A Broker’s Best ‘Friend’

Can Facebook revive the real-estate market?

By Daniel McGinn | NEWSWEEK
Published Jan 7, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Jan 7, 2009

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  • Posted By: Myrealtytoday @ 07/09/2009 3:49:14 PM

    We have a website portal for real estate listings http://myrealtytoday.com which we utilize a syndication feature to send our listings to over 50 million people a month including facebook, in an effort to give our customer market exposure for their listings. Facebook is a great way to market properties.

  • Posted By: Agent Sara @ 03/27/2009 3:32:53 AM

    UPDATE: THIS PROPERTY SOLD IN 7 DAYS.....

  • Posted By: Agent Sara @ 03/10/2009 3:44:34 AM

    YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!! THIS IS MESSAGE THAT I SENT EARLIER TO ALL OF MY FACEBOOK COLLEAGUES THIS AFTERNOON:

    .Sara L. Perales sent a message to the members of RE/MAX equity group inc.

    Subject: I LOVE RE/MAX equity group inc! AND I ALSO LOVE FACEBOOK!!

    "Wow! you guys are really something else I've got to say. I sent an email a couple of hours ago about my new listing in Sherwood and 3 agents are planning on showing it to their buyers right away!! A MILLION THANKS. Regardless of the outcome, I thank you for your team spirit and your membership to this group. No wonder RE/MAX is the best. RE/MAX agents are the BEST!!! Thanks again."

    FACEBOOK IS A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO MY BUSINESS. www.agentsara.com

  • Posted By: GR8Life @ 02/13/2009 5:52:08 PM

    Sorry about my two typos!

  • Posted By: GR8Life @ 02/13/2009 5:50:48 PM

    I've just joined Facebook, and I'm a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in South Florida. Few markets are as bad as the one we have been dealing with, but I'm still standing. As far as the Real Estate as an industry resisting change, I have to say that Coldwell Banker has been extremely proactive for a couple of years in the technology field as it relattes to marketing. The statistics are staggering regarding homebuyers and their search for homes in print vs. online....something like 86% or more these days. And thanks, Daniel for acknowledging how difficult business is these days. I try very hard not to be in people's face; however I am trying every marketing opportunity I can find...and if I don't have to spend much money, that's even better right now.

    Great article...I enjoyed it.

  • Posted By: suzanna @ 02/01/2009 7:19:37 PM


    on facebook? do you know about Britains Baby P? This group below can spread the story and express how we dissaprove of them being given the privellidge of beind aided at the UK taxpayers expense, to run away and be supported by welfare systems in the Pacific....

    BABY P MURDERES ARE NOT WELCOME IN THE PACIFIC

    if you are on facebook, please search and join, then forward the link... thank you

  • Posted By: chuckachucknc @ 01/28/2009 10:07:12 PM

    Hmmm. After some checking, I can't find a single Facebook app related to real estate that has any traction. There is tremendous unrealized potential. Despite what you write about realtors diving into Facebook, the industry is tremendously resistant to changes that would be disruptive to practices largely still reliant the MLS. Real estate, as an industry, fears and resists change from technology. Realtors may be joining Facebook and may be gaining business networking benefits. However, it is ridiculous to portray the industry as being at some sort of technological "tipping point." I see no evidence of this.

  • Posted By: lauriebee @ 01/15/2009 7:51:52 PM

    I am on Facebook just because I can and because I can network with other agents, I love it! Laurie B, Boise Idaho

  • Posted By: Dorothy206 @ 01/13/2009 2:10:12 PM

    My 26 yr old son and 23 yr old daughter hate the fact that I'm on facebook. Especially since I helped one of their friends buy a condo and I have him listed as a "friend". They are very terrotorial about "their" meaning - under 30 - facebook! Sorry kids, get used to it, we can be cool....

  • Posted By: chynadoll13154 @ 01/09/2009 1:30:56 PM

    It's still creepy seeing people who are like 40 and someone's mom on there.

  • Posted By: joelane @ 01/09/2009 12:38:06 PM

    As a REALTOR I joined Facebook about 6 mos ago to keep in contact with friends and family. Any leads or work I receive would be a bonus but I do not solicit work on Facebook other than having my website in my info. Love Facebook! www.joelane.com

  • Posted By: joelane @ 01/09/2009 12:37:51 PM

    As a REALTOR I joined Facebook about 6 mos ago to keep in contact with friends and family. Any leads or work I receive would be a bonus but I do not solicit work on Facebook other than having my website in my info. Love Facebook! www.joelane.com

  • Posted By: gornall @ 01/08/2009 1:58:18 PM

    I'm a REALTOR and joined Facebook about 2 months and it's amazing how many people I've re-connected with. People that I have not seen in many years that I know from school and from my childhood - it's exciting. http://www.ErieRealEstateBlogs.com

  • Posted By: miamimomof3 @ 01/07/2009 7:49:45 PM

    chynadoll - relax.

  • Posted By: chynadoll13154 @ 01/07/2009 7:30:22 PM

    Facebook is a SOCIAL site! Keep it that way. If you want to have a link to your business, fine. But leave business out of it. I hate getting spammed on there too about some girl I sat next to in jr. high selling Mary Kay. Even worse than people who try to sell their crap on there is the people who pimp out their kids pics. Leave your babies off of facebook! Oh yeah, and if you're over 40, why do you have facebook anyways?

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