Since the release of the 2007 edition of the Swanepoel TRENDS Report in February thousands of brokers and agents have used this Report a roadmap to reposition their businesses for the future. At 159-pages there is no more extensive research and analysis of the top real estate trends, technology innovations, shifts, and new business models changing our industry.

In email and online chat rooms, people often try to type as fast as they can using acronyms or abbreviations to help them keep up their speed. Here are some examples if you haven't heard of them before.

The line forms here, the store clerk said."? This is Tuesday and I can't wait until Friday."? No this is not the opening of a summer blockbuster movie, but .......

Escorted by armed-guards the first US-bound shipments of the eagerly anticipated Apple iPhone have started to make their way to US airports across the country. The precious cargo was couriered by a Hong Kong-based airline that services Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco - with enough time to clear customs and deal with unforeseen delays. The early delivery raises questions about where the iPhone stock will be stored as they await the Friday launch-day. We know that the 6pm launch time will mark the re-opening of AT&T stores - indicating that they are expecting a FedEx timely delivery shortly before the launch.

The hysteria is building surrounding the launch next week, June 29th, of the...

"You're Fired" has become famous words on the Donald Trump television show The Apprentice."? They are words that no one wants to hear; even the Donald

60 Minutes on CBS News will present a special report on real estate in the United States on Sunday evening."? Check your local television guide for the exact times."?

According to a USA Today survey, the top reasons college students take courses online are:

96% - For Convenience
77% - To Study at Own Pace
70% - To be Able to Learn Alone
34% - No College/Univ. Close by

Exactly one month ago we told you David was resigning from NAR. See post here. At that stage it was an April Fools joke. This time its for real. See full story here.

Upscale and expensive Montage Resort and Spas in Laguna Beach was yesterday the backdrop for a movie-like shootout between LA Police who killed husband and wife team of real estate agents. They were Kevin Christie Park and Joni Lynn Park of Park Pacific Properties in Mission Viejo in Orange County.

Upscale and expensive Montage Resort and Spas in Laguna Beach was yesterday the backdrop for a movie-like shootout between LA Police who killed husband and wife team of real estate agents. They were Kevin Christie Park and Joni Lynn Park of Park Pacific Properties in Mission Viejo in Orange County.

They had checked into a $2,000 a night ocean front bungalow, with fake names, a fake address and a bagful of ammunition for their semiautomatic handgun. Later the evening the woman was seen running around naked waving a gun. According to their 23 year old daughter the couple had financial troubles.

In many areas across the country, especially places such as Michigan, Indiana and Colorado many areas are seeing a continued decrease in property prices, a rise in mortgage fraud and a growing number of foreclosures. Let's hope that this one event is not the first of others to follow.

After nine consecutive years of growth membership in the National Association of Realtors is expected to drop this year 4.3%, to 1.3 million and another 10% next year to 1.17 million according to NAR projections.

This is slightly higher than projections made in January by the Swanepoel TRENDS Report that indicated that we may see a drop down to as low as 950,000 ' 1,000,000 within the next few years.

How many Realtors do you think should there be?

Yahoo! has announced a "Find a Realtor" center in association with Yahoo. It offers an online library of content to help home buyers and sellers navigate the real estate process more effectively. This content includes tips for creating a home search strategy, selecting the best agent, preparing a home for the market and closing a transaction.

This stunner off the wires today will blow you away. But hey, we all saw it coming...

I recently returned from moderating a top producer panel in San Diego and I came away with the same message that I am hearing from top agents all over the country."?

There is no doubt that broker profits are being squeezed by many different sources."? The question is what to do about it?

Can't live with it, Can't live without - What do you do"?? Be smart and and maximize your leads by ......

You get to your office and look at your email box and there are hundreds of emails."? Joy quickly turns to frustration as you quickly realize that most of them are spam and solicitations."?

Is it me or has the volume of emails starting the New Year been out of control"?? As real estate professionals, email has become......

1. Clear Understanding of Their Business Model ' Top agents have a tremendous understanding of what makes their business tick, and how to generate bottom-line profit."?
2. Solution Oriented ' The glass is always "half-full", and there is no obstacle they believe that they cannot overcome with perseverance.

In an industry with to many agents and a low barrier of entry, where will agents turn to get the information they need to survive during these challenging and changing times"?? I believe it falls on the local real estate offices and franchises .....

According to a recent Architectural Digest and Sotheby Real Estate study 36% of affluent homeowners are planning to acquire additional residences in the near future.

The study further finds that waterfront property is the most sought-after amenity when buying a secondary residence.

Discover how top agent Char MacCallum consistently closes over 200 transactions per year working with Buyers!

Real estate agents all across the country know the answer and are adjusting their business models...

BankRate.com recently issued it yearly study of mortgage costs for an average $200,000 home. New York was over $1,150 dollars more expensive than Missouri which had the least expensive closing costs in the country.

Make a Fortune in Real Estate by Marketing to Attorneys! is a new 106-page niche marketing guidebook that details a strategy for attracting those in the legal and financial professions via cost-effective marketing activities, and conducting long-term real estate business with them and their clients"