I guess I didn't want to post about something that just seems so obvious, or so posted on...but sometimes the easiest solution or answer to a question is right under our noses...on the keyboard. So please take this to heart. I am still surprised that many people just do not utilize Google Search as the ultimate "Oracle".
So I don't think that I am out of line writing about something that I still see the majority of brokers not using as a business tool. Maybe this just seems to simple to really be a valid solution to most of our answers. I know everyone knows about Google....but do they use it to the MAX! No way. Bottom line -- "Google is the closest thing the Web has to an ultimate answer machine." Almost 99% of all questions on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire show up on 1st page rank! try it yourself...in fact they need to add a forth Life Line; Ask the Audience, phone a friend, 50-50 and GOGGLE SEARCH! The only good phone friend would be someone on the other end using Google!
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. There is no question that it appeals to all genres, From bloggers doing research to kids school projects. Many people are not aware that you can search billions (BILLIONS) of images.
You can also peruse the world's largest archive of Usenet messages, more than 1 billion posts dating back to 1981. You can expect even more information being indexed with the increased user contribution coming to the net through the mushrooming community space.
Here's a simple real life example of a piece of Real Estate specific information that could be found in a matter of seconds. Let's see how long it takes to find this; find the FHA HUD loan restriction on Flips and give me the the eight exceptions to this rule and the actual rule and regulation number from HUD. I am sure some of you know this by heart, but in case you don't, Google is the the solution. There's no need to waste time calling loan officers, your managing broker, title companies, the listing broker or even your local regional HUD employees or for that matter searching a HUD.gov site...Google already has!
You can see here with this search result that using only the words FHA Flip, achieved a first page and first item solution for our question. Further research, about 10 minutes worth and used words FHA HUD Regulations Flip, provided the actual Government Document. Not bad for 10 minutes of work.
As I stated above, the community provided in formation from blogging and WIKI's, will provide answers from some of the smartest most expert people in the world. With a little help from Google , we are getting answers to most all questions in the world, in a matter of seconds.
I know we all know about Google but application and knowing are two
different issue. You can bring that inner genius out with nothing more
than your browser.