Google Wave Enclave

OK, the title Google Wave Enclave is a bit pretentious, but I hope it caught your attention.

I'm putting a call out to anyone lucky enough to have received an invite to Google Wave. Nick Bastian (@raillife) and Paul Guenther (@mytitleguypaul) and myself are getting together next Monday, Nov 2nd at 10am in Tempe to experiment, play, and hopefully learn some of the finer points of the Wave.

Nick was lucky enough to receive an invite, and he's agreed to let us use his account for our workshop. If you have a Wave account, and would like to join us, simply leave a comment or contact me at billrisser@gmail.com. The more Wave accounts the better. This will enable us to see just how real time some of the Wave features really are and develop some user strategies.


Click here to see the video of the Google Wave Developers Conference. It's at the bottom of the linked post.

Where Were All The Title Companies At REBlogWorld 2009? Part 1

No, really. Where were all the title companies at REBlogWorld 2009? As an industry, we are woefully behind the times when it comes to social media strategies. What better place to ask and learn what we can do to help the agents already deeply involved and closing transactions through their efforts in this arena.? Here are some of the highlights for me...


It was a whirlwind 24 hours, but well worth it. I left my office for the REBlogWorld 2009 track of the BlogWorld & New Media Expo at noon on Wednesday the 14th, arrived in Las Vegas at 5:30, attended my first Tweetup at 6:15 in the Tempo Lounge at the Las Vegas Hilton, and at 7:30 was at the Better Homes and Garden Real Estate party at the Blue Martini Lounge (by the way, I highly recommend the White Chocolate Martini if you like chocolate). At 9:15 pm I was in my seat at the MGM Grand for the Cirque du Soleil show KA. Wow!

Thursday morning arrived quickly, and so did the fantastic information I would be privy to for the next 8 hours. Laura Fitton, better know as @pistachio on Twitter, was the morning Keynote Speaker. She is amazing and convinced me to strive to be awesome! Laura's awesome Social Media Cheat Sheet is simple... Listen, Learn, Care, Service. I highly recommend following her on Twitter today!

The first panel discussion I attended (picture above shows Brad Inman, Rhonda Porter, and Jay Thompson. Also on panel were Derek Overbey and Jeff Turner) was How to use Social Media in Real Estate. Great speakers and each approached the topic from a different angle. Rhonda (@mortgageporter) mentioned replying to e-mails with blog posts for a great source of content. Jay (@phxreguy) promoted LinkedIn's groups and discussion questions as a new way to make connections. Derek (@doverbey) said to develop friendships first, then build business relationships. Jeff told us to listen with intent and find patterns in the conversations happening online. Then we can create "packets of people" we trust and that trust us. A powerhouse panel with great insights for newbies and veterans of the social media scene...

A special thanks to Nick and Lori Bastian (@raillife and @mrsraillife) for showing me around and introducing me to the VIP's at my first social media conference.  You two are the best!!


Three more panels to discuss, so stay tuned for Part 2 soon...

My Worst Nightmare - Calling the Buyer for Additional Closing Funds (After Signing)

There is nothing worse for escrow than calling a buyer and asking them to bring in additional funds in order to close.  Here's a quick success story we had last month that prevented this from happening...

Last week, Theresa and I had an interesting situation pop up on one of our relocation account transactions.  As you may know, when the seller is a relocation company (we'll call them relo for short), there are a few extra hoops to jump through.  Relo insists on seeing the back-up for every single seller charge on the HUD-1.  Home Warranty, HOA fees, county taxes, and fees paid by listing agent.  Most of the time, this involves tracking down any invoices the listing agent may have paid during the listing period.  These are things like gas and electric, water, landscaping, etc.  This is all pretty standard, and Theresa has been working with some of the same managers at the relo companies for years now, so she knows the drill.

The escrow in question, invoved a problem with county taxes.  In Maricopa County, property taxes are paid in arrears, twice a year.  First half late Nov 1, Second half late May 1.  This is usually confusing to most buyers and sellers, and I've developed a quick little calendar I use at the closing that makes it very clear how tax proprations and payments are handled (but that's another post)  


So on our problem child, an escrow closing in September, Theresa had shown as paid the 1st 1/2 2009 taxes in escrow, and prorated the 2nd 1/2 taxes between the seller (relo) and the buyer.    Relo approved the audit we sent them, and we signed the buyer and collected their closing funds.  One day later, relo called to say our HUD-1 was incorrect, and that they had paid the entire 2009 tax bill 3 days ago.  To avoid getting too technical or teach a math class, the net effect of relo making that payment meant the buyer would have to come in with an additional $1700, and they would not get any of that back until one year later when their lender did an escrow analysis of their tax and insurance impound account, dicovered the overage, and refunded it to buyer. Not good!

I personally know some escrow officers that would simply say it is not their problem, call the buyer and tell them to bring in the additional $1700.00.  I don't know about you, but to me, that just ain't right!


Theresa and I kicked around a couple ideas and then remembered we have a friend of a friend at the assessor's office.  We contacted her, explained our problem, and she was able to flag the tax parcel so the 2009 tax payment from relo would not be processed.  We then called relo and asked them to stop payment on the tax check.  Bottom line was we DID NOT call the buyer with the request for the $1700.  In fact, the buyer didn't even know that any of this occurred.

Isn't that what an agent is looking for in a title company and escrow officer?  We can't avoid every nightmare, but Theresa and I do promise to look for any and every possible solution before making that dreaded call...


Do you have any questions on Title or Escrow for us?  You can e-mail us at risserb@ctt.com, or simply leave a comment below....

Chicago Title - Gilbert

The Top Ten Reasons Why I Should Win a Ticket to REBlogWorld

I originally posted this over at BillRisser.com.  It is definitely one of my success stories, so I thought I would share it over here...  The following post was an entry into a contest.  It had to be exactly 300 words, be creative, and be entertaining.  Somehow, I managed to be one of the two winners selected, so I'm off to REBlogWorld in Las Vegas Oct 14-15th!  I'll post about the conference, so stay tuned!

I like entering contests. Not as much as my wife, but darn close. That’s why I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to enter The Real Estate Tomato’s contest for REBlogWorld 2009 in Las Vegas. From October 15th to October 17th, top blogger’s from around the country will attend. What better place to learn the importance of blogging and today’s social media impact on my profession than from the experts already having success!?




Now, I could try and kiss up to the folks at the The Real Estate Tomato, by adding umpteen links to The Real Estate Tomato, but I am sure the The Real Estate Tomato would sniff that out in a second, so instead, I present:



The top ten reasons I should win a ticket to REBlogWorld:



10. I never win anything.







9. I can finally tell the agents I help with social media workshops that I have a verifiable return on my engagement!







8. I have a few thousand “buddies” I’ve left in Las Vegas and I miss them!







7. Fortunately, I have a guest appearance in Cirque De Soleil’s Mystere that night!







6. Never know when an escrow might break out between Realtors and I would come in very handy!







5. Siegfried and Roy have requested a notary for some important immigration documents







4. I must see @phxreguy’s presentation or I will just die!







3. After reading other posts in my blog, the judges will realize I need a lot of help, and REBlogWorld can provide it.







2. How about giving something to the title guy instead of the other way around?







1. I’ve got to see if @nik_nik will do a live happy birthday dance for the blogging world!




If I don’t see you there, enjoy REBlogWorld 2009. I’ll be following all the fun on Twitter!