Blog the news

A post that Phoenix-based broker-owner Jay Thompson wrote for his blog, "The Phoenix Real Estate Guy," is turning up on page one of Google search results for "home buyers tax credit" — higher than the IRS, Realtor.org and mainstream news, he Tweets.

The tax credit is a hot topic right now because the new stimulus bill expands the existing $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers (anyone who hasn’t owned a primary residence in the last three years) to $8,000, eliminates a requirement to repay the credit, and extends the previous July 1 sunset to Dec. 1.

That’s not quite as much as the $15,000 credit for all homebuyers that was in the Senate version of the bill, but the news is generating lots of interest on the Net. Thompson demonstrates how to capitalize on such news events: with a thorough, accurate table comparing the existing tax break to the new one.

Thompson doesn’t rank as high if you use the more formal search term, "home buyer tax credit" (with no s after buyer — both searches conducted without quotation marks). Nevertheless, an impressive accomplishment for a blog to land on page 1 of Google search results.

Another facet of massive stimulus bill that you can capitalize on in your blog because it’s getting lost or buried in many news stories: The legislation reinstates the higher $729,750 loan limit in high-cost areas in place for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA during much of 2008 (see Inman News story).

Get more tips on blogging from Thompson and more than 380 other members of Inman.com Real Estate Bloggers group.

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The truth about real estate compensation

This month, Inman News is focusing coverage on the issue of percentage-based real estate commissions and other industry compensation practices.

We value your views and insight. Tell us about pressing problems in real estate compensation practices; what is working or isn’t working about commission-based services; compensation trends in your market area; and alternative compensation models — or pick your own topic related to compensation.

We are awarding one free pass to the upcoming Real Estate Connect conference in San Francisco to the author of every guest contribution that is published in full at Inman News.

We are looking for contributions in the range of 500 to 1,000 words, though we will consider entries with more or fewer words. Please do not use these essays as a marketing tool to promote your company or product — such entries will be disqualified.

Some questions to consider:

1. What, if anything, is broken or dysfunctional about compensation practices in the industry? What changes or fixes would you like to see in compensation practices? What are the major barriers to change?

2. What trends do you see in compensation splits between agents and brokers?

3.Are percentage-based commission rates rising, falling, or remaining steady in your market area, and what is driving these trends?

4. What should consumers know about industry compensation practices, and why? What do consumers think they know about compensation practices but are wrong about?

5. What have been the least successful alternative compensation models and why? What have been the most successful alternative compensation models and why?

6. Has technology had any impact on industry practices? Explain.

Please join in the discussion: Click here to share your views and insight with Inman News readers, or send us e-mail.

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Winner of the Roadmap to Recovery Essay contest

Congratulations to Alisha Alway Braatz, a real estate professional in Bend, Oregon, who submitted the winning Roadmap to Recovery essay "Revolutionary thinking for real estate."

Alisha walks away with the $500 check for her efforts.

Licensed in 2006, Alisha Alway Braatz is a sales associate with Cushman & Tebbs Sotheby’s International Realty in Bend.

Formerly with Sun River Realty, Alway Braatz briefly worked for a small boutique real estate firm before joining Sotheby’s.

To read Alway Braatz’s essay along with the other nine finalists, download the Roadmap to Recovery Top 10 special report; which available for free to Inman News Premium Members.

If you’re not already an Inman News Premium Member, upgrade your account today!

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