Market Advantage from GMAC Real Estate

Craigslist Head Gives Real Estate Ad Advice

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:45:54 -0500

Craiglist founder Craig Newmark offered this advice for real estate users of his site:

Disclose who you are, including what firm you're with.

Don't keyword spam, which is including lots of keywords that are irrelevant.

Avoid posting individual listings more than every 48 hours - more frequent postings anger other users.

Don't post in the real-estate-by-owner category if you are a professional.

Foreclosures accounted for a third of all sales -- and sold at a nearly 30% discount -- during the first three months of 2010.

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 08:17:48 -0500

According to a new report from RealtyTrac, the marketer of foreclosed properties, 31% of all sales were foreclosures. And homebuyers purchasing those properties paid a whopping 27% less, on average, compared to sales of non-distressed homes. These foreclosure sales include properties sold in short sales or after a bank repossession, known as REOs in industry terms. It does not include transfers from borrowers to banks, as in a sheriff's auction. REOs, those homes already taken back from borrowers, commanded lower prices than short sales and other pre-foreclosures. The average REO sold for 34% less than conventional sales while pre-foreclosures averaged only 15% less. Part of the reason for the bigger price cut for REOs is that many of them come to the market in poor condition, their previous owners either unable to or unwilling to maintain them.

Elegant Homes branded Visual Tour Now Available

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:23:19 -0500

Did you know that we provide an Elegant Homes branded Visual Tour available through Market Advantage?
Through the power of our Visual Tour, your luxury listing will come to life. Choose the music, add photos and text and let the time-saving technology behind Market Advantage do the rest. You can stick out from the crowd and get your listing noticed through the help of this powerful tool. When finished, include this link on your personal Web site, or any site you choose, to help draw additional interest.

Click here to view an existing tour!

Hold an Open House on REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend- April 10th & 11th Promote the Tax Credit Before It Goes Away!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:29:41 -0600

Join real estate professionals across the nation as part of the REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend celebrated April 10 and 11 of this year. The National Association of REALTORS® encourages REALTORS® and real estate firms to participate in this campaign focused on increasing consumer awareness of the benefits of homeownership and drawing attention to the many opportunities available in today’s housing market.

The Nationwide Open House Weekend will enable sellers to showcase their homes for sale and potential homebuyers to shop for a home while interest rates are low, home prices are affordable and before the April 30 deadline for the federal homebuyer tax credit.

Complete promotional materials are available in Market Advantage in the tab titled "Tax Credit Promo-updated."

More Reasons to Buy before new FHA guidelines take effect

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:03:47 -0600

Starting in early summer, the Federal Housing Administration is tightening lending standards in an effort to bolster its dwindling reserves. The new lending standards will make it tougher for some prospective buyers to purchase a home by requiring a higher down payment than the typical 3.5 percent for some borrowers, higher insurance premiums and reduced seller concessions.

FHA-insured mortgages are attractive to borrowers because down payments are only 3.5 percent. Most conventional loans now require 20 percent down, keeping many creditworthy borrowers on the sidelines.

New Guidelines
The new rules -  which are temporary and take effect this summer - come after more than a year of stringent standards from lenders. Among them:

Better Credit Scores  -  New borrowers will have to have a minimum credit score of 580 to qualify for a 3.5 percent down payment. Previously, there was no minimum score. Those with lower scores will have to make at least a 10 percent down payment. The average credit score of FHA-insured borrowers is 693.

Higher Insurance Premiums -  Buyers who get an FHA-insured loan will soon have to pay a higher initial insurance premium. The new premium will be 2.25 percent of the value of the total loan amount, up from 1.75 percent now. A $100,000 mortgage would require a payment of $2,250, or $500 more. But buyers can roll the added cost into the loan amount.

Reduction in Seller Concessions  - Starting this summer, sellers will not be able to offer as much help to buyers to pay their closing costs. The maximum amount of assistance will drop to 3 percent of the value of the property, from the current 6 percent.

FHA removes anti-flipping rule
Another FHA rule change could help foreclosure-plagued markets like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami, Detroit and Los Angeles, making it easier for investors to "flip" houses to buyers who use FHA-insured loans.

Effective Feb. 1, the federal government will waive for one year an FHA anti-flipping rule that prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days.

The new rule lets investors buy today and re-sell as quickly as possible. The move is to allow REO homes purchased by investors to resell as quickly as possible, helping stabilize real estate prices and revitalize neighborhoods after the U.S. housing market collapse.

This new rule will open up a new pool of homes to buyers. Waiving the 90-day flip rule is being heralded by many real estate investors as a boon to their ability to buy, rehab and resell foreclosed homes on a more efficient time line.

NEW FHA Home Loan Rules for Condos

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:26:52 -0600

New rules from the Federal Housing Administration could make it easier to get FHA-backed home loans for condominiums. The rules, which went into effect yesterday, were written to address current market conditions and the glut of empty condominiums left following the real estate bust.

The biggest changes include reducing the number of units in a new condominium that must be owner-occupied, eliminating a rule that banned loans to condos with "right of first-refusal" language in association bylaws, increasing the number of units that can have FHA financing, and cutting the expensive requirement of having an attorney review condominium documents before a sale.

Rates on 30-year loans set record low

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:52:18 -0600

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 4.71 percent.

The rate, published Thursday by Freddie Mac, is the lowest since the mortgage finance company began tracking the data in 1971. The previous record of 4.78 percent was set during the week ending April 30 and matched last week.

Market Advantage Help Desk Update

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:05:29 -0600

Beginning December 1, 2009, the Market Advantage Help Desk will be supported by Real Living.
The Real Living Help Desk will provide all assistance for the Real Living Business Center as we transition to the new brand. The new phone number is 866-208-6050 and the email address is helpdesk@realliving.com. The new hours for the helpdesk are 9 am to 5 pm EST, Monday through Friday, and emergency help at helpdesk@realliving.com on weekends and evenings. The Real Living Help Desk staff of experts are dedicated to mastering new technology, identifying problem trends and personalizing technical support. The attached pdf has all the new helpdesk information and hours.

Updated Marketing Materials For $8,000 Tax Credit Now in Market Advantage!

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:41:33 -0600

For an overview of the new Tax Credit Materials, click here.

Housing Tax Credit Extension and Expansion Passed!

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 13:59:45 -0600

After a long week of negotiation on the credit, an agreement on the scope of both expansion and extension was reached and President Obama signed the bill on Friday, November 6.
The agreement on the extension and expansion of the credit is as follows:

Credit will be available for purchases before May 1, 2010. Prospective purchasers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction.
Credit remains at $8,000 for first-time buyers. No change to definition of first-time purchaser.
New $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010. Repeat buyers must have lived in their homes consecutively for five of the previous eight years.
Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return. Current law $20,000 phase-out retained.
New anti-fraud limitations are imposed.

Look for new marketing materials to be available in Market Advantage this week.

Housing Tax Credit Almost There!

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:29:01 -0600

The extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit is the pending business in the Senate. After a long week of negotiation on the credit, an agreement on the scope of both expansion and extension has been reached. The extension is part of a larger bill that has not yet gone to a vote, however.

A Senate vote on the underlying bill will occur in the Senate during the week of November 1. The package will then go back to the House. The House is expected to accept the Senate amendments, vote on the package and send it to the President for signature. The underlying bill is an extension of unemployment benefits.

Other provisions in the bill include expansion of the net operating loss carryback rules, new requirements for some tax return preparers and noncontroversial provisions that "pay for" these changes.

The agreement on the extension and expansion of the credit is as follows:

Credit will be available for purchases before May 1, 2010.
Prospective purchasers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction.
Credit remains at $8,000 for first-time buyers. No change to definition of first-time purchaser.
New $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010. Repeat buyers must have lived in their homes consecutively for five of the previous eight years.
Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return. Current law $20,000 phase-out retained.
New anti-fraud limitations are imposed.

The White House has indicated that President Obama will sign the legislation.

Look for new marketing materials to be available in Market Advantage as soon as possible once the legislation is passed.

Be a Social Networking Genius

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:32:12 -0500

We all know that Social Networking is here to stay. That's why we've added a new feature that allows you to add links to your Facebook®, Twitter®, LinkedIn® and YouTube® pages to every email you send from your account. Just look for the fields shown below in the My Profile section of your account and add your personal link.

View a sample

Holiday Cards for Print and E-greetings

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:58:24 -0500

Six new cards have been added just in time for the holiday season. Send your greetings via email through Market Advantage for a warm Thanksgiving, best wishes for the December holidays and New Year greetings. Or order postcards with your favorite message to be sent via direct mail. Market Advantage makes it easy and inexpensive to reach out and touch your entire database with the appropriate holiday message. Look for the holiday greetings in Marketing Materials > sphere communication > e-greetings.

Call Us Cards - Team Version of Call Me Cards

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:55:16 -0500

The popular Call Me cards are now available to promote your team to your farm areas. This quick and easy campaign is comprised of six cards that invite potential clients to call you and your team for answers to compelling real estate questions. The cards are also regular size postcards so they mail for the reduced postage charge. Look for the Call Me cards Team Version in Marketing Materials > Farm Prospecting > Call Me.

New Print Pricing Guide

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:38:07 -0500

A reminder that printing prices through Market Advantage are equal to or better than other similar programs and now with Shutterfly as our print partner: print quality can’t be beat!

Plan Your FINAL Marketing Push to promote the Federal Tax Credit!

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:25:59 -0500

The ability to utilize this $8,000 tax credit will not be available to would-be homeowners much longer. To receive the tax credit, a first-time buyer must purchase and close on a principal residence before Dec. 1, 2009. Since closing on a home generally takes anywhere from 45-60 days, that leaves prospective buyers a little more than a month to take advantage of the this financial opportunity. We are watching Congress to see if the tax credit will be extended or amended to include other buyers, however, there is no assurance that this will happen.

Comprehensive marketing campaigns are available through Market Advantage>Tax Credit Promo 2 and in GMACmembers.com>Market Advantage>2009 Tax Credit Promotion!

Easy Farming Campaign with Standard Size Postcards

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:34:33 -0500

The new Call Me! Campaign is designed to be a quick and easy call to action for your new farm or your sphere of influence. There are seven cards in the series and new cards will be added as market conditions warrant and to keep the campaign fresh. The cards have been designed as standard size postcards to mail at the postcard rate. They will print four-up if you choose to use your office printer. And, of course, they can also be emailed from Market Advantage.

The cards all have a simple question pertaining to real estate, for example, "Need more information about the $8,000 Tax Credit?", and a large graphic call to action, "CALL ME!".

Look for the Call Me Campaign in Farm Prospecting and also in Campaigns>Pre-Built.

Premier Service Farming Campaign and Consumer Flyer Sells Service and You!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:33:41 -0500

A fresh consumer handout focuses on the Premier Service system of delivering customer satisfaction. The material explains the advantages of your roles as Trusted Advisor, Skilled Negotiator and Expert Facilitator and the benefits to the consumer. Look for the Consumer Flyer in Premier Service>Consumer Brochure.

New Property Flyer and Just Listed Card Promote $8000 Tax Credit

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:44 -0500

A new property flyer and Just Listed card have been added to the inventory in Market Advantage. These pieces promote the $8000 Tax Credit by headlining "This property qualifies for the $8000 Tax Credit". The pieces are to support the great success brokers and agents are having by placing lawn signs that say "This Home Qualifies For $8000 Tax Credit". The signs generate a lot of interest and calls. These promotional pieces can add to your lead generating campaign.

If you are interested in buying the lawn signs promoting the Tax Credit, click here for our Partners In Marketing who are offering the product.

Estationary and Text Email Templates Now Available

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:04 -0500

Now, when sending a text email through Market Advantage you can dress up the email with GMAC Real Estate templates. When sending a single email through Contact Manager to individual contacts, look for the Estationary option. If you are sending an email to multiple contacts or groups, go to Text Email Templates and choose the design you prefer.

2009 NFL Schedules Are Available, order yours today!

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 10:28:36 -0500

New pro football schedules are available now in Market Advantage. The sports schedules are located in Sphere of Influence>Sports Schedules>Football 2009. They're an easy way to keep your name in front of your prospects and sphere of influence and because of their extended information period, they are perfect refrigerator or family bulletin board candidates!

First Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit Can Now Help Cover Closing Costs

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 08:50:54 -0500

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has announced that HUD will allow "monetization" of the tax credit. What does that mean?

It means that HUD will allow buyers to apply their anticipated tax credit toward their home purchase immediately rather than waiting until they file their 2009 income taxes to receive a refund. These funds may be used for certain downpayment and closing cost expenses.

Under the guidelines announced by HUD, non-profits and FHA-approved lenders will be allowed to give home buyers short-term loans of up to $8,000.

Approved FHA lenders will be able to purchase a home buyer’s anticipated tax credit to pay closing costs and downpayment costs above the 3.5% downpayment that is required for FHA-insured homes.

Read the HUD mortgagee letter (pdf) and an explanation of the FHA Mortgagee Letter on Tax Credit Monetization (pdf).

More than 2,000 Templates - NEW Market Advantage Site Map

Thu, 28 May 2009 10:30:53 -0500

There are 2,169 templates in the Market Advantage Marketing Materials section. With that many choices you would need a map to guide you to the template you want to use. Click here and download a new site map of the Marketing Materials Section. Now you can see what is listed under each heading and how many design choices are available to you. Exploring Market Advantage is easy and fun. And with a new map, you can start building your business faster than ever.

RealtyTrac database on foreclosure and distressed sales is now available.

Mon, 18 May 2009 11:46:49 -0500

RealtyTrac is the nation’s foremost authority on distressed property and a new Partner In Marketing with GMAC Real Estate. To access this valuable resource click here. We have negotiated a State Specific monthly cost of $19.95 or a Nation Wide Access cost of $39.95. The State Specific is not available to the public and Nation Wide Access is normally $59.95. First time homebuyers and investors alike want bargain properties and with RealtyTrac information you can help them find the best deal.

RealtyTrac resources are a valuable part of the campaigns added to Market Advantage this spring. The Distressed Property Promotion and Selling Yourself To Investors campaigns all can make use of RealtyTrac information to be more successful. To learn more about RealtyTrac and these campaigns, click here.

Postal Rates Are Increasing But Not In Market Advantage!

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:32:37 -0500

On May 11 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Prices for other mailing services - including Standard Mail will also change.

If you are planning a mailing and are going to process and send it yourself, order it before the end of the month to save yourself the hassle of returned mail or greater expense.

Market Advantage prices for 1st class mailings shipped directly to your clients will not increase, nor will the standard printing prices.

First Time homebuyer Credit is a HIT!

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:23:23 -0500

Preliminary numbers from the Internal Revenue Service suggest 1.4 million taxpayers will claim the federal first-time homebuyer tax credit on their 2008 tax returns, meaning the program is likely to meet or exceed the 2 million target set by lawmakers before it sunsets Nov. 30, 2009.

A report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, which looks at 56.9 million tax returns received through March 6, revealed that 567,685 households claimed the tax credit, but 38,158 weren't eligible because they may have been homeowners in the last three years.

If those trends hold up for all 140 million tax returns the IRS expects this year, about 1.4 million households will claim the first-time homebuyer tax credit, but about 94,000 of those will be disqualified because they are not first-time homebuyers. A first-time homebuyer is defined as anyone who hasn't had an ownership interest in a principal residence for three years, and income limits also apply.

IRS Form 5405 will allow qualifying buyers to claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns, so many people purchasing homes this year won't be claiming the credit until next year. The credit is equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, and is capped at $8,000 for homes purchased this year.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 raised the cap to $8,000 for homes purchased before Dec. 1 of this year, and eliminated the repayment requirement unless a home is resold within three years Congress allocated $13.6 billion for the program in the hopes of encouraging 2 million home purchases to stem the decline of housing markets. But there's no provision to end the program early if it exceeds those limits.

Now you can sync your Desktop Outlook Address Book and your Market Advantage Contact Manager

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:55:36 -0500

This software addition to your Outlook will automate what you used to have to do by downloading from Outlook and then uploading to Market Advantage.

Adding this feature is as easy as clicking on the software download available at gmacmembers.com and following the easy on-screen instructions.
The installation only takes minutes and will save you hours. Step by step instructions are available at gmacmembers.com > Market Advantage.

Click here to get started. At present, only contact sync is available. We will add calendar and note sync functions in the near future.

New Survey Says Many First-Timers Are Ready To Buy!

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:38:41 -0500

More than three-quarters (78 percent) of potential first-time homebuyers say that now is a good time to buy a home, despite widespread concern about the economy, according to a First-time Homebuyer Survey. Out of the 1,000 prospective U.S. first-time homebuyers surveyed in early March, 68 percent think now is a better time to buy than six months ago. Only people who said they were likely to buy a first home in the next two years were included in the survey, with about one in four saying they planned to purchase in the next six months.

Prices are the driving motivation for potential first-time homebuyers with more than eight of ten first-time home buyers (85 percent) saying they consider current home prices affordable and 73 percent citing that taking advantage of current prices is a major factor in their decision to buy. Interestingly, potential first-time buyers are still split between "being willing to consider an offer now" (42 percent) and "waiting for prices to go down before they seriously consider making a purchase" (48 percent).

But nearly half don't know about the $8,000 tax credit available to first-time homebuyers through the end of November, and three in four say it's hard to get a loan. Whether they'd heard about the credit or not before being surveyed, 77 percent said it would make them more likely to buy a home in the next six months.

While 42 percent of those surveyed said they'd be comfortable buying a home in the current market, 48 percent said they are waiting for prices to go down further.

Among renters, 91 percent said they would be likely to buy a home in the next six months if they found an acceptable home with monthly mortgage payments within $250 of their current rent.

About 85 percent of all of those surveyed said they consider current home prices to be affordable, and 68 percent think now is a better time to buy than six months ago.

Among those looking to buy in the next six months, 69 percent said they were worried about home prices rising if they didn't act soon.

What’s it all mean? It means that if you can reach potential first-time homebuyers with information about the Tax Credit, about half of them are ready to purchase within the next six months!

Start using the Tax Credit promotion available in Market Advantage today to build your business tomorrow!

Dominate Your Marketplace This Spring

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:26:22 -0500

You can dominate the Spring Market in your area with new campaigns available in Market Advantage and GMACmembers.com

First-time homebuyers were 50% of the market in 2008 and will continue to be the dominate force in the marketplace this Spring and Summer. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes a first-time homebuyer's forgivable and refundable tax credit worth up to $8,000. We have created NEW First-Time Homebuyers campaigns to promote the new credit and generate leads for you.

The NEW campaigns are similar to the programs rolled out last October: a direct-mail lead generation campaign (4 postcards), a sphere of influence referral campaign (2 postcards) and a public seminar campaign (5 postcards). Step by step "how to" guides help you successfully implement the campaigns and collateral materials such as flyers, posters, newspaper ads and PowerPoint presentations are also available. Go to GMACmembers.com> Market Advantage> 2009 Tax Credit Promotion for access to these campaigns and collateral materials.

The next largest market segment is investors, driving approximately 40% of the market. Coupling this information with the fact that distressed property now makes up 50% or more of the inventory in many markets, we have developed Distressed Property Promotion Campaigns for each of this target and for First Time Homebuyers.

These Distressed Property Suites can help you "close" the deal with the property owner looking for a short sale or a bank or other institution REO. These suites are marketing programs designed to sell distressed property as fast as possible; the primary need of the title holder. Step by step "how to" guides help you successfully implement the programs and collateral materials such as newspaper ads are also available. Go to GMACmembers.com> Market Advantage> Distressed Property Promotion to learn more.

These new programs can help make your Spring Market really bloom!

California Homebuyers May Get State and Federal Tax Credit BONUS!

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 14:43:19 -0600

Sacramento Bee: Date Clarified For $10,000 Tax Credit Eligibility By Jim Wasserman

A $10,000 state tax credit for new-home buyers in California will begin for people who close escrow on or after March 1, the California Franchise Tax Board announced Tuesday."The date sold is the date of the close of escrow," said FTB spokeswoman Brenda Voet.

The announcement cleared up days of confusion among builders and people in varying stages of buying about eligibility for the tax credit. It wasn't initially clear whether it would be defined by the close of escrow or the date of signing the sales contract.

Among those happy to hear it defined as close of escrow were homebuyers Cristi and Peter Guglielmoni of Vacaville. Though the couple were scheduled to close escrow today, Arizona-based home builder Meritage Homes agreed to extend escrow to March 1 to make them eligible for the tax credit, said Cristi Guglielmoni. "I think it's fantastic," she said. "It makes a big difference."

Voet said the state agency will post tax credit details and procedures by Friday at a special section of its Web site,http://www.ftb.ca.gov.

"That will contain a purchase certificate for the sellers to use and download by the end of the week," said Voet. "There will be instructions on how to submit it, and procedures on how we will acknowledge it," she said. The site will also precisely define eligibility.

State lawmakers passed the tax credit as part of budget negotiations to close a $40 billion deficit and win the vote of Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield. The $100 million tax credit allocation could accommodate up to 10,000 home purchases and is on a first-come, first-served basis, Voet said.

The tax credit gives buyers who close escrow on or after March 1 and up to March 1, 2010, up to $3,333 off their taxes for each of the first three years after buying. First-time and move-up buyers alike are eligible and there are no income limits.

First-time buyer Scott Rhodes of Redondo Beach is to close escrow March 2 on a new home in Rancho Cucamonga and will score big.

Along with the $10,000 state credit for new homes, he is also eligible for a new $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time buyers. "The federal and state (credits) came in one-two punches," said Rhodes.

Have you tried the Multi-Photo Upload tool yet?

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:37:08 -0600

The next time you create a property flyer in your account, you will notice a slight change in the interface. To make things easier on you we've added the ability to upload large numbers of images at the same time.

Loading a folder full of images for a property now takes less than half the time you're used to. You will see a + sign that allows you to continue to browse and add photos to upload all at once.

NEW $8,000 First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit - Promo Materials Update!

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:29:31 -0600

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by President Obama on February 17, creates a new opportunity to get first-time homebuyers into the market. This Act offers a tax credit of $8,000 to qualifying first-time homebuyers and it does not have to be repaid, providing the buyer remains in the property for three years.

We are in the process of updating all of the materials in the Tax Credit Promotion. As of February 19, all materials in GMACMembers.com are current with the new tax credit. In Market Advantage, the postcards in the Direct Mail Lead Generation and Seminar Lead Generation campaigns are up-to-date. All other materials (SOI cards, posters, newspaper ads, etc.) will be updated the week of February 24.

This offer by the government is only available through Nov. 30, 2009. We need to promote this offer to First-Time Homebuyers starting NOW!

Marketing In Motion URL Too Long?!

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:19:11 -0600

We have been told that many mls sites cannot accept the Marketing In Motion url because it is too long.
Unfortunately, we cannot reduce the Marketing in Motion url, but you can!
Create your Marketing In Motion slideshow as usual and copy the url as you normally would. Now, go to TinyURL.com.

At this site, follow the instructions by pasting the Marketing In Motion url in the space provided and click Make TinyURL. Now, place this url into your mls listing.

Fannie Eases Its Investor Loan Rules

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:19:27 -0600

To speed recovery of the housing market, Fannie Mae in March will begin purchasing and guaranteeing mortgages for borrowers carrying loans on as many as nine other properties, up from the current limit of three.
However, the number of months of reserve payments that must be held by investors will rise to six in June from two currently.

Get Ready for the Spring Market

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 13:56:13 -0600

This spring our markets will be driven by first-time homebuyers and investors. The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Campaign in Market Advantage and GMACmembers.com is still available to you. However, the Tax Credit is part of the Economic Stimulus Bill currently working its way through Congress and it will, in all likelihood, change when the bill is enacted. We are closely monitoring the Bill and will update the campaign with the new Tax Credit information when it is finalized.

An Investors Campaign will be rolled out in time for the Spring Market. The campaign will include direct mail postcards, email, seminar, and support materials similar to the comprehensive Tax Credit promotion. Step-by-step instructions to successfully complete the campaign will be included.

To support the Investors Campaign, we will introduce a new Partner In Marketing that can assist you with all aspects of distressed property. Our new partner will offer training on short sales, REO’s and foreclosure along with the ability to promote and research distressed properties nationwide.

Watch for announcements as we approach Spring Market.

Marketing Showcase

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 13:50:00 -0600

For great ideas that are working in the field for other members of the network, go to Marketing Showcase at gmacmembers.com. And if you have a great idea, send it in so that others can learn from your success. We’re all in this together!

New Items Coming to Market Advantage

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:42:04 -0600

Have you checked out Market Advantage lately?
We're always adding new marketing materials. Recently added items include: urban property promotion flyers, postcards and e-mails, and a farming campaign that focuses on ways to help the environment. Click here to view a list of all recently added and coming soon items.

New Print Prices - Higher Quality

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:55:28 -0600

Market Advantage has a print partner with higher quality paper and print capabilities. Print prices were going to go up anyway, so we thought it only prudent to get the most for your money. Download the new print prices rate sheet.

New Help Desk Phone Number

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:54:49 -0600

The Help Desk at Market Advantage has a new phone number: toll free 866-656-6536. This goes into effect immediately. The service has not changed, we’re just at a new number.

HUD ANNOUNCES NEW, PERMANENT FHA MORTGAGE LOAN LIMITS

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:38:31 -0600

New limits range from $271,050 to $625,500

This is important for you to know as the credit crisis restricts access to home loans. These FHA guaranteed loans can enable your first time homebuyers to afford to buy with as little as 3.5% down (effective 1/1/09). Combining this with the First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit can drive first-time homebuyers to your door.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston today announced the new Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loan limits for single-family homes as prescribed by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Beginning January 1, 2009, FHA will insure single-family home mortgages up to $271,050 in low cost areas and up to a maximum of $625,500 in high cost areas. The February 2008 Stimulus Package temporarily raised the FHA maximum to $729,750 through December 31, 2008. The new $625,500 maximum, however, represents a significant increase over the $362,790 limit that was in effect prior to the Stimulus Package.

"In today's environment where access to credit is being restricted, we need to make mortgage loans readily available to households throughout the country, and especially in high-cost areas," said Preston. "These new loan limits will ensure FHA can continue to help struggling homeowners refinance into safe, affordable government-insured loans, and allow many first-time buyers take advantage of today's buyers market"

FHA mortgage insurance makes home financing more available to low-income and first time homebuyers. This is because the mortgage is backed by the full faith and credit of the government, freeing lenders from assuming the risk of default.

Higher FHA loan limits do not cost the government any money because the FHA Insurance Fund is fully supported by premiums paid by borrowers who receive FHA-insured mortgage loans.

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act pegs the national conforming mortgage loan limit to a house price index chosen by the new Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). For 2009, the national conforming limit will remain at the current level of $417,000.

The Act says that the new FHA loan limits will be set at 115 percent of the median house price in a given area, as determined by HUD, but can not be lower than 65 percent of the conforming loan limit (the national floor). Also, the FHA mortgage limit cannot exceed 150 percent of the national conforming loan limit (the national ceiling).

Basketball schedules for your favorite professional team are now available in Market Advantage

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 07:18:49 -0600

New Campaigns & Designs Now In Market Advantage

craig_white@gmachs.com — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:22:58 -0500

The following new materials have just been added to Market Advantage:

12 Property Flyers
7 Just Listed Cards
7 Just Sold Cards
7 Open House Invitations
4 Price Reduced Cards
1 Sphere of Influence Campaign Series
20 Greeting Cards

Market Advantage continues to grow every day with new materials and timely marketing ideas. Keep sending your feedback and suggestions to info@gmacmarketadvantage.com.