Real estate > Real Estate Website Scams

Real Estate Website Scams

by: Bob Schwartz

Many still say the Internet is like the Wild West. When it comes to the proliferation of scams, this is certainly true! As webmaster for over two dozen legal, real estate, and other business oriented websites, we receive a lot of email and phone solicitations. Often our clients ask our opinion on an Internet service or software product. We have researched and found the majority of offers directed toward real estate firms are what I call the half-truth variety.

It is interesting that these offers directed at small to mid-size firms are like live Internet viruses, they seem to mutate over time. The core remains, but, the exterior packaging (a.k.a. sales pitch) appears totally different.

One of the most enduring of such Internet scams is the offer to list your real estate site in an Internet real estate directory at what appears to be a huge savings over a legitimate real estate directory. The perpetrators of such scams provide impressive ?traffic? figures, and in many cases, even show that their directory is listed on the first page of a major directory.

Looking at one scam in detail revealed the following facts:

A. Traffic figures can be manipulated. For about $50, anyone can purchase ?traffic? directed to any site. The way this ?traffic? is generated is the problem. The majority is machine generated overseas, or funneled through MLM /porn/music sites. In either case, your site will register visits but no business will ever be generated.

B. For placements on the first page of major search engines, there are two highly used methods. The first method, usually just makes the statement that the site has page one placement. Ask further and it is usually the name of the directory that has page one placement. The directory name might be www.real-estate-intercontinental-directory1.com and a search for real estate international directory1 could appear on page one of many search engines. However, how many potential real estate clients in Houston, Texas, will be likely to type in this exact directory name into their search engine? What they may use will be phrases like: Houston real estate, Houston TX MLS, Houston Texas agents, etc.

The other method used is bidding on popular real estate phrases on the major pay-for-click search engine programs. The problem here is that these ?sponsored? ads have to be differentiated from the real or ?organic? results. Once spending limits on the bids are reached, or the bidding program is terminated, the standing vanishes. After all, these standings were only achieved by cash payment, not a properly designed and optimized real estate website. Another factor to consider here is that current webmaster opinions suggest 50 to 70% of searchers skip over such ?sponsored? listings in favor of the ?organic? listings.

Almost any high school student can create a ?real estate directory? with an impressive sounding name like www.professional-real-estate-advice-directory1.com, but do you really want to be listed there? Believe it or not, many naive agents have taken the bait. I asked one such agent what results he had achieved during almost a year with the listing. The reply was NO BUSINESS, and he believed they never received any phone calls. I then asked why he chose to advertise with this firm. The reply was because they only charged $49 for a full page ad for one year.

A far better investment for a real estate website would be a top website submission program such as the one at: http://www.websitetrafficbuilders.com/url-placement-search-engines.htm

The old adage of ?You get what you pay for? really applies here. Be careful out there, very careful!

About The Author

Bob Schwartz runs 4 real estate sites. At http://www.brokerforyou.com/real-estate-partner-sign-up.htm can tade links w/these sites. His main site offers web hosting - domain registration & Internet software. http://www.websitetrafficbuilders.com. Improve your sites creditability w/Free web site awards: http://www.web-site-award-winning.com.

Are You WASTING Valuable Web Real Estate?

by: Jason Tarasi

I sat at the lunch table, turning every shade of red the mind could conjure up. I had to do something, and do it fast.

My aunt was chaperoning my eighth grade class on a field trip to the local amusement park. Then she did it...

As we finished eating our lunch, my aunt wrapped up a half eaten hamburger in a napkin, and promptly stashed it in her purse.

As everyone at the table looked at me and started to laugh, I instinctively kicked out my friend's chair. As he fell to the ground, milk shot out of his nose, inciting a roar of laughter. I had saved my aunt from any further ridicule amongst my peers, for this day at least.

I loved my aunt, but she refused to waste anything, and this sometimes caused me a great deal of embarrassment.

Once I started marketing online, I realized my aunt was on to something. In order to succeed as an online marketer, you can't afford...

Are You WASTING Valuable Web Real Estate?

Real estate > Are You WASTING Valuable Web Real Estate?

Refinancing Real Estate Investments

Refinancing Real Estate Investments

by: Steve Gillman

Why should you consider refinancing real estate investments instead of selling them? Maybe you've owned a rental property for years, you've paid down the mortgage, the value is up, and you want to cash in on that equity. You will do better to refinance. Here's why.

There are two problems with selling. First, selling means paying a large capital gains tax. You can avoid this if you reinvest through a 1031 exchange, but then the point is that you want your money, right? Second, you'll be giving up your inflation-indexed retirement plan. A good rental property generates more income as rents go up.

Refinancing Real Estate Investments Is Better

If you refinance, you can get much of your gain out of the property, without paying a penny in taxes. You see, borrowing money is not a taxable event. Take your loan proceeds and spend them however you want, and still keep your rentals. Doesn't...

Refinancing Real Estate Investments

Real estate > Refinancing Real Estate Investments

Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

by: Gary Woods

So, where is Montecito Real Estate??? Well as with the rest of Santa Barbara Real Estate the area is south facing to the ocean. So starting on the East it begins in Toro Canyon about Foothill. Then it continues up Toro Canyon and goes West along East Valley Rd. up to Ortega Ridge where it goes Southwest down to Sheffield. From there it goes South on Sheffield and on out to sea.

On the West of Montecito is Hot Springs Rd. The border goes North on Hot Springs and then West on Alston Rd. From there it goes over the hill and meets up with Sycamore Canyon. Rd. On the South Montecito goes to the Ocean and then to the North it goes up above East Mountain Rd.

Okay, so now that you know where you are let?s talk about the different areas in Montecito. On the South you?ve got Miramar Beach Rd and Edgecliff with some incredible estates and small beach rentals. Farther West there?s Bonnymede...

Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

Real estate > Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

by: Gary Woods

Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

Real estate > Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

Real Estate - So, You Wanna Buy Pre-Foreclosures?

by: Lou Castillo

So you wanna buy pre-foreclosures? or at the courthouse steps? So many people ask us about this. Here's our '30 second seminar' on it. If you're going to buy PRE-foreclosures--after the seller is behind on her payments, but before the lender's auction date-then there are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros: 1) you've got a good possibility of buying the house subject-to the loan from a very motivated seller who just wants out. 2) you don't need to do any marketing, just read the foreclosure notices (more on this later), pull some comps and do drive-bys. 3) There are several *thousand* foreclosures published each month, in the greater Atlanta area-plenty to choose from.

Cons: 1) You've only got about 3 weeks (to beat the courthouse auction) to contact homeowners and get signed contracts, title work, funding, etc. 2) Most pre-fc homeowners are in denial about their situation...

Real Estate - So, You Wanna Buy Pre-Foreclosures?

Real estate > Real Estate - So, You Wanna Buy Pre-Foreclosures?

FSBO Real Estate

FSBO Real Estate

by: Steve Gillman

Buying FSBO real estate, or houses for sale by owner, has its own particular problems and opportunities. Dealing with an uninformed seller who thought he knew enough to handle everything by himself can be frustrating, but it can also be very profitable if you are prepared. First you need to understand the FSBO seller.

People try to sell a house on their own for one primary reason: To save the sales commission. Unfortunately for them, they usually underestimate the cost and complexity of going it alone. They'll often get frustrated and tired of the process, and be ready to drop the price and be done with it. If you help them solve their problems, your reward can be a good price on a good investment. Just keep the following in mind:

1. A seller isn't an agent. You have to be more careful in what you say and ask. Avoid negative comments about the house. Like it or not, the truth is that it's difficult to...

FSBO Real Estate

Real estate > FSBO Real Estate

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Five Reasons To Buy VoIP

by: Daymon Hoag

Believe it or not, there are still a few people out there who just don't get it when it comes to VoIP. With services like Skype, or Google Talk, it is easy to confuse what a true VoIP plan really is.

Skype, Google Talk, and the like would be more accurately described as PC to phone or click to call VoIP services. A true VoIP service uses an adaptor, enabling you to make and receive calls with your home telephone...

Real Estate Website Scams Five Reasons To Buy VoIP

Real estate > Five Reasons To Buy VoIP