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Homebuying Timeline Shortened as Housing Market Gains Momentum

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on September 3rd, 2013

As the housing market continues to improve, developers and builders are experiencing a favorable trend amongst prospective homebuyers. After several years of building a pipeline of leads and grinding out sales through a lengthy sales process, the timeline for sale has shortened considerably. The market rebound is trumping the seasonality of many markets, with buyers now purchasing within weeks of their initial sales office visit rather than months or years. As specialists in the marketing of residential real estate, Cotton & Company is witnessing the shift across multiple markets indicating a positive trend. Many buyers have been sitting on the sidelines for the past several years waiting for the right opportunity and a more positive economic outlook. This reluctance to…

The World Has Changed Since the Last Real Estate Cycle

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on April 29th, 2013

It’s been a long road back for the real estate development industry. When the down slope for residential real estate began in 2006, the world was a very different place. It’s hard to believe that Facebook only existed on college campuses, and the first generation of the iPhone wasn’t introduced until 2007. But it was the iPad introduction in 2010 that really changed the world for real estate developers, bringing the wealthy discretionary buyer into the digital realm. Today, as many developers begin to reenter the market, they are recognizing new marketing challenges as a result of changing technology. Top 10 Changes: 1. Website infrastructure and design must prioritize tablet interaction. This means a more focused navigation plan that emphasizes…

Early Cotton Report Data Indicates Liquidity Returning to the Market

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Media & Real Estate on March 13th, 2013

Cotton & Company’s 5th annual consumer survey is underway. The annual online report surveys prospective homebuyers throughout the US to gain insight into the current buyer’s psychology. With more than 700 respondents providing insight on the factors that affect their purchase decision, the data has become an industry standard for forecasting residential real estate trends.  As the data continues to be analyzed for the final report, early indications show liquidity has returned to the market. When asked about their reason for not purchasing to date, the consumer response “Can’t sell my existing home” dropped significantly from the 2011 market data. As additional support to this position, consumer interest in “Waiting for Better Pricing” has dropped to 8%, from the highpoint…

How to Drive Outside Broker Sales in 2013

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on February 12th, 2013

In regional marketplaces across the country, real estate brokers are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Although the downturn has been prolonged, brokers stand ready to drive success as the market rebounds. With the national media promoting the rebound of the housing market, brokers are anxious to earn those illusive commissions. And that’s the name of the game – making money. As the developer or owner of a new residential community, brokers can provide a quick burst of momentum for your program. Here are some things you do to capture their attention and their clients: 1. Communicate and educate. A strong broker partner is a resource for his clients. He/she knows what is happening in the market…

What is More Important – Lead Generation or Conversion?

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on January 28th, 2013

“Lead generation” is all the channels used to create potential buyers. It used to be that print media generated early interest, then the lead came into the sales office and the buyers were then sold on the community and product. Oh, how things have changed! Today’s lead generation channels still include many traditional resources like brokers, signage, direct mail, events, television, public relations and many others.  But today the biggest change is online- where your website acts as your virtual sales office. Ever wonder when real estate sites receive the highest traffic? 10 PM. That’s right!  Laptops go to the bedroom and buyers begin their search. They explore, watch videos, visit Facebook pages and compare communities to decide which are worth touring. It makes…

Brand Extensions: Do they make sense?

By Angelene Posted in - Advertising & Real Estate on January 2nd, 2013

You’ve already been successful. Built a community. Built a following. Built a reputation. Built a brand. Now you want to build another community; should you use the same brand or create a new one? Building a brand is expensive; it takes money and time. Once you’ve spent all that time, budget and energy creating a great brand, shouldn’t you just use it again, leverage its power and your spend and name your new community with the same branding? It’s a question many real estate marketers are constantly trying to answer because the truth is, it depends. Is your newer product comparable to your older product? Will this new product sell for a lower price, thus lowering the perceived value of…

The “Rating” Game

By Alexis Posted in - Real Estate on November 27th, 2012

A good sales process requires one end result…conversion. What is the most intangible asset that you have as a business owner, developer, builder, or realtor? It is your “book of business” or your lead database. You’ve had great success in generating leads, but have you been successful in developing goals, defining your rating system and implementing action plans to qualify and convert those leads? Lead management is more than a process; it is the groundwork for assessment of conversion probability and determination of sales-readiness. It allows your sales team to focus the majority of their attention on the sales-ready leads, and not distract sales productivity with unqualified leads. It is a known fact that sales teams increase their efficiency and productivity…

One of Poland’s Largest Developers Taps into American Expertise

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on September 25th, 2012

Going the extra mile is nothing new to Stephann Cotton. Try 5,288 miles–that’s where you’ll find him firmly entrenched in the Warsaw real estate market. While European markets continue to struggle, Poland remains a bright spot for foreign investment and increased competition is now impacting long-term residential developers. Warsaw has become a global city, an international tourist destination and an important economic hub in Central Europe. Yet a mere 22 years ago, Poland was a communist state and consumer-driven marketing expertise is still in its infancy. For JW Construction, one of Poland’s leading residential developers, heavy competition presented new challenges and a critical need for effective marketing and sales management. The solution was clear–go to America, find the best, and bring them to Poland. Enter…

Single-Family Housing On The Rise

By Angelene Posted in - Real Estate on June 20th, 2012

There has been a rise in confidence level in the single-family home market. According to the Housing Market Index, released by the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo, home builder confidence has reached its highest level of home builder confidence since May 2007. The 4-point rise in May and single point rise in June brings the confidence level to 29. For builders to view the housing-market conditions as “good,” the index will need to surpass 50. The Current Housing Market Index: 1)    Current sales conditions 2)    Sales expectations for the next six months 3)    Prospective buyer traffic Click HERE to read the full article!

Too many “be-backs” still sitting on the fence?

By Laurie Andrews Posted in - Real Estate on May 31st, 2011

It’s always been a simple equation–the higher your “be-backs,” the higher your sales conversion. While the basic premise remains true today, the number of touch points prior to the sale has increased drastically. If your reaction includes “I need to get a closer on the team,” you may be underestimating the challenge in today’s market. Carrying costs and resale potential are also weighing heavily on their minds, and buyers are doing more research than ever. What to do for 2011? •    Recognize the potential sales that exist in your database and don’t rely solely on your sales team to execute a one-on-one follow-up program. •    Give your buyer a reason to change their timeline to yours and communicate this opportunity…