Twitter Opts to Keep 140-Character Limit

Twitter Opts to Keep 140-Character Limit

The social networking giant has sided with its Twitter loyalists. It will keep Twitter’s 140-character limit in place.

About two months ago, some of Twitter’s most loyal users were in an uproar after news surfaced of possible changes that would lengthen the character limit on Twitter and allow for longer tweets. But Jack Dorsey, co-founder and chief executive of Twitter, calmed those concerns last Friday by confirming that the company will keep its tweets at 140 characters, the mainstay of Twitter since it was founded 10 years ago.

“It’s staying. It’s a good constraint for us,” Dorsey said on the “Today” show Friday. “It allows for of-the-moment brevity.”

Twitter boasts 320 million regular users. That said, the company’s growth has slowed over the last few years, and Twitter has been facing mounting pressure to find ways to draw more people into its network. The Tweet length was among the changes it considered at the time to try to court more users.

Nevertheless, Dorsey says while the Twitter character length will stay the same, Twitter is in-store for some coming changes, although he wouldn’t elaborate more.

“We’re changing a lot,” Dorsey says. “We’re always going to make Twitter better.”

Source: “Twitter Rules Out Long Tweets, Sticking to 140-Character Limit,” The New York Times (March 18, 2016)

Ways to Sell an Outdoor Space

Ways to Sell an Outdoor Space

Springtime is upon us, and as warmer temperatures start to roll in, many buyers will be thinking about how they can use a home’s outdoor space. If you want to draw more attention to your listing’s outdoor features, there are some fairly simple ways to heighten their appeal. Take some helpful hints from our friends at HouseLogic:

1. Create a seamless flow from indoor to outdoor. Replace a standard door opening with sliding glass or French doors, which will give the feeling of a more open passageway that integrates the indoors with the outdoors. Also, use the same weatherproof flooring, such as stone tile or scored concrete, for both the room leading to the backyard and the backyard itself. It’ll make the two areas feel connected.
2. Make comfort paramount. Outdoor furniture has come a long way from the plastic cushions we once knew. Outdoor chairs and sofas should have cushions that are just as plush as any piece of furniture you’d have inside. Also, lay down outdoor rugs so your feet are just as comfortable.
3. Keep it wired. Set up outdoor Wi-Fi antennas, solar USB charging stations, and wireless speakers so buyers can see how easy it is to stay connected and keep their devices fully charged while they lounge outdoors. You might even consider bringing in a weather-proof TV to help them visualize how the space could be used for both connectivity and entertainment.
4. Keep it well-lit. Lighting isn’t only important for the ability to use an outdoor space at any time; it’s also important to set the mood. Sconces and pendant lights, as well as landscape solar lighting along pathways, will keep the space usable in the dark, but consider hanging fairy or string lights to give the space an enchanting tone.
5. Add a feature that’s particular to the outdoors. A fire pit or an outdoor playhouse or dog run adds something outside that can’t be had inside. Having an outdoor feature that can’t be replicated inside gives buyers a specific idea of the value of the outdoor space and how they can use it.

Source: “7 Ideas to Help You Use Your Outdoor Space More,” HouseLogic

Spike in Hispanic Home Ownership Rate

Spike in Hispanic Home Ownership Rate

Home ownership rates in the U.S. may be on the decline, but not among Hispanic households, according to the State of Hispanic Home Ownership Report published by the Hispanic Wealth Project and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. Last year was the first time since 2009 that the Hispanic home ownership rate increased.

The Hispanic home ownership rate averaged 45.6 percent in 2015, just 0.2 percent higher than the year prior. But in just the 12 months ending December 2015, it soared from 44.5 percent to 46.7 percent — the largest one-year increase in more than a decade.

“The Hispanic home ownership numbers were very encouraging, and all leading indicators strongly suggest that the trend will continue,” says Joseph Nery, president of NAHREP. “Policy makers and the housing industry need to recognize that the face of home ownership in America has changed, and it is in everyone’s interest to ensure that these new consumers have access to relevant lending products, affordable housing stock, and culturally competent service providers in the coming years.”

Hispanics also led in workforce participation and household formation growth nationwide, according to the report, which notes that the real estate industry should expect Hispanics to be the primary driver of the overall home ownership rate for at least the next decade.

This report “should be required reading by everyone in housing, especially lenders and REALTORS®,” says David Stevens, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. “The Latino community is massive, it’s ready to own, and it’s now. The significance of Hispanics to housing and the economy will only grow, creating opportunity for all who focus on this vibrant, dynamic, and impactful part of the U.S. economy.”

Source: National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

Online Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

Online Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

You know buyers are most likely to start their home search online, surveys attest to that. And, sure, you know online is where you then want to form a strong presence – you’ve heard that plenty before too. But could you be messing up your digital marketing efforts by lacking a clear strategy?

By not having a clear strategy, you could be throwing random darts all over cyberspace or just relying on the latest “tactic” or “technique” that is making all your efforts not truly gain you a stronger presence online in the end.

Neil Patel — cofounder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and KISSmetrics and a contributor for Forbes.com — recently offered up some common mistakes when it comes to digital marketing.

1. You’re omitting mobile.

Have a mobile-first strategy to your digital marketing, or you could risk alienating more than half of your potential audience, Patel notes. This means ensuring all of your sites are optimized to be viewed on a mobile screen, whether that’s a smartphone or tablet.

2. You’re underestimating SEO.

Ninety-three percent of people who go online begin with a search engine, and 68 percent use Google. What’s more, the first five results in Google tend to generate 67 percent of all clicks. That’s why SEO is so important, notes Patel. “SEO remains – and will continue to remain – one of the building blocks of a technologically sound and competitive web presence,” Patel writes. “Without an understanding of SEO, your marketing presence will falter and fail.” To improve your SEO, offer up relevant content, label any images, provide relevant links and references, ensure your site’s standards are compliant with HTML, and have relevant page titles.

3. You’re simply overdoing it.

Don’t just try every social media network. After all, social media that is done right requires time and energy for each, Patel says. You can’t be everywhere. Pick the top three platforms where your audience hangs out and focus there. Patel recommends one way to prioritize your online marketing focus: First, figure out what your audience wants; then identify where they are; and next adopt a strategy to reach them.

4. You’re forgetting about content marketing.

Deliver content on home buying or selling that caters to your clients’ most pertinent questions or what they’re facing in the current market. Delivering content geared to your audience should be at the core of your digital marketing strategy, Patel writes.

Source: “12 Things Not to Do When Using Digital Marketing in 2016,” Forbes.com (March 10, 2016)

1 Million Borrowers Regained Equity Last Year

1 Million Borrowers Regained Equity Last Year

Spread the good news: The nation increased its number of financially secure households by a significant amount in 2015. By the end of the fourth quarter, about 46.3 million – or 91.5 percent – of all properties with a mortgage had equity, according to CoreLogic’s most recent analysis, released this week.

“The number of home owners with more than 20 percent equity is rising rapidly,” says Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Higher prices driven largely by tight supply are certainly a big reason for the rise, but continued population growth, household formation, and ultra-low interest rates are also factors. Looking ahead in 2016, we expect home equity levels to continue to build, which is a good thing for the long-term health of the U.S. economy.”

The majority of residential properties with positive equity tend to be at the higher end of the housing market, according to CoreLogic. Ninety-five percent of homes valued at $200,000 or higher have equity, compared to 87 percent of homes below the $200,000 mark.

Despite recent gains, many home owners are still “under-equitied,” according to CoreLogic’s report. More than 50 million residential properties with a mortgage – or 18.9 percent – have less than 20 percent equity in their properties, and 1.2 million home owners – or 2.3 percent – have less than 5 percent equity.

Some home owners still don’t have any equity. About 4.3 million home owners with a mortgage, around 8.5 percent, owe more on their home than it is currently worth as of the fourth quarter of 2015. That marks a slight increase from 8.3 percent in the prior quarter, but a 19 percent year-over-year decrease from 2014.

Source: CoreLogic