Are you working with veteran homebuyers? There’s an important update regarding VA loans that you need to be aware of—an update that could significantly impact your veteran clients’ ability to compete in today’s real estate market. Recent Changes in VA Lending With the ongoing adjustments following the NAR settlement, a significant change has been that sellers are no longer required to compensate buyer agents. This shift posed a unique challenge for veterans using VA loans, ...

The currency of real estate sales is trust. And trust is first earned by establishing warmth. Warmth is generated in part through body language, tonality, rapport-building, smiling, etc., and it's also established by focusing your questions on your client's needs. As you navigate through buyer consultations, it's essential to remember that this meeting isn't about showcasing your achievements—it's about tuning into your client's favorite station: WIIFM, or "What's In It For Me?" This approach is ...

As we approach the widespread adoption of buyer broker agreements, the need to refine our Buyer consultation and presentation skills is more critical than ever. With these changes just around the corner, our focus for June will be on enhancing the way we engage with potential buyers during these critical initial meetings. The key to successfully navigating these discussions? Trust. Trust: The Currency of All Real Estate Transactions In any sales scenario, the party that ...

Realtor friends, the recent legal developments impacting our industry have been a shot heard around the world. The  Sitzer|Burnett verdict finding the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and two large national brokerage brands guilty of colluding to fix commission pricing means that we must reassess our approach to our profession. With more lawsuits on the horizon and a changing landscape, there are some vital adjustments we need to make - immediately. Some of these changes ...

Realtor colleagues, we all have friends or acquaintances who are currently renting and should be homeowners. Perhaps they've voiced concerns about buying a home right now, especially given today’s higher interest rates. Perhaps they are concerned about prices relative to where they were just a few years ago.    They might be thinking, "I'll wait until the rates drop," or “I’ll wait until the market crashes and prices come down.” But as real estate professionals, ...

Today, you're going to discover a powerful strategy that can help you boost your internet lead conversion rate by a massive 55% (!). As a Realtor, you understand the challenge of transforming internet leads from a seemingly endless stream of impersonal data to actual humans with real buying and selling opportunities that can drive your business growth.    The strategy I'm going to share with you hinges on using video texts to bring a touch ...

Ok Realtor friends, the market of the moment has given us a short window of opportunity.    Today, we're going to discuss a strategy that is especially relevant in our current market climate: how to educate our home-buying clients, and in the process, create urgency for those buyers to make an offer in the next two weeks. Sound good? Let's dive in!   So what is that short window of opportunity for buyers in today’s ...

Hey there, Realtors! Thanks for reading another blog post from Lockbox, where we provide lessons in leads, listings, and leadership for Realtors. Today, I've got a hard truth to share with you:   Stop saying, "I'd love to be your Realtor!"    Why?   The cold truth is this: your prospects don’t care if you want to be their Realtor. It might be harsh, but it's a fact. The only person who cares about you being ...

Hello fellow Realtors!   How many of us have heard our buyer client say something like, "I don't want to overpay for my next house"? I’m willing to bet just about all of us! It’s a normal and valid concern for a buyer to have (I don’t want to overpay for anything, either!). At the time of writing this blog post, we are in a strong seller’s market, so we agents are hearing this objection ...

Realtors, many of us are leaving opportunities for repeat transactions, additional income, and priceless wealth-building lessons if we aren’t working with investors! If you are interested in working with more investors, read below to learn the four MUST-ASK questions to review with new investor clients before you start working with them. If you aren’t interested in working with investors, I invite you to read at least the next section and reconsider. 😀   Why Work ...