solid growth and will reach new heights in the future. You can't afford to miss this updated Field Guide if you're planning a home improvement or restoration project!
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