Realty World Northern California & Nevada

Erin, Hilda, Aaron... the Erin/Aaron sandwich!

Yesterday I attended my second real estate barcamp event – this one at ReBarCamp Silicon Valley (#rebcsv for you Twitter fans) before this week’s CAR Conference in San Jose. Admittedly, the first was during my second week of work in real estate at the annual Inman Conference and I spent most of my time in that initial experience with my mouth agape and senses reeling.

I’m a barcamp veteran in the technology industry, but there are some vast differences from the barcamps I’d attended featuring deep dives into widgets, application builds and cloud computing and the world of real estate.

Here are a few similarities and differences I noticed:

Difference: Formal v. casual wear. You guys came dressed up in suits, shiny shoes and wielding business cards. In tech barcamps the attire is jeans or shorts, t-shirts, sweatshirts and you can’t get someone to look up from their smartphone long enough to give you a business card.

Who wins? Tech. Realtors have to come in comfortable clothes (it’s only other agents, no worries!) because often times the sessions are outdoors, on benches, folding chairs, etc. You won’t pay attention as well if you’re sweating bullets in that suit!

Similarity: Everyone is on a cell phone/laptop. At tech and real estate barcamps alike, I look at people through the lens of their camera phone as they snap pictures for blogs or Twitter, or I stare at the back of their laptop, netbook, etc. as they feverishly look up the new technologies mentioned, add me as a friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter (and catch up on a few emails of course).

Difference: Humility. In tech, we can’t admit we don’t know about tech very easily, so you’ll see a lot of us thoughtfully nod and then jot down notes furiously on acronyms or websites to look up when we steal a few moments away from the myriad of prying eyes (we’re a paranoid bunch) but you won’t see us ask a lot of “basic” questions. At real estate barcamps it is refreshing to see people question the basics and slow the pace down to make sure they aren’t left behind!

Who wins? Real estate. Knowing that asking questions without being afraid of what your colleagues will think serves Realtors well, as it ensures the entire group gets a good education.

Similarity: We all like the “bar” part of barcamp. It is a universal truth that most of us look forward to the part of the day where we open up some wine, have a beer, or in our case yesterday – a handle of Johnnie Walker, and kick back and talk about what’s up in our industry. At the end of the day, barcamps are not just a place for education, but also a great place to connect with those in the industry who are passionate about integrating new media and methodologies into our lives.

I highly recommend checking out barcamps if you have the opportunity – come to learn, share information, ask questions and meet people… because the best way to make the most of social media is to actually be social.

Erin Robbins
Social Media & Marketing Director
erin.robbins@rwnc.net

When you buy a big boat and register it with Homeland Security and the Coast Guard you have to name the vessel and its hailing port to obtain your documentation.  So, years ago when it came time to name our boat, which we worked hard for and we’re fortunate to finally get, I took the matter seriously.  I wanted a name that reminded me of good dealing, clean hands, equity and honor.  So I named her Covenant.  I thought the name would best represent our faith, goodwill, meaningful alliances and promises we make with others and our consequential relationships with much of the universe.  And, I’m equally proud of her name as the American flag she flies.

Recently I’ve had some dark thoughts about people’s obligations to mortgage companies and other creditors in these tough and trying economic times.  Those small lingering thoughts of default; the breaking of a promise and the premeditations of allowing one’s self to break a covenant with another have met a different reality and environment that give these notions birth.  Sadly, these seas are rooted politically.

I’m not referring to borrowers who have suffered a substantial or complete loss of income or those who obtained mortgages that shouldn’t have; I think those are separate matters entirely.  I’m talking about the people who have equivalents in income and other growth and income opportunities that otherwise could financially afford to maintain their present obligations and promises to lenders and simply choose not too.

Increasingly, reports of creditworthy and stable individuals are weighing the risk of future losses in real estate equity and purposely plotting strategies to benefit from mortgage default.  They reportedly move to a similar property in the same area that has gone down in value and walk on their present loan(s).  How they get financing remains a question to me?

Many have coordinated time lines to maximize withdrawals on remaining credit lines, equity loans and have somehow balanced in their mind a cost benefit factor of living with derogatory credit report.  Just the thought of that is a big reach for me and I grow increasingly worried about this situational ethic, off-the-rack culture and what that will mean for self worth of America’s children and our investment reputation in the financial world.

But, this is what I have to say to the real estate brokers and agents at Realty World…  Please stay clear of any involvement in a transaction that smells of this.  Even in times of desperation your self worth and personal integrity has greater equity than a commission from a transaction that is part and parcel to this behavior.

I understand economic waters may be rough; I’m right there with you.  But we have navigated through tough currents before and during these times, and while trying as they may be it brings me no justification to change the name of my boat.

I hope you feel the same way.

Scott LeForce
President
scott.leforce@rwnc.net