Virtual Properties

For many Real Estate Agents, their Business Facebook Page (connected to their Personal Page) has become their Primary Online Branding Mechanism. We strongly encourage all agents to create a Facebook Business Page to Market their Listings, Buyer Services, and other offerings. Remember, you must first have a personal account before you can start leveraging Facebook business pages, groups, and events. Opportunities and Strategies for Real Estate Success are endless with Facebook.

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Here is the Official Facebook Tutorial: https://www.facebook.com/business/pages/set-up

Here is a Facebook Video Tutorial: https://youtu.be/AdyI-8d3lG0

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One of the most important things to understand is GREC Regulations, Fair Housing, and Other Compliance and legal matters are still 100% applicable. See below for more detailed info. Make sure your CORRECT, CURRENT Company Name and contact information is clear and findable on your page and in all your ads and meets all the legal regulations. Below are a collection of videos you might find useful in your pursuit of leveraging Facebook: Here is an Article on Realtor Facebook Advertising

 

Don't miss this Nakia Brooks Video Tutorial: https://screencast-o-matic.com/u/6v0X/FacebookContacts

 

Note: Keep in mind Facebook is changing every day, some of the videos might become outdated. Assume video makers are not be versed in compliance matters. Consult a VPR Broker!

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More on Compliance:

There are several key issues that licensees using the Internet should remember. All of the advertising laws and rules of the license law that apply to other advertising media apply to the Internet.

• Advertising must be in the name of the real estate firm holding the licensee's license.

• The advertiser cannot abbreviate the firm's name. For example, if a firm is registered with the Commission as "All Broker Company," the advertiser may not abbreviate it to "ABC."

• The advertisement must not be misleading or inaccurate in any material fact or in any way misrepresent any property, terms, values, services, or policies.

• The advertisement must not be directed at or refer to persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

• When a licensee offers brokerage services outside the state of Georgia or advertises properties located outside of Georgia, he or she must have the proper license in that jurisdiction or otherwise be in full compliance with its laws.

• The licensee's broker must review all Internet advertisements.

The Internet provides almost unlimited opportunities for licensees to describe their services. However, that unlimited opportunity also provides unlimited opportunity for error. Thus, all Internet advertising probably requires even more careful review by the broker than traditional forms of advertising. Yet, licensees who follow the old guidelines cited above should be able to ride the new wave safely to shore.

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Also RE "Blind Ads": Generally, the Commission has its clearest authority to regulate the first of these types of advertisements, "blind ads." A "blind ad" is one in which a licensee does not make clear that a real estate firm is acting for the owner. Many "blind ads" are unintentional. The printer prints the advertisement and telephone number and inadvertently omits the brokerage firm name. Thus, when a licensee suspects that an advertisement is a "blind ad," he or she should consider contacting the firm running it in order to call attention to the fact that the name of the firm does not appear in the advertisement. (Addresses and phone numbers are optional.) If the firm does not correct the advertisement promptly, the licensee may want to request that the Commission investigate the matter and take appropriate disciplinary action.

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Also RE "Financial Terminology": The second type of problem advertisements more likely violate federal law than the license law. Those are advertisements which cite financial terms but only make partial disclosures. For example, an advertisement that describes the amenities of property and asserts "only 5% down" or "no closing costs." Federal Truth and Lending laws require that advertisements which include such specific statements about financing terms must include all of the financing terms including the annual percentage rate. Advertisements may include general statements about financing such as "low down payment" or "loan assumption possible." However, the Commission does not regulate such advertisements. That regulation is by the Federal Trade Commission. Licensee's can find a discussion of that law's requirements in the Georgia Brokers Manual elsewhere on this web site.

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