Warning to consumers: this may be boring, as this post is written to my colleagues and not for the public. 

It's raining here in Westchester County, and Hurricane Irene has brought a rare thing: some time off. My phone has barely rung all weekend, and in between battening down the hatches for the storm, I have been able to take a breather from a schedule that has been frantic for the lion's share of August. I missed the hubbub about market reports on Active Rain, and since none other than Bob Stewart has praised me for my own market reports, I thought I would add my two cents to the dialog. 

First, market reports are a good thing for any real estate blogger who wants to be seen by their local public as a go-to person for information. They are also good for SEO, and another little fringe benefit is that they make you more knowledgeable about your market. They seldom get many clicks or comments and almost never appear on the feature dashboard, but that is not their purpose. Market reports build your business. I know this firsthand. So here is how I write a market report:

• Be specific. Choose a clear area and time period, such as a school district, town or city, and make the report for a month, quarter, or week. And differentiate what property type you are covering, because in my area a 2-bedroom co-op apartment can cost $150,000 and a 2-bedroom house can be $400,000. They deserve separate coverage. 
• With regard to charts and graphs, less is more. People glaze over after more than one graph. At least, I do. The good folks at Altos Research, as well as many MLS systems, can give you the means to do some excellent graphics, it just isn't necessary to post a statistical Sistine Chapel to make your point. 
• Add some commentary. Don't just post data and leave people to interpret it. That's work, and I have enough of it on my own. What's the bottom line? What should we conclude? Are we up from last year or are we down? I always compare my time period to that of the prior year at the same time, and I let my readers know if volume is up or down, and how median price is faring as well. This makes the mundane report actually readable. 
• Sell the area. Post a photo of downtown or a nice neighborhood. Talk about a listing you sold there recently, or how popular the place is for foodies, dog lovers or movie buffs. Great restaurants, parks and cultural attractions matter as much as median price. One village near me, Pleasantville, NY, has all of the above and a centrally located metro north train station right in the heart of the village, making it a great commuter community. Don't keep these facts a secret in market reports. 
• Keep it simple. Facts, overall message, and a pretty photo are three calling cards of my own reports. Median price, number of sales, how we fared compared to last year and what the outlook is for buyers and sellers are the elements I use. You aren't figuring out the efficacy of bringing in a Home Depot to a boardroom of suits, you are telling a local owner if the time is right to sell or a buyer 30 minutes away if this is where they might see opportunity. 
• Link to your prior posts on the area. This shows people all your commentary on the place, and if they are interested in the area they'll spend a good deal of time reading you. This is where tags are crucial.  
• Wrap it up with a call to action. If you have an IDX solution, link to it. THIS IS THE POINT. 
• Syndicate. Tweet it with the town hashmark (#Scarsdale), link to it on your Facebook business page, and submit it to other media. Email it to clients or prospects. 

A few other thoughts: Market reports on an area where you'd like to gain market share can help you do so without spending a dime, because you'll not only establish a body of content on the place, you'll know the market pretty damn well after writing regular reports. They also help sell your listings in an area where you have inventory, because people googling a locale will find you if you post consistently on the place. 

 

I understand the decision by the folks in Seattle wanting to give the community a point incentive for market reports. Hyper local has always been content they have encouraged (ever hear of localism? Raincamp?), and with 210,000+ members and being in the blog platform business, they want their customers to succeed. One thing I have discovered is that people seldom do what they probably should (I have 22 agents, only a handful who blog, and few of my direct competitors have taken it up, even after having lunch with me), so a point incentive makes plenty of sense. 

 

There. You just got the keys to the kingdom. Bust a move. 

 

 

Subscribe to J. Philip's Real Estate Blog by Email

 

 

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All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

Are you planning to get married and buy a home in Colorado, but wonder where your down payment funds will come from?

FHA has a Bridal Registry program where the money you receive as a wedding present can be used towards your down payment. Just like registering at a specialty or department store, the FHA Bridal Registry program allows you to register with a lender. Then your friends and family are able to make gift payments into an interest bearing account on your behalf.

It's a win win! Not only can your gifts earn interest, but they can be used as a down payment towards an FHA Loan.

Bridal Registry Guidelines

Bridal Registry Accounts were originally introduced in 1996, but still remain a little known fact when it comes to down payment assistance. The misunderstanding of how this program works might be the fact that it was originally only allowed by banks. Soon after, FHA modified the program and offered new flexible options and the opportunity for the newlywed to set up the account at any bank. Plus, newlyweds are now able to make deposits on their own from the gifts they receive.

Here's how it works in 3 simple steps:

• You will open a savings account at your bank prior to the wedding
• Friends and family will be given the banking information where the gifts will be deposited
• All of the gift funds can go towards the FHA required 3.5% down payment
• Anyone with an interest in the purchase cannot be party to the gift funds (i.e. realtor)
• There is no requirement that you be married prior to closing on your new home

Another huge advantage is that there are no gift letters or other documentation required other than proof of your savings account named "bridal registry account." It's that simple!

 

AGENTS:  Marketing Ideas to Spread the Word in Your State

• Explain it on your website
• Blog about it
• Let your “to-be-married couples” know about it
• Send an email to past clients
• Attend wedding fairs & distribute brochures
• Mention it at your homebuyer seminars

The great news about this program is it is available Nationwide!

 

 

To learn more: Check out our FREE Top 20 Homebuyer Secrets that can save you thousands of dollars! Plus browse our Home Buying Resources section and fill-out a free no-obligation secure online application or call us in Colorado Springs, Colorado at 719.387.1368 with any questions.

Bad credit or No credit? Check out our Credit Repair Program and get started on the path to homeownership today!

Overcome loan application stage fright by reading my Simple Steps to a Complete FHA Loan Application

Newlyweds say "I DO" to FHA Bridal Registry Gift Funds was written by Rebekah Radice.

 

Rebekah's Mortgage Grapevine (unashamed plug) provides insight, education and musings on anything from mortgage lending and real estate, to social media, marketing and all things relevant to your everday success! If you want to learn lots of cool things, have your thoughts provoked, AND be entertained, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to the right! 

 

Want to know more about me?  Just Google Me! 

 

 

Rebekah Radice | Mortgage Loan Originator

T: 719.387.1368 | Email: rebekah@rebekahradice.com | Website: http://rebekahradice.com |CO & NMLS Licensee: LMB100010938 & 288596 | Benchmark Mortgage dba Ark-La-Tek Financial Services, LLC | 12 E. Kiowa |Colorado Springs, CO 80903

 

FREE Marketing, Sales & Success Strategies for Colorado Real Estate Agents:

Find Me Online!

 

Recent Articles from Rebekah's Blog

6 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website or Blog

How to Use LinkedIn to Generate Real Estate Business

What Happened to My Loan Approval

Top 5 Reasons You Should Blog on Active Rain

 

 

Will Exterior Lighting Help A Home Sell - Originally posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog

 

 

Have you ever given thought to how your home looks after the sun goes down? When people sell their home, most of the attention focuses on how it will look during the day. Curb appeal and overall presentation are obviously important to making a positive impression on potential buyers. However, some buyers really care how a home looks at night and appealing to these folks may help sell your home.

IS YOUR HOME BRIGHT AT NIGHT?

In the past, I never really gave much thought to how a home looks at night. Recently though, one of our luxury home buyers changed the way we now think about the subject. This particular buyer mentioned that having a well lit home was very important to him and was a key criteria for choosing a home. He mentioned several reasons:

First, he worked long hours and wanted his new home to look beautiful when he pulled into his driveway at night. Second, he and his wife entertained a lot and wanted the home to give a positive impression when guests came over in the evening. Finally, he wanted the home to provide an additional layer of security for his family. Even though they were looking to purchase in an upscale neighborhood, the buyer didn't want his wife and young children coming home to a dark home.

WHAT CAN A SELLER DO?

Here are a few tips for home sellers to add to their home's "night appeal":

1. Keep The Lights On - Make sure all bulbs are working and keep the outside lights on during the evening hours while the home is on the market. You never know if a potential buyer will be driving around the area at night checking things out, so be prepared.

2. Make Sure Street Lights Are Operable - In most cases, there will be street lights located strategically throughout a neighborhood. Drive around at night and make sure they are all working properly. If not, have your local city fix them.

3. Add Exterior Lighting - If you don't have anything more than the standard outdoor lighting that came with the home, adding flood lights, pathway lights, accent lights, and other specialty lighting isn't overly expensive, but could have a dramatic effect. There are actually some great "green" options available like LED lighting, and the monthly electric bill for these is minimal.

Getting a home sold is not always an easy task, so looking at every angle to help your home stand out is important. Who knows, you may be just a few lights away from a sale.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman service the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

 

 

 

 LET'S CONNECT:

 

Will Exterior Lighting Help A Home Sell is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©May, 2011

One of a real estate agent's main fiduciary duties to a client is confidentiality. I don't think anyone could dispute how important this is. So why then do so many people breach it on Facebook and other social media?

I have seen a ton of agents do it every day on Facebook, posting things like:

"My listing on __________ just got a showing for the first time in over month."

"Just sold my new listing in 10 days! Now sellers need to buy quick...does anyone have something coming up in the _________area?"

"My first-time buyers are negotiating on yet another home, hope the third time is a charm."

 

Before I discuss what is wrong here ( Note: I am NOT an attorney and nothing here should be construed as legal advice or interpretation of the law ), let me share this from the Ohio Revised Code 4735.51 regarding the definition of confidential information:

"All information that a client directs to be kept confidential or that if disclosed would have an adverse effect on the client's position in the real estate transaction, except to the extent the agent is required by law to disclose such information, and all information that is required by law to be kept confidential."

All of the examples above may seem fairly harmless, but could very well be deemed a breach of client confidentiality. Sure, this information may be irrelevant to many people on Facebook, but what if a local agent who you are "friends" with happens to see your posts. Could any of this information hurt your clients' position if in the wrong hands? I know if I were buying or selling a home, I wouldn't want my agent sharing anything about my situation on Facebook.

I'm not saying that agents are committing major crimes on Facebook and Twitter, I am merely suggesting that people think long and hard about their fiduciary duties before posting things. Just use common sense. I realize that everyone wants to tell the world how busy they are with buyers and sellers, but just be careful what you are sharing.

Confidentiality is owed to our buyers and sellers, so let's not let our exuberance over social media overshadow our sacred duty to our valued clients.

 

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

If you enjoyed this article, here are some others that may interest you as well:

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

Is Zillow Really Accurate? Take A Look For Yourself

*********************************************************************************

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman service the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.

 

 LET'S CONNECT:

 

Is Social Medial Killing Confidentiality is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©March, 2011

 

Disclaimer: The Schuman Team practices real estate in Ohio. Since many states have different laws and protocol regarding a real estate transaction, we recommend consulting a qualified local legal professional prior to entering into any written agreement. This blog contains observations and opinions related to our first hand experience working with buyers and sellers in Ohio, but should not be construed as legal advice.  Accuracy is not guaranteed.  

 

If you live in Carmel Indiana, and whether you are buying your first home, moving up or downsizing there are many questions we are frequently asked.  I thought it would be good to go over the Top 5 and in another post I'll go over the Top 5 Selling Questions.

1. When is the best time to buy a home in Carmel?
2. Why do I need a Realtor® to help me, I've done this before.
3. How can I find a great deal; there are a lot of foreclosures out there right now.
4. What is the process to buy, how much does it cost?
5. How will I know what the right price is for the home?

Let's start with "When is the Best Time to Buy a Home in Carmel, Indiana?"

Now!  If you are a first time buyer, that is definitely true.  With the passage of the Economic Stimulus package and the $8,000 that will be given to first time home buyers, it is the very best time to buy.  I hold a first time home buyers class every month on the last Saturday of the month.  If you are thinking about buying a home, this is an excellent time to spend 90 minutes with me, a home inspector, a lender and a home decorator to learn.

Even if you are not a first time home buyer, chances are it will affect you.  The first time home buyers will come into the market and buy homes of move up or downsizing sellers and then those people will in turn buy new homes. 

If we look at the days on market over the last year for Real Estate in Carmel; we can see the average length of time a home stays on the market is less than 90 days.  Only in the first quarter when it is very cold do we see numbers over 90 days.  This graph is from February 08 through January 09. 

So in summary, the best time to buy a home in Carmel is now.  The interest rates are still very low, the inventory is high, sellers are motivated and we will start to see movement with the Economic Stimulus benefit for first time home buyers.

    

 

     

 Cindy "in Indy" Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775

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Let's Connect!

Pros and Cons of Real Estate Signage on Your Car 

Real estate marketing has undergone significant growth in the last few years, not just counting the on-line stuff you can do. You see billboards, bus benches, grocery shopping carts, ads on moving trucks, and more and more on agents' cars. 

There are some pros and cons to advertising on your car, and in addition to sharing my own thoughts, I hope folks will share their ideas and experiences. 

There are license plates, whole car wraps, magnetic door signs, rear windshield signage, and bumper stickers. Some people completely paint their cars. 

Are there pros and cons?

PROS

Car signage is obvious to many others when you are out and about town, perhaps hundreds a day. You never know who might see it and call. Or tell someone they know.

 

It's different - relatively speaking, car signage, IMO, is fairly uncommon so you will stand out. I suppose the more dramatic and obvious the better but perhaps over the top is too much?

 

CONS

IF YOU ARE A BAD DRIVER, cut someone off, or drive recklessly folks will certainly have a bad impression about you as a REALTOR. Better be on best behavior. You might even get reported to the cops. 

The good thing is it's obvious. But for some situations, the bad thing is IT'S OBVIOUS What if a seller does not want neighbors to know yet that they are considering putting their home on the market? You drive up for your presentation, and poof, the secret is out. I have had a couple of sellers ask me about car signage (my license plate is SELS HMZ and my name is on the plate holder with my company and phone #), so I now make it a habit to always ask before I drive over. I have parked some distance away or taken my other car if needed.

POTENTIAL DAMAGE to the car finish in the case of magnetic signage. I think much of this has been taken car of with new types of signs, but I suppose the risk is still there. The advantage is they can easily be taken off when you don't want them I think.

 

Like any other marketing about you and your business, you have to be careful of spelling, of course. I know someone who has substantial signage on their car (not RE) and there is a typo. Hmmm. 

And you certainly can't do some types of advertising on a leased vehicle. 

Anyone have other thoughts on why or why not do auto signage?

 

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, the housing market, or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

Serving Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego

Carlsbad Breaking News ~ Oceanside Breaking News ~ Encinitas Breaking News

All content ©Copyright by Jeff Dowler. All rights reserved.

It seems that just about every decent restaurant these days has a “receipt survey” in place. You know the kind I’m talking about, right? When I’m trying to pay for my meal, I get a long receipt with a code highlighted near the bottom.

It’s always a little awkward when the server says, “Visit our site and use this code and you will be entered into a drawing to win something useless to you.”

Okay. I know they don’t really say that, but that’s what I hear.

What are the exceptions for me, if any? What would cause me to actually visit the site and use the super-long encrypted code?

That’s easy. There are exactly two occasions when I would bother to follow through:

1. The service was phenomenally good.
2. The service was horrendous.

Everything else falls into the lukewarm spectrum in between.  Is this really candid or valuable in any way?

With that in mind, how can restaurants (and other businesses, for that matter) get a handle on how they’re actually doing? Unlike the title of this post, I wouldn’t advocate actual, in-person eavesdropping.

 

I have another idea for them (and for you, too, if you're in the real estate industry), and it can be done free of charge. You can easily use some simple online tools to get a feel for what people are saying about you. Believe me, if you do much business at all, someone is having a conversation about you and your company.

If nothing else, you probably have a handful of terms that you're interested in tracking when they are mentioned, correct?  If not, we need to talk.  :-)

Here are a couple of places to get you started:

1. Set up Google Alerts (http://google.com/alerts) for your company name or the names of your competitors. If people are writing blog posts that mention how terrible your service is, you might be interested in knowing this.  Conversely, if someone is a raving fan, figure out a way to reward them somehow, both publicly (thank them on your blog) and privately (take them to lunch!).  QUICK TIP: Make sure you put your name or company name in quotes (e.g. "Jason Crouch" rather than Jason Crouch) or you will get every result for each individual word.

2. Use Facebook’s “deep search” function. Many people don’t even know this exists. Use the “SEARCH” box on Facebook and put in your company name (or your personal name).  A dropdown menu may appear there automatically.  If so, make sure you click on the “See More Results for ______ Here”, which will be the bottom result on that list.  The results could surprise you.  Try out your town and "moving" as an initial search.

3. Utilize http://search.twitter.com - the “advanced search” gives you a lot of options. Again, you could be surprised by what you see, and how easy it is to join the conversation with a prospect.

Of course, there are plenty of others, some of which are professional (read: paid) in nature.

If you need help understanding how to leverage social media tools to help you improve your company’s online presence and make more sales, let me know how I can help.  I love this stuff!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilt/2517652/

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

                 

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  If you're interested in social media training, visit 210 Consulting. Thanks!

Could a Social Media Web site be a threat to the dominance of the Google Search Engine?

Facebook has introduced a new revolutionary shift in the evolution of the Internet with its announcement last week at the f8 developer conference of their soon-to-be-ubiquitous “Open Graph” initiative - a new form of “social links.”

The launch of this new platform allows Web sites to drive traffic from Facebook by including a "Like" or “Recommended” button on their pages. Facebook's Open Graph allows readers to like a topic or article, thereby sharing it with their Facebook friends and in some cases, creating a permanent link in their profile.

 

Will Like Replace Links?

It seems that the “Like” button could potentially become more popular than “Links” largely because the information shared is related to a specific user and carries with that their recommendation. According to Zuckerberg billions of "Like" buttons will shortly be scattered all over the web.

It is estimated that more than 50,000 Web sites have installed the new social plug-ins within the first week of the announcement. One of those companies, ABCNews.com, reported a 250% jump in Facebook referral traffic since adding the plug-in only a week ago. So overall the “Like” button seems to be great for creators of good content such as authors, publishers, top brands, etc. Good content can now be tagged, shared and indexed and the creators benefit from potentially a huge viral distribution.

Keeping them Honest

• The obvious concern is of course that Facebook becomes the gatekeeper of millions of people’s preferences…lots of very valuable information in the hands of one company. This is even a larger concern as Wired magazine reported that Zuckerberg stated he doesn't care about the privacy of Facebook users.

• Facebook has also made a very strategic move to become a very dominant “traffic cop” that directs and shapes a significant chunk of all web traffic.

• Google must be very concerned as this undermines their algorithm that uses links between sites to determine the order of their search results. If “Likes” becomes more popular than “Links” we could have a challenge for the leader board.

• Staying in the race Microsoft this week announced “Messenger Connect.” Their version of “Your Internet ID’” they claim with be all your social profiles rolled into one. Never count Gates and company out.

For now Facebook has clearly strengthened their position as the #1 social media network. As a matter of fact they are surging forward as one of the largest repositories of personal information in the world.

About the Author Nineteen-time author Stefan Swanepoel publishes the annual Swanepoel TRENDS Report and the annual Swanepoel SOCIAL MEDIA Report. His Reports are widely regarded as the leading research on the most important business and technology trends impacting the real estate industry. For more information visit www.RETrends.com and www.Swanepoel.com

Who am I? See if you can guess.

I had to be fingerprinted and pass a background check.

I had to register with a governmental agency and was assigned my very own unique number so that they can keep track of me.

I don't have to wear my number on a little tag dangling from my collar, but I will need to place this number on everything I do so they can trace any wrong doing back to me.

I need to pass through a grueling national TEST to make sure I am competent.

I need to pass through a second test because because the state of California requires their own test.

That's right, 2 tests. Please keep in mind I have been licensed in California for many years, which already required testing. The new tests place a certification ON TOP of this license.

They are so serious about the tests that I had to have a mug shot and a palm scan to take the test, be personally escorted into the test room, with a camera recording my every move while taking the 2 tests. I had to turn my pockets inside out and remove my scarf and coat, while all my posessions were locked in a locker.

But that's not all.

Once I am through all of this, I must authorize a credit report to be run. The criteria to have your credit "approved" is unclear. But somewhere, somebody decides if you are "good enough".

Who pays for all of this? I do. It it wasn't cheap. In money or in time away from work.

What do I get when I am finished?

Nothing. I just get to keep doing what I am already doing (while being monitored for any misstep),

I am:

A.  A suspected terrorist

B.  A sex offender

C.  Out of prison on parole

D.  A loan officer in California

While sitting in a training session, the instructor kept using this phrase "the coming shortage of loan officers". At the time, it seemed like he was trying pull a PollyAnna on us.

We all laughed. "Yeah, right. Sure. As if...."

But all around me, I see loan officers throwing in the towel.

Or being "edited" from the business by the new rules.

What does this mean to you?

Fewer, better qualified, more ethical, more knowledgeable, more accountable loan people.

 And THAT is a good thing.

I graduated from high school in 1988 in Dallas.  That same year, the hair band Cinderella released a song called "Don't Know What You've Got (Till It's Gone)".  The song didn't make a particularly strong impression on me back then, but I heard it a lot during a memorable time in my life, so I haven't forgotten it, either. 

Where the heck am I going with this?

Well, over the past week or so, I was reminded of those 22-year old lyrics when I tried to get my daily ActiveRain fix.  After weeks of proxy errors, intermission curtains, and rampant, free-flowing gossip on other networks about the AR server upgrade, I am happy to report that I've been completely error-free during my session of commenting and posting here this evening.

On a personal note, I like to think of myself as a loyal friend, sometimes to a fault.  I can forgive an awful lot if I care about you.  I tell my kids I love them unconditionally, and I mean it.

While ActiveRain itself is not a member of my family, some of the people here have become my closest friends.  Additionally, the AR community is responsible for some amazing opportunities and sales that I've had over the past three years. I learned how to blog for business right here.  Interestingly, I also got invited to check out Twitter and Facebook from my friends at AR and I learned what "social media" meant.  Heck, John Novak of Las Vegas even took an hour out of his day to teach me all about the basics of Twitter back when I first started there.  (Side note: Thanks, John) 

My point is this: I have yet to find ANY other online space where people genuinely care about others as much as they do here. Sure, the point system is fun, but PEOPLE matter.

When I started, there were about 20,000 members here - now there are over 180,000 and counting.  While this place has probably lost some of its small town charm, where everybody knows everyone else, it's still filled with amazing information, breaking news, industry debates, and (perhaps most importantly) lots of solid friendships.

With that in mind, I am here for the long haul. 

Getting back to the song I mentioned above, I always knew how special this place was, but having it taken away and being faced with the (imaginary) spectre of losing it altogether made me realize what an integral part of my life AR has become.

I sincerely never worried about the possibility of losing any of my blog content, even when I couldn't see it, mainly because I sincerely trust that everything is backed up somewhere.  Maybe I'm a little naive or too trusting, although I prefer to think of it as "faith".  That being said, I have a backup of most of my own content anyway, since I have plans to craft some of it into a book someday.  :-)

Speaking of trust, I read a post by Bob Stewart of ActiveRain yesterday called "Our Promise to You".  If you haven't seen it, you should give it a look.  I think it was one of the better examples of corporate transparency that I have witnessed.  I have a few promises of my own, both for those of you reading this, and for AR as well:

• I promise not to abandon ActiveRain as a platform
• I promise not to leave behind the friends I've made here
  
• I promise to be available to help AR newbies as much as I can
• If you are thinking of leaving out of frustration, I promise you won't find a ready-made audience for your content elsewhere without a lot of hard work

You get the point.  This place is special, not because of the technology, which can hiccup no matter where you are, but because of the people. 

And I happen to like the people here.

How about you?  I welcome your input.

Thanks for reading!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/-cavin-/2366764272/

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

                 

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  If you're interested in social media training, visit 210 Consulting. Thanks!