Hi everyone, I'm new to the forums and would like to start off by thanking you all for the valuable info you've posted. I'm glad I found this site.

I'm just getting into Real Estate and would like to work with first time home buyers. I've set a goal for myself to get at least 2 buyers into a home before the $8k tax credit expires on 12/1. I've contacted my (small) sphere of influence and haven't found much luck. I'm considering door knocking at apartments and other rental areas. Has anyone had any experience with this? Any other ideas for targeting first time homebuyers? Thanks for your help.

Host open houses in the types of homes that would appeal to first time home buyers. If you're like me and are new to the business, and you don't have any listings yet, host an open house on another agent's listing. They'd be more than happy to have another agent sit in an open house for them.

By hosting open houses alone, I've found a several buyers, three of which are ready and able to buy, and two of which are first time home buyers.

^^I agree with awsmith. I've never actually sold the property I held open, but I have picked up several buyer clients. I'm sure most agents would be happy to allow you to hold an open house for them.

Daniel

Become the expert on first time home buyer programs like down payment assistance. Get to know the programs available at the CA Housing Finance Agency (http://www.calhfa.ca.gov/homebuyer/programs/chdap.htm). The counties and other municipalities may also offer home buying incentives, so research those too. Contact the approved lenders and find out about the available programs (ask them about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program) and how they work with them. Then blog about them on your site and on Trulia using highly relevant long-tail keywords. Your phone will ring and ring often.

My blog is really stale with the last post on August 11 or so (I have to get over this writer's block), but still there's a link to it on page one of Google for "Georgia Down Payment Assistance" and other terms and I am still getting calls.

I'd recommend getting a free blog at Wordpress.com or Blogger.com.

You must know how to convert the calls into leads. I usually will ask at the outset if the prospect is working with an agent. If they are not, I tell them that my knowledge of these programs is how I reach prospects to make my living and ask if they will work with me. Upon agreement, I move on to the other steps that we all learned about (determining the right program and lender, agency stuff, understanding their wants and needs, etc., house hunting, etc.).

NAR's 2008 Buyer Profile was a free download at REALTOR.com a month or so ago. There's was tons of info about buyers and sellers in there. It might be worth a few sheets of paper to understand your market. Hope that helps. It isn't rocket science and the only real investment is your time IMHO.