ActiveRain Success Stories

The Keith Kropp and Wayne Rogers Team, Nowhere But Here (Michael Saunders & Company): Real Estate Agent in Sarasota, FL The Keith Kropp and Wayne Rogers Team, Nowhere But Here (Michael Saunders & Company) said almost 11 years ago,
"1. An out of state seller found me on Active Rain, called me to list his second home in Florida which successfully sold and closed! For cash!
2. I referred a good friend in VA to Lenn Harley on AR. They are writing a contract today, in less than a week since the referral!
3. I referred a client in AZ to Amy Jones on AR. Amy listed and sold their home in a week!"
Bob Marsh, 480-529-2936, Warm Weather Real Estate (Warm Weather Real Estate): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Mesa, AZ Bob Marsh, 480-529-2936, Warm Weather Real Estate (Warm Weather Real Estate) said almost 11 years ago,
"Since joining ActiveRain in 2005, I have constantly used AR as a search tool for significant developments in the world of real estate brokerage, technology, marketing, ethics, and law. Without fail, AR has always, somewhere stored in its archives or search, the answers to my most pleading questions. Thank you ActiveRain and all subscribers for your contributions to the success and welfare of fellow real estate practitioners. WOW!!"
Debbie Walsh, Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036 (SHAHAR Management): Real Estate Agent in Middletown, NY Debbie Walsh, Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036 (SHAHAR Management) said almost 11 years ago,
"I have been part of Active Rain for over a year now and thanks to their guidance, friendship and experience in the blogging world I find my pages turning up on page 1 of Google-What is better for your business than that? I get leads on a regular basis and in this economy where everyone is cutting corners in their marketing I am expanding with my blogging. Thank you Active Rain!"
Rob Spinosa, Mortgage Loan Originator, Marin County (US Bank): Mortgage and Lending in Larkspur, CA Rob Spinosa, Mortgage Loan Originator, Marin County (US Bank) said almost 11 years ago,
"Since the implementation of the SAFE Act, many of us in mortgage lending found it difficult, if not impossible, to originate home loans in all 50 states. This may not have entirely been a bad thing, as I agree that it's important to know the practices and customs in any area --- for me, that area is California. Yet how do we handle inquiries from those in states in which we do not lend? How do we help our past clients who may now be in a location we don't serve? For me, the answer has been Active Rain. Through a focused effort, I have built relationships on this platform with associates who do what I do, but who have no overlap in geography. These individuals think like I do and uphold the same service standard. We help each other. We cross refer and everyone wins. To me, one of the best things about Active Rain is that I rarely, if ever, have to say to a customer anymore, "Sorry, I can't help you.""
Navona Hart, Selling the Best Properties in Central Virginia (Century 21 Realty @ Home): Real Estate Agent in Farmville, VA Navona Hart, Selling the Best Properties in Central Virginia (Century 21 Realty @ Home) said almost 11 years ago,
"The most phone calls are people who have read a blog post and want to know more! I love hearing from the consumers who want to know about the area, a listing, or an event coming up in the market. Please pick up the phone and give me a call! I look forward to helping you with anything related to Central Virginia."
Doug Rogers, Your Real Estate Resource! (RE/MAX Coastal Properties): Real Estate Agent in Destin, FL Doug Rogers, Your Real Estate Resource! (RE/MAX Coastal Properties) said almost 11 years ago,
"Thanks to activerain, I have been able to network with agents from across the country. This quarter I have been able to refer out two clients, and am working on a third! What a great tool!!"
Gwynn Carpenter, : Broker, Home & Hearth Realty (512)467-6191 (Gwynn Teal Carpenter-Broker: Home and Hearth Realty (Austin)): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Austin, TX Gwynn Carpenter, : Broker, Home & Hearth Realty (512)467-6191 (Gwynn Teal Carpenter-Broker: Home and Hearth Realty (Austin)) said almost 11 years ago,
"Active Rain Referral Success Story for Gwynn Teal Carpenter, Broker of Home and Hearth Realty, Inc (Austin Texas)

Aug. 3, 2010..... after doing research on Active Rain to find a Realtor in Duluth, Ga that I felt would meet the needs of mine client, I sent an email to John Michelena of Homes of Atlanta Real Estate. John responded and after a phone call to verify his existence, I sent a referral to him.

Lag time.... put my client's home on the market, went under contract - contract terminated, waited and waited and waited until finally we had a solid contract that closed June 17, 2011.

John was patient keeping in contact with my client and her boyfriend the entire time....once they began the search in Duluth it was a quick process - find the house, close the house, receive the referral check!

All this from the profile that John posted on Active Rain.....and then here is the result from their Aug. 29, 2011 closing:"
Kevin Henry (Henry Realty): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Fort Wayne, IN Kevin Henry (Henry Realty) said almost 11 years ago,
"Had a young couple from Michigan that found me through Active rain looking for a home in Angola. After feeling them out I suggested they build a home for the money they were spending and what their criteria was. They are very happy with my suggestion and moved into their new home in July. His parents are now wanting to move to that same area and also build a new home.Thanks for the repeat business."
CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS, "Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren (California Coastal Estates): Managing Real Estate Broker in Aliso Viejo, CA CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS, "Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren (California Coastal Estates) said almost 11 years ago,
"I recently had a buyer/investor contact me from reading a cached blog for a report I did for my area market. That blog over a year ago provided me with an amazing new client that I have set for the rest of the year in goals and then some. Dancing in the rain!!"
Lynn LeGlaire (Keller Williams): Real Estate Agent in Beverly Hills, CA Lynn LeGlaire (Keller Williams) said almost 11 years ago,
"After the first month of joining Active Rain, I had a call from a lawyer in San Francisco who was looking for a Realtor in Beverly Hills. After our first phone conversation, he hired me to sell two great properties in Beverly Hills. It was exciting!"
Craig Hatcher (Georgia Residential Realty, LLC): Managing Real Estate Broker in Atlanta, GA Craig Hatcher (Georgia Residential Realty, LLC) said almost 11 years ago,
"How can I list all the success I've had from just being an active rain member. I can't so I'll just state the facts. My daily cup of coffee has been replaced by sitting and soaking in the rain. All the soaking has paid off..In the past 45 days I've closed 5 homes and listed 7 properties."
Eric Salonga, Your Key to the Central Valley (The Salonga Brothers at Reed Realty): Real Estate Agent in Ceres, CA Eric Salonga, Your Key to the Central Valley (The Salonga Brothers at Reed Realty) said almost 11 years ago,
"It's great to be a part of this community. As a Real Estate Agent we all need good resources to succeed and input from other seasoned veterans."
MaryKay Shumway, Door County Wisconsin's Real Estate Expert  (The Kellstrom Ray Agency, Inc. (Est. 1948)): Real Estate Agent in Sister Bay, WI MaryKay Shumway, Door County Wisconsin's Real Estate Expert (The Kellstrom Ray Agency, Inc. (Est. 1948)) said almost 11 years ago,
"Three listings and four sales in 12 months as a direct result of Active Rain. I'm a believer!"
Mary Wilcox BPOR, CDPE, SFR, ASD, ABR, Reece Nichols Mary Wilcox BPOR, CDPE, ASD, SFR, AB (Reece Nichols-Mary Wilcox): Real Estate Agent in Kansas City, MO Mary Wilcox BPOR, CDPE, SFR, ASD, ABR, Reece Nichols Mary Wilcox BPOR, CDPE, ASD, SFR, AB (Reece Nichols-Mary Wilcox) said almost 11 years ago,
"Since being a part of ActiveRain. I've met many new people and expanded my network in business. Thank you ActiveRain."
Linda Coffey, Your Haymarket & Gainesville Area Expert (Long & Foster): Real Estate Agent in Haymarket, VA Linda Coffey, Your Haymarket & Gainesville Area Expert (Long & Foster) said almost 11 years ago,
"Since I have been actively blogging about my Selling Community and experiences I have seen a increase in my web site traffic and increase in great clients and hasn't added to my marketing costs!"
Theresa Harden, PB SFR e-Pro Realtor (Hawaii Dream Realty LLC): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Honolulu, HI Theresa Harden, PB SFR e-Pro Realtor (Hawaii Dream Realty LLC) said almost 11 years ago,
"ActiveRain provides a great platform for getting information to consumers and real estate professionals and has helped me to connect with Clients. Thank you for taking time to visit my ActiveRain site. You may contact me anytime via phone, text, or email to make your next Real Estate transaction stress free and a tailored experience to fit your specific needs for you and your family. I look forward to hearing from you and appreciate the opportunity to earn your business."
Andrea "Andy" Decker (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, REALTORS®): Real Estate Agent in Allentown, PA Andrea "Andy" Decker (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, REALTORS®) said almost 11 years ago,
"When I think of my greatest success in my real estate career it was serving as the President of the Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors. It was my desire to support our members, provide the very best tools and technology to move their business forward and provide them all with a platform of support to allow their personal business to count for them, their clients and the companies they serve. I desired a general sense of our marketplace being a very professional and ethical market to buy and sell real estate."
Melissa Grant, The Law of Attraction In Life & Business (A Serendipity World): Services for Real Estate Pros in Greenbackville, VA Melissa Grant, The Law of Attraction In Life & Business (A Serendipity World) said almost 11 years ago,
"When I first started as a Member of Active Rain I was amongst only about 10,000 other members. Not only have I watched Active Rain evolve into something bigger and better I have also watched my business grow with it. Active Rain gives back to all it's members and treats us as the professionals we are not just another number on their dashboard !

Active Rain helped me greatly while residing in Crossville, TN. When I relocated to Crossville I knew nothing and no-one. All I had was my husband, children, my Real Estate License and a computer. I was competing against Agents in the Crossville market who had been there for years. I needed to build my SEO, my sphere and get a business off the ground. Active Rain helped me more and quicker than any other tool I ever used to accomplish these tasks ! Thank you Active Rain !

When the market started to turn for the worst Active Rain and the leads it provided me helped keep my business afloat. The buyers I would receive from Active Rain were " true " buyers not just on lookers. I have closed many buyers through the Active Rain platform because of the tools they have given me to blog, network and grow as a professional !

As a primary listing Agent in Crossville, TN Active Rain helped me bring my business to a new more 2007-2008-2009 culture. I loved the fact that I could blog about places, subdivisions and local attractions or Real Estate in my area and receive almost automatic hits for new listings.

Active Rain has certainly helped me with my referral network. I have passed along many referrals to wonderful Agents here on the Active Rain platform and have received just as many. Active Rain makes earning " gravy money " an ease !"
Andrew Gustafson, Certified Exchange Specialist (Atlas 1031 Exchange, LLC): Services for Real Estate Pros in Fort Walton Beach, FL Andrew Gustafson, Certified Exchange Specialist (Atlas 1031 Exchange, LLC) said almost 11 years ago,
"In this 1031 exchange, capital gains taxes were deferred when Indiana farmland was sold and replaced with a Florida vacation property short sale. The exchange started with the client finding Atlas 1031 following a Google lookup using keywords 1031 exchange and the client’s home town. “The Atlas 1031 web site came to the top of the search list. The detailed site provided the information and confidence to proceed with making contact.”

This was the client’s first 1031 exchange and he was looking mostly for information in the beginning. “Atlas 1031 was quick to follow up with a phone call to discuss my requirements.”

For those not familiar with a 1031 exchange, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows for the deferral of capital gains and recaptured depreciation taxes when real and personal property held in the productive use of a business or for investment is exchanged for real and personal property held in the productive use of a business or for investment within 180 calendar days of the first closing. Given the intent when selling real estate, artwork, aircraft or equipment is to replace with like-kind property of equal or greater value, then the taxes are deferred indefinitely or until the replacement property is sold. There is no limit to the number of 1031 exchanges a taxpayer can initiate. In 2012, the Joint Committee on Taxation estimates $3.2 billion taxes will be deferred in 1031 exchanges.

“Where do you start?” “How do you trust a company to correctly follow the IRS requirements?” These were some of the questions the client wanted to answer. After the initial education of how a 1031 works, the client’s main concern focused on the timing of the transactions given the replacement property was a short sale. Fortunately, they had flexibility on when they sold and closed on the Indiana farm allowing them to coordinate the Florida vacation replacement property closing within the same week. Consequently, the exchange funds were wired directly from the farmland closing to the attorney’s office in Florida. "The short sale added another layer of complexity but in the end, the bank signed the notice of assignment of the sales contract and the exchange worked easily."

Trust is a major issue when selecting a qualified intermediary. A qualified intermediary is required by the IRS when initiating a 1031 exchange. Atlas 1031 Exchange is a full time provider of qualified intermediary services with a Certified Exchange Specialist© on staff accommodating 1031 exchanges worldwide.

How did Atlas 1031 Exchange earn the client’s trust?

“Atlas is a very good communicator, both with timely email responses and return phone calls. In fact, in most instances, the phone call was answered on the first dial. Getting answers fast was my key to earning trust.”

Kurt and Mary Kroemer, Zionsville, Indiana"
Jamie Russen, 100% Financing Specialist (Jamie Russen - Greentree Mortgage): Mortgage and Lending in Voorhees, NJ Jamie Russen, 100% Financing Specialist (Jamie Russen - Greentree Mortgage) said almost 11 years ago,
"Through Active Rain I am able to reach clients and gain knowledge in ways I did not think was possible. Weather it be linking my social media pages (i.e. facebook and linkedin) to my email signature or just picking up new marketing idea's, Active Rain has been a huge asset to my success."