Habitats by Kat RSS Feed

Alicia Moon Dahlen joins eXp Realty with Kat Friedman’s growing Travel Community, Habitats by Kat

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Fri, 06 Oct 23 13:56:53 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Alicia Moon Dahlen has joined our team of Realtors who also use travel as a unique way to provide their clients value, monetize their data-base further, and market themselves in a distinct way. Alicia brings a wealth of experience and entrepreneurial drive to further expand our growing community.

“I am thrilled to have Alicia as a new business partner of mine. She wants to combine Real Estate & Travel by supporting investors in purchasing vacation rental properties around the world. This strategy can easily be executed with eXp’s global footprint and my travel communities global suppliers. I am so lucky to have connected with such a highly entrepreneurial partner.” said Katherine Friedman, Founder & CEO of Habitats by Kat.

Licensed as a real estate agent in three states, Alicia has helped clients both nationally and internationally with their real estate needs. In addition to real estate, she has significant experience working with investors to find high-quality investment properties worldwide.

Recognizing the growing demand for vacation, short-term rental opportunities and relocation, Alicia saw an opportunity to better serve her clients by moving her real estate business to eXp Realty and joining Habitats by Kat. Alicia has extensive travel industry knowledge and a loyal database of clients that she can now support globally with eXp Realty while also providing them access to travel experiences and insights on new markets worldwide. Not only this, Alicia has a passion for mentoring other real estate entrepreneurs and plans to become a “certified mentor” at eXp Realty.

"I am thrilled to be partnering with such progressive community within eXp Realty and Habitats by Kat," said Alicia. "Their innovative business models align perfectly with my entrepreneurial spirit and client-focused approach. I look forward to bringing expanded services and opportunities to current and future clients through this new partnership!"

Please join us in giving Alicia a warm welcome to eXp Realty and the Habitats by Kat family. Her expertise will surely benefit many clients in the realms of both real estate and travel.

Why Real Estate Agents Need AI Marketing

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Tue, 12 Sep 23 20:02:19 +0000

The real estate industry is undergoing massive changes as new technologies emerge. One technology in particular that all real estate agents need to embrace is artificial intelligence, or AI. Implementing AI into your marketing strategies can help take your business to the next level and stay competitive in today's digital world.

AI is becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives. From digital assistants like Siri and Alexa to automated customer service chatbots, people now expect some level of artificial intelligence in their interactions with businesses. Real estate is no exception to this trend. Consumers searching for their next home are turning to AI-powered tools and platforms to help simplify the home-buying process.

By incorporating AI marketing techniques, you can meet buyers where they are and provide the personalized, technology-driven experience they want. Some key ways real estate agents can benefit from AI include:

- Targeted social media ads: Use AI-powered ad platforms to micro-target potential buyers on Facebook and Instagram.

- Automated email marketing: Let AI craft personalized, relevant email campaigns based on user behavior to boost open and click-through rates.

- Predictive analytics: Analyze past client and market data to better understand buyer and seller patterns. AI can forecast future trends to help you strategize new listings and marketing.

- Personalized website experiences: Use AI to dynamically tailor your website content, recommendations and lead capture forms based on each user's profile to improve conversions.

By embracing AI, real estate professionals can gain a powerful competitive advantage in today's digital real estate landscape. Don't get left behind - start implementing AI marketing strategies into your business today.

Why Realtors Need Hospitality Training

chieniel@travelagencytribes.com (Chieniel) — Tue, 18 Apr 23 18:10:10 +0000

Real estate agents need hospitality training because they are in the business of serving clients, and a hospitality mindset is key to providing excellent service. By learning hospitality skills, real estate agents can enhance their ability to create a positive experience for their clients, build trust, and foster lasting relationships.

Some specific reasons why real estate agents may benefit from hospitality training include:

Customer service skills: Real estate agents who have hospitality training are better equipped to handle the needs of their clients. They understand how to communicate effectively, anticipate needs, and provide a personalized service that meets the unique needs of each client.

Attention to detail: Real estate transactions often involve many complex details. By having a hospitality mindset, agents can pay closer attention to detail and ensure that all aspects of the transaction are handled professionally and efficiently.

Relationship building: The foundation of a successful real estate business is based on building strong relationships with clients. Hospitality training teaches agents how to connect with clients on a deeper level, build rapport, and establish trust.

Adaptability: Real estate agents who have hospitality training are better equipped to handle unexpected situations and adapt to changing circumstances. They have the ability to think creatively and come up with solutions that work for their clients.

Overall, hospitality training can help real estate agents provide a more enjoyable and stress-free experience for their clients, leading to greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Are you interested in joining Habitats by Kat Real Estate Community at eXp Realty? Click the link below to schedule a consultation with Kat!
https://calendly.com/habitatsbykat

Discounted Hotel, Resort And Vacation Property Booking Engine

chieniel@travelagencytribes.com (Chieniel) — Tue, 18 Apr 23 18:09:54 +0000

Oh, have we got some exciting news!

We launched our very own global hotel booking engine where you can find discounted rates for your next trip! This booking tool syndicates with over 28+ suppliers and will provide you with lots of options when searching for your next hotel, resort or vacation property stay!

Why book with me?

Did you know that online travel agencies like Expedia or TripAdvisor have at least a 30% markup?

Our booking tool reduces the 30% markup to provide your NET rates. As a travel agency, we want our following to truly “Travel Like an Insider” by finding affordable trips through our booking tool.

Keep in mind, the travel industry is extremely dynamic so discounts will vary based on availability for any given hotel and market over the dates you are searching for.

If you want to support a female founded and self-funded travel business, then book your next trip using our booking tool and make sure to tag @habitatsbykat in your social media content on Instagram.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK: https://bookingflow.travcoding.com/habitatsbykat/search

ACCESS CODE: HBKTRAVEL

Hospitality Training for Real Estate Agents

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Fri, 24 Feb 23 18:13:17 +0000

In case you don’t know the story, we will start from the beginning. Kat worked at Marriott hotels for 10 years and was always in sales and marketing. She wound up representing Marriott International and all 30 brands globally with an account portfolio of 40 million. Although she loved the company and her position, she was ready to advance her career which is when she started her business Habitats by Kat, and became a Real Estate Agent in NYC. NYC Real Estate is not an easy feat, but Kat found a way to have quick success in this business and she attributes her production (over $20 million in Real Estate sold over two years) to the client service training Marriott provided her. At the start of 2023, Kat realized she needed to develop an HBK Hospitality Training & Certification focused on supporting Real Estate Agents with leveling up their client communication. When you are a new Real Estate Agent it’s hard to earn the trust of new clients. You don’t have any transaction history or production to give you the confidence to win a new listing or the trust of a buyer. Instead of the pressure and conversation always around how much real estate you have sold, Kat’s training will help you focus on client service, communication, and the operations behind real estate deals to relieve new agents from this struggle.

If you are in Real Estate and want to learn more about Kat’s travel business and how hospitality can help you unlock further success, please make sure to schedule a consultation with her today.

Click here to request a call back from Kat!

The World of NYC Coops

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Mon, 30 Aug 21 19:58:44 +0000

When I was new in the real estate business and trying to understand coops, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. The question I continued to ask was “So, if someone gets approved by a bank, they can still get denied by a coop?” and the answer is YES! Now, is it common for buyers to get rejected by a coop? No, most of the time buyers have a realtor representing them to ensure they are qualified to get approved; but board rejections certainly happen.

In my first 6 months as a real estate agent, I was working with a wonderful client. She owned a successful business and had her eye on a particular Upper East Side building. To make a long story short, she was an all-cash buyer, with well over 2 years of post-closing liquidity and her debt to income was under 20% since she was paying cash. After working with her through negotiations, contract phase, and the board package (2 months of work) it was devastating when I got the call she was rejected. I was stunned. We went back and attempted to address the boards concerns but it was still a no. I should mention coop boards in NYC are not obligated to provide buyers a reason why they were rejected (yes, legally protected) so we offered added security like two years of maintenance payments in an escrow account which still didn’t work. At the end, my client got her deposit back and was so disheartened with the process she chose to rent.

The general rule of thumb to get approved by coop boards is the following:

Your debt to income needs to be under 28%. To calculate this, you’ll need to breakdown your gross monthly income and then your monthly expenses to include your estimated mortgage, maintenance/tax, and any debts you have such as a car payment, student loans etc. Please note, if you have recurring expenses, you pay off each month than this is NOT a debt. So, for example, your gym membership isn’t calculated as an expense here.
Pro Tip: I love using the Wells Fargo DTI calculator: https://www.wellsfargo.com/goals-credit/debt-to-in...
Post-closing liquidity needs to be at least two years of mortgage and maintenance/tax. Keep in mind, you’ll need to back out your down payment and closing costs to ensure you have the full 2 years after you close.
Pro Tip: This is my favorite closing cost calculator: https://www.prevu.com/nyc-closing-costs-calculator

Are you looking to buy in NYC? I promise it isn’t as scary as it sounds 😊

Contact me today for a free consultation!

Homes and Hospitality

chieniel@travelagencytribes.com (Chieniel) — Tue, 12 Jan 21 14:54:14 +0000

In June of 2019, I took one of the biggest risks of my life. I decided to leave my career at Marriott and take on real estate in New York City. Most would not argue that real estate is a hustle anywhere, but in NYC there is an added layer of competition and understanding of the marketplace. Luckily, I had worked in the hotel industry for ten years and held different sales and client service roles that could be applied to the world of real estate.

As I got going, I found myself doing similar sales activities day to day and even talking to clients about how I would have back when I was working for Marriott. Even though I was in a new industry, it was comforting to build rapport and deal with clients in the same way I always had over the years. As someone who is an entrepreneur at heart, my wheels started spinning. I realized I was doing the same job just in a new industry. This thought process led me to think about lifestyle brands. Real estate and travel jobs force you to build relationships and understand client needs so you have a full understanding of their lifestyle. The two truly go hand in hand. For example, if you help a buyer find their perfect home you know their style…do they like contemporary, traditional or mid-century modern real estate? If you know this then you can easily identify the perfect vacation home or hotel brand for their next trip. Combining these two services adds more value to my clients, separates me from my competition and allows me to build rapport. As a side note, 99.9% of people love talking about real estate and travel…so I promise I don’t find myself “selling” all that much. The core of this business is building relationships and educating my clients on everything I can offer them.

If you are a real estate agent reading this and enjoy travel my guess is, you could be having an “ah-hah” moment. I should note, I love combining real estate and travel so much I made a business out of it.

Below are the reasons that motivated me to start my business and how you can add travel to your real estate business as well.

An established network of clients
A reason to connect with past clients and offer an additional service
Grow referral business through real estate and travel
People travel more than they buy real estate
Earn extra commissions through travel
Booking travel is 100% remote
Access to incredible vacation homes, condos, villas, resorts, hotels and cruises at discounted rates that you can book for personal travel as well as for clients
Improve monthly newsletters with added services, lifestyle component and travel incentives

Favorite Vacation

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Fri, 16 Oct 20 19:38:53 +0000

I am a girl’s girl when it comes to planning a vacation. Most of the time, nothing sounds better than laying out at the beach, access to a pool, spa days, great food and time to truly unwind and relax. However, deciding my favorite trip is hard because I love all kinds of travel and every destination brings a new perspective. Outside of travel that promotes “relaxation”, the most eye-opening travel is seeing how others live their lives. As an example, I would say Prague was one of my favorite and most memorable trips. When I visit cities like Prague, I set one day to visit museums and other areas that teach us history of that destination. This one day is when I am a true tourist, but outside of that I make every effort to live like a local. I love researching cafes, restaurants and bars on Instagram so I can find the best places to go. As someone who loves fashion, I plan accordingly with my wardrobe because I enjoy walking everywhere and taking public transportation. This means, flats over heels which is hard to accept as a New Yorker. One day in Prague, I walked around and came across a local farmers market one afternoon. Afterwards, I kept walking and stubbled on a little winery overseeing the city. Both experiences made the day perfect and would have never happened if I didn’t have the “live like a local” mentality. Those who know me won’t be surprised but I am never one to create an itinerary when I travel. I don’t like to be constricted to a plan each day and prefer to find places to see and things to do as they come. The sense of adventure and freedom in a new country is what makes the trip so special.

Influence from my family as business owners

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Fri, 16 Oct 20 19:34:55 +0000

My childhood definitely plays a role in the businesswomen I am today. Growing up, my parents usually talked business at the dinner table. Owning a sales and marketing company, there was always a deal to be had, obstacle to overcome and team to take care of. I even attended trade shows where I saw my parents in action at a young age. My parents always instilled hard work in my sister and I regardless of what we were doing. I remember my dad saying if you are going to put your energy in something go all the way and give it 110%. In addition, both my parents taught us to never let failure get in the way of future success. If we lost a soccer game, failed a test or didn’t get the job we wanted the message was always go back to the drawing board, create a plan of what you’ll do different, and execute on that plan. Failure is only a step in the process of finding whatever success means to you. At the same time, they taught us balance and the importance of family. They shared this value with their company, as every year they hosted a holiday party and all employees brought their families. As I reflect on my upbringing it makes me realize what a strong role this plays in my business today. The biggest asset of my business is the team and people always make the difference. This core value stems from seeing my parents grow their business and the values they taught me which frames the decisions I make and who I am.

How did I get here?

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Fri, 16 Oct 20 16:11:28 +0000

I graduated from college in 2011 and landed my first “big girl” job with Marriott. I was an admin in Boston which was far from what I envisioned but eager to grow. In 2013, I landed a management role as a Catering Sales Executive at the Courtyard Boston. I was warned this role would be difficult because the hotel was under renovation and had impossible sales goals. Nonetheless, I was determined because remaining an admin was far worse for my career. I accepted this position and by the end of the year the risk paid off. I achieved 117% of my annual goal and grew revenue by $750,000 from the previous year. So, I asked myself, what’s next? To summarize, there was a job at the Brooklyn Marriott which was also under renovation. This role was a lead position overseeing group sales. When I expressed interest, I was warned just like last time and for similar reasons. I thought, I proved everyone wrong before, Can I do it again? In short, I took the leap and found myself living in NYC. At the end of 2015, I earned “Leader of the Year” at the Brooklyn Marriott. I asked myself again, what’s next? A high-level role in Account Management was then available. I expressed interest and was told by some “You don’t have enough experience” and “You are to young”. To make a long story short, I landed the role as Senior Account Executive. At the end of 2017, I was recognized as a top three performer. From here, I took a step back and realized 1. I like taking risks 2. I aim high 3. My biggest motivation is being told I can’t do something. As I grew professionally and personally, I wanted to have more control of my destiny. Overtime, this led me to real estate, where I could utilize my sales and hospitality skills but become an entrepreneur. Since June 2019, I have been in real estate and started my own business, Habitats by Kat.