A resource for real estate agents, brokers, buyers, sellers, and people interested in the most up-to-date real estate information.

Mark Spoto has been a real estate in Florida for over five and half years. Four of those years, Spoto has been a “loyal member of HouseHunt.”

“The system has worked so well for me in terms of helping my annual productivity levels and relationship building with current and past clients,” Spoto says, “that I have purchased a total of six territories that I am personally managing. I started out with two territories and have since grown from that point.”

Since starting with HouseHunt, Spoto has averaged between 15 – 20 closing per year from HouseHunt-generated business; even in 2009, Spoto is expecting about 18 closings from HouseHunt. “In other words, these numbers would be higher if the market conditions were stable,” says Spoto. “This certainly makes me feel confident about how productive I can be as an individual when the market turns around.”

By his own account, the bulk of Spoto’s income and business comes from the

HouseHunt system. The system works and agents receive quality leads! In Spoto’s own words, “HouseHunt is ‘recession proof.”

“I have even had buyers calling me lately inquiring about properties for sale from just visiting my web sites without me having to make personal contact with the buyers first,” Spoto says. “This is a great benefit to have as a hard-working Agent!”

Maureen D’Aiutolo has been in the real estate business for awhile and has known the Internet was a powerful tool for agents. The problem was that Maureen wasn’t technologically savvy.

“My ability with technology is very limited… yes, I am a BOOMER,” Maureen explained.

Still, Maureen knew she needed to find a way to plug in to the growing world of online real estate. She knew relying on a company with expertise in this area was a must if she was going to take advantage of the potential and combine the two.

In early 2009, Maureen was introduced to the HouseHunt system and quickly realized she found the right link between real estate and technology. She joined our team as the exclusive agent for North Bethesda, MD and eagerly plugged herself into our training.

The result has been swift and effective, just as Maureen anticipated.

“Within one week, I was working with a motivated and qualified buyer. He subsequently bought a home,” Maureen said. “Two months later, his mother bought from me as well.”

Within two months, Maureen closed two more transactions with buyers from her HouseHunt territory.

“I am delighted,” Maureen said. “Four closed deals in seven months have more than paid for my investment AND I have increased my referral potential several fold.”

Maureen also explained what a pleasure it was working with HouseHunt’s Customer Service department. She said her representative spent a great deal of time helping her and making this all work.

Maureen trusts HouseHunt to be the online experts and bring in the opportunities. It’s a perfect match of real estate and technology that has quickly grown Maureen’s successful real estate business.

“I am looking forward to even more success in the upcoming year,” Maureen concluded.

As we get head long into the second half of 2009, some agents have the tools needed to make money and build for their real estate future at their fingertips, while others… are just hoping they’ll still be in business by the time the market “turns around.”

HouseHunt.com exclusive member agents don’t let market shifts determine their business. They have the tools and a complete real estate system that gives them the ability to meet their goals, exceed projected commissions, and have a business that will continue to grow regardless of the market’s status.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s several of our agents in their own words:

“Your system is a ‘Secret Weapon,’ I’d love to keep it a secret, but that’s not the way I work. There are more than enough leads out there for everyone. Why be greedy?”
- Kim Thomson, Keller Williams Realty, Valencia, CA

“I have closed eight HouseHunt leads totaling $2,371,000.00 in sales with commissions of $64,556.00 since signing up with HouseHunt in March 2009.”
- Troy E. Jensen, Keller Williams Realty, Vancouver, WA

“I have to tell you I am blown away by the leads on the HouseHunt site! My 1″ notebook is just about bulging at the seams and I am just into April!”
- Julie Wienke, Prudential, Thousand Oaks, CA

“I received a return call from a HouseHunt visitor wanting to sell a home in Indianapolis. I sold that home for $180K. They then sold their personal home for $550K and I sold them one for $340K. Then they bought one for $280K on contract because their kids didn’t like the new schools. Then I sold them an investment property for $100K. I also sold three small rentals they had that totaled about $95K. The total gross closed commission on that lead was about $36,500. I still find that if one is paying attention and providing true service, the [HouseHunt.com] has been profitable every year for the 5 or so years I’ve been involved. For what more could your customers ask?”
- Steve Gaines, CENTURY 21 Landtree, Greenwood, IN

“2008 was my best year to date. HouseHunt produced half of my closed volume, including the most expensive home I have ever sold,”
- Sandy Howard. Keller Williams Realty @ Baxter Village, Fort Mill, SC

“I decided to give [HouseHunt.com] a try in early 2008, purchasing one site here in the Boise, Idaho area. I started getting good buyer leads immediately and began to fill my pipeline… As those leads matured and the housing market started to improve in early 2009, I can honestly say that HouseHunt leads are my primary source of buyer leads… I have now purchased another HouseHunt area and am now filling my pipeline for that city as well… My prediction will be that for the 2nd half of 2009 that at least 60% of my closings will be HouseHunt leads.”
- Jeff Stewart, Stewart Realty, Meridian, ID

“I have been a loyal member of HouseHunt for more than 4 years now and the system has worked so well for me in terms of helping my annual productivity levels and relationship building with current and past clients that I have purchased a total of six territories that I am personally managing… I am averaging anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 with each commission check and I have been consistently closing 15 to 20 transactions per year with the HouseHunt system since I first started… I have even had Buyers calling me lately inquiring about properties for sale from just visiting my web sites without me having to make personal contact with the Buyers first.  This is a great benefit to have as a hard-working Agent! HouseHunt is ‘recession proof’ as long as you are willing to work hard and take the time to learn and utilize the system.”
- Mark Spoto, Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc., Tampa, FL

“The system works…HouseHunt has really provided me with buyers that I wouldn’t have had.”
-Matthew Danver, Keller Williams Florida Partners, Ormond Beach, FL

“Wow, since I’ve been writing this email, five new prospective clients looked at properties on my site and entered their full name, addresses, and phone numbers. I’ve got to get back to work! I would not have this Real Estate business without HouseHunt. I feel very fortunate to have found you.”
- Karen Taussig, Karen Taussig Realty, INC., Oxnard, CA

“I depend solely on HouseHunt for my livelihood and can’t imagine doing business without my HouseHunt leads.”
- Lori Cheek, Charles Rutenberg Realty, Clearwater, FL

“I closed eleven transactions with HouseHunt so far this year. Working on number twelve as we speak.”
- Rod Sullivan, Solid Source Realty, Jonesboro, GA

“We have had a most profitable year in working with our HouseHunt data base in the sales generated solely due to leads that we attained from HouseHunt hits just within the last 7 years. Not only have we been able to work with and close YTD for 2009 over 4 million dollars in residential sales we were able to close 3 additional sales just on referrals from our HouseHunt customers resulting in an additional 1.6 million. Having a HouseHunt advertising budget has in one way or another always resulted in a positive financial result many times over.”
- Duke Parmelly, 2005 HouseHunt Hall of Fame, Keller Williams, Santa Maria, CA.

HouseHunt.com member agent Jason Holt, of Keller Williams Capitol Properties, in Washington DC is new to HouseHunt, but not  new to putting in the extra steps that separate the great agents from the rest of the pack.

Holt, who represents the Capitol Hill territory, recently shared a story about successfully closing a lead that most agents categorize as a bad lead: someone who had already been working with another agent off an on for a year.

As it turned out, Jason got along with the buyer far better than the other agent had. As a result, after a few conversations and precise questioning, the client decided to meet with Jason to look at some properties. That meeting lead to Jason being able to sign a buyer’s agreement with the client.

From there, I think we know where this story is headed… Jason was able to close the deal with a client that many other agents would have left along the side of the road without so much as a second thought!

By now, the story seems all too familiar to us at HouseHunt: an agent finds a way to adapt to their current market and thanks to the system provided by HouseHunt, they’ve found a way to survive and prosper in a marketplace that has sent scores of lesser agent packing their bags over the past few months.

That said, just because it’s a story we hear all the time at HouseHunt, it doesn’t make it any less extraordinary! From coast-to-coast, our agents are reporting story after story of achieving success in their real estate market and some … well, some are even having their best year ever!

Surprising Sale in California

Keller Williams agent Melody Russell is no stranger to success and doing deals with HouseHunt. She has done very well working HouseHunt leads and this story is one more to her credit. Melody shared with HouseHunt that she received a buyer lead that listed $300K as their maximum price range, lower than average in the Santa Cruz County, CA area Melody works, but Melody works every lead the same and stuck with this person for nine months.

The end result was the purchase of a $1.25 million dollar house. He was a cash buyer! That means the transaction will close in 11 total days because no financing is needed. Furthermore, the buyer explained to Melody that after the deal closes, he wants to search for investment properties with her. This is all a great testament to the quality of HouseHunt’s leads, perseverance paying off, and never judging a book by its cover!

Doubled Sales from Last Year

Matt Marples of Marples & Associates recently told HouseHunt how fantastic business has been in the past year and a half: Twenty transactions in 2008 and a projected 40 closed transactions in 2009, all from HouseHunt.

Despite a brutal local market and falling home prices, Marples is proving that buyers are still out there and that HouseHunt has access to them. As a result, their company is growing and their income is continually growing. There’s nothing more exciting than doubling your gross production and thriving in business, while competitors and others in the industry are disappearing. HouseHunt is the core reason for their success and the future is exciting for this team.

Great First Year for a Keller Agent

Dan Lind in the Atlanta, GA area recently shared with HouseHunt that his time as a HouseHunt member has been exciting and profitable.

“I have been very busy thanks to HouseHunt,” Dan said.

Since starting with HouseHunt in March 2008, Dan has closed several transactions and the total selling prices accumulate to just over $3.3 million dollars. His take home portion is more than enough to keep Dan motivated and very happy.

Dan has even invested time in calculating his leads from HouseHunt. He concluded that out of approximately 20 leads, 2 will be ready to purchase in a month or so. A few others are typically looking to buy within the next year. That is future income and Dan keeps track of those individuals so as to reap the benefits down the line.

“I have also built up a good strong database of very good potential buyers, which I hope to convert to sales in the next couple of months or a year,” Dan explained.

“I thank you for living up to your end of the deal.  As I get better at utilizing web leads, I hope my numbers will improve,” Dan added.

Just over a year and Dan’s real estate business has truly taken off. The future looks bright and he knows HouseHunt is the key to his current and coming success.