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Real Estate Newsgroups & Mailing Lists
Mailing Lists
Email Groups:
Two-Way Networking Tools
Tired of surfing the Web in search of deals? Weary of wading through the same
old listings on the same old sites in hope of finding something new? There's a
way to make the information you want come to you -- join an email list.
More than information sources, most email groups are interactive -- meaning that you can communicate with all its members simultaneously. This makes the medium a powerful networking and marketing tool. Whether you're hunting properties for sale or lease, seeking clients or sources of financing, or scouting for an opportunity, subscribing to one or more email lists could be worthwhile. There are hundreds to choose from that deal with commercial real estate.
Email lists -- also known as email groups, newsgroups,
forums, mailing lists or discussion groups -- are organized by topic. When you
subscribe to a list, your email address is simply added to the list of addresses
to which posts will be sent and from which the list will accept new posts. Every
message from other subscribers is sent to your email address, and every message
you send to the list is copied to every address on the list.
Probably the best feature of email lists is that they're free, and you can
subscribe to as many as you can tolerate, or unsubscribe at any time -- that's
all handled by software, so nobody gets annoyed with you. Some will let you
subscribe in "digest" mode, which means you get one email a day, containing all
the posts sent to the list since the last digest. This saves inbox space, but
can be awkward when you're trying to keep track of individual posts.
Finding the right list for your unique needs can be a time-consuming chore, so
we have compiled a condensed "list of lists" for you that comprises the most
popular (i.e. the ones with the most users) that deal with commercial real
estate.
There are several varieties of email lists. A list owner
may restrict membership on the list to a certain class of people, for example
licensed brokers in Topeka, Kansas, if he chooses, or it may be open to anyone.
And the list may be moderated -- meaning the owner must read and approve each
post before it's distributed to the list -- or unmoderated. Even an unmoderated
list may have rules regarding messages that can be sent. What those rules are
and how strictly they're enforced is up to the list owner.
And finally, there are lists that are better known as e-zines or electronic
newsletters, to which subscribers can't post at all. They just receive whatever
the list owner sends. As an e-zine subscriber, you have no contact with other
subscribers, so it's not a good networking or prospecting tool, though some may
be worth reading.
While email lists are often called "newsgroups," it's a
misnomer.
Newsgroups are what you find on Usenet, which is older than the Web, where
30,000 or more bulletin-board forums can be found with such arcane titles as
alt.binaries.pictures.dogs or biz.entrepreneur, and so on. They can be accessed
either through the newsreader function of an email client such as Outlook, or
via the Web at Google.com, which bought the Usenet archives once hosted by
Deja.com.
Start Your Own List?
The flip side of joining an email list is starting one. As
a marketing tool, the email list is unsurpassed, and it can be done whether you
have a Web site or not. Running an email list probably is the cheapest and
easiest way to attract and keep potential customers, communicate with large
numbers of people, and get your message out without committing the Internet sin
of sins, spamming (sending unsolicited email).
Before you decide to start a list, there are two main points to consider: What
do you want your subscribers to receive, and how much work do you want to do?
The least-work alternative is a list with open subscription and no moderation.
All the owner has to do is promote the list however he wants and let it go the
way it goes. The typical result is a list that generates at least 50 percent
spam, so your subscribers will end up knowing at least as much about Internet
porn and multi-level marketing scams as they do about the designated topic.
Adding anti-spam rules is a good idea, but spammers usually ignore such rules
and, when you kick them off the list they subscribe again with a new email
address. This can be defeated in part by requiring new list members to be
approved by the moderator, but that's another time eater and it tends to
discourage people from joining. The only way to eliminate spam completely is to
run a moderated list, which means the list owner, or someone designated by the
owner, will have to read every post and either approve it or delete it. If your
list is popular, it could have several hundred subscribers eventually, and you
will spend a lot of time moderating. But then, since those thousands of
subscribers are available to read your messages anytime you have something to
say, it may well be worth the time.
The cost of setting up an email forum ranges from free to cheap, if you don't
include time spent reading and/or sending messages to the list. There's a cost
involved if you pay programmers to set it up in a proprietary format so it's
only accessible through your Web site, but it's free if you do it through a more
public venue such as Yahoo! -- arguably the biggest list host on the Web since
it acquired eGroups.
A search at
Subscribing, Unsubscribing
If you join a list and decide it's not for you,
unsubscribing is easy. Most forums include unsubscribe instructions at the
bottom of every message that goes out. To subscribe to a group that's featured
on a Web site, such as dealmakers.net, Dealmakers.net or even Yahoo!, it's a
matter of clicking on a link and filling out a short form. In most cases, if you
joined a list through a Web site you can unsubscribe at the same site.
To subscribe or unsubscribe by email, you need the email address of the list
(usually at the bottom of each message from the list). In most cases, you send
an empty message to that address with either "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" as the
subject (don't include the quotation marks).
Often, there's a clickable email link at the end of each message to unsubscribe.
If it doesn't work, send a polite message to the list owner asking for help.
dealmakers.net and Dealmakers.net: At www.dealmakers.net/subscription.asp you can sign up for any of 10 email forums. Posts can be read online at www.dealmakers.net/mail/index.html before you join. Details also are on Page 2 of this issue. The forums are:
1. Commercial Real Estate
2. Investment Real Estate
3. Real Estate Finance
4. Real Estate Appraisal
5. Residential sales
6. Internet & Real Estate
7. NetBizForSale
8. Property For Lease
9. ESP (Entertainment & Specialty Projects)
10. TenantTip
other lists include:
1031propertiescom For anyone who is interested in net leased and 1031 Exchange replacement properties.www.groups.yahoo.com/group/1031propertiescom
AAARainmakers Focus is Mortgage/RealEstate/Internet dealmaking and marketing of all forms of commercial and residential real estate and mortgage finance. Emphasis on multifamily residential and difficult-to-finance properties. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/aaarainmakers
Aardvarks_Commercial Tips and tricks on marketing multifamily, mixed use, lots, acreage, industrial, Office building and shopping centers, subdivisions, lining up builders, investors, REITs. Protecting commissions. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Aardvarks_Commercial
Appraisaltechnology Forum to help appraisers keep up with the latest in technology advancements and innovations. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/appraisaltechnlology
Appraisers For real estate appraisers or users of appraisals who want a forum to discuss appraisal related issues and ideas. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/appraisers
AssetManagerDaily Discussion and networking list for asset managers who manage assets for institutional investors, trust departments, insurance companies, pension funds, foundations, and individuals. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/AssetManagerDaily
Buyer-realestate Buyers of Commercial Real Estate Investment, Development or Industrial Property are encouraged to post buying parameters.
Commercialfunding For mortgage brokers, principals, business and real estate owners investment and financial consultants, for anyone seeking to be involved in commercial financing. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/commercialfunding
Commercial_Loans For people interested in commercial real estate financing and finding creative alternative funding sources.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/?Commercial_LoansCommercialmortgage For real estate developers, investors, mortgage brokers and real estate brokers who are either actively seeking financing or looking to finance commercial income producing properties.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/commercialmortgage.Commercialmortgages For people seeking or having commercial real estate mortgage financing, or seeking or investing in joint ventures related to commercial real estate development financing.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/commercialmortgages.Comrevalxchange Aimed at the exchange of commercial real estate data, sales, theory and methods between appraisers, brokers, academicians and others.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/comrevalexchangeCreative-re All about buying, selling, or flipping real estate with low or no money down. Carlton Sheets, Ron Legrand, Wade Cook and other techniques will be discussed.www.groups.yahoo.com/group/creative-re
Hardmoney To share sources and needs for hard money real estate loans for residential and commercial properties throughout the U.S.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/hardmoneyLeaseAdvisors Landlords and tenants may be vulnerable because of lease language. What are the most controversial clauses and issues? Because of ambiguities, disputes arise between landlords and tenants, specifically related to operating expenses, CAM and real estate taxes. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LeaseAdvisors
Macre A forum open to commercial real estate agents and commercial real estate appraisers active in the states of PA, NJ, OH, NY, VA, DE and MD. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/macre
Realestate General discussion list for residential and commercial real estate brokers, agents, investors, and others.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/realestateRealestatebuysell
List for those wishing to invest in or offer for sale/merger/joint venture
commercial real estate and real estate packages priced over $10 million.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/realestatebuysell
Realestateinvest Dedicated to the exchange of information and property listings to commercial real estate brokers, managers, investors, agents, owners, financial and other people involved or interested in commercial real estate. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/realestateinvest.
RealEstateInvestorDaily For buyers, sellers, investors and brokers. Posting of properties for sale, wanted, leasing, joint ventures, and other property situations, with a primary focus on commercial and investment real estate properties. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/RealEstateInvestorDaily
RealEstateLaw An international real estate law discussion group for real estate attorneys, the legal and academic community, and real estate professionals. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/realestatelaw
RealEstateLink.net An open list to which anyone can post, or reply to a post without joining the list, bulletin-board style.Go to
www.realestatelink.net/cgi-bin/wwwboard/wwwboard.html to view all he posts and/or subscribe to the email version.Recombroker Dedicated to the sale and purchase of commercial real estate properties world wide. Investors, principals and brokers are invited to post listings or interest to purchase or Lease properties.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/recombrokerRefinancing Commercial real estate financing forum for investors, brokers, owners and others. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/REfinancing
Moderated Forums (Posting allowed, but posts are read and approved by a moderator.)1031market For investors, developers and brokers wanting to list commercial (usually NNN single tenant) properties suitable as replacement (downleg) properties for 1031 exchanges or requests for property needed to complete 1031 exchanges and information relative to financing these types of properties. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/1031market
AppraisersOnTheWeb A forum to discuss individual appraiser experiences and to address questions regarding the Internet and how it can be utilized to maximize profits for appraisers.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/appraisersonthewebCreditLease Dedicated to the sale, leasing, exchange and financing of single tenant, net leased retail, office and industrial properties. Restricted membership.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/creditleaseReXn Real estate exchangers' networking and relocation services exchange HAVE listings, WANT listings. For general real estate exchange.
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ReXndealmakers.net and Dealmakers.net: At
www.dealmakers.net/subscription.asp you can sign up for any of 10 email forums. Posts can be read online at www.dealmakers.net/mail/index.html before you join. Details also are on Page 2 of this issue.Newsletters, E-zines
(No posting. Messages from the list owner only.)
Ameriquotes Newsletter: Dispatches containing statistics on commercial transactions, a quote of the day, and news about the site itself. Go to
www.ameriquotes.com and scroll to the bottom, where you can register to receive the newsletter.Globest.com Newsblast: A daily summary of commercial real estate news, mostly about real deals, rather than Internet-related companies. Includes clickable links to the full stories on the Web site. Go to
www.globest.com; the registration link is located on the lower left.Grid Alert: Periodic emails with news items and clickable link to the full text online. Go to
www.gridsite.com/submittals/subs-submit.cfm, where you'll be asked to fill out a relatively long form to subscribe to Grid's email alert news service.IREIzine A weekly e-zine from Institutional Real Estate Inc., which also prints publications including The Institutional Real Estate Letter, Investment Property, REITStreet, Institutional Real Estate Newsline and European Real Estate Quarterly. Go to
www.irei.com and click the link near the bottom.Realcomm Advisory: A weekly newsletter discussing key Commercial Real Estate technology issues and strategies. Go to
www.realcomm.com, a site specific to the Realcomm 2001 trade show in Dallas on June 14 and 15.Realhound News: A monthly assortment of Internet sites, tips on products and services and Realhound software information. Go to
www.realhound.com and click on Realhound News on the left side of the page.Recyber Mail List: This one's a bit different. Anyone can join the list to receive mail from members of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society, but you have to be a paid member to send to the list. Go to
www.recyber.com and click on ?Member Direct Mail List? in the middle of the page.Reiscast A weekly news bulletin and access to more of the site's free content. Go to
www.reis.com and look for the ?Register Now!? link on the left side of the page. Or go to www.reis.com/register/register_index.cfm to get directly to the registration form.REITweek A weekly e-zine from Institutional Real Estate Inc., which also prints publications including The Institutional Real Estate Letter, Investment Property, REITStreet, Institutional Real Estate Newsline and European Real Estate Quarterly. Go to
www.irei.com; the link is near the bottom.To add a real estate oriented board to this list,
send e-mail to: ted.kraus@dealmakers.net, fax the information to
609-587-3511
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