Everyone seems to be a-Twittering these days. From Tweets and blogs directed at friends and fans, everyone is getting their word out to wide-ranging audiences via the Internet. The recent explosion of social media may have some professionals feeling behind the curve, but agents at Chase International are riding this wave of information to a new realm of recognition.

Chase International, the Lake Tahoe-based luxury real estate company,
anticipated the need for an interactive online presence and met the challenge by creating ChaseNation.com. The social networking site for people interested in Reno-Tahoe real estate was launched last spring and was met with resounding success. Chase International maintains its IT savvy status by encouraging its agents to disseminate information through ChaseNation.com, keeping them apprised of the latest
social media tools.

Chase began a relationship with Domus Consulting Group last year and now promotes its social media systems training to its more than 160 agents. Domus leads the agents through a series of 12-week training courses enabling them to create powerful and effective networks using applications such as Twitter and Friendfeed and facilitating real time news wires. The sessions are taught through webinars, making them easily accessible to all interested agents.

Agents can also find on-site guidance from Guy Johnson, who has emerged as Chase's go-to agent for all things Internet. Johnson joined Chase International two years ago and Chase's leadership team quickly saw the value of his IT background. Johnson considers himself an "early adopter of emerging technologies," particularly anything Internet related. At age 10 he learned how to program a computer from his father who worked at IBM. Johnson went on to work as an IT consultant in Chicago for 16 years before moving to Reno with his wife to raise their twin children.

"Guy is able to integrate technology into the company in the operational sense," Shari Chase, president and CEO of Chase International, said. "He goes beyond helping his colleagues make the best use of Twitter, Facebook and blogging. He knows all of the latest tools available on the Internet and plays a huge part in raising the level of our agents' marketing skills."

Under the umbrella of Chase Academy, Johnson has taught courses on blogging, implementing and leveraging online videos and various online tools and Websites. His most recent class, "50 Online Tools to Save Time and Money" was received so well he's been asked to repeat it.

Johnson believes his enthusiasm is key to bringing other agents on board with social networking. "I believe in these tools and when other agents see that someone who has a similar workload and means can make it work, then they realize that they can too."

While Johnson himself is a big proponent of blogging, he acknowledges it's not for everyone. However, he emphasizes that there are tools for everyone within social media. "Blogging can be time intensive. You need to be a decent writer and you need to be consistent. The great thing about Twitter is that it's microblogging. If it takes more than 30 seconds, you're doing it wrong. Most agents have 30 seconds. ChaseNation and Facebook also have blogging platforms, so if an agent likes, they can evolve to that."

Johnson is also one of the first to tout the benefits of Domus. "Kevin Boer and Patrick Kitano (the faces behind Domus) are very tech savvy guys with backgrounds in real estate. They recognize the potential of social media as a powerful tool for agents and brokers to market themselves, their listings and to gain market share in their respective areas. They also know how to leverage these online means of communications to position oneself as a local expert."

With the Domus training and Johnson's guidance, Chase International and its agents are expanding their reach and marketing efforts farther and more quickly than ever before, and as Johnson adds, for much less cost.

"Social media sites allow agents and clients to connect and get to know one another in ways that weren't possible a few years ago," Johnson said. "Forget email. The ability to connect today is huge. Agents can use these tools to market listings and attain greater exposure for their property listings. Similarly, clients can now investigate and evaluate all aspects of an agent (both professionally and personally) before contacting them.
Transparency is the name of the game today in all areas of business, including real estate. Clients aren't just expecting it, they're demanding it."

Johnson is now reaching out to non-Chase agents and even other professions. He recently spoke at the Women's Council of Realtors as well as the Nevada Interactive Media Summit for Journalism Week presented at the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

According to recent statistics, Washoe County ranks 8th in the nation for home foreclosure rates — a crisis that affects citizens from all walks of life in our community. The Washoe County Senior Law Project recently provided free advice on how to avoid possible home foreclosure through a public workshop titled, “Foreclosure Prevention Seminar.” Washoe County is pleased to provide this 30-minute video for viewing both on the county television station and on the county's website to help people who are facing the possibility of losing their homes.

Introduced by Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung, the video includes presentations from four champions addressing the local mortgage crisis: Catherine Cortez Maestros, Nevada Attorney General; Shelia Walther, State of Nevada Mortgage Lending Division; Jill Perry, Consumer Credit Affiliates; and Nancy Hamilton, Wells Fargo Bank. The video helps citizens learn more about their rights and covers issues such as the time frame of the foreclosure process and common options that are available from the mortgage companies.

The video of the workshop is available to all citizens in both English and Spanish from the County’s website www.washoecounty.us. From the main site select the Washoe County Television link, video-on-demand and the featured videos category.  In addition, the seminar is currently running on The Washoe Channel (TV-17 and TV-217). Tune in this Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The Spanish version will follow the English version for each scheduled programming period. For additional replay times, please check the website www.washoecounty.us and select The Washoe Channel logo.

 

It was a sunny, beautiful day in Incline Village on Saturday, a perfect day for skiing, but about 75 residents, business professionals and real estate agents and brokers visited the Chase International offices on Tahoe Boulevard on Saturday to listen and ask serious questions at a real estate forum hosted by Chase.

The free community forum, “Untangling the Truth and Providing Options in Today's Real Estate Market” introduced three panels in a comprehensive lecture with industry professionals during a 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. format. Attendees listened to panelists present and then were able to ask questions. Kerry Donovan moderated the panels, introducing first in the line-up: banks, lenders and real estate attorneys.

“Information is moving so fast. We wanted to provide you with enough pieces to face the challenges and opportunities in today's market,” Donovan said to the large crowd.

In these economic times, it could be anyone.

A family in the community bought a home here a couple of years ago, but now one of the working parents has lost their job. They’re overextended, can’t keep up with the mortgage and aren’t eligible for a refinance.

What to do?

The free community forum, “Untangling the Truth and Providing Options in Today’s Real Estate Market,” will offer some suggestions to those looking for answers. Presented by Chase International, the forum is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Chase International Incline Village office, 917 Tahoe Blvd.

“It’s a very overwhelming economic environment. Even people at the high end are in trouble right now,” said Kerry Donovan, a Chase International broker/realtor and manager of the Incline Village office. 

Despite the tough economic times, there are options available for those who are impacted now, those who are looking to buy down the road, and those who are planning to sell down the road in a distressed environment, she said.

“I think it’s good for anyone who wants to know what’s going on,” Donovan said.

Already 25 people from Truckee, Reno and even Las Vegas have responded they are coming, she said, adding that Chase expects many more to drop in on Saturday.

“This is reaching out with some solid information,” Donovan said. “There are some options out there.”

The forum will be broken into three separate hour-long sessions followed by an informal mixer.

“The goal was to pool our resources from our local professionals in Incline,” she said. “It will touch on a lot of the issues in the marketplace.”

The panel of experts assembled to address options and consequences in today’s real estate market include lending professionals:

• Andy McInnes, loan consultant with Bank of America
• Ron Farrell, home mortgage consultant with Wells Fargo
• Ephraim Schwartz, mortgage broker with Odette Mortgage Group
• Cassell von Baeyer and Jamie Winter, real estate attorneys licensed in California and Nevada

“Congress has passed new legislative bills that will absolutely provide benefits to those refinancing or purchasing real estate,” explained Ron Farrell with Wells Fargo, who will be on hand offering advice at the March 7 forum.  “We can help people take advantage of new loan programs and tax credits by shedding light on the most up-to-date information.”

 

On hand to field property-related questions will be:

• Dave Smoyer, property manager with Pullen Rentals
• Rob Laurie, licensed contractor with Fortress
• Gay Bentley, interior designer and owner of Bentley Interiors

A third session devoted to foreclosures and short sales will convene featuring:

• Jonathan Dyer and Michelle Plevel, certified loan modification specialists with Chase International
• Jim Wire, foreclosures specialist with Chase International
• Leslie Henderson, certified default specialist with Chase International

Individuals interested in “Untangling the Truth and Providing Options in Today’s Real Estate Market,” are asked to RSVP by calling (775) 831-7300. For more information on the event, log onto www.chasenation.com.

  

Do you have these questions?

Set aside the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. time slot on Sat., March 7 to receive sound advice and creative ideas in response to these questions and more:

 

• What are my options since no one is making an offer on my house? 
• Can I refinance?
• Is a reverse mortgage a viable option? 
• How do I go about renegotiating with my bank? 
• I am in trouble now, what can I do?
• What is a lease option or a deed in lieu, and how do I pursue these alternatives? 
• What is the difference between a short sale and a foreclosure and how does each process work? 
• Should I consider remodeling or tearing down? 
• Should I consider renting or leasing my house? 
• What are the best improvements to make to a house, for resale considerations? 
• How can I best present my property when selling?
• What home improvements can I undertake to reduce expenses? 
• How do I go about filing my 3 percent property tax limit application? 
• How do I apply for an energy audit or energy credit?