Active Rain Praised at NAR for being One of Real Estate's Key Trends for Success!
That's right for those of you that did not make it to Orlando, or did not get to the Economic Issues and Residential Real Estate Business Trends Forum, you missed Active Rain praise!
Lawrence Yun, NAR's Chief Economist and one of USA Today's top market analysts and dynamic marketing strategist, Stefan Swanepoel gave a comprehensive forum about where the housing market went wrong and what we as REALTORS need to do to fix it. And, Yes, Active Rain is a part of the solution to the Global Economic Crisis. Well, AR may not be the only fix, but social networking sites for the Real Estate industry were a major part of Swanepoel's path to change the future of our industry.
I try to hear Lawrence Yun speak whenever I can. He is direct and to the point and his predictions or subtle remarks have proved to be strong pearls of wisdom, that I love to soak-up with a sponge. You can read or listen to Yun's economic theories and reports on www.REALTOR.org.
Swanepoel's approach to change beats anything that I have heard from a Political candidate in decades. He has been a part of starting Real Estate Wiki, which I found through Active Rain and is a good source for definitions and explanations of the terms we hear and read about within the industry.
The most important thing that I have learned while on Active Rain and while I have been attending these Conferences is that Real Estate is THE leading economic and social indicator. As REALTORS, not only do we hold our selves to a higher ethical standard, but we need to raise the bar to enter our profession.
As the preamble to the REALTOR Code implies, we have a greater duty to the national market security than we do to an individual sale. This point has been forgotten and these two seasoned gentlemen reminded me of this fact again, today! Not that they said this, but while hearing only 55% (if you were there you know) of the facts, their sentiments sparked this within my feeble mind.
Go forth and Socialize on Active Rain, and while you do so, you are helping change the image of our industry and working to turn the economy around through positive interaction! Come sing in the Rain with me!
Posted by proud Active Rainer Member- Jane Page Thompson, Aiken, SC
(Photos used in this post are from previous posts of mine and are from Stefan Swanepoel's website. I have only written about my recollections of their speeches.)
Well deserved recognition. ActiveRain IS where it's happening. Thanks for the convention update!
Raymond, I was so proud to be a member, all be it new, of a group that CAN help change our industry and the economy!
Jane -
Sorry I'm not with all you fine folks in FL this year.
Will be with you at NAR next year in - hey, where the heck is it next year?
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
Jane, thanks from us as well for the update, and we agree it is a well deserved accolade for Active Rain! We hope to be there next year at the convention!
Orlando's one of the few cities I haven't been to. I can't believe y'all are going to a conference and seminars -- LOL.
Hey Dean, Thanks! San Diego, CA November 13-16th, 2009! See you there!
Tony & Darcy, See you in San Diego, Russel will you be our tour guide next year?! Thanks for commenting!
Well, it's nice to know that the time I spend on AR is making a difference in the world, although indirectly!
Active Rain is a powerful tool, as we have found, when we started looking for Seth Godin on behalf of another member and within hours her request had been re-blogged over 40 times. When AR is "down" you can almost hear a nationwide sigh of disappointment and when you are walking by thousands of people in an exhibition hall and someone recognizes your shoes because of your AR blog; you know you are a part of something bigger than anyone person could imagine!
Glad to hear it was worth your trip! Postive feedback is always welcomed. Thanks, Jane:)
Jane, that is awesome news. Way to go AR! A testiment to the creators of this great network and the Realtors and Real Estate Professionals who add to it.
I do believe that my blog posts help attract buyers to Crofton who might otherwise have looked at another community. It's not much, but it is SOMEthing I can do to help my little corner of the real estate market.
Jane - You are preaching to the choir. People who are active in the Rain are also people who are expending the effort to make a difference in their business and local market. Glad to hear that the strength os this site is gaining recognition.
So true ! Awesome ! Let's all sing together in the rain. Real estate is a leading indicator and we are on the front lines !
AR is one of the most exciting things that I have discovered for my business in the past couple of months.
I always knew blogging would be good for my business. The challenge was to get exposure for my blog.
AR does this for me and I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the community!
Active Rain provides a great opportunity for those who have a fear of blogging and Web 2.0 to learn and get started. Should it be your entire strategy? There are some who say yes and others who say it is just a piece of the pie. It was evident at NAR though that there are more that don't understand the value of Web 2.0 than do. I wish I could say yea to that but it does make you have to wonder what will happen to the agents and brokerages that don't catch on soon.
Glad we are at the forefront of the next generation of Realtors! Glad NAR recognizes our efforts!
That's good to know - and here I thought we were all just wasting our time.... : )
Look at you Jane Page - two features in a row!! Way to go :) I told you this was the place to be!
Active Rain Rocks! It's a great place to play and learn.
Active rain is a great place but Yun is just a paid economist that is just calling bad predictions. He had predicted the turn to be this year.
Social networking gives us a voice to a wide range of people. And what better source for real estate info than those who are on the front lines and working in the markets every day?
Active Rain has been a blessing for me....I'm sorry I missed the conference and meeting everyone!
This is a most informative post. Thanks for sharingthe thoughts of these speakers. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I hate that I missed the conference, but thanks for the udpate! The Active Rain kudos were well deserved!
Thanks for the update, Jane. I was at NAR but missed this. It was impossible to take in everything!
Hi Jane,
Thanks so much for the report. I'm always interested in hearing what's been going on. Sorry I missed this event, maybe next year.
Hi Jane! Great post--I agree with every one of your points here! NAR has confirmed what we've known for a long time--Active Rain is THE best forum to get the word out about your listings as well as your business methodology for all the world to see!
As for Lawrence Yun, I LOVE him and look forward to each and every report and speculation that he presents on behalf of the NAR. He, alone, is worth every cent that I pay for my NAR dues!
Congrats on that little gold star too!
What a phenomenal place Active Rain has become in such a short time. We're moving on!
Jane thanks for sharing these ideas. You have done some deep thinking on these subjects! It would be nice if we did pay more attention to the profession. I'm glad to hear about the importance of social networking to it.
Jane- Active Rain is the best thing in a Realtor's life since bread:) Love it and the party was a huge success. We had a blast at Universal last night even though we have been there hundreds of times. Just being there as Realtors made is special.
Hi Jane-I'm relatively new to AR but so glad to know I'm on the right track!
Very nice Jane. Sounds like the speaker you listened too was right on! :)
It was such a great event! NAR, the speakers, the online friends I feel like I've known FOREVER but just met face to face
It was so great to meet many of you this last weekend :)
Katrina Madewell
Jane - you have got to have one of the most memorable photos on AR - love the hat and horse!! AR seems to be making several "must do" lists lately...at least we all know we are doing something good for ourselves, our careers and our industry by our posts on AR.
Hi Jane - I enjoyed the EXPO, and need to make better plans about a full attendance next time so I can enjoy the seminars and talks. It's very encouraging that NAR and the Industry take notice of Active Rain. I am very glad I found it and enjoy my membership and my blogging. It keeps rolling in new business for me. Thanks for sharing the info on the forum !
Hi Jane,
Like everyone else, I thank you for the NAR update. I'm pretty new at AR, yet am quickly finding that this is the place to be as well as getting the front line 'scoop' on what is happening in the trenches. I too, love the hat, although I love the horse more since I am a lifelong equestrian ;~) Is that a steeplechaser? I ride Dressage (horsey ballet). I'll certainly send you my equestrian referrals for Aiken!
Thanks to EVERYONE that has commented on this post! I was traveling yesterday and in meetings today, and am over whelmed by the response, so I want to thank you for a featured post and all of the comments about how AR has helped you!
Thanks to every commenter!
Hi Jane,
Pleased to make your acquaintance in the rain. We've been proud members ourselves since Oct 06' and just love the social aspect of it. Congrats on your featured post too!
YES TO AR! Thanks for your perspective on this ;)