Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/145179236?client_source=feed&format=rss
j. cole joe namath austin weather sacramento kings lisa vanderpump pef pef
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Senate moves toward final vote on China currency (AP)
WASHINGTON ? The Senate on Thursday moved toward a final vote on legislation that would confront China over its practice of keeping its exports cheap by undervaluing the Chinese currency.
The bill is intended to impose enough trade penalties against China to offset the economic advantage China gains from keeping the yuan below market values. Supporters say that will make American producers more competitive and put Americans back to work.
The measure cleared an important procedural vote Thursday, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he wanted a vote on passage either late Thursday or Friday.
The White House has raised concerns about taking unilateral action against the Chinese and multinational corporations that do business in China widely oppose the plan, fearing it could lead to a trade war.
President Barack Obama said a news conference Thursday that it was "indisputable" that the Chinese "intervene heavily in the currency markets." He said China "has been very aggressive in gaming the trading system to its advantage and particularly to the disadvantage of the United States."
He said the Senate bill was an effort to get at these practices, but he stressed that whatever tools are put in place must adhere to international treaties and obligations.
But the legislation has bipartisan backing from senators responding to popular resentment to the way China has come to dominate U.S. markets and drive American manufacturers out of business.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., cited estimates that China has cost the U.S. some 2 million manufacturing jobs in the past decade, and that the 30 percent advantage Chinese producers have because of the undervalued currency could prove devastating as China prepares to enter world markets in commercial aircraft and automobiles.
"We cannot continue to let China flaunt the rules," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. If action isn't taken, "we may never recover as a country. This is serious stuff."
Economists agree that the yuan is undervalued by 25 percent to 30 percent against the dollar; some put it as high as 40 percent. The result is that Chinese goods are increasingly cheaper in the United States and U.S. products more expensive in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement this week that the bill violated World Trade Organization rules "and seriously disturbed China-U.S. trade and economic relations."
The measure would set up a process of imposing higher tariffs when a country's currency is misaligned so as to subsidize exports.
U.S. businesses are concerned the bill would case the Chinese to retaliate.
"Unilateral action by the United States will only serve to increase trade tensions and negatively impact the U.S. economic recovery during this fragile period in the global economy," Bruce Josten of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote senators Wednesday.
Schumer responded that "to those who say we are in a trade war, we are in a trade war. We have our clocks cleaned every day and lose jobs every day because of unfair Chinese practices."
He noted that the trade deficit with China has gone from $10 billion 20 years ago to $273 billion last year.
The vote Thursday to advance the bill was 62-38. On Monday the Senate voted 79-19 to bring the bill to the floor. Thursday's narrower margin reflected a dispute between the two parties over what amendments will be allowed.
The legislation faces an uncertain future even if it did pass the Senate.
Supporters of a parallel House bill say they have 225 sponsors, a majority of the House, but Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has voiced his opposition and it is unclear if he would allow it to be brought up for a vote.
That would be convenient for the Obama White House, which has avoided going on record against the bill and generally has opted for negotiating with the Chinese rather than hitting them with unilateral penalties.
White House press secretary Jay Carney this week said aspects of the bill raised concerns "about consistency with our international obligations."
boston globe sam cooke pizza hut pizza hut fantasy football rankings tropical storm tropical storm
Friday, October 7, 2011
Israeli wins chemistry Nobel for quasicrystals
Israeli scientist Daniel Shechtman poses for photographers during a news conference at the Haifa Technion, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Shechtman won the 2011 Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for his discovery of quasicrystals, a mosaic-like chemical structure that researchers previously thought was impossible. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli scientist Daniel Shechtman poses for photographers during a news conference at the Haifa Technion, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Shechtman won the 2011 Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for his discovery of quasicrystals, a mosaic-like chemical structure that researchers previously thought was impossible. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli scientist Daniel Shechtman poses for photographers during a news conference at the Haifa Technion, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Shechtman won the 2011 Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for his discovery of quasicrystals, a mosaic-like chemical structure that researchers previously thought was impossible. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli scientist Daniel Shechtman, right, addresses the media during a news conference at the Haifa Technion, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Shechtman won the 2011 Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for his discovery of quasicrystals, a mosaic-like chemical structure that researchers previously thought was impossible. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
STOCKHOLM (AP) ? Israeli scientist Dan Shechtman was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for a discovery that faced skepticism and mockery, even prompting his expulsion from his research team, before it won widespread acceptance as a fundamental breakthrough.
While doing research in the U.S. in 1982, Shechtman discovered a new chemical structure ? quasicrystals ? that researchers previously thought was impossible.
He was studying a mix of aluminum and manganese in an electron microscope when he found the atoms were arranged in a pattern ? similar to one in some traditional Islamic mosaics ? that never repeated itself and appeared contrary to the laws of nature.
He concluded that science was wrong ? but it would take years for him and other researchers to prove that he was right.
Since then, quasicrystals have been produced in laboratories and a Swedish company found them in one of the most durable kinds of steel, which is now used in products such as razor blades and thin needles made specifically for eye surgery, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Quasicrystals are also being studied for use in new materials that convert heat to electricity. They were first discovered in nature in Russia in 2009.
Despite the initial reluctance in the scientific community to accept his discovery, it "fundamentally altered how chemists conceive of solid matter," the academy said in its citation for the 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) award.
"It feels wonderful," Shechtman, a 70-year-old distinguished professor at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, told The Associated Press after receiving news of the prize.
Shechtman, who also is professor of materials science and engineering at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, will receive the award along with the other Nobel Prize winners at a Dec. 10 ceremony in Stockholm.
Israeli President Shimon Peres, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize as Israel's foreign minister in 1994, congratulated Shechtman and said he was the 10th Israeli to win a Nobel.
"I would like to salute you and tell you how proud we are of you and what a present you have given us today," he told Shechtman in a conversation broadcast live on TV.
In chemical terms, a crystal is traditionally defined as a regular and repeating arrangement of atoms within a material. A quasicrystal presents a pattern that scientists had thought was impossible. The pattern of atoms within a material influences the material's physical properties.
"His battle eventually forced scientists to reconsider their conception of the very nature of matter," the academy said.
Nancy B. Jackson, president of the American Chemical Society called Shechtman's discovery "one of these great scientific discoveries that go against the rules." When Shechtman announced it, other experts hesitated.
"People didn't think that this kind of crystal existed," she said. "They thought it was against the rules of nature."
Only later did some scientists go back to some of their own inexplicable findings and realized they had seen quasicrystals but not realized what they had, Jackson said.
Staffan Normark, permanent secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy said Shechtman's discovery was one of the few Nobel Prize-winning achievements that can be dated to a single day.
Crystallographers always believed that all crystals have rotational symmetry, so that when they are rotated, they look the same. On April 8, 1982, while on a sabbatical at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards and Technology in Washington, D.C., Shechtman first observed crystals with 10 points ? pentagonal symmetry, which most scientists said was impossible.
"I told everyone who was ready to listen that I had material with pentagonal symmetry. People just laughed at me," Shechtman said in a description of his work released by his university.
For months he tried to persuade his colleagues of his find, but they refused to accept it. Finally he was asked to leave his research group, and moved to another one within the institute.
Shechtman returned to Israel, where he found one colleague prepared to work with him on an article describing the phenomenon. The article was at first rejected, but finally published in November 1984 ? to uproar in the scientific world. Double Nobel winner Linus Pauling was among those who never accepted the findings.
"He would stand on those platforms and declare, 'Danny Shechtman is talking nonsense. There is no such thing as quasicrystals, only quasi-scientists.'" Shechtman said.
In 1987, friends of Shechtman in France and Japan succeeded in growing crystals large enough for x-rays to repeat and verify what he had discovered with the electron microscope.
"It borders on art," academy member Sara Snogerup Linse said of the quasicrystal patterns. "Humans have created similar patterns in macroscopic scale with the help of ceramic tiles, quilts, etc. But what was new was that it was found also in the world of molecules and atoms."
Cesar Pay Gomez, a structural chemistry expert at Uppsala University in Sweden and an adviser to the prize committee, said research on quasicrystals is ongoing "in the field of thermal-electric applications, where waste heat can be converted to electrical currents or energy."
The Nobel Prize in chemistry announcement capped this year's science awards.
Immune system researchers Bruce Beutler of the U.S. and Frenchman Jules Hoffmann shared the medicine prize Monday with Canadian-born Ralph Steinman, who died three days before the announcement. U.S.-born scientists Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt and Adam Riess won the physics prize on Tuesday for discovering that the universe is expanding at an accelerating pace.
The Nobel Prizes are handed out every year on Dec. 10, the anniversary of award founder Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.
___
Associated Press writers Louise Nordstrom in Stockholm, Malcolm Ritter in New York and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
___
Follow Karl Ritter at www.twitter.com/karl(underscore)ritter
Associated Pressmarques colston dez bryant listeria listeria kendall hunter courtney stodden alabama football
Huntsville Real Estate | Does The Brokerage Matter When ...
Huntsville Real Estate | Does The Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose A Real Estate Agent?
Does the brokerage matter when choosing a Real Estate agent Apparently not, at least not to 97% of the people who chose to work with a Real Estate agent for other reasons in a recent study.
The NAR (National Association of Realtors) last year released a study that stated that less than 3% of agents were chosen by their affiliation to a particular brokerage. That is a surprising number that may seem hard to believe, to some. Especially in light of the fact that you see the massive brokerages continuing to grow, which tells me, at the very least, that they have done a very good job of convincing their prospective agents that there is a strong value proposition associated with their brand. They have effectively ?sold? this value, despite the fact that the buying public apparently does not agree.
Even Keller Williams, the 3rd largest Real Estate brokerage in the country agrees with my proposition. In an (undated) white paper they accept and agree with the notion that given the choice of 2 equal real estate agents, the prospective client (97% of the time) chooses his agent based on other mitigating factors, and not brand recognition.
I have always held this proposition and have seen it repeated constantly. People choose their agents because they like the agent. Because the agent has similar values, a strong work-ethic, is trustworthy and responsive. Because the agent listens to the potential client during the interview process and responds in-kind with thoughtful answers to questions and concerns. To put it simply, they choose an agent because the agent lives and breathes customer service. Isn?t that what this is all about? Being focused on the customer and not treating them like a means to an end or simply as a number.
I have heard of agents that use their client interviews as an opportunity to brag of their individual accomplishments and tout their strong numbers from years past. But to me, the more important issue is how you are going to help that customer sell their house or find the right house, and not how much Real Estate your ?team? sold last year.
I may sell fewer homes than some of the people who I compete against and I may not have the 30+ years of experience that some of them have. But I can promise I will work for you to the end and ensure that no stone is unturned when it comes to searching for homes or buyers. Experience can be important, but so can being a student of your trade. Laws change rapidly, procedures are changing at an increasing pace, technology is running laps around the ?old-standard? Real Estate magazines and allowing more people to see your home without ever stepping foot in your home, or ever leaving their house for that matter.
This evolution is something that every agent has to be aware of. Many people who were once spectacular in a position have seen the job outgrow them because they were too rigid and unwilling to change.
And I submit to you the proposition that the brokerage can matter, but it will have to be a game-changer. The common practice of accepting any agent with a pulse is not the way to do business. There are over 2,500 Real Estate agents in the Huntsville area and that is a staggering number for a city of this size. We all know people who have Real Estate licenses that have never sold a home, or simply sell when the opportunity arises. I chose Real Estate as my fulltime profession of choice, because I love all aspects of the business and am truly energized at the opportunity to help my clients achieve their goals. Be that selling a home or finding the right home at the right price in the right area for them. This is what can separate a brokerage from the rest, a focus on choosing the right agents. And this is the difference in the Mega-brokerage, steadfast in their ways, and the smaller brokerages with desire and direction.
This job is all about customer service and that is something that successful agents pride themselves in.
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Level 10 Realty
brand is one that meshes well with classic homes, executive homes & more standard real estate as well. My branding is cohesive and gets noticed. If you think your home deserves a ?For Sale? sign that is more unique than the common, run-of-the-mill sign, then we should talk.
My sole mission is to help you sell your home in the quickest amount of time for the most money, or to help you find the home that you desire in the shortest period of time and help you get the best deal that you can.
? A Marketing Executive/Communications Director for a Marketing Firm
? 12 years of Sales Experience including countless awards
? Member of the National Association of Realtors
? Member of the Huntsville Board of Realtors
Article Source:
Did you find this article helpful?00
About the Author:
0){parent.location.href = self.document.location;}]]>
Home
? Real Estate
? Agents Realtors
Ads By Google?);for(i=0;i
?);}]]>]]>Nicole Arsenault
Basic PLUSAuthor|9 Articles
Joined: August 27, 2009
?;for(i = 0; i = google_ads.length) { break; }s0 += ? + ?? + google_ads[i].line1 + ? ? + ?? + google_ads[i].visible_url + ? ? + ?? + google_ads[i].line2 + ? ? + google_ads[i].line3 + ?? +?
?;}s0 = ? + s0 + ?
?; if(document.getElementById(?ad-3?)) { document.getElementById(?ad-3?).innerHTML = s0;}}if(google_ads.length > 3) { var s1 = ?;s1 += ?Ads by Google
?;for(i = 3; i = google_ads.length) { break; }s1 += ? + ?? + google_ads[i].line1 + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].visible_url + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].line2 + ? ? + google_ads[i].line3 + ?? +?
?;}s1 = ? + s1 + ?
?; if(document.getElementById(?ad-4?)) { document.getElementById(?ad-4?).innerHTML = s1;}} }]]>]]>
ByNicole Arsenault
|
Does the brokerage matter when choosing a Real Estate agent Apparently not, at least not to 97% of the people who chose to work with a Real Estate agent for other reasons in a recent study.
The NAR (National Association of Realtors) last year released a study that stated that less than 3% of agents were chosen by their affiliation to a particular brokerage. That is a surprising number that may seem hard to believe, to some. Especially in light of the fact that you see the massive brokerages continuing to grow, which tells me, at the very least, that they have done a very good job of convincing their prospective agents that there is a strong value proposition associated with their brand. They have effectively ?sold? this value, despite the fact that the buying public apparently does not agree.
Even Keller Williams, the 3rd largest Real Estate brokerage in the country agrees with my proposition. In an (undated) white paper they accept and agree with the notion that given the choice of 2 equal real estate agents, the prospective client (97% of the time) chooses his agent based on other mitigating factors, and not brand recognition.
I have always held this proposition and have seen it repeated constantly. People choose their agents because they like the agent. Because the agent has similar values, a strong work-ethic, is trustworthy and responsive. Because the agent listens to the potential client during the interview process and responds in-kind with thoughtful answers to questions and concerns. To put it simply, they choose an agent because the agent lives and breathes customer service. Isn?t that what this is all about? Being focused on the customer and not treating them like a means to an end or simply as a number.
I have heard of agents that use their client interviews as an opportunity to brag of their individual accomplishments and tout their strong numbers from years past. But to me, the more important issue is how you are going to help that customer sell their house or find the right house, and not how much Real Estate your ?team? sold last year.
I may sell fewer homes than some of the people who I compete against and I may not have the 30+ years of experience that some of them have. But I can promise I will work for you to the end and ensure that no stone is unturned when it comes to searching for homes or buyers. Experience can be important, but so can being a student of your trade. Laws change rapidly, procedures are changing at an increasing pace, technology is running laps around the ?old-standard? Real Estate magazines and allowing more people to see your home without ever stepping foot in your home, or ever leaving their house for that matter.
This evolution is something that every agent has to be aware of. Many people who were once spectacular in a position have seen the job outgrow them because they were too rigid and unwilling to change.
And I submit to you the proposition that the brokerage can matter, but it will have to be a game-changer. The common practice of accepting any agent with a pulse is not the way to do business. There are over 2,500 Real Estate agents in the Huntsville area and that is a staggering number for a city of this size. We all know people who have Real Estate licenses that have never sold a home, or simply sell when the opportunity arises. I chose Real Estate as my fulltime profession of choice, because I love all aspects of the business and am truly energized at the opportunity to help my clients achieve their goals. Be that selling a home or finding the right home at the right price in the right area for them. This is what can separate a brokerage from the rest, a focus on choosing the right agents. And this is the difference in the Mega-brokerage, steadfast in their ways, and the smaller brokerages with desire and direction.
This job is all about customer service and that is something that successful agents pride themselves in.
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Level 10 Realty
http://www.NicoleSellsRE.com
My brand is one that meshes well with classic homes, executive homes & more standard real estate as well. My branding is cohesive and gets noticed. If you think your home deserves a ?For Sale? sign that is more unique than the common, run-of-the-mill sign, then we should talk.
My sole mission is to help you sell your home in the quickest amount of time for the most money, or to help you find the home that you desire in the shortest period of time and help you get the best deal that you can.
? A Marketing Executive/Communications Director for a Marketing Firm
? 12 years of Sales Experience including countless awards
? Member of the National Association of Realtors
? Member of the Huntsville Board of Realtors
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Arsenault
Did you find this article helpful?00
?;for(i = 0; i ? + google_ads[i].line1 + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].visible_url + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].line2 + ? ? + google_ads[i].line3 + ?? + ?
?;} document.write(? + s + ?
?); return;}google_ad_client = ?pub-3754405753000444?;//EA-Real Estate 160google_ad_channel = ?2012143359?;google_ad_output = ?js?;google_max_num_ads = ?7?;google_ad_type = ?text?;google_feedback = ?on?;google_hints = ?agent real estate agents because people home brokerage?;google_ad_region = ?test?;// ?>]]>Get Involved
Subscribe to New Article Alerts:
Agents Realtors Article Feed
Ads By Google?);for(i=0;i ?);}]]>]]>Find More Articles
Ads By Google?);for(i=0;i ?);}]]>]]>Ads by Google ?;s += ? ?);return;}google_ad_client = ?pub-3754405753000444?;//2008-03-18: EA- ROS google_ad_channel = ?1904239528?;google_ad_output = ?js?;google_ad_type = ?image?;google_image_size = ?300?250?;google_feedback = ?on?;google_hints = ?does brokerage matter consumers real estate agent, real estate,real estate brokerage,real estate agent,keller williams?;google_ad_region = ?test?;// ?>]]> ? 2011 EzineArticles.com Click here to view rest of article from original site Tags: real estate, real estate agent, real estate brokerage Linux s1.agrohost.com 2.6.18-164.11.1.el5.028stab068.5 #1 SMP Mon Mar 15 19:26:36 MSK 2010 x86_64Similar Articles
Recent Articles
?; document.write(?+s+?
Arsenault, Nicole, and Nicole Emerson.?Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?.?Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?.26 Jan. 2011EzineArticles.com.5 Oct. 2011 http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-?the-?Brokerage-?Matter-?When-?Consumers-?Choose-?a-?Real-?Estate-?Agent?&id=5801751>.
Arsenault, N., & Emerson, N. (2011, January 26). Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?. Retrieved October 5, 2011, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-?the-?Brokerage-?Matter-?When-?Consumers-?Choose-?a-?Real-?Estate-?Agent?&id=5801751
Arsenault, Nicole, and Nicole Emerson. ?Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?.? Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-?the-?Brokerage-?Matter-?When-?Consumers-?Choose-?a-?Real-?Estate-?Agent?&id=5801751EzineArticles.com
All Rights Reserved WorldwideAuthors
Publishers
Follow Us
Huntsville Real Estate | Does The Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose A Real Estate Agent?
Does the brokerage matter when choosing a Real Estate agent Apparently not, at least not to 97% of the people who chose to work with a Real Estate agent for other reasons in a recent study.
The NAR (National Association of Realtors) last year released a study that stated that less than 3% of agents were chosen by their affiliation to a particular brokerage. That is a surprising number that may seem hard to believe, to some. Especially in light of the fact that you see the massive brokerages continuing to grow, which tells me, at the very least, that they have done a very good job of convincing their prospective agents that there is a strong value proposition associated with their brand. They have effectively ?sold? this value, despite the fact that the buying public apparently does not agree.
Even Keller Williams, the 3rd largest Real Estate brokerage in the country agrees with my proposition. In an (undated) white paper they accept and agree with the notion that given the choice of 2 equal real estate agents, the prospective client (97% of the time) chooses his agent based on other mitigating factors, and not brand recognition.
I have always held this proposition and have seen it repeated constantly. People choose their agents because they like the agent. Because the agent has similar values, a strong work-ethic, is trustworthy and responsive. Because the agent listens to the potential client during the interview process and responds in-kind with thoughtful answers to questions and concerns. To put it simply, they choose an agent because the agent lives and breathes customer service. Isn?t that what this is all about? Being focused on the customer and not treating them like a means to an end or simply as a number.
I have heard of agents that use their client interviews as an opportunity to brag of their individual accomplishments and tout their strong numbers from years past. But to me, the more important issue is how you are going to help that customer sell their house or find the right house, and not how much Real Estate your ?team? sold last year.
I may sell fewer homes than some of the people who I compete against and I may not have the 30+ years of experience that some of them have. But I can promise I will work for you to the end and ensure that no stone is unturned when it comes to searching for homes or buyers. Experience can be important, but so can being a student of your trade. Laws change rapidly, procedures are changing at an increasing pace, technology is running laps around the ?old-standard? Real Estate magazines and allowing more people to see your home without ever stepping foot in your home, or ever leaving their house for that matter.
This evolution is something that every agent has to be aware of. Many people who were once spectacular in a position have seen the job outgrow them because they were too rigid and unwilling to change.
And I submit to you the proposition that the brokerage can matter, but it will have to be a game-changer. The common practice of accepting any agent with a pulse is not the way to do business. There are over 2,500 Real Estate agents in the Huntsville area and that is a staggering number for a city of this size. We all know people who have Real Estate licenses that have never sold a home, or simply sell when the opportunity arises. I chose Real Estate as my fulltime profession of choice, because I love all aspects of the business and am truly energized at the opportunity to help my clients achieve their goals. Be that selling a home or finding the right home at the right price in the right area for them. This is what can separate a brokerage from the rest, a focus on choosing the right agents. And this is the difference in the Mega-brokerage, steadfast in their ways, and the smaller brokerages with desire and direction.
This job is all about customer service and that is something that successful agents pride themselves in.
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Level 10 Realty
brand is one that meshes well with classic homes, executive homes & more standard real estate as well. My branding is cohesive and gets noticed. If you think your home deserves a ?For Sale? sign that is more unique than the common, run-of-the-mill sign, then we should talk.
My sole mission is to help you sell your home in the quickest amount of time for the most money, or to help you find the home that you desire in the shortest period of time and help you get the best deal that you can.
? A Marketing Executive/Communications Director for a Marketing Firm
? 12 years of Sales Experience including countless awards
? Member of the National Association of Realtors
? Member of the Huntsville Board of Realtors
Article Source:
Did you find this article helpful?00
About the Author:
0){parent.location.href = self.document.location;}]]>
Home
? Real Estate
? Agents Realtors
Ads By Google?);for(i=0;i
?);}]]>]]>Nicole Arsenault
Basic PLUSAuthor|9 Articles
Joined: August 27, 2009
?;for(i = 0; i = google_ads.length) { break; }s0 += ? + ?? + google_ads[i].line1 + ? ? + ?? + google_ads[i].visible_url + ? ? + ?? + google_ads[i].line2 + ? ? + google_ads[i].line3 + ?? +?
?;}s0 = ? + s0 + ?
?; if(document.getElementById(?ad-3?)) { document.getElementById(?ad-3?).innerHTML = s0;}}if(google_ads.length > 3) { var s1 = ?;s1 += ?Ads by Google
?;for(i = 3; i = google_ads.length) { break; }s1 += ? + ?? + google_ads[i].line1 + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].visible_url + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].line2 + ? ? + google_ads[i].line3 + ?? +?
?;}s1 = ? + s1 + ?
?; if(document.getElementById(?ad-4?)) { document.getElementById(?ad-4?).innerHTML = s1;}} }]]>]]>
ByNicole Arsenault
|
Does the brokerage matter when choosing a Real Estate agent Apparently not, at least not to 97% of the people who chose to work with a Real Estate agent for other reasons in a recent study.
The NAR (National Association of Realtors) last year released a study that stated that less than 3% of agents were chosen by their affiliation to a particular brokerage. That is a surprising number that may seem hard to believe, to some. Especially in light of the fact that you see the massive brokerages continuing to grow, which tells me, at the very least, that they have done a very good job of convincing their prospective agents that there is a strong value proposition associated with their brand. They have effectively ?sold? this value, despite the fact that the buying public apparently does not agree.
Even Keller Williams, the 3rd largest Real Estate brokerage in the country agrees with my proposition. In an (undated) white paper they accept and agree with the notion that given the choice of 2 equal real estate agents, the prospective client (97% of the time) chooses his agent based on other mitigating factors, and not brand recognition.
I have always held this proposition and have seen it repeated constantly. People choose their agents because they like the agent. Because the agent has similar values, a strong work-ethic, is trustworthy and responsive. Because the agent listens to the potential client during the interview process and responds in-kind with thoughtful answers to questions and concerns. To put it simply, they choose an agent because the agent lives and breathes customer service. Isn?t that what this is all about? Being focused on the customer and not treating them like a means to an end or simply as a number.
I have heard of agents that use their client interviews as an opportunity to brag of their individual accomplishments and tout their strong numbers from years past. But to me, the more important issue is how you are going to help that customer sell their house or find the right house, and not how much Real Estate your ?team? sold last year.
I may sell fewer homes than some of the people who I compete against and I may not have the 30+ years of experience that some of them have. But I can promise I will work for you to the end and ensure that no stone is unturned when it comes to searching for homes or buyers. Experience can be important, but so can being a student of your trade. Laws change rapidly, procedures are changing at an increasing pace, technology is running laps around the ?old-standard? Real Estate magazines and allowing more people to see your home without ever stepping foot in your home, or ever leaving their house for that matter.
This evolution is something that every agent has to be aware of. Many people who were once spectacular in a position have seen the job outgrow them because they were too rigid and unwilling to change.
And I submit to you the proposition that the brokerage can matter, but it will have to be a game-changer. The common practice of accepting any agent with a pulse is not the way to do business. There are over 2,500 Real Estate agents in the Huntsville area and that is a staggering number for a city of this size. We all know people who have Real Estate licenses that have never sold a home, or simply sell when the opportunity arises. I chose Real Estate as my fulltime profession of choice, because I love all aspects of the business and am truly energized at the opportunity to help my clients achieve their goals. Be that selling a home or finding the right home at the right price in the right area for them. This is what can separate a brokerage from the rest, a focus on choosing the right agents. And this is the difference in the Mega-brokerage, steadfast in their ways, and the smaller brokerages with desire and direction.
This job is all about customer service and that is something that successful agents pride themselves in.
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Nicole Arsenault
Realtor
Level 10 Realty
http://www.NicoleSellsRE.com
My brand is one that meshes well with classic homes, executive homes & more standard real estate as well. My branding is cohesive and gets noticed. If you think your home deserves a ?For Sale? sign that is more unique than the common, run-of-the-mill sign, then we should talk.
My sole mission is to help you sell your home in the quickest amount of time for the most money, or to help you find the home that you desire in the shortest period of time and help you get the best deal that you can.
? A Marketing Executive/Communications Director for a Marketing Firm
? 12 years of Sales Experience including countless awards
? Member of the National Association of Realtors
? Member of the Huntsville Board of Realtors
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Arsenault
Did you find this article helpful?00
?;for(i = 0; i ? + google_ads[i].line1 + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].visible_url + ?
? + ?? + google_ads[i].line2 + ? ? + google_ads[i].line3 + ?? + ?
?;} document.write(? + s + ?
?); return;}google_ad_client = ?pub-3754405753000444?;//EA-Real Estate 160google_ad_channel = ?2012143359?;google_ad_output = ?js?;google_max_num_ads = ?7?;google_ad_type = ?text?;google_feedback = ?on?;google_hints = ?agent real estate agents because people home brokerage?;google_ad_region = ?test?;// ?>]]>Get Involved
Subscribe to New Article Alerts:
Agents Realtors Article Feed
Ads By Google?);for(i=0;i ?);}]]>]]>Find More Articles
Ads By Google?);for(i=0;i ?);}]]>]]>Ads by Google ?;s += ? ?);return;}google_ad_client = ?pub-3754405753000444?;//2008-03-18: EA- ROS google_ad_channel = ?1904239528?;google_ad_output = ?js?;google_ad_type = ?image?;google_image_size = ?300?250?;google_feedback = ?on?;google_hints = ?does brokerage matter consumers real estate agent, real estate,real estate brokerage,real estate agent,keller williams?;google_ad_region = ?test?;// ?>]]> ? 2011 EzineArticles.com Click here to view rest of article from original site Tags: real estate, real estate agent, real estate brokerage Linux s1.agrohost.com 2.6.18-164.11.1.el5.028stab068.5 #1 SMP Mon Mar 15 19:26:36 MSK 2010 x86_64Similar Articles
Recent Articles
?; document.write(?+s+?
Arsenault, Nicole, and Nicole Emerson.?Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?.?Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?.26 Jan. 2011EzineArticles.com.5 Oct. 2011 http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-?the-?Brokerage-?Matter-?When-?Consumers-?Choose-?a-?Real-?Estate-?Agent?&id=5801751>.
Arsenault, N., & Emerson, N. (2011, January 26). Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?. Retrieved October 5, 2011, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-?the-?Brokerage-?Matter-?When-?Consumers-?Choose-?a-?Real-?Estate-?Agent?&id=5801751
Arsenault, Nicole, and Nicole Emerson. ?Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?.? Does the Brokerage Matter When Consumers Choose a Real Estate Agent?EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-?the-?Brokerage-?Matter-?When-?Consumers-?Choose-?a-?Real-?Estate-?Agent?&id=5801751EzineArticles.com
All Rights Reserved WorldwideAuthors
Publishers
Follow Us
regis philbin resistance 3 austin tx us postal service trey songz wcc hugh jackman
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Chelsea Real-Motion Gaming | Adverblog
The Worlds Biggest Space Invaders Game. Bringing 3D projection mapping to a new level. The game brings together various technologies and detection systems. The game was played by 4 of the Chelsea football team.
Nice to see projection mapping moving on to real interactive installations.
Wasps Rugby also got involved
Source: http://www.adverblog.com/2011/10/04/chelsea-real-motion-gaming/
park columbiana columbiana north carolina news north carolina news jet jet
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Instant view: S&P 500 enters bear market territory (Reuters)
NEW YORK (Reuters) ? The S&P 500 entered bear market territory after the open on Tuesday, down over 20 percent from its 2011 high, as European officials considered making banks take bigger losses on Greek debt and fears of contagion in the world's financial system grew.
COMMENTS:
GREG FLEMING, HEAD OF THE MORGAN STANLEY WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT DIVISIONS
"The level of volatility and instability in the market is challenging for institutional and retail investors and their psyches. We have seen retail investors stay stable in this situation. Our financial advisers are talking to their clients and talking about where they are from a personal standpoint. Our financial advisers are probably doing it more than usual. Anybody who is watching the markets every day would be more nervous."
GREG SALVAGGIO, VICE PRESIDENT, CURRENCY TRADING, TEMPUS CONSULTING, WASHINGTON
"The market is very uncertain about direction. I think fundamentals have gone out of the door because if you look at U.S. economic data as of late, the data has been showing signs of U.S. recovery and equities should be moving higher. However, there's significant concern about contagion within the euro zone, Greek default and really what effect a Greek default is going to have on the financial sector. We have already seen the pressure that Morgan Stanley has come under. What you're seeing on the back of that is investors are striving for safety and the only investment that's now viewed safe -- because gold is no longer viewed as safety -- is cash and U.S. bonds.
"I think you have to take a wait and see approach. There is not as much selling as I thought there would be this morning. If it was bear market territory, you would expect everyone to be selling this morning, but we're not seeing that.
"Friday's job report is going to be of paramount importance. That's much more important looking out the next couple of days than this bear market territory, technical indicator stuff."
GEORGE GONCALVES, HEAD OF U.S. INTEREST RATE STRATEGY, NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, NEW YORK
"The Treasuries market has priced this in already. The stock market is only catching up now. It is only now realizing that the illusion of growth we have had was all based on stimulus and it needs more stimulus. There'll be more pain and the pain is the destruction of wealth.
"The chipping away at the wealth created by QE2 is almost complete. This has to make the Fed nervous.
"'Twist' is not an effective tool. The Fed should be creating more reserves, not changing the composition of its Treasuries holding. I think the Fed miscalculated and it should be providing additional cash."
GARY THAYER, CHIEF MACRO STRATEGIST, WELLS FARGO ADVISORS, ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI
"We're getting close to a technical definition of a bear market. We still see our economy doing okay and normally in a bear market, you're in a recession. The stock market declines show increased worry about recession, but we still see some signs that the economy is growing and not contracting. Car sales look good. People may not be feeling good, but they're buying cars. I'd be more concerned if we were seeing consumer spending drop along with sentiment, but that does not seem to be happening.
"The markets are worried. Investors are uncertain about what's happening in Europe and until we see some of that uncertainty cleared up, we are likely to have highly volatile markets. You find when the markets go down investors get very concerned, rightfully so. But there's an old saying that the stock market has predicted nine of the last five recessions.
"The stock market is not a perfect predictor of the economy though it's an excellent reflection of sentiment. With all this uncertainty, investors look for safety and right now the Treasury market is attracting those investors. U.S. markets are doing better than overseas markets, helping the dollar."
WILLIAM LARKIN, FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO MANAGER, CABOT MONEY MANAGEMENT, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS:
"My take on it is that Europe, from a leadership standpoint, is looking a little more unstable, so you've got that feeding in, and we are also coming into earnings season. There are a lot of excuses to disappoint, and guidance going forward is going to be very challenging, which means that a lot of the valuations are likely to get dinged in here. From that standpoint, why not raise some cash, be more defensive going into that. It is too much of a headwind.
We are going to see lower (Treasuries) yields if it is possible. If you had asked me a year ago that yields would get this low I would say that you are crazy. 2.72 percent on the 30-year? That is beyond my comprehension.
Cash looks great. Right now you have to be very careful."
MICHAEL WOOLFOLK, SENIOR CURRENCY STRATEGIST, BNY MELLON, NEW YORK
"There are two separate issues here. Are financial markets pricing in more risk and uncertainty? Yes, no question. Will things get worse before they get better? Yes. The same pattern we've been seeing of people allocating away from stocks and toward cash and bonds should continue until a Greek resolution is in place. That's the most important issue. But this does not imply a double-dip recession in the United States. There is stimulus in the pipeline here that should help maintain growth in the future despite all these ongoing debt difficulties. A double-dip scenario in Europe is also unlikely given continued export-led growth in Germany."
JOSEPH TREVISANI, CHIEF MARKET ANALYST, FX SOLUTIONS, SADDLE RIVER, NEW JERSEY
"The dollar gets stronger, there are more safe haven flows. Nobody is going to dollar assets for return, just for safety."
LINDSAY PIEGZA, ECONOMIST, FTN FINANCIAL, NEW YORK
"We saw a lot of back and forth between the U.S. and China about this impending trade war. Just the fact that we're going back and forth over raising further barriers to growth is causing anxiety.
"Another factor is Dexia -- the Belgian bank coming under structural problems and needing to get bailed out. The European banking community is continuing to hold this unsavory debt on their balance sheets and they continue to try to work through that.
"More and more analysts in the U.S. are suggesting that there is no solution to the European problem and they're just pushing the problem down the road.
"If we do see a European recession that would be very very bad for the equity markets. That will dampen global growth prospects."
ERIC GREEN, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT PENN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT IN PHILADELPHIA, WHICH OVERSEES $6.5 BILLION
"The bear market is just a number that the media likes to use; I don't see people changing strategies because of it. It feels like we're getting oversold, but the weakness has persisted a lot longer than people were anticipating."
tyler clementi ndamukong suh ndamukong suh beebe michelle malkin goodrich death penalty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)