Hey Brokers Pay Attention to Gen X it’s your FUTURE!

Okay so as I recall, not only was the real estate market booming a few years ago, so was the increase of rookie real estate agents.  During the boom-cycle, most of a realtor’s  focus was on deals rather than building skills for the future.  So it’s no surprise that the technology gap between agents and their clients has magnified more than ever.

And it’s sometimes apparent to see looks of ‘Huh’ on realtors’ faces when a Gen X buyer asks them to SMS an MP4 of a listing to iPhone, or text  to confirm the showing appointment…

If that last sentence doesn’t make any sense to you, then pay attention.

It’s not just the techno-speak of a select few geeks bent on changing the world. It’s the everyday talk of millions of Gen X and Gen Y consumers entering the first-time home-buyer cycle.

To illustrate the gap between the “new normal” of the younger homebuyers and many ‘seasoned’ realtor’s  today,

- less than 25% of reatlors today use wireless email every day.

- some 74% have never sent an instant message.

- don’t assume leads from your website will NOT convert, 20% of realtor’s do…

Now ask yourself what percentage of 20-something-buyers is texting every hour ?

Therein lies the problem for the next few years. Even without other issues like poor home pricing or buyer qualification techniques (which is so stringent from the banks) equally CHALLENGING is the Self-Employed trying to get a mortgage, amongst the current sales force, brokers are faced with deficient core technology skills that today’s buyers are requiring in their realtor’s..

Now, consider that the average first time buyer is 31 years old of Generation X. Most often their cell phone is the only phone they own. They  use it for text more than for talking. They surf the web, check  email,  and they keep up with friends and family in real-time by text and they plug that into their FACEBOOK profile.

Most Gen X can text and walk, shop Robson Street with a group of their friends, and need I forget a Starbucks skinny Latte in hand and VERY capable of engaging in every activity that they are doing because of their technology.

FACT:   Oh, and the first time home buyer purchased 41% of all homes last year in America; so there’s a very high liklihood that you’ll be encountering this strange creature in your normal course of business as a real estate agent.

Tap into that!!!

What you should know: cuz YOU don’t

The FACTS: What is Generation X

Generation X: Declaring their Independence

The 51 million members of Generation X, born between 1965 and 1976, grew up in a very different world than previous generations. Divorce and working moms created “latchkey” kids out of many in this generation. This led to traits of independence, resilience and adaptability. Generation X feels strongly that “I don’t need someone looking over my shoulder.”

As you might expect, this group is technically literate like no one else. Technology has always been part of their lives, whether it’s computers and the Internet or cell phones and text pagers.  Get on it!

Get dialed into the iphone technology or you’ll be left behind.