Christian Real Estate Professionals : California

REALTORS® - Important 100K Announcement!

If you're a REALTOR®, Broker, or an Agent and member of ActiveRain, this is a MUST READ!  Last month, over 100,000 consumers searched ActiveRain for Real Estate in specific cities using the "Search For Homes" feature.  I was just in a meeting with Bob Stewart and Doug Ching going over the stats and analytics reports.  Folks, this is no joke, consumers flock to AR and used this tool in their quest for finding homes.  

So why is this so important and why should you care?  We've discovered that most of our Agent and REALTOR® members DO NOT have "Hit Router" Campaigns setup.  That means these searches are NOT going to your IDX lead generating sites.  WOW, look at these numbers and stats.  I'm sharing this with you because while you are out there searching for tools to better your SEO and Blog, consumers are searching our network interested in homes in your area, and in most cases, we have very few members with campaigns setup in these areas.


And the list goes on and on and on... in fact, there are 600+ cities that had more than 100 searches.

If you're a REALTOR® member here, please don't miss out on this crucial opportunity to take advantage of the Hit Router Campaigns that each of you have access to.  If 487 people searched San Diego last month for "Homes For Sale" and not a single member has a campaign setup there, this means those possible leads are lost to another company that may in fact be selling them off.

The key to making this work for you is:
#1 - Setting Up Your City Search Campaigns, and
#2 - Making sure you have a good lead capture IDX site where this traffic will land.

After researching some pay per clicks sites out there, Brokers and Agents are paying upwards of $3.00 per click to capture these leads from other sources like Google.  AR campaigns start at .49 cents per click.  I can't emphasize enough the value and gold mine you're sitting on here.  Please take a few moments to look into this, the urgency here is that if our members aren't interested and don't take advantage of these "campaigns" fairly soon, they will end up being sold to the larger companies who are already willing, able and want to capitalize on these Clicks.

ActiveRain members need to be aware of this while you have the opportunity to jump on it. This is HUGE!!  We want our members to get first shot at directing these home searches to your IDX sites, and will do everything we can to get this information out there to every REALTOR®.  Bob Stewart is doing a price comparison of some other pay per click sites to show you the difference in value here, I'll add that link shortly.  I would also assume that the home searches conducted here are of higher "quality" than they may be on some of the other generic pay-per-click sites. 

This is one of the most important posts and announcements I've written on ActiveRain.  Home searches are taking place on Activerain right now, these stats are proof.  We want YOU to be able to help complete the process in finding these people homes.  Please, contact Bob or myself if you have any questions or need more information regarding these stats, or if you just need help setting up your hit router campaigns

This should be given priority consideration today.  Thanks.

In Honor and Memory of "DAD"

Yesterday was without a doubt, one of the hardest days ever for us here in the Andersohn home.  My family and I attended my Father-in-laws Memorial Service.  Neither my wife nor I have ever lost a parent, so this has been a most difficult time for us and our family.  FRED WAYNE HILL passed away on Valentines Day.  It has taken this long for us to grieve and to deal with the emotional and physical loss of a great man.

Fred was born in Naples, Texas on August 9th, 1936 to Robert and Mattie Hill.  He and Linda Lee (my Mother-in-law) were married August 27th, 1955.  They had three children, Cheryl, Debra, and Fred Jr.  Fred loved fishing, and he was also very accomplished at his much loved hobby, woodworking.  Fred drove a truck for a living and tried retiring twice, once from Insured Transporters, and finally from Biaga Brothers.  His favorite song of all time was "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers.  He loved camping, travel, and spending time with his family and friends more than anything else on earth.

Losing anyone in life seems so unfair, but to lose your Dad is earth shattering.  In his last days, we were fortunate to visit him many times in the Hospital.  My wife and I had the chance to talk with him, laugh with him, share their memories of the good times, and come to terms with the not so good times.  This was a blessing for both my wife and her father, and for me too, since I got to be there to witness all this.

Though Fred had been my father in law for more than 12 years, I felt that we never really got the chance to be close.  For whatever reason, we just never really made the time to connect and spend time together.  Our relationship was more of a cordial one, only visiting during Holidays and on special occasions.  I wish I had made more of an effort to get closer to him and share more of our lives together.

On my last visit to the Hospital, my wife and I were ready to leave, and I did something I had never done before.  I hugged Fred, and told him that I loved him.  This was the first time he ever hugged me back and said I love you too.  It was always just a hand shake and a smile.   For the first time in our history, I felt like all the walls and barriers that had been built up over time, came tumbling and crashing down.

This was a very special moment that I will remember always, my only true regret... I never called him Dad.

So with that, I want to say... Fred, you were a good man.  You worked hard to provide for your family and raised three beautiful children.  You loved your wife and family, and you showed it through your actions and not just your words.  You set the standard high for being a good "father!"  You also made me realize and learn a very important life lesson, to never wait that long to tell those you care about that you love them. 

So until we meet again one day, may you rest in eternal peace and comfort.  You are loved and will be warmly remembered and missed by all.  Goodbye "Dad"

88 commentsBrad Andersohn ~ Community Manager • March 22 2009 11:30AM

What is a Legacy?

What is your Legacy?  Is it your name remembered by an action, a quote, or a change to the world?  I have finally made another "life" discovery!  It's not about me and my legacy, it's about what I will leave behind one day.  What contributions I have made to the world with the miracles given me. 

THESE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE ROCKED MY WORLD

I just spent this entire past weekend moving my baby, that's right, my 21 year old baby son Sean, down to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA.  That's about 4 1/2 hours from our home.  This was one of the most emotional and overwhelming experiences of my life!  One of the most Happy/Sad moments I have ever experienced.  We drove all his things down in a u-haul truck, moved him into his new apartment, took a walking tour of the campus, stocked his fridge, purchased his supplies, and then waved goodbye as these two grown men, father and son... cried!  I will never forget his face with those tears in his eyes, and a smile from ear to ear.  I don't think I will ever be the same!! 

Tonight my heart aches, yet my spirit is over-joyed!  My emotions are on this massive roller-coaster, and it seems I am having trouble focusing.  He is all alone in a strange place, no job, no friends (yet), and he starts classes this Wednesday.  His friend will move in with him mid August. I know he'll be ok.  Why?  Because he is a straight A student, with 4.0 GPA.  Sean just transferred in from De Anza College as an Undergraduate.  He will be starting his Junior year with Cal Poly.  His Major is Business Administration.  Sean's a great photographer, a musician, and just a down to earth, great human being.  He has never drank alcohol, smoked, or done drugs, and he's at the Top of his classes.  This is how I know he'll be ok!!  I am the proudest father on this entire planet tonight!

SUGGESTION: THE ACTIVE RAIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Seans tuition over the next two years will cost nearly $40,000.  If each member of Active Rain donated just one dollar, that would be $39,758 dollars (send to the address on my profile of course), (BIG SMILE)  Am I getting creative here or what? LOL!  I thought about coming to all your homes and washing your cars, but I don't have two years to raise the money!  :-)  Just kidding!  I'll come wash your cars! 

A LIVING LEGACY 

Seriously though, here is my legacy.  When it is my time to go, I will be leaving behind a trust-worthy and positive contibuter to society, my son Sean.  I dedicate this post to his achievements, his dedication to education, and his "new life" at Cal Poly!  He is a godly young man with a huge future ahead!  It's so hard to believe twenty years have passed, and now my son is gone.  Guess I have a bit of empty nestor syndrome, but I couldn't be happier or prouder of him.  Sean will carry on our name for the next generations.  For me, today is one I will always remember as long as I live.  I have discovered that my Legacy is not all about me, it is all about the ones I love and truly care about!!  My son Sean, today and forever, my Hero and my Legacy!

Oh Yeah...GO MUSTANGS!!