Customer Reviews

Real Estate Confronts Reality

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Confronts" is a useful book, and worth the time if you seek an overview of some influences on the real estate industry. However, don't expect a well-written, articulate look at the evolving state of the real estate industry -- the book could have benefited greatly from thorough editing by a business editor as well as a from a technical editor.

The content is rapidly becoming dated...most of the text is based on 1997 information and interviews and, as we approach the end of 1999, significant changes have occurred both in internet opportunities and in real estate itself. That is not an indictment of the authors, but instead advice to read this book in the context of what has occurred since their research, including changes in corporate structure of real estate brokers, growth in e-lending, ownership of the e-Real Estate sites, IPO results, similar changes in commercial real estate, continued moves by lenders to "source" the consumer, mergers and consolidation in lending, title, appraisal, real estate, and how the various sectors are responding to these changes, etc.

Again, useful but not great business literature.

If you want a 30,000ft perspective on the forces changing the industry this is a good intro. However, the changes in the last 12 mos have been a watershed for technology adoption. 40% of all consumers are now beginning their real estate research online and leading brokers and agents are not waiting around to see what happens. This book is worth the money if you want background and context (analysts, new technology and sevice companies, new industry professionals) but I would look elsewhere for specific answers.

This book begins an open dialog on the changes that must come in the real estate industry. The first portion of the book provides some recent events rocking the industry. Large corporations have entered real estate for REAL this time. There are more Wall Street firms coming.

The mid portion of the book outlined some powerful demographical statistics shaping America's housing needs in the coming century. Don't get lost in the abundent detail. It is more than most of us need, but very valuable for planning.

The final portion of the book focuses on future trends and warning signs. You may want to re-read this portion several times uncovering the many opportunities it surfaces. Real estate will be sold and bought in the future. As the book points to -- there will be many new faces and companies facilitating the process. Technology will bring tremendous change to how we market homes, consumers gain access to information, we deliver data to all the involved parties involved, and we communicate to one another. I have already seen a few agents find very creative uses for the web. They have discovered how to inexpensively and quickly deliver needed information and pictures to their home buying customers. New talents and skills will be required in the very near future.

The book is bold, telling our industry what we haven't wanted to hear. Change is coming, and I believe it is coming even faster than the authors predict.Our customers are anxiously waiting to purchase only the services they need for a reasonable fee.The consumer will drive the change!

If you are associated with any portion of the real estate industry, you should read this book at least once.

This book contains the message that the Real Estate Industry needs to read but does not want to hear. Ways the Internet can end the real estate industry are given but then there are some optimistic comments to provide hope. The realtiy part seems right on target; the hope part seems weak. The idea that the principal broker will regain power relative to agents is unlikely and just wishful thinking. ( No explaination of how the broker is going to do this is given. ) The idea that "one-stop-shopping" can save the brokerage business is also and illusion. "One-stop-shopping" can do for real estate what Best Buy did for CD's. That is, sell them at cost to generate business for the big ticket items and destroy the market for the "just" CD store. All in the real estate business should read this book and take measures to adjust to the bad news. The authors deserve credit for being so blunt and honest. The industry, which is one of the slowest to change, needs to take heed.

This 1998 book is good as far as it goes. Interviews in the book date from 1997. Today in the rapidly changing real estate field 5 or 6 years is a long time, perhaps too long.
I thought that the book was primarily aimed at real estate agents and brokers. There are lots of cautionary words and tones in the book basically saying the industry is changing and those participants ready, willing and able to change can adapt to the future of the real estate industry. Those wishing to do business as usual are going to be left in the dust. There's a chapter on the National Association of Realtors and whether they will survive or not. There's a chapter on HFS, which now owns Century 21, Coldwell Banker, ERA, Cendant, and PHH. Is obviously a giant force in the real estate market place. In addition there are chapters on consumers, tech, internet, and demographics. Overall this is a good book but not an excellent book, suffering from the age of the book and the rapidly changing real estate/internet landscape.

This book does an excellent job of describing the real estate industry's current status and provides a glimpse into the next several years. It is a must read for office managers, brokers, and anyone who is serious about making a living in the industry. The book will inspire thought as to how you will position yourself and your organization for the new "reality".

This book does a good job of focusing on the future of real estate. While there is a lot of unknown, the authors of this book have some great insight on the future and what it has to bring for real estate agents. You better update your systems and change with technology, or get out of business baby!

This book finally puts some direction as to where we all might be headed if you're a REALTOR. Some of the visions shared are frightening but believeable. Others have fizzled already but it's the most complete possible scenario in a ever changing industry. Watch out for Microsoft!