Heading into 2009 from the end of a dismal 2008... no one knew how the coming year ahead (2009) would turn out for Atlanta real estate. For the last 2 years, I decided to work on my websites and revamp them. My initial thoughts were that print advertising, and media would dry up as buyers cooled their heels. Higher gas prices at the end of 2008, and a collapse on Wall Street was the final straw for many would be home buyers to stop driving around looking for homes when a gallon of gas was over $4.00 a gallon. My gut feeling paid off. There are more home buyers looking on the Internet for homes than anywhere else including social media. Blogging in 2009 did not have the return in had in previous years. We are still getting tremendous web traffic on our main Atlanta real estate site www.AtlantaBestHomes.Com. I am amazed at the numbers. We are driving over 2900 unique visitors some days. The average day on our site we are driving over 22 unique visitors. We are blessed. It was in the second half of 2009 that business picked up.
While many of the deals were not directly in our market area, we were able to concentrate on referring the leads to the best and most agents experienced agents. We did not work the referrals as a team referral, or a company referral. We simple looked for the best agents. It paid off. We were able to take some great deals for ourselves adn refer out the short sales, investors and foreclosures. By not working distressed sales for pennies on the dollar while everyone else scrambled to work for nothing, we were able to almost double last years income.
It really pays not to become overwhelmed at the market, but to keep planning, building on success, reducing costs, and moving forward.
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Hi Jim, Congratulations . That was a good plan and you worked the plan. Excellent and I am delighted that the market has finally bore fruit. It pays to have a good business plan. By getting your sites optimized it paid huge dividends. Part of my task list that is not yet done. But I am interviewing some really bright college IT students to take over the tasks that I just can't seem to get to or learn enough about to make the sites better and more productive.
2008 was not a good year however we made it thru 2009 very well.
San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson GRI CRS e-Pro CDPE (RE/MAX Associates) I do all my own SEO. I've been doing it since 1996 / 1997. Most of the optimization is makine the websites browser friendly.
Tim Lorenz (TIM LORENZ of Keller Williams Realty) 2008 was brutal.
Congrats on a solid year making something out of mush. Thats why this business is really and trully great. There are endless venues to take advantage of in bad times. Best wishs for 2010. Keep in touch!
Congrats for a great 2009! Here's to an awesome 2010!
Tom Brintzenhofe (Exit Diamond Realty) Thanks Tom... you too!
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff (Coldwell Banker Residential - Babylon Long Island) Thanks you too. Have a Happy New Year.
Jim, my numbers did not go as I want in 2009 but looks like we made it as well. I am focusing on my niche market and have been. I think the latest and greatest will die off then those who followed the crowd will be back to square one. I will continue this being my 24th year in real estate with what I know. Post brought in a few leads but not as many as in years past. Up extra early this morning awaiting the Saint v Tampa game. Have a great day.
Jim...
We are seeing a lot of activity but it is getting harder and harder to get them to the closing table!
Jim,
Pretty much the same up here. The second half of 2009 was pretty good compared to the first. The newspaper isn't quite dead yet but they're in the ICU for advertising dollars.
Rich
Jim...we share similar strategies, though we're taking on a few more selective short sale listings...Price range is the key...While banks are still the bottleneck, some are wanting to dump their losses...
Jim - I'm so excited that you and your wife did awesome in 2009. As for me, I wished I could say I doubled my income but I didn't. It's more like 50% more but I have so much more to celebrate this year. 2009 is my best year yet in real estate.
I'm planning to have another rocking year in 2010. Let's make it happen together!
Jim.....survivors will make it through any market.....you are a survivor.....2010 will be a much better year.
congratulations Jim! Its all about focus and following your plan! Hope 2010 becomes your best year yet!!
I think that all my business comes from the Internet, but it doesn't. I also think I'm strictly a listing agent, but when I look at my numbers, I always end the year with 50% sellers and 50% buyers. However, one thing I do know for certain is 2009 was my best year ever! I seem to be doubling my business every year over the past 3 or 4 years. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. But I do implement a strategic marketing plan online that utilizes SEO.
The last half of 2008 and the first half of 2009 were dead. This is a business that is only going to get harder with our sad economy.
Frank Rubi Kenner | Metairie |LA | Real Estate (Frank Rubi Real Estate | Licensed in Louisiana) Frank I went in a different direction than most agents I know. I figured what was the point of doing short sales that never close and working investors that never buy looking for the deal of the millennium.
Richard Weisser Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers For some reason we attracted a unique group of high end buyers. They know what they want and then can close if they find the right deal.
Richard Iarossi, Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate (Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.) We did a pretty good pace through out the year..slow but steady. The end of the year brought in some higher end buyers.
Cherise Selley (Selley Group Real Estate, LLC) I think it is very smart to be selective. It really makes a difference.
Loreena Yeo - Broker|Realtor(R) of Frisco-TX-Homes (214) 783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY) This is a year if you broke even you did well. If you raised your income 50% you are doing wonderfully well! Keep up the good work!
Barbara Todaro (RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma) Thanks. This year I am implementing a major shift in web strategy. I always have my fears but I also play a very conservative game. I place the results in God's hands and I plan to Blog about them next December (Good or Bad) and let you all know how they turned out!
Dawn Tetro (Power Realty Partners LLC) Thank you Dawn. Ellen and I have worked the north FUlton and Atlanta market since 1992. This last year or so has been a real roller coaster, but each year is still so much better than the 1990's.
Elizabeth Weintraub, Sacramento Short Sale Agent, 916.233.6759, Lyon RE (Lyon Real Estate) Our business used to be listings. We used to carry 15 listings at a clip. When the Internet came along, or mix split to over 80% buyers...then it went back to 50/50. This year was a couple of personal referrals, and all Internet. The Internet, not blogging has saved out butts.
John Walters (Licensed in Louisiana U.S.A.) (Slidell, Pearl River, Lacombe) The first half of this year was beyond scary. We do have some tough times ahead.
2006, 2007, 2008 were very difficult years in my area. 2009 was very good for us. Like you I had a gut feeling and I followed it, stopped printed adds years ago and focused on web presents. I am ahead of the pack because I did not just sit around and wait.
Anne Hensel Real Estate Professional buy or sell St. Pete Print is dead. I had a lot of free time and and I worked on my websites everyday. I am not saying I had an incredible return on the time I spent doing it, but the results were excellent in my books.