Well we might not have a giant mouse, space mountain or things that stick to the bottom of your shoes, but less than 1 hour away from Disneyland, Activerain will be bringing you Raincamp, and it will have outstanding speakers, thrill rides of its own, and you might even find something that will stick to the bottom of your shoes.

ActiveRain RainCamp Dallas Texas - WOW!
By: Donna Harris
Cowboys, Sideways Street Lights and Hospitality Out the WAZOO!
By: Debe Maxwell
Making "Rain" at RainCamp Dallas
By: Linda Yates at Blog.Foreclosure.com
RainCamp Was A Stellar Event
By: Jason Crouch
New York RainCamp Was A Great Experience
By: "Tommy" - Decebal Adamescu
Dallas RainCamp 2010 - Rich With Information
By: Blog.FineHomesHouston.com
Information Galore Was Provided at RainCamp Dallas
By: Meg Zoller
Chicago RainCamp - A Review
By: Barb Van Stencel
ActiveRain RainCamp Chicago - The Technology is Overwhelming
By: Dean Moss

REGISTER HERE FOR YOUR E-TICKET TO RAINCAMP

"Must Be 40" Inches or Taller To Ride!"

"Raincamp is one of the best 'catalyst' conversations for understanding contemporary real estate marketing in the country today. If you want to be on the forefront and learn what ideas, methods, and technologies to adopt, then this is the place to be. Rene Fabre | ARFCO MEDIA - Social Media Consulting

"This is not your typical Real Estate seminar with "new tools you can use" that wind up being a program someone is trying to sell you! So go, learn, implement, and see the benefit. Unless of course you are one of my competitors in my market, then you should not go, ever!" Chris Fetrow RE/MAX Four Corners

"It is one of the best seminars that I've attended and it really has changed the way I'm going about my business. I highly recommend going to one, it is a sound investment." Shirin Sarikhani, ASP, IAHSP, Seattle Staged To Sell

"I have to say that of all the industry seminars and boot-camps I've been to over the years - this was BY FAR my favorite !" Sheldon Neal - That British Agent - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited, Bergen County, NJ

"The AR team is unbelievably good at what they do and I appreciate all they shared us. The best thing is no one tried to put the hard sell on the various products that were being showcased. Can't wait for round 2! The platinum seating was worth every dollar! Thanks AR!" Becky Johnston | Colorado Real Estate Brokerage, LLC

For more Videos, Blogs, Posts, and Comments, grab the next amusement park shuttle, and come visit us over at the "Big Eye In The Sky" ... because it's a small world after-all, it's a small, small world!

  See you there!  :-)

How To Embed Your Youtube Video into Google Maps

You'll need a Youtube account, if you don't have one, set one up, it's FREE.  You'll also need a Google Account to sign in and save your maps. If you don't have one, set one up, it's FREE too.

Step 1: Upload your video to Youtube.com

Step 2: Select the video you want to embed into Google Maps

Step 3: Copy the embed HTML code from the Youtube Video
(it should look something like this)

Step 4: Go to maps.google.com and click the "My Maps" Link

Step 5: Click on the "Create New Map" link

Step 6: Search the map to find the exact location where you want your video to appear
            (zoom in close to find exact location)
Step 7: In the "Edit" mode, click on the placemark icon and place it on the map

Step 8: Click on the "edit HTML" link and add youtube embed code into description box.

Step 9: Give your marker and description box a "Title" and click "ok" and then "Done"

Step 10: Your video will now appear on Google Maps and can also be viewed on Google Earth

Now, to embed the saved Video and saved Map into your Blog or website, click on the "Link" located in the upper right corner and copy the embed code from Google Maps.  Next, place the embed code in your Blog post (using the HTML tab) or on your website and save.  This will put the interactive map including the video into your post or on your web-page.  Visitors can now watch the video from within your interactive map, and never even leave your post or site.

The best part is that even if you don't embed the iframe map into your Blog or website, the video is still attached to Google Maps and can be viewed by anyone who clicks on the video from within the Google Maps page.  Here's what the completed project will look like in a Blog Post.  Try doing this with your community videos, your virtual tours, your travel videos, any video you've created that you want to show up on Google Maps.

Tomorrow's Real Estate Technology Today

One of my favorite things to do at Inman Connect is to see all the new Real Estate Technology that's being introduced to the industry.  While I was wondering around the EXPO checking out the vendor booths and different products, I came across one vendor that really got me excited.  They are called Infusion.com providing Location Intelligence Services.  I was fortunate to have a meeting with Kayla Spiess, their Marketing and Communications Manager, and Tyler Davey the General Manager.  When I saw the demo I'm about to share with you, I was blown away. 

Real Estate Technology is something we know is always changing.  We are constantly trying to adapt to the changes.  Most often I find myself struggling just to keep up with it all.  Last week I wrote a post about Google Maps and Google Earth regarding the missing link to click on the front door of a property and to go inside, or the lack thereof.  Infusion is already ahead of the curve.   Using Microsoft Surface technology, they have taken this idea and incorporated INFUSED ways to use it into today's Real Estate Market and Industry.

Here's a Video Preview of Infusions Falcon Eye Application

The Surface Touch Table you see in this video costs around $12,000 dollars and though you might not find one of these in the entry way of your local Real Estate office or Brokerage, this product is available for certain computers meeting specific Hardware and Software requirements.  The future of Real Estate Technology may at some point include the requirement to purchase one of the coffee table type touch screens for your Real Estate Office.

Don't laugh, they said the fax machine would never make it as a modern day Business tool either.

I was just notified that the Inter-Active ActiveRain Business Card is now available on iTunes.   Last week, I posted a video on how the app works and received a great response from many of you iPhone users.  That's not to say I didn't hear from the BlackBerry Crowd too!  lol~ 
As promised, I said it was coming...now it's here.

There is already more functionality, a new mortgage calculator, and a feature that allows iPhone 3G users to click on a button while in front of a property, (or in a specific neighborhood), that returns them a google map geocoded with the location, photo, and details of that property. 

I love this stuff, I think other iPhone users will too.

How Do I get it?

To get yourself a copy to check out, or test on your iPhone, just go to the iTunes store on your MAC or PC, and in the "Search" box, type "ActiveRain" and viola!  It only takes seconds to install, and I think you'll enjoy some of these first features. (you may find a couple "rain radio" podcasts on iTunes as a bonus...shhh)

If you're an iPhone owner, you can download a copy of this app RIGHT HERE.  It's easy to do, and it's FREE.  You can also download it directly from your iPhone buy clicking the "AppStore Icon" then the "Search Tab" with "ActiveRain" as your search.  I'd love to solicit your reviews, comments, and opinions over at the iTunes store.  Once you've download the application, you'll see a button for "reviews" at iTunes, your feedback and support over there is appreciated, but only if you have the spare time. :-)

Getting My Own Customized App

Getting this application customized for you and your company or business will be easy.  There'll be a launching of the site wizard this next week, giving you the capability to create one of these for your own iPhone.  I'll have a post giving instructions and details on how to do this sometime next week.

Thanks for sharing in all the excitement with me, it's been a long time coming, and now I finally get to share it back.  Take a moment and check it out, then you can decide how you'd want your own iPhone Business Card App to work.  Or... you can just use mine to work and play in the "RAIN!"  Enjoy!

http://itunes.com/app/activerain

I just got off the phone with Lenn Harley, one of our ActiveRain resident members and experts on the topic of Copyright, and I am excited to tell you, she'll be joining us, (The AR Staff) ";Live"; this Thursday on Rain Radio.  Lenn has even contacted her attorney, Paul Thaler, ESQ. from International Square in Washington DC to join us.  We'll have as many answers as we can, to as many of the questions you may have.  Copyright, plagiarism, cut and paste emails, screen captures, jokes, recipes, clip-art, logos, cartoon photos, and anything else you can possibly think of.  This is a rare, one time shot to get your questions answered by an Attorney, and an expert who knows the laws, and your rights.

I hope all of our members will participate by either listening in, or calling in to learn and discuss this really important topic.  We are trying to clean up the community and at the same time, help protect our members and friends.  After an extensive conversation with Lenn just the other day, I can't begin to tell you how important this is to us all.  Lenn made it a point to contact Paul to clarify a few questions we both had regarding email, screen shots, and photos, I was shocked by some of the copyright laws.  You might be too.   We'll be sharing this information with anyone who is interested.  It's important to know how this can, and will affect you now, and in the future.  I know for a few members, it already has.

The AR RAIN RADIO Broadcast is this Thursday, November 13th, at 11:00am PDT.  It's a one hour Talk-Show, and it will cover everything you ever wanted to know about the Copyright Laws, violations, and the repercussions of what happens if or when you get caught.  You can either use the "Live" chat, you can phone in and ask questions, or you can just listen in as we breakdown these COPYRIGHT LAWS into bite size and understandable pieces.  What questions are most important to YOU, I'd love to share them on the air?  If you have to miss this broadcast, I'll try and post the show here after, as I'm sure we'll be referring many here in the future.

The phone number to call in is:

Copyright Laws and You - Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:46:04 -0600  Download MP3  (2557 KB)

You're probably thinking of the 1985 classic by Jefferson Starship aren't you?  This post is about AR Cities!

As I was searching for the "missing Blog link" the other day, I discovered an exciting change that you may not have seen yet.  It's the City pages on ActiveRain.  I was so excited, I actually forgot what I was originally looking for (the Web has that effect on me at times...LOL).  Click on States, Select your State or Province, Select Your County, and then Your City.  It's that Easy!

The changes made to the City Pages on AR look very different now.  In the past, the only thing on these pages were Agent Profiles in that city, and they were all sorted based on members with the most points.

Now there's an opportunity to "Build This City" and bring "More Value" to these pages:

Here's a feature similar to what Twitter Members are using:

Just post what's happening in your City, remember, it's just like a Blog Post and will get SEO & Google juice.  According to a conversation I had with Jon and Bob this morning, we are already seeing an increase in hits to the ActiveRain City Pages.  I'm anxious to see how and when these will start showing up on Google.

  
 ~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~ 

Now you've got to love this, I do.  I was the one that had to clean out the Q&A everyday that used to be up on the menu bar. This is a change I have been asking for since July. 

Now consumers can contact "Local" experts and get "Local" answers to their questions.  I hope members won't use this area to ask silly questions like, "How Do I Make My Font Bold?"  (but I guess you could)

This could really change some things with our direct consumer contact provided we use this feature appropriately.  I suggest  taking 5 minutes a day to see if you can answer any local questions from visitors or readers who find this and use it. 

My thought is this; if SEO will come from your short 140 character updates and community announcements, then inevitably, this City Level Q&A will get more exposure and in time, become another value added tool. Come see my City, I left a message there for ALL of you.

BTW - Everyone was so busy looking for the missing Blog link, that no one mentioned the "Referrals Link" or the "Q&A" links that were gone also.  Well, just like the Blog link, they were never really missing, just moved.  The Referrals and Q&A links are now under the Channels Section in the "More Information" box located on the Main page of ActiveRain.com.  Hope you will enjoy and use these features. :-)

Normally I would have announced this RAIN Radio show before it took place, but this one just snuck up so quick, it bit me right in the you know what, so I thought I better get this out there today.  Why?  It was a good one.  We had one of our very own rainers, Janet Guilbault as our special guest today talking about the mortgage crisis.  Now wait!  Don't stop there, just because this topic has been beat to death, Janet answers some great questions that you might find useful for some of your clients in your area.

They included:

1. Can you name some of the loan programs that have literally gone extinct or become frozen as a result of the mortgage crisis?
2. How has this impacted the average home-buyer who would like to buy a house in this market?
3. How has this impacted the average homeowner refinancing?
4. How much do you think the difficulty of getting financing has impacted the value of real estate?
5. Who are the winners and who are the losers from the crisis?
6. Do you have tips for buyers to increase their chances of approval?
7. Name some pitfalls that people may be unaware of in terms of qualifying?
8. What is the biggest mistake made when applying for a mortgage?
9. What about people who have loans that are adjusting…are they in trouble now?
10. What can REALTORS® do to make certain clients can be approved?
11. Should a seller insist on something more than the standard pre-approval letter before they accept an offer?
12. What sign will there be when things begin to “thaw out”?
13. Do you see any of the loan programs returning?
14. Are things going to get better or worse by the end of the year?
15. Why would someone want to move forward now, as opposed to “waiting to see what happens”?

I didn't post all her answers, we all know how long this post would be if I did, so I included a link where you can listen to today's broadcast.  This was one of the better BlogTalk shows in my opinion because we covered all these questions and then some.  Take a listen if you have time or if you're just curious to see what Janet had to say, again, some of this information might be useful to you and some of your clients.

Last week, I had the chance to take my family to go see Cheap Trick, Heart, and Journey at the Pavilion. Talk about a flash-back from the eighties. WOW!  What really made this show and evening so special, were my kids getting to see some of the musical talents of bands and friends that my wife and I have grown up with over the years.  Music and people that were/are a huge part of our lives, and that shaped our memories and future.

The evening was full of surprises for my kids, it was a night they'll never forget as long as they live!

Cheap Trick Opens the Show with Nothing but Their Classics

Heart Takes us Back Through Time and Down Memory Lane

Journey Takes us on the "Journey" of an Unforgettable Evening

After the show, Jonathan invited us backstage so the family could meet and greet the band.  I can't even begin to tell you what an impact this had on our kids.  Getting to meet him finally, along with Neal Schon, Arnel Pineda and Ross Valory was not only a dream come true for them, it was the most inspirational moment of their lives.  You should have seen their faces.  You could see the stars and dreams unfolding right in their eyes. Life for them this night, was much more than just a fantasy, it was surreal. I put together a photo collage so they can enjoy and remember this night forever.  Hope you'll enjoy it too. :-)

These are some of the shots we were able to get from our seats. The sound was awesome and the performances were incredible, it was a night we're glad we didn't miss. Great seats too, 10 rows back.

We want to thank our friends from Heart, Cheap Trick and Journey for an unprecedented evening, and especially Jonathan Cain for making it all possible, and for making the entire concert experience spectacular from beginning to end. Our family had the best time ever, Thanks Again. :-) If you EVER get the chance to see Journey "Live", they are a MUST see. They are simply incredible. Arnel Pineda is every bit as good as Steve Perry or better, and their live performance is just sensational!

We have some awesome videos and audio recorded, that any of you are welcome to see and hear, so come on over to our place sometime, but I do respect the copyright laws and these fine musicians enough to avoid the temptation of posting them here on my Blog. (It's Killing me though ...LOL) Instead, I endorse and suggest you go out and buy Journey's newest CD "Revelation!" You won't be disappointed. :-)