There is an incompatibility, a mismatch between the Web and the traditional real estate and mortgage business today. Simply put, Internet leads are junk. They convert in the low single digits, with just 1, 2 or 3 percent of the leads turning into transactions.

But the real estate sector is built for leads that convert in the double digits -- in the teens. In "first life," as one might call the real world, eight inbound calls to a real estate office on a Saturday morning might turn into one deal. In "second life" (the Web) it may take 30 Web leads to generate one home transaction.  more...

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This month, we focus on the government's impact on housing.

Paulson-Bush Plan -- Much Ado About Nothing

We can't find anyone credible who believes the Paulson-Bush plan that was announced on Dec. 6 will significantly help the housing market. According to UBS, as many as 340,000 borrowers would be eligible for avoiding an ARM reset, which is only a small percentage of the borrowers who will have difficulty making the mortgage payments on their homes.  more...

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Is Web 2.0 the next big thing for real estate?

The answer, of course, depends on one's point of view, but the question is nonetheless important for real estate brokers, salespeople and other professionals who now need to formulate winning business plans for 2008, which could be a rocky year in many housing markets around the country.  more...

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