HOME DELIVERY
Residential Real Estate Trends, Issues and News for Consumers
The National Association of REALTORS® distributes Home Delivery every month to real
estate, personal finance and consumer journalists as a resource for background or story ideas.
Making a List and Checking it Real Estate 2007: An Internet Buyers Ask: Will the Grass Be
Twice Odyssey Greener if I Get Off the Fence?
Whether you were naughty or nice First, advances in cell phones, To be sure, many real estate markets
this past holiday season, NAR has e-mails, and PDAs helped across the country have been seeing
a book to help you ring in the New Realtors® stay in touch with their housing inventory increase and home
Year. The recently published clients. Next, the real estate prices stabilize.
1,200 Great Sales Tips for Real industry made online listing
Estate Pros compiles information information a reality. Now, new Although most sellers are still seeing
from REALTOR® Magazine’s past participatory Internet develop- a very good return on their housing
“List” issues, an annual series of ments such as blogs and social investment, with more than 50
real estate-related tips and advice. networking sites are changing the percent appreciation over the past six
real estate landscape. years, some home buyers have
The shift from a seller’s to a concerns about the timing of their
buyer’s market in many areas of For example, although its future home purchase in this environment.
the country, influx of immigrants, remains to be seen given its recent For their part, homeowners are
increasing influence of 20- and 30- acquisition by Google™, YouTube wondering about the long-term value
somethings, and growth of not only allows Realtors® to post of their home and how the laws of
technology and the Internet are all videos of listings, but also to share supply and demand will affect home
forces transforming the industry. information on topics such as final sellers in their community.
This book aims to help walk-throughs, selling in a slow
professionals adapt to the evolving market, or the effects of pools and In this uncertain environment, a
demands of the current real estate hot tubs on property values on the Realtor®’s experience and expertise
market. site, demonstrating their is vital for both buyers and sellers.
knowledge and value to Story Springboard
The book is available at consumers.
www.realtor.org/store. • Been there, seen that
Products like Apple Inc.’s This month, NAR is launching
Story Springboard upcoming iTV could expand the two new advertising spots,
• Cultural cognizance realm of virtual tours to include explaining to consumers that
One section of the book footage of neighborhood schools, “Every market’s different, call a
provides insights into serving a community shopping centers, Realtor® today.” Interview
more culturally diverse restaurants, and cultural and Realtors® in your area who have
clientele. According to the recreational facilities. worked in both buyers’ and
Joint Center for Housing sellers’ markets. Ask them how
Studies at Harvard University, Story Springboard their clients’ home search and
immigrants have accounted for • YouTube, WeTube marketing tactics reflect the
more than one-third of Talk to Realtors® in your area changing real estate environment,
household growth in the United who are using some of these and have them provide tips for
States since the 1990s. Visit new venues to reach potential both buyers and sellers in your
www.realtor.org/ homebuyers. What technologies community. To learn more about
libweb.nsf/pages/fg225 to learn do they use? What is the NAR’s advertising campaign,
how trends in home feature response? Has their business visit www.realtor.org/
preferences, decision making, changed or been influenced as a awarenesscampaign.
and the home search process result? Interview consumers
vary by culture, and get who have used real estate Please contact Stephanie Singer,
Realtors®’ perspectives on how information on the Internet – 202/383-1050, or via e-mail at
immigration is influencing the what resources do they find ssinger@realtors.org, for additional
real estate market in your area. most useful? ideas, sources, data and resources.
Home Delivery
January 2007
Volume IV, Issue 1