Palm Springs has always been like a sparkling jewel in the desert. With beautiful golf courses, luxurious resort hotels, highly-rated spas, restaurants, and shopping, and all the beauty of the incomparable landscape surrounding you, it has long been the diamond in the rough for Southern Californians (and visitors from all over the world) seeking a unique retreat. And if you’ve ever thought of buying property in this desert dreamland, or in equally appealing neighboring communities in the Coachella Valley (such as Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, or Indio), now is the perfect time, for several reasons.
1. The market is improving. While the numbers on foreclosures and bank-owned homes in California is still uncomfortably high, the market has finally begun to level out. This can mean several good things for prospective home buyers. For one thing, it may soon become easier to get a loan. Banks are eager to unload the many properties that are bogging them down and they are often willing to work with buyers to come to some sort of mutually beneficial arrangement. It is also important to buy while prices are still relatively low so that you can enjoy the best return on your investment. And amongst the many fine communities of the Coachella Valley, property is always a valuable commodity, so you really can’t go wrong purchasing a first home for your young family, a dwelling to live out your twilight years in the heart of desert beauty, or some turf and tinder that is purely for investment purposes.
2. Tax credits are available. If you thought you were too late to take advantage of the federal tax credit for homebuyers ($8,000 for first time, $6,500 for repeat), you were wrong. The offer has been extended to include houses that will close by September 30th (as long as a contract was in place by April 30th), so don’t shred your documents just yet. Service members who were outside the United States may also qualify for a 1-year extension, so look into the requirements if you think you might be eligible to apply. Finally, California is offering a state tax credit (to any taxpayer who purchases a principle residence before January 1, 2011).
3. Banks are on your side. As it turns out, many banks feel that homeowners make a better client than investors. It’s hard to believe, but you are less of a risk for lenders (and investors may have lost their opportunity by waiting for prices to drop further). So even if you’ve heard that lenders are taking a hard line when it comes to qualifying potential homeowners for loans, consider that you might be a wiser choice than a conglomerate that’s looking to flip properties.
4. It’s a good investment. Rental property is always a sound investment (barring natural disaster). Whether you plan to lease out to long-term renters, create a time-share, or cater to seasonal tourists, buying a home in Palm Springs could turn out to be a lucrative undertaking. Just consider, before you put pen to paper, what your potential live-ins might desire (tourists will want to be close to attractions while long-term renters might prefer to live near schools that their kids will attend or enjoy some privacy, peace and quiet, or a view). And if you plan to use your purchase as a primary residence (or even a seasonal home), consider that you are in a buyer’s market and your property will certainly increase in value since Palm Springs and adjacent areas are always desirable destinations.
5. You deserve it! Normally, this is not a good reason to buy anything. But if you have been smart with your money (saving up to purchase a home, working to earn an excellent credit score, etc.) then you deserve to reap the benefits of your planning and good sense. And with prices still low, plenty of properties to choose from, tax credits on the way out, and desert vistas beckoning, you should consider that now really is the perfect time to procure the home of your dreams in the alluring Coachella Valley.
The California Desert Association of Realtors has released some very interesting stats that support what we have been saying about the Palm Springs real estate market rebounding. It will particularly surprise many that conventional sales are outpacing distress sales (Short Sales and Foreclosures). This will go a long way in dispelling the false impressions that some people (and many in the media) seem to have. Our correcting inaccurate information will obviously be important to those of you who do not want to miss the opportunity to own real estate at a discount. Glad we can help!
Here is what’s happening in “Your Neighborhood” - Closed Residential Transactions, as reported in the MLS: 1/1/10 – 6/15/10:
Rancho Mirage
Total Closed Sales 309
Foreclosures 53 (represents 17% of the closed sales)
Short-Sales 30 (represents 10% of the closed sales)
Conventional 226 (represents 73% of the closed sales)
Palm Desert Total Closed Sales 613
Foreclosures 163 (represents 27% of the closed sales)
Short-Sales 66 (represents 10% of the closed sales)
Conventional 384 (represents 63% of the closed sales)
Indian Wells Total Closed Sales 111
Foreclosures 8 (represents 7% of the closed sales)
Short-Sales 4 (represents 4% of the closed sales)
Conventional 99 (represents 89% of the closed sales)
La Quinta Total Closed Sales 634
Foreclosures 172 (represents 27% of the closed sales)
Short-Sales 86 (represents 14% of the closed sales)
Conventional 376 (represents 59% of the closed sales)
Sun City
Total Closed Sales 131
Foreclosures 7 (represents 5% of the closed sales)
Short-Sales 1 (represents 1% of the closed sales)
Conventional 123 (represents 94% of the closed sales)
Data from the Desert Area MLS from January through May 2010 also shows an active market for luxury homes in the Palm Springs area.
Contact us today to schedule your appointments to see some amazing and affordable properties before prices rise. (Jumbo loans are available!)
Palm Springs area real estate is cooking. Don’t believe us? Have a look at the empirical evidence below. These are facts! With inventory at certain price points still relatively plentiful, interest rates still very low and loans being available (also ask us about Cal Metro Mortgage’s new Jumbo Loan programs), now is the time to invest in this market. You’ll want to contact us after you check this out:
Like so many of us on our birthdays, I was particularly introspective for much of the day on April 23rd. Thinking about life and my career in real estate, I pondered how it is that the years go by so quickly, and how time tends to change perspective. It was weeks later, just before Mother’s Day, that I was finally able to connect the dots.
My blog readers know that I am an exercise evangelist and work out strenuously almost every day. I’ve always seen this as a metaphor for tackling and surmounting business’ and life’s obstacles. So although I notice that it’s sometimes more difficult to remain in the top fitness percentile of age groups younger than me, I do so to prove to myself that I can stay competitive, strong and focused. It’s all about passion for succeeding. I also have another motivation that I’ll get to in a minute.
As I pondered, I recognized a common thread that ties together several of my different activities to one underlying theme. You probably have a similar pattern. The realization that I want to share is that many of us embark on various endeavors without seeing the common thread in each of these activities. Why is this important? Because recognizing patterns (themes) allows us to continue or change them. It may seem obtuse at first, but the premise will hopefully resonate on several levels as we connect the dots.
THE THEME
A recent Social Media Examiner article by Ruth M. Shipley references Joseph Campbell’s famous line ” Follow Your Bliss” and also quotes social media entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk suggesting “If you’re living your passion, you’re going to want to be consumed by your work. The passion and love for what you do will enable you to work the hours necessary to succeed.”
The central theme I discovered is a passion for striving to be the best at whatever I attempt, and wanting to making a difference in whatever that context. Check this out:
We all agree about the value of educating oneself to allow deep-dive questioning regarding any subject too important to leave to the sole judgment of others. Right? The news media has been chock-a-block full of stories about happens when we don’t delve into subjects and ask pertinent questions. I don’t have to tell you about the real estate meltdown from which we are just beginning to emerge. However, you may not be as familiar with another example of what could happen when events are allowed to unfold with inadequate oversight and/or regulation. We’ll get to those illustrations a little later.
So continuing… my reflections segued into thinking about my real estate career, and how we try to add value for our clients. Our approach to our business is to earn trust by listening carefully and providing a wide range of material facts that allow people to fully understand the issues so that can make informed decisions to achieve their goals. Our “Love of the Desert” branding speaks to our belief that we are a new generation of Realtor who offers information and facilitates rather than sells (see our Inbound Marketing blogpost). Our genuine objective is to help our clients.
BABY BOOMERS AND ALTRUISM – AN OXYMORON?
I confess to not always being so interested in altruism. Baby boomers are notorious for being self-absorbed. What caused a transformation in my case?
It’s currently a few days before Mother’s Day 2010 and suffice it to say that there has never been a son who loves his mother more. I have overseen my mother’s healthcare for the last 12 years. Working through the effects of several serious maladies, I’ve learned a great deal about the health care system and its providers, from physicians to caregivers, to the whole gamut. I’ve also been able to experience how the mindset that compels one to become the healthcare quarterback spills over to everything. It becomes second nature to recognize when “experts” aren’t experts and when someone needs information rather than someone’s authority. The recognition of having to take charge becomes a call to action. It becomes all consuming when a son fights for a parent who cannot fight for themselves any longer. Complex medical analyses, constant questioning and oversight and partnering with doctors in decision making at every turn becomes imperative. The arcane world of health insurance parameters, Medicare, prescription coverages, etc., makes the process all the more mind-dumbing for any of us, nevermind a diminished senior. But I digress. The pertinent point is that I have come to understand that part of my mother’s legacy is the caring she has taught me.
HERE’S WHERE WE CONNECT THE DOTS
What does caring for my mother have to do with real estate…and how does exercise intersect?
1. A disadvantage is a disadvantage, whether it’s a senior needing assistance understanding and harnessing the vagaries of healthcare, or anyone trying to navigate any field without adequate knowledge.
2. As responsibilities for my Mom demanded that I obtain as much information as possible to accurately weigh the advice received from the “experts”, the process re-confirmed that our clients required as much information as we could give them in order to properly consider our real estate advice.
3. Motivation for striving to stay in top physical and mental shape is probably mostly the same for any of us for realize that this is our foundation. We also realize that exercise is also a metaphor for disciplined methods of accomplishing goals.
THE EPIPHANY
Have a look at the following two videos. In a video posted on the AC360 Blog (was it coincidence that it was on my birthday?), from an interview on the CNN newscast the day before, Dennis Quaid talks about the harrowing experience he and his wife, Kimberly, had when a Los Angeles hospital over-dosed their newborn twins with blood thinner, Heparin. When you realize that one cannot ever assign responsibilty to the so-called experts, you become informed enough to contribute to major life decisions.
The take away from this birthday mind excursion is an embrace of the old addage: “Knowledge Is Power”. It’s essential to stay on top of your game by working to maintain physical and emotionally stability under pressure, and it’s vital to obtain as much information as possible to be able to accurately weigh and consider advice you receive.
I feel good about our efforts to educate our clients rather than sell them – in much the way that I feel satisfied that my mother has every advantage in her fight to overcome some daunting medical issues because of my quest to absorb all I can to help her. But what about all the people (older or younger) who need but don’t have patient or real estate advocates?
(Over time, I will expand my patient advocacy to try and help others. No question that doctors and support staff are well intentioned. However, there are levels of expertise and many other issues that affect quality healthcare. As you’ll understand reading Evan Handler’s interview, below, his is not an isolated case. It is vitally necessary for us all to help. I invite you to join me in finding ways to do so.)
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We were just talking about the new HAFA Program (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program) that attempts to bring some structure to the short sale process in order to accelerate it and make it more “equitable”. Adding to the benefits comes Senate Bill 401 signed into law on April 12, 2010.
The following is the announcement by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (Reprinted from its Realegal Newsletter).
Distressed homeowners no longer have to pay California state income tax on debt forgiven in a short sale, foreclosure, or loan modification. Enacted into law yesterday, Senate Bill 401 generally aligns California’s tax treatment of mortgage debt relief income with federal law. For debt forgiven on a loan secured by a “qualified principal residence,” borrowers will now be exempt from both federal and state income tax consequences. The existing federal exemption is for indebtedness up to $2 million, whereas the new California exemption is for indebtedness up to $800,000 and forgiven debt up to $500,000.
“Qualified principal residence” indebtedness is defined as debt incurred in acquiring, constructing, or substantially improving a principal residence. It includes both first and second trust deeds. It also includes a refinance loan to the extent the funds were used to payoff a previous loan that would have qualified.
The tax breaks apply to debts discharged from 2009 through 2012. Californians who have already filed their 2009 tax returns may claim the exemption by filing a Form 540X amendment.
Taxpayers who do not qualify for the above exemptions (e.g., second home or rental property) may nevertheless be exempt under other provisions. Most notably, taxpayers who are bankrupt are exempt from debt relief income tax. Also, taxpayers who are insolvent are exempt from debt relief income tax to the extent their current liabilities exceed current assets.
We have done several short sales at Love of the Desert. Contact us today for more information.
For those of us who have experienced the frustrations of trying to work with Lenders on our clients’ short sales, help has arrived! The HAFA program became fully operational on April 5, 2010. As of now, all HAFA agreements must be finalized and signed by December 31, 2012.
The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Program provides additional options to avoid costly foreclosures and offers incentives to borrowers, servicers and investors who utilize a short sale or deed-in-lieu (DIL) to avoid foreclosures. HAFA alternatives are available to all HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program)-eligible borrowers who: 1) do not qualify for a Trial Period Plan; 2) do not successfully complete a Trial Period Plan; 3) miss at least two consecutive payment during a HAMP modification; or, 4) request a short sale or deed-in-lieu.
In a short sale, the servicer allows the borrower to list and sell the mortgaged property with the understanding that the net proceeds from the sale may be less than the total amount due on the first mortgage. Generally, if the borrower makes a good faith effort to sell the property but is not successful, a servicer may consider a DIL. With a DIL, the borrower voluntarily transfers ownership of the property to the servicer – provided title is free and clear of mortgages, liens and encumbrances. With either the HAFA short sale or DIL, the servicer may not require a cash contribution or promissory note from the borrower and must forfeit the ability to pursue a deficiency judgment against the borrower.
HAFA simplifies and streamlines the short sale and DIL process by providing a standard process flow, minimum performance timeframes and standard documentation.
The guidelines for HAFA are detailed further in the documents listed below:
We join the California Association of Realtors in commending California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his decision to implement the Homebuyer Tax Credit. The following is the press release issued on March 25th, 2010 by C.A.R.
C.A.R. applauds Homebuyer Tax Credit legislation
For release:
Thursday, March 25, 2010
C.A.R. applauds Gov. Schwarzenegger’s signing Homebuyer Tax Credit legislation into law
LOS ANGELES (March 25) – The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today praised California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his leadership in signing the Homebuyer Tax Credit legislation into law.
“We are pleased that Governor Schwarzenegger recognized the positive impact the tax credit will have for families hoping to buy their first home,” said C.A.R. President Steve Goddard. “Successful passage of this legislation was the result of our efforts in Sacramento over the last several weeks as REALTORS® and our team in the capital worked for the bill’s passage before it landed on the governor’s desk earlier this week.”
California’s previous home buyer tax credit program was so successful that it ran out of tax credits by the end of June 2009, eight months before it was set to expire and just as housing markets appeared to be turning a corner. Unlike last year’s legislation, the Homebuyer Tax Credit signed into law today adds a tax credit for the purchase of an existing home by a first-time home buyer.
“The positive impact of the home buyer tax credit at the federal level is clear,” Goddard said. “Nearly 40 percent of first-time home buyers said they would not have purchased a home if the federal tax credit for first-time home buyers was not offered, according to C.A.R. research conducted last year. We expect the state tax credit for home buyers to have the same impact.”
AB 183 will provide $200 million for home buyer tax credits, allocating $100 million for qualified first-time home buyers of existing homes and $100 million for purchasers of new, or previously unoccupied, homes. The eligible taxpayer who purchases a qualified personal residence on and after May 1, 2010, and on or before Dec. 31, 2010, or who purchases a qualified principal residence on and after Dec. 31, 2010, and before Aug. 1, 2011, pursuant to an enforceable contract executed on or before Dec. 31, 2010, will be able to take the allowed tax credit. The credit is equal to the lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000, in equal installments over three consecutive years. Under AB 183, purchasers will be required to live in the home for at least two years or forfeit the credit (i.e., repay it to the state).
“AB 183 also will significantly contribute to efforts to stimulate jobs creation within California’s housing market by helping to incentivize first-time home buyers to purchase homes that have been abandoned, foreclosed upon, and returned to the lender; or have been sitting on the market for extended periods of time,” Goddard said. “It is these homes that will require substantial rehabilitation by the new owners, which will in turn generate a tremendous increase in jobs and accessory purchases connected to home improvement activities.”
Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with nearly 150,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
So, I had grown weary of articles questioning the relevance, competence or importance of Realtors. In my related post (“Does Your Realtor Suck? Pt 1″), I told you that the detractors miss the point. It isn’t a question of professionalism or relevance (Realtors are essential and most are highly trained and exceptionally ethical). It is that Realtors must now understand and embrace a dramatic change in marketing. Have another look at this compelling video that I use as the premise for this and my related post.
REFLECTION
I was recently sending a note to a former music business colleague in Australia when I had an epiphany. My blog readers know about my extensive use of social media in my real estate career. My realization is that I am as passionate about this as I’ve ever been about the music biz. It is reminiscent to me of the ’70’s when we’d discover a new, great band or song daily. This time it’s a new, great Internet app!). As before, this period of creativity is a game changer.
In my previous career before Real Estate (See my Bio on Linkedin), I was humbled to hear some of my colleagues consider me a Visionary…a Futurist, especially as I addressed licensing issues for digital distribution of rich content early on. I had worked with and was inspired by real visionaries (John Lennon, Sly Stallone and many others) and it’s little wonder that I’d embrace digital distribution of content, particularly wireless, as the future. The significance of social media to real estate is clearly the ability to facilitate buying and selling of real estate through a non-intrusive dissemination of information. Social Media is the ideal vehicle for distinguishing oneself through an honest display of personality, experience and information. Afterall, we would all much rather do our homework and then reach out for assistance than be inundated with traditional sales. Today, it’s all about “Inbound (Permission-based) Marketing”, as Seth Godin would say.
FAST FORWARD
Who’s Seth Godin? He is perhaps one of the most articulate evangelists of the power of social media. Seth’s point of view is worth considering for its insight of the evolutionary past and future. I consider his perspective as one of the confirmations of mine. Seth is an entrepreneur and blogger who thinks about the marketing of ideas in the digital age. His newest interest: the tribes we lead. Godin argues the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes. Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change. He urges us to do so in this video.
Now have a look at the following interview with Jason Falls, founder of Social Media Examiner. Some of the takeaways are:
1. Listen to your competition as well as your current customers and what they are saying about your company
2. Social media conversations are dialogues and even “multi-logues” where others listen to your 1-on-1 conversations
3. Social media is about building long term lasting relationships with customers
4. Listen for and respond to both positive and negative comments multiplies the good vibes around your brand
5. Soon businesses will be creating social businesses where customers come for community and not just to buy your product
6. The best social media programs take the online world and move it to the offline world
NEED SOME MORE PROOF?
This past February, Amy Porterfield wrote an article for Social Media Examiner called “Social Media Integration Big Theme for 2010″. Amy cites some empirical evidence from study results of a survey by Alterian that corroborates that social media is becoming an integral part of most companies’ marketing campaigns:
#1: Marketers Ditch Silo Campaigns and Report Social Media as “Critical for Success” (Alterian)
As digital and social media marketing mature, the demand for greater integration is evident. Marketers are quickly realizing that operating in a one-way marketing tunnel makes success impossible in this social media–saturated world.
Listening first and then communicating and engaging have become “musts” for any successful social media campaign. Results of a 2009 survey by Alterian indicate that social media is becoming an integral part of most companies’ marketing campaigns:
50%+ direct at least “a fair amount” of effort toward integrating social media marketing into their overall strategy
66% will be investing in social media marketing in 2010
40% of the 66% plan to shift more than a fifth of their traditional direct marketing budget toward funding their social media marketing activities.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I’ve created the following short poll. Please take a minute to check it out and also don’t forget to offer your comments to this post by using our Disqus form below.
Home sales in the Coachella Valley rose 22 percent while the median price jumped 19 percent in January, proving the area to be more resilient as sales sputtered across California.
That was all good news compared to the state. California’s 27,858 sales of new and resale homes and condominiums were down 5.4 percent compared to January 2009.
The valley’s median home sales price was $215,000 for all homes and condominiums combined in January. That reflected a 19.4 percent gain compared to the 180,000 in January 2009.
One home in Palm Desert sold for $7.5 million.
In the Coachella Valley, MDA DataQuick reported 748 total sales.
Condominiums led the way, posting 152 percent sales gains in January over the same month last year with 197 sales at the median price of $236,000.
Resale home activity was up nearly 4 percent with 513 sales at a median price of $198,000, according to DataQuick, the nationwide real estate monitoring firm.
New home sales fell 5 percent, with just 38 sales closing escrow that month. The new home sales median was reported to be $259,750, nearly 14 percent less than the median in January 2009.
Greg Berkemer, executive vice president of California Desert Association of Realtors, said sales data collected from Multiple Listing Service sales shows that existing home and condo sales rose by 51 percent from a year ago.
But because the inventory has remained flat for the past three months hovering at 8,100 properties it appears that even with increased sales, a replacement supply of new listings are coming onto the market. The steady supply continues to put downward pressure on pricing, he said.
It suggests that distressed properties and low-cost inland homes, such as those in the Coachella Valley, are grabbing the attention of buyers.
DataQuick reported that 44 percent of the existing homes sold in January in Southern California had been foreclosed on during the past year.
That was up from 40.8 percent in December, but down from 58.2 percent in January a year ago.
Foreclosure resales peaked at 58.8 percent last February.
The January stats underscore just how atypical this market remains. A huge chunk of what’s selling is still distressed,” MDA DataQuick president John Walsh said in a statement.
Investors and first-time buyers continue to dominate many areas, while the move-up market has yet to kick in.
For Riverside County, MDA DataQuick reported a 4.8 percent drop in year-over- year sales, from 3,320 in January 2009 down to 3,162. The median remained at $195,000.
The obtainable value of Palm Springs area real estate is nothing short of amazing. Have a look at our listings on our website for examples (or search the entire desert area MLS from our site).This is especially striking when compared to prices in cities form which people come to this area (Los Angeles, Seattle, Calgary, Minneapolis, etc).
Here’s another in a series of local stories (The Desert Sun) that offer empirical proof that the Palm Springs area real estate market is rebounding. Now is the time to buy and sell homes in the Coachella valley. If you’re waiting for the market to hit bottom…you’ve missed it!
Also have a look at the relevant, important information at the following link: http://bit.ly/bSY6rN (copy and paste to your browser).
We have been on hiatus from posting for the last weeks, not because we wanted to be, but because we needed to step back and consider the larger picture. We didn’t want to blog for the sake of another blog post. Was real estate’s slow recovery really only about the state of the economy? Or was it recognizing that there are overarching issues that affect everything? We consider the following analysis one of our most important blog posts to date.
We are certainly not immune to the vagaries and difficulties of the real estate market – from a business, but particulary personal perspective. Yet we know that there are always opportunities in any scenario. Some people smirk when they learn that our motivation is not selling them real estate, but helping to facilitate their real estate and financial goals (often including lifestyle objectives). You see, we really do understand that people want to be educated and engaged in conversation…not sold. Being consumers first, we empathize with what home buyers and sellers are experiencing. Unlike times past, “selling” is about interacting on a sincerely empathetic level. What is the buyer or seller needing? How can I better understand? How can I add value? We are clearly undergoing a paradigm shift in advertising and marketing. But how do we explain the “new world” to those who adapt slowly? Let’s start by putting all of this in perspective. Marketing creates desire and advertising is a call to action. Keep that in mind as you watch this video:
It’s interesting to see Windermere’s ascendancy to the top of the Coachella Valley brokerages. Afterall, it’s only been relatively few years that the company has been in existence in the Palm springs area. Have a look at the latest comparative sales charts of Palm Springs area Real Estate Brokers:
While Windermere Real Estate understands the significance of technology and provides its staff with cutting edge tools, it is the individual agent who must fully digest the scope and power of even greater technology and put it to use for his/her buyers and sellers. You’ll see in Part 2 of “Does Your Real Estate Agent Suck (Parts 1 & 2)” how important it is not to to get bogged down in a debate about Realtor professionalism when it’s so simple to separate the wheat from the chaff. Connect the dots on the following links and you’ll have some of the “proof of concept” and logic we used for this hypothesis:
So, despite the reaction to posts like “Raising The Bar…” (above), we don’t actually believe that there exists a noteworthy amount of unprofessional Realtors. Rather, we believe that there are many who appear to be ineffective because they are still in the dark ages as concerns their approach to marketing. In our next post we’ll show you why success is all about visionary thinking and the utilization of new technology in the form of social media. We will segue into how essential social media is to buying and selling of real estate. It’s not only the technology, but a grasp of how the game has changed. Indeed how to use the technology. Either one becomes a student and understands and embraces it, or is left behind. “Social Media is not a fad, it’s a fundamental shift in the way we communicate”.
Our goal is to become the #1 expert in the utilization of social media for Palm Springs area real estate. Whether it’s through blogging, life streaming (Posterous) and video (Viddler, Vimeo, You Tube, Meta Cafe), Facebook and Linkedin networking, or micro-blogging through Twitter and its many applications (check out how we are using Listorious and Tweetmeme for example), We’ll show you why this is the future of marketing. And don’t forget to subscribe to this blog and follow us on the various social networking platforms (many of which you can connect with us through retaggr.com) to experience it yourself.
Comment below on how you use social media, what your favorite sites are, and which you’d suggest we focus on as we continue to interact with you.
