Changing Real Estate Markets
Studies in demographics and trends abound in the market of real
estate. Every day new reports are speculating about the ups and
downs, the insides and out of this industry. In deciphering the
material for building real estate business, the consensus shows
that niche markets utilizing specialized services, provide the
largest profit for the least amount of time investment.
How does the average agent/broker tap into that knowledge?
No longer is the real estate agent/broker set to go upon passing
the real estate exams. Further training is needed in the area of
marketing for success in today's business place. Broker Price
Opinions, Short Sales, Credit Scores, REO, Staging, Retired
Clientele, Investors.... The list goes on and on to divide the
real estate market into specialized segments. Real estate exams
are for legal proficiency, not marketing success.
Why is the market becoming so segmented? Due to the rapid rise
in real estate appreciation realized over the last few years,
many newcomers have entered the field of real estate. Higher
commissions were regularly realized and there was no need (or
time) to study market segments. Now, the interest rates are
starting to rise and whether or not they reach their previous
highs, the market will experience a tightening of the belt. This
tightening will weed out the real estate professionals that are
unable or unwilling to increase their level of knowledge in
specialized markets.
Since there is no real estate exam for marketing to specialized
niches, the agent/broker is left to his/her own resources for
finding, training, and providing these necessary skills. There
are many ways to do this. Certainly experience in the particular
niche is valuable, but what if the professional doesn't have the
experience? There are companies out there that are providing the
knowledge to real estate professionals along with the marketing
suggestions to build the specialized niche into a full fledged,
profitable business. Agents/brokers need only to browse the
resources available through the internet. There are complete
programs for specific real estate marketing. These programs
provide knowledge of the specific market, including forms and
examples for analysis. Some are touted as computer programs;
however, we know that real estate is sold through the provision
of specific, timely, knowledgeable attention given to the client
in an easily comprehendible format. The personal touch is the
most excepted, expected source for this.
New paths are exciting, and real estate is not known for a
"boring" ride. Real Estate Professionals change with the times,
and provide a comfortable, enjoyable experience to themselves
and their clients.