Facebook, the leading social media platform in the world, has come out with a new video tool available to members of the Facebook community: Facebook Messenger Rooms. These “Rooms” were made to increase the usage of the Facebook platform and engage community video discussions. 

Available through Facebook Messenger, these “Rooms” can hold a maximum of 50 guest per chat. The best part is that this is a free tool that can be used directly on Facebook. Now, you are probably wondering how you can use it for your real estate business.

How to Use Messenger Rooms

Facebook Messenger Rooms is as available on both the desktop and mobile versions of the platform. If you are logged in, you will not see an option for Rooms underneath where you post a status update. Once you see the option for a room, click “Create Room” to make your own room or click one of your friends’ profile pictures to join their Room. 

If you create your own room, you will have the option to select one of Facebook’s purposes for the room, such as “Happy Hour” or “Here All Day.” You do have the option to choose if you would like your Room to be public or private. If the room is public, any of your followers or friends can join the group. A private room will only allow those who you invite to join the Room. If you are creating a Room in a Facebook Group, any member of that Facebook Group can join. 

Benefits & Features

Finding new ways to connect with your clients to conduct business can be challenging during times when you must practice social distancing. This is the time to use Facebook Messenger Rooms to its full and free potential. 

Facebook Messenger Rooms are free and can be private. From here, you can create a room on your Facebook Profile or Group and invite up to 50 people to ask questions about your listing and participate in a virtual open house. During your Facebook Messenger Room video conversation, you can show off the entirety of the home. 

Another benefit of Facebook Messenger Rooms is that you can connect directly with your current clients. If you are working directly with someone, make sure your Room is private and take time to check in with your clients or even hold meetings via this platform. 

Perhaps one of the best features is that your clients probably already have a Facebook account, so meeting with them will be easier than ever. With Facebook Messenger Rooms, you can connect with your clients directly through Facebook and they will not have to download and familiarize themselves with another app or program on their mobile devices or computers. 

Overall, the new Facebook Messenger Room is a great way to connect with your clients and Facebook followers and friends. You can use this tool to create Rooms to engage in conversation or even show off a new listing to potential clients. If you need some help handling your social media for your real estate business, let us know. That is where Homes.com Social Fuel comes in: to help you with your social media marketing needs. 

Article Source: Homes.com

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

Are you planning to purchase a house but have an existing personal loan? Do you want to know if it will affect your purchase? Many individuals that are planning to buy a home are asking the same question. 

It is important to be independent and have your own space where you can rest and get cozy. Being independent will also help you grow as an adult and learn to live alone without your parents. 

Therefore, purchasing a house would be one of the most significant decisions you can make in your entire life. Continue reading to know the answer, so that you can properly plan your purchase according to what is best in your situation.

Will Existing Personal Loans Affect my Purchase?

An existing personal loan can affect your plan of buying a home. Whether it is a good or bad effect, may all depend on the situation. An unpaid personal loan can reduce the amount you can borrow in the future. It could also significantly affect your credit score, depending on how you handled your debt. 

All of your existing debts will reflect on your credit reports, which will influence your mortgage application. Lending companies look into two things: how you handled your debts and your debt-to-income ratio. 

If you miss paying on time, you will be charged with a high-interest rate, or in a worst-case scenario, you will not qualify for a mortgage. That is why, if you are planning to purchase a house in the future, make sure that you always have a good payment history with your past or current debts. 

If you religiously pay your debt, it would be on your advantage. By doing so, you will have a good credit record, which can improve your chance of acquiring a home loan with reasonable interest rates and terms. 

How to Boost Your Chances for A Home Loan

Your chances for a home loan approval will depend on your credit score and the lender. Eligibility may vary in each lender. Some may still let you borrow money even if you have a low credit score, while others may not lend you money at all. 

To increase your chances of being approved on a home loan, you should pay your existing debts on time. Lenders now have access to your information with the help of Comprehensive Credit Reporting. They can quickly check your financial background, especially your credit history. 

Maintain a good record by paying your debts on time. Not only small personal loans can damage your records, but also your credit cards if ever you own one. Advance payments are also suitable for your record. If you have some spare cash, it would be better to make any advance payment for it to reflect on your credit history.

You can also finish up your loan quickly by making advance payments. Once you completely paid your loan, it will no longer be a liability that might hinder your home loan. If you want to apply for another loan, it would be best to clear out your current debts. 

Other Debts that May Affect your Home Loan Application 

• Student Loans

If you still have an unpaid student loan, you should complete your payment as soon as possible. If you have a bad payment history on your student loan, expect it to hurt your credit history.

Student loans take decades to pay off due to its repayment terms. You can use this loan to your advantage. Long term loans can give you a high credit score when you pay it on time. 

But you have to remember that a student loan will affect your debt ratio, which will affect your capability to afford a mortgage. If you had a high student loan amount, your rate would also be higher. 

The only way you can improve your ratio is to have a high monthly income where the lending company can refer to during your application. By having a high salary, the numbers itself can convince them to grant you a loan.

• Auto Loans

Auto loans can positively affect your credit history. Unlike student loans, car loans are secured loans where the lender can reclaim the car in the event of non-payment. However, you must pay off your car loan if you want a positive reflection on your credit history.

You will also likely be approved of a mortgage once you already have a good history of a car loan. This type of loan is harder to acquire than a credit card, which only proves that you are eligible for a higher loan option if you have good credit with it. 

• Payday Loans

A payday loan won’t show up on your credit history, but it may hurt your future credits when it’s a defaulted loan. The interest rates on payday loans are high since it is an unsecured loan, meaning the lender has no collateral to cling on when you fail to pay your debt. 

Takeaway

All debts under your name will reflect on your credit history. Being careful to not apply for unnecessary loans and paying your current loans on time, would positively affect your future loan plans, especially a home loan to aid you in your home purchase.

Article Source: Realty Executives International 

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

Realty Executives International has launched the newest addition to their exclusive training suite, the 2020 Digital Marketing Executive course. This four-week certification course is offered annually to all Executives, Broker/Owners and office employees of the Realty Executives’ franchises. 

The educational event is held virtually twice per week for four weeks. Brand leadership including President, Patrick van den Bossche, and Vice President, David Celaya, are joined by various guest speakers to lead the network through a multitude of topics pertaining to real estate in the digital world. Topics include: social media advertising, leveraging your CRM, perfecting online profiles and more. The goal of the DMX certification is for all attendees to leave with a digital strategy and execution plan for their business. 

Realty Executives International launched the 2020 course, understanding the evolving state of real estate and the opportunities for business that lie ahead. As many agents and brokers are having to adapt to staying distant from clients, the brand wanted to provide different opportunities to utilize downtime and connect with clients through digital channels. By providing the training course free-of-cost, Executives and Brokers are able to provide better service to home buyers and sellers around the world. 

“We are incredibly impressed and pleased by the turnout for this year’s DMX course.  With over 1000 registrants, it really shows our Execs’ commitment to excellence in real estate,” Alysia Heun, Vice President of Realty Executives International, said. “While some in the industry are struggling to adapt to the ‘new norm’ in real estate, our Execs are taking it in stride, spending the time to educate themselves on the best digital strategies and practices, and ensuring that they are well prepared to serve their communities. We are grateful for a network that demonstrates passion for real estate and an unshakeable work ethic.”

Registrants of DMX training will receive a certificate of completion along with a playbook that includes all materials that were discussed throughout the virtual classes. For more information about Realty Executives, visit www.realtyexecutives.com/joinus.

Jana Pinc, the designated managing broker of Realty Executives Midwest in Darien, IL says:
“The timing of this 8 Session training couldn’t be more perfect! The content of this presentation was right on target and relevant to today’s market conditions – all the new and innovative tools available to us through the PrimeAgent Realty Executives platform. I was also extremely pleased with our agents’ & admin staff’s participation and their positive response after the completion of these sessions. A great shot in the arm amidst the sad Covid-19 experience – fortunately, we are coming out of this stronger than ever!”

Article Source: Realty Executives International

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

 Here are a few trends to expect. 

The post-COVID-19 era will likely bring a slew of changes to the kinds of properties, features, amenities and locations homebuyers will look for. Here are a few trends to expect

Ever since COVID-19 hit, most of us have been in a “qurantinathon” in our respective places of shelter. By now, we’ve likely used every nook and cranny of our homes to the max.

The dining room table has quickly turned into the home office, the conference room and possibly even the home-schooling hub. The living room is the new “Zoom” center for video meetings. Sometimes, the corner of a bedroom is the only place to find some quiet time to take that phone call. The kitchen is now the work and school cafeteria, stocked with a coffee pot that’s always on and full and a food-serving counter that’s open 24/7.

Some of us may feel like we’ve overstayed our welcome in our own homes, or rather the home has worn out its welcome and no longer works for our current lifestyle and needs. As a result, three scenarios are likely starting to happen.

We might have fallen in love with our current spaces even more and began appreciating many of the features we never fully utilized until now.

Or, maybe we realized that even though there’s a lot we love about our home and its location, we still have some work to do to make it “perfect.” We’ve come to the conclusion that perhaps our space needs some remodeling, new furnishings, a bit more freed up space and amenities. Or, lastly, perhaps our homes are pushing us to think about our options and consider a possible relocation.

As we move toward a revamped way of life, shifts in homebuying are likely to occur in the post-COVID-19 era. We’ll be seeing changes in the kinds of properties, features, amenities and even locations that people look for. Here are four trends to watch out for.

1. Less dense living

After going through a pandemic, people may opt for a single-family home over a condo, co-op, town home or other multifamily arrangement. People might not like having to access their homes through a common area.

Being able to go in your own front door without having to go through a lobby area or elevator is a treasured amenity in times like this. The same could be said about having your own storage space in a garage, attic or basement.

And outdoor space? No matter how big or small it may be, having your own yard, patio or porch is a prized possession — especially if you need to extend your workspace outside. Having your own place to set up a grill as well as eat outdoors may be a welcome change from tiny balconies that lack privacy and have restrictions.

2. Functional spaces

Being cooped up may give way for the need to have a place with a flexible floor plan, like a bedroom that can become a home office. People might want to have a house with two master suites, in case someone in the household gets sick and needs to be quarantined or to accommodate an elderly relative who needs to be brought out of a nursing facility.

A casita or guesthouse could also become an in-demand feature to comfortably house family members for extended periods of time. It could also serve as a workspace, a safe quarantine zone or a place to practice hobbies.

Bonus rooms with their own bathrooms, finished basements, dedicated home offices, a third-car garage (to serve as decontamination zone) or home gym could also become in vogue.

3. Amenities

Spending loads of time at home with limited ability to travel in the immediate and not-too-distant future means the need for more spaces to use for relaxation, fun, exercise and meditation. People are less likely to question the necessity of these features. Instead, they’ll consider them a requirement.

Properties boasting outdoor living areas with huge patios, outdoor TVs, fire pits and pools may reign supreme. Even cold-climate locations, where a pool isn’t typically a desirable amenity due to limited use and maintenance, may see a resurgence in demand for homes with these features.

Summer or outdoor kitchens may also gain popularity, since people might want another space to cook in besides their indoor kitchen. Homebuyers may also look for properties with large outdoor bar areas where they can relax and enjoy meals and happy hour. Massage rooms, yoga or dance studios along with home movie theaters and gaming lounges may also become in demand.

Backyard putting greens and outdoor tennis or sports courts may provide that perfect escape while practicing social distancing in the comfort of your own home. For water enthusiasts, homes with a boat slip, dock and boat lift will allow you to have a playground right outside your door and enjoy hours of fun on the water in your boat or jet ski. No marina needed.

4. Location

As Jimmy Buffet sang in “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” this experience may drive some people to relocate altogether or to finally buy that second home. Since flexible work arrangements will likely become the norm for a while, along with uncertainty regarding the future, people may choose to put their money toward their dream “shelter-in-place” escape instead.

Properties that offer people the ability to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle in opportune climates will likely become on trend. Mountain, lake, desert, beach and coastal properties may provide a much-needed escape and the chance to experience an entirely new lifestyle several months of the year — if not as a full-time residence.

Along these lines, people may look to buy a second home that can be monetized as a vacation rental to offset costs and provide some income. Buyers may also seek locations known to promote a healthy living environment, parks and walkable neighborhoods.

Access to good healthcare may be paramount. In fact, some may choose to relocate based on that feature alone. Some may want to “get out, way out” and look for properties that are secluded and not near any other homes.

The tiny house movement may see some resurgence as an extremely affordable option to be mobile and flexible to relocation. Properties or communities with their own private airstrips, helicopter landing pads or easy access to non-commercial airports to accommodate private jets could also become highly sought-after by the uber wealthy.

As we transition to a gradual reopening of the U.S., homes and locations that fit the above may be well-positioned to take advantage of a positive market momentum.

As an agent, now may be the time to hone in on where people in your area like to go on vacation or own second homes. Identify potential locations that are relatively easy to travel to as possible options. From there, consider establishing referral relationships with agents in those markets, and learn about the options and price ranges that are available.

Stay in touch with them, and keep your finger on the pulse of what they’re seeing and what’s happening. Are they noticing an uptick in activity? If so, where are the buyers coming from? Are they looking for primary or second homes?

If buyers are coming from your market, hopefully, the referral relationship can be mutually beneficial for both of you, especially if they have a home to sell. Perhaps that buyer may want to downsize to a more turnkey option in your market and have a larger residence they plan to spend more time in elsewhere.

As an agent, visiting areas that have a connection to your market is highly beneficial, especially when discussing them with a client. When you physically see these areas of interest and canvass the neighborhoods and properties, you’ll have a better sense of the landscape.

If it makes sense, consider expanding your services so you can sell in those areas. That way, you can stay with your client from end to end and serve as their point person in both areas. You may find yourself developing a healthy pipeline of buyers and sellers in both markets. If you’re blessed with an overwhelming amount of business as a result, consider partnering up with another agent in both markets to tag team servicing clients.

Homes in existing metropolitan areas that have flexible floor plans and an array of outdoor amenities may also see a spike in demand over the upcoming months. It would be prudent to build your market knowledge on where those properties are and identify owners who may be interested in selling.

Building relationships with contractors that can enhance existing homes with a guesthouse, more outdoor space or pool is also beneficial. You can become a resource to clients who may be interested in upgrading their existing spaces. Having these resources will also come in handy should an owner decide to sell and buy something else that needs work.

Either way, new buyers may want to know what their options are in regard to enhancing existing properties that fit their price range but are in need of amenities. As an agent, getting up to speed on the design trends and construction costs can help solidify you as a resource for everyone you serve, whether they are buyers, sellers or existing clients who want to stay in their homes.

Resource: https://www.inman.com/2020/04/28/what-will-homebuyers-want-post-covid-19-here-are-a-few-trends/
Inman article BY CARA AMEER 

We may be stuck at home but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate spring with some outdoor fun!

Even if you’re not a cook, there are a ton of things that can be thrown together with minimal time and effort. There’s no better time to start eating more vegetables and fruits with so many in season to choose from and the time to experiment!

Start Out With Some Grilled Fruit Kabobs

Fresh fruits are packed with antioxidants and a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Grilling fruit intensifies the flavors and brings out the fruit’s natural sweetness. Some great options that hold up well on the grill are bananas, pineapples, peaches, and melons. Cut fruits into large pieces to avoid losing any small pieces through the grates on the grill. You’ll know it’s done when the middle of the fruit is hot and it has thick, dark grill marks.

Make Some Homemade Lemonade with a Summery Twist

Watermelon is finally back in season! Try making some watermelon lemonade for a refreshing twist on a summer must-have. It has a perfect balance of sweet and tart that pairs perfectly together. Even better, make an adult version and spike it with a little vodka! 

Stuff it!

Avocados are one of the most popular fruits out there and are densely packed with nutrition. Once you remove their large seeds from the middle, it makes a perfect little crater to stuff things in! You can go for a Mexican appetizer and stuff a cold avocado with cubed tomatoes, onions and cilantro, or go a more savory route and create some chicken parmesan stuffed avocados for a heartier meal.

Bring the Caribbean Atmosphere to your Backyard

Even if you can’t escape on a tropical vacation, you can bring tropical flavors right to your backyard. Try making jerk chicken. You probably have most of the spices sitting in your cabinet already. The blend of spices contrasting with the hint of sweetness is irresistible. You can spice it as much or as little as you want! A typical jerk spice rub consists of allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, brown sugar, ginger, salt and pepper; and you can adjust the amount of spice to your liking.

California Vibes

Throw together some fish tacos and you’ll feel like you’re a surfer in Cali. Tacos are one of the most diverse dinner ideas out there. You can load up the toppings or keep it simple. Either way, this is a versatile summer dinner to please everyone.

A Grilled Cheese Walks into a Luau…

If you are a fiend for Hawaiian pizza then this is sure to tickle your pickle. Try making a grilled cheese on Hawaiian sweet rolls brushed with some teriyaki sauce and add slices of pineapple. It will satisfy your sweet and salty craving and make you want to bring out your loudest Hawaiian shirt.

Good luck and if you're looking to buy a home with that perfect patio/deck contact one of our agents here.