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Real Estate Leads & Lead Generation

Spring will be here soon and you’re on the hunt for high quality buyer and seller leads looking for houses for sale. They’re online and if you don’t have a great web presence, you might still be able to leverage lead generation services or advertise on good real estate sites.

Contact me about advertising on my site. I have high volume pages that might work for you including city specific markets in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco and the Bay Area, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Miami, and Florida, Houston. (1 million visitors per year)

Good Exposure for $200/month for Realtors on the Move.

Companies which specialize in attracting real estate leads are known as lead generation companies. They advertise houses for sale and other remarketing advertising on Facebook and Google Adwords along with blogs and news sites to cull leads. They promise to rid you of the advertising and prospecting work and accelerate the lead generation process.

Unfortunately, when scraping for leads this way, a lot of poor quality leads are served up to participating Realtors. And the terms of the arrangement may not be attractive.

If it worked, who wouldn’t sign up? Well, nothing’s ever that easy. So let’s take a closer look.

Realtors from Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego, Seattle, New York, Vancouver and Toronto are wanting something better. Is it too good to be true?

Buyer sand Sellers. Find Good Real Estate Leads Fast!

There’s nothing wrong with fast, if it’s real. It can happen, and you shouldn’t be afraid to spend. Here’s 20 top lead generation services with a look at their strengths and limitations.

Leads Generated Still Need to Be Converted

This post is an exploration of 18 of the top online real estate lead generation companies in the US and Canada. And 2 more including Zillow Leads. There’s more new lead generation startups arriving every week.

Acquiring leads this way won’t hurt, however converting leads has a lot to do with brand image. Even if they agree to work with you right away on the phone call, they will Google you online and visit your website. Who wouldn’t? Trust, transparency, responsiveness, and proven competence are what motivate them.

There’s no doubt you can sign a client right away, however you probably need to take a hard look at your online presence and ask yourself whether you like what you see. Would you hire you?

Real Estate Leads Fact Number 1 — 90% of Home Buyers Go Online

90% of home buyers go online, and you need to be in front of them and number one in your Zip Code. Home sellers are there too checking out comps and searching using keyword phrases such as home selling tips, best return on home renovations to homes for sale + cityname, to bidding wars and best real estate agents. They’re doing hundreds of millions of searches using Google, Zillow, Realtor.org, Yahoo, and thousands of other websites.

Make sure you’re highly visible on Google for all of them. Set up an amazing new mobile friendly IDX website, with outstanding, professionally optimized content, use some real estate videos, and do a little pay per click advertising. Build a strategic plan, then work the plan.

With spring markets so inviting in Los Angeles, San Diego, Toronto, Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle Phoenix, Charlotte, and Miami, you’ll want to maximize your presence now.

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Who are Lead Generation Companies?

These are firms who provide buyer (or sometimes seller) leads for realtors, using methods of aggregating online prospects (most often via Google Adwords or cheap ad networks) which they then sell to realtors. 3 drivers promote the growth: a lot of prospects are online, home buying is in a frenzied state right now, and the fact there is only one home sold for each realtor in North America — there are too many realtors and most have few quality leads.

agents-6 deals or less — Realty agents in the hot Toronto market face the same challenge as those in other US and Canadian cities

Questions: Let’s assume they can generate solid leads.

do you have the patience and skill to nurture and close these types of leads?
do you have a website that can help convert them?
what is the real cost of doing business with them?
would a luxury home owner from your target community use their websites?
can you respond to these cold leads fast?

Here’s Some Leads, but Let’s See You Try to Convert Them

The way these lead generators collect leads may be why they could be of poor quality. Ad campaigns, auto-dialers, and sketchy email lists of people make for testy, suspicious prospects. And these are someone else’s leads — they initiated them, which takes the warm and fuzzy out of it. Anything transferred from one person/company to another loses something in the process – the problem is lead quality and lead conversion.

Some realtors say these leads are hard to close while others treat them like flies at a picnic. They’re basically cold calls and the prospect knows nothing about realtor’s brand image or honesty. And how do real agents and brokers feel about lead generators?

I’ve never found an online lead generation system worth the investment. Better to cut out the middle man (Internet) and just get out there and meet… people! — John Souerbry, Agent, Fairfield, CA —

I have never bought a lead. I don’t think that is the way to be successful in this business. You need to spend your money developing a strong internet presence. — Carmen Brode, Agent, Scottsdale, AZ

It’s very expensive to purchase online leads. I’ve paid as much as $4,000 per month, but today I spend about $500 monthly. — Brian Talley, broker-owner, Austin, TX

Here’s 18 of the most visible lead generation companies onlinealthough new ones are coming. I’m leaving out realtor.com, and Zillow Leads because they’re more like Google or Facebook advertising programs. Some are well known while others are regional or startups. They all seem to be missing the vital component that creates genuinely good deals (in your target Zip Code) – the ideal customer experience from beginning to end.

The Good and the Bad about Paid Lead Generation

With some of them, the fees are low, sometimes only $20 a month and other times a little high, but almost never outrageous. For most, it’s like playing the penny slot machines at the casino. There’s a chance you could win, but is the payout worth it?

A few of the companies you’ll see below actually have you set up an account to be available for leads. Sort of like realtors sitting around a poker table. If you don’t respond fast, the lead is sent to someone else. In other cases, you will have to “buy your territory.” The lead gen firms will push you in that direction once they have you on the hook.

Before you hire a lead generation company, consider how home buyers and home sellers themselves buy and sell a condo, home or property. They likely already know a local realtor or they’ll go to Google to search. So online is a great place to be to lure the prospect away from his/her familiar agent.

Real Estate Search: Prospects begin with Google even though they could go directly to realtor.com or realtor.ca for MLS listings in their Zip code, or a major brokerage website such as remax.com, sothebys.com or kellerwilliams.com. Google has a better brand, a better search experience, and it leads to realtor’s websites or phone numbers where they can begin a trusting relationship with that agent.

Few condo or home sellers would type their personal details into the text box of an unknown website. And buyers are normally pretty cautious too. They want to get to know the realtor, so they’ll Google his or her name and if that discovery experience is unsatisfying, it dampens their spirit. That’s why it’s a good idea to be online in a good way – i.e., a great realtor brand image — an image built on prospects needs and preferences.

Google Adwords is the Lead Generator’s “Go to Source”

Google Adwords and remarketing programs could capture some good leads online. The highest quality leads will often originate from Google. However, most realtors could do this advertising themselves assuming they have a website with lead converting webpages. These programs are just a normal part of what a real estate digital marketer would offer along with lasting, sustainable, marketing assets.

Would I recommend using the lead generation companies? If they’re very cheap you probably don’t have much to lose other than your time, yet you could get distracted and fail to put 100% into your career. If you’re bright, you may learn a little about how they generate and convert leads.

Top Real Estate Lead Generation Websites

1. Bold Leads – Bold leads advertises on unspecified networks to capture leads and direct them to you. If the lead doesn’t give away info, boldleads will continue to nuture the lead for you. You are given your own landing page on the boldleads site.

2. Agent Locator – tells you straight they’ll conduct your ppc advertising and generate 480 leads for $6000. I like how they’re open about it. It may be worth gambling $6000 to try it out.

3. Market Leader – Aggregates leads from their own site called homevalues.com, Trulia.com, and via ppc advertising. Market Leader guarantees they won’t sell the lead to another agent. You get to manage it all from your “Pro” account.
realtyleads18

4. Point2Homes Leads – offers low priced straight forward advertising options on its website where prospects arrive to search for a home. They also provide you with a webpage on their site.

5. Real Estate Pipeline Leads – Real Estate Pipeline Leads says it has a network of real estate sites where it draws leads, and it gives realtors full ownership of their territory, although the size of that territory isn’t explained. Drip email campaigns are a big part of their service. Their basic package is $1164 for 12 leads.

6. Agent Pronto Leads – Agent Pronto is different. There’s no upfront charge for leads! You will only be matched to referrals who have specifically requested to speak with an agent. They match each referral with a single agent that they believe is the best fit for their needs. Once you accept the referral, they provide your with the prospect’s full information and the details from their conversation with them. Sounds good. Their site looks a little lacklustre, but give them a good look.

7. South Florida Real Estate Leads – This firms specializes in south Florida leads. They say they have a variety of sources of leads. It appears to be owned by Lex Levinrad who is a real estate coach and owner of the Distressed Real Estate Institute™

8. Offrs – Offrs uses vague sounding smart technology to find homeowners who are going to put their house on the market. It’s based on predictive algorithms or just social listening perhaps. If it works, it would be very exciting technology.

Combine that with communications that encourage homeowners to actually sell the property and that could be very powerful, particularly right now in places such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto and Vancouver where prices are very high. They list by territory, but sadly your territory or Zip Code may be taken.

9. Trulia – Offers a service for seller leads with Market Leader, a company that was in severe trouble before the purchase. Trulia is no Zillow, but it does have some traffic.

10. Prime Seller Leads – Prime Seller leads creates a bunch of pages on their site for you. The CMS offers the ability to send epostcards and eflyers and their system integrates with many broker CMS.
11. eRealting – eRealting doesn’t sell leads, they give you a website to send all your traffic to! It’s kind of a CMS for rent. They state that it costs about $300 to create a client in their solution.

12. Lead Galaxy – Lead Gives you a home for your leads and uses the usual combo of Adwords, Facebook ads and telephone prospecting to create leads.

13. Experian – Experian is a research and statistics business who have mailing lists of potential buyers and sellers. You can build your list online.

14. Exact Data – Exact Data gets its lead list from telemarketing, opt in emails, and lists of prospective buyers and sellers. They claim superior data hygiene, however most list companies promise that.

15. Commissions Inc. Lead Platform – Commissionsinc claims they are the #1 Real Estate Tech Solution. They offer a platform and an app to manage your leads. They will run your Adwords and Facebook advertising campaigns for you. Sounds like a lot of noise. The value proposition is a little flaky.

16. Firepoint Realty Leads – Firepoint says they deliver scalable lead generation with intelligent routing, to automated lead follow-up and task scheduling, to ROI and conversion reporting for all of your lead sources. The price is $350/month and you set you PPC budget which they manage. Is this better than a self-directed digital marketing program?

17. Home Value Leads – Home Value Leads offers a CMS system for $59/month.

18. Refindly Seller Leads – REfindly helps you generate, engage, and convert leads using one convenient system. They claim that historically, their agents receive between 5 and 8 leads per $100 spent in advertising. You can spend as much as you like on ppc advertising and they give you a lead management system to use.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to leads and sales, dollars and time. I must say, I like Agent Pronto, and Offrs best.

Even the best lead generation sources and sites can be a negative if you neglect to build your own Internet presence and realtor brand image. People want to do business with those they know and trust.

Should getting known and trusted be your Job #1 in 2018?

Real Estate Lead Generation Company in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New York, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, St Louis, Minneapolis, Green Bay, Charlotte, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Oshawa, Hamilton, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Calgary, Kelowna, Mississauga, Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Malibu, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Mountainview, Palo Alto, Portland, Washington, Atlanta, Irvine, Nashville, Sunnyvale, Salt Lake City, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Costa Mesa, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Raleigh, Albuquerque, Glendale, Oceanside, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Carlsbad, Santa Clarita, Henderson, Mesa, Temecula, Kirkland, Redmond, Kansas City, St Louis, Stockton, Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Indianapolis, Columbus, Colorado Springs, Fort Worth, Chula Vista, Escondido, Santa Monica, Miami Beach, and Honolulu. Find a Los Angeles Real Estate Agent who has the very best real estate marketing wizard to help you sell your home for more.

December 12, 2017February 28, 2018

Houston Real Estate Market Forecast 2018 – Texas Housing Predictions Woodlands Pasadena Baytown Bellaire Sugar Land Pearland TX

Houston Real Estate Market Forecast 2018

Homes sales normally recede as late summer and fall approach but the devastation of Hurricane Harvey plunged the Houston Real Estate market in 2017 much deeper than normal.

2017 was a year of big weather events including the California wildfires and the Miami Florida Keys Hurricanes.

Hurricane Harvey Flooding. Courtesy of PBS.org

Harvey reportedly flooded about 114,000 homes totalling $29 billion in real estate. That is 6.7% of the local market, and may have affected as much as 14.2% of the housing stock in the Houston area, according to Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist at Trulia.com.

Fortunately, the worst is over and the Greater Houston Area is recovering fast and the forecast for 2018 is positive for more growth (estimated 2.8%).

It can take months to a year to recover from the damage typical in hurricane and flood ravaged areas. Houston seems to be very resilient.

In fact, Houston is one of the healthiest housing markets in the US now, with damaged homes coming back on the market and all housing related personnel and resources back in action. The average price for a detached house rose 2.7 % to $285,858 which is a new record for the month of October.

October sales of all property types in Houston totaled 7,614, an increase of 6.6% more than October 2016. Total dollar volume climbed 10.8 % to $2.1 billion.

Houston Not Like Other Housing Markets

What’s unusual about the Houston housing market is how low priced homes have not sold well, yet high priced homes $750,000 are in demand. That contrasts with New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and Boston and the housing market in Florida 2018 where high priced homes have waned. In fact, luxury homes have dropped in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver up in Canada as well.

Hurricane Harvey has stimulated the construction and home rehabiliation sectors and has generated heightened demand for leased properties and property management companies in the Houston area. The Hurricane flooded homes and displaced thousands of home owners and renters.

Cindy Hamann HAR Chair Person describes the Houston market

Leased Property

Demand for lease properties in Houston stayed strong in October. Single-family home leases rose 13.6% while townhome/condominium leases rocketed 34.8%. The average rent for single-family homes rose 2.8% to $1,776 while the average rent for townhomes/condominiums increased 2.9% to $1,533.

Houston’s market rebounded in September and it’s continued into October

Infographic courtesy of communityimpact.com

In Woodlands TX, the recovery continues as well. Enjoy this infographic report from communityimpact.com about the Woodlands market in November.

What’s the Forecast for the Houston Housing Market for 2018 and beyond?

A bloomberg reports says it well: “Far from declining, prices and rents are expected to rise given the sudden housing shortage. Out-of-state investors have even started to swoop in to acquire damaged homes to repair and sell or rent.” “It’s one of the few cities that’s been fast-growing and relatively affordable. That’s going to change now,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist for Redfin.

The new economics of Houston will take hold. Research reveals that hurricanes typically raise home values for 3 to 4 years, so there’s no reason to expect any change. In addition, Houston has been home to immense sprawl creating very cheap housing but that access to cheap land may change.

Pre Harvey forecasts were of growth, and post-Harvey, Houston may have one of the strongest markets going into 2018 and 2019.

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area reportedly created 43,200 jobs in October, according to the Texas Workforce Commission – the largest singlemonth job gain on record. This job and economic strength will drive home sales and draw in more workers from other states and cities.

With the price of oil rising slightly, the Houston economy looks poised to excel in 2018. Rents andhome prices will rise. And if billions were knocked off Houston property values, that’s about to get recovered in 2018. The situation might well be the same for Los Angeles real estate as the fires go out and rebuilding begins in LA County.

December 8, 2017March 29, 2018

Home Loans and Mortgages – The Lowest Rates Possible

Compare Lowest Home Mortgage Rates

How Much Could You Save By Shaving 1 to 2 points off Your Mortgage?

Getting a Lower Mortgage Rate might be easy. Shaving 1 to 2 points off of your mortgage is a great idea. The charts below tell you it’s possible, very doable, and a smart home financing choice.

Homes are expensive and you need to save money anyway you can. This is where you start, by looking for the lowest mortgages rates available.

Whether it’s our job, auto insurance, current home, and our lot in life, there are those who believe staying put is okay. However, staying with your current provider could be costing your tens of thousands.

Ads by RateSupermarket.ca

Save your money by checking out several mortgage rate quotes below.

mortgage-sign — Image courtesy of Brooklin Mortgages.com

In fact, corporate profits rely on you staying put and not comparing mortgage rates or auto insurance rates.

But the mortgage rate quote, auto insurance quote, refinancing rate etc. you currently receive is likely not all that competitive. It’s a good time to refinance or shop around for an entirely new mortgage solution. Get the system working for you.

Mortgage Rates Canada
Major Canadian Bank Mortgage Rates
Term Length	Fixed Rate	Best Rate

1 Year	3.49%
2 Years	3.29%
3 Years	3.74%
4 Years	4.09%
5 Years	4.99%
7 Years	5.49%
10 Years	6.19%

Lowest Mortgage Rates in Canada You can Find Below

1 Year	2.69%	✔
2 Years	2.84%	✔
3 Years	2.69%	✔
4 Years	2.89%	✔
5 Years	2.69%	✔
7 Years	3.44%	✔
10 Years	3.74%	✔

Mortgage Rates USA
Major USA Bank Mortgage Rates
Long Term	Fixed Rate	Best Rate

1 Year	4.0%
2 Years	4.0%	✔
5 Years	3.375
7 Years	4.0%	✔
15 Years	3.625
30 Years	4

Lower Mortgage Rates across USA You can Find Below

1 Year	3.83%	✔
2 Years	3.92%
5 Years	4.18%	✔
7 Years	4.06%
15 Years	3.28%	✔
30 Years	4	✔

Do it for Your Spouse and Family: Savings Are Smart

And sure, you’re not always looking for rock bottom rates, but you likely are paying premium rates for low quality mortgage loans.

Make Finding lower mortgage rates a priority right now, and you’ll save a lot of money. Consider how much savings translates to a 5, 10, or 20 year mortgage and it’s tens of thousands of dollars.

Saving Money on Your Mortgage – Is Money in Your Bank Account

With the money you save, you can buy a new electric vehicle, or take a vacation to Costa Rica or the Canadian Rockies. You can turn your mortgage rate search into a real adventure.

That money is yours. You worked hard for it. Count how many hours and days you had to toil in your job to earn that money. See what I mean? People are penny smart and dollar stupid. It’s part of our culture.

Financially wise people on the other don’t get duped when they shop for a mortgage or their auto insurance. It’s your money, get full value for it. You can’t earn as much as you can save, unless you’re Donald Trump. Oh wait a minute, the President has filed for bankruptcy many times.

You’d better shop around. According to a report from Consumer Finance.gov, 77% of consumers apply to only one lender when seeking a mortgage.

You can Save a lot of Money just by Shopping for a Better Mortgage Rate

There are some particularly important tactics you can use to lower your mortgage payments. Here’s 10 good ones:

search on Google – the top ranking websites are there because people like them
get quotes directly from bank websites – compare them
clean up your credit score – make extra big payments for many months to show your intent to pay down your debt. Bank credit score rating expectations are ludicrous, created only to justify charging high mortgage rates
don’t leave your current job until you’ve landed that long term mortgage successfully
check out the mortgage rate quote tools below
use a mortgage rate calculator and crunch some numbers yourself – at least it’ll be harder for lenders to pull the wool over your eyes
talk to your current provider and ask for a much lower rate – tell them you’re unhappy and intend to get a cheaper mortgage
take a shorter term home loan, let’s say 3 to 5 years – it’s risky however it can you a cheaper rate
take the bank’s teaser rate on a short term then shop for a better one when that expires
check out a mortgage broker, many of whom advertise online. They’re eager to compete and they’ll do more to offer that lower rate and better terms

All you need to do is search for a lower mortgage rate. The offers are plastered all over Facebook, Google, Bing, news websites and even a blog like this one. How easy can it get!

Is the Forecast for Higher Mortgage Rates?

Some are warning about inflation and fast rising interest rates are about to go out of control starting in 2018. Rather than jump at the first fixed rate mortgage offer, shop around.

This forecast shows mortgage rates might go down so you an bargain effectively with this outlook.

Mortgage Rate History and Forecast 2018

Mortgage rates are expected to rise, and mortgage shoppers are looking for the lowest rate 30 year mortgages. That’s smart considering how low rates are currently. The sooner you find a good 30 year fixed rate mortgage the better.

This chart from FreddieMac shows 30 year fixed rate mortgage rates since 2013.

1 Year Adjustable Mortgage Rate is Climbing

Mortgage Loan Options – Which the Best Mortgages?

While the lowest mortgage interest rate is one of the primary criteria home buyers take into account, there are other financial and real life issues you need to prepare for. Ensure you check out these popular and vital mortgage loan benefits.

fixed or variable rates
open mortgages
long term loans
amortization periods
payment schedules
skip a payment

Free Mortgage Calculator

Enjoy this mortgage calculator to estimate payment costs.

Mortgage Payment Calculator – Canada

Mortgage calculator by

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Mortgage rates from Lending Tree. Lending Tree’s mortage rate inquiry process is a bit nasty. I include it just to let you know that not all online mortgage lenders are high quality and they may not see inquirers as human beings.. They will ask endless irrelevant (to you) questions that don’t relate to a simple mortgage rate request (just give us the rate) and some of them you may not like at all. Just warning you that many of these companies, and banks don’t want to give out mortgage rates freely any longer. They may not feel they’re competitive or they’re more interested in capturing your email address and asking very personal financial questions.

Homes.com Offers Their own Mortgage Calculator

It might be tough to sell your home in its current condition so you’ll need to research with the help of your real estate agent, which types of home improvements make the best sense. If you’re considering selling your house, congratulations, it is a good time to sell. The market is high and it’s still rising which means home buyers see value in purchasing your home. It should sell quick whether you’re in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Boston, Miami, Vancouver, Toronto or New York.

And after you do sell, you can think about the joy of travel or to buy cheap international properties. What a great time of life it is for you.

November 11, 2017February 28, 2018

Real Estate By Zip Codes

Search Homes for Sale By Zip Codes

Real estate investors and home buyers alike are becoming a little more savvy about searching for good investments and properties in the best cities.

Searching for properties via zip codes adds variety and a new perspective to your home search or pursuit of that great income investment property. You want the real picture, and you may access new and needed information searching by zip code.

While you can search by State, County, City, neighborhood or suburb, a search for homes by zip code lets you zoom into those neighbourhoods you are most interested in, not some general category such as Denver, Seattle, Houston, LA, or New York, which is actually confusing.

Zip Codes are a Great Way to Search for Homes

drill down into the neighbourhoods that matter
find additional information is available only in relation to zip codes (census and marketing data)
zip codes let you see community boundaries easier
breakdown of important features via zip code
lots of deep demographic info available on zip codes because shoppers give their zip code when buying locally at retail stores
gives you different search results

Zip codes give us additional cues or signals about homes for sale, neighborhoods, potential, forecasts, and home price trends in the areas we’d like to invest. Zip codes are used by car insurance companies when quoting rates, and Facebook uses zip codes to target ads just to you.

Nielsen Research has a demographic profiling service which marketers use, based on zip code. It provides lifestyle, income, age and other info on the residents in those zips.

In this previous post, you learned the top 80 best cities to invest in income properties. Great info for investors who want the best zip codes across the US for a return on investment. There are over 32,000 zip codes in the country, and according to research from realtor.com, there are hot zip codes to pay attention to.

Of course you may not be an investor, and instead are looking for homes for sale in specific communities (zip codes) and you can search with the search box below. Begin with a city and then drill down into the specific zip code you’re interested in. Then all you need to do is find the best time to buy a home in your city.

Any sharp real estate investor knows to look beyond their own city or town to look outward to other cities where property values are rising, where the local economies are strong, and where further positive growth factors exist.

Yes, you’re more interested in the houses and condos, but don’t forget that homes are about lifestyles, neighborhoods, local shopping, schools, medical services, transit, safety, green space, and the economy. A bad neighborhood can ruin a good home.

Searching aimlessly for homes? Frustrated, demoralized, confused? You need to get focused and avoid wasting your valuable time.

Homes for Sale – The Ultimate Home Search Source

Share the Home Finding Machine — the ultimate source for searching for Homes for Sale anywhere in the US or Canada. Help your friends find their dream home.

7 Factors that make the Best Zip Codes so Attractive for Investors

1. home prices are projected to rise faster than other areas
2. positive outlook for employment
3. local economy is predicted to be better than other areas
4. more of the right properties are available
5. there is a strong housing shortage in that area
6. there is a strong commitment to neighborhood improvement
7. there are good schools nearby

Best Real Estate for Investors – By Zip Codes

Realtor.com conducted some research recently to find the best zip codes in the country. They chose a stat you might think is insufficient as a guide to invest — solely on demand. Their list is based on a) the time it took properties to sell, and b) how frequently homes are viewed in each ZIP code.

There are other factors that go beyond current demand such as overall housing forecasts, specific features, crime rates, commuting time, types of properties, and more which will impact whoever rents your property or buys it.

Here’s a cool graphic from homesnacks.net that you’ve probably never seen before. It maps out all the zip codes according to these factors:

Population Density
College Degree Holders
Unemployment Rates
Household Incomes
Short Commute Times
Home Values

Looks like they give the thumbs up to Seattle, Southern California, Wisconsin, New England, and the core of Texas.

That’s a different ranking of zip codes, and it may help decide on, or avoid investing in properties in specific regions.

Realtor.com’s top 50 Real Estate Zip Codes:

Rank	ZIP Code	Community, State
1	76148	Watauga, TX
2	94523	Pleasant Hill, CA
3	80233	Northglenn, CO
4	80916	Colorado Springs, CO
5	78247	San Antonio, TX
6	94954	Petaluma, CA
7	2176	Melrose, MA
8	63126	Crestwood, MO
9	97222	Milwaukie, OR
10	92104	North Park, CA
11	40242	Louisville, KY
12	66204	Overland Park, KS
13	48072	Berkley, MI
14	95123	San Jose, CA
15	37214	Nashville, TN
16	78749	Austin, TX
17	94585	Suisun City, CA
18	14625	Rochester, NY
19	49508	Kentwood, MI
20	58103	Fargo, ND
21	46804	Fort Wayne, IN
22	95678	Roseville, CA
23	43214	Columbus, OH
24	95376	Tracy, CA
25	98105	Seattle WA
26	83705	Boise, ID
27	68144	Omaha, NE
28	27511	Cary, NC
29	90230	Culver City, CA
30	93906	Salinas, CA
31	59102	Billings, MT
32	93004	Ventura, CA
33	67209	Wichita, KS
34	80603	Brighton, CO
35	95062	Santa Cruz, CA
36	32707	Casselberry, FL
37	95368	Salida, CA
38	93720	Fresno, CA
39	50010	Ames, IA
40	14150	Tonawanda, NY
41	28273	Charlotte, NC
42	30269	Peachtree City, GA
43	55423	Minneapolis, MN
44	53005	Brookfield, WI
45	23226	Richmond, VA
46	66617	Topeka, KS
47	75495	Van Alstyne, TX
48	33624	Tampa, FL
49	7066	Clark, NJ
50	80501	Longmont, CO

Zip Codes with the Lowest DOM

According to Realtor.com, it takes 53 days less to sell a home in the top 20 markets. That means these zip codes are in much greater demand. Will this demand continue through the next 10 years? The answer to that tough question might be found in state and region migration trends, demographics, types of industries, and other economic data, such as I discussed in the San Diego and Los Angeles and San Francisco real estate forecasts.

Investors might be very focused on where millennial aged buyers/renters might be living and where they’re likely to move to. Places like Longmont, Colorado might be head scratchers, however these might be very attractive locations for younger buyers.

For example, the migration away from Silicon Valley in California is one such trend that could last 10 years. The San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara region has all the earmarks of overheating such as in-migration, positive economic outlook, and a lack of residential land.

Any towns such as Pleasant Hill (#2) and Petaluma (#6) and others in between Sacramento and San Francisco could have huge potential for price growth.

For those interested in sunny California, take a look at Realtor.com’s hottest markets index in this graphic below. Look deeper for specific zip codes and neighborhoods that have the best potential. Think 5 years ahead.

California’s Best Zip Codes

Once you’ve found the best zip codes to buy real estate in, you’ll need some guidance in how to actually carry out that investment. You might want to look for property investment experts who have the insight into all the nitty gritty stuff you’ll be encountering.

Search for a Home Via Zip Code

Major real estate web sites are still behind the times when it comes to zip codes.

Please do Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin with your friends and family

Gord Collins — Digital Marketing Specialist

October 28, 2017March 25, 2018

Housing Bubble 2018 – Will the Housing Market Crash in 2018?

Housing Bubble 2018? Will the Real Estate Market Crash This Year?

Home buyers, mortgage holders, and investors are asking more lately, “Will the housing market crash in 2018/2019?” The US Housing Market is strong, so if this is a housing bubble, it’s a big one.

Remember the worst financial mismanagement and calamity of our era? Subprime mortgages. 7.8 million foreclosures occurred during the 2008 housing crash and the country sunk into a severe recession.

Are we in a residential housing bubble? While the Trump administration has brought unprecedented growth in the US job market, a preoccupation with ideological issues such as immigration and nuclear war along with cancelled trade deals point to a recession.

Take another look at the US housing market factors and fundamentals.

With job and wage growth now rising, the situation might be more one of inflation, rising interest rates, and strong housing starts. That suggests a recesson won’t be for a few years. If the jobs and industry repatriation continues, then growth could continue for many years. Industry can’t be repatriated to the US in a short time. It took China decades to gain its monopoly on manufacturing.

What is a ‘Housing Bubble’

According to investopia, A housing bubble is a run-up in housing prices fueled by demand, speculation and exuberance. Housing bubbles grow with an increase in housing demand, pressured by limited supply. Then speculators enter the market to capitalize on capital gains and rental income property opportunities.

Supposedly, lessons were learned with controls on lending practices. Yet, could housing plunge for different reasons this time? Is a bubble a certain sign of a housing market crash? Experts think so.

12 Reasons for a Housing Crash

excessively high home prices from a price bubble
sudden underwater mortgages
rising interest mortgage rates
slowing economy and sudden rises in unemployment
wage growth not keeping up with home prices
geo-political shifts
trade deals
a stock market bubble and volatility
level of consumer debt
cost of living rises
risky low rate mortgages for new home buyers
high oil and energy prices

Homeowners are wise to be wary. The last crash cost many their homes and savings. Billions wiped out. There were plenty of expert predictions about a crash in 2016 and 2017, but that didn’t happen. That’s because the US economy is too strong and frankly, it doesn’t look to be letting up for many years.

Money manager James Stack, 66, ($1.3 billion fund) predicted the last housing crash in 2005, just before prices peaked says his “Housing Bubble Bellwether Barometer” of homebuilder and mortgage company stocks is warning of another crash.

Stack’s emphasis on financial companies is interesting. He must feel that it’s this over-leveraged group, the ones we forgot about, that could be the weak link. If the Fed goes crazy with rises, it makes sense that homeowners would begin defaulting on their mortgages leading to finance company failures again.

The recent tax changes are powering up the economy fast but they’re cooling demand which could keep it from peaking further. But prices have raged forming one half of the bubble.

If we avoid a national housing crash, could individual markets in New York, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami or Houston crash?

Should you sell your house in 2018? or should you buy a house in 2018?

The problem comes when the bubble bursts and losses of 30%, 40% or more pile up quickly. Investors tell themselves they’ll be smart enough to get out in time, but that’s not true.” from a post on Bubble Dynamics by Jim Rickards.

With all the political strife in the US, there’s those who might think a housing market collapse is inevitable and could launch a stock market crash. Maybe a few will take pleasure from it. Wars, government incompetence, political interference, weak banking system, and a weakening economy brought everything down in 2008.

Some experts warn the conditions also exist for a crash in 2018/2019. Is this just anti-Trump lobby fear mongering or is there a factual basis for a housing crash? They point to heated up markets like Washington DC, Dallas, New York, Seattle and Denver and talk about bubbles.

They point to Presidential impeachment, trashed trade deals, global economic slides, and high consumer debt as sure signs the housing market bubble will burst.

But hold on, the stock markets are still strong with plenty of demand for housing. Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, New York, and Boston are still showing strength during traditional weak seasons.

So is there really a US housing bubble and a tumble as early as 2018? Or will the year of the natural disaster be followed by a unusual good year for housing?

International economies play a big role now so perhaps domestic issues might not be enough to set off a housing landslide. But let’s take a closer look at all the fundamentals below.

The Last Housing Crash

Can history be a reliable guide to the 2018 to 2020 period? Looking back at the last housing crash 10 years ago, experts blamed it on everything from easy low mortgage rates to greed, house fippers, unregulated banks and lenders, mortgage underwriters and sub prime loans.

And when mortgage holders believe they will owe endlessly on a worthless high priced property, they’ll begin defaulting on their mortgages. If mortgage rates jump and they aren’t locked in at a low rate, that’s a factor.

If trade wars do begin, it could kill jobs, wage levels, and investment, resulting in a slide. The economy is the number one factor. And if foreign buyers want to sell because of currency worries, prices would fall.

It’s these worries that keep property investors up at night and a lot of people from buying.

Boston, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York are cited as having the most likely conditions for a housing crash.

Those housing experts point to a number of things that exist now and could transpire in 2018 or 2019. So if the housing market was to burst, would that affect how much you should pay for a house? If you’re a seller, should you sell your house now?

If you’d like to put up your house for sale as the market is peaking, you might want to read these homeselling tips.

The US Economic Bubble

The US housing market has ridden the longest economic rally in US history. Is this an economic bubble too?

There is an economic bubble. We’re in it. It’s a period of intense optimism with lots of disposable income to throw at home purchases. And places like California is where the tech industry has done so well, bidding has been most intense. Yet, it’s not completely out of control (although anyone in the Bay Area would argue) as the points below suggest.

Graphic courtesy of Zillow.com

What happens if China calls in that debt? Interest rates would rise, layoffs would grow, mortgages would begin to default, and prices would plummet faster than they went up.

Lowest Mortgage Rates

Is there Excessive Risk Taking in the Housing and Investment Market?

Experts say excessive risk isn’t present in the markets. They suggest few are overleveraged, financially stressed, and not threatened by increased interest rates.

Is Demand for Housing in the US exhausted?

It appears demand for housing is still strong and considerable building is taking place. However not enough housing is being built to satisfy current demand.

Is Debt a Problem?

US credit card debt is the highest in history and the US national debt is $20 Trillion. The US annual trade deficit is also in the trillions. The average US home buyers puts 5% down on a home whereas in the past it was 20%. There’s not a lot of new mortgage debt:

In 2016, new first lien mortgages topped $2 trillion for the first time since the end of the housing crisis, but mortgage originations were still 25 percent lower than their pre-recession average — from Magnify Money.

Average debt to income ratio is rising yet is way below what it was before the last housing bubble.

However, Equity is High

Homeownership is at its lowest level ever in the last 30 years. Most Americans make low wages and can’t afford to buy. And those who do own, have a lot of home equity.

Unofficial Conclusion: No Housing Bubble for the Foreseeable Future

It doesn’t look like the statistics support a housing bubble or a burst. The markets appear to be stable and those who are at risk of an economic downturn are renting and don’t hold mortgages.

We can say for sure that it is a good time for wealthy Americans and large multinational corporations. Record profits that they don’t appear to be willing to share with American workers. Without excessive demand from the working class, a housing bubble would have to happen from investors taking flight.

Perhaps the best way to prevent a housing bubble from happening and an economic catastrophy is to not allow half of Americans to participate in the housing markets. This is why the property rental market is piping hot. There may not be an end to demand for rentals.

Have a good look at the student housing investment opportunities. It seems students are starved for accommodation and new REITs are serving the market.

September 23, 2017February 21, 2018

Houses for Sale – Find Homes for Sale in Your City

Houses for Sale – Your Ultimate Source for Finding Homes for Sale

If you’ve read the housing forecast report, you know the availability of homes for sale is squeezed. A lot of properties aren’t even listed which will make it significantly difficult for you to find the property you’re dreaming of.

Real estate investors know fast about great homes for sale that offer the best investment value and there’s several ways they get first dibs on properties for sale.

Realtor Pocket Listings is one way they get connected to exclusive, quality houses. This is where the Realtor works both sides of a transaction and they keep the home listing to themselves hoping to broker it to their own pool of buyers. This works well in a market like we have now where houses for sale are rare.

Realtors will keep these listings quiet, so you need to be in contact with as many Realtors as possible, such as one from each major brokerage. The bottom line in finding your dream home or good investment property and houses for sale in your city is with a well rounded home search strategy.

Houses for Sale on the MLS

Remember that you may not see the best houses for sale on the MLS. You need to expand your search online using a variety of housing sources. Some services also do complex predictive analytics where they monitor social activity and other sources to find homebuyers and sellers who are exhibiting pre-sale behavior. This can be very good.

Realtor.com, Zillow, Remax, Trulia, Redfin, Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Sothebys, and Craigslist might be the way to go, to find houses for sale, but you’re kind of getting the leftovers. It’s like searching for a job using the classifieds. These are the awful jobs companies can’t fill so they advertise and go through the painful process of employee selection. That’s a grind.

Finding the Best Houses for Sale

With real estate, you’re looking for the best properties, the good stuff, that no one knows about. It’s better to find the best rather than toiling with a Realtor sorting through a limited supply. However, it’s wise to use a Realtor as part of your quest to find the best homes, houses, condos, townhouses, apartments or income investment properties from Los Angeles to San Diego to Florida. Use the Zillow Home Search Tool to get started!

Investors, while you’re at it, get educated about the national housing forecast, and find housing markets where there is a good upside potential for ROI. Don’t stick to your local market just because you live there. There’s more potential in the best cities.

Our quest in this page is detached houses for sale in your city. Let’s get started!

Los Angeles Houses for Sale
San Diego Houses for Sale
San Fransisco Houses for Sale
Houses for Sale in Miami
Houses for Sale in Boca Raton
Houses for Sale Long Beach
Houses for Sale Fresno
Houses for Sale Oakland
Homes for Sale Riverside
Homes for Sale in Bakersfield
Homes for Sale Santa Ana
Houses for Sale in Seattle
Houses for Sale in Portland
Houses for Sale in Phoenix
Houses for Sale in Denver
Houses for Sale in the Bay Area CA
Houses for Sale in Boston
Houses for Sale in Tampa
Houses for Sale in Houston
Houses for Sale in Dallas
Houses for Sale in Charlotte
Houses for Sale in Toronto
Houses for Sale in Vancouver
Houses for Sale in Chicago
Houses for Sale in New York
Houses for Sale in Philadelphia
Houses for Sale in Minneapolis

January 27, 2017March 25, 2018

Jobs Forecast 2018 | Employment Outlook US Cities Best Prospects List

What’s the US Job Outlook for 2017?

Will the Jobs Juggernaut Continue into 2018?

It’s a sunny forecast for jobs and housing in 2017. A marriage made in heaven. And although 2017 started off tentatively because of the US government transition, it appears employer outlooks are improving.

Cities such as Cleveland, Dayton, Akron, Chicago and Detroit, decimated by Free Trade and an outflux of workers may not be revived, but there are plenty of cities such as Plano TX, Sioux Falls IA, Deltona FL, Cape Coral FL, Scottsdale AZ, Orlando FL, Honolulu HA, which might offer you a dream job and dream lifestyle.

Good advice for anyone young, is don’t hold back or limit yourself, especially at a time when the economy gives you a 95% chance of success. The latest jobs report in January 2017 was excellent, despite the government transfer. The democrats will give up as wages improve, exports grow, and the middle class begins to reappear. It won’t happen overnight and there is no housing market bubble.

Avoid the media “sour grapes” rhetoric. Transitioning the US back to health is no easy task and losing the status quo will hurt, but only a little. This is the time for Millennials to envision a better job and prepare for the future when they may launch their own business. Millennials, be smart. You deserve a better life. You’ll get that student loan paid off!

The 2017 Jobs Forecasts and Data

Where should I look for the best jobs? Does Florida, California, Texas have the opportunities I want? The charts, videos and commentary below show the best cities and employent/jobs sectors with the most promise. From manufacturing to transportation and infrastructure development to energy to retail trade, 2017/2018 looks like a rare opportunity for US workers to move, land a good paying job, grow their skills, experience, enjoyment, or buy a home, travel, and invest.

“Today, the ratio of unemployed Americans to open jobs stands at 1.4 to 1, down sharply from 6.6 to 1 during the last recession in July 2009. That shrinking pool of job seekers translates into fewer available candidates — leading to today’s growing reliance on recruiting from passive, already employed candidates.” – from Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor.com

Should you leave your low paying job for a better one in another city during the Trump era? Before you move, check out where the best cities for real estate investment are — cities and states which investors believe in.

Need lower car insurance rates? Learn more usage based auto insurance, saving on luxury car insurance, and which cars and trucks have cheaper insurance rates. Search for a lower auto insurance quote and save!

New Job Outlook Reports are Out

A couple of new job outlook reports are worthy reads as we move into the first and second quarter of 2017. The first report from ManPowerGroup offers a bright outlook for many US cities. However, with the repatriation of jobs to the US, where will the skilled professionals to fill them come from? Most engineers are in China and India.

Nearly One in Five U.S. Employers Plan to Hire in Q1 2017

This forecast for 2017 was really a rollover of the previous year, and we haven’t yet felt the coming impact of the Trump Administration’s policies to bring jobs back to the US. And the jobs returning may be of especially good quality with great pay — engineering, robotics, research, energy production, programming, design, and even good old manufacturing.

Are you buying or selling a home in 2017? Get some tips on why you should sell now and how to sell above asking. A growing worker income will ensure there will be no housing market bubble or crash.

Baltimore has suffered just as much as those in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois. What will turn that around for these cities?

Will Fair Trade Create a Better Outlook for the US Worker?

What we learned from the free trade era is that good jobs inevitably leave to be near where products are designed and manufactured. And investment flows in a millisecond, away from taxation to the cheapest labour markets. US investment dollars then build jobs in other countries. What’s left are skeletal retail sales and distribution jobs — few, part-time, and poor paying — the kind you already know all too well. Canada and the UK have suffered equally with Free Trade however, will Fair Trade deliver sustained employment between honest trade partners? I believe it will.

The new post-Obama era holds a lot of promise for Millennials and Gen Z’s who are sadly mired in personal and student loan debt and only have a vague dream of ever buying a home. For babyboomers, this last kick at the can might be a very good kick!

The fact the US has performed as well as it has, shows this country’s creativity and resilience through the past 30 years. But this is a momentous time where very high quality jobs and business investment money will return to the US. Those who are skilled and experienced should be in exceptionally high demand and incomes will definitely rise. It’s good to be skilled and in demand!

Fresh Updated Forecast from Manpower Group

According to the new study and report by ManpowerGroup, a major information provider for employment forecasts, predictions and outlooks. Manpower Group surveyed more than 11,000 employers to learn more about their attitudes, needs and forecasts for hiring.

From the ManPowerGroup report, here are the cities with the best job forecast outlook:

Best Employment Sectors: Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Transportation & Utilities

Which Sector will see the best growth? If you ask President Trump, he might say manufacturing. Wholesale, Retail trade, professional and business services, and financial look pretty good for 2017. See the forecast for East, West, South and North US here.

The ManpowerGroup report doesn’t touch much on the Oil & Gas industry which could significant growth. Oil prices are rising slightly to under $60 a barrel for the next 2 years. With a rising USD dollar, US energy exports could be very lucrative. Will North Dakota see a jobs boom?

According to the US energy jobs report,

“Energy Efficiency employers project the highest growth rate over the next 12 months (9%), followed by Electric Power Generation (7%); Transmission, Distribution, and Storage (6%), and Motor Vehicles (3%).

The report suggests manufacturing in the energy sector will be low growth, but will Trump’s intentions change that?

The Best and Worst Cities for Jobs in the US

WalletHub has released its survey of US employers and generated a rating system of best cities for jobs. WalletHub’s analysts assessed 150 of the most populated U.S. cities across 23 key indicators of job-market strength. Criteria for job outlook rankings included: job opportunities, employment growth, median annual income and more. You can see the full list at Wallethub.com

Where will you find a job this year? Here’s the latest employment outlook in the US:

Rank	City	Total Score	‘Job Market’ Rank	Socio economic Rank
1	Scottsdale, AZ	70.48	1	2
2	Plano, TX	64.91	4	13
3	Orlando, FL	64.9	2	19
4	Sioux Falls, SD	64.72	5	11
5	San Francisco, CA	63.37	6	34
6	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	63.35	7	15
7	Chandler, AZ	62.71	16	8
8	Salt Lake City, UT	62.54	10	25
9	Tempe, AZ	62.17	15	12
10	Raleigh, NC	61.29	13	40
11	Peoria, AZ	61.26	14	37
12	Miami, FL	60.78	3	126
13	Honolulu, HI	60.49	18	33
14	Fort Lauderdale, FL	60.23	12	79
15	Fort Wayne, IN	60.15	8	73
16	Minneapolis, MN	60.11	31	6
17	Garland, TX	59.74	11	93
18	Gilbert, AZ	59.59	27	17
19	Overland Park, KS	59.58	34	5
20	San Jose, CA	59.41	22	38
21	Dallas, TX	59.36	9	117
22	Austin, TX	59.33	26	26
23	Washington, DC	59.09	20	61
24	Irvine, CA	58.72	49	3
25	Atlanta, GA	58.62	25	45
26	Grand Prairie, TX	58.59	23	55
27	Omaha, NE	58.47	35	16
28	Little Rock, AR	58.41	17	103
29	Boise, ID	58.12	52	4
30	Huntington Beach, CA	57.95	37	20
31	Nashville, TN	57.92	19	105
32	Ontario, CA	57.86	21	94
33	Lincoln, NE	57.76	58	9
34	Amarillo, TX	57.51	29	60
35	Denver, CO	57.23	42	22
36	Pittsburgh, PA	57.09	63	7
37	Irving, TX	57	24	102
38	San Diego, CA	56.98	48	21
39	Colorado Springs, CO	56.95	43	28
40	Tulsa, OK	56.94	28	84
41	Cincinnati, OH	56.93	36	49
42	Fremont, CA	56.81	45	32
43	St. Louis, MO	56.5	32	76
44	Reno, NV	56.4	38	50
45	Fontana, CA	56.18	30	95
46	Madison, WI	56.13	86	1
47	Glendale, AZ	55.99	33	96
48	Sacramento, CA	55.58	51	41
49	Mesa, AZ	55.54	41	62
50	Lubbock, TX	55.44	50	48
51	St. Paul, MN	55.36	76	14
52	Tampa, FL	55.33	66	30
53	Henderson, NV	55.29	54	46
54	Boston, MA	55.22	60	42
55	Phoenix, AZ	55.17	46	70
56	Vancouver, WA	55.09	68	31
57	Las Vegas, NV	54.87	62	43
58	San Antonio, TX	54.6	39	107
59	St. Petersburg, FL	54.58	61	53
60	Grand Rapids, MI	54.51	75	29
61	Durham, NC	54.31	47	90
62	Anchorage, AK	54.24	65	56
63	Richmond, VA	54.12	70	47
64	Charlotte, NC	54.06	55	86
65	Columbus, OH	53.93	73	51
66	Riverside, CA	53.81	56	97
67	Portland, OR	53.78	80	36
68	Chattanooga, TN	53.64	43	125
69	Arlington, TX	53.52	57	98
70	Aurora, CO	53.49	53	104
71	Jersey City, NJ	53.29	82	44
72	Pembroke Pines, FL	53.15	74	65
73	Santa Rosa, CA	53.02	88	35
74	Virginia Beach, VA	52.85	92	18
75	Oklahoma City, OK	52.78	72	89

What are your thoughts on the jobs forecast and outlook for 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020? Will Trump be able to bring jobs back to the US? Is free trade about to transition to fair trade, or will Trump simply reverse the trade deficits with China, Mexico and Indonesia? Did you know the housing sector is booming?

September 16, 2016November 11, 2017

Residential Solar Power Systems – What you Should Know

Are Solar Roofing Installations a Powerful Selling Feature?

We know how expensive hydro is becoming for the average homeowner. Power generating companies are in big debt and will have to keep raising prices to their diminishing user base chasing more homeowners offgrid.

And power companies are highly polluting which does not jive well with the mandates of the carbon credit regulators. It looks like solar will be prominent.

dowpowerhouseshingles — Dow Powerhouse Shingles are said to be a wise replacement system on a new roof installation, but many homeowners are really liking them for their aesthetics. — from pv-magazine.com. Pic courtesy of pv-magazine.com.

Yet we wonder if buying a $7000 to $30000 solar power generating system for a home is really worth it. Apparently, the savings range from $400 to $700 a month, or around $6k a year. Right away you’d say no, however the prices of solar systems are falling and there might be other benefits to consider including higher selling prices.

I was speaking with Seattle entrepreneur Andrew Schumake who installs these solar systems. He comments that the incentives created by the Obama administration in the US were very generous and how manufacturers and installation providers are clamoring to supply this burgeoning market in the US, and also in Canada.

It makes you wonder what the actual impact of all these new products is on the US housing market? Andrew warns though that some companies make shoddy products so homeowners should be careful and wise.

If you’re a builder or commercial real estate developer, you may want to check out the incentives offered by the Madison Energy Group of Phoenix, who Andrew works with.

As a realtor or property investor, or a homeowner with a big mortgage loan to pay, you may be wondering how much these systems raise the value of a property if at all. The issue isn’t just a matter of electrical power savings, it’s also a matter of aesthetics and whether solar is a feature sought in particular neighborhoods.

Solar Shingles in Hot Demand

And new systems that use solar shingles are in hot demand. Most systems that we see on homes are solar panels which are mounted on top of the the roof. That can complicate roofing issues and fixes if a problem in the roof occurs. With solar shingles, you have a solution that is part of the roof so the old ceramic or tar paper asphalt shingles aren’t needed. And as you can see in this video below, the new solar shingles actually look pretty good.

The systems produced today are cheaper, better designed and should last longer. So the results from this Berkeley study from 2013 should be more positive today in 2016 and into 2017.

This woman in Florida is ecstatic about her new solar power installation.

Dow is a big maker of the new solar power shingles for residential roofs. If your prospects are going to reroof their house, should they go with solar shingles and save on the costs of the conventional roofing? There are a government incentives could make this a sensible purchase. Here’s a video that discusses that issue:

But could a new solar shingle roof help to get a home sold faster at a higher price? Studies seem to show that this is so. You might be familiar with Certainteed, the roofing products manufacturer. They provide a solar product brochure that might give more insight into the advisability of recommending a solar roof as a home value raising strategy.

“The number of homeowners “going solar” has increased by an average of every year for the last 10 years. About half a million homeowners in the U.S. have determined that solar makes sense.” from the brochure.

What is your experience with solar energy installations in the homes you’ve been buying and selling? Are buyers enamored with the systems or are they mentioning wishes and disappointments? I’d like to know. Please leave your comments below.

I welcome all inquiries from green energy and solar power businesses in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New York, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, St Louis, Minneapolis, Green Bay, Charlotte, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Oshawa, Hamilton, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Calgary, Kelowna, Mississauga, Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Malibu, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Mountainview, Palo Alto, Portland, Washington, Atlanta, Irvine, Nashville, Sunnyvale, Salt Lake City, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Costa Mesa, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Raleigh, Albuquerque, Glendale, Oceanside, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Carlsbad, Santa Clarita, Henderson, Mesa, Temecula, Kirkland, Redmond, Kansas City, St Louis, Stockton, Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Indianapolis, Columbus, Colorado Springs, Fort Worth, Chula Vista, Escondido, Santa Monica, Miami Beach, and Honolulu.

August 13, 2016November 3, 2017

Auto Insurance Quote San Antonio – Texas Car Insurance Companies

Saving on Car Insurance in San Antonio

Too many drivers assume they can’t do much better on their car insurance rates. It’s lassitude that causes car owners to just rollover their current insurance policy with no reductions/discounts for age or good driving behavior. There are hundreds of insurance companies and brokers in Texas looking for new customers. Look for them and you’ll be rewarded with a lower insurance quote for San Antonio drivers.

Car insurance rates in Texas are slightly higher than the national average which means you’re already paying more for insurance. Given that Texas doesn’t typically have snowy winters as Chicago or Minneapolis does, it is unusual that auto and truck rates are so high. However, the only thing you can do as a single driver, is shop around for the very cheapest rates. This is what protects you as a San Antonio consumer.

According to Texas Car Insurance law:

If you intend to drive a car in San Antonio, under the Texas financial responsibility law, you must buy the minimum liability amount in your car insurance policy. Current minimum liability limits are $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. This basic coverage is called 30/60/25 coverage.

If the stat is true about 15% to 20% of San Antonio drivers are driving without insurance, one way to resolve that is to shop for lower rates. If cost is the issue, then perhaps, usage-based insurance, changing cars, or reducing comprehensive collision coverage is the way to go. Perhaps talking an insurance broker is the fastest way to discover ways to get insured within your specific budget.

Also see car insurance quote Chicago, auto insurance in Dallas, insurance quote car in Indianapolis, truck insurance Austin, luxury car insurance rates, and truck insurance quote Seattle.

6 Tips for Lower Insurance Quotes in San Antonio:

out usage based insurance coverage
buy a cheaper older model car
don’t drive without insurance
get 10 individual quotes from 10 different insurance companies
raise your deductible
keep your credit score in good standing – pay off some debts

So cheer up and be positive San Antonio. You may have felt apathetic before, but now you know there is a way to get property insured and not pay the high rates that other Texans must endure.

Find the Lowest Insurance Rates online

July 14, 2016November 3, 2017

Austin Car Truck Insurance Quote Online – Best Quotes TX

Get the Best Car or Truck Insurance Quote in Austin

Car and Truck Drivers in Austin, San Antonio, Galveston, Houston, Dallas, and Irving have something in common – shopping for an auto insurance policy with a minimum $115,000 minimum liability coverage.

As a smart shopper, you will find ways to save on your Austin truck or car insurance. A couple of ways to save is to buy an old car or truck for driving to work. That reduces the chance of an accident claim, especially if you combine that with usage-based smartphone insurance. The insurance companies want to limit and lower accident claims so why not help them?

What they may not particularly like is competing for your insurance business. What I advise is to search online until you have 10 separate quotes, not just a search on a single insurance comparison site.

cmtelematics — Photo Courtesy of CMtelematics. Learn more about Usage based auto insurance

You might be surprised to hear that Texas drivers pay a slightly higher than average price for car insurance. Your price in Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, San Antonio or Austin may be more expensive due to the Zip code. Why are rates high? The insurance companies tell you it’s just accident and claim statistics, but it may be that insurers will charge more because peole in Austin don’t shop around. If you’re not checking for lower car or truck insurance, then why would they offer you a lower rate?

By shopping and getting quotes from all the insurance firms, you’re letting them know you want the lowest price. Otherwise, they simply keep the status quo and drain your bank account.

If you’ve upgraded your current auto truck insurance to include a lower amount deductible and higher liability coverage, you might have your premiums rise too. You can ask for other insurance features and offset that higher price. Keep looking for a better deal online and you’ll find one. Switching auto insurance companies pays.

Check out car insurance Dallas, car insurance Philadelphia, car insurance San Antonio, car insurance Miami, and auto insurance quotes New York.

Car Insurance Requirements in Texas

Texas insurance law requires you to be able to pay for any damages and injuries from a car accident you caused. Most Austin drivers buy liability car insurance to fulfill this legal minimum requirement.

Your auto liability insurance in Texas must have the following minimum limits:

$30,000 for each injured person.
$60,000 for injuries per incident.
$25,000 for property damage.

6 Quick Tips to Save on Car Insurance

raise your deductible and lower liability limits
buy usage based car insurance coverage
pay your policy premiums yearly
bundle your insurance with home insurance coverage
drive an old car to work and delete collision coverage
switch insurance companies

Insurance Agencies in Austin TX

Direct Auto Insurance Agency
9616 N Lamar Blvd #198,
Austin, TX 78753, USA
512-833-8040

Texas State Low Cost Insurance
Springdale Shopping Center, 7112 Ed Bluestein Blvd #169,
Austin, TX 78723, USA
512-929-8582

Premiere Auto Insurance Agency
900 E Braker Ln #150,
Austin, TX 78753, USA
512-373-8000
Here’s how you can save more on your auto/truck insurance in this insurance infographic:

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