tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49427192693213093032008-07-16T16:21:13.833-07:00SThe Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-74489293191349795542008-07-16T12:57:00.000-07:002008-07-16T12:58:42.471-07:00Texas Ranked Top economy in nation by CNBCCheck out this great article from the San Antonio Business Journal! More good news for those of us in Texas!<br /><br />Thursday, July 10, 2008<br />Texas ranked top economy in nation by CNBC<br />San Antonio Business Journal - by <a id="byline" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/search/results.html?Ntt=%22Yvonne%20Freckmann%22&amp;Ntk=All&amp;Ntx=mode" jquery1216238182007="37">Yvonne Freckmann</a><br /><br /><a href="http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/gen/CNBC_Inc_B0FF61DBBBA743ABB03CA337E4EC0192.html" jquery1216238182007="4">CNBC Inc.</a> ranked Texas as the best all-around state economy and the No. 1 state to do business in America in 2008.<br />Texas boasts over half of the nation's new jobs created in the past 12 months, and has added over 1.2 million net new jobs in the past five years, more than any other state.<br />With a population of 23.9 million and a Gross State Product of $37,793 (per capita), Texas has experienced a growth rate of 4.1 percent and an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.<br />Compared to last year, Texas improved in rank slightly or remained the same in the categories of cost of doing business; economy; education; quality of life, technology and innovation; transportation; cost of living; business friendliness and access to capital, according to CNBC's study.<br />Texas' workforce ranking lowered from rank 7 to rank 12 this year. Major industries for the state include oil and natural gas, banking, steel, insurance and tourism.<br />Gov. Rick Perry touted the CNBC report as proof that Texas is a great place to do business. The governor's office notes that Texas has more Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 company headquarters than any other state in the nation.<br />Perry cites the TexasOne Program, which the governor describes as the "door opener" to recruit companies to Texas; the Texas Enterprise Fund, the nation's largest and most successful "deal closing" fund; and the Emerging Technology Fund as having played a significant role in Texas' economic and job growth.<br />CNBC Inc. is an Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based business cable news network. It is a unit of <a href="http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/related_content.html?topic=NBC%20Universal%20Cable" jquery1216238182007="5">NBC Universal Cable</a>.The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-57911450588648052182008-07-15T10:41:00.001-07:002008-07-15T10:42:37.488-07:002008 MSN real estate best bargain marketsGood news for those of you thinking about moving to the San Antonio area. <br /><br /><a href="http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article2.aspx?cp-documentid=3863709">http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article2.aspx?cp-documentid=3863709</a>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-80116576204318921522008-05-21T09:53:00.000-07:002008-05-21T09:57:55.073-07:00San Antonio #2 on list of "recession proof cities!Posted in the San Antonio express news! This is great new for those of us who already live here and those of you who may want to move here! Take a look at this article and see why San Antonio is the place to be!<br /><br /><br /><br />S.A. is no. 2 on list of 'recession-proof' cities<br />Web Posted: 05/06/2008 09:17 PM CDT<br />By William Pack<br />San Antonio is one of the nation's top recession-proof cities, Forbes.com reports in an analysis of economic growth in the nation's 50 largest metro areas.<br />The Forbes.com study ranks San Antonio second only to Oklahoma City in its ability to withstand recessionary pressures. The study, released April 29, examined unemployment data and job growth through February, along with changes in median home prices and results from a national study on how foreclosures will affect cities.<br />The report said San Antonio “boasts solid unemployment numbers as well as rising home prices,” with median prices jumping nearly 8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007.<br />“Its industries are growing, and it can't hurt that the new AT&amp;T was formed when San Antonio-based SBC Communications swallowed the former AT&amp;T Corp. and BellSouth,” the study says.<br />Oklahoma City led the pack with “one of the country's strongest housing markets and solid growth in agriculture, energy and manufacturing,” Forbes editors say.<br />But Texas dominates the report, with Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth all finishing in the top 10. Austin came in one spot behind San Antonio.<br />The report says all the Texas cities benefited “from historically lower home prices, which have been affordable to a large segment of the population.”<br />The study was no real surprise to area economists, who praise the diversity and dependability of the economy.<br />“It's almost a textbook example of a diversified city,” said Trinity University economics Professor Jorge Gonzalez. “This has been the story of San Antonio for the last 20 years. We don't have the booms or the busts.”<br />Keith Phillips, senior economist with the San Antonio office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said it's not just the diversity of the local economy, it's the stability of the key economic parts — the military, the hospitality sector and health care — that has made San Antonio strong.<br />The availability of land in San Antonio has been a key factor in keeping home prices affordable, Phillips said.<br />“We can have volatility in the number of units and not have volatility in prices,” he said.<br />Mayor Phil Hardberger said he is pleased that the economy has produced jobs for just about everyone looking for work. San Antonio may not be immune from the turmoil in the national economy, but Hardberger said he believes it will stay in better shape than the nation as a whole.The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-8842607503062275232008-04-02T13:43:00.000-07:002008-04-02T13:48:00.086-07:00New elementary school boundaries for Schertz Cibolo UC ISD<p>SCUCISD Board approves new Elementary Attendance Zones for 2008-2009 School YearThe SCUCISD Board of Trustees approved the new elementary attendance boundaries for the 2008-2009 school year, during a special called board meeting held at 6 p.m. on March 25, 2008. With the opening of <a href="http://www.scuc.txed.net/Campuses/Sippel/" target="_blank">John A. Sippel Elementary School</a>, the district’s seventh elementary school, the distract was tasked with redrawing the boundaries with the help of 21-member committee. </p><p>Visit this link to see if you will be affected.</p><p><a href="http://www.scuc.txed.net/Departments/PublicInfoWeb/features">http://www.scuc.txed.net/Departments/PublicInfoWeb/features</a></p>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-34462122913685202472008-03-03T15:00:00.000-08:002008-03-03T15:08:54.007-08:00Current Mortgage Rates<div align="center"><strong>Conventional </strong></div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><strong>30 Yr Fixed</strong> </div><div align="center">5.750% 1 + 1 </div><div align="center">6.000% 0 + 1 </div><div align="center">6.125% 0 + .5 </div><div align="center">6.250% 0 + 0 </div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><strong>15 Yr Fixed</strong> </div><div align="center">5.125% 2 + 1 </div><div align="center">5.250% 1 + 1 </div><div align="center">5.500% 0 + 1 </div><div align="center">5.750% 0 + 0<br /><br /><strong>JUMBO 30 YR</strong> </div><div align="center">7.000% 0 + 1 </div><div align="center">7.250% 0 + 0 </div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><strong>VA ARM</strong></div><div align="center">5.25% 1 + 0</div><div align="center">3/1 ARM</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><strong>FHA/VA 30 YR</strong> </div><div align="center">5.750% 0 + 1 </div><div align="center">6.000% 0 + 0 </div><div align="center">-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div align="center"><strong>TX VET RATE: ENTRY DATE PRIOR TO 1977 = 4.46%</strong> </div><div align="center">And Have Not Been Discharged More Than 30 Yrs. </div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><strong>ENTRY DATE AFTER 1976 = 5.44%</strong> </div><div align="center">-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div align="center"><strong>*6.875% 30 Yr Fixed with NO Mortgage Closing Cost</strong> </div><div align="center">-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div align="center"><strong>95% Using Bank Statements as Verification of Income</strong> </div><div align="center">-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">This information is intended for use by real estate professionals only. Above rates are for loans above $100,000. Call for quote for loans below.<br /><br />*Certain Restriction Apply, Based on credit score of 680</span><br />Thank you to Steve Brown of <a href="http://www.mortgagesbysteve.com/">First Continental Mortgage</a> for the update.</div>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-8697909445864524152008-02-27T14:02:00.000-08:002008-02-27T15:19:10.614-08:00Why Use FHA?<div align="center"><strong>See For Yourself!</strong> </div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/R8XvD1gXsqI/AAAAAAAAAEg/SZIJJvVQnuU/s1600-h/Conv+vs+FHA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171802596286378658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 403px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="346" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/R8XvD1gXsqI/AAAAAAAAAEg/SZIJJvVQnuU/s400/Conv+vs+FHA.jpg" width="436" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/R8XpZVgXspI/AAAAAAAAAEY/VvWrQ5Zq5KQ/s1600-h/Conv+vs+FHA.jpg"></a><div align="center"><br />Comparison provided by Steve Brown, First Continental Mortgage<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Rates valid for 2-26-08. Rates are subject to change without notice. This information is intended for real estate professionals only.</span></div></div>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-92230795614949019622008-02-05T13:44:00.000-08:002008-02-05T13:59:54.197-08:00How's the weather today?The real estate market is like the weather...different in EVERY city EVERY day! Yes that's right...real estate markets cannot be summed up into one and that is exactly what the media is doing. The market in San Antonio is definitely different than the market in San Diego. Lucky for us the "weather" in San Antonio is not as cloudy as other areas of our nation. With an average sales price of $172,000 the San Antonio market is very affordable. Not only that, <strong>INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN 40 YEARS</strong>! Wow!! So my question is why not buy today? Statistically the market will improve and house values will go up again. Think about it, do we buy stock when it is high or low? Low! The real estate market should be looked at in the same manner. Buy now while prices are low. If you plan to hold on to that home for a while, you are likely to see a profit in the future. So, don't let the negativity of the media scare you away, now is a GREAT time to buy a home! The weather today is SUNNY!<br /><br />JeanineThe Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-60338984149097445622007-12-18T10:35:00.000-08:002007-12-18T10:37:43.569-08:00Activity Has Finally Started To Pick Up AgainInterestingly enough, buyers are finally starting to take action. The number of loan applications taken in the first weeks of December is up 22% compared to the preceding two weeks here in San Antonio. Some of that increase can be attributed to the “last deals of the year” for builder close outs, but hopefully it is an indication that buyers are starting to take notice of the increased inventory and lower rates.<br />Financially speaking, inflation concerns headline the news these days. The Fed wants to fight off a recession (predicted as a 50/50 chance by former chair Alan Greenspan) with additional rate cuts but in so doing, risks pushing inflation even higher. The Fed, in its 3rd consecutive meeting, lowered interest rates last week to 4.25%. The last time this happen was in 2001. This Friday, the Personal Consumption Report comes out giving the best read on inflation. If CORE PCE remains under 2%, further rate cuts are likely. A reading above 2% could spell trouble.<br /><br />Joshua Sigman<br />Senior Loan Officer<br />Legacy Mutual MortgageThe Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-31055306291628213662007-12-12T08:20:00.000-08:002007-12-12T08:24:58.310-08:00Have We Hit The Bottom?As a mortgage banker here in San Antonio, I have been inundated with questions from prospective home buyers regarding whether or not we have “hit the bottom.” I find this question very amusing. It seems to me that everyone is trying to time the market, letting that govern there decision on whether or not to wait longer or buy now. Most people who have a financial background know that is very difficult, if not impossible, to time the exact point at which a market slump makes a turn around for the better. For that reason, I have always tried to lead my clients to base decisions on what they know is happening right now, and how it compares to history.<br /><br />So my answer is simple. Right now, we know that employment growth is excellent in San Antonio. Right now, we know that there is more inventory on the market than there has been in the last three years. Right now, we know that interest rates are at a 26 month low. Right now, we know that it is a buyers market! If we are not at the bottom, we are close enough. Those who pull the trigger on buying a new home in the next month or so will beat the inevitable flood of buyers that will hit the market by the beginning of the 2nd quarter of 2008.<br /><br />Joshua Sigman<br />Senior Loan Officer<br />Legacy Mutual MortgageThe Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-11405781315196110302007-10-22T11:04:00.000-07:002007-10-22T11:05:54.360-07:00Can I afford to buy a Home? Yes the American Dream!!Isn’t it interesting that just a few short years ago the interest rates were at 7% and 8% and people were still looking at buyer a home being the American Dream. During the past few months the interest rates have been sometimes below 6% and people are on the fence about buying a home. Did the American dream go away? Has the military somehow discouraged people from buying? All you folks that have VA benefits out there you still have those benefits!! In the past few years, folks have gotten away from looking into or realizing that those VA and FHA loans are out there and very easy to get.<br /><br />In the past the Schertz/ Cibolo area had some builders, but not an abundance, and all were production builders. Now, you can build a home with more of your own specifications, much like a custom home. You can even build a custom home in the nearby areas. The preowned market is sometime your best value, if the seller is realistic about the “market” in the area. Some of the preowned homes have upgrades, such as blinds, ceiling fans, landscaping, and ceramic tile to name a few. <br /> Find an area specialist! You don’t have to rely on your own knowledge about a “market”. And the national media has no idea what is happening in our area. They can only report generalizations. A buyer agent is a wealth of information on the area and the financing options out there. Use those benefits the government backed loan programs. These loans were created for people to afford the American Dream and now is a great time to buy a home. Yes you can afford to buy a home and don’t let anyone tell you can not use a government program just because they don’t know how or don’t want to take the few extra steps it takes to get that financing.The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-6465945375194304202007-09-17T07:54:00.001-07:002007-09-17T08:08:06.159-07:00Gimmicks - continued...<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/Ru6VYcW8yXI/AAAAAAAAADw/FVj7YJDPNRE/s1600-h/gimmick.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111186874273941874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/Ru6VYcW8yXI/AAAAAAAAADw/FVj7YJDPNRE/s200/gimmick.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last week I blogged about gimmicks in real estate. I specifically spoke about the whole "guaranteed" home selling tactic. I received some good comments from folks. One person in particular encouraged me to take off the sugar coating and to just call it what it is - lying, deception! This person had some strong and accurate remarks about all the nuances of the "guarantee" program.<br /><br />Well, a very interesting thing happened later that day. Please keep in mind that I wrote that blog because this topic was on my mind for no other reason than I do not see a value in the gimmick approach to getting listings. I see that it is <em>effective</em>, but not of value.<br /><br />Anyway, I stopped by our main office in order to show a fellow worker around who had never seen the 22,000 sf building that was just finished. It's gorgeous. She and I passed the Assistant Team Leaders office during our tour. I was very surprised to see 2 agents sitting in the ATL's office who work for an agent here in San Antonio that <em>adores </em>gimmicks, among other unorthodox and questionable methods of marketing. The 2 agents also saw me. We exchanged pleasantries for a moment and then parted ways. These 2 agents were on a tour of our company and its new building. Hmm!<br /><br />Of course my curiosity was sparked. Wouldn't yours be? At this point I called a friend who I knew would know exactly what is going on. I was informed that this "mega" agent had offered the 90 day guarantee, exchanged some e-mail correspondence about doing so, lapsed on the 90 days, and renegged on the, um, "guarantee(?)." The client got an attorney and is now suing. To make a long story short, this agent is in a great deal of trouble. The other agents within his group see this and are jumping ship. I don't blame them.<br /><br />I found it ironic that less than 6 hours after I wrote the blog about this particular methodology I was given a real life example of what can happen. Now, am I saying that this is the norm? No! I can't prove that. I am merely pointing out irony.<br /><br />Again, what would happen to the real estate industry were we to get back to the basics of sales, marketing, and client service? It's a question worth consideration, in my opinion.<br /><br />Dustin...The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-80565131530013051552007-09-14T06:49:00.000-07:002007-09-14T14:36:17.851-07:00Freedom Walk<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110115052300323122" style="WIDTH: 357px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 93px" height="72" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RurGkMW8yTI/AAAAAAAAADQ/voRNlbj-c_4/s200/freedom.jpg" width="394" border="0" /><br /><br />No one will ever forget the date - 9/11. The date is spoken of, not as a date anymore, but as an event - a tragedy - that will forever live on the minds of Americans, indeed, the world, from now on. And our country pulled together as they never have before. Since that time the country has continued to pull together. It hasn't stopped. Our support of each other, and our countries troops, has been consistent.<br /><br />There is an organization that gives absolutely unbelievable amounts of support to the troops and their families. They put together events, keep everyone updated on what is happening across the country (and world), solicit financial (and otherwise) support for the families of our soldiers who have passed from this earth or are overseas, and do many, many other things that go unnoticed by a great many people. The organization is called <a href="http://www.operationhomefront.net/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Operation Home Front</span></a>. Please go to their website to see what you may be able to do.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RurJycW8yVI/AAAAAAAAADg/LRd4H6dKQEA/s1600-h/header071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110118595648342354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RurJycW8yVI/AAAAAAAAADg/LRd4H6dKQEA/s200/header071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Jeanine Claus, of <a href="http://theclausteam.com/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">The Claus Team</span></a>, has been a consistent supporter of this organization. One of the events that <a href="http://www.operationhomefront.net/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Operation Home Front</span></a> does, the <a href="http://www.operationhomefront.net/pdf/FreedomWalkDoD.pdf"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Freedom Walk</span></a>, just took place. Jeanine was there on the front line doing a 2.5 mile walk in support, and as a reminder.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RurK8cW8yWI/AAAAAAAAADo/iM0IwvAdRNQ/s1600-h/rally.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110119866958661986" style="WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 152px" height="152" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RurK8cW8yWI/AAAAAAAAADo/iM0IwvAdRNQ/s200/rally.jpg" width="171" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What an awesome event! It was held at Brackenridge Park, in San Antonio, Texas. It was like half of the city showed up to show their loyalty, love, and honor. Incredible!<br /><br />Let's not forget about our troops, whether local or abroad. Support them. Remember them. And remember their families. There's always something that we can do to help. It may seem trivial to you, but it may be lifechanging for them.<br /><br />Dustin...The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-85963661452109243622007-09-13T08:16:00.000-07:002007-09-13T10:26:32.228-07:00Real Estate GimmicksCaveat - This is a hot and debated topic amongst real estate agents. It is not my desire to stir up strife. I desire nothing more than an honest look at things. Thus, we have this blog.<br /><br />Have you ever seen an Internet ad, a billboard, or heard a commercial on the TV or radio that resembles this:<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;">We Will Sell Your Home in 90 Days</span> - <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>GUARANTEED</strong></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#000000;">Or We Will Buy It</span></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left">Or, maybe it looked/sounded something like this:</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>YOUR HOME SOLD</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">GUARANTEED</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">or I WILL BUY IT MYSELF </span><span style="color:#ff0000;">AT AN ACCEPTABLE PRICE </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br /></div></span></strong><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">This method of getting listings is extremely popular. It was made popular by a very well known motivational speaker and business coach. I personally know quite a few real estate agents who employ this method of advertising/marketing. Some agents swear by it, while others feel it is dishonest and gimmicky.</span></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></div></span><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Feelings, ultimately, do not matter. What matters is the fine print involved...AND the statistics of success.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Ok, so what is the fine print involved? I mean, isn't the phrase "acceptable price" extremely ambiguous. Acceptable to whom? The truth is that the "acceptable price" <em>will </em>be determined by the real estate agent, it <em>will </em>be based upon an appraisal done by an appraiser chosen by the agent, and it <em>will </em>be a price that is below market value. If you do not agree to the "acceptable price" then you do not qualify for the guaranteed program. Now, if you are a seller, would you be comfortable with this? I would not. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">But this isn't all, in most cases. There are more stipulations to the guaranteed program, in most cases, that must be met in order to qualify. For instance, in most cases, you must agree to purchase your next home with this particular agent, you must purchase a home listed <em>by </em>the agent guaranteeing your home sale, and the home that you are selling must be listed below the average top sale in the area in order to guarantee a qualified buyer. Wow! </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">If you are a potential seller then you may be saying, "Um, yeah right!" If you are an agent who employs these methods then you may be saying, "Who cares about all of that. It works!" Does it? Let's look at some stats:</div><ul><li><div align="left">Agent 1 who uses the guaranteed program had 181 solds in one year, 183 listings expired (this means that the home did not sale), and 159 listings cancelled (the agent was fired). This is a success rate of 34.6%</div></li><li><div align="left">Agent 2 who uses the guaranteed program had 132 listings sold in one year, 112 listings expired, and 225 listings cancelled. This is a success rate of 28.1%</div></li><li><div align="left">Agent 3 who does <em>not </em>use the guaranteed program had less than 20 solds in one year, less than 5 listings expired, and less than 5 listings cancelled. This is a success rate of over 72%</div></li></ul><p align="left">So, does this methodology <em>work</em>? It depends on how you define work. If you define work as such: Work. adj; a methodology of marketing for listings that gets a real estate agent more listings than the average agent who does not employ this methodology, then yes, this system works. But if you define work as such: Work. adj; a methodology of marketing for listings that gets a real estate agent more listings than the average agent who does not employ this methodology <span style="color:#ff0000;">AND</span> <em>has been proven to be more effective in getting listings SOLD for near or at market value,</em> then no, this does not work.</p><p align="left">I'll use Jeanine Claus as a real life example. Jeanine Claus is the owner and lead agent of <a href="http://theclausteam.com/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Claus Team</span></a> of Keller Williams Realty. In 2006 Jeanine took approximately <u>101</u> listings. She had <u>15</u> sellers expire. There were <u>5</u> withdrawn listings. There were <u>81</u> solds. This is a sucess rate of <u>80.19</u>%. She does <em>not </em>use the methodology described above. Her method of getting listings is niche marketing with a brand that is so well recognized that she gets stopped at the grocery store and is asked, "Are you the santa hat lady?" Her brand is everywhere - and I mean, everywhere!<br /><br />There are a few other groups within the real estate world that I could name (but won't) who do <em>not </em>use the method spoken of within this blog and they do <em>extreeeemely </em>well. In fact, one of the top groups at Keller Williams who sold over 35 Million last year do <em>not </em>use any such methods of getting listings other than niche marketing and referrals based upon good, strong, proven business. Does this mean that another agent within the same company who uses the "guaranteed" method will <em>not </em>be as successful as far as volume is concerned? Of course not! But again, it depends upon how you define "success," and for whom?<br /><br />Many agents who approve of the "guaranteed" method feel that the agents who disapprove of the "guaranteed" method are - 1. Not keeping up with the times, 2. Scared to put their money where there mouth is, or 3. Aren't technically savvy enough. All 3 of these presuppositions are subjective and extremely general. Novelty does not equal correctness. Disapproval of a trend does not equal fear. A refusal to follow a trend does not equal a lack of knowledge. It could just be that many agents feel that the "guaranteed" method does a disservice to the client, ultimately.<br /><br />At the end of the day there are going to be agents who do whatever they want to do. You can't teach integrity, regardless of methodology. You can't teach authenticity. Someone is either going to watch out for the clients best interest, or they are not. I know this though - real estate agents do <em>not </em>need to nurture a "car salesman" persona. We already have a bad enough name because there are so many dishonest and ignorant agents out there. We all know that any John Doe can run out and get a license. It behooves us to do what we can to cultivate a persona of sincere professionalism.<br /><br />Dustin...</p>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-49984728055019066212007-09-11T10:57:00.000-07:002007-09-11T11:22:58.945-07:00Relocating to Schertz<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RubbpSgC26I/AAAAAAAAACg/okadLU2zbBI/s1600-h/schertz_tx.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109012329685769122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RubbpSgC26I/AAAAAAAAACg/okadLU2zbBI/s200/schertz_tx.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It seems as though the city of Schertz is gaining a lot of attention. I wrote last week about how Congressman Henry Cuellar is about to recognize Schertz, Texas as one of the greatest places to live in the US. And for those of you who haven't seen the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0707/gallery.BPTL_top_100.moneymag/40.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">CNNMoney article</span></a> on Schertz, it was voted #40 on the top 100 places to live.</div><div> </div><div>It is true, Schertz is gorgeous. It is a community. It is a small home town kind of a place, and yet it is 5 minutes from San Antonio, 10 minutes from New Braunfels, and about 50 minutes from Austin. You are close to everything but you get to have that sense of seclusion from hussle and bussle. It's really unique.</div><div> </div><div>So, what do you if you are possibly relocating to Schertz and you want info? Call us. 210-566-6355. Or you can visit us at our website, <a href="http://theclausteam.com/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">The Claus Team</span></a>. We can send you a relocation package out the same day that we talk to you.</div><div> </div><div>Dustin...</div>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-83289105857492143632007-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:002007-09-06T14:15:29.132-07:00Schertz Recognized in Congress<span style="font-size:85%;">Here is the full story:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RuBsTigC20I/AAAAAAAAABs/9F0O9GyXxWY/s1600-h/08312007CuellarRecognizesSchertz.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107201060372667202" style="WIDTH: 183px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px" height="160" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RuBsTigC20I/AAAAAAAAABs/9F0O9GyXxWY/s200/08312007CuellarRecognizesSchertz.jpg" width="229" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a name="CuellarSpeech"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><strong><u>Congressman Henry Cuellar To Recognize Schertz in Congress</u></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>During a visit to the City of Schertz, United States Congressman Henry Cuellar presented City Manager Don Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem David Scagliola, and Schertz Chamber of Commerce President Frances Rushing with a copy of a speech he intends to read into the Congressional Record on September 5, 2007 that recognizes the city as one of the top places to live in the U.S.A.<br /><br /></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Cuellar, who represents the 28th District of Texas which extends from Guadalupe County in Central Texas to Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley, presented the speech at a reception organized by the Schertz Chamber of Commerce and commended city, community, and business leaders for being actively involved in planning for the future. “I'm honored to represent Schertz,” said Cuellar “When you think about what Schertz has accomplished by being named #1 in Texas by Money Magazine, it's truly special.”<br /><br />In July, the City of Schertz was selected by CNNMoney.com as one of the best places to live in the nation. Schertz ranked #40 out of 100 cities nationwide and #1 in the State of Texas. According to Money, Schertz and the other cities on the list offer the best combination of economic opportunities, good schools, safe streets, things to do, and a real sense of community.<br /><br />State Representative Edmund Kuempel also chimed in and congratulated the city for being #1 in Texas. “Money has missed the boat over the past thirty years. I always new that Schertz and all the communities in Guadalupe County were the best place to live.” Kuempel has represented Schertz in the Texas House of Representatives since 1983. “It's the pride and determination of the people of Schertz that made this happen.”</em></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em><br /><em>Also in attendance were Schertz Assistant City Manager John Bierschwale, SCUCISD Superintendent Dr. Belinda Putska, and Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce President John Williams.</em><br /><br />(Source - <a href="http://www.schertz.com/News.asp"><span style="color:#000099;">http://www.schertz.com/News.asp</span></a>)<br /><br />More pictures can be found here - <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/SchertzCMR/08312007CuellarRecognizesSchertz"><span style="color:#000099;">Google Picasa</span></a><br /><br />Here is a copy of the speech - <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/SchertzCMR/08312007CuellarSpeech/photo#5104957983430750722"><span style="color:#000099;">Speech</span></a></span><br /></span>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-57808334400793235862007-09-06T06:39:00.000-07:002007-09-06T07:54:53.670-07:00Teaser - continued!<span style="font-size:85%;">Yesterday I mentioned that our <a href="http://www.mlsfinder.com/tx_sabor/jeanineclaus/"><span style="color:#000099;">MLS feed</span></a>, sometimes referred to as an IDX (Internet Data Exchange) pull, will give you listings that are <em>currently </em>on the market. I mentioned that the <em>currently </em>part was a teaser. I said that because when I used the word "teaser" I assumed that many of you would have said to yourself, "Self, so is he insinuating that on other websites where we search for homes we are seeing homes that <em>are not </em>currently on the market?" The answer to this question would be, Yes, that is what I am insinuating!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Let me lay a small foundation before I continue. Not <em>every </em>search engine has what is called a "lag time" (a delay in updating properties from Active on the market, to under contract or sold). The majority of the websites run by real estate agents, well, the smart ones at least, will have a live MLS feed, or IDX pull. They have to! If an agent does not have an MLS feed on their website then they are really serving no purpose on the web. A potential buyer does not do a <a href="http://www.google.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">Google</span> </a>search for "homes for sale in Schertz," get the results, click on an agents website, and then hope to see a picture of the real estate agent with their poodle, husband, and 3 kids. A buyer could care less about these things.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RuAJdygC2xI/AAAAAAAAABU/x4-PLIPqOJo/s1600-h/family.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107092384815176466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RuAJdygC2xI/AAAAAAAAABU/x4-PLIPqOJo/s320/family.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Potential buyers also do not care that an agent has won every award under the sun within the real estate community. Yes, integrity, effectiveness, consistency, and a proven track record is important, but it's penultimate to what a buyer really wants when they are looking for a home on the Internet - a <a href="http://www.mlsfinder.com/tx_sabor/jeanineclaus/"><span style="color:#000099;">live feed to the MLS</span></a>!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ok, so a good agent will have an MLS feed on their website. That live feed will have no lag time. But here is a truth - most buyers go to <a href="http://www.realtor.com/Default.aspx"><span style="color:#000099;">Realtor.Com</span></a>, <a href="http://www.homes.com/index.cfm"><span style="color:#000099;">Homes.Com</span></a>, <span style="color:#000099;"><a href="http://www.trulia.com/#start">Trulia.Com</a></span>, or one of the Yahoo/Aol real estate search engines to find a home. Why? Because when you do a search for real estate these are the guys that pop up first because of their SEO (search engine optimization). They have people on staff who do nothing but make sure that they are first on the list in a search. And agents pay a lot of money to these vendors to be a part of their websites, so that when you go to <a href="http://www.realtor.com/Default.aspx"><span style="color:#000099;">Realtor.Com</span></a> the paying agent will have their home inventory on the website with all sorts of bells and whistles. See example here --</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=40699&ml=3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;mnp=18&mxp=18&amp;bd=4&bth=4&amp;typ=7&sid=36378382b6734c3ca4a5a6c326db9624&amp;lid=1088124227&lsn=10&amp;srcnt=33#Detail"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107097942502857506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RuAOhSgC2yI/AAAAAAAAABc/ULsa_jIsWqM/s200/REALTOR_com-logo-w_tag.gif" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">But here is the issue with most of these vendors, if not all of them - the homes that you are seeing as "on the market" may not actually be on the market anymore! That's a big deal. It's a very big deal, in fact.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Imagine this scenario...you go to <a href="http://www.google.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">Google</span></a>, you type in a search for "Schertz real estate," and a list of results pops up. One of the first results will be <a href="http://www.theclausteam.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">The Claus Team's</span></a> personal website. However, the second result will be <a href="http://www.homes.com/Real_Estate/TX/City/SCHERTZ"><span style="color:#000099;">Homes.Com</span></a>. And let's say that you have the common misperception that going to the agents website will be a waste of your time, and so you opt for the second choice site; you click on their site, put in the criteria of home that you are looking for, scroll through a myriad of homes, and then decide on a handful. After some careful consideration you narrow the homes down to 2 or 3 that you really have your heart set on. You then make a phone call to the agent about the home. The agent says, "Well, Mr./Mrs. Buyer, that home is actually already under contract and about to close." Your immediate reaction is, "Well then why in the heck was it even on the website if it wasn't available!?" Lag time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It's a very sad, but all too often true and unfortunate reality that happens. You see, these second party vendors do not pull their information directly and immediately from the MLS. There is a lag time between what is on their website as content vs. what is truly an available property. The lag time is typically 3-5 days. Scary, huh? And the whole situation could have been avoided by going to <a href="http://www.theclausteam.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">The Claus Team's</span> </a>website, doing a search for homes that are <em>currently </em>on the market, and having a world class agent take you for a private viewing of the home at your convenience.</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107102048491592498" style="CURSOR: hand" height="128" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/RuASQSgC2zI/AAAAAAAAABk/jl9uyPFPCTA/s200/Hooray.gif" width="117" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Does it make more sense now, the whole "currently" teaser? I guess I could have made this whole blog much shorter by saying, "Make your home search super, super easy by visiting our website at <a href="http://www.theclausteam.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">www.theclausteam.com</span></a> and search the entire MLS for free!" But this was more fun.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dustin...</span>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942719269321309303.post-56874577866724925832007-09-05T10:52:00.000-07:002007-09-06T07:51:23.621-07:00Greetings and Salutations...<span style="font-size:85%;">Welcome to our blog! We are <a href="http://www.theclausteam.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">The Claus Team</span> </a>of Keller Williams Realty. Yes, we have now entered the cyber world of blogging. I, Dustin Curlee, will typically be the one authoring these blogs, although Jeanine Claus may be writing something from time to time. We hope to give you pertinent information regarding the real estate market in the Schertz, Cibolo, and surrounding areas (San Antonio, Boerne, Bulverde, etc), as well as any general information that rolls from my fingertips.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I did want to let everyone know about the <strong>links</strong> to the left of this post. One of the really awesome links that we have that might be of particular interest to many people, is the <a href="http://www.mlsfinder.com/tx_sabor/jeanineclaus/"><span style="color:#000099;">MLS Search</span></a> link. If you don't know what MLS stands for, it is the <a href="http://www.mlsfinder.com/tx_sabor/jeanineclaus/"><span style="color:#000099;">Multiple Listing Service</span></a>. This link will give you the ability to search the entire South Texas area for homes that are <em>currently</em> (Teaser - I'll explain the "currently" remark tomorrow) on the market.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mlsfinder.com/tx_sabor/jeanineclaus/"><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106783129989995266" style="CURSOR: hand" height="143" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_eqESNx1-JsY/Rt7wMygC2wI/AAAAAAAAABM/RFyMTQpvpV0/s320/free-mls-search.jpg" width="173" border="0" /></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Please feel free to comment on any of our blog entries, or the site in general. I'm sure that our blog site will be a work in progress. The Internet does seem to move at a lightning pace! Also, you can e-mail us (<a href="mailto:clausrlty@aol.com">clausrlty@aol.com</a>) with a topic that you'd like discussed. I'm really good at research, which means that I go to <a href="http://www.google.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">Google.Com</span></a> and type in basic information, then hit return. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Until tomorrow...</span>The Claus Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396338192240576586noreply@blogger.com