Ulster County Real Estate Blog

Writing Good Website Content for Your Real Estate Website

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:23:40 -0600

Writing content for your real estate website is undoubtedly a daunting and time consuming task. Sure you can hire a writer, but what better way to market your skills as a real estate agent then with your own voice (not to mention the economic benefit of writing your own content). Writing your own content will pay divedends in the end when following a few easy tips. I just posted a blog over at LouLynch.com that simplifies the process of writing real estate website content. If you have a minute pop on over and check it out. Leave a comment if you like.

Selling a top 10 Ulster County Real Estate Website

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:56:11 -0500

THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN SOLD. Thank you for your interest.

I am selling an ulster county real estate website (UlsterCountyLiving.com) that has achieved top 10 ranking for the #1 keyword term in the Ulster County real estate market. In addition, the site has also ranked well for several supporting keywords in the Ulster and as a result is currently pulling about 50-60 leads per month. Only being live since October 08, the site ranks amazingly well despite it being in its infancy. As the site ages (along with the links that have been built to point to it) it will continue to improve, increasing both traffic and lead conversion. Currently, the site competes for position with some of the top companies in the Ulster County Real Estate market.

If you are interested in using UlsterCountyLiving.com as an additional lead source / marketing tool, let me know. I am open to discussing different options that may include support from me on an ongoing basis. The website could also be used by a top agent or team in your company propelling them into a position where they would be the only agent/team level website that exists in the top 10 in Google. It is a very good opportunity.

A few things about the site:

Currently in the top 10 in Google for the term Ulster County Real Estate and several other top terms in the Ulster County Market.
Converting traffic to leads at about 5%
Several customizations including a Blog, Quick Search on the homepage, interactive Ulster County Map Search, Drip Campaigns and many others.
Upgraded Lead Management System
Tons of SEO Optimized content

A few bonuses that come with the site:

Feeder sites: NewPaltzHomes.com
Rebranding of the site to reflect new ownership
Four 1 hour training sessions
Over 300 existing leads

Your Modern Farmhouse Home Offers Marvelous Highlights At Mohonk View Lane

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:30:26 -0500

The presentation of quality and craftsmanship of days gone by is ever evident in the Modern Hudson Valley Farmhouse design. The structure brings together the charm of long ago and mixes it with the innovation of today presenting an edge on the American Farmhouse design with a modern country approach. This house is designed with a touch of class reflected by every shape, crisp clean line and gable roof. A vision of rustic charm surrounds this house and displays the reflection of the big white houses that were once observed along country roads dotting the hillsides.

This house offers the familiarity of home combined with the hint of mystery that will appeal to a special homeowner. This house is designed with efficiency in mind and therefore creates the perception that it may be a weekend dwelling or enjoyed the whole year through.

This house will take your breath away with a huge living space enhanced by the 28 ft distance from floor to ceiling. At one end of the room rests a rustic wooden fireplace prepared for that comforting crackling fire and on the other end the entertainment center that will offer you pleasure at your beaconing. The living space seems to transcend onto the two decks that on one end offer the picturesque view of the Shawangunk mountain range that seem to meet the farmlands below. The other end offers a pleasant reflection of an 18-whole golf course calling your name. These decks were constructed with parties and family gets together in mind and yet offers sweet seclusion when desired.

The large master bedroom appears to be far away from the rest of the home with a walk-in closet so large it could be a room of its own. The master bath and shower area offers peace and tranquility with its spa like appearance. The shower space and toiletry area are pleasantly divided into two separate locations. The six-foot long Japanese style tub superbly crafted for soaking and refreshing weary bones rests between his and her vanities and above windows that look natural and are easily operable to bring a glimpse of nature in with you.

See the Mohonk View Lane Website

Living among Woodstock’s Black Bear Population

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:38:13 -0500

As a 35 year old, I have been living in the country all my life. Up until just a few years ago, I have never seen a Black Bear in a public area or close to my home. Now they are everywhere. Within the last few years, things have changed both in the population and the feeding habits of the Black Bear found in Woodstock and the Hudson Valley area. Bears are now more prevalent in public areas than ever and pose a small problem to those who are unfamiliar with exactly how to co-exist.

Read the Full Story on Woodstock Bears >>

Buying Land in Ulster County NY

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:10:46 -0500

Buying land in Ulster County NY has never been easier! If you are looking for Ulster County land, then UlsterCountyLiving.com is here to help. We offer a unique range of services with extensive experience negotiating Ulster County land for sale. Our highly trained, professional experts can help you navigate the land for sale in Ulster County to determine what parcels will suit your needs best. But our experience does not stop there! Sellers can also benefit greatly from our experience in selling Ulster County parcels. We can help determine a fair market price and get the necessary exposure to your offer for maximum sales leads.

Considerations for Buying Land in Ulster County NY

Our extensive experience with Ulster County parcels can save time and money by informing you of issues related to purchasing Ulster County land. One of the most commonly overlooked issues is that of zoning. Often this is missed by residential real estate professionals. What is your intended use for the land? Is it allowed? Are there any restrictions? We can point you in the right direction so when considering Ulster County land for sale, you have all the facts. You may need to consult with the zoning and building departments and possibly other land professionals. We can help ensure this goes smoothly.

Why Should you Buy Ulster County Land?

In today’s economy it is important to make sound investments, especially in regard to real estate. Buying land in Ulster County NY is a safe prospect because the land has a history of appreciating during favorable economic conditions and remaining stable during periods of unfavorable real estate trends. Part of the reason Ulster County parcels keep their value is the abundance of natural resources and stunning scenery that surround the area. This is a perfect area for retirement homes, second homes and for a primary residence for those in the area. The trees, meadows, open ranges and farm land make Ulster County land for sale a lucrative and compelling investment. Whether looking strictly for a real estate investment or your dream house, this is the ideal area for you. UlsterCountyLiving.com can help you with the entire process to find the perfect tract and make your Ulster County land suit your needs.

New Paltz New York Real Estate

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:05:49 -0500

Comprised of the Town and Village of New Paltz as well as the North and South Ohioville hamlets, New Paltz is the home of the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz. Originally settled by French Protestants near the Wallkill River, New Paltz’s Huguenot Street is the oldest street in America. This National Historic Landmark has seven stone houses and a fully restored 18th century church all lovingly preserved by the Huguenot Historical Society. New Paltz is indeed a melting pot with diverse communities of Italian, Dutch, German, English and Latino citizens.

Mohonk Mountain House, located just outside of town, is a glorious 251-room Victorian resort hotel that was built in 1861. Situated on over 2,000 acres of lush green forest, this popular lakeside attraction includes gardens, hiking trails and it’s very own 9-hole golf course. The nearby Mohonk Preserve with over 1,000 technical rock climbing routes along the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge was named “one of the Earth’s last great places” by The Nature Conservancy and sees hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. In early August, New Paltz’s Ulster County Fairgrounds hosts its ever-popular annual fair and each Memorial Day and Labor Day it hosts the Woodstock-New Paltz Art and Crafts Fair where over 300 craftsman and artists present their work to thousands of visitors.

At the heart of the downtown business district are restaurants, shops and galleries and the character of SUNY New Paltz is apparent throughout the area, offering both residents and visitors an exciting and welcoming environment.

For more information on New Paltz Real Estate visit NewPaltzHomes.com

Ashokan Reservoir and Rondout Reservoir, Two of Ulster County's Most Beautiful Resources

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:28:34 -0500

Ashokan Reservoir and Rondout Reservoir - Treasures of Upstate New York

Ashokan Reservoir and Rondout Reservoirs, because of their beauty, contrinute aestheticly to any property lucky enough to get a view. In addition, homes previously built or newly built in the vicinity of the water shed must adhere to strict guidelines. These guidlines are put into place to protect the watershed while simutaneously protecting your real estate investment. Home owners lucky enough to purchase property near the watershed will benefit not only from the beauty that surrounds but from a financially sound investment.

A blog I posted at NutshellRealty.com on Ulster County Reservoirs

Beyond its' obvious benefit as drinking water and wildlife habitat, the reservoirs are open to the public providing a great source for recreation. The reservoir itself and the land around the reservoir can be accessed with permit, for hiking, hunting and fishing. The permits are free and easy to obtain. For more information on how to obtain permits, use the information below.

Ulster County Reservoir Permits

Ashokan Reservoir, Box 370, NYS Route 28A, Shokan, NY 12481; (845) 657-2663
Rondout Reservoir, Box 358, NYS Route 42, Grahamsville, NY 12740; (845) 985-0386

Click Here for Ulster County Reservoir Properties (Property that is near or have a views of the reservoir)

Bodies of water in Ulster County considered significant enough to label as ponds or lakes.

Alder Lake, Ashokan Reservoir, Lake Awosting, Balsam Lake, Beaver Lake, Beecher Lake, Binnewater Lakes, Cape Pond, Chodikee Lake, Cooper Lake, Cranberry Lake, DeWitt Lake, Devils Lake, Duck Pond, Echo Lake, Esopus Lake, Fifth Lake, First Lake, Forest Lake, Fourth Lake, Heddens Lake, Honk Lake, Lake Katrine, Kenozia Lake, Kerhonkson Reservoir, Kingston Reservoir Number Four, Kingston Reservoir Number One, Kingston Reservoir Number Two, Lily Lake, Louisa Pond, Lyon Lake, Lyonsville Pond, Manor Lake, Lake Maratanza, Marx Pond, Lake Minnewaska, Mirror Lake, Mohonk Lake, Mud Pond, Murrays Pond, Onteora Lake, Peekamoose Lake, Pinebush Lake, Rondout Reservoir, Roosa Lake, Round Pond, Sand Pond, Saugerties Reservoir, Second Lake, Spring Lake, Stone Ridge Pond, Sturgeon Pool, Lake Sunset, Third Lake, Tillson Lake, Tunis Pond, Twin Lakes, Ulster Heights Lake, Vly Pond, Windsor Lake, Winnisook Lake, Yanketown Pond

Lou Lynch
Associate Broker / Technology Director

The "REAL" Sales Cycle of the Real Estate Web Lead

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:31:35 -0500

Because most of you here at AR are web-savvy real estate professionals, the majority of you know that the sales cycle is much different now-a-days as most new business is now generated on the web. This biggest difference between today's real estate lead and the real estate lead of old is that we are contacting the lead much earlier in the sales cycle, so early in fact, the leads aren't even at the point where they are ready to talk to a realtor. This causes frustration for the real estate agents that do lead follow-up using traditional methods. It used to be that real estate agents didn't see or hear from prospective buyers until they were ready to start seeing homes. Now because of the nature of the web, we are getting lead information on buyers that are just starting the research phase of their home search. This results in leads being unresponsive to realtor contact causing the realtor to devalue the lead.

This type of behaivor on the part of the realtor will result in a significant loss in business. See my post on The REAL Sales Cycle of the Real Estate Web Lead on LouLynch.com

New Paltz New York Real Estate

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:10:53 -0500

New Paltz New York Real Estate

New Paltz is located in Ulster County in the state of New York. Whether you are here for the weekend or relocating for a lifetime, the New Paltz New York area is the premier destination for those looking for a leisurely change of pace. If you are the energetic type, New Paltz can accommodate that too with climbing, hiking and scenic tours of Mohonk Preserve or Minnewaska State Park. Accommodations are abundant with many cozy Bed and Breakfasts, Inns and Hotels. The village is alive with restaurants and shops. New Paltz (Town and Village) is located in the beautiful Wallkill River Valley. The now famous Wallkill River flows north to the Rondout Creek which flows directly into the Hudson River linking up at Kingston New York.

Culture and Urban Flavor

The New Paltz community is alive with urban flavor and culture. The character has been kept intact and is still quite expressive in the many apple orchards, vineyards, gardens and corn fields of New Paltz. The biggest contribution to the New Paltz character is the presence of the College at New Paltz, a college of the State University of New York with approximately 7700 students who find New Paltz by way of local cities and over fifty countries all over the world. Located ninety miles north of Manhattan and sixty miles south of Albany at Exit 18 of the New York Thruway.

Hiking and Climbing in New Paltz

Five miles to the west, you can find the Shawangunk Mountain escarpment. The high cliffs of the "Gunks" attract thousands of mountain climbers and hikers each year. Hiking and climbing through the trails and rock formations of the Shawangunk Mountains west of New Paltz is an attraction to many. Running through New Paltz is the very popular Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. The trail provides an excellent path for biking, jogging walking and cross-country skiing in winter. The Ulster County Fair grounds are also located in New Paltz and host not only the annual county fair but several smaller craft fairs as well.

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz NY

At the very end of the Shawangunk range is the historic Mohonk Mountain House, Now a historical landmark, the Mohonk Mountain House is a hotel that features breathtaking views, a system of challenging walking trails including the Labyrinth (nick named the Lemon Squeeze) that makes its' way through majestic rock formations. The main part of the hotel is set on a glacier made natural lake ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. The property around the mountain house is adorned with gorgeous flower gardens, gazebos and historical buildings.

Minnewaska State Park

Also found on the Shawangunk Mountain range is the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. It also has a mountain lake created by the same glacier for swimming boating and fishing. Inside the park, there are tables for picnics, and walking trails that meander through the high cliffs that overlook the lake. Like Mohonk, Minnewaska has a state operate preserve that has several great environmental programs.

New Paltz New York History

New Paltz was founded in 1678 by French Huguenots who had taken refuge in Mannheim, Germany, for a few years before coming to America. The origin of the name, New Paltz, was derived through a process starting with the river that flows through it now referred to as the Wallkill, according to the record of the first meeting of the New Paltz Reformed Church in 1683. The river once name Pals or Palse River was used to describe the land around it in a deed found in 1689. In 1703, the Palse river bed underwent its' first formal subdivision creating giving it the name ye New Paltz later referred to simply as New Paltz.

New Paltz Homes

Analyzing real estate lead data from your website

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:13:24 -0600

There are a lot of benefits to properly analyzing the user data of the online real estate consumer before making the follow up call or email. Having a little inside information on your lead prior to aqttempting contact speeds the process of building rapport and ultimately put you in a better position to convert the lead to a customer.

Earlier today I posted a blog on my brand spanking new real estate technology blog at LouLynch.com.

Stone Ridge Summer Events

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:03:57 -0500

Stone Ridge Community Fair August 16th

There will be a community fair and movie night held on the grounds of Christ the King Episcopal Church in Stone Ridge on August 16th. The fair will start at 5pm with food and activities and end with a movie on the back lawn at sundown. Food will be available for a nominal fee with free popcorn for the movie. It is a rain or shine event.

SUMMER'S END CHORAL WORKSHOP AND COMMUNITY EVENSONG
Open to all singers in the Hudson Valley
Held at The Episcopal Church of Christ the King, 3021 Route 213 East, Stone Ridge, NY
August 27, 28, 29 and 30

Led by James Ruff, Director of Music & Professional Tenor

Come join other singers from the Hudson Valley in short daily workshops to:

Learn valuable vocal techniques to help you develop your own voice - tone, range, stamina.
Explore the spiritual basis for your singing - help deepen your own sense of worship while singing in your choir.
Work on specific choral techniques to develop your sense of blend and group sound.
Foster your sense of community with other choral singers in the area.
Prepare your heart, mind and body for your choir's coming fall season.
Then, put what you've learned into practice by singing in a beautiful Community Evensong Service at the end of the week, followed by a group supper. Repertoire will include the Stanford Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C. Choral rehearsals for this service will follow each daily workshop.
Schedule for the week:

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday:

6pm - 7pm - Choral workshop
7pm - 8:30pm - Evensong Choral rehearsal

Saturday:

5pm - 6pm - Choral warm-up
6pm - 7pm - Choral Evensong Service
7pm - community potluck supper

You must attend at least 2 of the 3 rehearsals (Friday rehearsal is mandatory!) to sing in the Evensong Saturday evening.

Registration Fee: $50, due 8/15/08. For more information, contact the church at (845) 687-9414 or email: church@ctkstoneridge.org. See our website at: www.ctkstoneridge.org

Remembering the IBM Cuts of 93

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:50:33 -0600

IBM just recently cut several hundred jobs in the whirlwind of our rapidly declining economy. This is an all too familiar pain, especially for those in the Mid-Hudson region who recall the results of major cuts made in 1993. When businesses, such as IBM are forced to make cuts of these proportions, it has a lasting domino effect.

e-cards (TrueLogic) suspended me for the second time

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:42:10 -0500

Yeah, thats right, the e-card system kicked me off again. I posted the full blog over at REW. They tell me I am the only Prudential Affiliate that has been suspended, this can't be true especially under these circumstances.

I really look forward to hearing some of your opinions on the subject

Click here for the full blog (rant)

- Lou

Prudential Nutshell Realty

Keyword Stuffing - Bad, Bad, Bad

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:01:10 -0500

I started writing a comment back to a few people that had commented on my blog 6 (now 8) things that are sure to get you banned from Google. Keyword stuffing was one of the things that a lot of bloggers were interested in. As I wrote, I found my comment getting quite lengthy so I decided to break of into a separate blog.

One way to be sure that you are not "keyword stuffing" is to write fresh, unique and compelling content. Again the idea is to keep your user (a human) in the front of your mind while writing. If your topic is truly relevant to the keyword term, you will have no problem including it in the content in a way that is not considered stuffing.

Here is a little chart that will help you with keyword saturation. When the chart indicates less then 1 (.05, .07, etc.) It refers to partial matching. What that means is that if my term is "Ulster County Real Estate" and I use the term "Ulster Real Estate" (not using the "county" word), that is considered a partial match.

Google recommends that you use the keyword term 1 time in the title, 1 time in the meta description, use some form of the term in the heading, 5 times in link text, 10 times in the Hyper-link URL and 10 times in the body text.

Google Averages

Areas	Frequency	Words	Weight	Average Prominence
Head
TITLE tag	1.0	6.7	72.0%	62%
META Description tag	0.7	10.8	32%	65.2%
Body
Headings	0.5	7.9	32.1%	64.9%
Link Text	4.7	166.9	14.2%	55.8%
Hyper-link URL	9.2	N/A	N/A	N/A
Body Text	9.7	618	7.8%	56.2%

Here is more about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyword_stuffing

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66358

6 (now 8) things that are sure to get you banned from Google.

Lou Lynch (Mortgages.com) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:10:28 -0600

It can happen. You spend hours upon days, days upon month doing everything you can to make sure your website has every opportunity to be ranked by Google only to wake up and find that you have been dropped -30, -60 or even worse BANNED! Here are six things to keep in mind when optimizing your site.

1. Duplicate Content
This is a biggy. Google hates duplicate content. Be sure everything you write is unique. If you have a page that is getting dropped or banned consistently, copy and paste a sentence from it into a Google search box and see if it comes up anywhere else. If so, REWRITE IT. If you feel that someone grabbed your content report them: www.google.com/dmca.html

2. Doorways, Cloaking and Redirects
Don't do it! These are keyword stuffed pages that are designed to attract search engine spiders but are otherwise meaningless to web surfers. If you are getting away with it, STOP! It is only a matter of time before Google comes knocking.

3. Hidden Texts and Hidden Links
This is a practice by where the web designer will again stuff pages with meaningless content to attract spiders but use colors that make them seem invisible by matching it to the background color. Bad Golf, do it an pay the piper.

4. Keyword Spamming
Keyword spamming is stuffing the meta tags with keywords that don't relate to the content. At this point meta tags are becoming less valued every day but it is a bad idea to try this as all the keywords in the meta tags should also show up in your page content.

5. Good Link Bad Link
It use to be the more link backs you have the better. Not the case anymore. Google looks for quality link backs (or reciprocal link) from quality sites that have link popularity not gained from link farms.

6. Bad Template Websites
There are some website companies that sell template sites that are not SEO freindly. Some of these sites are highly dynamic using replicated content or use frames. Before using a template company ask about SEO and look to see how some of the other templates rank.

(thank you to Gareth Dirlam for 7 and 8)

7. Automated Queries
Automated queries are queries made using some sort of submission software. In some cases this is allowed but not without express authorization from Google. So unless you have permission, don't do it.

8. Keyword Stuffing on the Content Area of Your Page. see my post on keyword stuffing
Loading Anchors with keywords (its not just the meta tag that gets stuffed) will get your page penalized.

I have been getting a lot of response to Keyword Stuffing, so I wrote a seperate blog on it, hope it helps.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/431535/Keyword-Stuffing-Bad-Bad