1. No category

FEBRUARY 2015
VOLUME 1, ISSUE # 36
UN IT ED R EA L
NEW SL E T T ER
E S TAT E
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
MESSAGE FROM THE
CEO
1
MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT
2
MESSAGE FROM THE
CMO
3
SECOND ANNUAL
CONVENTION
4
IN THE NEWS
5
ANNOUNCEMENTS
6-7
SOCIAL MEDIA/
VENDER SPOTLIGHT
8
UNITED SUPPORT/
FEBRUARY TECH-TIP/
INSPIRATION
9
AGENT RECOGNITION
10-11
SUPREME LENDING
12
UNITED UNIVERSITY
13
Core Values and Guiding Principles
History is fascinating and I have an insatiable curiosity for it. I will literally read,
listen or watch anything that allows me to get a view into what has come before
us. I especially find non-fiction works about periods that preceded great change
and the change itself most compelling. These works illuminate and provide
context and perspective on the challenges facing us today, and most importantly,
what can be done to convert these challenges into opportunities.
While not filed under “history” at Barnes & Noble, business books and business
leader biographical works are some of the best sources of inspiration for ideas
that can be applied to today’s market. There is a common element present in all
of the books on organizations that have accomplished great things.
All great organizations, companies and teams have one thing in common - a set of Core Values and
Guiding Principles that serve as both the foundation on which all of its members stand and a frame
in which those members operate. They define not only the object of the painting but equally, or
arguably more importantly, the “negative space” or unpainted space around the object of the
painting. Who we are and who we are not.
Without a clear understanding of shared Core Values and Guiding Principles companies struggle to
build and align team members to accomplish things greater than what any one or a few individuals
within the company can accomplish on their own.
Given that we are at the early stages of what will no doubt be a long and exciting journey, taking
decades to fully unfold, I would like to start a conversation amongst the entire United team through
the monthly newsletters for the next few months by featuring one of our Core Values and Guiding
Principles each month. Let’s start with -
See Things Differently
We believe that the future holds great opportunities for leaders who are willing to leverage fresh
perspectives, adapt to changing conditions and incorporate new learning into how they pursue
opportunities
SPECIAL POINTS OF
INTEREST:
Make plans to celebrate with us at the
United Real Estate Convention
March 19-21, 2015 Dallas, Texas.
Partial payments now available!
Contact:
[email protected]
855-441-6288
UREConvention.com
I can’t think of a single company in our space (or other markets for that matter) that is living this
core value more than United. We are all part of an organization that is leveraging a fresh
perspective on how real estate brokerages should be built, incorporating fundamental changes in
the way buyers and sellers of real estate want to do business.
By “seeing things differently” United insures that agents reap the rewards of their efforts, brokers
have predictable and profitable results and the national support team is clear on what they need to
do to support every team member and what is a fair and equitable compensation for doing so.
United’s model works…period.
Last year United agents sold nearly a billion dollars of real estate. United agents kept millions of
dollars that would otherwise have gone to pay royalties, fees and broker splits. All of this was
possible because we collectively See Things Differently.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the convention in Dallas in March. We look forward to
getting your feedback, sharing new ideas, building new friendships and to taking time to celebrating
your 2014 results.
Regards and good reading!
Dan Duffy
Chairman and CEO
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
We lco m e t o F eb rua r y ! As w e s t a rt t h e s ec ond m ont h o f t h e ne w y ea r, t he r e is
pl e nt y o f b ad n e ws o r g ood n e ws t o s e e in t he wo r ld, it a ll de p en ds o n y ou r
m inds et . F or e xa m p l e, y ou c ou ld lo ok at Feb r u ar y and t hi nk t h at it is an ot h er
col d w int e r m ont h, or l ook at it as b ei ng a m o nt h t h at is his t o ric al l y wa rm e r
t han Ja nu ar y an d m ov e s us cl os e r t o s p r ing . Y ou r m inds et als o h as a lot t o d o
wit h h ow s ucc es s f ul y o u w il l b e i n y ou r r eal es t at e b us i nes s . Th e d eci s io n t o go
fr om wa nt i ng t o ac hi e v e a go al t o act u al l y ac h ie vi ng a g oa l l i es w it h in eac h of us .
Th e d ec is i on t o c r eat e ou r ow n f ut u r e s t a rt s w he n yo u d e ve l op a t ru e b el ie f i n
what y o u ca n a ccom p lis h.
Th e re is a g r eat s c en e i n t h e W il l Sm it h m ov i e, T h e P u rs ui t of H a p pi n e s s , wh er e Sm it h’s cha r act e r
s ees a s ucc es s fu l ind i v idu al p ul l u p ne xt t o h i m in an e x pe ns i v e r ed Fe r ra r i. H e w ait s fo r hi m t o ex it
t he c a r a nd s a ys t o him , “I h av e a co u pl e of q u es t i o ns f or y ou. Wh a t d o yo u d o ? A nd h ow do y ou do i t ?”
Th e m o vi e is b as ed on t he t ru e - li fe s t o r y of a m an nam ed Ch ris Ga rd n e r, wh o we nt f r om b ei ng fo rc ed
t o l i ve o n t h e s t re et t o b ec om i ng a m i ll io na i re . In t h e act u al e v ent , t h e pe rs on i n t h e re d F e r ra ri
ans we r ed t hat h e was a s t ock b r ok e r, an d h e l a t er ag r e ed t o m eet w it h Ch ris t o dis c us s t h e b a s ics o f
ho w W al l St r e et a nd a s t ock b rok e r wo rk . N o w t akin g t h at ki nd of fi rs t s t e p is c r eat in g yo u r l if e a nd not
lis t en ing t o wh at ot h er p eo p le t e ll y ou y ou r li fe s ho uld b e !
Th e g o od n e ws is t h er e is a lot of r es ea rc h t hat has b e en c o nduct ed o n t h e s ci e nc e o f i gn it in g an d
s us t ai ni ng p os it iv e c ha nge i n yo u r l if e s o yo u can c r eat e b ot h t he r ea l es t at e b us in es s a nd -l i f es t yl e y ou d es ir e. In fact , b e i ng pos it i v e is a fo und at io n o f ou r c om pa n y’s g uid ing p r inc i pl es . W e b el ie ve t h a t
a p o si ti ve m e n ta l a t ti t u d e w h e n ad d re s s in g o p p or t u ni ti e s a nd c h al le n ge s i s t h e f ou nd a t io n f or s u cc e s s
fo r al l su c ce s sf ul e nd e av o rs . T o he l p t h e ent i r e Un it e d R ea l Es t at e c o m m un it y c re at e t h e pos it i ve
m inds et t hat wi ll al lo w t hem t o t h r i ve, w e ar e ha vi ng Mic h el le Gi el an, on e of t he fo un de rs of
Go odt h ink, Inc. , as ou r k e yn ot e s pe ak e r at t h e Un it e d R ea l Es t at e C on v ent io n. Mi ch el le w o rk s wit h
Fo rt un e 50 0 co m pan i es and s ch oo ls t o r ais e e m p lo y e e e ng ag em e nt , p ro duct i vit y a nd ha p pi ne s s at
wo rk . Y ou w il l n ot wa nt t o m is s t his o p po rt un it y t o m e et h e r a nd l e ar n fr om h e r in p e rs o n at t he
con v ent io n.
It ’s a ne w y ea r, a g r eat t im e t o p urs u e s o m e e x p er i enc es m an y of y ou ha ve n e ve r had b ef o r e; m ak e
on e t h os e ex p e ri enc es at t e ndi ng t h e 2 0 1 5 U ni t ed R e al Es t at e co n ve n t io n. Y ou wi ll b e gl ad y ou d id !
St a y p os it iv e, e nt h us ia s t ic a nd pas s io nat e ab out wh at yo u d o a nd I l ook fo r wa rd t o s e ei ng m an y of y ou
Ma rc h 19 – 21 in Da lla s !
Peter Giese
President
United Real Estate
2
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
MESSAGE FROM THE CMO
Getting Real: “Utility Marketing”
Have you ever wondered how some agents and offices dominate their markets on a consistent basis?
Maybe you are that agent or office? Maybe you aspire to be?
Regardless of the current state of your business there is always more opportunity. Utility marketing
is one proven method available to everyone. While you may not have heard of this term, you have
definitely experienced it. Radio is probably the most common application. When a segment is
“brought to you by: ______” – this is utility marketing. Sponsorships are great but there is so much
more available to us, especially in the digital space. Before we get started with some real estate
specific ideas, let’s take a look at the definition of utility marketing:
Utility marketing is advertising by offering tools or information that make people’s lives easier by providing them with usef ul
information, helping them understand their needs and by addressing their issues/needs.
How can you apply this to grow your real estate business. To get you thinking, I came up with a few ideas:

Publishing current real estate market facts, property owner real estate information and real estate related news from
your market area on your website. This could include recent sold average selling price information for different property
types, local real estate laws/regulations and forms, real estate topics you find from other sources about local real estate
news. You become the single source of all recent real estate news and important information.

Provide a list of area festivals, fairs and community events. These can be listed on your website (be sure to link when
appropriate) or published in a printed piece. This relevant area content is bound to increase your website’s reputation
with search engines.

Publish a review of neighborhood restaurants and bars on your website. Make it personal so that people moving from
out of town will know about that great dish that can only be found in your town. Bonus points for linking directly to the
menu on the restaurants’ sites.

Become the “go-to” resource for high school sports scores. Publish them on your site or create a new one just for sports
scores. Have a reputation for beating the newspapers. Become the high school ESPN of your market.

Give away pumpkins for Halloween. Create branded tags, attach them to the stems and deliver the pumpkins on the
front porches of your target area. If you have a truck, make a production out of the delivery event and fill up the bed
with hay and pumpkins. Make the delivery event itself festive and possibly newsworthy.

Provide a moving truck for in-town movers. You have probably seen this tactic, so take it a step further and provide (and
promote) a free moving kit. You can buy a set of 20 boxes, tape, dispenser, bubble wrap and packing paper for about
$50. Talk about a useful closing gift.
The truly great thing about utility marketing is it is a gift/value you are giving away to your community. The community you
rely on for listings, which are key to your success. Give something of value away, anticipate nothing in return, and I am
willing to bet that you will earn back your effort and investment tenfold.
For assistance in developing and executing your own utility marketing campaign or another breakthrough campaign for your
business please contact a member of your internal advertising agency, the EMS team at 816 -420-6200 or
EnhancedMarketing.net today.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kevin Oldham
CMO
United Real Estate
3
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
4
FEBRUARY 2015
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
IN THE NEWS….
Brenda Thompson: Building a Company
From the Ground Up
Congratulations to Brenda Thompson who started the very first United office in
Dallas, Texas and has built it to now over 240 agents
Brenda Thompson became the Managing Broker for the very first United Real Estate office
in the nation—an office that consisted of Brenda and only 10 other agents. Now, thanks to
Brenda’s hard work and love of people, the Dallas location is bustling with 240 agents and
has an annual production value of over $150
million, all achieved within three years. And the
company continues to grow. Brenda will soon
become the Area Vice President, a role that
allows her to guide the development of area
franchises in addition to her current
responsibilities as the Managing Broker.
This new position will allow her to ultimate
even more growth within the company and help
add to the already abundant company diversity
as well. Her office speaks a whopping 29
different languages, so the goal of diversity
expansion may be challenging, but given her
incredible track record, Brenda seems more
than capable to overcome this challenge.
Continue reading article
UNITE D R E AL E STATE GRO UP CO N TIN UES RA PI D
GROWTH, EARNING WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION
Leadership is the key to success. CEO Dan Duffy is featured in Swanepoel's Power 200.
Dan Duffy has been recognized as part of the next generation of real estate
brokers by real estate education and consultancy firm T3 Experts. The firm is
led by real estate speaker, consultant and author Stefan Swanepoel, along
with technology and brokerage experts Michael McClure and Jack Miller.
Since acquiring United Country Real Estate in 2006, Duffy was the only
person to successfully launch two real estate companies during possibly the
worst housing crisis in America’s history – United Real Estate and United
Country Auction Services.
“We are honored to be recognized by Stefan for the second year in a row,”
said Dan Duffy, CEO of United Real Estate. “United Real Estate Group is
always looking to improve upon its offerings to agents and brokers. Our
overarching goal is to provide our agents with the tools to be successful
and with our ongoing expansion to top national markets. We continually
prove that United’s business model is unlike any other in the industry.”
Continue reading article
5
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
ANNOUNCEMENTS
United JumpStart
JumpStart your real estate career with the industry’s most
comprehensive new agent training program, best tools and most
attractive commission structure at United Real Estate.
VISIT UNITED UNIVERSITY FOR PROGRAM
DETAILS & SIGN UP!
Accelerate your real estate career with the industry’s most comprehensive experienced
agent training program.
LIST AND SELL REAL ESTATE LIKE CRAZY AND
MARKET AND PROSPECT REAL ESTATE LIKE CRAZY!
TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS
8 training chapters per module with step-by-step training manuals available 24-7
Activity to enhance productivity • Weekly productivity group coaching calls! (Additional Fee)
Customized real estate education • The best listing and selling techniques!
The best marketing and prospecting techniques! • Access for 1 year
Add 8 Weeks of
Productivity Group Coaching Calls
for just $100!
VISIT UNITED UNIVERSITY FOR PROGRAM DETAILS & SIGN UP!
It’s only $147 per module to Accelerate Your Career!
6
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO UNITED REAL ESTATE – PHILADELPHIA AGENT, SUDHAKARARAO AVULURI
ON WINNING THE Q4 AGENT REFERRAL DRAWING! NOT ONLY DID RAYO RECEIVE A CHECK FOR
$500, HE IS ALSO ENTERED INTO THE DRAWING FOR $5000. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT
THE UNITED REAL ESTATE CONVENTION IN MARCH 2015. WAY TO GO RAYO!
The $5000 Drawing promotion is valid for all current United Real Estate agents that qualified for
the $100 referral bonus between January 1st and December 31st in 2014.
Must be present at the 2015 URE Convention to win!
United Real Estate Welcomes our Newest Offices
United Real Estate Richmond–Richmond, VA - John Finn, Jr., Toni Lewis & Jeffrey Finn
United Real Estate McKinney - McKinney, TX - Vishal Dave
United Real Estate Flower Mound/Denton - Flower Mound/Denton, TX - Vishal Dave
7
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SOCIAL MEDIA
FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED REAL ESTATE NETWORK WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
V ENDO R SPO T LI GH T - H O ME WA R R A NT Y O F A MER I CA
United Real Estate is proud to announce Home Warranty of America as one of
our preferred partners!
Why choose HWA?
HWA has been in business since 1996, and a leader of the home warranty industry.
HWA provides high value and protection against the ever-increasing cost of home
and appliance repair.
Instead of the standard 12 months, HWA coverage is good for 13 months with low
trace fees. Coverage on owner-occupied listing up to 180 days - that’s 6 months!
www.hwaHomeWarranty.com
Call Us: 888-492-7359 | In CA: 888-325-5143
8
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
UNITED SUPPORT CENTER
WHETHER YOU HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION OR NEED HELP WITH TECHNOLOGY,
WE ARE AVAILABLE BY PHONE, EMAIL OR LIVE CHAT.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
MON — FRI 8:00 AM TO 6:00 PM CST
1.855.441.6288
[email protected]
WWW.UREINTRANET.COM - LIVE CHAT
U R E M O N T H LY T E C H T I P :
Did you know?
You can perform a contact search using an email address in
Peak Performance.
INSPIRATION
9
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
AGENT RECOGNITION
Raising the Bar—2014 URE Millennium Club Members
Platinum
Jessica Enochs
Philly
Gold
Alan Press
Annamarie Cicero
Arthur Ku
Brandon Kurdziel
Brenda Stewart
Carl Fischer
Carol Toups-Bray
Chris Rosenburg
Cyndi Jones
Danilo Bogdanovic
David Ramirez
Diane Benjamin
Diane McCawley
Donna Levine
Edgar Davis
Dallas
KC
Chicago
Chicago
Lexington
Washington, DC
Houston
Chicago
Lexington
Washington, DC
Chicago
Dallas
Washington, DC
Dallas
KC
Efrosinty de Graf
Eli Haddad
Elizabeth Lundeen
Geoff Brewer
Greg Douglas
Gregory Martire
James (Jim) Blaha
Jamie Brooks
John Salkowski
Karina Rojas
Kellie Leighton
Kelly Lark
Kristi Jelsing
Leslie Webb
Lorelei Carter
Houston
Lexington
Dallas
Lexington
Dallas
Philly
Chicago
Washington, DC
Philly
Washington, DC
Houston
Houston
Washington, DC
Lexington
Scottsdale
Lynne Tran
Mary Herrera
Mercedes Delmar
Michelle Cruz
Nancy Banchik
Nazira Nurani
Raquel Montes
Rebecca Privette
Renzo Villacorta
Sharon Handshoe
Steve Johnson
Susan Sloane
Suzanne Fields
Towanda Lahor
Wadie Ashamalla
LA
Dallas
Dallas
Scottsdale
Scottsdale
Dallas
Houston
Houston
Washington, DC
Lexington
Houston
Lexington
Washington, DC
Lexington
Chicago
Silver
Adriana Mar
Alemayehu Abebe
Alexa St.Julian
Alexandra Fincher
Amy Boone
Angela Kunzler
Angela Lewis
Angela Almazan-Martinez
Angie Fields
Angie Wheeler
Anita Marion
Anna CorvoTallarico
Annette Schafer
Annie Holowatyj
Antonio Cousin
Asif Shah
Assal Aldrei
10
Dallas
Dallas
Houston
Dallas
Lexington
KC
Lexington
Chicago
Lexington
KC
Wash DC
Chicago
Wash DC
Chicago
Dallas
Wash DC
Dallas
Irene Dagher
Ivette Patino
Jackie Hill
James Baranello
James Brown
James Mayer
Janalei Capobianco
Janet O'Donohue
Janette Bukac
Jeannine Williams
Jennie Ku
Jennifer Jackson
Jennifer Jenkins
Jenny Loo
Jerome Pemberton
Jerry (Gerald) Gray
Jerry Dale Smith
Dallas
Houston
Philly
Philly
Lexington
Chicago
Dallas
KC
Chicago
Houston
Chicago
Lexington
Scottsdale
Chicago
Houston
Dallas
Dallas
Nami Koenig
Nancy Scheuerman
Nara Rakhmetova
Neal Metts
Nicholas Clancy
Nikki Kienast
Pam Potoczek
Pat Spaulding
Patty Bentley
Peter Vanderveld
Qi Lin Jiang
Randy Kloss
Rehana Syed
Renu Singh
Rick Michels
Robert Pearson
Roberta Alvir
Dallas
Chicago
Wash DC
Chicago
Chicago
Dallas
Indy
Houston
Scottsdale
Chicago
Dallas
Lexington
Philly
Wash DC
Dallas
Wash DC
Chicago
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
AGENT RECOGNITION
Raising the Bar—2014 URE Millennium Club Members
Silver
Avina Reis
Barbara Bloomer
Barbara Capobianco
Barbara Dunlop Byrd
Becki Schell
Bethany White
Betsy Givens
Bill Thomas
Brenda Daly
Bruce Bright
Carolyn Gener
Charles King
Christine Allocca
Christy Shaw
Chuck Dye
Cindy (Lee) Scholly
Cindy Weber
Connie Schuermeyer
Craig Roe
Criselda Thomas
Curt Mikulla
Daniel Beniek
Daniel Infante
David Bell
David Christensen
Debra Kent
Diana Casey
Diana Secor
Dina Holt
Dino Pizzoferrato
Donna Donofrio
Donna Lilley
Dorothy Bivens
Earl Carson
Edgar Saborit
Elena Shillingburg
Emilee Shomin
Errol Veno
Farhan Syed
Forouz Farnoush
Francis McMenamin
Frank Silvestrini
Fredy Rodriguez
Gerry (Geraldine) Gray
Giancarlo Chavez
Gloria Lin
Hanna Huang
Howard Clark
Hugh McKie
Humberto Santillanes
Ialeen Cole
11
Houston
Lexington
Dallas
Houston
Lexington
KC
Lexington
Lexington
Louisville
Indy
Dallas
Lexington
Wash DC
Dallas
KC
Chicago
KC
Lexington
Chicago
Wash DC
Indy
Chicago
Houston
Philly
LA
Indy
Houston
Chicago
Philly
Chicago
Wash DC
KC
Houston
LA
Lexington
Wash DC
KC
Dallas
Wash DC
Wash DC
Philly
Wash DC
Wash DC
Dallas
Chicago
Chicago
Houston
Houston
Houston
Chicago
Dallas
Jin Liu
Joann VanBuskirk
Joe Faulkner
Joe Greer
Joel Vanags
John Baxter
John Child
John Greer
Jolene Ducommun
Jonathan McGinnis
Jonathan Noel
Jordana Belt
Joyce Benoit
Juan Zapata
Juli Black
Julie Liu
Justin Dibbs
Kandice Gremillion
Karen Baker
Karen Martin
Kathy Draeger
Kelley Dillon
Kevin Warren
Khanh Nguyen
Kim Northington
Kim Smith
Kimberly Douthitt
Larry Hamlin
LaToya Dunn
Laura Henderson
Lerma Sampang
Lester Panek
Lisa Beckham
Lovell Larkin
Lyndi Huddleston
Lyndon Lapasaran
Lynn McKenzie
Lynn Sivertsen
Manal Broeckelmann
Peggie Costello
Mayte Castro
Maria Rodriguez
Mark Schwarz
Mary Lozano
Maurice Saylor
Maw-Suen Ma
Megan Hancock
Melodie Kentshire
Michael Puckett
Myrna Santiago-Martinez
Nam Giang
Chicago
Houston
Indy
Dallas
Indy
Dallas
Philly
Dallas
Dallas
Wash DC
Lexington
Houston
Dallas
Chicago
Dallas
Chicago
Wash DC
Houston
Dallas
Dallas
Chicago
Dallas
Indy
Wash DC
Lexington
Lexington
Lexington
Dallas
Lexington
Scottsdale
Houston
Chicago
KC
Lexington
Lexington
Chicago
Lexington
Dallas
Houston
Chicago
Chicago
Dallas
Chicago
Dallas
Wash DC
Dallas
Chicago
Houston
Indy
Chicago
Wash DC
Rocio Ramon
Rosa Bueno
Roxanne Buttorff
Russell Wright
Safa Kharsa
Salvatore Mazzulla
Sara Kraemer
Sarah Kwon
Sari Larson
Sergio Hidalgo
Shannon Williams
Sharon Lopez
Shaun Anzaldua
Sheila Rhodes
Sheryl Galvan
Srinivasa Nadar
Stacy Kelly
Stella Mahaney
Stephanie Barbera
Steve Amato
Steve Crofts
Steve Reaves
Steven Almasri
Stormy Presson
Sue Winters
Susan Nick
Susie Kartawidjaja
Suzy Bennett
Tammy Wells
Ted Richards
Teresa Lee
Teresa Wang
Thaddeus Ates
Theresa Cooksley
Theresa Houghton-Fryer
Thomas (Frank) Sasco
Thomas (Tom) Williams
Thomas Stackhouse
Tiffany Goldstone
Todd Westby
Tony Torres
Trista Haugen
Tyler Haug
Valrie Frame
Velma Martinez
Vicky Shih
Virang Mehta
Wes Black
Yuri Golubchik
Yvette Couty
Houston
Chicago
Louisville
Houston
Houston
Chicago
Lexington
Wash DC
Lexington
Houston
Chicago
Houston
Houston
Houston
Dallas
Wash DC
Dallas
Wash DC
Philly
Dallas
Dallas
Lexington
Chicago
Houston
Lexington
Chicago
Dallas
Dallas
Lexington
Dallas
Dallas
Dallas
Dallas
Wash DC
Philly
Chicago
Indy
Philly
LA
Philly
Chicago
Wash DC
Dallas
Wash DC
Houston
Chicago
Dallas
Louisville
Dallas
Chicago
UNITED REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
SUPREME LENDING
Between its inception in 2008 and the end of 2013, crowdfunding - “the practice of raising funds
from multiple individuals via the web”- became a $5 billion industry, according to a 2013 study
by the World Bank.
While crowdfunding campaigns have been used for everything from producing a new product to
making potato salad (seriously, the guy raised $55,000), they are now being used for something
much more personal. People nationwide are now turning to crowdfunding sites to help them buy
a house.
Many of these sites are targeted toward couples about to tie the knot. They work much like
traditional wedding registry sites in that the couple registers online, creates a list of options for
their guests to purchase, and then shares the site with their friends and loved ones. But instead
of a toaster, the options include things such as $150 toward closing costs or $300 toward a
down payment.
There are other sites that are more targeted to those already in their home and looking to
renovate or remodel. Users can upload pictures or blueprints to share their vision with their
friends and family and add options such as $100 for paint or $200 for a new fridge.
While this may be a good option for some, there is also debate over the tactfulness and even
the legality of using others to fund your new home purchase.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when working with customers who have or are considering
using these sites.
1. Gift funds must be properly documented when using them toward a down payment.
2. You will not qualify for a tax deduction for contributing to one of these sites. It is a gift, not a
donation.
3. The money may be required to sit at the bank for 60 days before it can be used - just like cash
would.
http://www.infodev.org/crowdfunding
http://blog.credit.com/2014/08/can-you-crowdfund-your-mortgage-93992/
Questions for us? Email [email protected] or call (877)316-0296
Supreme Lending
NMLS ID #2129
14801 Quorum Drive, Ste 300
Dallas, Texas 75254
Disclaimer (link to: http://corporate.supremelending.com/Disclaimer.aspx)
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