As I was going through the various polls on BrokerAgentSocial I found Rebecca Levinson's poll asking people whether or not they would attend any social media or blogging seminars in 2009.

16 people have voted so far, so its a small test group, but 53% said yes, 24% said no and 24% said undecided. This serves as a great reminder of where the future of online marketing is headed.

There are those who disagree with the idea of Social Media, but the web has become increasingly more social - that's a given. Communities are the name of the game today and will continue to be so well into the future.

Here's a fun look at some of the top ten real estate movies of all time following in the vein of my top ten countdown til 2009. Now, any lists are always subjective, these are just a few of the more amusing ones from Amy Hahn.

Which would you add to or take off the list?

10. Neighbors starring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd

Hehe always make sure you meet your neighbors and get a good feel for the neighborhood.

9. The Amityville Horror starring Josh Brolin

Follow your instincts. If you feel weird about a house, maybe there's a good reason.

8. Pacific Heights starring Michael Keaton

If you're renting, always make sure to do a good, thorough background check with references!

7. Open House starring Adrienne Barbeau

Open houses can be scary for new realtors, so make sure everything is planned well in advance and think about hosting a more experienced agent's open house first.

6. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House starring Cary Grant

Before investing in a house, make sure you get the proper inspections and reviews. Also, even the worst fixer upper can turn into the home of your dreams through hard work and determination, so don't discount that fixer-upper you saw.

5. Poltergeist starring JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson

Always check into the history of the house you're buying or selling, otherwise something unwanted might pop up (or out at you!);p

4. Life As A House starring Kevin Kline

Reminds us of the important role a home can play in our lives and that the right house can make all the difference in our lives.

3. American Beauty starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening

In real estate, the better you are at promoting yourself and your services, the more business you'll get and the more authority you'll have. However, be sure to use this authority in a responsible way!

2. Duplex starring Drew Barrymore and Ben Stiller

Always make sure to double check everything and never take anything at face value. If you're a buyer, this means making sure you know all the relevant facts about the home you're buying. If you're a real estate agent, make sure the seller has disclosed absolutely everything and double check it yourself.

1. The Money Pit starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long

This is a remake of "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" and carries the same message: always make sure you know exactly what you're getting.

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas and have an excellent New Years. Before the New Year, I thought it would be appropriate to touch on some top 10 lists for 2008. The first of these is The Top 10 Titans of the Real Estate Industry in 2008.

Independent Brokerage Companies, Franchise Groups and Real Estate Networks are always ranked on separate lists as it is impossible to really, effectively compare these different kinds of organizations.

The following group of the “biggest of the biggest” (in alphabetical order) combines all residential real estate brokerage types into one list. They are aptly named “The Top 10 Titans of the Real Estate Industry in 2008.”

1. Exit Realty

2. Home Services of America

3. Keller Williams Realty

4. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World

5. Long & Foster

6. NRT, Inc.

7. Prudential

8. Realogy

9. RE/MAX International

10. Weichert Realtors

What do you think? Do you agree with this list, compiled from the 2008 Swanepoel Trends Report?

The commission a seller agrees to pay to a real estate broker is typically not “added” to the fair market value of the home because, in order to be sold, the home must be competitively priced within the area it is located.

The total fee (including both the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent side) is negotiated prior to signing the listing agreement and following all research conducted to determine the asking price of the property.

The first consideration in pricing a home should be the comparable market analysis which the agent completes by identifying the active (or presently listed), sold and expired properties in the area. The active listings indicate the present competition in the market.

The recently sold comparable properties provide an excellent guideline as to the price the market is willing to pay, for this type of home, at this point in time. Expired listings show the range at which a property might be over priced (unless other circumstances make the property undesirable) and ignored by the market.

Naturally, it could be argued that every price considered in the market might historically include the value of a real estate commission, if the property was sold through an agency, which is overwhelmingly the case.

However, it would be an error to assume that the amount of a commission in any way “drives” the value of a property over market demand and market conditions.

A seller having lived in the same home for a long period of time will typically own substantial equity in the home because of its appreciation over the years, unless the seller has consistently refinanced and withdrawn funds from the equity.

On the other side, a home owner selling a property after a short time of having lived in the home, will not have built enough equity in the home and may see his/her proceeds shrink.

The proceeds a seller stands to gain by selling the home often will influence the amount of commission he/she is willing or able to pay. In addition to the asking price, the commission negotiation is probably the most important aspect a seller enters into when making a decision to list.

But, the service the broker or agent provides, successfully marketing and selling the home, most often makes the difference on whether the home is sold or not.

This fact is driven by the increased exposure a home enjoys when professionally listed.

Because the commission has been negotiated by, the seller prior to listing the home, the buyer’s offer is not affected by the commission paid and such fee is deducted from the proceeds of the seller at the time of closing.