We expected September’s report to reflect a decrease in web traffice due to the economic downturn.  But the significant drop across the board was a surprise.  Most sites we monitor experienced a loss of traffic ranging from 9% to 48% compared with traffic holding rather steady during the same time frame last year.  Yearly comparison shows that we’re holding onto a positive growth 1.5% while most sites are experiencing a loss of 25% - 40%.

The multi-state websites that we monitor also display a significant drop.  Redfin was the only one of them to show positve numbers (though very small) for the month and they’re showing an impressive postive growth of 285% for the year (Redfin … you’re not my favorite but congrats for a job well done). 

Traditionally, the month of October displays just a slight drop in traffic compared with September.  November is usually the most significant “off season” period. 

A lot of REALTORS are voicing expectaions that the coming presidential elections will help reverse this current trend in real estate activity.  I hope they’re right!

I can’t end this post with such a feeling of doom and gloom.  While the degree of traffic loss was unexpected, thank goodness we took steps last month to minimize its impact.  Daily reports from www.compete.com indicate that we’re experiencing positive growth so far this month.  Briorealty is also showing growth while the other sites are holding relatively steady.  I expect a good report for October as we get closer to the Holidays.

These Washington real estate brokers and agents accepted our invitation to link us from their websites.  In return we display their contact information whenever one of their real estate listings is viewed on www.nwRealty.Com.  Their support helps strengthen our site and increases the chance that a Buyer will find and contact them about their listings, giving them a better opportunity to represent their Sellers.  Plus, they have a better shot at a double-ended sales transaction.

I’ve busily exchanged email messages with these Washington real estate professionals all weekend and most of today.  As promised, I’m posting their website addresses here to lend some”Google Juice” and help boost the effectiveness of their sites with better “Google Page Rank” and better positions in Google’s search engine rankings.

WELCOME and MANY THANKS!

Washington real estate professionals with approved links to us …

• R. Anthony Solis, GRI, CNHS, RCC
  Professional Real Estate Services
  Skyline Properties, Inc. - Puyallup
  877.588.1874
  www.ranthonysolis.com
   
• Terry D. Rule-Swett
  Broker Associate
  Connect Realty - Swett Equity Group
  Serving Whidbey Island
  TerryRuleSwett.Point2Agent.com
  360.679.2706 Office
  360.320.3093 Cell
   
• Shelley Clayton 
  CSP, ABR, IMS, SRES
  Windermere Puyallup/Canyon Road
  253-241-4664
  www.shelleyclaytonhomes.com
   
• Team 242: Trish and Joe Greene-Realtors
  Van Dorm Realty Inc. - Olympia
  Trish’s Cell: 360.888.8687
  Joe’s Cell: 360.870.4689
  www.Team242Realtors.com
   
• Shannon M. Brent
  John L Scott - Yelm
  360-789-8757 cell
  www.realestatemattersnw.com/links_main.shtml
  “The friendship of those we serve, is the foundation of our progress.”
   
• Susan McCauley
  John L. Scott Real Estate - Puyallup
  Phone: 253-202-6800
  www.johnlscott.com/susanmccauley
   
• Blythe Hendershot
  Hendershot Team 
  John L. Scott Olympia/Lacey 
  360-539-4833
  www.johnlscott.com/hendershotteam

The Pipeline of Brokers and Agents in the process of connecting …

• Chad and Robyn Link
  “Your LINK To Success!”
  Windermere Olympia Realtors
  Chad’s Cell: 360-464-5601
  Robyn’s Cell: 360-486-4457
  Websites: links.mywindermere.com, MyOlympiaRealtor.com, LaceyRealtor.com, TumwaterRealtor.com
   
• Kathy Cross
  RE/MAX Four Seasons
  Serving Olympia and Thurston County
  kathycross.net
  Office 360-528-8688
  Cell 360-951-1360
   
• Seth Wallace
  Associate Broker
  Van Dorm Realty Inc.
  Homes and Real Estate Olympia Washington
  360 556 3326
  olympiahomebuyers.com
   
• Laurie Lord
  CSP, REALTOR
  Owner/Broker
  Inspired By Real Estate - Tacoma
  InspiredByRealEstate.com
   
• Laura Bird
  ReMax Valley Homes - Mount Vernon
  Phone: 360-424-7166
  laurabird.net

Likewise the links to Maria’s site from this blog entry should help her standings in Google and Yahoo’s search results.  Maria works with Century 21 Swarthout Realty, a nwRealty Network Member for many years located in the city of Bonney Lake in Pierce County. 

Maria used the link examples at www.nwrealty.com/P24.cfm.  Her personal website is hosted by Z57, Inc. and her personal blog site is provided by Comcast.

Thanks again Maria!

1. Why doesn’t my agent information appear with my listings?
    
   For your contact information to appear you must either link to www.nwrealty.com from your website or advertise with us (starting at $39/month which includes a website and subscription to services on your office site).
    
2. Why doesn’t my office information appear with my listings?
    
   A few offices are grandfathered into the nwRealty Network with a very low level of agent participation such that we can only justify promoting those that reciprocate in some manner.  If you would like your information to appear with your listings, please link to www.nwrealty.com from your website or consider using our advertising services for your personal promotion.
    
3. Can we add additional phone numbers, email addresses and tag lines?
    
   For now we’re only displaying the company and agent names (as licensed) with their city, state, primary phone number, and weblink.  We’ll add more information during the next phase of development.  However to prevent harvesting by spammers we do not plan to openly publish email addresses.
    
4. How do we know how many times our information is viewed by prospective clients?
    
   We record each time your information and listings are viewed and email reports to advertising agents each month.  These displays of your information will be included in those reports.  This upgrade is also the first step in reporting how many times an individual listing is viewed on our site.  We will include that information in reports as we continue development.

If you have any other questions please leave a comment on this blog, email larry@nwrealty.com or call 253-740-6092.  Thanks!

The larger sites that we monitor (publishing real estate from multiple states) also seemed to hold steady.  But windermere.com recaptured its position on top with a 7% increase while Redfin experienced a 7% drop in visitors.

The historical seasonal trend indicates Washington real estate traffic will drop slightly during the month of September.  But as hunting season draws nearer so does a spike in business for brokerages in the more remote areas of Washington due to the influx of sportsmen into theses market areas.

Last week the NWMLS Discover website was hacked and their tech staff immediately shut down public access while they repaired the site and “hardened” it against future attacks.  The following was broadcast by NWMLS yesterday in their Monday Email Update …

Discover Security & Virus Cleanup…

Last week Discover received numerous attempts to access and compromise the system.  Fortunately the updated security patches installed have effectively thwarted these attacks.

While Discover was compromised and temporarily became a mechanism used to deliver malicious files (virus) it was not the only site on the Internet affected.  We have reports of people getting infected from links found on key search engines as well as corporate websites.

The biggest challenge ahead of us is the clean up and prevention of future infection.

The best method one can use to get an infected system clean is to update the anti-virus software and perform a full scan. If the full scan does not resolve the issue contact the anti-virus vendor and put pressure on them to get an update available that will address the problem.

NWMLS technicians have identified several security programs that clean up some of the malicious files but none of the scans are consistent.  If your anti-virus vendor does not produce the results you expect contact NWMLS for additional information.

***Please be cautious of advertised ‘clean up’ or ‘removal’ tools available on the Internet.  Often these tools come with a myriad of other malicious files such as spy/adware.  They are often focused on removing a specific virus and will not remove others.  Again your best bet is to contact the anti-virus vendor and pressure them for an update.

NWMLS IT Department

While researching the viruses that are actually passed on as a result of this attack I have confirmed NWMLS’s comment that most “free” software fixes are themselves worse than the virus itself.  Thus far Norton Anti-virus (Symantec) products have done well in protecting our systems from infection of viruses.

Several of our fellow developers have experienced similar problems as the NWMLS and we consider ourselves fortunate to have been spared this headache so far.  In the event that we are attacked, we are prepared to treat this as a catestrophic event and will restore service as quickly as possible.

• $249,950 LAKEBAY 4 bdrm, 2 bath, 1782 sqft Manuf-Double Wide.
  Call LuAnn Frans, John L. Scott, Inc., at 253-686-4642 about MLS #28120323
   
• $329,000 KENT 4 bdrm, 2.5 bath, 2270 sqft Split Entry.
  Call ERA American Brokers, Inc., 425-226-4410 about MLS #28091704.
   
• $279,950 EVERETT 3 bdrm, 1 bath, 1003 sqft 1 Story.
  Call Steve Setzer, Sound Investments Realty, Inc., at 360-403-7141 about MLS #28094815.
   
• $1,515,250 RENTON 5 bdrm, 6 bath, 6079 sqft 2 Story.
  Call ERA American Brokers, Inc., at 425-225-4410 about MLS #28057972.
   
• $380,000 GIG HARBOR 3 Split Entry.
  Call Jackie Olivier, Windermere R.E. Gig Harbor, at 253-380-5205 about MLS
  #28076959.
   
• $449,000 AUBURN bdrm, 1.75 bath, 1840 sqft 1 Story w/Bsmnt..
  Call Danny Hansen, Sound Investments Realty, Inc., at 253-630-7863 about MLS #28107279.
• $1,100,000 GIG HARBOR 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath, 2802 sqft 1 Story.
  Call Teresa Nepper, ERA Integrity Realty, at 253-905-2461 about MLS #28084334.
   
• $318,000 PACKWOOD 2 bdrm, 2.5 bath, 1456 sqft 1 1/2 Story.
  Call William Truitt, Four-U Realty/Packwood, at 360-494-4848 about MLS #28100831.
   
• $575,000 TACOMA 4 bdrm, 3 bath, 2862 sqft 2 Story.
   Call Mishal Brown, John L. Scott, Inc., at 253-732-5755 about MLS #28117113.
   
• $634,950 SAMMAMISH 5 bdrm, 2.75 bath, 2604 sqft 2 Story.
  Call Ron Cornwall, Cornwall Real Estate, at 206-701-4165 about MLS #28121195.
   
• $363,300 MAPLE VALLEY 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 2300 sqft 1 Story.
  Call Marlene Burns, ERA American Brokers, Inc., at 206-669-6868 about MLS #28127247.
   
• $175,000 GIG HARBOR 3 bdrm, 1.75 bath, 1711 sqft Manuf-Double Wide.
  Call Rick Knapp, Gig Harbor Realty, Inc., at 253-651-2921 about MLS #28062244.

Because of our consistent results we’re still claiming nwRealty.Com as the “Most visited website that is focused exclusively on Washington real estate”.  The next graph represents regional real estate websites with a strong presence in Washington whose services cross borders into other states.  We’re still out performing the lower end of this scale … even without a multi-million dollar budget.

The obviously notable event dipicted here is Redfin’s new position as “King of the hill”.  While they experienced a 30% increase, Windermere (the dethroned king) lost about 11%.  The end of summer is now upon us so expect market activity to start declining.  The decline will continue until the holidays when activity all but stops.  Make sales while you can, but start planning now for next year.

1. Coupeville Rambler $324,900
   Like new one story home in the town of Coupeville. Built in 1999, 3 BR, 2 full BA, 2 car garage. Great Room floor plan w/vaulted ceiling. Large eat in kitchen, formal dining, formal living w/gas fireplace. Master suite w/soaking tub, separate shower, walk in closet … more
    
2. Mount Vernon Split Level Home $549,900
   Great view, location & schools. 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath home on approx 1.1 acres. Remodeled kitchen adjoins dining area & living room w/beautiful cathedral ceilings & lots of windows for optimum lake views. Master w/sitting area, .75 bath & walk-in closet … more
    
3. Burlington Vacant Land $225,000
   Great shy 1 acre lot on the corner of District Line Rd and Cook Rd. Beautiful Skagit Valley soil for growing your own garden & enjoying the awesome mountain views as you live in the agricultural community. Lot certification completed. Quick access to I-5 & the city of Burlington … more
    
4. Burlington Vacant Land $215,000
   Great 1 acre lot on the corner of District Line Rd and Cook Rd. Beautiful Skagit Valley soil for growing your own garden & enjoying the awesome mountain views as you live in the agricultural community. Lot certification completed … more