Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair Real Estate

We know that all you're hearing on the news is that the economy is bad, and getting worse. But here at RE/MAX, we like to keep things positive. We just thought we'd share with you some of the ways RE/MAX continues to expand their advertising dollars, offering only the best to buyers and sellers, dominating the real estate market.

National Advertising

• The latest 2008 data shows RE/MAX with more than 50 percent share of voice in the U.S. national TV advertising.
• In national radio, RE/MAX purchases more than 80 percent of the total buys among all major real estate brands.
• On national TV, RE/MAX ads appear more than all the other competitions' combined.

RE/MAX is also a sponsor of Westwood One radio broadcasts of the 2008 Olympics, which begins today!

RE/MAX never stops working for you. With over 1.9 billion TV impressions and 62 million radio impressions in the 2nd quarter of 2008 alone, it's no wonder that

Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

Give us a call today and allow us to help you with all your Lake Oconee & Lake Sinclair real estate needs.

Remax" Ranks Second Among Real Estate Search Terms

According to the Hitwise Internet usage statistics for June, "remax" holds steady as the No. 2 real estate search term and remax.com ranks No. 4 for real estate Web sites.
Hitwise, a subsidiary of Experian, has been collecting and analyzing data directly from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) since 1997.

The search terms in the latest results were ranked by volume of searches that successfully drove traffic to Web sites in the Hitwise Business and Finance - Real Estate category for the four weeks ending June 28, based on U.S. Internet usage.

Hitwise Real Estate Search Term Rankings
1. realtor.com - 1.64 percent
2. remax - .81 percent
3. zillow.com - .56 percent
4. zillow - .39 percent
5. real estate - .38 percent
6. apartments - .37 percent
7. century 21 - .33 percent
8. realtor - .31 percent
9. homes for sale - .30 percent
10. www.realtor.com - .29 percent

In addition, Hitwise confirmed that remax.com was No. 4 among the most popular real estate sites in June.

Hitwise Most Visited Real Estate Web Site Rankings
1. realtor.com - 4.46 percent
2. Yahoo Real Estate - 2.70 percent
3. ZipRealty - 2.65 percent
4. RE/MAX - 2.47 percent
5. Rent.com - 2.36 percent
6. Zillow - 2.30 percent
7. Homegain - 1.77 percent
8. ServiceMagic - 1.69 percent
9. Trulia.com - 1.63 percent
10. Apartments.com - 1.62 percent

Visit the RE/MAX Times Online every week to read new feature articles, top-producer profiles, stories about valuable resources and more.


Copyright © 2008 RE/MAX International Inc. 7/14/08

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of remax.com in all years.

It's no wonder nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

Good news? We always try to keep it positive here on Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair when it comes to real estate, but helps when the media backs us up!

Here’s something we found from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

May Existing-Home Sales Show Modest Gain

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2008

Existing-home sales increased in May with buyers responding to lower home prices, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Existing-home sales -- including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops --increased 2.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate 1 of 4.99 million units in May from a level of 4.89 million in April, but are 15.9 percent below the 5.93 million-unit pace in May 2007.
NAR President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said buyers are seeing value in the current housing market. "Home buyers are starting to get off the fence and into the market, drawn by drops in home prices in many areas and armed with greater access to affordable mortgages," he said. "Today's buyer plans to stay in a home for 10 years, which is a good strategy for building long-term wealth."


© Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS®

To see the full article please click here.

You've replaced the light bulbs, scrubbed the floors and touched up the walls in preparation for selling your house. If you think you've got everything under control, think again. When sellers put their homes on the market, they often make mistakes that can become serious obstacles to a sale. Make sure you don't fall into any of these traps!

1. Not hiring an agent. People who sell by owner think they're saving money, but in the long run, owners who let their homes linger on the market for months or even years- are wasting time and losing money.
2. Not recognizing a good offer. You may have heard an agent say, "The first offer is the best offer." But often sellers want to hold out for bigger and better. So they pass on the first offer and then, down the road, when bigger and better doesn't come, they regret passing the first offer. So the rule is, if the offer is close to or above your minimum price, do your best to seal the deal!
3. Not leaving your home during a showing. No prospective buyer wants the seller looming over his shoulder as he tries to imagine himself in someone else's house. So go see a movie, shop with friends- anything but hang around the house.
4. Not deodorizing a home that smells. After living in a home for years, you may not notice subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) smells that cling to carpets, curtains and furniture. Invite a trusted friend over to tell you if there are any odors and make sure to eliminate any before you open your house.
5. Not making your last mortgage payment before closing. Even if you're closing on the second day of the month and your mortgage is due on the first, you must send in your payment. Sometimes sellers think they can skip the last payment, but if you do, you may incur late fees and it could negatively affect your credit. Don't worry about losing money for the weeks you're not living in the house. When the escrow officer or attorney prepares the closing documents, the numbers will be calculated based on the payments that have been received by the lender.

And don't forget, RE/MAX Lake Oconee & RE/MAX Lake Oconee on Lake Sinclair are always here to answer any questions and help you with any of your Lake Oconee Real Estate and Lake Sinclair Real Estate needs!

Sincerely,

Your team at RE/MAX Lake Oconee & Lake Sinclair