Integrating and Managing the Real Estate Transaction

While the 2000 dot.com crash rained destruction on the one-stop-shop-parade, the integration of transaction components, the effective management of the transaction, and the drive toward a more seamless real estate transaction is still very much alive. However, transaction management is different today, as title companies lead the way by laying a solid foundation for an automated real estate transaction.

Development of the Internet

Technology has significantly influenced the way the real estate marketplace operates. The pace of technological change has been startling. However, the Internet is a very dynamic beast, and although we as an industry have advanced with e-mail and e-commerce, we have more coming down the pike, including ASP, Wi-Fi, broadband, and blogging.

Changing Consumer Characteristics

There is not one single customer type. Increasingly we are learning that different generations and different groups behave differently and have differing needs based upon a wide range of factors. Specialization, coupled with niche marketing, will provide agents an excellent opportunity to gain a competitive advantage in the future.

Advancement and Sophistication of Real Estate Agents

Gone are the days when agents were the gatekeepers of a wide range of real estate information. They are now, by default, broad experts in the home buying and selling process. The pace and extent of change in the real estate business has been escalating faster and faster. The challenges facing the agent of today are more complicated and complex than ever before. To succeed in the new world of real estate, agents will have to learn some new skills, be very technology proficient, offer a broader base of services, and learn to adapt quickly.

Evolution of Multi-Listing Services

Although MLS’s continue to play an essential role in the US real estate market, migration to the Internet has opened a myriad of complexities. The industry has worked through data ownership, but still struggles to ensure the security of data. The next hurdles include data exchange, territorial issues, and uniformity.

The Realignment of Marketing Strategies

The Internet has become the most powerful tool in real estate, both as a research device and as a marketing medium. The web has totally changed the consumer’s focus in selecting a media containing the desired data.The challenge for brokers and agents is to find a dynamic blend of print and Internet advertising in order to create one balanced channel that meets the specific needs of their segmented and fragmented real estate consumer. The potential for those who succeed may be a significant increase in market share.

The Franchising Revival

Franchising is one of the most popular ways to expand your company. The Internet has also fueled the growing need for a recognizable online brand, providing a competitive advantage and increased market recognition. Globalization is an added bonus for franchising. So whether a real estate agent wishes to expand their brand, or quickly acquire another brand, franchising is currently one of the best opportunities to achieve that end.

To Those Who Have, More Will be Given

Size, previously considered by many as more cost-prohibitive than effective, has demonstrated to the world just what sheer volume is capable of overcoming. Economies of scale have changed the financial landscape and dominated industries. For the first time in history the residential real estate brokerage industry has a mega company with the power to really effect change.

Trends on the Fringe

Trends on the Fringe reviews trends that did make the top 15 for the 2006 report. This includes discussions on mortgage fraund, thinking globally and acting locally, generations x and y, data security, and the restructing and rebuilding of Realtor® associations