by Shawn Boday | Mar 23, 2021 | Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Washington
Even though the first artificial intelligence AI programs begin to emerge in the 1950s, this technology had been the exclusive realm of computer scientists and leading-edge researchers. Today, however, it seems like we can’t talk about any subject or field wherein AI applications are not being discussed for their growing influence.
That includes the real estate sector. Those who don’t well understand AI can’t imagine how “intelligent machines” can have anything to do with buying a selling property. However, AI is doing nothing less than “transforming the real estate industry,” said Tara Mastroeni, a real estate writer for top media venues like Forbes and Business Insider.
We’ll forgo a tutorial on what exactly AI is here so that we can go right to describing key areas where AI is being used in real estate today.
Helping Agents Get More Clients
Real estate agents spend hours sifting through hundreds of e-mail inquiries and evaluating scads of people who contact via their websites and social media presence. The vast majority of these people are “unqualified” prospects who are likely to bog a busy agent down by wasting their time with half-baked intentions.
Now AI apps can be applied to these thousands of data points to pinpoint which prospects have the highest potential to convert into profitable clients.
Transforming Home/Property Research
Once again, webpages have been revolutionary in helping people searching for property. They offer an embarrassment of riches to choose from in just hours. Getting the same amount of data took days or weeks before the web. However, now that websites have proliferated to an enormous degree, wading through all that data means navigating a bottomless quagmire of information.
Here again, it’s AI to the rescue. AI apps can sift through gigantic amounts of relevant data posted across the internet and winnow out key data points finely attuned to the need of the property searcher. It makes real estate commerce vastly more efficient across the board.
Easier Property Valuation
This is an area where the “predictive” capability of AI comes into play. For example, an AI-driven “valuation model” can gather data from public records, an area’s transportation infrastructure, school district ratings, crime rate statistics, and much more — and use all of that to quickly nail down a value for a property in that area.
by Shawn Boday | Mar 17, 2021 | Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Washington
Technology is disrupting many industries. Even a sector as old as real estate is being affected. Here are some innovative real estate technologies that are changing the scene.
New Buy and Selling Platforms
Platforms like Redfin and Zillow are emerging. They’re making it easier for consumers to directly sell their house on their own, without an agent. “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) was previously difficult to do but the advent of the internet changed things. Real estate has very high fees, typically 5-6% of the selling price. These new platforms can save sellers a lot of money.
Virtual walkthrough
Sometimes potential buyers are in a faraway city. Or they’re unavailable during an open house. Either way, they’d benefit from a virtual walkthrough of the property. This is easy to do with some low-cost apps available.
With the technology available today, you can stage a property by digitally adding furniture. You can also create realistic photos even before construction starts.
Drones
Drones have already found a couple of use-cases in society. For real estate, they can be used for aerial photography. A flyby would be a great way to get a feel for a neighborhood.
As of now, it’s difficult to move a drone around a tiny, enclosed place. This means drones aren’t good for exploring the interior of a house.
Artificial Intelligence
Currently, you can plugin to the MLS (or another real estate database) that you want a studio or a four-bedroom house. In the future though, AI will be able to make recommendations based on your values, personality traits, and preferences.
Chatbots are rapidly improving every year. They’ll be able to answer questions from customers. Eventually, they’ll be able to accompany clients to real estate showings. An agent might be able to take on more clients or lower their fees.
Big Data
Along with AI, big data will assist in making personalized recommendations. The more data a company has, the better it can make data-driven decisions.
by Shawn Boday | Feb 1, 2021 | Business, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Seattle, Shawn Boday, Washington
For any Millenials considering or even beginning to scope the real estate world, you’re on the right track. Real estate investing is one of the smartest moves anyone could make, considering the versatility and potential returns. Investing in property comes with neat benefits like passive income, tax benefits, and full control over not only the property and your investment strategy but also your profits.
That being said, deciding to invest in property can be super daunting. Where do you start? What do you do with the property?
To nudge you in the right direction, here are some essential things that Millenial real estate investors should know before jumping in.
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Know your budget and credit score
While it’s not necessary to be wealthy to invest in real estate, having some savings will help buffer any risks from investing or at least reduce the uncertainty.
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Establish a financial goal and investment strategy
Know your goals and the best plan to get there. Generally, most investors don’t need to pay for an entire, say $250,000 property. This is for the Millenials who are still struggling to pay off school debt: don’t worry, you can invest as well. The cool thing about real estate investing is you can purchase most properties with a down payment, which tends to about 20% of the total price. Options like getting a bank loan or lending from a trusted partner are also helpful for millennial real estate investors with limited cash at their disposal.
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Scope the market
Knowing where to look for viable property options requires looking at patterns like population growth, rental demand, and job availability.
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Consider the type of property.
Here, you have a few choices at your disposal. The top types of real estate include single or multi-family properties, syndications, or buy & hold turnkey funds. Single or multi-family properties are in high demand and involves a short-term strategy. Syndications are larger, commercial properties with a group of investors, resulting in less risk. Turnkey real estate funds are longer-term investments that offer immediate passive income from tenants already living there.
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Research locations
When you know the type of property you’re looking for, it’s time to take a look at locations you’ve identified based on the real estate market. With your budget in mind, figure out if you want to flip a house or if you’d rather be a long-distance landlord for a turnkey property.
Above all, millennial real estate investors must continue learning and growing. While the first step is to try it out without hesitation, further education will make Millenials savvier in their real estate journey.
by Shawn Boday | Jan 25, 2021 | Business, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Seattle, Shawn Boday, Washington
The most popular choice among real estate investors, the single-family house, is well understood and profitable. Even in a market prone to recession, many people prefer single-family homes over condominiums, duplexes, or triplexes when it comes to investing. However, not everyone is delighted at the idea and wants to follow that route. Some investors may consider investing in multi-family units. And multi-family dwellings, especially with fewer units, tend to increase the value that matches closely with single-family homes, and their cash flow is a lot better compared to single-tenant dwellings.
This information talks about the details of finding a multi-family property and offers insight on why it can be a pleasing alternative.
Location, Location, Location
Location is of absolute importance in determining the value of a multi-family property. When the neighborhood has well-maintained lawns, quality homes, clean sidewalks, and proper signaling at intersections, it’s easier to find tenants. If there is construction activity in the neighborhood, it’s a sign of growing demand. On the flip side, if crime is on the rise in a particular area, people want to move away, reducing the neighborhood’s overall value. A change in zoning from residential to mixed-commercial use can result in a significant price reduction.
What is Inside Matters
The physical condition of the property, age, and structural stability have a noticeable effect on property value. The choice of paint color, cabinets, countertops, and flooring material matters too. The more bizarre the upgrades, the more likely that it’ll lose its market value. Likewise, the quality of craft, both in terms of original construction and recent upgrades, should be considered before purchasing a multi-family property.
Hiring a Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent can help find a multi-family property unless you insist on doing it yourself. With an agent’s assistance, you can easily wade through many unique situations, questions, and doubts that are usually not encountered in a typical single-family home buying. For example, your loan interest rate and type of purchase ( residential or commercial ) will depend on whether you are buying a duplex or an apartment with five or more units. Should you hire an accountant as well? Probably yes, if the number of units and complexity of your overall tax situation increase.
by Shawn Boday | Jan 15, 2021 | Business, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Seattle, Shawn Boday, Washington
Homeowners often buy and sell their property. The most important aspect of a house listing is to be seen by as many people as possible to increase a sale’s chances. Despite a general market saturation in the housing sector, it is possible to achieve a higher listing and to reach a wider audience with a few tips and tricks as outlined below.
Invest in SEO Marketing
Search Engine Optimization is a tool that, when used properly, gives homeowners a competitive edge when it comes to online searches increasing home showings. The house listing is prioritized through specific keyword searches. It is advisable to have several long keyword phrases that include the general scenery where the house is located.
Make use of a Lockbox.
A lockbox is becoming one of the avenues that are giving homeowners a competitive edge. It allows the agent to show the house to house hunting individuals even when you are not home. It should ideally be located close to the house so that the agent can have easy access to it while you are away.
Host an Open House Event
One way to pull in the masses to a house showing is to host an open house event. Employing channels such as social media, the local newspaper, and website listings will attract many interested buyers locally. During the event, it is crucial to keep the guests entertained by serving snacks, having brightly lit balloons and banners, and having a magician or clown entertain them.
Offer Time-bound Deals
Proposing a good deal that runs out in a limited time is another way to get people looking into the property. Scarcity induces demand. Since everybody wants a good deal, they will be more motivated to purchase soon if the offer is only on for a limited time.
Competitive Pricing
Any homeowner’s goal is to make the most amount of money they can from selling the property. However, sometimes pricing it at the higher points doesn’t work in favor of the home seller. Having a competitively priced house allows buyers to get it at the listing type’s estimated market value.
A combination of the above tips gives a home seller a competitive advantage, and the client handling the sale of the house can have a much smoother time as they coordinate the sale on behalf of the homeowner.
by Shawn Boday | Jan 1, 2021 | Business, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Seattle, Shawn Boday, Washington
The real estate business is one of the most lucrative fields today. From renting to leasing or buying properties, the world is growing at a swift pace. Real estate marketing is, therefore, very crucial for any agent or investor in the industry. You should invest in both online and offline marketing to ensure no market is left out. In this article, you will find some of the creative ways to market your real estate business.
Create a Professional website
You mustn’t create just any website, but a professional one, especially if your focus is on moving property. Ensure that your website is appealing and accessible. The quality of content on the website should encourage visitors to want to see more. Avoid stuffing it with too many ads, and nobody wants that. You can as well include listings on your site and make sure to keep them updated.
Get Social Media Marketing
Make use of all social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that 92% of real estate customers first use online platforms before consulting an actual agent. So make sure your social media pages are active and highlighting what you are offering. You can even engage social media influencers to help with marketing.
Engage Local Television and Radio Stations
With this, you are sure it will reach the target audience, but make sure you do it right. If you choose to advertise through television, make sure it is one with a large viewership of your target audience. Use appealing and quality images to show your clients what you have. If it is through the radio, give precise details of your location and properties. Do not forget to leave contacts in both.
Start a Blog on Matters Real Estate
If you are a real estate agent or investor and still do not have a blog on the topic, you miss out. It would be best to start a blog to give more details about your services and engage with your potential clients. It is a great way to interact with people and know what they need. From the blog, you can link your website where potential clients can find you.