Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips - Mike Stokes - iPro Real Estate

Property Panorama aims to give agent listings a big SEO boost

Provider of virtual real estate tours is putting the power of structured data into the hands of agentsThe same search engine optimization tool used by Zillow, realtor.com and other aggregators is now being used by a major producer of virtual tours to allow agents to once again deliver homes for sale directly to would-be buyers.The tool is called “structured data,” and it allows the likes of Zillow, ListHub and others to rise to the top of sea

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Rent or buy? New data shows the top 50 US cities for both

Some urban areas are great for both buying and rentingWhen searching for a home, deciding whether to rent or buy can be a daunting task. The choice is one of the biggest decisions that many adults make in their lives.Many younger people have been renters for most of their adult lives, which makes the leap into homeownership a difficult one. The costs of buying can vary more than renting, but there are many hidden costs that can be overlooked, mak

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REALTORS: Don’t take buyers and sellers for granted

In the latest episode of Voodoo Agent, Gary Gold explains that in real estate, it’s not over ’til it’s over.If you’ve got lead, and you’ve gotten their listing or you’re showing them homes, and they’re writing offers — you think you’re all good, right?Not so fast!Buying or selling real estate is a thorny situation, and the stakes are high. In the best of circumstances, buying or selling real estate has its ups and downs.You coul

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REALTORS: 36 useful items for real estate agents to keep in the car trunk

Things you might need for listings, open houses, marketing -- or for yourselfKey Takeaways A real estate agent's day can be full of unexpected (and sometimes messy) surprises. Be prepared to tackle any situation with the right tools.Between the listing appointments, buyer showings, open house events, home inspections and office meetings, real estate agents tend to spend a lot of hours in their vehicles.And when you’re accustomed to all that win

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Home prices will continue to rise — for now

'Since demand is exceeding supply and financing is available, there is nothing right now to keep prices from going up'Key Takeaways The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 5.5 percent annual gain in April, down from 5.6 percent last month.April’s S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index numbers set a fifth consecutive all-time high — a trend that isn’t expecte

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What goes into ‘quality’ real estate photography?

No matter what, the home absolutely must look its bestKey Takeaways Quality photography is defined differently by different agents, but the key is turning out a professional product.With more than 90 percent of buyers starting their home search online, listing photos are your new curbside. And if you want buyers to stop and investigate further, your exterior photos, especially, need to create a positive first impression.But exactly what does cons

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BROKERS: Secrets of high-growth real estate teams

As we all know, the real estate industry is hyper-competitive. And because there are few better catalysts for innovation than competition, real estate is constantly blazing new ground.Real estate expansion teams — teams that do business in multiple markets — are one of the industry’s latest, and hottest, innovations. These teams are constantly striving to do more business with a lean team and drive profits higher.Due to their lean structure

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15 money-saving tips for first-time homebuyers

The door for first-time homebuyers is wide open.Rents are rising faster than incomes, which is causing many millennials to enter the market and buy. In fact, half (50 percent) of today’s homebuyers are under the age of 36, according to Zillow’s 2016 Consumer Housing Trends Report, and 47 percent are first-time buyers. Solo homebuyers are in the minority, while most buyers are shopping with a spouse or partner (73 percent).Buying a home is t

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How to stage a home on a budget

Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in the houseWhen you show your home’s best features by staging it effectively, you help increase your final selling price without breaking the bank. As our infographic below shows, the following five golden rules of home staging will help you show off its best assets:The five golden rules are:1. De-personalize: While your family photos are beautiful and your kids’ drawings on the fridge are adorabl

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Welcome to the Team Rosanna Cepeda Chensam Dealing San Antonio & North Texas

About RosannaWelcome to San Antonio, a place I love to call home!  Born and raised here is one of the many benefits of choosing me as an agent.  When I graduated from Trinity University, I decided to move to Dallas. There I taught as a bilingual education teacher.  Dallas was a great city, but San Antonio was my home. I moved back home to help manage my dad's private OB/GYN practice and in that time also decided to go back to school.  Upo

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