Monday, February 9, 2009

Which is America's Most Valuable Niche Market?

It's the niche that provides a steady flow of buyers who are almost guaranteed to re-sell their homes within 3 to 4 years -- and who have a massive pool of friends who will also be moving soon. Listings are abundant.

It's the niche filled with buyers and sellers who must act -- no matter what the real estate market is doing at any given moment.
It's the niche filled with individuals who value loyalty and trust, and who prefer dealing with others who are familiar to them.
It's the Military niche -- and it can be yours if you live in a military community and make your specialized services known to its members.

You see, military families are re-assigned every 3 to 4 years. And with 1.4 million military members on active duty, and only about 200 military bases in the U.S., that means that hundreds of families are moving in and out of your military community every year.
Members of the military are much like a huge extended family. They live, work, play, and go to war with each other. And when they need professional services, they turn to each other for advice and referrals. So once you've made contact and proven yourself to just a few families, the referrals will keep coming.

Military families are searching for property managers, real estate agents, and mortgage lenders who know and understand VA financing, and who are willing to work within VA guidelines.
And it isn't always easy to find the professionals they need. That's why, if you have the expertise to help them, or if you're willing to learn, you need to reach out and let them know you're there to help.

Eighty percent of all buyers begin their search online, but for military families the percentage may be higher, since they need to secure housing quickly when they arrive in a new community. With that in mind, your web presence should clearly show your interest in helping military families and your expertise in working with VA financing. Every profile you post on networking sites should also include that information. If you're a veteran yourself, be sure to mention that fact.

Real estate sales are shaky right now, as massive numbers of foreclosures dominate the news. But if you take the time to cultivate the military housing niche, your own real estate career can remain steady and profitable.

From realty.com by Richard Curtis

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