Top 10 Texas Real Estate Tools for 2007

NOTE: This information is part of a forthcoming book, the Gotcha Guide™ to Buying and Investing in Real Estate.  
by DeeinAustin™

My background is that I used to work at Apple Computer, Inc. here in Austin. We have a support center near Riata Trace Boulevard. I started off in the technical support department and later moved to doing projects in Customer Care.

Working for Apple helped me understand the need for technology. There are new tools, gadgets, and information sources available each day. Here are the top tools that I use in just about every real estate transaction OR just about every day.

1. Chat. I use Yahoo and iChat (made for Mac) to be available to friends, team members, and clients. Chat allows you to stay logged in so they can leave a message if I am away at a meeting.
2. TREO 650. There's a lot of real estate applications made for the TREO even though I'd prefer other platforms to the Palm OS. In Austin, the TREO gives you access to MLS, can be used as a "key" for secure access to listings, and can provide on-the-fly calcuations for mortgages or seller net sheets.
3. Alternate listings sites like: Craigslist.org, Loopnet, and the various Keller Williams intranets.
4. Flyer templates for classfied ad sites Craigslist like vFlyer.
5. Settlementroom.com for listing and closing files. I store mine online and can provide an archive to the buyer or seller at closing.
6. Zipforms.com. Texas Association of REALTORS allows the use of electronic contracts.  I use Zipforms online to write contracts. They're automatically updated and you type on it like a writable PDF. The documents can be emailed (or faxed, printed, etc.), which avoids the messy look of a fax.
7. Docusign.com. This is used in conjunction with Zipforms and provides the ability to do electronic signatures.
8. Online forums.  Reiclub.com, AgentsOnline.net, ActiveRain.com are my favorites. I provide information and advice, but also like to read what others have to say.
9. Our websites: CopelandGroupRealty.com, TexasHomeNews.com, TexasRealEstateUpdate.com.
   
10. News Sites: Cnet, Engadget, Realtor.org, AustinChronicle.com, Austin Statesman, Texas A&M Recon.

-All Rights Reserved

Comments

[scott Schmitz]

I would add RealtyJuggler Deluxe - a real estate software organizer for Palm Powered SmartPhones and RealtyJuggler Calculator - 5 real-estate calculators for both Pocket PC/ Windows Mobile and Palm SmartPhones.

Both products are offered for 30 day free trial from company web site: www.realorganized.com