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Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Bring in a Lender, a Title Closer, a Home Inspector, an Insurance Agent, and/or other industry professionals.  Let them give 5 or 10 minute presentations.  Let those pros ask the audience, "are there any questions?".   Be sure to start some applause when you introduce those pros, and again when they are finished.

     Host it at your Board Office, or some other INSURED location in case of liability issues (somebody slips and falls).

     Make sure that whatever the Lender provides or does complies with RESPA.

    Be sure to promote it heavily (you don't want 3 or 4 people to show up).  Require tickets or RSVP; that gives you a better idea of how many to expect.

 

 

 

May 31, 2016 08:09 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

1. Talk sixth grade level

2. Make it fun

3. Contests with prizes

4. Audience participation

5. Do a Q & A

May 31, 2016 11:35 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Good idea to host these Jillian, I have no advice but if I were going to host one the first thing I would do is search for blog posts on this, study them and then call the authors for even more insights.

May 31, 2016 08:20 AM
Rainer
69,794
Shawn and Angela Miller
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Amabassador Real Estate - Lincoln, NE
Lincoln and Omaha, NE REALTORS®

Probably first touch on some of the major issues we as agents always have to talk about with first time homebuyers like:

1. Truth about zillow and zestimates and other internet sites listing foreclosures

2. Always call your agent you are working with about any property whether or not its listed by me or another agent.

3. Tell buyers to never contact a FSBO without representation

4. How working with a buyers agent is FREE and they don't have to pay

5. Inform them of the current market conditions and if it's a hot market, get the low ballers the truth that they will never get a house in this market.

6. Importance of getting pre-approved!!  Big one here!

7. Finish up with a purchase senerio and the steps it take to get to closing

I like the other ideas of teaming up with an lender and escrow closer to describe the step by step process that happens after offer is accepted.  Leave room for question and answer.  If its a lender or title company you use often, they may even chip in for snacks, drinks, etc...  Just ask them!

Jun 01, 2016 09:57 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Fred Griffin always gives the best advice....

Jun 01, 2016 02:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Partner with a reputable mortgage broker who has multiple sources of funding and does all loan products from VA , USDA, FHA, etc.

Jun 01, 2016 12:36 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,419
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Seek assistance from your favorite mortgage loan officer.

May 31, 2016 09:46 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Hook up with an experienced lending agent - brainstorm with your broker or others in the office who have done this - I've done a few

Adtvertise, advertise, advertise!!! <- best advice I can give

May 31, 2016 09:38 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,922
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Start small...limit the number of attendees to 10-15 so everyone has a chance to ask questions and get to know you. The number of presenters you have will depend on how much time you are planning for the seminar. For the first seminar, maybe just have a lender, appraiser and yourself then have a second seminar with an inspector, insurance and title reps. Information overload is your enemy so don't offer too much info at once. It is a lot for them to absorb all at once so make sure everyone who presents offers good handouts to take home.

 

May 31, 2016 04:37 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Jillian La Rocque - there are a few good posts here in rain.

I used to host with my lenders. May be, I'll start once again...

May 31, 2016 03:36 PM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I've done a few First Time Homebuyer Seminars.  We hosted it at a Local Library or Hotel (some place where the prospective buyers would not feel uncomfortable.  Then we would invite a Lender, Home Inspector, Title Company, Insurance Agent, and I would be the Realtor.  We would also get some promotional items as well as contributions from local vendors to give at intervals of every 15 minutes via a Drawing.  We make it fun, educational and entertaining.  

May 31, 2016 12:52 PM
Ambassador
5,049,466
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I think Fred Griffin has it all covered.

Be sure to have materials for attendees to take with them

May 31, 2016 09:51 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Not to through cold water on your idea but I have done several of these over the years and had them well planned even partnering with lenders, decorators and home inspectors with lots of advertising and tons of social media and the expense and time did not yield a good return. Buyer can get all the info they need online anytime of day.

May 31, 2016 09:15 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Fred has givn you good advice.

May 31, 2016 08:52 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Don't try to cover all topics yourself. Agent, lender, title attorney, home inspector, housing counselor, can all play a part.

May 31, 2016 08:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Bring a few speakers. Your broker introduce, get a lender, appraiser explain the buying process.  Take a break to socialize.  

At the end introduce the agents who will be showing homes before they quickly disappear.

May 31, 2016 08:43 AM
Rainmaker
823,579
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

Fred Griffin provided some detailed and good advice!

May 31, 2016 08:17 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Sell yourself by showing them that you know the market, community, buyers and sellers.  They need to trust you with their number one investment or the seminar will be a waste.  You'll do fine.  Get one client at least.  Get names, addresses, emails and cell phone numbers. Stay in touch. Get them on your email letter that you send out monthly.  Find out what they want and send them new listings daily.  Work it

Jun 01, 2016 04:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,390,113
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

We've conducted a few, always with a team of a realtor (us), a mortgage rep, a real estate attorney, home inspector, and occassionally also with a title agent and/or insurance agent. Our more successful attempts were those at which there were prizes - the "bling" your company or the other companies give away. It's extremely important to invite every potential lead you've come in contact with for the past year and advertise the living daylights out of your seminar - we've had attendance ranging from zero to a few dozen.

Good luck - I hope to hear about your successs in a future blog! 

Jun 01, 2016 08:22 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,339
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I would look for partners to co-host:

Lender

Title and/or Escrow Officer

Inspector(s)

Home Protection Company

Yikes!  This is a lot of work...forget the seminar and

Prospect...Prospect...Prospect

May 31, 2016 11:22 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

#1. Where are these first time home buyers? The location of the event must be convenient to the population base.

#2. Make sure you know the three types who will attend and have the materials available to enable them to self-select. You will need trained staff to know how to Shepard those who have selected.

#3. This is the most important. Create a sustained presence. Every Thursday or every 2nd Thursday of the month and be visible. Menu boards, direct mail and in this case, do those bulletin boards. Don't shy away from co-advertising with 'Habitat' or 'Hometown Hero' programs.

Others have advised what you need to have available, staffing required and always keep safety in mind.

Best of success,
Annette

May 31, 2016 11:15 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

parked and reading

May 31, 2016 10:07 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Just make it fun!

May 31, 2016 12:28 PM
Rainer
187,002
Raj Taj
RE/MAX - Lake Bluff, IL
Drive By Blessings!

Don't do it, not a good investment of your time.

May 31, 2016 10:39 AM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

bring a lender

Jun 17, 2017 07:43 AM