Social media remains a central focus for businesses looking to reach new and old customers online, according to a survey of 376 business professionals about their strategies with online marketing.Facebook still dominates among industries, with 88 percent of survey respondents saying they turn to that network to promote their brands. Marketers also are growing more satisfied with Facebook ads for outreach. The number of participants using Facebook
Credit scores among U.S. consumers surged to a record high this spring. Further, the share of borrowers considered among the riskiest borrowers hit a record low. The higher credit scores could be a boon for the mortgage market: A good credit score can help borrowers snag a better mortgage rate and better their chances of qualifying for financing."Higher scores lead to more available credit," says Cris deRitis, senior director in the economics gro
No change in sight for the escalating seller's market, but what goes up must come down eventuallyKey Takeaways The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 5.8 percent annual gain in March, up from 5.7 percent last month.March’s S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index numbers set a fifth consecutive all-time high – the highest HPI seen in 33 months.March 2017’s n
Key Takeaways Although leadership is one of the most crucial skills in the world of business, many business owners seem to overlook its importance. Leaders are great listeners and communicators, and they trust their team.Rosalynn Carter once said that a leader takes people where they want to go and that a great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.We are mostly surrounded by doers, and only a minuscule nu
More autonomous, self-driving cars are expected on the roads over the next decade, which will likely have a big impact on residential construction, housing demand, and home design, notes Robert Dietz, chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders.Driverless cars could make more areas suitable for development of single-family communities, Dietz argues in an article for BUILDER Online. “More efficient roadways would reduce travel t
If you're not careful about how you respond to clients over email, you could risk losing contracts, damaging your reputation, and even being sued for breach of confidentiality. Forbes.com offers some of the following tips to avoid PR nightmares and liability offenses with your email behavior.Beware of hitting the “reply all” button. If you’re responding to multiple contacts, delete the email thread history in your message to avoid potential
Though millennials express desire for homeownership, they aren’t saving anywhere near what they need for a down payment. About 80 percent of millennials recently surveyed by rental website Apartment List say they hope to one day buy a home, but 36 percent say they’ll likely need to wait more than five years before they can. Only 16 percent believe they’ll be able to buy within two years, according to the survey of 24,000 millennial renters
Is there anywhere left for people looking to save money?Key Takeaways Rising affordability issues for would-be buyers impacts renters as well.Home prices have been consistently rising with Q1 2017 home prices surging 6.9 percent quarter-over-quarter and 5.9 percent year-over-year.Some aspiring buyers look to renting in the ‘burbs as a cheaper option, but Zillow’s latest rental study shows that rents in suburban and urban areas are facing affo
Gary Gold says “being in play” — having ongoing conversations — with leads is how you become their designated agent.If you’ve already started a dialogue with someone looking for a house, you’ll be the first one they call when they’re ready to move forward.But if you go MIA for several days, they’ll find another agent.It’s important to “be in play” with as many leads as possible. Always stay engaged with your book of leads v
Why CMAs, appraisals and listing prices aren't always importantKey Takeaways Many buyers mistakenly listen to the advice of friends and family before consulting an agent. A home is always worth what the highest bidder is willing to pay.With an extreme shortage of housing inventory plaguing many markets across the country, many homeowner wannabes are locked in an epic struggle to purchase a home.Unfortunately, some of these buyers are receiving ad
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