Unbelievable busy!!

[David Macy]

I had a strong January and February but the beginning of this month has been non stop.

How is business in other areas?

I am booked up until Wednesday. Usually it does not get really busy until April.

It is getting to be time for me to think about hiring someone.

Anyone using a call center? Anyone have additional staff members like office assistant, radon runner?

What is involved in hiring people?

[Dominic Maricic]

I've talked with Paul who owns America's Call Center quite a few times and it looks like a great program. It's not cheap though, but I don't see how it could be with all they offer. I think for most people it's like $200 a month (but you could call and find out for sure).

[Doug Diller]

I'm getting about one a week.  However; I'm just starting out.  I've looked into call centers and they can be more resonable, like $50/month. 

How are you getting most of your calls.  I have a few realtors I'm working with but right now it's a lot of marketing for me to get my name out there.  Nothing yet from my web page but I think it will come.

In general all the agents have said things in Portland are very slow now.

[David Macy]

I do zero marketing. If I did I would need to hire people. (I need to hire people now as it is)

My referrals come from all over, like a diversified investment portfolio.

Previous clients, client referrals, web page, Realtor's and associations like BBB, Nachi, Ashi.

One place I have been meaning to add is Craig's list. I have had a few clients say the use this service. I get a lot of referrals from Angie's List.

I will have passed last years March by weeks end with 2 1/2 weeks left.

[Bob Elliott]

Busy here too.
I avoid thinking about it as it may turn on a dime after April Rebates stop.

[Will Handley]

Activity is abnormally active because as Bob stated the first time home buyer $8K credit is getting ready to end and Fannie and Freddie are getting ready to substantially reduce the number of and type of packaged loans they purchase.  Most realtors agree the market will change negatively when interest rates move up, funding sources are reduced and or government free money stops being available.  We've kicked the can down the road about as far as we can.

Check out this link:

http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2010/03/09/jp-morgan-foreclosure-sales-could-be-higher-in-three-years/

[Davin Strand]

I'm about triple last year. This week was a little slow though.

[Will Handley]

Hmm, the new government subprime lending programs not working so well?

http://alturl.com/6ssw

[Will Handley]

New FHA/HUD flipping guidelines:

Might help us a little bit.  Sounds as though the lender will be ordering the inspection and providing it to the buyer.  I'm guessing some buyers will be getting their own inspection as well.

And HUD has put some conditions on these flips:

All transactions must be arms-length with no “identity of interest” between the buyer and seller or other parties involved.

The property in question must have “no pattern of previous flipping” in the past 12 months.

And in cases where the sale price of the property is 20% or more above the seller’s cost — which most of these sales will likely be — the lender must justify the mark-up with documents outlining the renovations, and/or order a second appraisal. Moreover, the lenders must order a property inspection and provide it to the buyer before closing.

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23616063