Each quarter HomeGain conducts a survey of it current and former members to get their views on the direction of home prices.

Here is the latest:

HomeGain Releases 1st Quarter 2010 Home Prices Survey Results - National

Posted by: Louis Cammarosano on March 19th, 2010

Real Estate Agents Cautious on Direction of Home Prices

HomeGain®, the first website to provide free instant home values, today announced the results of its nationwide home prices survey of over 1,400 current and former HomeGain  members.

The results of the HomeGain First Quarter 2010  Home  Prices Survey indicates that the vast majority of real estate professionals nationwide believe that home prices will decrease or stay the same over the next six months.

General Manager at HomeGain, Louis Cammarosano, stated in the March 23rd press release: "In the first quarter survey many real estate professionals expressed concern over five factors that could potentially impact home prices adversely: rising interest rates, expiration of the home buyer tax credit, persistent unemployment, continued foreclosures and the release of shadow inventory held by the banks."

Texas real estate professionals appear to be the most optimistic about the direction of home prices in their state, while those in Minnesota appear to be the least optimistic.

Top 10 States Where Real Estate Agents and Brokers Think Home Prices Will Go Down In the Next Six Months:

1. Minnesota (82%)
2. Oregon (65%)
3. Illinois (54%)
4. Utah (50%)
5. New York (44%)
6. New Jersey (44%)
7. Nevada (43%)
8. Michigan (42%)
9. Connecticut (42%)
10. Washington (35%)

Top 10 States Where Real Estate Agents and Brokers Think Home Prices Will Go Up in the Next Six Months:

1. Texas (41%)
2. Massachusetts (38%)
3. California (37%)
4. Nevada (36%)
5. Idaho (31%)
6. Colorado (31%)
7. Alabama (25%)
8. Tennessee (25%)
9. Arizona (23%)
10. Indiana (22%)

We also asked real estate professionals of whether they approved Obama's performance as President. Fifty-eight percent disapproved while 42% approved. Forty percent "strongly disapproved" of the President's performance.  A comparision with the Rasmussen Daily Presidential Approval Index during the same time period (March 3-10) shows the President's disapproval rating between 53-56%.

The results of the survey also show a continuing disconnect between what home buyers and sellers think homes are worth. Sixty-three percent of potential home buyers think that homes are over priced with only 21% believing that homes are fairly priced.

Seventy-seven percent of home sellers believe their homes are worth more than their agents' recommended selling price.

The survey was conducted from March 3-10.

View the HomeGain 1st Quarter 2009 Home Prices Survey. View all prior HomeGain national and state home prices surveys.

Questions and National Results:

1. Have home prices increased, decreased or stayed the same in the last year?
2. On average, what do homeowners believe that their home is worth?
3. How do buyers feel that homes for sale are priced?
4. What is the average difference in price between what sellers believe their home to be worth and the amount at which the home gets listed?
5. What is the average difference in price between what a home is listed at and what a home sells for?
6. In the next six months, will the values of homes in your market increase, decrease or stay the same?
7. What percentage of homes for sale are foreclosures in your area?
8. What is the average home price in your area?
9. What percentage of your clients are first-time buyers?
10. How do you as a Realtor think Barack Obama is performing in his role as President?

Question 1:

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 1 - Have home prices increased, decreased or stayed the same in the last year?

"National statistics can be confusing to clients. My market is doing better than the national average. Clients must remember that all real estate is local." -  Vicki Porter, Porter House Realty, Denver, CO

Question 2:

Overall, 77% of home sellers believe their homes are worth more than their agents' recommended selling price.

See regional results

Question 3:

Overall, 63% of surveyed agents and brokers indicated that their home buyer clients think homes for sale are overpriced.

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 3 - How do buyers feel that homes for sale are priced?

"Interesting buyer's market; Buyers are greedy even if the houses are listed way low! Challenging for the sellers; They need to make their house the best one out there. Fresh paint & staging really helps; Most buyers want to buy & do nothing but move in!" - Josee Boal, RE/MAX Traditions, Aurora, OH

"In order to sell your home in today's market, the list price has to be right on the mark the first time. Everyone is looking for a deal." - Debbie Jacobson, Prudential Rubloff Properties, New Buffalo, MI

Question 4:

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 4 - What is the average difference in price between what sellers believe their home to be worth and the amount at which you eventually list the home?

"Accurate pricing is more important than ever if you want to get your home sold.  Make sure your agent really knows what is going on in your market"- Eileen R. Connors, The Real Estate Market Nashville, Brentwood, TN

"Buyers and sellers should look at sold comparables in the areas they are interested in, going back three months for information on current market trends. Economic flux should be factored into today's values." - Joan Wachter, Coldwell Banker, San Mateo, CA

"If the questions referred to my specific sellers, I make sure they are aggressively priced for today's market or I won't represent them." -  Gail Gladstone, Long Island Business Brokerage, Inc., Huntington, NY

"The most common phrases I hear from sellers is. ‘I don't want to GIVE my house away!'  Or, ‘We need to get $XXX for our house.'  In response, I've said, ‘Then I guess you're not moving.'" - Pam Frey-Primiani, Keller Williams, Cherry Hill, NJ

Question 5:

Overall, nationwide, agents indicate that 90% of homes sell for less than the price they are listed at.

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 5 - What is the average difference in price between what the home is listed at and what the home sells for?

"There is a fine line between what buyers want to pay and what sellers want to accept. It is the art of erasing that line that makes a good Realtor." - Valarie Kubacki, Century 21 Pace Estates, Valparaiso, IN

Question 6:

Overall, the majority of agents and brokers think home prices will stay the same in the next six months.

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 6 - In the next six months, will the values of homes in your market increase, decrease or stay the same?

"Prices will drop another 10-20% after the Tax Credit for home purchasers expires on June 30th. HUD  decreasing the seller concession for purchasers from 6% to 3% (after April 30th, 2010) will also hurt prices." - Sterling Palmer, Future Planning Realty, New York City, NY

"Once all the incentives are eliminated our buyers will not have the desire to purchase unless they really must! Economy, home values decreasing, short sales are driving our industry done." - Marilyn Hines, Green Comey & Shepherd Realtors, Cincinnati, OH"

"Prices will rise now through April 30. After that I expect another drop." - Dale Falkowski, Atlanta, GA

"We are in a battle. There are many buyers out there and the quantity will probably build until April 30, 2010.  My hope and prayer is that our real estate economy will hold up on its own after the rebates." - Ron Maruca, Charles Rutenberg Realty LLC, Fort Lauderdale, FL

"I believe 2010 will prove to be the year we consume the majority of inventory and create a normalized market." - Annalisa Jordan, Weichert Realtors Palmetto Coast, Charleston, SC

"The Silicon Valley market is pretty strong at the moment, mostly fueled by low inventory, low rates, and tax incentives. It will be interesting to see if it has legs as inventory builds over the year." Eric Boyenga, Intero Real Estate, Cupertino, CA

"Prices in Pensacola remain in a very slow decline, and appear to be stabilizing. Some areas are holding their values. I expect that prices will drop again as the Tax Credit expires." - Mike Dolezal, ERA Old South Properties, Pensacola, FL

"Very concerned about the shadow market" people want to sell but have decided to rent the home or "wait the market out" hoping for fast rebound.  Rebound may take 5-10 years. If you bought prior to 2005, you should be able to sell for a profit." - Joyce Hartless, Prudential Realty Services, Steamboat Springs, CO

""The decrease in home prices will probably not be over until at least 2011." - Tom Bailey, Heartland Realty, Newport News, VA

""Over the past two months sales have increased and the number of listings has decreased.  Many of the offers have been within 10% of the list price with many actually being above the list price." - Dennis Herman Realty Executives Elite, Menomonee Falls, WI

Question 7:

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 7 - What percent of homes for sale in your area are foreclosures?

"75% of homes on the market today are short-sales, pre-foreclosures or foreclosures and have been reduced in price dramatically. Buyers should be willing to offer the asking price more often than not." - Carolyn Williams, Solid Source Realty Inc., Stone Mountain, GA

"I can't wait until all our short sales and foreclosures are sold so we can go on with a normal real estate market." - Lilo Clacher, Southern Premier Realty, Cape Coral, FL

"It will be hard to realize gains in property values until the foreclosure market is stabilized and becomes a non-factor." - Chip Issette, Century 21 White House Realty, Stanwood, MI

"Bank REO and foreclosed properties are the most desired and the most difficult to close. The banks have no process, they move at a snails pace and the additional paperwork is redundant." - Donald Croucher Jr., Robert McNellis Co., Carrollton, TX

"The real estate market in Columbia, SC, continues to hold steady in comparison with the overall national market." - Nicole Donaghy, ERA Wilder Realty, Columbia, SC

Question 8:

See regional results

Question 9:

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 9 - In the past three months, what percentage of your clients were first-time buyers?

"Once this credit runs out, the market will continue to decline." - Mark Malave, American International Realty, Chicago, IL

"The tax credit seems to be carrying the first time buyers over the fence. We hope for an extension through the end of the year." Dawna Stone, Realty World Homes of Distinction, Lakeland, FL

"Stop the $8,000 tax payer paid credit. Allow FHA to temporarily go back to the non-profit based programs where the seller could assist with buyer costs, rather than all tax payers. Promote the same with conventional through Fannie and Freddie." - Mark Chappell, Lancaster, CA

"With the new appraisal guidelines including active listings, it is difficult to get highly qualified buyers a home. In order to stimulate the economy, the real estate sales must increase.  Our government needs to step in and make better guidelines." - Gayla Strickland, Henderson, NC

"Where's the ALL THE STIMULUS MONEY gone??" - Greg Sullivan, Sullivan Realty, Quincy, MA

"The tax credit has helped in the last few months, but with average homeowners competing against short sales & foreclosures, market time is long and sellers are coming down on their home prices just to get the home sold." - Mary Opfer, RE/MAX Unlimited NW, Crystal Lake, IL

"The tax credit is too low. It should be about $24K." - Craig Robinson, Camarillo, CA

"The $8,000 and the $6,500 incentives will kill the market once they stop.  They are accomplishing nothing good in the LONG run, only pulling sales forward!" - Ken Kodger, Avon Lake, OH

"The tax credit has had minimal effect on sales. Unemployment, consumer confidence are off the charts. Lenders are ridiculous." - Rick Sandberg, Ryan Hill Realty, Naperville, IL

"I hope that the tax credit gets extended or replaced with something even more enticing. First time buyers are the only thing driving my business right now."  - Mark Vandervest, RE/MAX Equity Group, Inc., Beaverton, OR

"The first time buyer and pre-owned buyer rebates should be extended. Seems only Obama and Congress are worried about a terrible health care bill and are doing nothing about new jobs and the small business people who hire 85% of jobs." - Barbara & John Wyatt, RE/MAX Gold III, Saint Charles, MO

"Thank goodness for all of those first time buyers! They have saved our market!" - Brad Fry, RE/MAX Achievers, Columbus, OH

Question 10:

Overall, 58% of surveyed real estate agents and brokers disapprove of President Obama's performance so far this year.

See regional results

Agent Commentary From Question 10 - How do you as a Realtor think Barack Obama is performing in his role as President?

"The unbridled anti-capitalism and over-spending coming from the White House has terrified all the markets, including and perhaps most importantly, real estate." - Lee King, Scottsdale, AZ

"The President is killing the economy. The spending should be stopped. We should try to help the corporations so it stops the unemployment instead of taxing them more because all that does is lay off more employees in order to reserve corporation profits." - Terry Pollard, Ruskin, FL

"Obama is very uneducated when it comes to finance and is not a strong President. He is hurting our country in a big way." - Cheryl Waitt, Homes of New Hampshire Realty, Londonderry, NH

"Our President continues to believe that spending more money is going to resolve the issues of our country.  At some point, hopefully, someone in Washington will teach him that tax cuts increase jobs.  Increasing jobs will increase the housing market." - Mitch Ribak, Tropical Realty of Suntree, Melbourne, FL

"Personal responsibility needs to be the focus and issue for this government and the consumers.  Capitalism should be allowed to prosper. Quit penalizing those who earn good incomes." - Janet Judd, RE/MAX Properties West, Chesterfield, MO

"Until this government quits playing games with everything and gets the jobs back into this economy, it is not going to change much as we see it currently." - George Kraus, Mishicot, WI

"The first time home buyers incentive is a great success.  If it's extended, there would be no sense of urgency. Barack Obama is a brilliant President.  He should just follow his gut and stop worrying about being bipartisan." - Janice Vollmer, RE/MAX Signature, Southampton, PA

"Mr. Obama is making the real estate industry worse by trying to prop up the market with our taxpayer money." - Joe Brown, Frisco, TX

"He needs to figure out a better way to get this country out of debt." - Shane Hauser, Great Western Real Estate, Murrieta, CA

"The President and the Media are lying to Americans!  The HAMP program is not working. The President is an idiot as he is not listening to the people.  We do not want health care reform. We want the banks to work with homeowners and the economy fixed!" - LisaMarie Theis, Fairfield, CA

"We need to start holding people to contractual obligations. Stop forgiving debt. We have lowered expectations to a never before low. Wake up Obama and Congress!" - Bill Pfeif, Guarantee Real Estate, Fresno, CA

"He is the worst President next to Jimmy Carter.  He definitely needs to go." - Alisha Wade, Realty ONE Group, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ

Naperville homes for sale

HomeGain real estate home values survey results are based on responses of over 1,400 real estate agents and brokers across the United States.

See 4th quarter 2009 state survey results.

See 1st quarter 2009 National home prices results

*Regions are divided as follows:

• Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia
• Southeast: Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee
• Mid-West: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri
• West: Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho and Montana

Congratulations to the 2009 HomeGain Top Performing Realtors

We are pleased to announce the HomeGain AgentEvaluator® Top Performers^TM of 2009.

Many HomeGain real estate agents and brokers had successful years, despite the downturn in home prices nationwide. We are proud to recognize these agents for their high level of accomplishment in association with HomeGain's AgentEvaluator marketing program.

In addition to highlighting the 2009 Top Performers Nationwide, by Region, by State, and Rookie Agents of the Year, HomeGain recognizes agents who had impressive results and are deserving of honorable mentions.

HomeGain is proud that we can quantify the many successes of our AgentEvaluator agents in 2009. We look forward to continued success for all of our member agents in 2010.

Before announcing the Top AgentEvaluator Performers below, here are some 2009 AgentEvaluator highlights:

2009 AgentEvaluator Highlights:

• HomeGain recognizes 53 of its member real estate agents who have received Top Performer awards based on nationwide, regional and state achievements.
• Overall, in 2009 HomeGain's top five Realtors earned an average of $146,885 in gross closed commissions from their HomeGain AgentEvaluator business and an average of 21 closed home sales (transactions).
• We now have a  total of 895 member agents in the AgentEvaluator Silver, Gold, Platinum and Million Dollar Clubs based on the following criteria:

- 2 agents are Million Dollar Club honorees, having earned over one million dollars in gross lifetime commissions from HomeGain business
- 22 agents are Diamond Club honorees, having earned over $500,000 in commissions
- 352 agents are Platinum Club honorees, having earned over $125,000 in commissions
- 282 agents are Gold Club honorees, having earned over $75,000 in commissions
- 237 agents are Silver Club honorees, having earned over $50,000 in  commissions

And the 2009 Top AgentEvaluator Performers are...

2009 Top Performers - Nationwide

Highest Volume of Home Sales

Nationwide and South Region Top Performer

Barbara Tidwell

Keller Williams Realty, Texas

33 closed transactions in 2009

"HomeGain continues to be a great marketing partner! It has been a wonderful addition to my business over the years."

Nationwide Honorable Mentions

· Eric Pakulla (MD) - 32 home sales

· Scott Myers (TX) - 17 home sales

· Therese Albertini (PA) - 17 home sales

Highest Dollar Volume

Nationwide and Northeast Region Top Performer

Eric Pakulla

RE/MAX Advantage Realty, Maryland

$268,503 in gross closed commissions in 2009 (32 home sales)

"I am thrilled to be announced as the 2009 HomeGain National Top Performer.  This is a great award that I have worked hard at earning.  I have been fortunate to win this award the last five years. HomeGain is a great tool that I use to convert high quality internet leads.  HomeGain allows me to work in other areas of my business while they generate legitimate buyer and seller leads.  HomeGain is a company that really cares about their agents.  They offer training and support unlike other lead generation companies.  They have a vested interest in my success.  For any agent that isn't currently using this company, sign up now."

Eric is also a HomeGain Advisor and HomeGain Blog contributor.

Nationwide Honorable Mentions

· Sara & Steve Gerhart (CA) - $133,191

· Carl Medford (CA) - $122,8537

· Barbara Tidwell (TX) - $108,195

Highest Dollar Volume - By Region

Northeast Region Top Performer:

Eric Pakulla

RE/MAX Advantage Realty, Maryland

$268,503 in gross closed commissions (See Highest Dollar Volume - Nationwide)

East Region Honorable Mentions

· Carol Cei (PA) - $73,369

"I was out of Real Estate sales for many years doing appraisals and financing.  When I decided to return, I joined HomeGain to jump-start my business.  Well, HomeGain actually electrified my production for 2009.  Leads from HomeGain generated almost 38% of my gross commissions.  More than that, I have already received some referrals from satisfied clients and have met some of the nicest people I've ever worked with," stated Cei.

· Anne Schuman (NJ) - $57,896

· Carolyn Sullivan (NY) - $55,730

"HomeGain is a real asset to my real estate business in a tough market!," commented Sullivan.

Southeast Region Top Performer:

Melinda Schnur

RE/MAX Allegiance, Virginia

$74,260 in gross closed commissions
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"HomeGain has been an essential service to our business, and has allowed us to be quite prosperous in a time when agents are scrambling for quality leads. If managed properly, it can be an abundant supply of new business that can lead to long-term relationships. Our HomeGain clients are our clients for life."

Southeast Honorable Mentions

· Virginia Cheezum (VA) - $51,489

· Karen Casey-Cave (FL) - $49,136

· Sandra Crews (VA) - $48,692

Midwest Region Top Performer:

Karen Breen Elia

RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Illinois

$47,112 in gross closed commissions

"I am so glad that I have been with HomeGain for the last 11 years!  Even in tough real estate years such as 2009, HomeGain continues to provide a high level of listing leads; serious sellers who are looking for quality representation.  25% of my closed transactions in 2009 were generated through HomeGain, which was more than any other internet generated lead system.  HomeGain positively contributes to my bottom line on a consistent basis. "

Midwest Honorable Mentions

· Mark Goldberg (IL) - $37,737

"Everyday I get inundated with online services trying to sell me leads. HomeGain is the only organization that I have come across that has qualified leads that you don't pay for up front. HomeGain has become an integral part of my business plan."

· Philip and Carol Kyburz (MI) - $35,716

"It has been a pleasure to be associated with HomeGain over the years. Southeast Michigan has been hit hard with unemployment and the changes in the automobile industry. In a tough real estate market like ours, it is helpful to have a solid partner to work with. Thank you HomeGain!"

· Susan and Ron Pickard (IL) - $34,242

"HomeGain continues to be our primary online lead resource.  Consumers continue to like the platform and the agent tools make the interaction efficient."

South Region Top Performer:

Barbara Tidwell

Keller Williams Realty, Texas

$108,195 in gross closed commissions

South Region Honorable Mentions

· Les Davis (MO) - $80,467

"HomeGain has very high quality leads who are ready to sell or buy.  The HomeGain program has been very successful for us because we can tailor our proposals to the individual and respond to them on a personal level.  It is a top-notch lead program for both the Agents and the Clients."

· Danielle Boling (TX)

Northwest Region Top Performer:

Gregory Rippel

Coldwell Banker Danforth, Washington

$48,977 in gross closed commissions

"My investment in HomeGain has proven to be one of the wisest business decisions I have ever made. From the start HomeGain has provided high-quality leads that proved the HomeGain system delivered as promised. The HomeGain platform allows me to deliver my resume and marketing plan directly to the potential client in a first-class manner allowing me to stand-out from outside competition. Even in the current market HomeGain has delivered a volume of leads that have lead to listings and sales that I would not have realized through any other channel. Thank you HomeGain, for delivering on your promise!"

Northwest Region Honorable Mentions

· Amanda MacLaughlin (OR)

· Theresa Tuengel (WA)

· Tammy Hatch (WA)

West Region Top Performer:

Sara & Steve Gerhart

RE/MAX Masters, California

$133,191 in gross closed commissions

"What's 100% of nothing?"  That's what we asked other Realtors in our office who said, "You're crazy to pay referral fees. Fact: We have made more money because of HomeGain referrals than any other source of business. The clients we respond to are more serious and more knowledgeable than any others and HomeGain provides them with the assurance they are not alone in the process, but have an ally.  Sure, we have to work hard sometimes to respond to our leads quickly, while addressing their needs, but HomeGain makes sure we get a shot at a client we would, otherwise, never have known existed. Want to dramatically increase your business?  HomeGain."

West Region Honorable Mention

· Carl Medford (CA) - $122,853

· Marcy Moyer (CA) - $74,270

· The Boone & Nolan Real Estate Group (CA) - $67,698

Highest Volume of Home Sales - By

Region

Northeast Region Top Performer:

Eric Pakulla

RE/MAX Advantage Realty, Maryland

32 closed transactions

East Region Honorable Mentions

· Carol Cei (PA) - 10 home sales

· Carolyn Sullivan (NY) - 8 home sales

· Anne Schuman (NJ) - 5 home sales

Southeast Region Top Performer:

Mike Beernink

Century 21: Simplicity, Georgia

12 closed transactions

"I have been privileged to work with HomeGain over the course of the last 6 years to improve my business.  Originally I got involved with the program to help me prospect for new clients easier.  I have and still do telephone prospecting.  However, as a very busy agent even 6 years ago, I found my prospecting time to be almost zero in many instances, especially during the Spring and Summer.  HomeGain gets the best potential buyers and sellers in touch with me, and I don't have to solicit them.  To me, this is terrific and is a tremendous timesaver and moneysaver!  The referral fee is peanuts compared to what HomeGain can do to build an agent's business.  I have fun with HomeGain.  Like the real estate business, I find it an exciting challenge! HomeGain has been a wonderful addition to my business."

Southeast Region Honorable Mentions

· Karen Casey-Cave (FL) - 11 home sales

· John Muccigrosso (FL) - 10 home sales

· Virginia Cheezum (VA) - 7 home sales

Midwest Region Top Performer:

Diana Hosta-Stickney

RE/MAX Pros, Ohio

Midwest Region Honorable Mentions

· Karen Breen Elia (IL) - 6 home sales (Two-Way Tie)

· Philip and Carol Kyburz (MI) - 6 home sales (Two-Way Tie)

· Matt Hernacki (MO) - 5 home sales

"I have worked with HomeGain since they first started.  I am able to count on a few more transactions every year as a result of doing business together."

South Region Top Performer:

Barbara Tidwell

Keller Williams Realty, Texas

33 closed transactions (See Highest Volume of Sales - Nationwide)

South Region Honorable Mentions

· Scott Myers (TX) - 17 home sales

· Les Davis (MO) - 13 home sales

· Danielle Boling (TX) - 13 home sales

Northwest Region Top Performer:

Amanda MacLaughlin

RE/MAX Portland Executive, Oregon

(Two-Way Tie)

Gregory Rippel

Coldwell Banker Danforth, Washington

7 closed transactions (Two-Way Tie)

Northwest Region Honorable Mentions

· John & Melody Hatch (OR) - 5 home sales

· Matt Hernacki (MO) - 5 home sales

· Theresa Tuengel (WA)

West Region Top Performer:

Sara & Steve Gerhart

RE/MAX Masters, California

13 closed transactions

West Region Honorable Mention

· Carl Medford (CA) - 12 home sales

· Marcy Moyer (CA) - 5 home sales

Rookie Agent of the Year - Highest

Volume of Home Sales

Margaret Graveline

RE/MAX Prestige, Massachussetts

5 home sales

Rookie Agent of the Year - Highest

Dollar Volume

Alex Kybal

San Diego House Hunting, California

$21,850 in gross closed commissions

"Coming to HomeGain was the best decision I could have made! It more than paid for itself. I won't leave now!"

2009 Top Performers - By State 

Stephanie Ford

RE/MAX First Choice

$14,062 in gross closed commissions

"Thanks, HomeGain! My personal goal is to be the best ME that I can be; To treat everyone with respect and to treat everyone like I want to be treated; I have learned to NEVER give up and to keep my eye on the prize. There aren't any failures in life, just opportunities to make you better for the next journey. Successful people live life on purpose and keep a winning attitude."

Toni Coursey

Coldwell Banker, Arizona

$41,599 in gross closed commissions

"I have been using AgentEvaluator for 3 years.  HomeGain has played a large part in my continued success as a real estate agent.  Although Arizona has experienced a huge decline in the real estate market, I have continued to enjoy success in a challenging market.  Thank you HomeGain.  I am proud to be a member of your team!"

Pete Abel

RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc., Colorado

$30, 918 in gross closed commissions

"I appreciate the professional help HomeGain has offered in helping sellers and buyers reach proven professional real estate agents."

Chris Canfield

RE/MAX Schoolside Realtors

$32,110 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain has been and continues to be an attractive option for buyers and sellers when they first start to consider getting involved in a real estate transaction.  These potential clients have a unique opportunity to evaluate information about various agents and partner with those they feel offer the greatest expertise with the most critical elements of the real estate process."

Lise Howe

Coldwell Banker, District of Columbia

$48,204 in gross closed commissions

"I love working with HomeGain! My favorite clients always come from HomeGain.  Of all the lead generation companies I have tried (and I think I have tried them all!), HomeGain is the only one that works for me - and I never tell any other agents in my market about how I get all my business!"

Debbie Stiles Phipps

Keller Williams Realty, Delaware

$13.748 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain leads are real buyers and sellers!"

Jeff Dildine

Realty One, Idaho

$6,420 in gross closed commissions

"It's a real honor for me to receive this award from HomeGain. I appreciate the many clients and friendships that have developed over the years. Thanks to all of you!"

Frank Littrell

RE/MAX Affiliates, Kentucky

$15,813 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain has become a part of my business and my business plan in ways that I had never expected.  I appreciate the tools provided to simplify the process of capturing on-line business and the help I have received from HomeGain in growing my business.  Thank you for a successful year and I look forward to many more."

Sarah Gremillion

C.J. Brown, Realtors, Louisiana

$4,170 in gross closed commissions

"I have been associated with HomeGain for a number of years, and it has always been good to me!  I have increased my business every year with HomeGain!"

Jeffrey Bastress

Startpoint Realty, Massachusetts

$28,570 in gross closed commissions

"I look forward to my continued partnership with HomeGain as we work together for a fantastic 2010 and beyond."

David Moe

RE/MAX Results, Minnesota

$28,113 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain is definitely a great new source of business.  It not only paid for itself but made me some money from leads I wouldn't even have known existed!"

Les Davis

Realty Executives Metro One, Missouri

$80,467 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain has very high quality leads who are ready to sell or buy.  The HomeGain program has been very successful for us because we can tailor our proposals to the individual and respond to them on a personal level.  It is a top-notch lead program for both the Agents and the Clients."

Anne Schuman

Coldwell Banker, New Jersey

$57,896 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain has significantly added to my production this year.   It has been very worthwhile to be a part of the HomeGain team."

Tony Lyerly

RE/MAX Affiliates, Nevada

$27,461 in gross closed commissions

"Since joining HomeGain my business has expanded and my closed transactions have doubled. HomeGain allows me to concentrate on building my business while receiving very qualified Buyer and Seller leads. Every agent can benefit from what HomeGain has to offer."

Carolyn Sullivan

Century 21 American Homes, New York

$55,730 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain is a real asset to my real estate business."

Dennis DiDomenico

RE/MAX Properties, Rhode Island

$22,220 in gross closed commissions

"I am glad to accept the award from HomeGain for achieving Top Performing Agent in the State of Rhode Island again for the third consecutive year. HomeGain has been a major part of my business over the last several years. I look forward to a very productive year for 2010 thanks to HomeGain."

William Stover

Carolina Real Estate One, South Carolina

$42,245 in gross closed commissions

"HomeGain has been a great partner and has helped me to grow my business over the years."

Danny Freeman

Crye Leike Realtors, Tennessee

$21,119 in gross closed commissions

"I have been with HomeGain a while, and love the service and how easy it is to use. HomeGain makes it simple and sends me great leads. What more can I ask?"

Robert Baudo

RE/MAX Realty 100, Wisconsin

$22,405 in gross closed transactions

"The HomeGain experience is just another way to reach out to people online and let them know about the services you offer.  Like all consumers, I shop the internet before shopping. Home Buyers and Sellers have a lot of choices of who to work with, and are much more careful to interview agents now to find a good fit. It is a valuable tool to incorporate into the way we do business now."

Alice Keife

Coldwell Banker Landmark Realtors

$2,462 in gross closed commissions

"I am pleased to be a part of the HomeGain family."

##

See 2007 AgentEvaluator Top Performers

See 2008 AgentEvaluator Top Performers

Today it was announced that Google was launching a mortgage comparision service.

This is a shrewd move by the Mountain View Giant as it neatly meets all of Google's objectives:

-it provides compelling useful content for its users;

-it opens another revenue stream; and

-it does not canabalize its existing ad words business in any meaningful way.

Google currently is not monetizing more than one half of its asset- the left side of the page natural search results.

Google has companies falling over themselves producing content to get noticed by Google.

If they are successful Google rewards them with top SEO positioning on the left side of Google's pages for "free".

In exchange, Google attract a massive audience and sells ad words on the right side of Google's pages - next to the "natural" search results.

Up till now, Google's left side/right side model has been a lucrative symbiotic relationship-one that if Google continues to launch products like their mortgage market place should continue and get even more lucrative for Google.

It seems Google realizes that there isn't much market share left to grab on the search side, so the best thing to do is to monetize their existing unmonetized left side page views and clicks.

They can do this by replicating the business models of companies that score very high on Google's natural search results.

Companies that score high on Google's left side get boat loads of traffic, so it never becomes necessary for them to purchase Google's right side ad words.

By replicating the content and business models of Google's top content providers, Google can have its cake and devour it too.

Google can do this in every verticle like real estate (without having to buy a listings aggregator, like Trulia)

By entering mortage they can provide a consumer experience almost as good, as good or better (which of the three - it doesn't really matter if you are Google) than the companies that currently occupy the top search results for key words AT NO EXPENSE TO THEIR EXISTING RIGHT SIDE REVENUE.

Click on the link above and look to the left and you will see the companies that score high in the natural results-these are the ones that Google gets paid nothing for but provide the content that attracts their visitors that enables them to sell the ads to the right.

Notice anything there? The companies on the free left side are nowhere to be found on the paid right side.

In effect Google is not monetizing the left side of its pages very well-until now.

If Google can place its own quality products at the top or at least somewhere on the left side of the front page they open up more "ad sense" inventory without canabalizing existing right side ad sense revenue.   

Take a look at this link -it has TWO PAGES of Google sponsored links on it.

By placing Google's own "content" on the left side of the page on Google they can create far more inventory by merely taking one of the free natural search result links and giving it to themselves.

By doing so here is what happens:

-Google continues to provide quality useful content to its users;

- the "free" visits that left side companies receive by scoring high on Google become less plentiful and perhaps spur them to supplement their visits with some Google right side ad word spend; and

-Google makes more money on the left AND right sides of their pages by opening new inventory for itself up on the natural left side of the page and encouraging left side companies to join the bidding on the right side, thus potentially driving ad word prices higher.

The net effect of all this is that even the left side free riders that score high on Google shouldn't complain if all Google does is takes ONE of the natural links for itself.

After all moving from #2 to #3 may result in some loss of traffic but its not a crippling blow.   

Net results:

Consumers win (for now)

Google wins big

Companies that base their buinesses on Google free traffic -lose a little , for now. (and perhaps realize there is no such thing as a free lunch-although they may claim an antitrust violation-abuse of a dominant market position)

Companies that base their business on buying google key words - lose a little for now as their costs may increase (or they find alternative sources of advertising)

Thoughts?

Many active rainers often ask do marketing companies like HomeGain "work"

Over the past year HomeGain has been documenting the success of its agents.

Instead of spouting meaningless traffic statistics or rankings, HomeGain choses to proudly highlight the successes of its members.

HomeGain will soon have more than 1,000 members of its AgentEvaluator program who have made at least $50,000 in gross commissions closed as a result of the program

Just a couple of recent examples of HomeGain Member Success from the HomeGain Real Estate blog:

Today's News: HomeGain Quantifies Continued Success of Its Members

Two more members have earned over $500,000 in gross commissions from HomeGain business; HomeGain inducts a total of 18 agents into its elite clubs

HomeGain today announced the induction Therese Albertini of LifeStyleMOVES and Carl Medford of Windermere Properties of the East Bay into its elite HomeGain AgentEvaluator® Diamond Club.

HomeGain's Diamond Club now has 23 members.(members who have earned over $500,00 in gross home sale commissions from Agent Evaluator)

Two HomeGain Members, Alan Shafron and Eric Pakulla have earned over $1,000,000.

(another is close to a million dollars and will be announced soon!)

Therese Albertini stated: "Service, commitment and caring are three attributes you want from a business partner. Our relationship with HomeGain has been wonderful for our company and those we serve. Helping families and individuals achieve their homeownership dreams is what makes our team passionate about what they do. Thanks, HomeGain, for your partnership over the years."

Carl Medford commented: "We have closed 2 1/2 times the business this past year than we have ever done in any previous year. And the year isn't over. Thanks, HomeGain!"

HomeGain also announced the induction of 16 HomeGain member agents into its other elite clubs, including:

• Five new HomeGain Platinum Club members (now totaling 352 members who have earned $125,000 or more in gross home sale commissions from AgentEvaluator)
• Six new HomeGain Gold Club members (totaling 279 members who have earned $75,000 or more)
• Five new HomeGain Silver Club members (totaling 231 members who have earned $50,000 or more)

"We are pleased that we can quantify the continuing success of our members using AgentEvaluator," stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain. "AgentEvaluator now has nearly 900 elite club members. We are proud to that such highly devoted and successful real estate agents have chosen HomeGain as their marketing partner."

Read the full press release

Read October 1 press release: HomeGain Inducts 39 Members Into Its Clubs

Read more HomeGain Club news

Read more HomeGain press releases

About Agent Evaulator-it is a competitive marketing program where by consumers profile annonymously requesting that agents send them proposals as to why they should be selected. By its competitive nature, not all participating agents will be successful or make any money at all.

HomeGain Members Cite Their Successes With BuyerLink - Up to $1 Million

On Monday, in anticipation of the HomeGain Live Nation Real Estate Forum on August 3rd in San Francisco, HomeGain will recognize several agent and broker members in a press release for their success with the HomeGain's BuyerLink^TM per-per-visit marketing program.

The press release will recognize Mitch Ribak of The eHomes Realty Network and Tropical Realty of Suntree in Florida, Debra Gravelle with RE/MAX Home Team Realty in Washington, Rosemary Mancuso of Keller Williams in Massachusetts, and Ron Petzel of Realty Executives in Florida.

Mr. Ribak is on track to sell 350 homes in 2009 with the help of the BuyerLink marketing program. "BuyerLink has helped me increase my business revenues year after year - it brings in over $110,000 per month," said Mitch Ribak. "We get double the click-to-lead conversion rate using HomeGain versus Yahoo! and Google. We expect to earn over one million dollars in commissions coming from BuyerLink this year."

Debra Gravelle stated, "I just calculated that I am now over $50,000 in commission from BuyerLink! That's amazing considering a $600 a month budget."

"Since September of 2008 I have spent $5,400 and have made back $72,355 in income just from BuyerLink," said Rosemary Mancuso. Plus, I have 24 home sales pending. HomeGain's leads are very high quality and I rely on the traffic they send me."

Steve Forbes of Exit Realty in Florida said: " I get two to three deals per month on average from BuyerLink and I usually see a return of $8,000-$10,000 on a $1,500 per month budget- that's a huge ROI!"

Ron Petzel stated: "I get a 5-1 return on my dollar, which is why I continue to partner with HomeGain to reach new clients. I have gotten over 3,300 leads from HomeGain over the past year, 1200 of which are still active. That shows it brings me business now and business for the future."

"HomeGain's success is tied to our agents' success and we are delighted to see our members thriving in this market," stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain.

"Unlike HomeGain's competitors who incessantly tout their traffic statistics, HomeGain rather touts the successes of our agents and quantifies those results in dollars and cents," added Louis Cammarosano.

At HomeGain Live Nation, Mitch Ribak will host the BuyerLink session together with panelists Linda Davis of RE/MAX Realty Group and Dave Marron of First and Elm Realty.

See the full list of presenters and sessions at HomeGain Live Nation

Related HomeGain Success blog posts and press releases:

17 HomeGain Members Inducted into Diamond Club for earning $500K in lifetime commissions from Agent Evaluator

HomeGain Names First Member to Million Dollar Club

HomeGain Names Second Member to Million Dollar Club

HomeGain announces Top Performers of 2008

HomeGain announces Top Performers of 2007

About Buyerlink -its a pay per click service. Agents who are successful with the product have systems  in place to obtain contact information of their visitors on their sites. They also generally have great follow up with all of the contact information they receive. Just getting traffic to a web site, with out a proper contact capture page and systematic follow up will most likely lead to poor or little results. 

Louis Cammarosano

It's always fun to try and predict the future. Its even more fun to go back and see how right or wrong you might have been

Here are my 2008 predictions- made before the Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers failures, before the JP Morgan Stanley Fed orchestrated take over of Merrill Lynch, before Obama was a household word  and before the worst hit.

I pretty much got it right as I predicted slightly declining home values, a Congressional half bailout of homeowners that would cost a lot and not really solve the problem, declining interest rates etc.

I'm tempted to do a 2010 predictions list.

What are yours?

From the HomeGain Real Estate Blog January 10, 2008

Ten Real Estate Predictions for 2008

Posted by: Louis Cammarosano on January 10th, 2008

1. Rents will rise

Due to tightening credit, many prospective homeowners will stop their home searches and stay in their rentals. Defaulting and near defaulting homeowners will look to rent driving up demand, vacancy rates and rents.

2. The 30 year mortgage will become popular again

The proliferation of three year interest only adjustable rate mortgages (ARMS) over the past three years has exposed that such loans don't foster homeownership, but rather defaults. The realization that taking out an interest only ARM is not buying a home but rather "renting" from a bank without the protection of a lease agreement or statute (why is there a tax break for this type of speculation but not for rent payments?) will lead to the return of the 30 year fixed mortgage.

3. Fallout from the sub-prime crisis will have broad economic and social impacts

In many areas where foreclosures are high, urban blight and crime will take hold. The mess left behind of boarded up homes by defaulting home owners and lenders apathetic about these assets will create "no go zones" in the areas hit hardest.

4. Congress will act!

Congress will have neither the resources nor the inclination to bail out the bulk of defaulting homeowners. They will enact some half measure that will not solve the problem but still cost taxpayers a lot of money.

5. The Fed will act!

As consumer spending should slow down due to the decrease in availability of easy credit, inflation should remain in check allowing the Federal Reserve to make a series of interest rate reductions during 2008.

6. Home prices will be relatively stable in most areas

In the vast majority of areas, especially those where ARMS were not the mortgage of choice, home prices will decline slightly or remain flat.

7. Fewer Realtors®

The number of Realtors has swelled in the past few years lured by the prospect of easy money. As transaction volumes decline in 2008, there will be less work for Realtors prompting many Realtors to throw in the towel.

8. Realtor® commissions will remain stable or rise

The value of a Realtor's services will become more appreciated in 2008 as it becomes more difficult to sell homes and the time homes stay on market increases. Homebuyers and sellers will enlist the services of Realtors and be willing to pay for it. Top producing Realtors will make money as much money in 2008 as they did in 2007. Indeed, more than half of HomeGain's Top Performing agents made more money in 2007 than they did in 2006.

9. New business models and entrepreneurs will emerge

What they are, I don't know. This will be the topic of a future post.

10. The number of companies displaying listings will peak in 2008

In the past few years we have seen over a dozen companies enter the market with the primary goal of being a leading national listing site. To date none of them have become profitable. At some point the economic reality will set in that cool features like displaying listings surrounded by heat maps, social networking discussions and 3-D aerial photos of Bill Gates' home neither help sell homes nor attract enough advertising dollars to pay the rent and employees.

What's Your Home Worth? - Try HomeGain's Free Instant Home Valuation Tool.

http://blog.homegain.com/market-trends/ten-real-estate-predictions-for-2008/

Louis Cammarosano

A few days after HomeGain Live Nation in August, I participated in a duet @ Inman Connect with Sami Inkinen of Trulia.

You can watch for yourself as we discuss our two competing business models- HomeGain's which focuses exclusively on connecting consumers with real estate professionals and celbrating their successes vs. Trulia's which focuses on amassing a consumer audience and garnering page views to sell ads AND to try and connect consumers with Realtors.


Click here to watch Louis Cammarosano and Sami Inkinen debate the merits of their companies' respective business models.

While the press is wondering whether a famous golfer will have a Mistress For Christmas, real estate agents are debating whether Listings at Christmas make sense.

Here are three points of view from the HomeGain Real Estate Blog:

Ho Ho Ho Holiday Listing Objections!

All real estate agents hear the objections to putting a home on the market this time of year.  And, for good reason, the holidays are a very busy time and some people psychologically want to think about and do other things.  Real estate isn’t always on their mind and they are thinking about buying Christmas gifts, vacation, taking a break and closing out the year.

“I want to wait until after the holidays because I don’t want to have my tree up and have people tripping over presents.” Or, “Nobody is out looking at real estate this time of year — they are out shopping.” Or even, “I don’t want to disturb my family during the holidays.”

These are objections we all hear when talking to clients about selling their homes.  Well, courtesy of various training I’ve gone to, including some information provided by a broker I work with that has attended Floyd Wickman –

I’ve developed a list below of 11 reasons sellers should get their home on the market right now!

1.  It’s a Happy mess… Buyers buy homes, and holiday decor is key!  Holiday decorations tap into the “happy” of the holidays.  Buying a home is very emotional for many and this happy feeling can help you sell!

2. Preliminaries: Be one of the most ready homes on the market when the
spring market returns and have all of the marketing full force ahead for
when Jan 1 hits.

3. Speculation: We can speculate a little on price right now, and correct
it in the first week of January if we don’t get an offer.

4. Less Competition: Everyone else is waiting to list their home, jump in
ahead and there’s less inventory for the motivated buyers to choose from!
There is a heavy inventory of foreclosures being held into the next fiscal year.
You need to beat them to the market!

5. Best Realtors: The best Realtors are working right now!!!

6. Positioned to Buy: You sell now, so that you can be in the best position
to buy when there is more to pick from in spring

Continue reading this post

       

Posted by: Andrew Duncan on December 19th, 2009 under Buying or Selling a Home

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Should I Bother Listing My Home During the Holidays?

This is a pretty common question this time of year. I think the answer depends on your personal situation. I met with two homeowners within the last week that want to list their homes and both couples asked this same question.

My advice was that there is no reason to wait because it was not going to disrupt either of their holidays.

If either of them were having visitors for the holidays or was a large family with kids running around the house all day I probably would have advised them to wait.

Here are 5 reasons to list your home during the holiday season:

1.  This time of year many Realtors are taking time off or advising their sellers to wait until January to put their home up for sale. That means fewer listings are coming on the market. Wouldn’t you rather be 1 of say 10 new listings versus 1of 40? Your listing will be noticed more to those who are actively looking. There are always buyers on the sidelines waiting for new listings. Many of them receive new listings daily via email. Listing your home during the holidays might mean that you stand out more amongst all of the other new listings.

2.    If a home buyer is looking during the holidays there is a strong chance that they are motivated to purchase.

3.    The first time home-buyer tax credit has been extended. This might have created a sense of urgency and motivation for some to buy.

Continue reading this post

       

Posted by: Marc Rasmussen on December 18th, 2009 under Buying or Selling a Home

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Why Buy a Home During the Christmas Season?

I’m in my fifth year of owning my brokerage and every December seems to have the same outcome.  We sell tons of homes all year long, and then the Christmas Season comes along and home sales slow to a crawl.  It’s been this way year in and year out.

The other day I was thinking about this subject as our normal December takes place.  Yes, it’s a typical December.  Half my real estate agents are on vacation or going on vacation and most of our buyers are coming into town in January or February.

I thought to myself, this is really the best time to buy a home, isn’t it?

Let’s think about it logically.  Selling homes in the current market has been a challenge to say the least.  However, the best priced homes always have multiple offers because everybody is looking for the deal!

Most of the homes we have under contract this month are great deals with very low prices…not so great for my brokerage, but great for the customer.

It dawned on me as I tried to figure this out, why are we having so many low priced homes all of the sudden?  The answer popped out like a rocket.  These homes are under contract because nobody else is out buying homes right now…they are all waiting!

The homes we currently have under contract are usually homes that would receive 10+ offers but at this time of year, there are  no other offers.

So why is this a benefit to home buyers out there this month?

Continue reading this post

       

Posted by: Mitch Ribak on December 18th, 2009 under Buying or Selling a Home

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Louis Cammarosano

Yesterday HomeGain released the results of our Fourth Quarter home prices survey.

Here are the just released results of the Florida, Texas and California home prices surveys.

We will be releasing the result of another dozen or so states in the coming days.