© Regisser.com – Fotolia.com

Well they are that certain breed of real estate agent who prefers to tell you how spectacular their listings are; not nice, we’re talking spectacular, immaculate, amazing….and perhaps the best one – “to die for”. Really? To die for?

We’re talking about what’s known in the trade as “real estate agent speak”, or “Realtor speak” and how agents spin their listings.

There remains a rousing debate around agent “puffery” and embellishment; is it legal and ethical according to agent conduct standards? Where does subjectivity end and lying begin? Agents and Realtors are expected to abide by a strict ethical standard; yet many listings routinely misrepresent properties, frequently with errors of fact. These same agents and Realtors promote themselves as professionals with a fiduciary duty to be honest, ethical and accurate in their dealings with the public. Is this apparent double standard one of the reasons real estate agents are held in such low public esteem?

So as the spring market opens, home buyers would do very well to keep everything that they read in context.  Puffery and exaggeration are the norm of course, so keep this “cheat sheet” handy as you peruse listings, it will help you decipher the agent babble.

Convenient to airport / train / highway – the house is adjacent to them or under the flight path; you’ll get used to the windows rattling; think of the noise as white noise; many buyers love planes, trains and automobiles

Walk to shopping / restaurants / entertainment – hop your fence into their parking lots; you can charge good money for over flow parking; no DUI concerns for the owner of this home

Occasional views of mountains / water / city – like when the leaves are off; trees are removed; twice a month when the smog blows out; with a telescope; from the roof

Unobstructed water views – until they build next door; since the water is now in your yard; until the next storm when the view will be from the water; as long as you don’t mind the flood insurance premium

Private natural back yard – because it’s a ravine; borders a detention pond; is a garbage dump

Updated – painted…a room…10 years ago; with scratch and dent items; by the husband that took the 2 hour tile class at Home Depot; with outdated material; define updated?

Updated/renovated/remodeled kitchen and baths – see “updated”; new cabinet pulls; replaced a broken appliance; new faucet or shower head

New, like new – not new, usually a few years old

Brand new / just installed – usually less than a year or two old

Pristine, immaculate, to die for – used

Cute, cozy, quaint, comfortable – small and cramped

Eclectic, edgy, rustic – think from bar décor to college dorm

Excellent – OK

Average – poor

Fair – not operational

Waiting for your touch – if you’re a contractor with lots of time and money, or maybe an arsonist

Handyman Special – money pit, don’t even think about it unless you have money, time and skills

Cash only – should be obvious

And this list merely scratches the surface…

Inaccurate and misleading information does no one any good. The seller is likely to wait longer for a buyer as those visiting are expecting something different. The agent is likely to see an extended market time for the very same reason. The buyer and the buyer agent will be wasting time expecting to see the home described only to find something less. In short, no matter how much someone makes a Hyundai sound like a Ferrari on line, when you walk up to it it’s still a Hyundai. Buyers won’t be fooled, and even if they miss something, inspectors and appraisers probably won’t.

“Agent Speak” and what real estate agents say matters. Nonsense is completely counterproductive but won’t likely stop anytime soon. In fact, it will almost certainly increase as the spring market begins. Agents should take a second to consider the consequences of this; not only to their seller and other agents but to their reputation in their market. It’s fine to shine an apple with worm holes or bruises but keep in mind that in the end, accurately portraying a home often results in buyers with the most realistic expectations…and that usually results in a better experience for the seller.

For the budding real estate pro, if you’re seeking direction – emulate these perhaps…

Joe Kadaf and the Top of the Heap

I always tell clients; “It’s easy to make it to the top, what’s hard is staying there.” Evidently somebody told Joe (left courtesy Remaxknows) about this saying, he’s been on top a long time. Even from the start, the now legendary Remax broker showed a phenomenal gift for moving property, his first year he sold $4 million worth. What’s even more meaningful here though, is the fact that Kadaf has proven a teacher and leader of these same sales-rific traits. His agents continually lead all others, and in an area of the country not exactly teaming with good news.

Dearborn Heights, Michigan, not exactly what anyone would call property or economic boom territory. Yet despite one of the worst unemployment rates of any area in the US (11.4% as of now), somehow Kadaf and his team manage to move properties. It think the follow quote from Kadaf via Real Trends, is perhaps the best way for the reader to learn about this pro’s excellent record:

“I have passion for real estate. Although no one likes to work for free, it isn’t the monetary factor that drives me. I reinvest a lot into my office to help others succeed.” Kadaf also takes pride in his charity work. “Our office is involved in several charitable endeavors, but I do my own projects. For example, there was an elderly woman who was being kicked out of her home because of the deplorable conditions. We rehabbed the property to allow her to stay in the home and it helps the neighborhood as well. I’m not attached to one charity. I look for stories and emails from people to find ways to help.”

And all that despite the fact Kadaf is all but unplugged from the web. Just finding an image of the real estate pro proved difficult for this web guru. I can only imagine him taking over all of real estate with more leverage via digital channels. Wow.

Kevin Tomlinson – The  South’s Luxury Condo Guru

I won’t lie to you, ever. Kevin is now a friend of mine on Facebook. Two years ago I found Tomlinson‘s One Sotheby’s International Realty via our ongoing series of evaluations of real estate people for their relative digital involvement. Kevin was and is, proving to be one of the best online, as well as showing off Miami’s best luxury pads in person. That said, no mention of Miami high end properties could be complete, so to speak.

A long time Sotheby’s sales dynamo, Tomlinson practices what he preaches. In the know, if you read about his philosophies on sales, he prescribes for the 70 percent of condo sales that begin in the digital world. That’s right, over two thirds of Tomlinson’s luxury transactions start on the web or mobile.

So NOT featuring Tomlinson, friend or foe, would simply be ignoring the truth of his expertise. Readers may read his bio here. Despite my constant constructive criticisms of real estate players online, I actually do love saying nice things about excellent people.

Larry W. Strother – Just East of a Vast Experience

Where I come from, maybe where you’re from too, the say “there’s no substitute for experience” is a time tested truism. I am sure there is a lot more that can be said for Larry Strother, one of the nation’s leading real estate agents for some decades now, but maybe his wealth of knowledge is enough?

Fayetteville, North Carolina is a popular market, but certainly not San Francisco or New York. And within that metric a bit of Larry’s excellence as an agent is revealed. You see he is listed in the top 20 agents nationwide by the Wall Street Journal. Ahead of everyone in New England, basically up the eastern seaboard and down to Florida. Of course the WSJ is not the end all, is it? So, ERA Strother Real Estate also has Larry’s wife, Denise Strother’s award winning talents to fall back on once the nation’s leading business publication is proved wrong.

Excuse the tongue in cheek here, but in reality top agents are really always parts of a greater team. As you can see in the video above from Strother ERA, a pretty vast team has been assembled by the founders.

Go West and Call Debbie Craig-Banducci

It is pretty easy to pick whoever is best in the West. All one has to do really is find California’s top anything, and there you are. Not to put down other states out there, but California is its own little country, and Debbie is tops there. Her RE/MAX Magic team helps Debbie maintain here number one rating in California, and her number six position nationwide compared with ALL real estate agents.

Buying, selling, commercial, residential, luxury, Debbie is one of those super multi-talented people whose energy is reflected in how accessible she is. How many top notch real estate moguls do you know who paste their email addy and cell phone number all over the web? And Debbie does not operate 50 cheesy websites to get this done either.

Bakersfield has its own breed of hyper excellent property professionals, and Debbie Banducci sits at the pinnacle of those. Maybe your own assessments, but this lady has friendly written all over her, Facebook to the Wall Street Journal. She’s got “West” covered for this roundup.

Image credit: Cardinal Points – courtesy © Daniel Wiedemann – Fotolia.com

1. Lennar (@Lennar) – Kay Howard, Dir of Communication Tweeting for Lennar a leading new home builder of Everything’s Included new homes for 1st-time, move-up & active adult buyers. [note: not a realtor, but interesting content; influent in Twitter tops]
2. Inman News (@InmanNews) – Inman News is the leading independent source of real estate news, commentary & education.
3. Joe Manausa (@HousingReporter) – Husband, Father, Real Estate Blogger, Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Investor. Golfer
4. Real Estate Investor (@CMYates) – Chris Yates – Real Estate Investor, Private Money Expert, Yogi, Vegetarian and the guy that helps you get your real estate deals funded at www.fastmoneywins.com
5. Ryan Mills, REALTOR® (@RealtorRyan) – Husband, Father, REALTOR®, Real Estate, The M & M Team, Google, Halo, gadgets, Technology, Social Networking, XBOX, Android, UFC, Airsoft, dogs. Total geek!
6. Trulia (@trulia) – Find a home. Get the inside scoop. [note: not a realtor, but interesting content for realtors]
7. Bruce Swedal (@swedal) – Denver Colorado Real Estate Expert, Re/Max Southeast, Realtor, Consultant, Investor, Marketer and Freemason. It’s a Good Life! #FollowBack
8. Real Estate Express (@davidgoldstein) – I am a partner at the top online real estate license school in the USA… RealEstateExpress.com. Get info on state-approved online real estate license courses. [note: lacks interaction, but interesting content]
9. Agent Ken (@Agentopolis) –  Real estate agent directory, realtor directory, realtor marketing, home search, Real estate information
10. Mike Bowler Sr (@MIrealestate) – Realtor, Trainer, Consultant, Marketing, Mediation, real estate, Greater Lansing Michigan Area, ePRO, Tech Savvy Grandpa, PRETEC
11. AllThingsBHGRE (@AllThingsBHGRE) – Be Better with @BHGRealEstate! Find out how by following our industry news, tips and strategy tweets! Account run by Rebekah Radice. . [note: not a realtor, but interesting content for realtors]
12. Realtor Action Ctr (@RealtorAction) – The Voice of Real Estate
13. Maya Sabot Paveza (@mayaREguru) – REALTOR with @USSpaces & Pot Stirrer. Mom/Instigator/Antagonist. Fan of Social Nets since my Hayes 300 baud. Inflection: humor. Integrity rules.
14. CENTURY 21 (@CENTURY21) – Century 21 Real Estate LLC is the franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization. Tweets from Molly and Rachel!
15. Real Estate Marketer (@REMarketingTips) – Real Estate Marketing Hints, Tips, Tricks and News for Real Estate Agents and Brokers.
16. Wendy Patton (@WendyAPatton) – The Nation’s Leading Author & Trainer on lease options & subject-to deals | Real estate broker | Real estate investing coach | I LOVE real estate – REALTOR.
17. Real Estate HQ (@RealEstateHQ) – One-stop resource for the latest trends, tips, resources and advice on real estate.
18. MSN Real Estate (@MSNRealEstate) – Home and rental listings. Expert advice. Simple tools. We’re here to help! Welcome to the official Twitter feed for MSN Real Estate.
19. Mark Brian (@markbrian) – Hater of Spammers & Scammers, Animal Lover but Meat Eater, Coffee Loving, Cigarette Smoking, Heavy Metal Loving Realtor http://upstate-south-carolina.com  I don’t check DMs!
20. Florida Realtors (@floridarealtors) – Florida Realtors® state association, serving 115,000 members throughout Florida. [note: influent in Twitter tops, only own tweets, but interesting content]
21. Clark County Realtor (@360Realtor) – Why are we “the best real estate team” in SW Washington? It’s actually very simple; we take care of our clients. Proud founders of http://ClarkCountyKids.com
22. Jay Thompson (@PhxREguy) – Director of Industry Outreach & Social Media for @Zillow. Living the urban life in Seattle. Road warrior. Heart attack survivor. My wife rocks!
23. Jim Cronin (@RETomato) – Over the last 10 years Helped 10s of 1000s of Realtors develop a successful internet presence, and I have just gotten started. [note: not a realtor but useful tips on real estate blogging]
24. Michael McClure (@ProfessionalOne) – Believer, CEO of http://VerifiedAgent.com , 50 Most Influential in Real Estate, Inman NEXT, MSU Spartan, 2nd City, CPA, http://facebook.com/groups/RaiseTheBar/ …, http://speakermix.com/michael-mcclure
25. LA Times Real Estate (@LATrealestate) – Southern California real estate news and information from @latimes.
26. Ginger Wilcox (@gingerw) – I head up Industry Marketing & Social at Trulia. Mom of Thing 1 & Thing 2, Tech Geek, Philanthropist, Lover of Social, Real Estate, Spreadsheets, & the Beach
27. Real Estate Law (@LegalRealEstate) – News, commentary, analysis, and updates written by the nation’s leading Real Estate lawyers and law firms. A @JDSupra law content feed.
28. Bill Gassett (@massrealty) – One of the top 5 RE/MAX agents in MA for the last decade. Social media/SEO junkie. http://www.sellmyhomeinmetrowestma.com http://www.maxrealestatexposure.com
29. Ken Brand (@kenbrand) – Paradox. Surprise. Uncommon Sense. Irony. Street Smarts. Smack. ELBs. Impressions. Observations. Less Blah Blah-More Ah-Ha. The Woodlands TX Real Estate HQ
30. CDPE (@CDPE) – #1 short sale training and membership organization in the nation, helping to solve the foreclosure crisis, one homeowner at a time.
31. Real Estate Trends (@RETrends) – Real estate trends, social media & tech innovations from Swanepoel TRENDS Report. Commentary by Stefan Swanepoel & updates by @RETrends team.
32. Greg Cooper (@GregCooper) – REALTOR, frmr Indpls radio talent. WTHR 13 real estate expert. Least prettiest person on HGTV. Crashed in a Helicopter & Cessna 182. I love my amazing family!
33. Dean Ouellette (@DeanOuellette) – Chandler RE Agent, Speaker, Author, Trainer, ProductivityAgent & Evernote for Real Estate Author | Dad of 5 wonderful kids
34. Gary Lowe (@realcafe) – 30 yrs experience as commercial real estate broker and enjoy bloging.
35. Brian Block (@blockrealestate) – Selling real estate in Northern Virginia & D.C. Husband, Friend, Broker, Blogger, AAGG
36. Andrea Geller (@AndreaRealtor) – Hot Property® Chicago – Coldwell Banker: Marketing, Sales and Leasing of Real Estate throughout Chicago
37. Sue Adler (@sueadler) – I’m a workaholic Realtor who is passionate about making this industry of ours more consumer-centric.
38. Jim Duncan (@JimDuncan) – Husband, Father, real estate broker & partner @NestRealty/ real estate analyst/realtor/agent in Charlottesville/Crozet, Virginia, USA
39. Teresa Boardman (@TBoard) – Realtor, blogger, writer, photographer and I am here in St. PaulMN
40. Mark Weber (@naplesproperty) – Real estate Broker & Realtor®, Luxury homes expert, Husband & father 1st!
41. Steve Mattison (@Ozarksagent) – ABR e-Pro Realtor with CJR Tri Lakes Realtors of Branson West, MO 65737 (417)338-2022. Love God, family, country, to fish, help people, … http://bit.ly/WgsNvd
42. Alice Tam Chan (@AliceTChan) –  Mom, Party Planner, Interior Decorator, Home Staging Expert, Home Selling Strategist, and often times the butcher, the baker & the candlestick maker!
43. Nancy Kinney (@RealEstate_Site) – Legal advice for the other 99%!
44. Angele L’Abbe (@AngeleLAbbe) – Vancouver Real Estate Agent specializing in Downtown, Gastown & Westside. Also passionate about family, community, wine and good food! REALTOR®
45. RealtorsinMemphis (@RealtorsMemphis) – Realtor with Crye Leike offering experienced relocation services along with my partner and wife Connie Chambers
46. Lucie Lynch (@metrohomeseller) – Helping You Buy or Sell Real Estate in WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE METRO Area ~ Love Family, Reading, Cooking, World Travel ~ Tweets in English, Français, Español
47. Cecilia Sherrard (@OhioAgent) – (On Facebook: YouShouldOwn) Proud Cleveland lover. RE/MAX Agent selling Northeast & Central, Ohio. Assistance with home buying/selling. http://YouShouldOwn.com
48. Michelle Silverman (@MichelleRealtor) – Premier La Jolla and San Diego Realtor specializing in coastal properties with over two decades of experience married to @ScottHSilverman, w/2 amazing daughters
49. MaryPopeHandy (@MaryPopeHandy) – Silicon Valley Realtor; prolific blogger, speaker, trainer. Voted “Best real estate agent in Silicon Valley” 2011. DRE01153805 http://ValleyOfHeartsDelight.com
50. Texas Realtors (@TXRealtors) – Te Texas Association of REALTORS® is the advocate for REALTORS® and private-property owners.
51. Gena Riede (@GenaRiede) – Sacramento Real Estate Broker helping buyers,sellers.Short Sale help @ 916.417.2699 You can find me on http://SacramentoRealEstateNeighborhoods.com
52. Ruth Ahlbrand (@RuthAhlbrand) – Las Vegas REMAX REALTOR Mkt Leader #1 RE/MAX Team Worldwide, Certified Distressed Property Expert, Helping Homebuyers & Real Estate Investors Save Money!
53. Paula Henry (IndyAgent) – Indianapolis Realtor @hometoindy Mom, Wife, Sister, Friend & Mimi to my grand babies. Triple venti breve latte, denim, fall and sunsets. Sharing Indianapolis!
54. Ashley Smith (@Ashley_Realtor) – VanCity admirer, music lover, positive energy seeker! @REBGV Director-at-Large and Westside Division Director, Vancouver REALTOR®… Loving life!
55. Jack Lara RealEstate (@PensacolaFLJack) – Florida Real Estate Agent ~ CDPE (Short Sales) ~ ~ CIAS (Real Estate Investing) ~ Main Street Properties, PensacolaFL – USMC
56. Fred Carver Realtor® (@victoriaagent) – Promises Made Promises Kept Re/Max Realtor in Victoria Put Fred’s 40 Years Experience to work for you
57. Deb Bremner Realtor® (@DebbieBremner) – We are the real estate team that creates trust by delivering service with the highest degree of quality, value and integrity. Your partner in confidence.
58. Sandy Harper, Broker (@SandySellsHomes) – Florida #RealEstate: Celebration, Lake Nona, Windermere, Reunion, Lakeland, Disney’s Golden Oak! Realtor. Mom. @SandyHarper
59. Norm Rice, CRS, ABR (@NormRiceRealtor) – A Realtor in love with the culture, People, and uniqueness of all that is Portland, OR. A proud Portland Kiwanian – speaker coordinator – 503-789-1246
60.  Redfin (@Redfin) – A real estate brokerage using technology and a customer focus to reinvent real estate in consumers’ favor.
61. Chris Nichols (@utahREpro) – If it’s about Real Estate, Technology, & Social Media then I’m in! I also enjoy Travel, Reading, Dirt Bikes, & Life! Hang on… enjoy the ride!
62. Ira Serkes (@serkes) – Handcrafted Real Estate Service in Berkeley – Art Deco Architecture Fan – Traveller
63. Agent Caffeine (@AgentCaff) – The pulse of business, marketing & real estate buzz. Front row seats to top talent Thursdays 9pm ET. Founder @KellyMitchell #AgentCaff
64. Harriman Real Estate (@HarrimanRE) – Pat and Wayne Harriman proudly own Harriman Real Estate LLC, in Wallingford, CT. And they rock, yo. Blog: http://goo.gl/VbjGL
65. Doug Garner (@DougGarner) – REALTOR® and Auctioneer in Northern Kentucky, Husband, Father, Methodist, Woodworking Hobbyist, Director at NKAR, Member Kenton Co Fair Board
66. Marney Kirk (@realtormarney) – REALTOR, Huge RAVENS fan, MOM of a 7 year old, Sarcastic, Silly, Crazy, and Fun. Yeah that covers it.
67. John McMonigle (@JohnMcMonigle) – Top Orange County Real Estate Agent; Founder of Newport Beach-based McMonigle Group.
68. Tahoe REO Realtor® (@TahoeHomeHunter) – ~ Greg Poulsen ~ specializing in tahoe reo real estate in Truckee, CA & Lake Tahoe ~ See all bank owned/REO Properties in Tahoe ~ go to: http://www.TahoeHomeHunter.com
69. Real Estate Social (@erealestate_) – eRealEstate is a social network for real estate professionals, including agents, investors, mortgage lenders, title agents, rehabbers and home improvers. [note: influent in Twitter tops, lacks interaction, only own tweets on various topics]
70. Maura Neill (@MauraNeill) – lover of Atlanta * musical theatre geek * dark chocolate aficionada * karaoke queen * lover of dark beer * grammar nerd * shoe addict * REALTOR®
71. Lance Hulsey Realtor (@lancehulsey) – I’m a Realtor® who geeks out on technology. I love to promote the use of technology in real estate. Oh, & I will talk real estate with anyone who is willing.
72. Jay Knorr (@auburnalprops) – Prudential Real Estate, Auburn, Alabama
73. Ken Montville (@mdsuburbs) – Rotarian in the Parole (Annapolis) Club, Realtor in the MD Suburbs of DC, bon vivant. Can be a tad opinionated. http://www.mdsuburbs.com
74. P. Minik, MD Realtor (@somdhomes) – Specializing in Vacation Real Estate in Southern Maryland: St Leonard, Lusby, Solomons, PortRepublic, BroomesIsland, NorthBeach, ChesapeakeBeach in Calvert.
75. Callie Sinkinson (@CallieSink) – Realtor,GRI, ABR,e-PRO, Helping Buyers and Sellers Globally; Loving Twitter
76. Allan S. Glass (@asgreinc) – Los Angeles Devotee, Real Estate Investor, Entrepreneur, RE Broker, Foreclosure / REO expert, Short Sale Believer, Urban Enthusiast and Dad
77. Colleen Fischesser (@colleenfish) – Self-proclaimed Brokerista-Expert Real Estate Broker~ RE/MAX owner~living in the greater Seattle area.Wife, Mom of 3 sons & the most amazing dog ever @eleanoris
78. San Jose Real Estate (@tmerigan) – Long Time South Bay Realtor will work for listings. Keller Williams Realtor with around 10 years experience in the bay area. I DO FOLLOW BACK!!
79. EmilyMedvec (@EmilyMedvec) – Santa Fe Real Estate | Realtor CRS RSPS | Hyperlocal Publisher http://BreakingSantaFeNews.com  @santaferealtime | Social Media | Images | VentureLabs
80. Vancouver Realtor (@thinkclaire) – Vancouver Realtor specializing in Real Estate Sales in Greater Vancouver and Downtown Vancouver
81. Heather Rankin (@heatherrankin) – Lake Powell Realtor in UT/AZ. Musician, Mom, Grandma, Writer, Big WaterTown Councilor
82. Jeffrey Douglass (@jeffreydouglass) – San Diego Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Tech, Mac, music, & coffee. Enjoying Twitter and all it has to offer.
83. Saskia (@sassyword) – Aussie/American in Silicon Valley. Expat, writer, blogger, photographer, Realtor, & networker
84. VickiMoore (@vickimoore) – love to swear for affect, my crazy cat, my friends, real estate, blogging, taking pictures, gardening, garage sales, being creative…probably not in that order
85. WendyRoss-TPARealtor (@RealEstateBrew) – Tampa, FL Residential Realtor with Florida Executive Realty-CONTACT ME-LOG ON TO http://www.TampaMarketHomes.com -Residential Realtor for SELLERS & BUYERS!
86. Kevin Cottrell (@kevincottrell) Consummate Entrepreneur originally from Silicon Valley. Passionate about all things real estate, Paleo & Ancestral Health. Member of PaleoFX leadership team. [note: influent in Twitter tops, lacks interaction, only tweets locations]
87. Vancouver Realtor David Valente (@DavidValente) – Your Vancouver Real Estate Specialist. Prudential Sussex Realty; North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Downtown Vancouver, Luxury Fine Homes, Award Winning Realtor
88. Dan Edwards, REALTOR (@realtordan62) – I am a REALTOR serving the greater Seattle Area with a focus on the Eastside: Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah,WA
89. Angela Batchelor (@REALTOR_Angela) – A true Wilmingtonian. Lover of this spectacular city by the sea! Smitten with technology, shoe sales, long talks with my Grandpa, & all things real estate!
90. Ben Kakimoto (@SeattleCondo) – Seattle condo specialist. Ben focuses on urban Seattle real estate and is a Realtor with Keller Williams Greater Seattle. http://SeattleCondosAndLofts.com
91. Georgia REALTORS® (@garealtors) – The Voice for Real Estate in Georgia
92. Sarah Elles Boggs (@SarahElles) – Condo lover & Douglas Elliman Realtor in Downtown Miami (Brickell-Midtown). Generally happy & loving chick, loves spinning…I follow back if you’re not a bot
93. Greenville Realtor (@EddyKicker) – Proud father, husband, and real estate agent in Greenville, South Carolina and surrounding areas. Glad to tweet you!
94. Jody Armstrong (@jodyforhomes) – Realtor, GRI, CRS, Century 21 Western Sierra, El Dorado County, California
95. Albie Vegas Realtor (@AlbieVas) – Realtor® I specialize in representing buyers and sellers. New homes, condos,High Rise, commercial Las Vegas. I love to Shop
96. Troy Roark (@TroyRoark) – Follow dad or I’m poopin all up in this diaper! Realtor, Dad, Video Junkie at http://www.SpringfieldILHomesForSale.com
97. Diane Brooks (@TalktoDiane) – Living life expectantly–Social Media Advocate, Blogger, Realtor, Mom to Adopted Twins, Wife and Cook-wannabe. Love to share meaningful info and the good news.
98. Chantal Konicek (@BRRealtor) – Full time Realtor serving central NJ, raising 2 great boys, keeping my husband slightly nuts, & loving it all. http://www.About.Me/ChantalKonicek
99. Bruce Hardie (@brucehardie) – A Learning-Based Productivity Warrior at Keller Williams Realty Spokane in the Northwest Region.
100. Paul Ryan, REALTOR® (@sfproperties) – San Francisco Bay Area REALTOR® – Broker & Small Business Owner – Ryan & Associates Realty

Do you know other real estate agents and companies that should be on the list? Help us build a better, bigger list.

Later edit: more realtors, as suggested by you (in the comments):

• RealEstate.com (@Real_EstateCom) – http://RealEstate.com  makes your home search fun and easy. Have a question about buying or selling a home? Just ask us.
• Buy Rent Sell Boston (@Homes_Boston) – Real estate and boston! Go to our blog to view rentals and sales listings. tweeted by @briggsjohnson Real Estate..Realtor..Coldwell Banker…condos..apartments
• Pacific Place (@PacificPlaceRWC) – A brand new community of gorgeous single-family homes in the Palm Park neighborhood of Redwood City. Follow us for up to date info!
• Tanya Diaz | Remax (@TanyaDiazRemax) – Agente Remax Metropolitana, Club 100% Remax International 2010-2011-2012, Top Producer Latino America/El Caribe 2010-2011, 3er Top Producer. Nacional 2010.
• Alain Picard (@RealEstateAlain) – I Currently Serve King, Pierce, Thurston and The Surrounding Counties. #BuyersAgent #ListingAgent #RealEstateProfessional #RealEstate Call Me Today 253-861-7386
• Revestor (@revestor) – The Next Generation in Real Estate Search. Revestor’s website & App helps you instantly find homes for sale by the highest potential returns in your location.
• REALTORS® (@REALTORS) – The National Association of REALTORS®
• Toni Jennings (@SellingMidtown) – Detroit resident and Realtor committed to rebuilding Detroit one happy family at a time! Specializing in luxury condos and lofts in the Midtown area.
• Jack Cotton (@JackCotton) – Jack Cotton’s new book, Selling Luxury Homes, based on over three decades of experience in Luxury Real Estate is one of the most in-depth releases of its kind.
• AREAA (@areaa) – Promoting sustainable homeownership in the Asian community
• NAHREP (@NAHREP) – The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals: Our mission is to promote sustainable homeownership in the Hispanic community.
• Sean Carpenter (@seancarp) – Life is all about building relationships, solving problems and having fun. Dir. of Training Coldwell Banker Ohio. #Gator. Golfer. Beer drinker
• Elizabeth Weintraub (@EWeintraub) – #00697006 Lyon RE, Broker-Associate–Home Buying Guide for About.com–Author of The Short Sale Savior and all-around troublemaker.
• TC McClenning (@RealtorPR) – #realestate #Marketing–Social Media–Business Writing–PR Secret Weapon. Author of All In A Day’s Work for Real Estate Agents, see http://WorkLikeaDogBooks.com
• RemaxGreaterAtlanta (@RemaxGtrAtl) – RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, specializing in metro #Atlanta #realestate. Celebrated 25 years in 2011 http://www.facebook.com/RemaxGreaterAtlanta … 770-973-9700
• Sherry Chris (@sherrychris) – CEO of a Lifestyle Real Estate Brand with a focus on the next generation of brokers, agents and consumers. I am quite comfortable challenging the status quo.
• Hughes Group (@HughesGroupRE) – Idaho features a rich culture, year round recreation opportunities and an unrivaled quality of living. Explore Idaho and see what the Gem State can offer you.

According to the National Association of Realtors, there has been an increase in housing affordability for those who are able to obtain a mortgage. Lawrence Yun, an economist for the Association says “Rising home prices and a gradual uptrend in mortgage interest rates will offset improvements in family income, but 2013 likely will be the third best on record in terms of household buying power.”

In spite of this optimism many people still face difficulty in qualifying for a mortgage, and every month 83,000 new families entered the foreclosure process which means roughly 1,000,000 families are entering foreclosure every year. The pressure on Washington to help ailing homeowners means guidelines which have been a mainstay for years are taking effect.

Chris Apodaca, a California mortgage broker for Broadview Mortgage says “It’s an interesting phenomenon because three or four years ago these people were losing their homes. Now they’re out shopping for a new home. It wasn’t swift and sweeping legislation that did it, simply a matter of perseverance. These folks waited three years and now they can buy again.” Apodaca is targeting those who have found themselves being dragged through the mud during the recent economic crisis and was asked whether or not these people should trust banks again. His reply was “We’re seeing a cautious optimism. The industry has really shifted with the tightening regulations and strict licensing laws. Home buyers have a clearer path to recourse should they be wronged. We as banks know that there are serious ramifications for banks who violate the law.”

Apodaca writes for consumer education website findmywayhome.com which gets numerous inquiries from people who want to ask questions, get updates on legislation or who simply wish to share their stories. Many of these people feel they have been wronged and are angry, but Apodaca recommends they plan for their future and gain empowerment through education. People who lose their home through foreclosure are eligible to purchase again three years after the foreclosure is finalized.

Vaca commented on her new office saying:

“I have visualized his office for five years. Back in 2007, during the banking crisis, I stuck with my strategic plan, which included more agents, more transactions, and growth in all areas. In fact during the economic downturn, my business doubled.”

The office occupies 5081 ft.² which is quite different from Monica’s first offices that totals 800 ft.². The new space includes a training room where staff and agents will have access to cutting-edge technology and industry resources. The supply room is well stocked and agents have access to every gadget they might need, enabling them to focus on their bottom lines. In addition to the beat technology, Vaca has ensured her staff has ergonomic work spaces and new furniture.

Vaca went on to say:

“I have been in the business for more than 25 years. I’ve seen it all. I have been in the agent’s shoes and I have numerous battles cause. I want these agents to feel at home and feel valued. Without my support team, we wouldn’t be standing here!”

The current marketing campaign of the Century 21® System is Smarter, Bolder, Faster. Monica’s personal mantra is “Tell us what you need and consider it done!” Vaca served as the 2012 President of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals Houston Chapter.

Reggie is listed as being one of the 10 most reliable realtors on the East Coast in Forbes magazine, and is consistently a top producer for the company. In addition, she has also been listed as one of the top 5% of sales agents in the country.

Janet Gordon Rubino, vice president and manager of the Devon office had this to say about Hunt:

“Reggie has been listing and selling real estate for over 25 years in the Philadelphia suburbs and the Main Line. Being a native of the area, she has full expertise of the area schools, and the important nuances of each neighborhood. Her experience with land, estates, horse farms, older homes, historic homes and new construction reflects vital knowledge needed to service buyers and sellers.”

Reggie Hunt is a relocation specialist and holds the SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) designation. In addition Reggie is a designated Extraordinary Properties® Specialist and a Christie’s Great Estates® Specialist. Before becoming a realtor she worked on Wall Street for 10 years in the financial services industry. Reggie has a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and has served on the Board of Directors of several local companies. She also finds time to be actively involved in many charities. She lives in a beautifully restored older stone house, and her hobbies include horse riding and tennis, and has bred champion Norwich Terriers.

Hunt can be contacted on a 610-888-6313.

Long & Foster Companies is the parent company of the largest independently owned residential real estate company in the United States, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., which has more than 12,000 agents in seven Mid-Atlantic States, plus the District of Columbia. Last year the company sold more than $22 billion worth of homes, and helped more than 69,000 people buy and sell property. More information about Long & Foster can be found on their website.

© Elenathewise – Fotolia.com

Bland says “In the Houston Inner Loop area, townhouses are hot. My buyers this year have settled on townhomes 58% of the time, and half of those were new construction.”

Apparently many are attracted by the townhomes locations, as they tend to be close to the city and are ideal for people who want to live close to work or to their social life. The fact that they no longer have to struggle with highway traffic is an added bonus. Townhomes are more affordable than single family homes, especially in the Inner Loop when the cost of land is driving up the price of homes. Bland pointed out that whereas a typical single-family home lot is 5000 ft.² or even more, builders can place at least two townhomes on the same amount of land.

Bland went on to say “The cost of that land is half of what it would be for the single-family home. Consequently, the home has a smaller footprint and has to build up rather than out to achieve the desired living space. If there’s a yard at all, it’s a fairly small-just what city dwellers want. Maybe they’ve had a house in the suburbs and realized they had an unintended second job taking care of the lawn and landscaping.”

In spite of the smaller yard space, Bland does believe most townhomes have adequate outdoor space pointing out they may have multiple patios or huge deck. In addition most have been built in a more sophisticated and contemporary style with a floor plan that tends to work for couples with no children or just one child. However he does concede that most of the floor plans the townhomes would not be so great if you had two children and wanted them to have their own room. However just recently he has seen a lot more traditional floor plans with three bedrooms on the second floor while the garage and public rooms are on the first floor.

Anyone thinking about buying a townhome can contact Steve Bland on the 832-350-9556 or can call by his office at 1939 W. Gray in Houston’s Inner Loop Area.

There are a total of thirteen units in the complex, four of which have already sold, while a fifth is under contract. The condos are custom built and have views across the Herring River, as well as access out to Nantucket Sound for boating, kayaking and fishing. The units are in an excellent location for getting away from it all, and can be used year-round.

Unit one benefits from an open floor plan, and has hardwood floors throughout. It also has an open fireplace, a whirlpool tub in the master bath, and a deck overlooking the Herring River. The kitchen is a cook’s dream, with granite worktops and stainless steel appliances.  The units all have central air conditioning, and gas hot air heat, as well as a hook up for a washer and dryer. More information on the remaining units can be found on Keller Williams website.

Nichole R. Willey is a Cape Cod realtor representing both buyers and sellers, and can be reached on 508-737-3567. Keller Williams is the number one real estate company in the United States and received the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Awards for both buyers and sellers this year.

Main image: © bpichet – Fotolia.com

Image by Ira Gelb via flickr.com

Human trafficking is the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Although human trafficking has been going on for thousands of years, it was only made a federal crime in the United States in 2000 with the Passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The most common cases involve commercial sex trafficking, and labor trafficking.

It may be something that you think could never occur on your property or maybe something you, like many Americans may not want to think about. If there has any been illegal activity on your multifamily property, there’s a good chance that those involved may have been involved due to human trafficking. In an interview with the Rent Rite Directory’s Joe Killinger, Laura DeMoss of Mosaic Family Services notes that “Apartment managers and maintenance people are in a fantastic position to be able to uncover [these] cases.”

On-site staff of multifamily properties can be a huge help to Law Enforcement, if they know what to look for. Most cases are uncovered because someone did not have a good feeling about a situation that they had witnessed, and sought help. Law enforcement officials are trained to be somewhat suspicious, but as everyday citizens, we also need to be on the lookout for these types of situations. Bill Bernstein, Deputy Director of Mosaic Family Services reminds property managers and owners “If you see something that looks suspicious, or that you feel uneasy about….give somebody a call.”

It is estimated that approximately 700,000 to 2 million people are trafficked around the globe every year (Safe Horizon.com). There is such a range in the statistics because trafficking can be difficult to spot, and is an extremely covert and underground activity. If a person is in possession of drugs, the drugs themselves imply illegal activity, and are easier to find, confiscate, and convict.

Possession of a human being is a much harder area to prosecute. It is easier to move people from state to state, or country to country, which is why human trafficking has been named the fastest growing criminal industry (UN Refugee Agency). It is less risky to traffic a person than it is to traffic drugs, at which point human traffickers may then force their victims to commit crimes for them.

You can watch the interview in full below:

Human trafficking can happen to anyone, of any gender, nationality, age, and can happen anywhere. Here are some red flags to look out for:

• Too many people living in one apartment unit
• Abnormal amount of traffic to and from an apartment unit
• Locks on doors and windows to keep people in, instead of out
• Closely supervised tenants (restricted in movement)
• People who are always with others who must speak for them, but do not appear to know each other very well
• People who do not have access to their own personal documents
• People who are not allowed to drive themselves anywhere
• People who are picked up every day in large vehicles and who return at the same time every night
• People who show signs of abuse, malnourishment or fearfulness

Detective Ric Clark of the Balch Springs Police Department notes that just asking the right questions and getting to know someone can help provide vital information (note: not during the application process). In the cases of labor trafficking he has witnessed, he says asking about where someone is from, their accents, their families, their jobs and sparking conversation can be a good starting off point. Please be advised that many victims of trafficking often do not consider themselves victims, or are terrified for the safety of themselves or their families, so you may not get a yes or no answer from them, if directly asked.

Victims of trafficking are constantly being monitored by their traffickers, so if it appears as though someone else feels the need to stop the conversation you are having with a potential victim, it could be an indication that something is not right.  If you have any concerns or believe that human trafficking is occurring, you can reach out to the National Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888. If there is someone you believe may be a victim of human trafficking, but does not speak English or is unable to read, Jacob Haynes has created a series of comics that can be used to illustrate Human Trafficking to overcome any language barriers (see link below).

In a phone interview with Detective Manny Reyes from the Fort Worth Police Department, he noted that most instances of sex trafficking that he has uncovered, occur in apartment communities that are not gated, or have easy access. Most commonly, the issue is brought to the police department by a member of the leasing staff, managers, maintenance crew, or even a neighbor. Heavy traffic in and out of certain apartment complex units can be a clear indication. Detective Reyes says that the length of time people are in and out of the apartment can be an indication of what may be taking place. A shorter stay (60-90 seconds) is more likely a drug deal, while a lot of men spending 15-45 minutes in the units may be cause for a closer look for sex trafficking.

Real estate professionals can do their bit to end the misery of trafficking victims © silent_47 – Fotolia.com

Please remember to keep an eye out for these types of situations, even if it may be difficult to imagine happening in your community. This type of crime can be reduced if people in positions with responsibilities to their communities know what to look for, and make sure to follow up.

Please contact Ryan Cauley at 1-855-733-2289 (www.therrd.com) for more information on our services.

About the Author: Elizabeth Whited is the Operations Coordinator at the Rent Rite Directory. She has written educational articles for multifamily magazines and Real Estate websites to help Property Managers and Owners improve their properties, in an effort to reduce crime in their communities. The Rent Rite Directory educates Property Managers and Owners at Crime Watch Meetings, and Crime Free Association Conferences, and works closely with law enforcement nationwide. For more information, visit www.therrd.com. 

Image via Freedigitalphotos.net

Then I had one of those V8 moments. (Where you slap your head and say, “Now I get it.”)

I realized I was leaving money on the table by not looking creatively at how to leverage relationships in my real estate business.

So I came up with an idea…a 3-way win-win-win. Maybe you’re already doing it or know someone who is, but if it’s a new idea to you, then give it some thought.

Spice Up your Strategic Alliances Using “Special Offers”

First of all, you have to understand the power of strategic alliances. A strategic alliance is a partnership with a business person who has clients who could be your clients, and visa versa. Many agents think of their lender as a strategic alliance partner.

But in my experience, most lender-REALTOR relationships only go one way… the agent giving leads to the lender, but seldom getting anything back from the lender. That’s because lenders get most of their leads from other agents and they’re not free to refer those leads to you.

But what about your plumber? She knows home owners, and I need to meet home owners. Perfect match. And she needs to meet new home owners who might need plumbing help. I know home owners, especially new home owners. Perfect match.

Now if we can figure out how to introduce one another to each other’s database in a way that benefits both of our databases, we’ll have a strategic alliance.

For example, I could provide an exclusive rebate (if legal in my state) to her plumbing clients. Or I could provide a free book or other “bait” to entice them to contact me to create more leads for my real estate business. In turn, she can provide a sharp discount on her plumbing service for my database. I win. My plumber wins. And both of our clients win.

Once you’ve set up one of these alliances, you can do it multiple times with multiple business partners, including your carpet cleaner, electrician, dietician, painter, auto mechanic, and so on. It takes a little creativity, and you may need to try it a few times to work out the kinks in the system, but if it can work for a multimillionaire like Jay Abraham, I’m pretty sure it can work for you.

Be consistent. Be bold. Be smart. Linda Schneider is a real estate business coach for smart real estate agents who want to be more powerful in their business. Drop by RealEstateBusinessCoaching.com for more about selling skills and real estate marketing ideas to take your business to the next level.