Features

 

Video: Masters Series: Shadow a Master

Spend a day with John Resor, a 30-year real estate veteran, as he tackles second-home sales in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

 

Cover Story: Own Your Niche

Specialization sets you apart from the competition, and it's easier to do than you might think. Experts and practitioners share strategies for pinpointing a profitable alcove of real estate.

 

Commercial: Computing in the Clouds

New Web-based tools give practitioners remote access to documents - and raise the bar for accountability to clients.

 

Top 100 Companies: Sprinting Uphill

Challenging market conditions test the endurance and agility of America's top real estate businesses. View a list of the largest brokerages ranked by 2008 sales volume and transaction sides.

 

Real Life

 

REALTORS® Spur Federal Action

The Obama administration piggybacks on NAR meetings to improve housing incentives.

 

Economy

Are today's homes undervalued? An over-correction on prices will delay economic recovery.

 

Market Pulse

Existing-home sales show an uptick, suggesting a renewed interest among buyers.

 

Cool Tools

• Use your smart phone like a laptop.
• Track a home's energy use.
• Keep an eye on vacant homes.

 

Your NAR

More than a quarter of REALTORS® have no health insurance, but a new NAR partner is helping to fill the gap.

 

Ethics

A friend listed her home with another REALTOR®, but now she wants you to handle the job. What should you do?

 

In Court

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama says no to a brokerage fee in that jurisdiction, in a ruling that NAR says misconstrues a RESPA provision.

 

 

For Brokers

 

A Creative Touch

Michael Nicola of Santa Fe, N.M., draws on his experience in the design industry to help clients redefine how they want to live.

 

Tracking What Works

Gauging your brokerage's performance using online and offline tools can help you set the right business goals.

 

Voices

 

Letter from the NAR President

Editor's Note

Letters from Readers

 

 

Last Word

 

Geoff Colvin: Practice Gets You Ahead

Is talent overrated? Fortune magazine senior editor Geoff Colvin says success doesn't require immense natural gifts.

 

At the Web Site: REALTOR.org/realtormag

 

Top 100: Strategy Secrets

Brokers from some of the country's largest real estate companies give REALTOR® Magazine an insider's look at how they're growing business during tough times.

 

Social Networking Know-How

What's the difference between a "friend" and a "follower"? How do you "tweet"? And how can any of this help your real estate business? Test your knowledge of social networking lingo and best practices with our new interactive quiz. Then sign up for one of our free social networking webinars.

 

Home & Design: Learn from Staging Pros

You asked for more staging tips, and you've got them! See how master stagers turn dull into dazzling. Professionals share their before and after photos, filled with ideas for your listing.

 

Sales & Marketing: Dos and Don'ts of Postcard Marketing

Don't let your postcard campaign get stale. Sales coach Rich Levin tells how to use postcards to grab prospects' attention and promote your business.

 

Technology: Build a Powerful Web site

Wow potential clients on the Web with the latest in online technology. See new products and services at all price points.

 

Architecture Coach: Learn from Award-Winning Starchitects

Help homeowners take note from the best of the best in the field of architecture for quality designs.

 

Webinars: Hot Topics, Every Month

Tune into free webinars on timely topics, ranging from short sales to mortgage finance. Register for upcoming webinars or listen to on-demand recordings of previous sessions.

 

 

Plus, learn about your association’s new Right Tools, Right Now campaign, offering you hundreds of free and at-cost products, services, and programs to help you through these tough times.