In this week’s edition of Monday Morning Marketing, John and Ilyce discuss how President-elect Trump’s tweets may change once he takes office. Then they look at a 2016 report by Domo and CEO.com indicating that Fortune 500 chief executives might not be using social media as much as people think.

Overall, chief executives and others in the C-suite aren’t on social media. A study last found that just about a third of all CEOs are active on at least one of social media’s Big Six, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Instagram and YouTube — although some younger CEOs are starting to use Snap (formerly Snapchat).

Why? CEOs have very little time as it is, and the bigger the company, the bigger the outside time commitments. And, CEOs of publicly traded companies need to be wary of forward-looking statements, per SEC regulations. But social seems to be getting even bigger, and there are those who believe that to help brand a company, or give the brand some depth, all senior-level executives should be honing their online personas.

Before a CEO tweets, however, there are five questions they should ask — and answer:

1. Should CEOs be doing this?

2. Is this a good use of time?

3. What are the dangers?

4. Can you ghost it? (Most CEOs want to or should.)

5. How do you calculate the ROI?

We’d love to hear your feedback, so be sure to leave comments, find us on Twitter and Facebook, and check out our companies (and brands) online:

Ilyce Glink – Twitter – Facebook – Best Money Moves – Think Glink Media – IlyceGlink.com

John Byrne – Twitter – TheByrneBlog.com

The post Trump Tweets: Lessons for Executives on Social Media appeared first on ThinkGlink.

Hello 2016: Ilyce Glink is now appearing on WGN Radio twice weekly.

Tune in on Thursdays at 12:45p as she talks money and business with Steve Bertrand and at 6:50a on Friday mornings as she and Steve Cochran talk stocks, saving money and how to do a home run refinance.

“Being on the radio with WGN Radio’s collection of Steve’s is incredibly fun,” Ilyce says. “It’s terrific to be able to talk directly to our listeners on WGN Radio.”

And, as Steve Bertrand takes vacation, Ilyce has been sitting in. She did three WGN Radio Wintrust Business Hour fill-ins just before the end of 2015.

Also starting in 2016: WGN Radio is now hosting “Monday Morning Marketing with Ilyce Glink and John Byrne,” on WGN+. This podcast tells you what you need to know about today’s marketing trends, including how to make the most of the content you produce, how to manage your social media (without going insane), reputation management, and what John and Ilyce like (and hate) about various election campaigns. (Tune in to find out the one thing they think Donald Trump is doing right.)

Barring crazy weather or vacations or just too many work deadlines, Ilyce and John produce a new “Monday Morning Marketing” each week. This week’s episode is linked below. Be sure to check it out.

The post Ilyce Glink is on WGN Radio Twice Weekly in 2016 appeared first on ThinkGlink.

Ready for a positive sign about how home buyers are financing their homes?

And does it make sense to liquidate a stock market investment in order to make a down payment on a home?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes.

This week, I interview Dan Goldstein, real estate and personal finance reporter for Marketwatch. He’s got a couple of interesting stories to share from reporting on the housing market. First, we’ll discuss the positive trend in home financing. Friends and family aren’t being enlisted as lenders of last resort in quite the same numbers we’ve seen since the recession. So I’ll ask him to share what he’s learned about how many home buyers are receiving assistance from family and friends when making a down payment on a home. Then Dan’s got a warning for homeowners on so-called “mortgage acceleration” scams. If you’ve been listening to the show, you probably heard my recent report on how to pay off your mortgage more quickly. And the technique is free. But companies are currently being sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that have charged consumers for that service, and Dan will run through the details.

Then I’ll answer a question from a 50-something divorcee who hopes to buy a home and retire within the next 10 years. But in order to be able to afford the monthly mortgage payments, he’ll have to make a sizable down payment. And he wants to know whether it makes sense to sell off some of his stock market holdings in order to gather the cash necessary to make that down payment.

Finally, I’ll take a moment to remind everyone that mortgage closings are not the time to skimp on due diligence. While we’ve probably all been guilty of scrolling to the bottom of an online agreement and clicking “accept” without having read every word, when it comes to a mortgage loan, you simply can’t afford to be inattentive.

More About This Show

Glinkonomics Report [0:47]

Retail sales and GDP figures might be showing some underlying strength in the economy.

Good News for Home Buyers and Financing [6:30]

Dan Goldstein has the latest scoop from the Federal Reserve Board’s 2014 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) and Zillow. So I’ll ask him to share what he’s learned about how many home buyers are receiving assistance from family and friends when making a down payment on a home. Then we’ll discuss his report on mortgage acceleration scams.

Q&A: Stock Market or Real Estate? [14:01]

Investing is a tricky business, whether you’re buying and selling stocks or property. So check out my answer for someone trying to decide whether he should sell stocks in order to be able to afford the down payment on a home.

How to Nail Your Mortgage Closing [16:39]

You’re agreeing to a lot when you sign your mortgage documents, and it bears repeating that you should be wary of signing anything you haven’t read carefully. So check out this segment for a reminder about why it’s so important to read your mortgage closing documents carefully before you sign them.

If you have any questions about this show or in general, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening!

The post Ep. 31: Invest in the Market or Buy a Home? appeared first on ThinkGlink.

Want to find out where you can get money to put toward buying a home?

And since it’s Halloween, have you ever wondered what the house from the movie, “Paranormal Activity” is worth?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes.

This week, I interview Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource. The Atlanta-based company lays claim to being the only web-based aggregator database of homeownership programs, which offer financial assistance to homebuyers. Some of these programs help home buyers come up with a down payment or closing costs. Others enable home buyers to obtain below-market mortgage rates. And there are others, including annual tax credits and employer-assisted housing programs. Make sure you check out my conversation with Rob to learn about those resources before you buy your next home.

Then I’ve got a primer that can save any homeowner money. If you’ve got the financial self-discipline to put a little more of your paycheck toward your mortgage each month, your savings could add up to thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your loan. So tune in for my advice on how you can save a ton of money.

Finally, I’ve got a special Halloween scoop from Trulia on the values of a few real-life homes used as the sinister settings for some of the most famous horror movies ever made. So take a moment out of your Halloween happenings to check out the home values for these horror flick houses that helped create some of the scariest moments in film history.

More About This Show

Glinkonomics Report [1:00]

Homeownership is on the decline, according to a Harvard study. Check out my Glinkonomics report to find out what could reverse the trend.

Free Money to Help You Buy a Home [5:28]

With all the opportunities out there for home buyers to get access to free money, it’s no wonder a resource to organize that information for consumers has appeared. So check out this segment for my conversation with Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource, on how you can find a homeownership program that will work for you.

Save Money on Your Mortgage by Prepaying [15:16]

Listen to this segment for details on how to prepay your way to freedom from your mortgage lender. And if you’re about to take out a home loan, tune in for important advice on how to make sure your lender allows you to make prepayments on your mortgage.

Haunted House Values for Halloween [17:28]

For a fun Halloween treat, I end the show this week with a story from Trulia on home values for a few houses used as locations in some of your favorite horror flicks. Happy Halloween everybody!

If you have any questions about this show or in general, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening!

The post Ep. 30: Free Money to Help You Buy a Home appeared first on ThinkGlink.

Are you doing everything you can to minimize the risk of a fire in your home?

And just how much can landscaping affect your property appraisal?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes.

This week, I interview Lance Coyle, President of the Appraisal Institute, about some of the latest changes in the real estate appraisal sector. I’ll ask him about the advances in drone technology that could help property appraisers, and we’ll also discuss the extent to which landscaping can impact property value. A beautiful yard is always enticing to home buyers, but in the era of online home shopping, it can be the difference between a home buyer clicking on a listing or passing it over.

Next, I’ll answer a question about deferring taxes after a home sale. This is commonly known as executing a 1031 exchange, but that’s only possible under certain conditions. So I’ll explain whether the couple in question will be able to get that tax deferral and why.

Finally, I’m going to run through four fire safety tips from the home organization digital hub, HomeZada. These are just basic home maintenance reminders, but they’re also critical fire prevention strategies that absolutely every property owner needs to know. Make sure you stay tuned so that you’ll be able to identify all four of these potential fire hazards in your home and prevent a fire from ever damaging your property.

More About This Show

Glinkonomics Report [0:57]

What’s driving the boom in luxury real estate?

Landscaping and Your Property Appraisal [4:51]

Lance Coyle and I cover a range of topics related to real estate appraisals, starting with the latest on how property appraisers are faring in their efforts to leverage drones as property assessment tools. Then, we’ll discuss the importance of landscaping in the property appraisal process.

Q&A: Selling Property and a 1031 Exchange [16:50]

This question comes from a couple that owns two homes. They’re selling a house they’ve been renting out to tenants, and they’re looking for a way to minimize their capital gains tax exposure on that property. Under certain specific circumstances, a 1031 exchange (also known as a like-kind exchange or Starker exchange) could offer the savings they’re seeking. A home seller is allowed to defer capital gains taxes by replacing the property sold with the purchase of another property that meets the stipulations laid out in section 1031. But will this couple qualify? Tune in to find out!

HomeZada: Fall Is Fire Safety Season [20:05]

Home maintenance isn’t just about keeping a tidy home. Fire hazards can accumulate over time, requiring attention at least annually in order to lower the risk of a fire. The home organization experts at HomeZada came up with four fire safety home maintenance tips for the fall that might save you and your family from a house fire.

For HomeZada’s original story, “Four Fall Home Maintenance Tips that can Prevent Fires,” click here.

The post Ep. 29: Landscaping and Your Property Appraisal appeared first on ThinkGlink.

What’s the outlook on home values from atop Homes.com’s real estate search operation?

And which pets leave the biggest paw print on your home: cats or dogs?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes.

This week, I interview Dave Mele. He just wrapped up his first year as president of Homes.com, so he and I talk about how it went and what his plans and expectations are for the future. There are some major players in the real estate search business, and Homes.com is one of them, so I’ll ask Dave how he hopes to position Homes.com to compete in that marketplace. Then I’ll get the scoop on Homes.com’s Local Market Index, which was just recently released.

After that, I answer a listener question about rental properties. In a condo building, the percentage of units rented out by owners could conceivably affect the financing new home buyers are able to obtain in the community. But what about a community comprised of single family dwellings? Even if it doesn’t affect financing, will a high proportion of renters still have an impact on home values? Check out this segment for my answers.

Then I wrap up this episode with some fun facts about how pets affect the way their owners live. These statistics come from a survey conducted by home remodeling site Houzz.com. More than 3,000 pet owners weighed in on how their cats and dogs affect the way they live. Stay tuned to hear what pet owners said about a variety of pet-related lifestyle questions.

More About This Show

Glinkonomics Report [0:55]
What’s happening to America’s middle class? I offer my observations in this week’s Glinkonomics report.

Dave Mele of Homes.com on Home Values [7:13]
Listen to Dave Mele discuss Homes.com’s Local Market Index, which analyzes home values in markets across the country.

Rentals & Homeowners Association Home Values [21:35]
How do you know when the number of rental properties in a neighborhood is high enough to affect home values? Can the number of rental properties in the community affect a lender’s decision to provide financing to prospective homebuyers? Find out the answers as I address one homeowner’s question.

Cats & Dogs: How Pets Rule Your Home [24:37]
Cats and dogs are a part of many families, so it should come as no surprise that people change the way they live to accommodate their four-legged friends. Listen in to find out how many of the pet owners Houzz.com surveyed made pet-related upgrades to their homes.

For Houzz’s article about the survey, click here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/54861101/list/pets-make-us-wag-and-purr-too-says-new-survey

If you have any questions about this show or in general, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening!

The post Ep. 28: Cats and dogs and home values appeared first on ThinkGlink.

How will TRID affect your mortgage application process?

Will the real estate market bow under the weight of the September jobs report?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes.

This week, I interview Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Realtor.com, to get his take on the health of the U.S. economy in the wake of the Commerce Department’s disappointing September jobs report. The continued slack in the labor market is a concern for the real estate industry, because it means that average hourly wages won’t be rising much in the immediate future. That’s a major hindrance to home buyers, especially first-time home buyers who are trying to save up for that first down payment. So check out my interview with Jonathan to hear his take on how the employment situation will impact the real estate market.

After that, I’ll answer a question from someone who is looking for the right way to pass part ownership of her home to her daughter. She wants to add her daughter’s name to the home title and deed, but she’s worried about the tax implications – with good reason. There’s more than one way to pass ownership of your property to your descendants, and this particular strategy could potentially be an expensive choice when it comes time to give the government its cut. I’ve got advice for this homeowner that could also help you when it comes time to do your estate planning.

Then stay tuned for my five tips on how to sell a home quickly. These are basic guidelines for every home seller that could end up saving you some stress.

More About This Show

Glinkonomics Report [1:00]
TRID has landed! Here’s what you need to know if you’re a home buyer.

September Jobs and Real Estate [5:41]
Check out Jonathan Smoke’s perspective on the September jobs report. Fourth quarter economic growth could affect interest rates and home prices, so home buyers and sellers will want to hear what Jonathan has to say before making plans to buy or sell a home.

Q&A: Property Transfers and Property Taxes [20:57]
I answer a question is from a parent looking to add her daughter’s name to her house title and deed. Keep in mind that you should always talk to an estate planner or attorney before making major gifts to family members.

Five Tips for Selling Your Home [24:40]
When you’re selling your home, there are a lot of ways you can invest your energy. I’ve got five tips on how to approach the home selling process and sell your home as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions about this show or in general, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening!

The post Ep. 27: TRID Updates and the September Jobs Report appeared first on ThinkGlink.

Is homeownership still a part of the American Dream?

Can we trust that the secondary mortgage market won’t collapse again like it did in 2008?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes.

This week, I’m dedicating the entire podcast to my interview with Bethany McLean. She’s just written a book called, “Shaky Ground: The Strange Saga of the U.S. Mortgage Giants,” and it’s about a tremendously important topic. She details the lead up to the government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-sponsored enterprises at the core of the secondary mortgage market. That event played a significant part in the unraveling of the housing market and the economy as a whole in 2008, and the same structural problems that existed then are still very much endemic in the system today.

Tune in for my conversation with Bethany as we discuss how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to impact the secondary mortgage market in the U.S.

More About This Show

Glinkonomics Report [1:00]

Shaky Ground: Bethany McLean Talks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac [4:20]
With “Shaky Ground,” Bethany McLean has done some great reporting on the inner workings of the 2008 federal government bailout, as well as the ensuing seven years the two mortgage giants have spent in an ongoing and evolving conservatorship.

Homeownership is among the cornerstones of the American Dream, and the failure of the government-sponsored secondary mortgage market model has not yet been resolved. Bethany’s book provides a hard look at the questions we still face as we continue to recover from the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This political hot potato will continue to impact the U.S. economy, as well as individual homeowners, for the foreseeable future. So listen in to get informed, and leave me your comments in the section below to share your opinions on how the secondary mortgage market should be structured.

If you have any questions about this show or in general, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening!

The post Ep. 26: Homeownership and the American Dream appeared first on ThinkGlink.

Is there a way to have community development without pushing lower income residents out?

Is it worth remodeling your home if it’s in a neighborhood experiencing skyrocketing land values?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, download the podcast via iTunes.

In this community development edition of the Ilyce Glink Show, I’ll interview Daniel Hertz, a senior fellow at City Observatory. We’ll go over some of the results from a literature review by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco entitled, “Gentrification, Displacement and the Role of Public Investment.” There are a lot of interesting findings to explore, and we’ll go into a few of the major takeaways. For a more detailed analysis, you can check out Daniel’s City Observatory article or download the full report from the San Francisco Fed.

Then I’ll answer a listener question about living in a neighborhood that’s undergoing significant redevelopment in the form of major renovations and new, larger homes. This listener wants to know if it’s worth undertaking a small remodeling project if it’s not going to be reflected in the resale value of the home, given the rise in property values associated with the changing neighborhood.

And finally, I’ve got a warning for property owners: If you don’t know what the term “adverse possession” means, you should listen closely. While this legal loophole only applies in limited circumstances, you want to avoid falling into those circumstances at all costs. If someone is able to win an adverse possession claim against you, it means that you’ll forfeit the property in question without compensation. So listen to make sure you don’t ever end up dealing with an adverse possession case and for my advice to anyone already facing one.

More About This Show

Community Development: Gentrification Doesn’t Always Lead to Displacement [3:12]
While gentrification and displacement remain somewhat undefined as social science concepts, the San Francisco Fed’s research turned up some interesting facts about what drives neighborhood change and how public policy and investment leads to gentrified communities. Certain conditions can favor gentrification without displacement, and smart urban planning could theoretically help communities attract wealthier buyers without driving out lower-income residents. Here’s my interview with City Observatory senior fellow Daniel Hertz.

Can’t keep up with the Joneses? You may not want to remodel your home [14:34]
Home improvements are usually pricey, even when they’re done on a budget. So it’s important to most homeowners who undertake a remodeling project or renovation to see that investment reflected in the resale value of their homes. But if the home values in your neighborhood are increasing rapidly enough to put a premium on the value of your property regardless of the condition of your home, any improvements you make to your house will probably amount to wasted money when it comes time to sell your home.

Don’t Let This Happen to You: Adverse Possession [17:22]
Adverse possession describes a situation in which someone can legally claim ownership over another person’s private property – and you don’t want it to happen to you.

While it is indeed possible for a squatter to claim ownership over a property he or she has inhabited under certain circumstances, it’s probably not a likely scenario in your home. But adverse possession can also apply if your neighbor infringes on your property line with a fence or driveway. If you don’t take appropriate action, the same legal loophole that bestows squatters’ rights could end up forcing you to forfeit part of your property to your neighbor.

If you have any questions about this show or in general, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening!

The post Ep. 25: Community Development and Your Home appeared first on ThinkGlink.

How will homebuyers react to a Fed rate hike?

And what’s the one thing you need to do after you pay off your mortgage?

Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes.

This week, Lorraine Woellert and I discuss the possible effects of rising mortgage rates. Lorraine is the senior correspondent for Redfin, and she’s been writing about the results of a Redfin study on how homebuyers expect their behavior to change if mortgage rates rise to 5 percent. The answer? Not as much as you might think.

Then I’ve got advice for people at both extremes of the mortgage lending process. For anyone shopping for a mortgage, check out my segment on how to make sure you lock in your rate. With interest rates on the rise, it’s more important than ever to make sure your rate is locked. And if you’re a homeowner nearly paid up on your mortgage, you’ll want to hear my segment on the one thing you need to do after writing that last check.

More About This Show

Glinkonomics Report [1:00]

Redfin: Will People Buy Homes if Mortgage Rates Go Up? [4:38]
With the looming potential for an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, I wanted to find out how rising mortgage rates might impact how people buy homes.

So I asked Redfin’s senior correspondent, Lorraine Woellert, to fill me in on the results from a survey Redfin conducted this summer. They asked respondents a variety of questions about how rising mortgage interest rates might affect their homebuying behavior. Among the most salient questions were whether or not homebuyers might rush to purchase homes to beat out rising interest rates and whether higher mortgage rates might dissuade them from buying a home in the future.

How to Make Sure You Lock in Your Mortgage Rate [10:52]
Mortgage lenders require that borrowers go through a specific set of steps to apply for a mortgage, often including the payment of certain mortgage application fees, before they’ll lock in a rate. And even then, it’s critical that borrowers check to see that their lender has locked in the mortgage rate they agreed upon. When a mortgage rate isn’t locked in, there’s the potential for the lender to offer a lower rate at closing. But with current interest rates so low, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll see mortgage rates rising in the near term. That means that failing to lock in a mortgage rate with your lender will probably cost you money, potentially to the tune of several thousand dollars over the course of your loan.

You Need to Do This After You Pay Off Your Mortgage [13:50]
It’s a major accomplishment to pay off a mortgage. And after you send in the last installment to your lender, you’ll feel a strong desire to make a bonfire out of all your old payment stubs. But you need to wait until you take one last step before you put your mortgage loan out of your mind for good. And while it won’t cost you a dime, it may require that you invest a little bit of time in making sure that your lender has filed all of the necessary documentation to reflect the fact that you’ve repaid your mortgage loan in full.

If you have any questions about this show or in general, email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening!

The post Ep. 24: What will homebuyers do if there’s a Fed rate hike? appeared first on ThinkGlink.