The Missing Link In Major League Soccer Popularity In The U.S.

By adopting a simple strategy that is practiced in every country around
the world, the MLS can pack it’s soccer stadiums with capacity crowds

 

If you have watched enough soccer on TV or in stadiums, you may have noticed that there exists a distinct difference between watching an MLS game in the United States and watching a soccer match played in any other country. There is something missing in the way MLS games are played than soccer leagues in other countries. If you talk to enough soccer fans, this sentiment seems ubiquitous, although few are really sure of what is missing or different and speculation abounds. There is no question, however, that soccer here is lacking some dynamic that tends to keep it’s popularity from exploding.

The immediate thought is that soccer players from other countries are more skilled and more organized. Or that the training and facilities are superior to what one might find in the U.S. To some degree this is true, but the quality of play in this country is not so inferior to other nations as people tend to think. If you watch soccer players in the MLS, there is not much difference between how they perform individually or as a team than players and teams from around the world. No, it’s not the quality of play or coaching.

The way to begin to understand the difference between soccer quality here and abroad is to watch an MLS game on one channel and then an English Premiership game, for example, on another channel. Watch an MLS game for a few minutes and then switch to the premiership game for a few minutes. If it doesn’t hit you right away, keep switching back and forth and the obvious will eventually burst through. Doesn’t it seem that there is more excitement surrounding the premiership match (or any other European game) than the MLS? Can you hear the difference?

Yes, it’s the sounds and revelry displayed by premiership fans that you don’t hear from American fans and that is what is different. And what causes this level of excitement that needs no cheerleaders? A team song and a town song and songs that mock the opposing team and their town. That is what all soccer teams have in other countries. That’s what we need here in the MLS. If every team in the MLS had a song that the fans could sing at soccer matches, you would see an immediate improvement in the quality of play, the excitement of the game, and the number of fans.

When soccer teams play in Europe, for instance, each team’s fans are all singing their song in unison with such vigor and emotion that the sound echoes throughout the stadium and creates a stirring atmosphere. Players on the field are more motivated, coaches are more active, announcers are more lively, and the game takes on an air of grandeur where everyone there is involved. And that is what draws the crowds.

You do not see or hear much fan excitement during MLS games. Even when there are large crowds, the noises emanating from the stadium are muted and disconnected. Only those annoying drums and other odd sounding devices in the audience blast out too often, but there is no unity in the fans’ cheering and that detracts from the excitement that soccer brings elsewhere.

With each team in the MLS adopting their own song and promoting it to their fans, a new aspect can be added to accelerate soccer’s popularity in America. It will serve to gain new audiences as excited soccer fans share their exuberance with their friends. Watching an MLS game will then be as thrilling as watching a match in any other country.

It would only take one or two MLS teams to get the ball rolling. Once the other franchises realized the increase in attendance and fervor in the game, they would then follow suit. Before long, all teams would have a team song and the stadiums would rock with thousands of soccer fans. A team song will create this excitement and that will bring more people to the game of soccer and into the stadiums. Making the beer less expensive wouldn’t hurt either.

Till Next Time,
Bernie Rosellen
Soccer From The Pitch

About the Author:

Bernie Rosellen has played and been involved with soccer for over thirty years. He has coached youth soccer teams for almost twenty years. He still plays on two adult soccer teams today. Tapping his experiences as a soccer player and soccer coach, he writes articles as, Soccer From The Pitch, and provides content for websites such as http://www.SoccerCountry.com

The Real Estate Auctioneer:
White Knight To Home Sellers

Auctions Are Proving To Be The Godsend For Banks,
Governments, And Home Owners As They Struggle
To Sell Real Estate Holdings In Today’s Housing Market

Auctions have been around since recorded history and varied merchandise has been sold by the auction method through the ages. Today, auctions are still the preferred sales strategy for many commodities such as automobiles and livestock. But today’s auctions are taking on a broader role as the complexities of the marketplace and mounting competition are making it more difficult to realize a fair profit. One area that is benefitting from the auction sales method is real estate.

Auctions for real estate were historically reserved for distressed properties. Owners of residential and commercial properties who faced losing their properties or banks and governments that held foreclosed real estate normally used the auction method for selling their properties, often at prices much lower than market value. This is not true anymore.

Traditionally, real estate that was not in a distressed state would not normally be sold through auctions. Home owners and corporate real estate owners relied on the tightly knit Realtor network to sell their properties through the MLS system that could only be accessed by licensed agents. We are now seeing a shift in people’s perceptions about the value that a real estate auction can provide.

In the last two years we have seen a surge in the number of homes being auctioned off all across the country along with the number of potential buyers. More and more home sellers and home buyers are realizing the benefits of selling and buying through an auction. It only makes sense. There are not many sales methods that equally favor the seller and the buyer. Auctions offer a win-win situation for everyone involved.

When we look at the benefits to both sellers and buyers, it is hard to find another method for selling real estate that compares.

Let’s look at how an auction benefits the seller:
1. Buyers attend auctions to buy and they are financially qualified
2. Property is sold at true market value resulting in the highest possible price
3. The property is exposed to a large number of pre-qualified prospects
4. Competition among bidders is created resulting in accelerating prices
5. Property is sold “As Is”
6. There are no lengthy negotiations
7. Fast settlement and payment reduces carrying and maintenance costs and taxes
8. Property sells in a very short time period
And there are more.

Now let’s look at how auctions benefit the buyer:
1. The seller is committed to a sale of his property
2. Buyers determine the selling price of the property
3. Time to purchase real property is reduced
4. Buyers compete fairly on the same terms through open bidding
5. There are no lengthy negotiations
6. Buyers receive a comprehensive packet of property information with full disclosures
7. Properties sell for fair market value with many bargain opportunities
8. Fast settlements allow for quick ownership

The benefits of using an auction to sell real estate continues to make it attractive to banks and home owners. You will begin to see a gradual increase in the number of homes that will be sold through the auction method through this year and beyond as the housing crises hangs on.

Once the auction method for selling real estate gains notoriety and it’s benefits are realized by the general public, it will become as normal a part of home sales and commercial property sales as the current Agent/MLS system. In some countries, the sale of homes through auctions far exceeds the number sold by Realtors . We see this trend taking hold in America and we will see more and more homes being sold by auctions and the number of buyers who come to buy.

So, who’s you’re auctioneer?

Till Next Time,
Bernie, The Auctioneer

About the author:
Bernie Rosellen is a Virginia licensed Auctioneer and Realtor® and owner of Bellwether Auctions Co., LLC. He and his team help both home buyers and home sellers get the most out of their real estate transaction and they specialize in the Richmond, VA area and surrounding counties. You can find out more about auctions, real estate, and Bernie and his team at www.BellwetherAuctions.com and www.RichmondRealEstateNetwork.com

How To Sell Your Home In Today’s Real Estate Market

As hard as it may seem, home sellers have options
that can result in a quick sale without losing money

It is no secret that this is one of the worst times in history to be a home seller. Just ask anyone who has had their house on the market over the last few months. The bad news is that it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better soon and it may get worse, according to economic pundits. So, is there any good news for home sellers? As dire as the housing market looks, home sellers have options that can result in a home sale with money in their pockets.

No, there are no magic waves of the wand that will make your house sell for top dollar in a short time. Nor are there any secrets that a seller can discover that will make his or her house sell before all the others in the neighborhood for the price that they want. But there are some things that a seller can do if selling is a must.
The one strategy that always works and tends to sting a bit and most home sellers recoil at the mention of it, but it is a fact of life and every single real estate professional will back me up on this – the only reason a home does not sell is because it is overpriced. Period. Granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and that cool media room that you built won’t matter beans if your home is selling for more than others in the area. If you want to sell your home, price it below your competition.

Location, location, location has been supplanted by price, price, price. With so many fine communities and school systems in just about every locale, home buyers are looking for maximum return on their purchase more than location and they are negotiating hard. Fueled by the news media’s take on the status of the nation’s housing market, espousing the dire straits of sellers and the bargains that can be had, buyers are making low offers and demanding seller concessions. And, oftentimes, they are getting what they want, leaving some sellers bitter and poorer.

Although, in the past, seller incentives were used and worked fairly well to effect a sale in this tough market, their effectiveness has waned because just about every seller is doing that and buyers are too educated to let incentives command a higher price. The best thing to do is just reduce the price of your home and forget the incentives. Buyers want to see real dollar savings. They are comparing your home to dozens and sometimes hundreds of other homes that they are qualified to buy. Your lower price will get the sale, not the flat panel HD TV that you’re willing to throw in.

When there are few buyers in the market, as we are experiencing now, home sellers need to concentrate on three key factors in order to stand out from the crowd. The first is the price, as has been harped upon above, but it cannot be emphasized more. If your home is not priced lower than comparable properties around you, then your home will linger on the market along with those comparables.

The second strategy for selling your home is to hire a competent real estate agent who is a marketing expert and is internet savvy. Up to 90% of home buyers now search the internet for real estate information at sites such as Realtor.com, Homes.com, and thousands of private real estate sites from around the country. If your home is not marketed all over the web, you are losing out big time. The internet and email has become the way most people prefer to communicate today when it comes to buying or selling a home. Make sure your agent knows how to promote your home online effectively.

The third method that will accelerate a home sale is to offer the buyer’s agent, the real estate agent who brings a buyer to show your home, one percent more commission than what other sellers are offering. A higher agent commission will make the buyer’s agent do the promoting and selling for you. He or she has a significant monetary incentive to showcase your homes over others that their buyer clients are also interested in. This is a powerful way to get both your agent and the dozens of other agents who have buyers to promote and market your property.

The bottom line is that times are hard and there are no easy and quick ways to sell a home today without some pain. If you don’t have to sell, don’t. If you do have to sell, you need to be realistic and understand the market and the habits of today’s home buyers and demands by mortgage companies. Like it or not, if you want to sell your home, you need to price it where the market tells you. And remember, buyers are the market.

Till Next Time,
Bernie Rosellen,
Your Agent In The Field
Please keep in mind that my statements above are based on my personal experiences, research, and observations around the neighborhoods of central Virginia. Some statements may not reflect fully the situations, regulations and laws of other states nor apply in all areas, so please see what applies in your area (my disclaimer to keep me out of Realtor Jail).

About the author:
Bernie Rosellen is a Virginia licensed Realtor® and Auctioneer. He serves both home buyers and home sellers and specializes in the Richmond, VA area. Besides actively practicing real estate, Bernie writes real estate articles as Your Agent In The Field ™ You can find out more about the real estate market in central Virginia at his websites: www.TheRosellenTeam.com and www.RichmondRealEstateNetwork.com

How To Sell Your Home
In Today’s Real Estate Market

As hard as it may seem, home sellers have options
that can result in a quick sale without losing money

It is no secret that this is one of the worst times in history to be a home seller. Just ask anyone who has had their house on the market over the last few months. The bad news is that it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better soon and it may get worse, according to economic pundits. So, is there any good news for home sellers? As dire as the housing market looks, home sellers have options that can result in a home sale with money in their pockets.
No, there are no magic waves of the wand that will make your house sell for top dollar in a short time. Nor are there any secrets that a seller can discover that will make his or her house sell before all the others in the neighborhood for the price that they want. But there are some things that a seller can do if selling is a must.
The one strategy that always works and tends to sting a bit and most home sellers recoil at the mention of it, but it is a fact of life and every single real estate professional will back me up on this – the only reason a home does not sell is because it is overpriced. Period. Granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and that cool media room that you built won’t matter beans if your home is selling for more than others in the area. If you want to sell your home, price it below your competition.
Location, location, location has been supplanted by price, price, price. With so many fine communities and school systems in just about every locale, home buyers are looking for maximum return on their purchase more than location and they are negotiating hard. Fueled by the news media’s take on the status of the nation’s housing market, espousing the dire straits of sellers and the bargains that can be had, buyers are making low offers and demanding seller concessions. And, oftentimes, they are getting what they want, leaving some sellers bitter and poorer.
Although, in the past, seller incentives were used and worked fairly well to effect a sale in this tough market, their effectiveness has waned because just about every seller is doing that and buyers are too educated to let incentives command a higher price. The best thing to do is just reduce the price of your home and forget the incentives. Buyers want to see real dollar savings. They are comparing your home to dozens and sometimes hundreds of other homes that they are qualified to buy. Your lower price will get the sale, not the flat panel HD TV that you’re willing to throw in.
When there are few buyers in the market, as we are experiencing now, home sellers need to concentrate on three key factors in order to stand out from the crowd. The first is the price, as has been harped upon above, but it cannot be emphasized more. If your home is not priced lower than comparable properties around you, then your home will linger on the market along with those comparables.
The second strategy for selling your home is to hire a competent real estate agent who is a marketing expert and is internet savvy. Up to 90% of home buyers now search the internet for real estate information at sites such as Realtor.com, Homes.com, and thousands of private real estate sites from around the country. If your home is not marketed all over the web, you are losing out big time. The internet and email has become the way most people prefer to communicate today when it comes to buying or selling a home. Make sure your agent knows how to promote your home online effectively.
The third method that will accelerate a home sale is to offer the buyer’s agent, the real estate agent who brings a buyer to show your home, one percent more commission than what other sellers are offering. A higher agent commission will make the buyer’s agent do the promoting and selling for you. He or she has a significant monetary incentive to showcase your home over others that their buyer clients are also interested in. This is a powerful way to get both your agent and the dozens of other agents who have buyers to promote and market your property.
The bottom line is that times are hard and there are no easy and quick ways to sell a home today without some pain. If you don’t have to sell, don’t. If you do have to sell, you need to be realistic and understand the market and the habits of today’s home buyers and demands by mortgage companies. Like it or not, if you want to sell your home, you need to price it where the market tells you. And remember, buyers are the market.

Till Next Time,
Bernie Rosellen
Your Agent In The Field

Please keep in mind that my statements above are based on my personal experiences, research, and observations around the neighborhoods of central Virginia. Some statements may not reflect fully the situations, regulations and laws of other states nor apply in all areas, so please see what applies in your area (my disclaimer to keep me out of Realtor Jail).

About the author:
Bernie Rosellen is a Virginia licensed Realtor® and Auctioneer. He serves both home buyers and home sellers and specializes in the Richmond, VA area. Besides actively practicing real estate, Bernie writes real estate articles as “Your Agent In The Field”? You can find out more about the real estate market in central Virginia at his websites:

www.TheRosellenTeam.com and www.RichmondRealEstateNetwork.com