Mapping-Tools-in-Matrix-

NTREIS Phasing Out Areas and Subareas

by Ask the ExpertEducationReal Estate ArticlesResources

Over the next few months NTREIS users will be experiencing the phasing out of areas and subareas. NTREIS is rebuilding the Matrix system to be in compliance with the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) data dictionary. Through this process, the area/subarea fields will not be included. The decision was made over two years ago to remove areas and subareas. The reasons for doing so are many:

  • Area boundaries are subjective; some are school boundaries which change, others are neighborhood or street boundaries.
  • Area identifiers are not useful to consumers.
  • The vendor that updated the geo boundaries for our area maps is no longer available for that service.
  • Subjective area boundaries can be likened to the “redlining” maps of old and any suggestion of discriminatory steering has no place in the future of this industry.

NTREIS has been encouraging the use of the digital mapping layers and custom shapes for searches—consumers have become comfortable with digital mapping and agents should use the same tools their customers use. However, many of NTREIS statistics were based on area identifiers and they are embedded in several tools, so it has been a long processes to get to the point where they can be phased out.

The steps to be taken over the next 60-90 days are:

  • Texas A&M has been using other geo identifier in working with statistics for the Texas REALTORS® Data Relevance Project.
  • The area breakdowns will be removed from the NTREIS statistical reporting.
  • NTREIS Trends will be removing the Area criteria option for creating reports.
  • Area/Subarea fields are being removed from IDX data feeds and we are working with those vendors for Broker tools.
  • Any remaining NTREIS products that use Areas in search criteria are in the process of removing those.
  • Notifications to users will be sent out notifying them that they need to remove that search criteria from saved searches.
  • Area/Subarea will be removed from the Realist auto-pop.
  • Area/Subarea will be removed from the input screen and displays.

Make sure to join Annette Carvalho-Jordan, VP/Real Estate Technology Trainer, for our Mapping Tools in Matrix class on January 12th. In this class, we will explore all the map tool functions in Matrix so you can create powerful searches for your clients who want to live in specific neighborhoods, near points of interest or certain distances to where they work.

Courtesy of MetroTex Association of Realtors

How-to-Create-Instagram-Posts-for-Your-Real-Estate-Business-with-Canva

How to Create Instagram Posts for Your Real Estate Business with Canva

by Technology

Republic Title’s Real Estate Technology Trainer Annette Carvalho-Jordan is always staying up to date on new ways to educate real estate agents on how they can build their business. Annette is extremely knowledgeable in both Realtors Property Resource® and Canva and has found a great resource using both platforms to help agents increase their online reputation through social media.

Ready to start sharing engaging real estate content with your network, but not sure where to start? If you want to share neighborhood market stats, new listings, open houses and client testimonials… this article will get you going.

What is Canva?

Canva is a simple to use, online design and publishing tool. With it, you can easily create designs without having professional design skills. All you need is an understanding of your brand colors and fonts, along with a clear idea of what you want to share.

With a free account, you’ll be able to use the templates shown in this article. But it will take a Canva pro account, or pay per download, to export the designs as graphics you can share on Instagram. If you’re just kicking the tires, try signing up for the Canva Pro 30-day trial. That will allow you to have all of the features, free for a month.

Benefits of Canva Templates

With premade templates, you’re not starting from scratch. You’ll simply find designs that you like and then modify the overall look and feel as needed with your brand colors, fonts, and imagery.

Simple Tips to Edit Your Canva Design

Agents active on social media platforms such as Instagram often share market stats for their geographic farm area. So for this article, we’re going to break down the how-to and provide a few specific templates to make the job easier.

Change Colors

  1. Click Neighborhood Market Update to access one of RPR’s Canva Templates.
  2. Select “Use Template.”
    1. If you have a Canva account, you’ll be prompted to log in. If you do not have an account, you can create a free account using your email address.
  3. Click to select the element that you want to edit. Then click on one of the color tiles that appears on the toolbar above the editor.
  1. Then from the color editor panel, click the color that you want to apply. To choose a different color, click “New color” or the rainbow tile from the editor side panel to use the color picker.

Add or Change Image

  1. With the template design open, look to the far left side panel.
  2. Click the “Photos” tab. If it’s not showing, click the “More” button to locate it.
  3. Look for images by typing keywords into the search bar.
  4. Once you’ve found or uploaded an image, add it to your design by simply clicking on it.
  5. Any image you’ve added can be adjusted from the top toolbar. Make sure you’ve clicked on the image and then choose: Effects, Filter, Adjust, Crop or Flip.

Social Media Friendly Market Update with RPR and Canva

Now that you understand the basics of editing a Canva template, let’s focus on customizing a Market Stats template using data from RPR.

First, click this link and then select “Use Template.” The design shown below will open.

Next, we need to get the data from RPR to update our graphic. You’ll need to visit RPR and search for the area you’ll be covering. If the area is a neighborhood, try using the RPR Neighborhood search tool, or create a Market Activity report for any geographic area. For this example, I’ll generate a Market Activity report for a neighborhood and we can use the data from there.

  1. Within RPR, select “Research” from the main navigation and then choose “Map Search.”
    (Note: If the map is open to the correct area, simply pan or zoom the map as needed to get centered on your area. If it’s not, use the search bar to enter your area.)
  2. From the top of the RPR map, select the “Show Geographies” pull-down.
  3. Select “Intermediate Neighborhoods,” and neighborhood outlines will display on the map wherever available.
  4. Locate the neighborhood you’ll be covering. In my case, it’s called “Lake Forest neighborhood in Lake Oswego, OR.”
  5. Select the area, and it will turn an orange color, and a map balloon will display.
  6. Click “Create Market Activity” report.

Once the Market Activity report has been generated, open it and navigate to page #2. We’ll use the Median Estimated Home Value and 12-Month Price Change for this template.

Next, navigate back to Canva with the Market Update template open. Double click on the blue median estimated home value text. It will become highlighted. Now type the correct number from your Market Activity Report. In this case, it was $690K, so type that amount in.

Then repeat this for the “Change Over the Last 12 Months”. In this case, that was 26.11%, so type that now.

See how easy that was? Now update the colors and image as needed using the directions from the start of the article.

Downloading Your New and Finalized Sharable Design

Once you’ve updated your colors, imagery, and market stats, it’s time to export your design.

  1. With the design open, tap the “Download” (or down arrow) icon at the top right corner of your screen.
  2. A menu will open, then choose a file type for your download.
  3. Wait for the export progress gradient to complete.
  4. The design will immediately save to your computer or camera roll.

Download 6 Free Canva Templates for your Real Estate Business

RPR has created a few real estate-themed Canva templates that are free for your use. You’ll need to add your own colors and images, where appropriate, but these designs mean you’ll spend less in design mode and more time sharing content in your feed.

Real Estate Market Trends Template

Review Template

New Listing Template

Did You Know Template

Open House Template

Market Update Template

 

Courtesy of:  Realtors Property Resource®

RPR Resource Center – Realtors Property Resource (RPR) (narrpr.com)

Class-Calendar-Blog-Header

November Class Calendar

by EducationResources

Republic Title is pleased to offer a variety of continuing education classes for our customers. Join us in November for classes including:

Market Yourself Like A Pro Using RPR
Join Annette Carvalho-Jordan, VP/Real Estate Technology Trainer to learn how to use RPR’s marketing resources to streamline your outreach and share regular market updates on social media channels, as well as, create mailings without missing a beat.
November 4th
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Zoom

Stats in a Snap
Join Annette Carvalho-Jordan, VP/Real Estate Technology Trainer as she leads students through the various ways to generate MLS statistics using tools available in the NTREIS Matrix MLS system. This class will also cover sites with available statewide and nationwide data.
November 9th
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Zoom

It’s All Foreign to Me
This class with Jay Turner, Senior VP/Residential Counsel, will cover many areas of a transaction involving a non-US citizen including Foreign Investors Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA), Foreign Wills, Mexican Matricula Consular and Foreign Acknowledgments.
November 10th
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Zoom

The Time Is Now: The Airbnb Phenomenon, Part II
Part II: The Short Term Rental Strategy
In Part II, our guest instructor, Nancy Wallace-Laabs, Best Selling Author and National Speaker, as well as a Member of Forbes Real Estate Council, is back to further discuss:
> Maximizing Profit/Minimizing Risk
> Creating a ‘stand out’ short term listing
> Value add amenities that make a difference
This class is for informational purposes only, no CE credit.
November 17th
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Zoom

Backup, Contingent & Multiple Offers
APPROVED TREC CONTRACT-RELATED COURSE
Join us as Matt Visinsky, Senior VP/Residential Counsel as he prepares licensees to handle the unique aspects of backup, contingent and multiple offer transactions by reviewing pertinent TREC addenda along with critical dates and deadlines..
November 30th
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Zoom

To see a current list of available classes and to register, please visit www.republictitle.com/residential-education

Real-Deal-New-Agent-Series-Blog

The Real Deal Part 1 – Mastering the Deal with your MLS Subscription

by Ask the ExpertEducationResources

We are excited to introduce our new series for new real estate agents called The Real Deal. You are not going to want to miss this information-packed series. The first class is all about mastering the deal using your MLS subscription. Annette Carvalho-Jordan will be teaching you all the ins and outs of MLS including understanding the dashboard, the vital tools available to grow your business, and tips to better help your clients,

The Real Deal New Agent Class Series is a special group of classes specifically designed for agents who have been licensed less than one year, who are just starting out and building their businesses from the ground up. We will dive into five of the most important areas that new agents need to know about to help you establish your business and be a better REALTOR® to your clients.

To register for The Real Deal series visit our website: https://www.republictitle.com/residential-education/

Fair Housing Awareness

Fair Housing Awareness in a Strong Sellers Market

by Ask the ExpertReal Estate ArticlesResourcesVideo
Next up is the third and final video in our series on navigating a strong seller’s market where we discuss those buyer “love letters” that sometimes accompany contracts in a multiple offer situation.
 
Key takeaways:
– They can bring legal trouble to the seller
– Selling agents should let buying agents know that they will not accept them
– There are similar implications that sellers need to be aware of in regards to home surveillance systems in the home that are recording during showings
 
For the first and second videos in this series and other informative real estate and title videos, visit our YouTube page at youtube.com/republictitle
 
For more information or to get in contact with your Business Development Representative at Republic Title visit: https://www.republictitle.com/residen​​… To download our top resources to boost your business visit: https://www.republictitle.com/residen​​… SUBSCRIBE to the Republic Title YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/republictit​​…
Get-to-know-our-calculators-blog

Get To Know Our Calculators

by ResourcesTechnologyTitle Information

Republic Title is proud to offer a host of new buyer and seller estimate tools on our Republic Title Mobile app and website. Calculators include:

  • Title Quote – calculates title rates and fees
  • Loan Estimate Quote – shows the costs associated with closing on your mortgage as well as over the lifetime of the loan
  • Seller Net Sheet – itemizes the fees and expenses in your transaction, to give you a pretty accurate estimate of what you’ll net in the sale
  • Sell to Net – shows a seller the sales price needed to meet a specific net proceed goal when they sell their house
  • Seller’s Multiple Offers – allows a seller to compare multiple offers from different buyers side by side
  • Buyer Estimate – shows the buyer their all in amount due at closing plus their all in monthly payment
  • Monthly Affordability – shows buyer what their total purchasing power is based on their budget
  • Rent vs Buy – shows buyer the difference in monthly costs when comparing renting vs buying

Our new calculators can be found by downloading our new app, Republic Title Mobile, in the Apple App Store or in the Google Play Store. For a website version of the new calculators, visit republictitle.titlecapture.com  

Contract Forms Update

Notice of Important TREC Contract Updates

by EducationReal Estate ArticlesResourcesVideo

New TREC contract changes become mandatory April 1st.

We sat down with Charles Kramer, Co-Chair of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) Broker-Lawyer Committee, to discuss the changes and what you need to know for your business.

Contract changes include:

  • Residential Lease and Addendum
  • Fixture Leases and Addendum
  • New Option Fee Procedures
  • New Smart Home Provisions
  • HOA Addendum Changes

Key changes to the new option fee procedures include:

  • Buyer can now write one combined earnest money and option feed check or two separate checks.
  • Checks must be made payable to the title company.
  • There is a 3 day deadline for option fee and earnest fee.
  • The option fee will be automatically credited at closing. If the seller would like the option fee right away, they must let the title company know.

To learn more about the changes and see the updated forms, visit the TREC website.

For the redlined version of the contract changes, where you can see what has been changed, click here.

What You Should Know About Earnest Money

by Ask the ExpertResourcesVideo

Hello, Sheri Groom with Republic Title and I’m here with Wade Bogdan, Residential Counsel and we wanted to visit a little bit today about earnest money and the purpose of that with a contract.  So can you help talk a little bit about that?

Yes.  Traditionally earnest money was put in place so that people knew that you were going to try to purchase a property in earnest so basically you’re showing someone that you are serious about purchasing their property.

I like that so earnest and then earnest money. That’s great.  So if there’s no earnest money given does that mean there’s not a valid contract?

So actually that’s a common misnomer. So currently now in common day, you do not need earnest money to have a proper contract.  However, the contract does have a section for earnest money and actually most importantly now the contract was just changed to add a three day time limit for getting your earnest money in after execution of the contract which is pretty much the most important thing that’s going on with earnest money currently.

That’s good information because we would get asked that a lot.  Like do we have to have it? Is it still a valid contract?

So if you have any additional questions, please go to our website and look for our complete list of attorneys or reach out to your favorite business development rep  or your favorite closer.

 

6 Ways To Grow Your Real Estate Business By Using LinkedIn

by EducationReal Estate ArticlesResourcesSocial Media

LinkedIn is one of the most under-rated but highly valued networking sites you can be using in 2020!  The most important thing to remember about LinkedIn, at its core, it is an online resume.  It’s also likely to be among the first handful of results to come up on a Google search, and might be the first place a potential client looks to review your credentials.  Most clients won’t choose a real estate agent who appears to lack knowledge, education and expertise.  So it’s wise to set yourself up for success and utilize this powerful tool.

So, YES, LinkedIn is extremely important and a must-have in today’s digital world.  It’s also the perfect place to promote yourself, your real estate listing, and boast about the skills you bring to the table.

Here are the top 6 things you should focus on with LinkedIn:

  • Your Profile:

Fill out each section to include all levels of education, all accreditations and current and past positions.  Include a high quality professional photo of yourself.  Be sure to include a LinkedIn Banner image that includes a call-to-action (your phone number, your email, etc).  Your headline should be catchy and stand out.  Be sure to fill in your summary section to include real estate listings and other statistics that will jump out to potential clients.  Be sure to use keywords or phrases (real estate, real estate agent) throughout your headline and your summary to increase search engine optimization.  Also encourage previous clients to give you a recommendation so your LinkedIn profile is a non-stop shop for anyone who comes across it.  Upload videos and links to enhance your profile.  Customize your URL and use it everywhere (advertising, business cards, posts, etc).

  • Connections:

61% of real estate agents on social media view it as a way to connect to the community.  LinkedIn revolves around businesses, employees and their connections, so it’s the perfect network for real estate agents who work in an industry predicated on connections, referrals and being involved in the community.  Reach out to everyone in your sphere, alums, etc.  Remember LinkedIn is the best social media platform for professional networking, which means connect with everyone.  Take advantage of the biggest networking platform ever!

  • Content:

This is where many real estate professionals go wrong.  What doesn’t work is just content about listings (remember the 80/20 rule) in hopes of generating sales leads.  What does work is highlighting your professional experience, education and network strength.

Try these 6 content ideas to maximize your effectiveness on LinkedIn:
    1. Share real estate news, industry updates or trends.  Don’t forget to include a caption with your thoughts and opinions as well as a call to action soliciting others opinions and thoughts.  Remember, it’s about engagement so ask questions.
    2. Share information or updates about your local city.  Remember people are very patriotic when it comes to the city they live in, so find local information to share.  Also, now that LinkedIn allows the use of hashtags, include local hashtags in all your posts so anyone searching for that hashtag might come across you, and in turn check out your profile.
    3. Thoughtful and conversational posts.  Try something that will resonate with others such as your struggles, wins, inspiration, or something you overcame.  These are going to be the best conversation starters you can share on LinkedIn.  As real estate agents, you go through a lot, so sharing that will resonate with your audience.
    4. Networking events you’ve attended.  Include connections you made and give them an @mention, photos, food, the service, highlight the event, the vibe and your takeaways.  It shows your connecting with people in your local city.  Often times you’ll hear people say, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.  That’s why this works.
    5. Native video uploads.  Every platform, whether it’s Facebook or Instagram, wants you to use the video feature that is native inside the program.  This doesn’t mean go to YouTube and share it to LinkedIn.  It means, open up a post on LinkedIn and use their Video icon and shoot native video within LinkedIn.  This will keep connections engaged longer in the LinkedIn program and hopefully on your profile.  Our best recommendation for video ideas would be “value added” for the consumer (i.e., Buyer/Seller Tips, Market Updates, community highlights, business you’ve interviewed, etc.).
    6. Write LinkedIn Articles.  When you write an article on LinkedIn, everyone in your connection list receives a notification.  You couldn’t ask for better advertising than that.  If you are a blogger, this is a perfect place to use the content you’ve already created and post it within LinkedIn as an article.

So, take the time, get your profile set up for success, start connecting with former and current clients, friends, colleagues, etc. and work on creating great content.

Instagram Tips for Your Real Estate Business

by Social Media

One of Republic Title’s most popular CE classes is consistently our “Instagram: I Have An Account, Now What?” class. We all know how important it is to have a presence on social media for your real estate business, but how do you create content, know which hashtags to use and most importantly, connect with buyers and sellers? Our technology trainer Annette Carvalho is here to help! Read on for Annette’s top takeaways from our popular class and visit us at www.republictitle.com/residential-education for a full list of upcoming CE classes.

Use Hashtags and Link to your Website

  • Using the “Stair Step” approach, users can spread out hashtags using the Stair step approach (hashtags with lower #’s mean you might be seen more.  So if you did 27 hashtags (which we don’t necessarily recommend) use nine that have 0-50K followers, nine with 50K-100K followers, and nine with 100-250K followers, etc.
  • Make sure to include contact information – including your website – in your Instagram bio.

Use Instagram Stories

  • Instagram Stories are temporary and only hang around for 24 hours. This allows you to post lots of content without bombarding your followers. And your followers are watching! According to embedsocial.com, Instagram stories are used by 500 million users every day.

Connect with your sphere by turning on “Post Notifications”

  • Because Instagram is always changing their algorithmic feed, you may not see everyone that you follow consistently. Make sure to turn on Post Notifications for the accounts that you want to make sure and see. This allows you to respond to their posts in a timely manner.

Use Direct Messages

  • Did you know that you can direct message up to 50 people at a time?

GeoTag your Posts

  • Searching by “Places” is an entire search category on Instagram. Make sure you are using this feature!

Use Instagram Live

  • This is a powerful tool that Instagram is promoting – you will reach more of your audience using Live since Instagram features those videos in a different way.
  • A best practice in using Instagram Live is to promote your live video in advance with email or Facebook. For example: “Catch me LIVE on Instagram Friday at 10am where I will share my 10 biggest tips for getting your home ready for the market.”

For MUCH more on Instagram, social media and other technology trends, sign up for one of our CE classes at www.republictitle.com/residential-education