Park Company Realtors Blog

Go Meat!

I love the Hillshire Farms "Go Meat" commercials...I'm not sure if it's the Saturday Night Live-esque cheerleader skit or just the general enthusiasm for meat, but I love them.

Our "Go Meat" moments have come to us in the form of statistics behind what's going on in our market...you know, "The Meat." If you missed our May Market Update with Kari Myhre and Jenny Schuster, take 2 and 1/2 minutes to check it out.  They shared some great information such as our April average sales price increasing $14,000 over April, 2010 due in large part to the expiration of the home buyer tax credits, but more importantly...11 more homes priced over $300,000 sold in 2011 than in 2010.  That's big. Really BIG. 

What's the big deal?.  Read If Prices Are Falling Why Are the Rich Buying? on the KCM Blog. People with some degree of wealth are realizing that with today's low interest rates, along with the unfortuate decline in prices it is the time to buy. The best statement in the entire blog post is "They realize that the COST of real estate is a much more important than its PRICE."

The second stat I wanted to draw attention to is the Inventory of Homes. Kari shared with us that the inventory of homes is under 7 months.  What does this mean? At the rate homes are selling, in less than 7 months, we would run out of homes to sell if no new homes were brought into the market. That is a balanced market - good for buyers and good for sellers and the scales aren't tipped greatly in either direction.

Now you've learned the "Real Estate Meat" for the month...it might change your frame of mind when you hear "Go Meat!"

Kristi Hardy
Director, Marketing Services
Park Co. Realtors
701.237.5031
www.ParkCompany.com
www.Facebook.com/ParkCoRealtors

 

 

May Video Market Update

Download Apr 11 Market Update Broken Down by Area

Why Hide the Address?

 
Oftentimes when browsing real estate websites, I run across a listing or two in which the address is not disclosed.  Why would a real estate brokerage not disclose an address?  It makes no sense to me.

In representing the seller, it is the task of the brokerage to sell a listing. Choosing not to disclose an address may make that task quite difficult.  I also think it almost borders on not fulfilling your fiduciary responsiblity to your seller, but I'm sure someone would debate me on that one.  When 91% of all home buyers start their home search online, shouldn't the address be the first thing they see beyond a photo of the home?  How would a buyer know where to find this fabulous home or drive by to see if it's the neighborhood they've been dreaming of?

I won't reserve my judgement just for online advertising, but print as well.  We advertise in the Real Estate Book, much like other companies in our area.  After all these years, I am still amazed when I see a photo ad with no address, just the phone number for the seller's agent. Really? 

The days of real estate agents being information gatekeepers is over.  Buyers are smart, they're intuitive and they want information NOW and quite honestly if you won't give it them, they will go find the information elsewhere.

Just so you know, Park Co. Realtors never keeps the addresses of our listings a secret!  We want you to drive by, we want you to call, we want you to text, we want you to visit our website.  We like to make buyers happy, after all, happy buyers make our sellers very happy!

Kristi Hardy
Director, Marketing Services
Park Co. Realtors
701.237.5031
www.ParkCompany.com
www.Facebook.com/ParkCoRealtors

 

Park Co. Volunteer Corp - Making Good Work!

 

Giving back to our communities is a top priority for all sales associates and staff at Park Co. Realtors. While we have been providing donations to several community groups through our Good Works Committee for years, we felt there was a need to provide a physical volunteer presence in our community. In 2010, we formed the Park Co. Volunteer Corp to help physically serve individuals and not-for- profit organizations throughout our communities with a variety of projects. Some of the projects the Volunteer Corp has participated in include: United Way Day of Caring, REACH office/food pantry organization, Salvation Army Kettle Drive, Prairie Public phone staffing, sandbagging, Habitat for Humanity builds and several others.

If your organization has a need for volunteers for service projects, please contact Amy Redland at 701-237-5031or Amy@ParkCompany.com.

 

Sheridan Named to Real Estate Commission

Governor Jack Dalrymple has appointed Kris Sheridan, President of Park Co. Realtors to the North Dakota Real Estate Commission. 

The Commission consists of five members, three of whom must be active real estate brokers. The primary responsibilities of the North Dakota Real Estate Commission are to license qualified applicants as real estate agencies, real estate brokers, real estate associate brokers, sales agents, to investigate alleged violations of the law, impose sanctions, and prescribe curricula and standards of real estate education programs.

Sheridan begins her fourth term in July and will serve for five years.

The Sign Says It ALL!

You may ask what the big deal is about signs, afterall they are just signs. Real estate companies love signs. They're mini-billboards for homes that scream "I AM FOR SALE!" 

Signs are also a big deal to our sellers...in 2010, 63% of our phone calls came from our signs.  That is a lot of phone calls we'd wouldn't get if potential buyers didn't have a sign to see the home is for sale.  Sure, 90% of buyers start their search online, but most won't pick up the phone until they physically drive by, scope out the neighborhood and fall in love with the house. 

In the fall of 2009, we added text codes to all of our signs, so when people drive by and want to know quick details, like the price, bedrooms and bathrooms, they simply text the code and receive information.  It was a HIT!  We were surprised how often the system was used.  In fact, we received over 1,800 text message requests on our listings in 2010. At the end of the year we thought, "How can we make this better, yet?" and we upgraded our system. 

Now it is simply, text PARK to 59559.  Once you do that, one of two things will happen.

1) If you have a Droid or and iPhone and your GPS is enabled, the system automatically figures out where you are at or...

2) If you do not have GPS on your phone, it will ask you to provide the house number and/or street.  

Once the system figures out where you are, it sends you information on the listing you are at AND the 5 closest properties for sale (not just Park Co. listings, but all MLS listings)! Talk about shopping a neighborhood (and you probably didn't even make it to the end of the street!)

One unique feature of the new system is that once you do text for information, one of Park Co.'s sales associates will call you.  Yes, call you.  We want to make sure that if you do have any further questions you get them answered immediately.  If you are out driving around this weekend, give the system a try...find a neighborhood you love, text PARK to 59559 and see what results pop up - you may find your next home through your phone!  Just a reminder, please don't text and drive.  Pull over and text or have your passenger do it for you.

Kristi Hardy
Director, Marketing Services
Park Co. Realtors
701.237.5031
www.ParkCompany.com
www.Facebook.com/ParkCoRealtors

 

 

Ring Big, RED!

 

It's almost here!  The time of year, Park Co. Realtors get a little crazy on 10th Street in Fargo, dressed as Santas wildly waving bells in front of our giant red kettle to collect donations for the Salvation Army.

This Friday, December 10th, we will be at it again!  However this year, we have help, A LOT OF HELP!  All across North Dakota and into neighboring Minnesota, Realtors will be manning the red kettles in addition to our big red kettle on 10th Street!  Our goal is $25,000 in one day!

The Salvation Army provides a daily hot meal program serves breakfast and a noon meal five days a week, lunch on Saturday, and an evening meal on Sunday all year. They provide Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for the needy. They also visit local nursing home residents and bring them gifts and their most visible gift to our community is their year round emergency assistance provided to anyone in need.  If you happened to be around the Fargo-Moorhead area this past spring during flood preparations, you'll remember seeing Salvation Army vehicles all over, providing food and water to weary sandbagging volunteers.  If you remember the Galleria Apartment fire early this fall, that displaced 150 families, the Salvation Army was there to help!

 This one day our Realtor Association has committed to this worthy cause is the least we can do for an organization to provides so much to our communities! 

 If you see the dancing Santas on 10th Street, drive on up and donate from the warmth of your car - it's forecasted to be a high of 16 degrees!  We'll need alot of dancing and donations to keep warm!

Four Park Co. Associates Receive Honors

Four sales associates from Park Co. Realtors in Fargo were honored at the Realtor® Convention of the Dakotas in Grand Forks, ND.

Dave Lanpher was named the North Dakota Realtor of the Year.  The Realtor of the Year award recognizes a Realtor^® member of the State Association for his or her effort and work expended in the interest of their fellow Realtors^®, their profession and the community.  Lanpher will also be recognized at the National Association of Realtors® Convention in New Orleans, LA.

 

 

 

Jeff Botnen received the inaugural Good Neighbor Award. The Good Neighbor Award recognizes REALTORS® for their efforts in community and charitable service and is awarded every other year. He was chosen from among five nominees from across North Dakota.  

Organizations that benefit from Botnen’s involvement are: National Kidney Foundation, the Fargo Public Schools “Adopt-a-School” Program, the Fargo Lions Club, YMCA Cass Clay Building New Ground Committee, the Y-West Advisory Committee and St. John’s Lutheran Church. The National Kidney Foundation was awarded a $500 donation on Botnen’s behalf.

Scott Breidenbach was elected North Dakota Association of Realtors® Vice President for 2011.

 

 

 

 

Vicky Matson was elected secretary of the Dakotas (CRS) Council of Residential Specialists Chapter.

August Associates of the Month

Congratulations to our Top Associates of the Month in August!

Robbie Quick, e-PRO, GRI
Sales Associate of the Month

 

 

 

Scott Breidenbach, CRS, GRI
Listing Associate of the Month

 

 

 

 

Dave Oksendahl
The Market Associate of the Month

ParkCompany.com = Easy Open House Search!

Searching for open houses on ParkCompany.com has just gotten a little easier!  Instead of the search criteria automatically showing, you can now choose to see it or immediately view the homes that are open.

To search by time and location, simply click on the Show Search Criteria button on the upper right hand corner. 

 

 
Along with that note, it's Minnesota Open House weekend - it's a great time to see what's available on the Minnesota side of the Red River!