Hear how to generate your own real estate leads for free via Facebook groups on today’s podcast with Laura Griffin! In this interview, Laura tells listeners how to set up real estate Facebook groups, how to moderate them, and how to win business from those who join. Laura and Shelby discuss the various ways to grow a group, what information to capture, and more in this comprehensive guide to generating leads via social media.
Listen to today’s show and learn:
About Laura Griffin [2:02]
Generating real estate leads without focusing on real estate [4:33]
Tips on setting up a Facebook group for real estate leads [6:41]
Information to capture from new Facebook group members [9:42]
Browser extensions for building a Facebook group [11:35]
Welcoming new members to your real estate Facebook group [14:39]
Rules that will help you run your Facebook group [17:56]
Whether or not to let other real estate professionals into your group [20:06]
Group guides for buyers, sellers, and more [21:42]
Ways to grow your real estate Facebook group [26:29]
Contests for generating potential clients [28:57]
Group analytics for catered content [32:25]
How a content calendar can help you with consistent content [35:41]
A great post for digging data out of your real estate group [38:15]
Promoting listings via your Facebook group [41:31]
Why people leave real estate Facebook Groups [43:13]
What most people miss when creating a Facebook group [44:41]
Laura Griffin’s real estate coaching program [45:35]
Where to find and follow Laura Griffin [47:36]
The great thing about Facebook groups [49:13]
Laura Griffin
Laura Griffin is an expert at leveraging Facebook Groups for lead generation in her real estate business. With over 15+ years in the real estate industry she has leveraged the power of her local Mom Facebook Group with over 10K moms into her main lead generation source creating over $20+ million dollars a year in sales. As a result of her Facebook Group she has been honored to be recognized as a Top Producer in the Northern Virginia Association Of Realtors® year after year. She now teaches other agents how to use the power of Facebook Groups as a FREE lead generation tool in their business by coaching other agents and her course on Facebook Groups.
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It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.
In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with John Rowland from S2A Modular.
Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is John Rowland and I’m the president and co-founder of S2A Modular. I consider myself a visionary with a passion for designing homes, communities and real estate. My 20+ years of experience spans across land entitlement, land development and development feasibility analysis – but most recently, has shifted focus to engineering the most advanced, self-sufficient homes in the world.
After seeing a gap in the market, my partner Brian Kuzdas and I founded S2A Modular – the company to produce electrically self-sustaining, custom luxury homes. We’re changing the way the world understands residential buildings – creating a new standard in stylish design, construction speed, tailor-made features with high-end materials, “surplus energy income” and smart-connected living.
What problem does your product/service solve?
There’s a multitude of worldwide changes happening in the residential and commercial real estate industry that our #GreenLuxHomes address:
Energy bills are rising and there’s too much reliance on an energy grid that’s vulnerable and antiquated.
Property values are dipping
Commercial buildings are inefficient.
New houses haven’t caught up to advances in technology
Sustainability is changing worldwide
S2A Modular is truly creating a new category of custom homes that simply aren’t comparable to any traditional site-built, modular or other types of residences.An S2A home is immediately superior in long-term value, upon appraisal, to a traditional home – and for good reason. Simply put, a Green Lux Home saves money, time and energy, while reflecting the ultimate level of sustainability, luxurious design, high-end materials, full smart home ecosystem features and an overall better way of living. Our homes are constructed with high-end custom or predesigned models and superior performance materials, which provides self-sustaining power, using exclusive energy storage and solar technology that eliminates energy bills (and may even result in energy companies paying you for your contribution back to the grid). Our homes are fully connected smart homes with smart appliances, energy features and security features controlled with a single mobile app. Not to mention, all these exclusive features result in a higher home value than traditional homes.
What are you most excited about right now?
I’m most excited to be bringing our product to mass market. Over the past year, we’ve focused our efforts on fundraising, networking with key industry players, getting involved in major sectors of the market, showcasing how our product works and the impact we can make on the world. We’ve truly been focused on building a strong foundation that can help us take S2A Modular worldwide, even further than we could’ve ever imagined.
What’s next for you?
We’re working on something exciting for 2020, which we haven’t actually shared too much of yet. S2A Modular is currently developing housing solutions for the nation’s homelessness population by providing affordable, sustainable housing that can be built for 20 cents on the dollar compared to similar structures being purchased by the U.S. government. We plan to sell these homes nationwide for less than the cost of an average car, and they’ll be electrically self-sustaining to run completely off grid.
We’re also in the works of finalizing a licensing agreement, which will allow us to expand the S2A MegaFactory worldwide. We will be working with a few major industry partners to quickly and efficiently build and fulfill large orders of #GreenLuxHomes across the globe.
What’s a cause you’re passionate about and why?
There’s a huge human trafficking problem right now, and as a father, this cause is near and dear to my heart. I recently got involved in supporting the organization Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), which works to rescue victims of human trafficking and sex trafficking, with a specific focus on children. Over the past five years, O.U.R. has rescued 2,603 victims and assisted in the arrests of more than 1,365 traffickers around the world. To support this organization, I took a little-known passion of mine in the design, engineering and manufacturing of sunglasses to donate 100 pairs of glasses that will be sold to help raise money to support the work of O.U.R. This is an incredible organization and it was an honor to be able to use my passion in sunglass design to support their efforts to help human trafficking victims.
Thanks to John for sharing his story. If you’d like to connect, find him on LinkedIn here.
We’re constantly looking for great real estate tech entrepreneurs to feature. If that’s you, please read this post — then drop me a line (drew @ geekestatelabs dot com).
In the wake of the landmark Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit case, the real estate world is in turmoil. As industry players scramble to assess the fallout, there’s a silver lining for the astute – opportunity amidst chaos.
The savvy real estate agents and loan officers see this not a crisis but a golden opportunity. Now is the time to rise as an influencer, a trusted advisor and a beacon of stability in a sea of uncertainty. This is a call to arms for real estate agents and loan officers ready to seize the day.
The distraction advantage
Let’s cut to the chase: Your competitors are distracted. They’re caught in the headlights of change, poring over legal jargon, worrying about commission structures and losing sight of the prize – sales.
This is your moment. While they’re busy worrying, you should be busy working. The key is to stay laser-focused on what you do best: selling homes and providing stellar financial advice.
While your peers are entangled in adapting to changes, your clear focus and proactive approach puts you steps ahead. Your competitors’ distraction is your playground. In this environment, those who stay engaged in core sales activities, unswayed by the chaos, will not just survive but thrive.
The power of influence
In times like these, influence is your most potent weapon. It’s about being the voice that cuts through the noise, the trusted source of information when rumors and confusion are rampant. Personal branding isn’t just about recognition; it’s about establishing authority and trust. Your clients need a guide, and you are poised to be that guiding light.
Scripting the narrative
As you engage with clients, your message should be one of assurance and insight. You need to own the narrative with your clients. Here’s how:
For real estate agents:
Script: “While the industry is evolving, my commitment to finding your dream home remains steadfast. Let others focus on the noise; we’ll focus on your needs.”
Message: Project confidence and deep understanding of market changes. Show them that your expertise is their anchor in these turbulent times. That means you’d better do your homework!
For loan officers:
Script: “Market changes bring new opportunities. I’m here to offer you tailored, up-to- date financial advice. Let’s turn these changes into wealth!”
Message: Reinforce your role as a guide through uncertain financial landscapes. Highlight your adaptability and insight in finding optimal mortgage solutions, regardless of market fluctuations.
Presentation skills: A gateway to higher conversion rates
Presentation skills are another crucial element. Storytelling within sales presentations is proven to significantly improve conversion rates. A compelling narrative adds context to numbers, makes data relatable, and fosters deeper connections with clients.
Sales reps must balance stories with hard data to establish trust and enhance customer loyalty. Effective storytelling can also distinguish your brand, forming long-term partnerships and boosting customer retention.
Moreover, the caliber of a sales pitch is directly tied to the salesperson’s skills. Presentation analytics are invaluable in honing these skills. By analyzing factors like presentation duration and the time spent on specific sections, sales managers can identify strengths and weaknesses, enabling targeted coaching to improve performance.
This data-driven approach ensures that every team member can maximize their impact during sales pitches.
Comprehensive strategies for staying ahead and amplifying influence
Enhance client relationships: Trust is your currency. Forge stronger bonds through consistent, reliable communication and personalized service.
Educate yourself and clients: Stay abreast of mortgage and real estate industry changes and translate complex information into digestible, actionable advice for your clients.
Leverage social media: Regularly share insights and updates on social media to establish yourself as an industry thought leader.
Host informative sessions: Use webinars or community meetings to demonstrate your knowledge and reassure clients and prospects.
Network with purpose: Build relationships with like-minded professionals who see opportunity as they can support and enhance your influence.
Be visible and vocal: Use every platform available to you to share your perspective and insights, reinforcing your status as a go-to housing market expert.
Adapt to market needs: Be quick to adjust your strategies in response to market shifts, ensuring your services remain relevant and in demand.
Harness the influencer’s advantage
In these times of industry upheaval, your influence is your capital. Use it to build trust, provide clarity and lead with confidence. Those who do will emerge not just as survivors of change, but as architects of a new real estate era.
Rene Rodriguez is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, leadership advisor and transformational speaker coach.
Redfin has decided to end its support of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for two primary reasons. Firstly, Redfin disagrees with NAR policies that require a fee for the buyer’s agent on every listing. Secondly, Redfin is concerned about a pattern of alleged sexual harassment within the organization.
Redfin has engaged in numerous discussions with NAR executives to find compromises on these policies. Since joining NAR in 2017, Redfin has paid over $13 million in dues to influence NAR to advocate for a technology-driven marketplace that benefits consumers. However, Redfin will now explore alternative ways to advance these goals.
Besides disagreement over commissions, Redfin became increasingly uncomfortable with NAR after learning about reports of sexist behavior and sexual harassment involving NAR’s president. These allegations came to light through interviews with 29 former NAR employees. Redfin is concerned that NAR was aware of these allegations for an extended period but only took action after they became public.
Redfin had already resigned its national board seat in June before the allegations of sexual harassment became public. NAR’s policies continue to restrict sellers from listing homes that do not pay a commission to the buyer’s agent, and they also prevent websites like Redfin.com from displaying for-sale-by-owner listings alongside agent-listed homes. Redfin believes that removing these restrictions would make the industry more consumer-friendly and competitive.
After careful consideration, Redfin has decided to go beyond resigning from the NAR board. Redfin will require its brokers and agents to leave NAR wherever possible. While most brokerages operate as loose affiliations of independent agents, Redfin wishes to refrain from imposing a policy that could alienate its revenue-generating individuals.
However, Redfin’s decision to leave NAR is only partially voluntary. NAR rules mandate that Redfin must leave local and state associations, even if its grievances are solely with the national association. These rules stipulate that a broker must pay dues for each agent under their supervision, regardless of whether the agent wants to be a member. No agent under their leadership can be a member if a broker is not a member. Given this all-or-nothing approach, Redfin has decided to choose the latter.
Unfortunately, in many markets, Redfin does not even have the option to make this choice. Approximately half of the U.S., including Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Long Island, Minneapolis, Nashville, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City, requires NAR membership for agents to access listing databases, lockboxes, and industry-standard contracts. It is impossible to be an agent without the ability to view available homes, unlock their doors, or write offers.
Redfin urges NAR to separate local access to Multiple Listing Services (MLS) from support for the national lobbying organization. Agents should not be required to support policies and legal efforts that harm consumers, especially when they intend to help consumers.
Despite the disagreement with NAR, Redfin remains committed to the real estate industry. The company will continue to fully support the MLSs that brokers use to share listing data, and it will maintain positive relationships with the many dedicated individuals working at NAR and its local affiliates on matters such as economics, diversity, and pro-housing policies.
Victoria Udrea, a talented author who specializes in real estate and technology, is a valued contributor to Realty Biz News. With her keen eye for detail and passion for keeping readers informed, she diligently covers the latest developments in the industry, focusing particularly on the exciting realm of smart home technology.
Plunk, an AI-powered home analytics platform, announced a proptech partnership with BHR, a housing data aggregator.
Through this collaboration, BHR’s RealReports platform will integrate Plunk’s proprietary AI technology, making property data even more accessible to real estate professionals. Property research, comprehensive valuation and remodeling insights will all be available in one place.
BHR’s flagship product, RealReports, gathers property data, ranging from climate risk to property valuation, in one place. RealReports pulls information from over 30 data providers. The tool also comes with an AI-powered assistant, Aiden, which can answer questions about a property.
“In this current market, the more insight you have into a property, the more competitive you can be. Plunk’s real-time valuation and AI-powered remodel recommendations are a powerful layer of insight for agents using RealReports and their clients to drive more informed decision-making,” James Rogers, co-founder and CEO of BHR, said in a statement.
In an environment in which agents increasingly have to demonstrate their value, having a clear understanding of data and trends will be a competitive advantage for real estate professionals.
Plunk has been widening its presence in the real estate space.
In September, it announced a partnership with Local Logic, a location intelligence platform, to empower end-users with the technology and insights they need to inform their home-purchase decisions.
Plunk also partnered with two real estate industry marketing companies, Union Street Media and Realforce, to scale its real-time data and analytics across multiple digital channels.
Closing buyer leads in 2023 is not easy. High home prices coupled with soaring interest rates has made buying property unappealing, if not impossible, for many Americans. Still, there are prospective buyers out there, and today’s guest, Scott Smith, is a certified pro at closing cold buyer leads. On this Real Estate Rockstars, Scott shares proven objection handlers, his best buyer scripts, and more. Shelby and Scott also discuss details on buying a real estate franchise, including what it costs and when it’s worth it.
Listen to today’s show and learn:
Scott Smith’s real estate background [1:55]
What it’s like buying a real estate franchise [3:03]
Free training on rapport and relationships [6:37]
Being genuine, not salesy [8:33]
Being reliable and following up [10:51]
“The cost of waiting” script [12:29]
Why stories sell and where to get them [17:13]
Conversing instead of pitching or prodding [18:40]
How a client’s kids can help close the deal [21:06]
The most important thing to do in a conversation [24:25]
A positive definition of sales and scripts to establish trust [26:21]
Scott’s script for new buyer prospects [28:51]
Scott’s advice on real estate CRMs and taking notes [36:04]
A quick tip for getting information from out-of-state buyers [39:45]
How to get information on a prospect’s finances [43:34]
Where to end your call with a potential buyer client [47:34]
Scott Smith’s real estate goals for the future [49:11]
Where to find and follow Scott Smith [50:51]
Scott Smith
Scott P. Smith is a seasoned real estate professional and the founder of You 1st Realty and You 1st Realty Infinity. With a deep understanding of the Colorado real estate market, Scott has built a reputation for delivering personalized service and leveraging the latest real estate technology to ensure his clients get the most out of their buying, selling, or investing experiences. His passion for helping people navigate the property market is evident in his commitment to providing up-to-date market insights and trends through Coloradohomefinder.com, one of the most used real estate websites in Colorado.
Scott is a firm believer in the accessibility of real estate as a means to change lives and build generational wealth. He is dedicated to empowering others to tap into their full potential in real estate careers, emphasizing the importance of taking action over extensive education. Through his innovative ideas and unique business plan, Scott has positioned You 1st Infinity as a game-changer in the industry, offering a one-of-a-kind lead generation and a powerful suite of tools that keep agents seamlessly engaged with their clients.
In addition to his commitment to agent growth, Scott is a strong advocate for remote work and its impact on the real estate industry. He has moved all of You 1st Infinity’s training and company gatherings to a virtual setting, allowing agents to participate from anywhere in the world. Scott’s vision for You 1st Infinity extends beyond providing agents with the tools and training they need to succeed. He also offers an aggressive commission split and a unique Business Partnership Program, providing agents with additional revenue streams and the opportunity to continue earning even after retirement.
Related Links and Resources:
It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.
When cityapproval of a proposed $350 million skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles was on the line, project manager Hamid Behdad knew he had to give in to the last-minute demand of a planning commissioner to quadruple the number of electric vehicle charging stations in the condominium tower.
“When you are in the heat of the hearing in the last leg of the proposal, you aren’t going to say no,” Behdad said, even though he thought the requirement was overkill.
Today, with the Perla on Broadway complete and angling for buyers, Behdad said he is “extremely glad that commissioner forced us” to install chargers on 20% of the building’s parking stalls.
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“If we didn’t have these 90 chargers, we would be in real trouble selling units,” he said.
A Tesla passes in front of the Haven apartment complex in Culver City, right, where Tesla Supercharger stations, Tesla Gen 2 and ChargePoint chargers are available for tenants and visitors in the garage.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Landlords of apartments, hotels, office buildings and other commercial properties are rushing to avoid similar trouble. And owners of convenience stores, fast food chains, movie theaters and big box retailers are hoping to cash in on EV chargers to lure customers with time to kill as they fill up.
Charging centers are just the first step of commercial landlords scrambling to adjust to a historic burst of change in the world of transportation, with once fantastical notions like autonomous cars and air taxis nearing fruition.
Some companies are building charging centers that are a giant step beyond electrified gas stations. Elon Musk’s Tesla, for instance, is building a whimsical drive-in movie and diner complex in Hollywood where Tesla owners can entertain themselves while loading their batteries.
Fancy L.A. shopping centers such as the Grove and Westfield Century City have chargers, as do the more workaday Walgreens, Walmarts, Subways and 7-Elevens.
The arrival of Tesla’s Model 3 and other more affordable electric vehicles are helping EVs seize market share from gas-powered vehicles, putting more pressure on the historically slow-changing real estate business to get with the times.
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The immediate issue is installing enough chargers to meet growing demand and seize business opportunities. But other advances in transportation technology stand to rewrite centuries-old rules about how buildings are designed and built.
When cars no longer spew toxic fumes and can park and drive themselves, hotel and office lobbies might be designed for cars to drop off people inside and go off and do their own thing. In the not-too-distant future when visitors arrive by electric air taxis, buildings might need a second entrance lobby on the roof for the drones to land. Los Angeles officials are planning for such flying vehicles to be operational by the 2028 Olympics and are looking at how to regulate them.
Rendering of a proposed replacement building for a gas station that could include a coffee bar, co-working offices and meeting space, built around electric car charging stations.
(BMW Designworks / Gensler)
“What happens when you blur boundaries between automobiles and architecture?” said Dylan Jones, a strategic planner specializing in mobility for architecture firm Gensler. “Do you need a garage in the building? Can you sell your car’s energy” to your landlord?
Such technological shifts could require dramatically different building designs, but few developers are looking that far ahead, he said. It’s the nature of the business that typically operates in five-year cycles of building and selling.
“The real estate industry is funny because developers don’t want to speculate about the far future,” Jones said. Developers “want to be able to just peek around the corner and see what’s coming” and be set up to succeed with technology that will exist when the building opens.
Los Angeles developer Walter N. Marks III sees a lure in new technology for a luxury apartment tower he is planning on Wilshire Boulevard with a mechanized parking system that will whisk cars out of sight and charge them if desired.
Tenants will drive their cars onto a movable metal pallet that will quickly park them underground andpower up electric vehicles if the resident plugs it in.
At the Helm Bakery parking garage in Culver City, drivers leave their vehicles to an automated parking system.
(Walter N. Marks Inc.)
Marks is already operating a mechanized parking system at Helms Bakery District, a historic collection of shops and restaurants his family owns in Culver City. It doesn’t charge cars, but in the future he wouldn’t install a system that didn’t, he said.
All new automobiles and light trucks sold in California will be required to be zero-emission by 2035. The electric age is here. But the autonomous one is less certain. Marks is skeptical of predictions that consumers will give up their private automobiles in the near future and rely on fleets of robot taxis to ferry them about.
“I do believe that the car culture in Los Angeles is unique and very powerful,” he said. “People take their cars extremely seriously, and I think we need to recognize that and honor it.”
A robotic parking system at the Helm Bakery parking garage in Culver City parks and stacks cars without human assistance.
(Walter N. Marks Inc.)
Jones thinks attitudes about driving your own car may change quickly when autonomous vehicles are reliably safe and data show that people are more likely to be killed by human-driven vehicles than autonomous ones.
“Drivers will become the smokers of the future; they’ll be socially shunned,” he said. “People will look at them and say , ‘Oh, you drove to work today? My kids are on the street. What are you doing?’”
That era is yet to come. At this point, the push is on among housing developers to provide charging stations to the growing number of tenants demanding them.
Socially conscious housing developer Cityview is rushing to add them to its existing apartments, including a building with only eight units, Chief Executive Sean Burton said.
Cityview usually adds as many stations as existing buildings’ electrical systems can handle, he said. Properties that weren’t constructed with charging in mind are often limited in how much power they can supply to chargers.
“In general I think building owners are adopting more slowly than they should,” Burton said. “We try to be more leading edge on sustainability issues.”
An apartment management company that manages 76,000 units for various owners is racing to meet rising demand in part by retrofitting garage electrical outlets to handle 210 volts for Level 2 charging, said Jackie Impellitier, vice president of operations for ZRS Management. That is the common commercial system for charging that takes about three to eight hours. The price of charging is added to tenants’ electrical bills.
“The thing we are all acknowledging is having charging stations is no longer an amenity, it’s a necessity” to attract and keep tenants, she said. “We are going to start losing renters if we don’t have easy and convenient access” to charging.
A bank of Tesla Supercharger stations can be found inside the garage at the Haven apartment complex in Culver City .
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Most apartment developers and owners “weren’t even paying attention to EV drivers” as a category of tenants five years ago, Impellitier said, when Tesla stood practically alone as the provider of electric vehicles. “Now, every carmaker has an electric model.”
Charging stations are commonly installed and operated by third-party vendors. The big expense for landlords is getting sufficient electricity to garages and parking lots to support Level 2 charging. (The lower Level 1, plugging into a common 120-volt electrical outlet, can take more than a day if you’re charging from empty).
Level 3 chargers that can charge a car sufficiently in as little as 20 minutes run on at least 400 volts. They are expensive to set up and require electrical infrastructure not typically found in residential buildings
Automotive data provider S&P Global Mobility estimated in January that there are about 126,500 Level 2 and 13,487 Level 3 commercial charging stations in the United States today, plus another 16,822 Tesla Superchargers and Tesla destination chargers. The number of chargers grew more in 2022 than in the preceding three years combined, S&P said.
Among them are chargers at fast-food and other convenience businesses that hope customers buy things while their cars charge. Earlier this year 7-Eleven Inc. said it intends to build one of the largest fast-charging networks of any retailer in North America and already has chargers in four states, including California. Drivers pay through a phone app.
“7-Eleven will have the ability to grow its network to match consumer demand and make EV charging available to neighborhoods that have, until now, lacked access,” the company said in a statement.
Sandwich maker Subway is rolling out a variation on the theme — charging “parks” with multiple charging stations that also happen to have restaurants. These Subway Oasis charging parks will have picnic tables, Wi-Fi, restrooms, green space and playgrounds, the company said. They’ll be rolled out across the country at new or newly remodeled locations
Drug store chain Walgreens claims to be “the nation’s largest retail host” of chargers with more than 430 locations offering them. Other household-name retailers installing chargers include Ikea, Kohl’s, Walmart, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Taco Bell and theater chain Cinemark.
Additional concepts for charging stations with retail services intended to attract customers with time to kill are emerging.
Tesla, the giant of the EV industry with a growing network of fast chargers, is rolling out what it calls a supercharger diner and drive-in theater in Hollywood that promises an “American Graffiti” style pit stop for Tesla drivers perhaps running 24 hours a day.
Tesla is constructing the charging and entertainment complex on Santa Monica Boulevard — historic Route 66 — near a trendy stretch of Sycamore Avenue that has celebrity-favored restaurants, upscale shops and art galleries.
The car maker paid $16.7 million last year for a corner lot at Orange Drive where a shuttered Shakey’s Pizza Parlor was demolished to make way for the two-story project that could become an iconic venture for Tesla. The plan calls for a restaurant and two movie screens showing features that last half an hour, roughly the time it takes to charge a vehicle.
The complex is to have 29 fast superchargers and five Level 2 chargers available around the clock, while the theaters, visible from both cars and rooftop seating, would operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. A screen of bamboo would shield Tesla’s movies from the street.
On the I-15 freeway between L.A. and Las Vegas, the developers of a charging station set to open in January expect to charge around 10,000 vehicles per month. The 24-hour outpost will have 40 fast charging station around a yet-to-be-announced nationally known coffee seller, said Lester Ciudad Real, co-founder of StackCharge, which is developing the project near a freeway exit in Baker.
The opportunity to charge while parked at the office has also emerged as a must for tenants. A recent survey by real estate brokerage JLL found that tenant-demanded clauses calling for charging were among the least likely to be included in existing office space leases signed in years past but would be the top priority in future negotiations.
But office building owners are stuck trying to strike the right balance. They must keep up with growing demands without overspending on chargers that aren’t needed yet, said Rex Hamre, national director of sustainability for JLL. It’s usually easy to add up to 10 stations, but trying to make even 20% of the spaces charge-ready in a 600-car parking facility could incur steep costs for electrical infrastructure.
“We are still at the cutting edge of this transition,” Hamre said. “Innovative companies are taking advantage of it as an opportunity.”
EV refueling could lead to changes in how cities look in ways that have yet to be fully imagined, architect Jones said. Gas stations in prime urban locations could give way to hybrid buildings with coffee bars, co-working offices and meeting rooms, built around indoor charging points.
“Word Perfect made typing easier, and then computers became more ingrained and it did things a typewriter could never do,” Jones said. “We’re in the early stages where the first EV charging infrastructure we’re seeing is a replication of what we understand is a refueling station. But in the future they’re going to look and feel much different.”
Many people claim real estate investors cause homelessness by owning rentals and charging rent, however, they can play a significant role in preventing homelessness by implementing various strategies that promote affordable housing, stability, and supportive services. Real estate investors also provide rentals which are the next step from homelessness as most people in a dire housing situation are not able to buy for various reasons. Here are some key ways real estate investors can contribute to preventing homelessness:
Did landlords cause real estate prices to increase?
There is a growing trend stating that landlords are not needed and the world would be better off without them. This stance is backed up by many statements that tend to be grossly exaggerated or simply false. I am a landlord and of course, I am biased but I have been an investor, agent, author, and influencer in the real estate space for 20 years. I have seen what happens in the real world and know a thing or two about real estate. Many of the opinions about landlords and real estate investors stem from Facebook pages, politicians, or even educators who have zero experience with real estate.
Landlords do not push up prices because they are buying all the houses. In fact, the owner-occupied rate has increased from 62 percent to 66 percent from 2016 to 2023. There are 11 million more owner-occupied units in 2023 compared to 2016 and about the same amount of rental units. The truth is real estate investors have been selling much more than buying.
Rents have been rising because there are fewer rentals available due to landlords selling. That is simple supply and demand. Some people claim landlords buying all the houses is causing rents to go up, but that is the opposite of what happens in the economy when supply increases. The real cause of prices going up is the cost to build, replacement costs, and development costs.
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How are landlords needed?
Some hypothesize that if landlords were eliminated (yes some advocate violence) housing would be more affordable and more people could buy. The problem with this theory is that not everyone can or wants to buy. Some people have bad credit or no job history which prevents them from getting a loan. Some want to travel or simply don’t want to buy a house. The theory that all landlords should disappear ignores these people and just assumes they will magically be able to buy a house because prices will be cheaper without landlords.
The theory that housing will be cheaper without landlords comes from the idea that a bunch of housing will be available to buy. However, that housing has occupants and renters living in the homes. There will not be a lot of housing to buy unless you kick those renters out. Sure some renters may be able to buy the house they are currently living in but there still won’t be a massive influx of supply unless there are millions of homeless renters. These theories also assume everyone will get a loan after the laws are all changed eliminating credit and other loan requirements. We saw what happened with loosened lending guidelines in 2008.
Without landlords, there will be massive amounts of homeless because the step from homelessness to housing is a rental not buying. Some people might say more social housing is needed. I can see that argument but landlords are not stopping more social housing from being created, in fact, they help create the social housing that exists.
How do landlords prevent homelessness?
The United States has many programs for those in need including Section 8 housing vouchers, local city and state programs, and affordable housing grants and tax benefits. Most social housing is not built or run by the government, it is run by investors. The government encourages affordable housing projects to be built and redeveloped but they are not the ones doing the work. It is real estate investors who build and create these properties. The US is not alone in this either. Many people point to Austria as having massive social housing programs. They fail to realize that private investors own most of that social housing. Section 8 vouchers are used on properties owned by investors, not the government.
House flippers also buy properties that are unlivable and make them livable again creating more houses which helps reduce homelessness and increases the housing supply as well. I have brought many single-family and multifamily properties up to livable standards after buying them vacant. Do I make money when I do this? Hopefully! If investors do not take on these projects, no one will and there will be less housing and more expensive housing because of supply and demand principles.
Real estate investors also build housing. They build apartments and even single-family homes. Do these turn into rentals? Yes, but that still adds inventory to the market which means more choices for buyers or renters. More inventory means a more stable housing market and fewer opportunities for out-of-control price increases.
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Should real estate investors be restricted on what they can buy or build?
There are many people, including people in the real estate industry who feel real estate investors should be restricted on what they can buy or build. The government is trying to restrict investors from buying properties as well. Many of these programs are aimed at huge institutional investors but they are a tiny part of the real estate market. They own less than 1 percent of housing.
As I stated before there is a shortage of rentals on the market. That is why rents have been increasing so much.
” data-medium-file=”https://investfourmore.com/wp-content/uploads/324234-300×124.jpg” data-large-file=”https://investfourmore.com/wp-content/uploads/324234-1024×423.jpg” src=”http://investfourmore.com/wp-content/uploads/324234-1024×423.jpg” alt=”Owner occupied vs rental units ” class=”wp-image-79888″ srcset=”https://investfourmore.com/wp-content/uploads/324234-1024×423.jpg 1024w, https://investfourmore.com/wp-content/uploads/324234-300×124.jpg 300w, https://investfourmore.com/wp-content/uploads/324234-768×317.jpg 768w, https://investfourmore.com/wp-content/uploads/324234.jpg 1160w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>Owner occupied vs rental units
The best way to increase rents and increase housing prices is to limit supply which is exactly what more restrictions on investors will do. The most expensive markets in the country have the most restrictions. Many large institutional investors are building houses as well when we desperately need more houses to be built! I can’t believe some of the people saying this is bad and must be stopped.
Conclusion
Without real estate investors there would be less housing, more homelessness, higher prices, and pretty much a disaster. Investors create affordable housing and putting more restrictions on them will discourage them from doing so and create less affordable housing.
The economic trifecta of rising interest rates, persistently high home prices and record undersupply is making homebuying increasingly challenging.
Every loan on your book matters more than ever; the next lead you have is your most important. The current business environment has left originators scratching their heads and trying new things.
Luckily, the mortgage industry is cyclical, so let’s take a look at how you can turn a negative into a positive and grab clients’ attention through effective marketing, ultimately growing your book while others’ shrink.
As a pioneer in the non-qualified mortgage space, Angel Oak has seen firsthand how some of the best originators market their business when prices rise and volumes drop. Below are a few ways originators can best present themselves to real estate agents and stand out in a saturated market.
Recognize the value of lunch and learns
When every loan matters, the value of in-person meetings can’t be overstated. Right now, people are craving face time, so why not offer real estate agents and networking peers that opportunity?
Some of the most effective mortgage originators are differentiating themselves in the crowded market through “lunch and learn” sessions. These impactful one-hour gatherings leverage the intimate setting to provide a lot of value, both for your business and for your referral network.
Lunch and learns serve as more than just a networking event. They are also a chance to exchange knowledge and demonstrate innovative non-QM products, which can sometimes be a daunting experience for the uninitiated.
Through these roundtable discussions over lunch (or even dinner), you can help demystify non-QM products while also establishing your credibility in the industry. Think of the cost of the meal as an investment in deepening your relationships, fostering a sense of community and delivering valuable information to help your clients.
Meeting in person adds a level of trust and rapport that virtual meetings simply can’t match. Face-to-face interactions often lead to more open discussions, giving originators greater insight into real estate agents’ specific needs and challenges — and more opportunities to present valuable solutions that can help you stand out from the crowd.
While Facebook, X and Instagram remain staple platforms, branching out to newer social media avenues can yield impressive results.
TikTok, for example, has rapidly emerged as a powerful tool for businesses and presents the opportunity to connect with a massive audience of younger generations eager to learn about home buying.
Crafting engaging video content and putting your brand in front of an audience of real estate agents shows that you are adaptive to a changing client demographic (yes, “Realtortok” is a thing). A short, lively, well-executed video can quickly demonstrate an originator’s know-how and present complex information in a digestible way, making it an excellent way to stand out.
LinkedIn is still an excellent way to connect with Realtors and other real estate industry professionals through targeted, thoughtful posts and outreach. It is the most efficient way for mortgage originators to expand their network and target their message to a very specific audience.
Being active and engaged on LinkedIn allows you to share insightful articles, market trends and expert analyses to position yourself as an authority in the mortgage space. If you’re willing to invest a bit more in your educational posts, you can even develop marketing campaigns directly targeted at professionals in your specific territory, ensuring that you’re highly visible to the right audience.
Prioritize — and personalize — educational content
Starting a blog or contributing to an existing platform can further solidify your position in the industry as a professional educator and resource for real estate agents. A well-researched blog post can resonate with those who seek insights on the latest trends and products, serving their needs while also making you a go-to source of information.
Real estate agents may repost an originator’s content piece that can help them market more effectively to clients, which means just a little writing from you can go a long way.
In this difficult mortgage landscape, originators must prioritize building strong relationships with real estate agents. Meanwhile, the increasing use of generative AI means content is quickly becoming depersonalized and bland, so it’s important to zig when others are zagging.
Going beyond the high-level stories already covered in the press and digging deeper to focus on a specific niche or geography lets you cater to the unique needs of agents in different areas, with content that is more relevant and actionable. Effective marketing strategies that lean into the people connection and personalized content are essential in order to generate traction with your audience.
In a high-stakes environment, building credibility and deepening relationships can go a long way toward supporting your marketing efforts. Try incorporating the ideas described above as you plan your 2024 marketing strategy.
By mastering these tactics, you will be able to navigate the current market challenges, foster genuine partnerships and differentiate yourself from the competition to ensure long-term success.
Tom Hutchens is the executive vice president of Production for Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions.
The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) today released its annual A-List which honors 162 individual real estate agents and 83 teams for outstanding production in 2022, along with 36 mortgage professionals. The A-List honorees, all AREAA members, generated more $15.4 billion in sales volume from 20,472 transaction sides in 2022. A-List honorees will be recognized at AREAA’s National Convention on October 12-14 in Chicago.
The list of real estate agents and teams on the A-List was produced again by leading-industry observer RealTrends in partnership with Bank of America. AREAA honored 167 individual agents and teams a year ago.
Shirley Gary of Ansley Christie’s Real Estate generated 263 transaction sides in 2022 to lead all individual sales professionals on the A-List. She was listed 22nd in the nation on RealTrends’ “The Thousand.”Danielle Moy (204 sides) with @Properties in Orland Park, Ill., Eric Delgado (201) with Keller Williams Encino Sherman Oaks in Encino, Calif., Meghan Clarkson (140) with Long & Foster Real Estate in Chincoteague Island, Va., and Stephanie Vitacco (137.5) with Equity Union in Encino, Calif. followed on the sides list.
Tracy Allen of Coldwell Banker Realty in Honolulu, Hawaii, generated $200.92 million in 2022 volume to lead the A-List. She was 77th in RealTrends’ “The Thousand.”, Gary ($191.42 million) was second followed by Vitacco ($180.47 million), Delgado ($147.64 million), and Zar Zanganeh with The Agency Las Vegas ($112.28 million).
Long Doan’s Realty Group in Minneapolis, Minn., repeated as the top team on the A-List team transaction sides list with 4,412 in 2022. The Advanced Super Team (2,893 sides) led by Calvin Gong in Arcadia, Calif., was second followed by Kenny Truong’s Fast Real Estate (977) with eXp in Oakland, Calif., Kyle Yeatman’s Yeatman Group (919.23) with Long & Foster Real Estate in Midlothian, Va., and Momentum Realty (482), led by Michael Ramos, in San Jose, Calif.
The Advanced Super Team earned top honors in sales volume, generating $2.69 billion in 2022, followed by the Realty Group with $1.5 billion. The next three highest-earners in sales volume were Fast Real Estate ($755.9 million), Andy Tse’s Intero Real Estate Services in Saratoga, Calif. ($712.3 million), and the Yeatman Group ($413.1 million).
For the second straight year, Shashank Shekhar, the founder and CEO of InstaMortgage in San Jose, Calif., was the top loan originator by mortgage units with 400 closed mortgages in 2022. Leading the A-List in mortgage volume was Joanna Yu of US Bank in Los Altos Hills, Calif., with 244.3 million in volume, marking her second straight year leading in her respective category.
“AREAA’s A-List is eagerly anticipated each year,” said AREAA President Kurt Nishimura. “This list not only gives us insight into the growth and success of our members, but it also shows the full impact that AANHPI real estate professionals have on the industry. This professionalism within our AREAA membership is widely known within the real estate industry. This group is a major reason why. Their production is awe-inspiring.”
The A-List was developed using these criteria:
RealTrends identified honorees by cross-tabulating AREAA membership with those on its RealTrends + Tom Ferry America’s Best Real Estate Professionals list.
AREAAallowed for individual submissions allowing individual agents who generated at least 15 transaction sides or $6 million in sales volume in 2022 to be recognized.
Teams needed at least 25 transaction sides and $9 million in sales volume. The team lead must be an AREAA member.
The list of loan officers was generated through self-submissions directly to AREAA.
The top 50 in each real estate category and top 30 in the mortgage categories follow. Click here for the full list of the 2023 A-List:
Individual Real Estate Agents Sides
Rank
Name
Company
City, State
Sides
1
Shirley Gary
Ansley Christie’s Real Estate
Atlanta, GA
263
2
Danielle Moy
@properties
Orland Park , IL
204
3
Eric Delgado
Keller Williams Encino Sherman Oaks
Encino, CA
201
4
Meghan O Clarkson
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Chincoteague Island, VA
140
5
Stephanie Vitacco
Equity Union
Encino, CA
137.5
6
Soomin Kim
eXp Realty
Liberty Hill, TX
114
7
Anthony Domathoti
EXIT Realty Premium
Bronx, NY
88
8
Oscar Garcia
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolina Premier Properties
Wilmington, NC
83
9
Sairavi Suribhotla
Real People Realty
Bolingbrook, IL
81
10
Karen Sorenson
RE/MAX Newport Elite
Racine, WI
79
11
Randy Hatada
XPand Realty & Property Management
Las Vegas, NV
78
12
Christine Do
Keller Williams Realty Easton
Easton, MA
76.8
13
Ruth Manzano Javier
Five Star Realty, Inc.
Ewa Beach, HI
72.9
14
Peter Luu
eXp Realty
Orlando, FL
68.5
15
Dane Gates
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Properties
The Woodlands, TX
62
T16
Zar Zanganeh
The Agency Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
61
T16
Blair Myers
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers
The Delawalla Group – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida
Watersound, FL
$71,962,318
25
Tadashi Kondo
The Kondo Group – Compass
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$63,790,989
26
Peter Au/Alice Schroeder
Avant Team – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
Irvine, CA
$62,433,779
27
Tim Hur/Helen Nguyen
Point Honors and Associates, Realtors®
Atlanta, GA
$62,332,861
28
Clay Byrne
Byrne Real Estate Group – Keller Williams
Austin, TX
$61,542,826
29
Kayla Lee
Kayla Lee Team
New York, NY
$61,008,822
30
Lily Do
Lily Cai Do – Compass
Contra Costa, CA
$60,744,200
31
Kenneth Er
The Er Group – Compass
Oakland, CA
$60,075,330
32
Crystal Florida
Crystal Florida and Associates – Compass
Oakland, CA
$58,906,773
33
Andrew Peters
The Peters Team – Keller Williams
Peachtree Corners, GA
$57,871,883
34
Amy Kong
Trust Real Estate – SIDE
San Bruno, CA
$55,428,400
35
Connie Van
Connie Van Real Estate Group – Keller Williams
Elk Grove, CA
$54,863,093
36
Dave + Amy Chung
The Dave + Amy Chung Team – Compass
Chicago, IL
$54,105,965
37
Phat Nguyen/Julie Phan
Team Affinity
Orlando, FL
$51,309,695
38
Dave & Liz Goodchild
The Goodchild Team – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Realty
Palatine, IL
$51,058,667
39
Wailani O’Herlihy
The O’Herlihy Group – Sotheby’s International Realty
Malibu, CA
$46,935,962
40
Charan Bajwa
Team Charan Bajwa – RE/MAX
Monmouth Junction, NJ
$45,093,166
41
Scottee Downing
Downing + Ivicic Group – Compass
Austin, TX
$44,578,171
42
Ivona Kutermankiewicz
IKGroup – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
Chicago, IL
$44,548,542
43
Garrick Yan
Garrick Yan Group – eXp
San Leandro, CA
$42,474,639
44
Smitha Ramchandani
SR Real Estate Group – LeadingRE
Summit, NJ
$41,150,687
45
Michael Saladino
The Saladino Sells Team – Keller Williams
Chicago, IL
$41,106,129
46
Amy Duong Kim
Duong Kim Global – Compass
Chicago, IL
$38,797,886
47
Lisa Nguyen
The International Group at RE/MAX Professionals – RE/MAX
Lakewood, CO
$38,592,985
48
Janet Moore
Tampa Lux Group – Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
Tampa, FL
$35,988,627
49
Yassi Jazayeri
Yassi & Associates – Keller Williams
Bellevue, WA
$35,341,644
50
Jamie Younger
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Richmond, VA
$34,789,290
Top Loan Originators by Mortgage Units
Rank
Full Name
Company
City, State
# Closed Mortgages
1
Shashank Shekhar
InstaMortgage Inc
San Jose, CA
400
2
Karen Chiu
New American Funding
San Marino, CA
297
3
James Chen
Citizens Bank
Roslyn, NY
261
4
Nathan Sibbet
loanDepot
Sacramento, CA
256
5
Viral Vora
PNC Bank
Cupertino, CA
211
6
Tyler (Tu Ba) Nguyen
Bluegrey Mortgage
Tampa, FL
206
7
Judy Sakata
Sakata Mortgage dba of 247 Mortgage Loan LLC
Houston, TX
198
8
Joanna Yu
US bank
Los Altos Hills, CA
190
9
Choe Hung
US bank
Pasadena, CA
188
10
Kevin Oto
Green Haven Capital Inc.
Sacramento, CA
177
11
Ha Le Dao
DHI Mortgage
Sacramento, CA
146
12
An Le
Lifestyle Home Lending
Southlake, TX
141
13
Sunny (Meixu) Duan
Citi
Rockville, MD
118
14
Jasmine Cheng
US bank
Union City, CA
110
15
Michelle Kim
HSBC
Los Angeles, CA
102
16
Caroline Ke Liu
US bank
San Francisco, CA
101
17
Patrick Ly
Union Home Mortgage
Leesburg, VA
82
18
Daniel Dai
Lemonbrew Lending
Edison, NJ
81
19
Nick Chee Seng Leong
HSBC
Whitestone, NY
79
20
Anne Wiker
US bank
San Diego, CA
78
21
Jennifer Yang
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Torrance, CA
76
22
Meinoh Kim
BluPrint Home Loans
Fairfield, CA
75
23
Hai David Le
US bank
Fairfax, VA
72
24
Greg Louie
GFL Capital Mortgage, Inc
Henderson, NV
71
25
Sunny Kumar
US bank
San Diego, CA
70
26
Ray Zeng
HSBC
New York, NY
69
T27
Gennaro Bizzarro
HSBC
Yonkers, NY
68
T27
Aileen Hom
Wells Fargo Private Bank
San Mateo, CA
68
29
Kamal Sohal
Chase bank
Sacramento, CA
67
30
Bopha Phang
loanDepot
Stockton, CA
65
Top Loan Originators by Mortgage Volume
Rank
Full Name
Company
City, State
Volume Closed Mortgages
1
Joanna Yu
US bank
Los Altos Hills, CA
$244,307,535
2
Viral Vora
PNC Bank
Cupertino, CA
$221,839,038
3
Shashank Shekhar
InstaMortgage Inc
San Jose, CA
$187,048,281
4
James Chen
Citizens Bank
Roslyn, NY
$178,391,673
5
Gennaro Bizzarro
HSBC
Yonkers, NY
$175,517,864
6
Karen Chiu
New American Funding
San Marino, CA
$165,711,007
7
Choe Hung
US bank
Pasadena, CA
$163,943,064
8
Nathan Sibbet
loanDepot
Sacramento, CA
$124,232,591
9
Caroline Ke Liu
US bank
San Francisco, CA
$118,631,590
10
Michelle Kim
HSBC
Los Angeles, CA
$115,654,558
11
Sunny (Meixu) Duan
Citi
Rockville, MD
$106,094,000
12
Jasmine Cheng
US bank
Union City, CA
$101,242,343
13
Aileen Hom
Wells Fargo Private Bank
San Mateo, CA
$96,474,112
14
Kevin Oto
Green Haven Capital Inc.
Sacramento, CA
$82,155,712
15
Tyler (Tu Ba) Nguyen
Bluegrey Mortgage
Tampa, FL
$75,702,929
16
Jennifer Yang
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Torrance, CA
$71,624,460
17
Hai David Le
US bank
Fairfax, VA
$70,711,136
18
Ha Le Dao
DHI Mortgage
Sacramento, CA
$70,124,004
19
Sunny Kumar
US bank
San Diego, CA
$66,618,844
20
Ryan Dang
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
San Mateo, CA
$65,306,558
21
Roger Pei
HSBC
San Francisco, CA
$58,714,459
22
Vanessa Liu
HSBC
San Francisco, CA
$57,556,052
23
An Le
Lifestyle Home Lending
Southlake, TX
$54,609,986
24
Judy Sakata
Sakata Mortgage dba of 247 Mortgage Loan LLC
Houston, TX
$49,708,616
25
Dan Anacker
US bank
Bonney Lake, WA
$49,432,542
26
Leena Sankary
US bank
Monrovia, CA
$49,367,062
27
Ray Zeng
HSBC
New York, NY
$45,997,014
28
Meinoh Kim
BluPrint Home Loans
Fairfield, CA
$43,294,216
29
Bobby Saadieh
loanDepot
Morgan Hill, CA
$43,236,251
30
Nick Chee Seng Leong
HSBC
Whitestone, NY
$40,491,013
ABOUT AREAA
Founded in 2003, the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) is a national nonprofit trade organization with more than 18,000 members dedicated to improving the lives of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community through homeownership. Visit areaa.org for more information.
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