I am working very hard on my website, even though I still have a week before class begins. I had a couple of questions.
How much content do I need to have?
Is it okay to use non-competing agents'(agents that are 1000 miles away) content?
Is there any place to get good content, since I am not the best at thinking up my own?

Well my first thought is...why would someone looking for real estate info in Idaho care what's going on in real estate in Missouri? (or wherever...)

I don't see what the point would be in putting stuff from other areas on your website.

As to making up content, you could glean some information from local websites such as newspapers, chamber of commerce, other businesses, etc. Take what they write about your area and re-write it in your own words. You could also look at competitor's sites and get ideas on how they do things, and either reinvent it or do something totally opposite. (do not copy it! that's illegal and unethical and looks cheap. just use it as inspiration or as a springboard)

It's amazing what you can come up with once you get inspired.

Another thing to do is supply information on local homeowner communities/organizations where your potential clients will be interested in purchasing a home. You can just write a brief paragraph describing each one and supply a few pictures.

This is a great way to get some relevant content on your site. Be sure to use key words and alt tags on your images.

Thank you for your reply. I understand that area specific information would be irrelevant if it wasn't the same area. I was talking about articles like,"How to increase your homes value by a billion dollars with a $2.95 investment" type of article. Just some helpful articles that would make people think of me as the all knowing best person for the job. I understand that you don't want to "steal" articles, but if I understand the copyright laws correctly, I can just be sure to give the author credit for writing the article and be within my rights.

Helpful articles? Those cliched "reports" and "tips" that say the exact same thing every time...don't overprice, don't fall in love with the home.

IMHO they are useless and very cheezy. I would encourage you write some original content, like a page describing all the different neighborhoods or subdivisions, and giving quick links for people to see listings in that specific small area.

Or have a blog and publish daily real estate news, announcements about new real estate projects, etc. I found that people generally couldn't care less about those pre-fabricated real estate tips articles. They're more interested in properties for sale, what the market is doing, that type of stuff.

Also, have two pages where you describe your marketing plan for sellers and the process you follow with buyers. This way your potential clients can get to know about your approach and work style.

Copying content from another website is a good way to get your site so far into the sandbox you will never be seen unless someone actually types in your URL.

Google, Yahoo and MSN are very sensitive to copyright infringement and it is actually illegal (as with print copywright). Unique content is king. You have to write it yourself, if you just change a few words you could still be caught by Google etc. and peanilized. The same with pictures, take your own or buy stock photos (you can get them online for $1-$3 single use) but if you snatch skyline views of your city you will always get caught if you start to get position in the search engines, your competition will turn you in.

I have to second the blogging idea. I read a blog regularly, not because I want to ever go there, but because the agent writes such nice things about her city. A typical post is like: one day she had lunch in the park. She took a picture of the view from where she sat. She described what she saw. She'll also write about things going on, a new museum that opened up. She makes you want to *be* there through pictures and her descriptions. Add that to writing about houses you have listed and you'll have a very successful blog.