Estate

8 Real Estate Blog Topics for Real Writing Inspiration

87% of buyers purchase their home through a real estate agent or broker.

This statistic proves real estate professionals hold a lot of influence on buyers. But with so many other real estate professionals out there, you’re under some serious competition. How do you rise above the masses?

It’s time to go digital! Revamping your website, optimizing technology such as drone imaging and virtual reality, and utilizing SEO can make the biggest impact. If you would rather start small, blogging about real estate can entice an audience and draw some serious leads.

What do you write about? Start with these 8 real estate blog topics!

1. Neighborhood Profile

Let’s say someone is moving to your town and have no knowledge of the area. They’re looking for a neighborhood profile to ensure they’re moving to a safe area with close proximity to jobs, schools, and other essentials.

In addition, writing a neighborhood profile will boost your credibility and will establish you as a trustworthy figure in the local real estate market.

For example, is there an up and coming area that’s driving younger people and many jobs? Write an article about that neighborhood and why it’s a great place to live.

You can also rate the best neighborhoods in your area. Break each list down by categories; for example, rate the best neighborhoods for families, the best neighborhoods for college students, and so on.

2. Current Market Insights

Are you in a buyer’s or a seller’s market? This is information your clients will like to know. Keep an updated blog about market insights.

You can also research other topics that relate to the market and home buying and selling process. For example, did you learn that mortgage interest rates are rising? Do some research and educate your clients so they know what to expect.

Market insights can also be more specific and nichey. For example, did you discover a high-priced area now sells more affordable housing? Be the first realtor to report this and get that commission!

3. The Best Places to Own a Business

Real estate blogging isn’t limited to residential real estate.

If you offer commercial real estate, reach out to your business owner clients. They will want an expert opinion on the best places to own a business and other information regarding buying commercial property.

If you cater to a wider market, you can report specific cities where business owners will thrive. If you stick to one specific area, focus on certain districts such as a downtown area.

You can also interview business owners and discover what they say. For example, a restaurant owner may state they receive a lot of customers or a store may state they’ve been getting better foot traffic after moving to a new location.

4. Best Jobs in the Area

While this topic doesn’t fall in line with real estate, your potential clients want to ensure there are jobs close by to where they’re moving. Do some research and speak to surrounding businesses about the hottest jobs in that neighborhood.

You can also report on specific markets. For example, if your clients prefer living in an area that’s close to a busy area, discover the local businesses that are in walking distance.

Or maybe you target clients who make good money but are still young. Discover businesses catering to tech, marketing, and other high-demand and well-paying jobs.

5. Home Seller Spotlight

Do you have a client who is selling an amazing home? Write a feature on their property!

Interview the seller and ask questions such as recent renovations or what they loved most about their home, and then emphasize those features in your article. Include information such as square footage, bedrooms/bathrooms, and other useful information such as whether or not the house has a pool.

You can also offer additional insight that will help the buyer. For example, you and the seller can explain how they determined the buying price and if you’re willing to negotiate.

6. Listing Spotlights

Listing spotlights shouldn’t be limited to one home seller. Blog about all of your listings! But spice them up — don’t settle for a general “new listings” section.

Instead, find interesting categories. If you noticed more buyers are interested in condos, write a blog about the best condos on the market.

Let’s say you discovered amazing patios are the new feature that home buyers want. Make a list of the home listings with the best patios to interest these buyers.

7. Write a Guest Post

While this won’t go on your blog, writing a guest post is a great way to improve your blog’s SEO and gain backlinks.

Partner up with a website that isn’t a competitor. For example, find a local news website or a website that accepts guest blogs from local businesses. Write a blog about real estate or your business and include a link to your website and blog.

Your backlinks will be crawled by Google, helping improve your SEO ranking. The content you write will also benefit the publisher website, helping their website rank too.

8. Real Estate Investing Philosophy and Advice

Do you target real estate investors? 

First, identify a target audience. Do you cater to beginner investors? Or do you attract experienced investors who are maybe going through a dry spell or want to improve their strategy?

From here, decide on the pieces of advice you want to share. For beginner investors, write blogs about finding the best properties to invest in or how to make connections with other real estate professionals.

For experienced investors, offer advice on increasing your sales and information about doing a 1031 exchange to avoid taxes, which you can read here.

These Real Estate Blog Topics Will Improve Your Blog

No matter what sector of realty you’re in, there’s always a way to find new clients and improve your digital presence. If you run a blog, these real estate blog topics will take you to the top!

Need more content and writing advice? We offer even more advice to amp up your blogging game!

How to Start a Real Estate Business: Your Complete Guide

Have you been thinking about entering the real estate profession? The real estate business is lucrative.

Agents can rake in high commissions in a matter of weeks. Did you know the average earnings for a real estate agent in New York is $102K a year? 

But these high commissions come with wisdom and expertise. Navigating the real estate industry can be complex and overwhelming. Especially for buyers and sellers. 

That’s why both parties need knowledgable real estate professionals to guide them.

In this post, you’ll learn the steps to gaining this knowledge and how to begin building a profitable real estate business.

Keep reading!

1. Know Your Neighborhoods

It’s no secret that real estate is a competitive industry. It’s unlikely you’ll be the only real estate agent in your area when you start your company.

To be successful, you need to assess your knowledge, experience, strengths, and weaknesses.

After doing a thorough examination, you can learn more about the area to position yourself better in the marketplace.

Here are some questions to consider:

• How fast are homes selling in each neighborhood?
• What is the mean of selling prices from block to block?
• Are sale prices close to asking prices?
• Are there any conditions in the neighborhood that is affecting the real estate market?
• Are some streets safer than others?

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the market where you intend to set up your real estate business. Having a handle on the market will put you ahead of the competition.

Stand Out Among the Competition

Your expertise will present you as an established professional. Knowing the cities, towns and surrounding neighborhoods where you’ll match buyers to sellers is key.

You must know a market analysis, accurate data for schools, crime rates and the reputation and characteristics of each neighborhood.

Mastering this knowledge will give you a leg up on the competition. And help buyers and sellers refer you to their friends and family.

Another important point for success is knowing your competition. Perform some research about how other real estate businesses approach selling in this market.

You can join online forums, join professional real estate groups, attend industry seminars and workshops or research real estate industry publications and news online.

2. Specialize in a Market Niche

Another way to make your real estate business stand out is to specialize in a niche market. A niche is an area of specialization. For example, would you prefer selling to investors, developers or target the residential market? 

Or do you want to focus on a certain geographical area like the upper east side of Manhattan? Maybe you want to specialize in selling coops or condominiums?

Does becoming the expert in short sales and foreclosures pique your interest? If not, maybe you want to narrow your interests to rental properties or retirement communities.

When you narrow your interests to a specific niche, you’ll have a better chance of success.

3. Get a Real Estate License

If you’ve never worked in real estate, you’ll need to obtain a real estate license to begin selling or renting properties as a licensed realtor.

Every state requires agents to be licensed. But before you take the real estate exam required in your state, you’ll need to enroll in a prelicensing real estate program.

The program will teach you the subject areas and the topics you’ll need to know for the exam and for operating a real estate business.

Here are some of the instructional content taught in real estate programs:

• Types of  property ownership
• Titles, deeds, and contracts
• Fair housing laws
• Fiduciary responsibilities
• How to work with financial lenders
• Real estate laws
• Federal laws

Keep in mind, rules, and regulation may vary from state to state, depending on the state where you will practice real estate.

After you pass your licensing exam, you’ll need to submit a licensing application. The state where you reside may also require you to submit fingerprints and a background check.

Once your application is approved, you will pay the licensing fees to become a licensed real estate agent. Then you may be hired by a real estate company or broker.

4. Write a Business Plan

Once you’re ready to open up a real estate business, you’ll need a business plan. A business plan is a document that outlines your goals for your entire business and how you will achieve them.

This document will detail how you plan to operate your business and accomplish each objective. In your business plan, be as specific as possible.

While your business plan doesn’t need to be 50 pages long, it does need to present an action plan with dates and milestones on how you’ll reach your goals.

5. Get a Business Insurance Policy

Many new business owners overlook the importance of protecting their real estate business with an insurance policy.

The insurance may cover your business for theft, fire, intellectual property litigation, property damage, and other coverages.

It’s essential to obtain insurance before you incur claims. This will protect your business in the event of a claim or accident.

When you’re advising a real estate client, they can sue you for professional malpractice. When you’re covered, it can be the difference in keeping your business running or having to close your doors.

6. Set Up an Attractive and Functional Website

A website can be a key moneymaker for your real estate business. It can attract people to your website and convert leads into paid customers.

To drive leads to your business and keep them, you’ll need a website that’s attractive, functional, easy to navigate with links that go to the right pages.

Your website should also be created with responsive design so it looks great on any device. You’d be surprised at how many real estate companies drive potential clients ways because of basic real estate website mistakes.

Time to Start a Real Estate Business!

Now you know the steps to building a successful real estate business. Put them to use and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to high commissions!

Need more business tips? Keep reading our blog.

Popping on Camera: 5 Awesome Video Tips for Real Estate Marketing

Are you looking for new ways to spread the word about your real estate business?

Whether your real estate business is brand new or has been around for years, video marketing can help you expand your reach and bring in all kinds of new buyers and sellers.

Even if you’ve never made a video before in your life, you can benefit from video marketing.

Read on for some tips that will help you get the hang of using video for real estate marketing.

Benefits of Video for Real Estate Marketing

What makes video marketing so special? 

There are lots of reasons why real estate companies like Westbrook REI are turning to video marketing, including the following:

• You can showcase houses in a new and interesting way
• You can bring in new clients who might not be interested in reading content online
• You can enhance your click-through and open rates
• You can improve your online search engine rankings

Video can also help you to build trust with your audience and foster deeper connections.

Top Five Video Tips

As you can see, there are lots of reasons to use video as part of your real estate marketing efforts. If you’re new to the world of video, start by giving these tips a try:

1. Focus on Video Quality

When you’re putting together marketing videos, quality is key. Invest in some high-quality recording equipment so you can put out clear videos with great audio. You might even want to hire a part-time videographer to do the actual filming for you.

2. Plan Your Videos Ahead of Time

A good video marketing strategy takes some planning. If you want to have quality content to put out on a regular basis, you need to plan ahead. Take time to think about the types of videos you want to make and when you want to post them.

3. Tell a Story

It helps to get personal in your videos. Sure, you could post video tours of the houses you sell and leave it at that. If people feel a connection with you, personally, though, they’re going to be more inclined to think of your business when they’re buying or selling a house.

4. Use Testimonials

Testimonials are a powerful tool on their own, and video testimonials take things up a notch. Record short videos of your satisfied clients and display on your website and social media profiles.

5. Keep Your Videos Short

Finally, make sure your videos are kept short. Most video experts find that a video that lasts 2-3 minutes is optimal for holding people’s attention and getting your main points across. 

Looking for More Marketing Advice?

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll soon be an expert at using video for real estate marketing.

Are you interested in learning more marketing tips and tricks? If so, we have tons of articles that will teach you everything you need to know about promoting your business, both online and in person.

Start by checking out this article on real estate blog ideas. It’ll help you bust through writer’s block and start appealing to your audience in a brand new way!

What’s In It For Me? The Payoff of Real Estate Online Advertising

Many people probably remember seeing Realtors(R) faces on bus benches.

It was just the way they used to advertise and bring in new clients. That image signified a great deal of pressure for the Realtor(R). Their smiling face had to be convincing enough to tell the client, they were trustworthy.

The internet, however, has changed real estate online advertising. Realtors(R) can now rely on the internet for their marketing strategies to bring in new business.

When you advertise online you’re trying to sell a lifestyle. Your goal is to make potential clients imagine themselves in their dream home.

If you want to make their dreams come through, we’ve put together a guide to help you do it.

Digital Means Trackable

The digital era has made it possible for real estate online advertising to reach more people than old-school advertising. With the use of Facebook accounts, companies are able to track the number of shares and followers. As well as Twitter and Instagram.

Google Analytics keeps track of daily page visits, time spent on the site, and places where people click.

With previous marketing campaigns such as bus benches and newspaper adds it was more difficult to track the audience reached. The problem with newspapers and magazine adds, is only readers from a certain age and demographic.

Pay-Per-Click Real Estate Online Advertising

Pay-per-click is a type of online advertising and they also appear near the google searches. This advertising model ensures the client only pays when the advertisement results in a lead.

If the real estate company doesn’t get a click on their ad, then they don’t have to pay for it. It’s a way to create cheaper and more effective promoting.

Pinterest Advertising

Pinning has become so popular and for those who advertise, nearly 30% have an annual income of over 100K. Realtors(R) can see an increase in their number of visitors if they sign up for Pinterest.

The boards are part of why Pinterest attracts so many people. Real estate agents can post pictures of their projects in boards to attract buyers and sellers.

Boards titled dream home, style and decor, city apartments and such attract many views that can lead directly to a real estate site.

Instagram Interactions

Instagram has over 300 million users. These users are active and like to participate in the conversation. What a better way to attract more clients than interact with them.

You can attract more followers by using the right hashtags and following the newest trends. Instagram users are always looking to follow trendy images.

Instagram often works by word of mouth. The user who sees your image might not be the one buying, but with the use of a button.

They can tell a friend “Click here” and the Realtor(R) can find a new client.

Ready to Advertise

It’s time to put these new skills to work and see your online real estate traffic increase. The use of Pinterest and Instagram will make your company more visually appealing.

Taking advantage of the internet is a smart way to create new advertising and marketing campaigns for your real estate company. And only pay for the advertising that will give you clicks and results.

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the blog and learn a few more tricks

How to Use Facebook Ads For Real Estate

Real estate agents have so much to gain from Facebook advertisements. Their targeting capabilities are much more precise than those of other social media platforms.

Not only can Facebook ads find your audience through behavioral and demographic targeting, they’re also low in cost.

However, many agents still aren’t on board with this trend. So, those who are willing to take the risk will gain a competitive advantage over other realtors.

But, as with all marketing plans, you need to have a strategy. Here’s how you should utilize Facebook ads for real estate.

“Likely to Move”

Backed by behavioral data, Facebook now has categories of people who are “Likely to Move”.

This data comes from online and offline research. It also is generated through partners associated with the platform.

People who have visited real estate sites recently will appear in this category. Those who have posted about first-time house buying will be included, as well.

From there, you can even further segment your audience. You can narrow it down based on age, household income, and geography.

Facebook strategically places adds to accounts that fit their “Likely to Move” category. This means you’re not wasting dollars advertising on people who haven’t expressed interest in moving.

Say you’re in the West with ranches for sale and want to reach interested buyers. You can specifically target those who have looked up ranches in the area.

Don’t Only Use Facebook Ads for Real Estate Shoppers

Direct your advertisements to mortgage brokers, too.

Why?

Because targeting mortgage brokers means you’re increasing your chance of referrals.

Facebook also allows you to narrow down your target by job title. Simply input ‘mortgage broker’ into the ad’s search engine, and voila! You’ll reach a whole new audience.

You don’t want to spend a great deal of money on those uninterested in buying or selling. But, reaching certain niche audiences can really boost your reputation.

You may also consider advertising to those with the following job titles: processor, closer, and refinance advisor.

Coordinate with Traditional Efforts

Since you’re targeting a specific area, you should implement traditional strategies at these places, too.

Sure, much of what comes in through direct mail is tossed in the garbage. But, traditional marketing can be much more effective when combined with digital efforts.

It’s no question that consumers require multiple opinions before making a purchase. That means they need to make several types of impressions with your company.

So, if you’re spending the money on Facebook ads, you should also coordinate around your standard tactics. Send your post cards and other direct mail ads to tenants in the same area codes.

It’s ideal to begin your Facebook efforts just before you send out your direct mail. Then, keep those ads running for some time afterward to maximize exposure.

Get Things Started

So, you’ve learned how to manage Facebook ads for real estate. What’s your next digital marketing strategy?

If you’re looking to drive more traffic, leads, and sales to your page, join us at Article City to receive premium content from our amazing team of writers.

2017’s Hottest Hawaiian Real Estate Trends

Did you know that Hawaii has the lowest real property tax in the United States?

Compared to New Jersey, the state with the highest property taxes at $4,189, Hawaii’s annual taxes on a $178,600 home is $487!The average American household spends $2,149 on property taxes for their homes annually according to the US Census Bureau.

Yet, the average American household spends $2,149 on property taxes for their homes annually, according to the US Census Bureau.

Are you now interested in real estate in Hawaii? Read on to know the hottest Hawaiian real estate trends for this year.

Read on to know the hottest Hawaiian real estate trends for this year.

2017 Real estate in Hawaii trends

1. The market is heating up

Hawaii is leading the way in terms of home sales and maturing values.

Hawaii natives are moving to new cities, upgrading or downsizing, while buyers from the mainland are moving to the island full-time or securing a seasonal vacation home.

Thanks to a more robust economy, demand is going to continue to increase. Experts believe that more people will gravitate towards the Big Island and Maui in particular.

Maui is said to be perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, as well as those looking for laid-back, family-friendly place to live.

2. Single-family home and condo sales will continue to surge

In 2016, the median sales price of single-family homes on Oahu hit a record high, reaching $760,000 in June. Meanwhile, condo sales jumped 8.4 percent to 5,449 units sold compared to 5,028 units in 2015.

On Kauai, there were 568 single-family home sales in 2016, while there was a 1 percent increase in the sales of condominiums compared to units sold in 2015.

On the Big Island, there were 2,297 single-family homes sold last year and sales of condos jumped 6.6 percent to 707 sales in 2016.

Local market experts have good reason to believe that this trend will continue to be strong for 2017.

3. Oahu luxury real estate sales are up

When it comes to real estate in Hawaii, it’s not just single-family homes and condos that are seeing strong sales.

On Oahu, a total of 35 luxury homes were sold last January 2017, which was twice the number sold in 2016. Of these, 16 luxury properties sold in the $1.5 million to $1.9 million price range, 12 were in the $2 million to $2.9 million price range, three were in the $3 million to $3.9 million price range, and four were in the $5 million and above price range.

With the number of luxury properties in escrow at the end of January, strong sales are expected to continue in the upcoming months of 2017.

4. Interest rates on mortgages are going up.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on mortgages by a quarter of a point last December 2016. From a low of 3.5 percent to 4.25 percent for a 30-year, fixed rate loan, mortgage rates have increased.

What does this mean? If you’re waiting to see if the prices will decrease, you may want to hurry up and lock in a low rate while you still can.

5. Downsizing or right-sizing?

In downtown Honolulu, more couples are opting for condos and selling their larger homes. Right-sizing is said to be a great option for couples whose children have grown up and flown the coop.

With the currently strong market, it’s a good time to sell. Plus, there are plenty of activities such as walking and biking in the downtown and Chinatown area, not to mention the booming food and arts scene.

Need more info on real estate in Hawaii?

We know where to look. Whether you are presently looking to snap up a hot property in Hawaii or just shopping around for something that could suit you in the future, you can count on BHHS to get you there.

Download the BHHS Hawaii Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or go to their Contact us page to see open house properties on sale now.