Sept 08 Web Trends
October 14, 2008
OUCH!
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.
Washington Real Estate Web Trends - BTS 08
September 19, 2008
Summer vacation is history and its Back To School for the kids. As expected, traffic for our main real estate site at www.nwrealty.com decreased about 13% from July. Here’s the surprise … Our competing sites seemed to hold steady and a couple even showed slight increases.
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.
NW Real Estate Magazine 1310
August 9, 2008
The latest edition of the Northwest Real Estate Magazine is now on the stands featuring these properties in our monthly ad. You can download a pdf version of our ad here.
- $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.
Washington Real Estate Web Trends - Summer 08
August 5, 2008
We are extremely pleased with performance of nwRealty.Com during the month of July. We maintained the historical trend of July being a very strong month while all competing sites experienced a decrease of visitors … some losing 30 - 40%. A change from previous reports; we replaced Machpersons.com with Southsoundhomes.com (operated by The Tacoma Tribune/McClatchy Company) after finding it to have a stronger web presence.
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.
NW Real Estate Magazine 138
June 30, 2008
The latest edition of the Northwest Real Estate Magazine is now on the stands. This month the following properties are featured in out ad. You can download a pdf version of our ad here.
- $649,900 KENT 4 bdrm / 2.5 bath / 2190 sqft 2 Story. Call Charlie Peterson, ERA American Brokers, Inc. at 206-459-3242 about MLS # 28081926
- $249,000 LAKEBAY Res - 1 Acre +. Call Bill Montgomery, Gig Harbor Realty, Inc. at 253-549-6151 about MLS # 28078321
- $975,000 PACKWOOD 4 bdrm / 3.5 bath / 3508 sqft Multi Level. Call Bill Truitt, Four-U ealty/Packwood at 360-494-4848 about MLS # 27192450
- $295,000 MAPLE VALLEY 3 bdrm / 2 bath / 1554 sqft 1 Story. Call Marlene Burns, ERA American Brokers, Inc. at 425-413-4929 about MLS # 27146884
- $1,349,999 SAMMAMISH 6 bdrm / 3.5 bath / 3170 sqft 1 Story. Call Ron Cornwall, Cornwall Real Estate at 206-701-4165 about MLS # 28028691
- $239,000 LYNNWOOD 2 bdrm / 1 bath / 910 sqft Condo 2 Level Unit. Call Shane Williamson, Cornwall Real Estate at 425-922-2600 about MLS # 28049650
- $275,000 LAKEWOOD 1968 sqft Duplex. Call Bill Price, NW Properties Agency, Inc. at 253-380-3099 about MLS # 28073507
- $355,000 OCEAN SHORES 4 bdrm / 2.5 bath / 3100 sqft 2 Story. Call Brannon Casler, Sound Investments Realty, Inc. at 206-947-3290 about MLS # 28028117
- $380,000 GIG HARBOR 3 bdrm / 2.25 bath / 2036 sqft Split Entry. Call Jackie Olivier, Windermere R.E. Gig Harbor at 253-380-5205 about MLS # 28076959
- $599,950 ENUMCLAW 3 bdrm / 1.75 bath / 2650 sqft Multi Level. Call Danny Hansen, Sound Investments Realty, Inc. at 253-630-7863 about MLS # 28089813
- $240,000 BONNEY LAKE 3 bdrm / 2 bath / 1344 sqft Split Entry. Call Maria Kevorkian, CENTURY 21 Swarthout Realty at 253-223-9870 about MLS # 28091606
- $389,000 GIG HARBOR/PENINSULA 3 bdrm / 1 bath / 1456 sqft 2 Stories w/Bsmnt. Call Brenda Bacon, Gig Harbor Realty, Inc. at 253-225-5089 about MLS # 27208031
WA Web Site Trends Spring 08
May 27, 2008
My last web trend report was posted in January so this post reflects the end of our winter season and the beginning of the spring buying season. The websites below are for companies based in Washington that also cross the border into other states (mostly in the western states). You’ll recognize the names and know that they have very substantial Internet marketing budgets.
Multi-State Sites:
Even with the mortgage meltdown and decline in sales most sites finished the month of April very near their traffic levels a year ago.
My Crystal Ball:
Since the month of May is nearly over there are several weeks of data available at compete.com that reflects relative growth for the month. Today it looks like Redfin and Brio Realty will finish the month with a nice increase of visitors compared with last month. The other sites will probably hold steady, near the number of visitors they had in April.
Thanks for stopping by! May’s reports will be available in a few weeks and we’ll see if my predictions are correct. Let me know if you’re interested in data for national sites.
