We've all been there. Tempted by that perfect piece of content, we gladly offer up our email addresses, only to regret it later. With each generic, templated email we receive, we're one step closer to hitting the unsubscribe button. Well, guess what. If you can sniff out a mass email from a mile away - so can your leads. Because the one thing we seem to keep forgetting is that no two subscribers are ever the same, and over-relying on the same played-out drip sequence won't help you win their loyalty. But what if you could close more deals with less effort by simply using your tech tools more intentionally? If you're looking for ways to use automation to connect with your leads on a deeper, more human level - keep reading. We've got some proven tips to help you use tech for good. Real estate drip campaigns are not a cure-allBefore we dive deeper into how to fix your drip campaigns, let's talk a little more about why they're broken in the first place. Because the irony is, we all know we need to nurture our leads. We've heard it a million times. We've read all about the business owners who make 50% more sales at 33% less cost because of their awesomely warmed-up databases. And the 18X more revenue targeted emails can bring. But these results often feel like they're meant for someone else, someone who has more time, more resources, or both. So what most of us end up doing is set up an automated drip sequence, and walk away. We feel good about having ticked another box off the “should-do” marketing list, but deep down, we wonder how effective it'll actually be. Because the truth is, in today's always-on age of chatbots and social media, having a drip campaign for the sake of simply “staying in front of” your prospects no longer makes sense. Buyers are more empowered than ever before. And though the volume of homes hasn't changed all that much (we're looking at the first major market shift in a decade), the ways in which we sell those homes have changed dramatically. It's time come out and say it: All this technology is making agents lazy.To be fair, maybe “overwhelmed” is a better word. But whichever way you cut it, not calling leads, ignoring emails and sending the same generic auto-responder to all prospects just proves most agents don't really understand their leads - and worse, they're not concerned with making themselves truly valuable to their prospects. Still, the numbers don't lie. 80% of marketing automation users have seen an increase in leads, and 77% have seen the number of conversions increase. The question isn't whether or not you should use technology - obviously, this stuff works. The real question is this: How can you use technology to stay one step ahead of the competitors, disruptors and ultra-informed leads who are permanently changing the way homes are bought and sold? Scrap the generic drip sequence and close more dealsFrom VR property viewings to transaction management via the blockchain, most agents are afraid of being replaced by technology. According to Joshua Smith coach, mentor and host of the #1 Most Downloaded Real Estate Agent Podcast, GSD Mode, “There are several things happening in our industry currently. First, we have a market shift that is taking place, but this is nothing new for our industry, just remember: 'There Is No Such Thing as a Bad Market, It Is Always Good for Someone'. As Real Estate Agents, we need to identify who the market is good for and adapt to serve their needs. That's how you thrive in shifts.” As disruptors continue to shake up even the most tried and true industry best practices, experts like Joshua say that what separates the winning agents from the rest is whether or not you can resist the urge to bury your head in the sand. “We need to take massive action on this as the future role of the real estate agent depends on it,” says Joshua. Segment your list based on what really mattersLet's imagine a perfect scenario where prospects walk right into your office with a complete profile including details about their knowledge of your brand, level of interest in buying or selling, what type of house they're into, budget, etc. That'd be amazing, right? But since it's rarely (if ever) the case that you have that much intel, you need to put a real effort into narrowing down your lead segments based on what you do know about them. Then, regroup your sales and marketing efforts to consistently deliver what they want, when they want it. Most CRMs allow you to get extremely specific, narrowing it down to:
In Follow Up Boss, we think a simple approach is best:
No matter which of the hundreds of CRMs you've singled out as the one that'll work for you and your team, it should be flexible enough to adapt to the real-world behaviors of your leads - and your team - so that you're always ready to act anytime a lead takes a big leap forward in their buying journey. Keep your emails succinct and humanThere's something about the 9-Word Email that makes it so effective. Business owners who use it say the engagement with their leads is higher and that leads convert faster. So next time you're sending out an email, why not try it out? You could write something simple like, “Are you still interested in housing in South Carolina?” or “Have you seen our new listings in Wrigleyville, Chicago?” In Follow Up Boss, you can create Smart Lists of segmented leads and send tailored follow up emails your leads will actually reply to. Here's a quick example: Hey [Lead Name], [Agent Name] Let's not forget, one of the main reasons consumers love technology is because it's so simple to get a fast, frictionless reply. Make it easy and they won't be able to resist. Plus, all customers care about the little things. Let's say you've closed a sale - this doesn't mean your work is done. Show your gratitude by using a personalized drip campaign to send a short “Thank you for trusting us” email, then add your new customer into a past client follow up sequence that includes a mix of direct mail, phone and email correspondence. Trust us, it will make a difference. Never forget the power of face-to-face interactionWe obviously believe technology is a force for good. But even we have to admit that it comes with a serious downside. For one, nearly half of the US population is lonely. No matter how many awesome tech tools are at our disposal, nothing can replace human connection. Successful real estate agents know it's important to truly connect with their leads and clients - on the phone, via video and, not least, in person. Want more on how to win with video? See how agents like Taylor Hack, Team Leader of HACK&Co use video to build a personal connection with leads. Leading agents use tools like BombBomb to put a face to their drip campaigns, making it that much easier to stand out above the noise get a face-to-face appointment. In fact, even simply using the word “video” in your subject line can boost open rates by 19% and clickthrough rates by 65%. This stuff is powerful. For times when you can't connect in person, sending a quick, personalized thank you video message is the next best thing. And if you want to get even more personal with your leads, check out how real estate agent Kinny Landrum uses BombBomb to send (belated but still awesome) birthday wishes. Your focus is all you haveWith technology taking over industry after industry, it's natural to feel a bit uneasy. But whatever you do, don't waste your time focusing on the wrong things. Because at the end of the day, your focus is the only thing that matters. It's the one thing you can count on to make sure that every time you pick up the phone, text a reply or hit send on an email, the person on the other side knows you're worth their time. So focus your full attention on the people who are most ready to buy. And do it every day. For everyone else, take a day or two to step out of the chaos and create a truly relevant drip sequence that delivers value at every step of the journey. Keep them short, sweet and use the tools available to you to show them you're a real person with real insights they can rely on. Automation is here to help you with that. But it can't do it all on its own.
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Long before spring of 2019 arrives, rodents could decide to enter your home. If they do, they'll be more than happy to stay in your home throughout the winter and well into the new year. So, now is the time of year to really consider how those rodents act and think, what drives them inside a home and, most importantly, how to keep them out. How Rodents ThinkDo you know how you feel on a nice summer day? That's how rodents feel on a gloomy day or in a day that doesn't have a lot of sunshine. This is because rodents prefer the cover of darkness. They are primarily nocturnal in nature. That means that in the fall and early winter rodents are going to be more active than they are in the summer months. This will give them more opportunity to enter your home as they explore your yard and landscaping. What Drives Rodents Into HomesCold is a strong motivator for a rodent. While a nest of rodents all huddled together can stay nice and warm, a rodent exploring your property can be lured into a home by the promise of heat. As they're out exploring, they're cold. If they walk past a dryer exhaust that comes out underneath a porch or deck, they may decide to create a nest in this sheltered and warm location. If they sense heat leaking out of a gap in a door frame, they may chew on that gap to make it large enough to squeeze in and explore the warm space beyond. It only takes a hole the size of a nickel to give mice access to your home. How To Keep Rodents OutThe process of keeping rodents out is multi-tiered. It starts with an alteration of the conditions around a home that promote rodent activity. When rodents come into your yard, there are some things they look for.
Correcting and altering conditions that provide food, water, and hiding places, will help reduce the number of rodents that are near your exterior walls and foundation. The second tier is to seal up holes and gaps. When you seal up holes, gaps, and cracks on the outside of your home, not only do you keep the heat from attracting rodents to chew their way in, it also makes your walls feel less breachable. A rodent isn't likely to chew through a sound window or door frame without a good reason. It is impractical. Rodents are opportunists that take advantage of vulnerabilities. And our homes provide many opportunities for them to get in. The third tier is monitoring and control. It is impossible to make your yard completely uninviting to mice and rats without making it uninviting to you as well. That is why ongoing monitoring and control is important. It bolsters your defenses and makes your barrier complete. This is best performed by a pest management professional. Professionals like American Pest use state-of-the-art rodent control devices placed in strategic locations to ensure effective results. At American Pest, we're pretty proud of the technologies we employ to stop rodents. Anticimex SMART devices are cutting-edge, electronic traps that have digital sensors and cameras that track rodents and eliminate them without the use of pesticides. It is like having an intelligent system around your home that keeps a watchful eye on things you don't want to see. When rodents are captured, your American Pest technician removes them and takes appropriate measures to counter rodent pressures around your home. We don't wait for rodents to get into your home and spread illness, and parasites, or do damage to your belongings and your equity. If you want to keep your DC-Area home rodent free in 2019, now is the time to reach out to American Pest and get your rodent protection in place. The winter season brings it's fair share of snow, assuming you live in a region where snow is common. Even so, painting a home in the cold is not exactly ideal, even for painting professionals. Instead of breaking out the winter jacket and earmuffs, it might actually be better to focus on your home's interior instead. While you'll want to get the exterior painted eventually, it's better to wait for a more ideal climate than to brave the frigid weather. Consider these four reasons why interior painting is a great place to start this season.
Take Advantage of Your Holiday VacationIf you're snowed in, consider this perfect timing to take a closer look at your home's interior. Even if you aren't snowed in, chances are you've taken some time off work and have some time to kill anyway. Just make sure you purchase the paint you want to use beforehand in case you do get snowed in. While you're at it, it may be good to purchase other supplies commonly found in paint stores, such as shovels or salt for your driveway. Faster Drying PaintAlternatively, those who live in dryer climates throughout the year can also take advantage of the winter season. Summer means higher rates of humidity, which is not exactly ideal for the drying process. Because winter weather is generally a dryer season, your paint job should dry noticeably quicker than it would during other times of the year. Just make sure to crack the windows so proper ventilation can get in. Earlier Natural LightSince daylight savings time occurs during the winter season, you'll get more light during the morning hours. This should act as good incentive to get up early and start your paint job then. If your room has windows and you live in a snowy climate, you can also take advantage of the natural light reflecting off of the snow outside. More light makes it easier for you to see areas of your interior you may miss. It also allows you to work more efficiently, shortening the process overall. Save Money on Professional PaintingIf you plan on hiring a painting company, you'll learn that their rates go down during the winter season. According to some estimates, painting during the winter season can be as much as 40 percent cheaper compared to hiring services during the summer. Getting a professional paint job at a lower rate is always a benefit! Additionally, getting your interior paint job done now will give you more time to focus on the exterior once the weather gets warmer. You'll also have more time to focus on outdoor projects in general, including garden plots, deck repairs and utility maintenance. No longer do you have to ask yourself “when is the best time to paint inside my house?” There's no better time than winter to work with a painting company. Call a professional to get your estimate today! About Platinum PaintingThe team members at Platinum Painting are interior experts who only focus on residential homes. That means you can expect knowledge that's catered to you as a homeowner, not vague information that could help any average client. It also means you can get your cabinets and doors painted along with your walls. To learn more about their work or get a free estimate, you can contact them through their website. The post Why Winter is the Best Time to Complete Your Interior Painting appeared first on Platinum Painting Blog. Pine straw is a popular feature of outdoor autumn décor all around Alabama, and more people across the country are also beginning to use it as an eco-friendly, organic mulch. There are a lot of reasons to use pine straw, but before you start raking it up, keep one thing in mind. Bugs that are looking for somewhere warm to settle down for the winter also love pine straw. That's right, insects like pine straw even more than avid gardeners. Here's why. 3 Reasons Insects Love Pine Straw in the FallPine straw itself doesn't attract insects. Bugs don't eat dry pine straw, but other qualities draw in bugs including termites, centipedes and earwigs. Some of these insects help break the pine straw down, which is good for deterring weeds, but for the most part its best to keep critters away from your house. Like other types of mulch, pine straw can serve as a hideout as well as a route for bugs to get in or near a home. As we mentioned in an earlier post, when the weather cools off bugs will be attracted to your warm home for hibernation and are looking for a way to get in. If pine straw is right up against the foundation, on the porch, etc., insects will see it as an invitation to venture further inside. Even if they don't get inside, the pine straw acts as a ground insulator, which is another reason it attracts insects that are looking to stay warm. Homeowners use mulch to protect roots from freezing like a blanket. Just know that insects may also snuggle underneath. Yet another double edge sword of pine straw is that it can hold in moisture. This is preferable for your plants, but it can also cause rot in wood, attracting different types of ants and other bugs in the early fall. The moisture also makes pine straw edible for a variety of insects, and termites need high moisture levels to survive. But don't worry if you've already spent the time to collect a pile of pine needles and have covered your garden beds. When placed properly pine straw can be used to give you all the mulch benefits without the bugs. Tips for Keeping Pine Straw from Causing Pest ProblemsWith pine straw it's all about placement and upkeep. Where you put it directly affects how many troublesome bugs start hanging around. Follow the tips below and you'll have a lot fewer pests to worry about this fall. Don't put pine straw right up against the house. This makes it much easier for bugs to get inside where they don't belong. Instead, stop the mulch line at least a foot or two away from the foundation. Create a barrier between the house and the pine straw. Just as with other types of mulch, it's best to put a barrier between any structures and the pine straw. Pea gravel is an excellent option to use as a barrier. Only make it 2-3” deep. In Alabama and other areas with somewhat mild winters that's all it takes to keep root structures warm. It's also shallow enough so that the pine straw won't retain moisture and attract insects. Keep pine straw mulch shallower in moist areas. If an area is typically moist (spots that are shaded all day or near the gutter outlet) the mulch needs to less than 2” deep. Opt for long or standard length pine needles that are on the heavier side. Pine needles come in three lengths: 12”, 9” and 6”. The longer and heavier the needles are, the better they will interlock without compacting. This decreases the chances of the needles blowing out of place closer to the house when the first strong gust of wind comes along. Denser pine straw is also less likely to retain high levels of moisture. Rake the pine needle mulch every now and then. Raking helps to aerate the pine needles so it's less likely to lock in moisture. This will also help prolong decomposing, which typically occurs within 2-4 months. Skip natural pine straw decor. If you love the look of pine straw wreaths and house decorations, it's best to fake it. Synthetic pine straw decor won't attract insects and you can use it again next fall. Even if you are careful when placing pine needles so that they don't encourage bugs to hang around, the safest bet is to schedule regular pest control treatments even when the weather cools off. The experienced techs at Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. know where all the fall pests like to hide and can treat the pine needle mulch without harming your plants. Give us a call for more tips on using pine straw in your yard or to make an appointment! Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/garden-pest-control/pine-straw-pests-need-know-fall/ The post Pine Straw and Pests: What You Need to Know This Fall appeared first on Vulcan Termite & Pest Control. As the holidays slowly melts into late winter, I am really excited about the new Makery workshops we are offering! We started off in early January with some creative, new year experiences! We had a a vision board workshop, and a paint your word workshop (my word of the year this year is INTENTION.) so you could start the year off inspired. Now that we are moving further along, we are really concentrate on exploring creativity, and learning new skills! Here are some of the workshops we are going to be offering in January: I am excited to be teaching this GIANT yarn wall hanging workshop! It was so much fun to make. It's a very satisfyingly fun and messy time. We are going to explore not only yarn knotting, and tassel-making, but also dip-dying yarn. I love a good dip-dyed project! I won't be wearing that cute denim jumpsuit from Target in the above picture for the Macrame-ish workshop. We are going to get MESSY, so you'll see me in my messy paint clothes. This is a longer class, so we will have some snacks provided too. You know me, if I can get some paint on myself, I will! Here's a fun video about the Makery Macrame-ish Workshop! I have the registration page link below if you want to check out the times and availability. We also are going to be offering a furniture painting workshop. If you can carry it in, you can paint it, and all materials are included! We also have a super-cute ruler painting workshop. And, remember that pine forest, winter painting I just did? I am going to be teaching a class on painting it! It will be a smaller 11 x 14 version on canvas board. We'll also go over shading, shadows, highlighting, and how to create a washed-moody backdrop with blues and grays. We'll use a flat canvas board so you can frame your artwork when it's done. You can check out the rest of our January Makery workshops here. Our February schedule will be going up soon, and we have some fun workshop weekends coming up this year too! The retail portion of our store is also starting to get all kinds of fun new products in too. It's nice for everything to have a nice refresh in the new year!
The post Upcoming Makery Workshops appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo. This post has been updated for 2019 (the 2018 tax year). It's January and other than frigid cold temperatures and seasonal mood disorder, you know what that means – tax season has arrived. Someone at the IRS is apparently still working during the government shutdown, as they released a notice today that stated, “We are committed to ensuring that taxpayers receive their refunds notwithstanding the government shutdown. I appreciate the hard work of the employees and their commitment to the taxpayers during this period.” – IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. It remains to be seen if...
[Read the rest of the story at 20somethingfinance.com]
welcome mat // buffalo check rug // kilim pillow (similar) // white tassel pillow faux monstera plant // black basket // modern house numbers Last week we launched the new Juniper Print Shop!! We are so excited about all of the changes, including the addition of paper prints!! This has been in the works for a long time, and we knew we wanted to get some great video content to help introduce the new site and product to everyone. We had recently taken a tour of the Elm House, a new Airbnb (you can see the listing here) in the heart of downtown Gilbert designed by our friends over at Bigelow Built, and thought this would be the perfect location to showcase some of our new prints! BOTANICAL II print // HUDDLE print // KNOTS I print // WOMEN print entry table (similar) // basket with lid // faux tree // vintage runner (similar) We tried out multiple looks in the entry, each showing a different way you can incorporate our prints into your space! We decided to keep the neutral gallery wall up for the owners. BOTANICAL II print // HUDDLE print // KNOTS I print // WOMEN print BOTANICAL II print // HUDDLE print // KNOTS I print // WOMEN print entry table (similar) // basket with lid // faux tree // vintage runner (similar) SPRIG I print // SPRIG III print JUNE print // runner // bread board // sink faucet // knife set I absolutely love the kitchen design and color! The cabinets are from Bigelow Built and the color is Hale Navy. runner // bar stools dishwasher // runner // sink faucet Do you remember the rug we used in the Gentry living room?? We found the exact same one in a runner and its so, so beautiful!! yellow dansk pot // salt cellar // butter keeper // blue wood bowl // round bread board There is so much attention to detail in this kitchen. I especially love how the wood shelf line continues over the range hood! Genius! GOSLING ISLAND print // MIDNIGHT STRIPE lumbar white and concrete lamps // brass tray In the guest bedroom we hung our GOSLING ISLAND print by Sarah Maderia Day in 40×55″ which we think it the perfect size for putting over a Queen (shown here) or King bed. Ikea Tutorial: You can see custom wood touches all throughout the house, like these floating nightstands. The homeowners incorporated some super fun tile into the space, and I love the way it turned out! A rental property is a such a great space to incorporate some bold choices. BIG SUR print // AMBER STRIPE lumbar black metal bed frame // ceramic lamp base // lamp shade ceramic lamp base // brass nesting jewelry boxes BIG SUR print // AMBER STRIPE lumbar black metal bed frame // ceramic lamp base // lamp shade A big thanks to Bigelow Built for allowing us to shoot in their gorgeous new Airbnb! The post House Tour: The Elm House appeared first on Little Green Notebook. The fundamentals of the housing market are strong. But is it recession-proof? The United States has enjoyed one of the largest economic expansions in its history since the 2008 housing bust brought the global economy to its knees. But with each passing year, the recovery gets a little longer in the tooth, prompting questions about if or when a cyclical recession might take place. These questions have gotten louder in recent months as rising interest rates and tariffs have wreaked havoc on the stock market, which had been hitting new all-time highs on a regular basis. One of the most reliable tells of an impending recession-the dreaded Treasury bond yield curve inversion-occurred earlier this month between 2-year and 5-year Treasury bonds, leading some economists to sound their alarms. If a recession does hit, how would it affect a housing market that's already starting to cool? With the scars of 2008 still fresh, it's understandable that some would worry about another housing implosion. But most real estate professionals don't expect a possible recession to spell doom for the housing market. Some even think it would hardly affect housing at all. “People's incomes get squeezed [in a downturn], but they still need a place to live,” said Aaron Terrazas, Zillow's director of economic research. “Usually what that means is they're still in the market if they need one, but their price-point is lower.” Housing in previous recessions It's somewhat counter-intuitive, but recessions don't necessarily mean bad things for the housing market. In fact, they usually don't. ATTOM Data Solutions, a leading real estate data provider, looked at home prices during the five recessions since 1980 and found that only twice-in 1990 and 2008-did home prices come down during the recession, and in 1990 it was by less than a percent. During the other three, prices actually went up. “Housing is such a basic need that it won't necessarily do well, but [it will] at least truck along,” said ATTOM's Daren Blomquist. “It may flatten out a bit, but people still need somewhere to live, so that basic need is going to cause how the housing market-and particularly home prices-to continue to go up.” ATTOM data also show that rents are even less impacted by a recession. During the housing bust in 2008, the average fair market rent for a three-bedroom property, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, rose at a steady clip even as home prices cratered. Rents likely rose as homeowners who had to go into foreclosure during the crisis added new demand for rental housing. That doesn't mean that every housing market in America will go unfazed. Real estate professionals like to say there's no such thing as a national housing market, as each city has it's own dynamics between supply and demand. Depending on the cause of the recession, it could hit some cities but not others. For example, the recession in 2001 was caused by the collapse in stock market value of companies trying to take advantage of the newly popularized internet. This caused home prices appreciation in the San Francisco to slow, particularly at the high end of the market. But some other cities were largely unaffected. Current housing market appears poised to weather a recession Affordability concerns have plagued the housing market over the last few years, as home prices have long since surpassed their pre-crisis peaks in most markets. High prices have led to a slow down in housing activity, particularly in high-cost markets like San Francisco and New York. And despite inventory spikes on the West Coast, housing supply for sale remains tight across the country, as home builders have been slow to produce. At the same time, the strong economy coupled with a millennial generation coming of age has added new demand in the housing market. Low supply and high demand means higher prices. For a recession to impact the housing market, it would need to fundamentally alter this dynamic between supply and demand. A spike in unemployment could negatively impact demand, particularly if an intensifying trade war leads to export tariffs, which could put jobs at risk. But with unemployment already unusually low, it would take a pretty dramatic rise to cause home prices to drop. It's even harder to see the supply shortages being alleviated by a recession in a way that impacted prices. If a trade war leads to tariffs on imported construction materials, the cost of new home construction could rise even higher than it already is. Tight immigration policy could make construction labor more scarce as well. “It really depends on ... the magnitude of [foreign] tariffs, and then how aggressive the federal government is at placing tariffs on imports that go into the housing market,” said Ralph McLaughlin, an economist with CoreLogic. Rising interest rates would prevent a number of potential homebuyers from qualifying for a mortgage and also lower the price point for some wealthier homebuyers. But if a recession hits, the Federal Reserve is almost certain to lower rates in order to jump start the economy, meaning any pain caused by rising rates would likely be temporary. The Fed has also signaled that in the short term it intends to keep rates where they are, and President Trump has made no secret of his opposition to the rate hikes. The current rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is at 4.83 percent, according to Bankrate. For perspective, rates reached highs of 18.5 percent in 1981, so even a rise above 5 percent would be historically quite low. Why this time won't be another 2008 For a lot of millennials, the only recession they have specific memories of is 2008. That recession not only caused complete chaos in the housing market, but was directly caused by chaos in the housing market. So it's natural that a lot of people would equate recessions with a housing collapse, but 2008 was a unique case, and today's housing market in many ways is the complete inverse of the housing market in the run up to 2008. Primarily, the shoddy mortgage lending practices that flooded the market in 2004 are not present today. In the years before 2008, mortgage lenders made loans to unqualified buyers, or subprime buyers, without verified income or down payments and pushed those buyers into risky loan products that were destined to fail. Those loans were bundled in to bonds, known as mortgage-backed securities, and dispersed throughout the entire global financial system. When the subprime loans in the subprime bonds started defaulting en mass, the securities failed, too, leading to a financial collapse on a scale never seen before. But today, mortgage lending is so strict that some in the industry think lenders over-learned the lessons of 2008. The Dodd-Frank legislation passed during the Obama administration enacted strict standards for what types of loans the government-sponsored mortgage facilitators Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will buy. The vast majority of mortgage lenders originate a mortgage and then sell it to Fannie or Freddie, so mortgage lenders confirm to the strict standards set by Dodd-Frank. In short, mortgage lending practices today are air-tight, whereas in 2008 they were as sloppy and risky as they've ever been. As a result, subprime mortgage bond issuance is a tiny fraction of it was prior to the crisis. One of the factors in the 2008 collapse that isn't talked about as much is the oversupply of housing. Going into the 21st century, regional home builders consolidated to form large national companies, and they were churning out houses in volumes that dwarf the pace of building today. Real estate speculators often purchased this oversupply, and when the crisis hit, they just let those houses go into default because they hadn't put any money down on it anyway. This led to massive housing supply for sale during the collapse, which pushed prices into free fall. But today, housing supply today is incredibly tight. “A correction can only go so far because of [the housing supply] dynamic,” said Eric Abramovich, co-founder of home-flipping lender Roc Capital. “I think there's a floor [today], as opposed to 2008 when there was no floor.” While the specific mechanics of the 2008 collapse won't play out if there's another recession, economists have speculated whether the psychological scars of the crisis would lead to unwarranted panic in the housing market if the economy starts turning sour. “The psychological component I think is absolutely dark horse in what might happen in the next downturn,” McLaughlin said. “The more that we can provide data out there to help such households make more rational decisions in the housing market the better.” The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) has announced that the International Light Transportation Vehicle Association (ILTVA) has transferred representation of its member products and respective ANSI standards to OPEI, effective January 1, 2019. This expands OPEI's product representation to now include golf cars and light transport vehicles. “OPEI is a natural fit for these products as we actively represent a wide range of utility vehicles currently in the marketplace,” says Kris Kiser, President of OPEI. “As the association of record in this space, we're a leader in the development of safety standards for UTVs, and have significant experience as it relates to these vehicles with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other regulators.” OPEI currently represents manufacturers of utility vehicles for a wide range of end-user applications. ILTVA developed and maintained ANSI standards relating to the design and performance of golf cars and personal transport vehicles. That organization will wind down its operations, and those standards will now be part of OPEI's ongoing standards development work. “As uses and applications of these products have expanded, it made sense for us to partner with OPEI. The association has a demonstrable history in utility vehicle safety and performance standards and representing these products before regulatory authorities, as well as a deep background in market statistics collection, and positions us well as we look toward the industry's future,” says Mark Wagner, member, OPEI Board of Directors, and President and CEO of Club Car, LLC, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Technologies. “We're excited to work with OPEI on the representation of our products on a going-forward basis.” The post OPEI Expands Product Representation, Adds Golf Cars And Light Transport Vehicles appeared first on Turf. |