10 Benefits of Blogging !

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We have been so busy this fall with our deals that we have not had the opportunity to blog as much. Our blogging is one of the main reasons that we are as busy as we are - it is quite amazing ! When I think about it, there are so many benefits to blogging. Those thoughts were inspried from being asked to do a training course at our office on Blogging. From that presentation, I talked about 10 Benefits of Blogging !
They are as follows:

1. Grow Your Business - Consumers can find you from your blog content !. One of the huge benefits of Active Rain is the powerful Google juice that is available !

2. Build a Referral Network- We have received a number of referrals from Bloggers and Rainers all over the country. We just recently received a terrific referral from a California Rainer for a lovely couple looking for a second home in Philly in the $600,000 range (thank you Active Rain !). In addition, we have referred out a number of leads in the last 12 months here. And if we have new leads for people looking to move to certain places in the United States, I already know who I would refer them to ! This is a huge benefit to be a part of a blogging community or network to participate in these types of referrals.

3. Education / Resources - I have found that the Active Rain blogging community to be the best place for me to stay on top of all the changes in the Real Estate industry - from changes in mortgage guidelines to technology updates regarding every possible topic imaginable.

4. Free- Yes, it is free to start up ! There are many benefits that one can take advantage of without spending a dime. Of course, if one wants to take advantage of the Google juice (benefit 1), they need to have a Rainmaker account which is very inexpensive and WELL worth the cost. For all the money that folks have spent on print advertising in the past or recipes or anything along those lines, this is the best investment a Realtor can make if they are serious about incorporating blogging into their business model.

5. Build a Stronger Online Presence- As a result of our blog and website, our SEO placement for certain keywords is very strong. Building that brand name presence is critical in terms of growing your business in the years to come.

6. Incorporate into your Listing Presentations - If you follow our blog, you will notice that we are doing many more specific blog entries regarding a new listing. How can you not with that Google juice ? And of the course, the sellers love it ! For examples see:
1000 Venetian Way # 105, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Awaits You !
555 NE 15 St # 20-C, Miami, Florida 33132


7. Stand Out Among Your Peers - By having that online presence, you can begin to differentiate yourself against your competition. Yes, many Realtors are on Facebook, but the percentage that have a blog (longer than a month or two) is very low.

8. Become a Leading Authority- Some bloggers have established themselves as leaders in a certain topic. For example, Katerina Gasset and Broker Bryant are both short-sale superstars. Bill Gassett is a tech and blogging guru and Matt Stigliano is everywhere on the Internet with featured posts on many sites and in the top 50 to follow on Twitter !

9. Broadcast your Blog Posts - Another advantage of having great blog content is the beauty of the Internet to broadcast those posts out to your Facebook page or your Twitter account or the multitude of other places you can send them to !

10. Have Fun ! - I know that Stephanie and I have had a lot of fun blogging. Because of blogging, we have met a lot of great people. In addition, we will go to many events and places and bring our camera to blog about the experience. Often times, without the intent of blogging, perhaps we would not have gone in the first place. In a strange way, it helps me be more social ! Who would have thought I would be speaking about this sort of stuff ?

Source:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1258480/10-benefits-of-blogging-

How to list a property that's already listed.

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Do you ever take post dated listings? What I mean is, a potential Seller calls you up and wants to get together and discuss placing their property on the market, the catch is, they are currently listed with another company. What do you do? Well, I'll tell you what I do, I go over and take the listing. Did you know this was perfectly ethical?

What you can't do is try to convince them to cancel their existing agreement or bad mouth their current Realtor. Also, you must post date the listing agreement. But other than those three things, this is an acceptable way to do business. I actually run across this quite often in my business and never hesitate to take the listing.

My feeling on this is that, these Sellers just want to sell their house, if their current situation is not working out for them, then, I am more than happy to give them another option. How do you feel about this? Do you do it?

Would it make you angry if I did this on one of your listings?

Well, I've never had it happen on one of my listings but don't think it would bother me at all. I too want my Sellers to sell their house and if for some reason I can't get the job done, I would want them to seek another REALTORS(R) services. Heck I may even make a recommendation to them.

Here's the section in our Code of Ethics that covers this situation.

Standard of Practice 16-6

When REALTORS® are contacted by the client of another REALTOR® regarding the creation of an exclusive relationship to provide the same type of service, and REALTORS® have not directly or indirectly initiated such discussions, they may discuss the terms upon which they might enter into a future agreement or, alternatively, may enter into an agreement which becomes effective upon expiration of any existing exclusive agreement. (Amended 1/98)
So, the next time this situation presents itself, go take the listing. Don't feel bad about it, just do it. It's all a part of good business practices and it helps the consumer out. And that really is what it's all about. What say you?

Source:
Bryant Tutas Broker / Realtor
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1243756/how-to-list-a-property-that-s-already-listed-

Corus Bank's Trophy Caribbean Miami Beach Condo Sold After Owner Returns Keys to Lender

(MIAMI BEACH, FL) -- The first luxury condominium community on Miami Beach's esteemed Millionaires Row has fallen.The one-year-old, 19-story, 103-unit Caribbean Miami Beach at 3737 Collins Ave. today is owned by an affiliate of low-key, privately held, New York City-based Melohn Properties. The Melohn family has been involved in commercial and residential real estate in New York City for 60 years.

Caribbean Miami Beach condosThe Melohn affiliate became the owner of the striking oceanfront condo project by purchasing a delinquent $127 million mortgage note from Chicago-based Corus Bank (NASDAQ: CORS).Industry watchers in a position to know say the note was sold for about $50 million after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. approved the sale. No foreclosure lawsuit was filed in the transaction.(Please see related Real Estate Channel article, "Big Name Condo Investors Await Corus Bank's Pending Seizure by FDIC, Sept. 4, 2009")Corus previously had given the developer, Caribbean Group Owners, a $127.7 million mortgage to renovate the hotel.

The developer, a partnership between Christa Development and Bluerock Real Estate, had sold just 13 units since July 2008.Corus Bank, which itself faces a risk of failure under the weight of delinquent condo construction loans, sold its mortgage on Aug. 19 to 3737 Caribbean Partners.

A source familiar with the deal told South Florida Business Journal that Corus had previously offered the note for sale at between $50 million and $55 million.Christa Development vice president Frank Christa said the developers have voluntarily turned over the Caribbean Miami Beach to the new lender."The new lender is in charge of it," says Christa. Bal Harbour, FL-base Condo Vultures CEO Peter Zalewski called the Caribbean Miami Beach "the crown jewel of Corus Bank's loan portfolio. "With its strong location and quality design, it can probably have its units sell for between $450 and $550 a square foot."The 13 sales that were closed at Caribbean Miami Beach by the developer went for an average of $848 per square foot.

Those sales generated $21.4 million in revenue."The owner will flip these units immediately," Zalewski predicts. "They probably have the ability to burn through most of them during the tourism season."Zalewski, who has looked at the project on behalf of potential buyers, says Corus Bank could not have made this deal without the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. signing off on it. At least six groups were competing to take it over, he says."The Caribbean was the most desirable bulk play in South Beach because so few projects there were in distress," Zalewski notes.

Miami Beach real estate agent Marcela Catapano Criscito was hired by the new owner of the Caribbean Miami Beach to sell the units.The Caribbean Miami Beach was designed by architect Kobi Karp, with interiors designed by Christopher Ciccone, the brother of pop star Madonna. It has a heated infinity-edge swimming pool, spa, sun deck, billiard lounge, fitness center, wine vault, cigar humidor and 24-hour concierge service.Units were priced from $500,000 to $8 million. They are divided between the renovated six-story building, with 35 units, and a new 19-story tower, with 68 units.


For more information check the website http://www.buymiami.net/

Source: http://www.realestatechannel.com
Author: Alex Finkelstein

Caribbean Miami Beach gets new owner

A New York City investor is the new owner of the Caribbean Miami Beach condominium.

The buyer, an affiliate of New York City-based Melohn Properties, bought the mortgage from ailing Corus Bank.

The Chicago-based bank (NASDAQ: CORS) had given Caribbean Group Owners a $127.7 million mortgage to renovate the hotel into a 103-unit oceanfront condominium at 3737 Collins Ave., in Miami Beach. The developer, a partnership between Christa Development and Bluerock Real Estate, had sold just 13 units since July 2008.

Corus Bank, which faces a risk of failure under the weight of delinquent condo construction loans, sold its mortgage on Aug. 19 to 3737 Caribbean Partners. A source familiar with the deal said that Corus Bank had previously offered the note for sale at between $50 million and $55 million.
Christa Development VP Frank Christa said the developers have voluntarily turned over the Caribbean Miami Beach to the new lender.

“The new lender is in charge of it,” said Christa, who noted that no foreclosure lawsuit was filed.
Marcela Catapano Criscito, a real estate agent hired by the owner of the Caribbean Miami Beach to sell units, concurred.

The Caribbean Miami Beach was designed by architect Kobi Karp, with interiors designed by Christopher Ciccone, the brother of pop star Madonna. It has a heated infinity-edge swimming pool, spa, sun deck, billiard lounge, fitness center, wine vault, cigar humidor and 24-hour concierge service.

Units were priced from $500,000 to $8 million. They are divided between the renovated six-story building, with 35 units, and a new 19-story tower, with 68 units.

Condo VulturesCEO Peter Zalewski called the Caribbean Miami Beach the crown jewel of Corus Bank’s loan portfolio. With its strong location and quality design, it can probably have its units sell for between $450 and $550 a square foot, he said. He added that the 13 sales that were closed at Caribbean Miami Beach by the developer went for an average of $848 per square foot. Those sales generated $21.4 million in revenue.
For more information check the website http://www.buymiami.net/

“The owner will flip these units immediately,” Zalewski said. “They probably have the ability to burn through most of them during the tourism season.”

Zalewski, who has looked at the project on behalf of potential buyers, said Corus Bank could not have made this deal without the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. signing off on it. At least six groups were competing to take it over, he said.

“The Caribbean was the most desirable bulk play in South Beach because so few projects there were in distress,” Zalewski said.

A Melohn Properties official was not immediately available for comment.

For more information check the website http://www.buymiami.net/

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/08/31/daily66.html
Brian Bandell
Labels: condominiums, houses, miami beach, south beach