ActiveRain Success Stories

Andrew Capelli: Education & Training in Troy, MI Andrew Capelli said over 10 years ago,
"In following the rankings on ActiveRain, I struck up a friendly competition with David Sullivan, a credit repair expert and fellow blogger. Dave and I began corresponding, and he introduced me to the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association. I have enrolled, joined the membership committee, and have met a lot of great professionals in the local real estate/lending industry. Taking advantage of the community aspect of ActiveRain is what led me to make those wonderful connections."
Bernadine Hunter, SFR, ACRE, "Finding Solution to Your Real Estate Needs" (Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty): Real Estate Agent in Pickerington, OH Bernadine Hunter, SFR, ACRE, "Finding Solution to Your Real Estate Needs" (Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty) said over 10 years ago,
"Mine is not the typical Active Rain success story. I cannot yet say that I have closed a certain dollar amount in deals because of my Active Rain membership. What I can say is because of my AR membership and outside blog, I've been able to receive so much excellent information and encouragement about my business. This, in turn, has increased my confidence 100% to the point where I am actively blogging and getting feedback on my blogs. It is just a matter of time when I will be able to say that I actually got a viable lead or referral based on my AR participation."
John Cannata, Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance (214-728-0449   http://TexasLoanGuy.com): Mortgage and Lending in Frisco, TX John Cannata, Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance (214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com) said over 10 years ago,
"I'm not sure I can pick just ONE success story as a result of my time on Activerain. I started blogging back in 2008. Since that time, I've met and worked with several Real Estate Agents. Even more impressive is that I was able to attract buyers, homeowners looking to refinance, and of course some other business partners such as Insurance Agents, Credit Repair Consultants, and other like-minded Mortgage Professionals.

More than 70% of my income has come from blogging on Activerain. You never know which post will get the attention. I've seen it come from business and even some of the more personal posts. I'm SUPER happy that I was introduced to Activerain by a local agent and even more happy that I stuck with it to see my business continue to grow.

Thank you Activerain - its members, and its staff."
Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers (The Flooring Girl): Home Builder in White Plains, NY Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers (The Flooring Girl) said over 10 years ago,
"I have learned so much on this site and met some really great people. In addition, within one month, my website traffic improved 20% and leads +38%. Month 2 has been growing 20% beyond that and typically during summer months leads and traffic decrease.

I also got 3 leads from one of the realtors here. We closed and installed one of those jobs last week and have appointments set for the others.

Looking forward to meeting more people on here - both virtually and live."
Beth Larsen, Sedona Arizona (RE/MAX Sedona): Real Estate Agent in Sedona, AZ Beth Larsen, Sedona Arizona (RE/MAX Sedona) said over 10 years ago,
"I received a listing referral from a Los Angeles agent who had tried to assist a client in obtaining a loan modification on his home in Sedona (he had to move for LA for work), but was turned down by the bank. We were able to list the Seller's Sedona home and help him complete a successful short sale. Thanks Active Rain, for helping us connect!"
Sheri Spain, Wake Co. NC REALTOR Apex to Raleigh to Wake Forest (Next Home Team): Real Estate Agent in Raleigh, NC Sheri Spain, Wake Co. NC REALTOR Apex to Raleigh to Wake Forest (Next Home Team) said over 10 years ago,
"I love this site for reaching out to other agents around the country that are interested in helping the real estate consumer gain valueable information"
Ken Barker Realtor® GRI, E-Pro Certified (Dilbeck Real Estate): Real Estate Agent in Burbank, CA Ken Barker Realtor® GRI, E-Pro Certified (Dilbeck Real Estate) said over 10 years ago,
"We are here in AR for a lot of things but one major component we are here for is to receive and give referrals. I started back with AR in May of 2010, after joining in 2008. When I found the referral forum I placed my information in the blocks and set off on my blogging awaiting an opportunity to give or receive a referral.
Although my first referral did not complete my second has closed and a commission check was received as well as a referral check sent out.
In October of 2010, an AR member in Palos Verdes, Norma Toering, contacted a popular AR member, an MLO Donne Knudsen, to see if she knew of a good Listing Agent in the Simi Valley area. Since Donne and I have closed many deals successfully she referred my name out to Norma. So this is a referral from an AR member to an AR member through another AR member.
Thank you Active Rain I am on my way to meet more and more in the community to have much more success."
Karen Johnson, Realtor, ABR, "Bucks County PA Homes" (Addison Wolfe Real Estate ): Real Estate Agent in Doylestown, PA Karen Johnson, Realtor, ABR, "Bucks County PA Homes" (Addison Wolfe Real Estate ) said over 10 years ago,
"I am proud to say that ActiveRain was my first real estate social network that I had joined when I became a Realtor. In addition, ActiveRain was the website where I wrote my first blog and posted my first comment on a blog. They made it very easy to join and to participate in the community!"
Jackie Grant (Professional Home Staging By Gina): Home Stager in Clermont, FL Jackie Grant (Professional Home Staging By Gina) said over 10 years ago,
"I have been successful and have met wonderful people working in the CHM field and I enjoy doing what i do best. It has helped my family and I have a good life and a comfortable life, as a single mom. Thank you for your time,
Regina Jackie Grant"
Sean Thorson, Corpus Christi, TX Realtor, Sean Thorson, Realtor Corpus Christi, TX (myCorpusHome.com/Keller Williams Coastal Bend): Real Estate Agent in Corpus Christi, TX Sean Thorson, Corpus Christi, TX Realtor, Sean Thorson, Realtor Corpus Christi, TX (myCorpusHome.com/Keller Williams Coastal Bend) said over 10 years ago,
"I have used active rain now and then over the last year and a half as a mortgage banker. Now focusing my energies as a full time Realtor I hope to have a great success story soon. If you have any tips to maximize my Activerain experience I would love to hear them. More coming soon, Thank you for visiting my Blog."
Johnny Davis, Where SOLD Happens!: Real Estate Agent in Ocala, FL Johnny Davis, Where SOLD Happens! said over 10 years ago,
"I am pleased to say that the Discovery Channel contacted me regarding one of my blogs. If the Discovery Channel can find me, what do you think I can do with your house?"
Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty (Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Fort Wayne, IN Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty (Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843) said over 10 years ago,
"A few weeks ago we went to a listing appointment. The sellers said they found us online and read our Active Rain blog. We got the listing before we even walked in the door. Thanks Active Rain!!

I (Jared) got a call from a buyer that was looking for a home in NW Fort Wayne. Once we knew he was pre-approved I went out to a home to meet him. He told me that he felt like he knew me because he read our blog on Active Rain."
Waynette Hoover Araj, Connecting your Dreams with the Right Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty): Real Estate Agent in Asheboro, NC Waynette Hoover Araj, Connecting your Dreams with the Right Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty) said over 10 years ago,
"Active Rain is a daily part of my business routine. All the questions that I might have as a real estate professional are answered right here. From blogging, marketing, SEO, photography, and politics, and everything in between, AR has everything I need."
Annie Fleeting, Annie Fleeting (NextHome Beach Time Realty): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Saint Pete Beach, FL Annie Fleeting, Annie Fleeting (NextHome Beach Time Realty) said over 10 years ago,
"In 2007 when the housing's burst bubble busted me, I had a bunch of lemons and no really good recipe for lemonade! What to do? I reinvented myself! Unsold condos we had I turned into Vacation Homes and with that income we weathered the storm. In 2010, I decided to expand the Vacation Rental business and with my Broker and friend, Michael Gaskin, we opened Vacation Rental Heaven, a boutique brokerage that served to help others, who like us, needed income from their empty condo to pay the mortgage! From there the business blossomed and in 2012, I hired a wonderful Assistant, Max Martinez, to help me handle our burgeoning business of Vacation Rentals. More than a million dollars later in rental income, with hundreds of satisfied customers - many of whom have become friends, I think back on the beginning of that venture. Thank you to Kim Caliendo, a local broker and friend that guided me on this road. It is not an easy path! But it has led to our opening two offices and morphed Vacation Rental Heaven into Beach Time Realty Group in 2013. And so, a new journey begins as we branch out to expand what started as a small rental program into a full service property sales and management enterprise!"
Alan Adamo, Your Huntington Beach REALTOR® (Westline Real Estate): Real Estate Agent in Huntington Beach, CA Alan Adamo, Your Huntington Beach REALTOR® (Westline Real Estate) said over 10 years ago,
"At first I wasn't really sure what ActiveRain was all about. I have found it to be the most informative and exciting forum for real estate related issues, I have learned a great deal from other real estate professional's experience and perspectives. I highly recommened using ActiveRain regularly."
Patti Irwin, No Pressure, No Sales Pitch, Just Expert Advice! (HomeSmart Lifestyles-Fountain Hills AZ Real Estate): Real Estate Agent in Fountain Hills, AZ Patti Irwin, No Pressure, No Sales Pitch, Just Expert Advice! (HomeSmart Lifestyles-Fountain Hills AZ Real Estate) said over 10 years ago,
"I have worked with many agent referrals who have found me through Active Rain"
Jean Hanley, Specializing in Folks Who Want To Buy/Sell Homes (Coldwell Banker Kivett Teeters): Real Estate Agent in Hemet, CA Jean Hanley, Specializing in Folks Who Want To Buy/Sell Homes (Coldwell Banker Kivett Teeters) said over 10 years ago,
"I have not only given out referrals on ActiveRain, but I have also received a few. I really love the fact that we can be viewed by our peers on the Rain and work together on referrals to a successful closing."
Ava Anderson, Selling Atlanta from A-Z! (A-Z Atlanta Realty ): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Snellville, GA Ava Anderson, Selling Atlanta from A-Z! (A-Z Atlanta Realty ) said over 10 years ago,
"Client saw my profile on Active Rain called me and I got her pre-approved. Then we looked for the house and had it under contract within 3 weeks and 3 weeks later she closed just in time for New Years 2012.

My newest client found me as a result of a blog posted in 2007 about the local aquatic center and called me up. I contacted my lender got him pre-approved and now we are working on finding him and his family their new home.

Client found me as a result of a blog post written here on Active Rain, I was headed out of town on vacation but I told her I would call her as soon as I arrived back from my trip. When I got back a week later I called her and we scheduled our first appointment. One year letter she found the home over her dreams and we made it through closing successfully."
Retired from ActiveRain: Services for Real Estate Pros in Baker, OR Retired from ActiveRain said over 10 years ago,
"The ActiveRain community is a daily source of fresh knowledge and ideas to incorporate into systems and projects for current and future business clients."
Jim McCormack, Nashville Short Sale REALTOR - Stop Foreclosure (Nashville Short Sale Specialist - Jim McCormack - Edge Advantage Realty, LLC - 615-796-6898): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Murfreesboro, TN Jim McCormack, Nashville Short Sale REALTOR - Stop Foreclosure (Nashville Short Sale Specialist - Jim McCormack - Edge Advantage Realty, LLC - 615-796-6898) said over 10 years ago,
"My ActiveRain Blog is an integral part of my overall internet presence that I use to establish myself as a premier short sale agent in the Nashville Tennessee area."