Maybe you or a friend or family member is  behind on their mortgage and are trying to figure out what it all means. Know it’s overwhelming. It’s confusing. And that help is available.  So let’s answer the question about what the difference is between Pre-Foreclosure and Foreclosure. And as a bonus, let’s also talk about what REO stands for and means.  Okay, let’s say that I am not able to afford the mortgage on my house. Most people believe that if you miss the mortgage payment on the 1st of the month then you are late. This is not true. You have a grace period until the 15th of ..read more

Best Lead Sources I have spent well over $2 million dollars in my career on leads. They are expensive, but ultimately they are an investment in yourself and your business.  Some lead sources are better than others. Others convert higher than others while others may cost less.  It’s about creating a strategy. Giving that strategy some time and staying consistent.  So let’s talk about a lot of lead sources. Let's talk about the pluses and minuses. And then in the end, I will talk to you about how I built out my company and where I saw my success. And we will talk about the lead so ..read more

Just Starting - Should you Join a Team?  A question that I get over and over again revolves around teams. And if you are new to real estate, then does it make sense to join a team?  It’s a tough question to answer for a couple of reasons. The first is that not all teams are created equal. So, quite frankly if it is a crappy team whose existence is to just feed the team leader that you are looking at, then it may make more sense to go it alone.  And then if you have a little bit of undisciplined natural tendencies, then being on your own may be your own worst enemy.  We are ..read more

The Best Option for Independents - REAL Private Label Have your cake and eat it too. That is what REAL has created with their Private Label program that is specifically designed to allow independent real estate agents to keep their identity while plugging into a larger model that is tech driven and eliminating liability.  I am getting a little ahead of my skis here. First let’s talk about what it is.  The REAL Private Label is a program that allows a brokerage to keep their name and their independence, but also allows them to be part of the REAL network.  It is essentially set u ..read more

Which Real Estate Companies Survive the Next Downturn? There is about to be a lot of change in our industry. So the question becomes, who survives? Everyone is talking about that. There is a lot of disagreement on what and how much is going to change. But time will tell with the best ideas and the best changed business models ultimately winning.  So let’s talk about what so few are wanting to talk about, let alone admit. A reduction in agent count AND a reduction in the amount of real estate companies.  I have heard some talk on the agent count, but no one has talked about the reduct ..read more

National Association of Realtors Settlement Myths The National Association of Realtors settled in a class action lawsuit. Once approved, the settlement will take effect in July. There have been declarations in the media about what the outcome of this settlement will be. The media has had a consistent drum beat that transacting real estate will become almost free, it will protect consumers and make homeownership affordable again.  This lawsuit does not do this. Let’s break down what they are saying and shine a little truth on the matter. Because the bad information is only adding to the ma ..read more

Join eXp Realty? THIS is a MUST know when considering joining eXp Realty. It's the ultimate eXp Realty Complaint! I am on record saying that the worst thing about eXp Realty are these what I call… Downline Silos. They are bad for the agents. They are bad for the company. And they ruin the company's culture.  Yes, this is my opinion and you should definitely do your own research to see if you agree.  But the downline silos are ultimately what will end up being the company's biggest downfall. Stick around because we are going to talk about exactly what a Downline Silo is and why they a ..read more

I will admit. I have been slow on getting a separate video out on this as I didn’t want to just react. I wanted to see how it was going to play out and see what other people were saying and what they would be doing as a reaction to what I would consider being the biggest development in our industry since at least the 20 years that I have been in it.  And the reactions have been surprising. I have the luxury of networking with some of the biggest teams in the country. These people are far more successful than I am. Smart folks that are the top in our industry. And I have been shocked by th ..read more

What Are You Going to Do?  So what are you going to do? The next buyer that calls to take a look at your listing or the next buyer that wants to see the house at 123 Main Street. So what are you going to do? We’ve been trained… For pretty much forever to go jump in our car and show them that house! Made sense because we were always pretty much guaranteed compensation if that buyer was to love that house and want to buy it.  But things changed. Now you are not guaranteed anything. Are you willing to work for free? Are you willing to use the gas in your car and take time away from your ..read more

YOUR Massachusetts Real Estate Market Update for April 2024 There is some big news from let's call it a correction from last month’s data. Two markets saw the price gains pull back while one market segment saw the appreciation rate grow.  The Massachusetts real estate market continues to be very strong… One of the strongest in the country. If you are looking to hear about the Massachusetts Real Estate Market data for Single Family Homes, Condos and Multi-Family properties… Then you are in the right place. The Spring market started a little earlier this year and it’s off to a big start. Th ..read more