Archives of real estate blog entries for October 14, 2006 (Page 4)

Blog posts


Embedding Video In YOUR Website - 12:34 PM
 
Hey Everyone,
So, I decided to embed a video that I had produced into our website at Oak Valley Mortgage. I wanted to create a "seamless" look to it, where it loaded up automatically and it didn't have any controls on it. I know that some people like to have control over watching videos, personally, I made a decision to do it anyhow. I think that it is a great addition to the website, because it adds audio to the website, creates a "cause of action" with a $400 appraisal credit and it's over in 30 seconds. When working with video, I … (11 comments)

Unfair Real Estate Competition? - 01:14 PM
 
Federal regulators are pursuing claims against two real estate groups in Michigan for not allowing discount brokers full access to their online multiple listing services! The action came after 5 other states allowed discount brokers full access to their online MLS. The FTC said, "the enforcement actions are intended to send a signal to real estate brokerages nationwide that discount or nontraditional brokerages should be allowed equal access to the combined online listings of homes for sale in local markets."
"The rules these brokers made drove up costs and reduced choice for consumers, and they violated federal law," said FTC Competition … (2 comments)

Canned Responses - 12:16 AM
Part of being a community member is to add value to the entire community.
Lately, I have noticed that there are recurring posts to multiple blogs that have no thought put into them other than to earn more points for better ranking.
Our time is the most valuable asset that we have.  Please don't waste it by trying to "out-earn" the next guy.  Share some great content with us.  Help us learn, make us think, make us mad, but don't waste our time!
Leigh Olson | Velvet Plum
www.velvetplum.com
… (1 comments)

Caught in a Traffic Jam - 04:35 PM
North Carolina's State Fair is back and Raleigh's traffic jams are all over the place.
I was out driving around yesterday afternoon, and everywhere I went I was in a traffic jam unlike normal. Yes, I forgot it was fair traffic along with NC State Football traffic. The fair traffic brings around 60,000 fair goers.
The NC State Fair dates are from October 13 to 22nd and that is a Sunday night. There is so much to check out and here is the site to go to.  http://www.ncstatefair.org/2006/
Maybe I will see you out there for a fun time. Just remember to have … (0 comments)

Getting Financing as an Investor - 07:29 AM
As some of you know, I am a fulltime real estate investor. One extremely important aspect of being an investor is the ability to get financing. Here are three helpful hints that may prevent you from having problems.
1)      If you are working a fulltime job and doing real estate on the side, you have probably heard that you want to create a corporation or LLC to do business from. I agree with this as you want to separate your liability from business and personal, however, a mistake I see a lot of new investors make is in the naming of their … (0 comments)

What if?? - 10:02 AM
When I was started buying rental properties, one phrase I would hear a lot was "What if". Here are some examples:
What if the tenants don't pay?What if the market goes down?What if you can't find tenants?What if you have a lot of repairs?What if a tenant leaves and trashes the place?And on, and on, and on...
The people that asked me those types of questions were not really asking me what if, they were asking me to validate their own way of thinking in that buying rental properties was risky and to be avoided. I could have turned it around on those … (2 comments)

Two properties sold - 07:26 PM
3114 SE 16th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33904 and 8190 cleaves Rd, North Ft Myers, FL 33903 has sold … (0 comments)

Need Data? - 10:20 PM
I don't know about you guys but I do a lot of direct mailing. I used to buy lists from address companies but you know where you can get local data very inexpensively? Try your county's property appraiser! Here in Lee county, they will put data on a disk or email you almost whatever address data you can imagine for very cheap. $35 per hour to put the data together with a min charge of one hour, $25 first process fee and .01 per parcel address for maximum charge of $300. That is pretty cheap compared to address companies that can … (6 comments)

Personal Service - 05:44 PM
Ten years ago there were predictions being made that the mortgage loan officers would no longer be needed as the internet age continued. Ten years after those predictions were made the internet is critical to the mortgage and real estate industry but most people that I work with have used the internet as a resource and then still want to sit down with a mortgage professional in person.  The resources available on the internet are tremendous and present borrowers with great information.  When it come time to fill proceed with the application the personal service that can be provided by the … (2 comments)

Open Houses - 09:23 PM
Various opinions have been expressed about the benefit or lack of benefit of holding Open Houses for your listings.  As a mortgage banker I have made it a point to visit Open Houses to provide loan information on the specific house to the Realtor hosting the Open House and also to introduce myself to a new Realtor when I have not had the opportunity to meet this person before.
I find it worthwhile to visit a few Open Houses each weekend and am wondering if there is something else that I can do that may help the Realtor sell their listing. How do handle … (1 comments)

Guess who’s looking over & 2nd guessing your listing comments??? - 07:32 PM
Web Sites Gather Home Ratings from All Corners
If you have access to the Washington Post, today might be a good day to take a look at the real estate section. There is a huge article on one of the latest trends in consumer participation in the real estate market. On www.ZipRealy.com and www.Reply.com, consumers now have the opportunity to comment on and critique your listings! A charming 1-Bedroom condo in DC now becomes “Smells like cats”. A home in Joppa, Md is highlighted by the listing agent as having “cathedral ceilings and over-sized windows”. The consumer comment notes that it … (3 comments)

Other agents contacting me about my IDX - 01:40 PM
Ok guys, here is something to chat about.  I want to know if this same thing happends to other agents with a good IDX on there website.  I get at least 5 calls a week from Atlanta agents asking me about a listing off my IDX.  At first I tell them I don't know what they are talking about, because they aren't my listings, then I realize what is happening.  Their client had been searching my website and found these listings through my IDX, and assumed they were all my listings.  We can't blame the consumers here, because how are they supposed to … (8 comments)

Cherokee County Information - 01:53 PM
Hello my fellow Cherokee County agents!  I have found a great link, if you alread new about it, disregard this message.  It has all of the locations of the municipalities in Cherokee County.  Tags, Courthouse, etc, it tells you everyhthing.  Consider passing this links on to clients who just moved here.  It will be of great help!
http://www.cherokeega.com/directions.cfm
Canton Real Estate
… (0 comments)

E-Neighborhoods?????? Do you like it? - 02:21 PM
Does anyone love E-Neighborhoods?  I am using it as a free 2 month trial right now and am not that impressed.  I am learning all the features, and while the software seems great, It just does't seem like it will be that beneficial to me.  If anyone uses this on a daily basis and loves it please let me know.  I am still trying to use it, at least for another 2 months.
Canton Real Estate
… (4 comments)

Are boat slips a big asset for condo owners? - 05:38 PM
As a condo board member, and an active real estate agent, I'm involved in a discussion of whether the boat slip fees are fair (at $78/month including water and electric).  I agree that the slips, which are owned by the association, are an asset to all condo owners in that they offer the ability to dock your boat close to your home and are available for a very reasonable fee.  Some owners say that since they are common elements which can be leased, they should not be a profit maker for the association.  However, many homeowners feel that there is nothing wrong … (2 comments)

My Funeral. - 08:53 PM
I was reading a book today called Man's Search For Meaning by Vicktor E. Frankl.
Vicktor is sharing his own experience in concentration camp he describe how they were treated. In the camp prisoners didn't know when they are going to be called to be transferred to the final destination where the gas chamber could be it. This book was not in tented to talk about the death, or the suffering. The book was in tented to share an experience  which tells us about hope, and anticipation. As I was reading this I thought about this.
The Prisoners of the camp anticipated … (2 comments)

VA Home Loans (Part I) - 01:14 PM

 Consumers and Realtors alike should be aware of how VA home loans work.  As a former service member, I didn’t realize what a vital benefit I was receiving until I actually used my VA entitlement.  I once believed when I was a young 18 year old in the service the following myths: 
 
You could not use your entitlement while you were still in the serviceYou could only use the benefit once It was not good to use VA loan, conventional was better (Wrong Again) The below questions and answers will help those looking for additional information on VA loans. 
… (1 comments)

VA Home Loans (Part II) What are the Benefits to the Service Member? - 01:25 PM
 
The use of your VA entitlements provides you many benefits.  Do you know what a summary of those benefits are? 
 
Q: What is a VA Guaranteed Home Loan? A: VA guaranteed loans are made by private lenders, such as banks, savings & loans, or mortgage companies to eligible veterans for the purchase of a home which must be for their own personal occupancy. The guaranty means the lender is protected against loss if you or a later owner fail to repay the loan. The guaranty replaces the protection the lender normally receives by requiring a down payment allowing you … (0 comments)

VA Home Loans (Part III) - Surviving Spouse Home Loan Benefits - 01:35 PM

VA Home Loans (Part III)
Surviving Spouse Home Loan Benefits
 
If you are a surviving spouse of a military member, the government supplies you with a tremendous amount of information at a time when you thoughts are with the love one you have lost.  Surviving Spouses are entitled to several benefits when it comes to VA Loans.  The below questions and answers give a summary of the Home Loan entitlement.
 
Q: Is the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran eligible for the home loan benefit? A: The unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died on active duty … (1 comments)

Let me Vs. May I - 10:58 AM
What's one unmistakable way of indentifying a master salesperson?  Listen for their use of questions.  A master salesperson will guide an entire conversation using questions.  Someone who just thinks they are selling will spend an entire appointment talking at their prospect.This person THINKS they are selling:"Before we begin, let me show you how I work."This person IS selling:"Before we begin, may I show you how I like to work?"If your prospect isn't a part of the conversation, you're not selling. … (3 comments)

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