Archives of real estate blog entries for November 10, 2006 (Page 4)

Blog posts


Granite Bay California - 05:37 PM
Granite Bay is an upscale community that previously was part of Roseville and is an unincorporated community as of 1987. Just 24 miles northeast of Sacramento, Granite Bay covers approximately 25 square miles and borders Folsom Lake. Click here for a list of Real Estate subdivisions and gated communities when considering relocating to this lovely area in Placer County.
Granite Bay boasts of a very high quality of life due to its great location, super community plan, first rate schools, numerous chruches, golf courses and a low crime rate. Very exclusive custom homes are found here. A
Its name says it all. Granite Bay was … (2 comments)

Roseville, California - 06:35 PM
Roseville, California is located just 16-18 miles north of Sacramento off of Interstate 80. This is a community that has been well planned for now and in the future. It is a growing City that has three zip codes of 95747, 95678 and 95661.
Roseville offers a mix of housing opportunities from condos to gated communities from old town Roseville to the newer subdivisions. Click here for further information regarding Real Estate subdivisions and area information. In addition if you are interested in knowing the Real Estate Market Statistics for the Roseville area separated into each of the three zip codes … (2 comments)

Blog 101, very 101 - 09:07 PM
Help guys...In this infinite world of blogging I suddenly feel helpless and confused.
While I thought blogging was for sharing information about our craft I am quickly learning that it is so much more about being totally creative and funny. While I am new to this wonderful world of blogging, I am still treading new waters when it comes to tapping into all that this internet has to offer.
Okay here is where I will show my age. I am a computer iliterate. In this modern world of technology I find that I am still craving my video movies and cassette tapes. Just the … (7 comments)

Challenges of being new in a highly competitive industry - 05:45 PM
I have only been a RE agent for nearly 2 years and have made many efforts to develop my skills & knowledge.  I've attended many trainings, conferences, meetings, and am currently taking the online ABR course that NAR offers.  I have developed a farm area and previewed properties (either on my own or via Broker Open Houses). I've done numerous mailings to condo owners, teachers, home owners, and friends/family.  Many mailings are co-marketed with a mortgage specialist.  I call my farm area to follow-up after sending mailings and occasionally call friends/family (although I find that to be more akward than warm-calling).  Most of … (3 comments)

First Time Homebuyers - 09:53 PM
Why Buy?
Tax deductionsStable housing costsAppreciation on your investmentGain equity uYou control your property Criteria to determine your type of home:
Location New Fixer upper # of BRs # of Baths Garage, etc. Why Pre-approval?
You know what you can afford before you shop Shows sellers that you are serious about buying You can make an offer as soon as you find a home that you wantHow A Realtor Can Help:
Guides you through the process Knows the community Can provide you with lists of homes that meet your needsHow A Realtor Can Protect You:
Seller is represented by the listing Realtor Listing Realtor is bound … (2 comments)

This Is All Jeff Corbett's Fault...It Has Nothing To Do With Me...ROAR! - 05:27 PM
Here we go, another great title for a post. I love that. Jeff Corbett (plug) inspired this post that has nothing to do with Real Estate. So if that bothers you...Blame him...All I did was get all inspired. Nothing I can do about that except to go with it. Why not? Someone needs to get inspired once in awhile.
Jeff Corbett (plug) put up an excellent post entitled Quotes, Zillow and Guerilla Blogging Tactics" (plug). I mean really, the title of this post caught my attention. When I saw the title I immediately read the post to see if I was going … (29 comments)

San Diego Veterans Day Ceremonies - 07:28 PM
Veteran's Day was originally called Armistice Day after the final day of World War One.  It is traditionally celebrated on November 11 although the federal holiday was today.  You can read about the history of Veterans Day in America here.
In my hometown, Solana Beach, CA, we will be celebrating tomorrow at 11AM with a ceremony at La Colonia Park.  I have made it a practice to bring my daughter to this ceremony for the past three years (she is five years old).  Rumor has it that Congressman Brian Bilbray wil be speaking tomorrow at the Solana Beach ceremony.
A full listing of … (1 comments)

Happy Birthday USMC - 07:53 PM
I'd like to wish all of the serving and former Marines a Happy Birthday today.  On the Active Rain Real Estate Network, let's recognize my cyberfriend and former "Beach" Marine, Bill Archambault.  I invite all Marines on the Active Rain Real Estate Network to report in and tell us about your service.  We all thank you for your service to our country. 
From the Tun Tavern website:
On November 10, 1775, Robert Mullan, the proprietor of the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia , was commissioned by an act of Congress to raise the first two battalions of Marines, under the leadership of Samuel … (5 comments)

The NAR Convention - 11:08 AM
I have read a lot of blogs from agents who are attending the NAR convention. It sounds like they are having a great time in New Orleans. Conventions like NAR are great ways to network with other agents and make lasting relationships. I love to hear the latest and greatest technology being used in the market and new products.
I was in New York this past July for the Howard Brinton convention and that is where I learned about how important it is to start blogging. I have picked up many new ideas from attending these conventions. I attend two conventions … (1 comments)

The Active Rain Diet - 11:14 AM
Well almost seven weeks into the diet and I have lost a total of 23lbs. I have been really good, eating healthy and watching the portions. It has become a way of life and I no longer call it a diet. I think that everyone reaches a point in there life where the say enough is enough. I feel better, clothes are not tight anymore and my energy level is up. This helps with the business in that I am really trying to accomplish more in the Monday through Friday work week and enjoying the weekend with family and friends. Until … (10 comments)

The Market and the Feedback Call - 11:29 AM
So my assistant is calling for feedback from agents who showed our listings this week. She makes the follow up calls with the agents and I cantact the sellers with the feedback. I think sellers want to hear from you the listing agent and not your assistant or other staff members. They want to see that you are taking an active part in the sale of there home. It is getting tough to keep these sellers happy when we go weeks without showing there properties. Our market is still very slow.
Getting back to one of the feedback calls she made this … (1 comments)

Cyberhomes.com - Zillow with a 1999 -style name - 12:11 AM
Today, Glen Robert Jr. at Inman News publicizes the launch of Cyberhomes, a home valuation tool in the tradition of Zillow, by Fidelity National Real Estate Solutions ("FNRES"), a division of title insurance and real estate services company Fidelity National Financial. Kyle at the Tour Sheet picked up the feed and tied it with the recommendations I made to the title insurance industry a few weeks ago... specifically, I said the title insurance companies haven't courted the Consumer before and Cyberhomes seems to be the first major effort to do so. Shortly after I published the post, I did hear from … (4 comments)

Inept Networking - 08:08 AM
Networking the forgotten art of becoming connected and staying connected to others with a common interest.  There are innumerable mechanisms for networking organizations ranging from the PTA, city counsel to sports clubs, lounges, the internet blog, etc.  Recently I became interested in the membership of a couple of organizations with which we as Realtors have direct contact.  And if worked correctly and frequently can expand our productivity.  I won't go into each organization but I will comment on two whose lack of participation by Realtors truly surprised me.  The first organization was the area Home Builders Association.  In a county with … (4 comments)

Penny for your thoughts, nickel for your full attention! - 03:05 PM
 
I have a database of tenants to whom I market.  We know that today's tenants are tomorrow's buyers, and I really love working with first time buyers.  I get great satisfaction out of handing someone the keys to her very first home.  However, many tenants don't have established phone numbers, especially folks who move here from out of state.  When I rent them a house, they have their old cell phone number, but eventually they change it to a local number, and I no longer have the phone as a contact option.  I try to send them letters, but I think that … (4 comments)

New Construction Homes in Kitsap County WA - 05:35 PM
As with most large metropolitan areas, home prices have been increasing significantly in the Greater Seattle area, making it difficult to find affordable new construction. Many homebuyers have been discovering a valuable, cost-effective alternative across the Sound on the Kitsap Peninsula.
As licensed professional real estate agents here on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State, we are fortunate to have a number of skilled home builders who offer excellent new construction properties for our clients.
The Home Builders Association of Kitsap County provides a list of current Builders who are members in good standing. Whether you are looking for a spec home … (0 comments)

File this under “no consequences”: McCormick of Fannie Mae hired by IMPAC as new Executive VP/CIO - 02:20 PM
Andrew McCormick was formerly the SVP/Portfolio Transactions for Fannie Mae. During his tenure, Fannie Mae was later to be found guilty of "inappropriate accounting and inproper earnings management" by investigators. While Mr. McCormick's role is somewhat secondary to the charges made against Fannie Mae by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, he was clearly aware of the methodology being employed to report higher earnings and the manipulation of their portfolio.
One of the salient points of the OFHEO findings is the deficiencies of Fannie Mae in the accounting methodology of their portfolio. As Mr. McCormick was the SVP of Portfolio Management during … (4 comments)

Survey Finds Primary Reason People are Borrowing for Home Improvement is to Increase Property Value - 03:13 PM
Bank of America recently commissioned a survey done by MARC Research on the reason for people taking out home improvement loans. 60% of those surveyed claim that their goal is to increase the home's value.
The survey also showed that 56% of homeowner's did major home improvements prior to putting the home on the market for sale.
"In today's real estate market, homeowners not only want to modernize their living space, but also ensure that the improvement made to the property is a solid investment in the home's value," said national home improvement expert Danny Lipford.  "There is no better or … (7 comments)

Note to sellers: What Buyers really DON't Want - 02:55 PM
Dealing with sellers and working for the sellers, sometimes the buyers wants and needs get over looked.  Its either a question of do you want the house or not, if so make your BEST offer.  But seeing as the market has taken a turn and the buyers are far and few in between, I think agents should start thinking and focusing to the buyers.  What do they want?  What do they need?
At my last open house, I asked buyers that were in attendance, what are the MAIN things that attract them to a house or steers them away - fast.
Steer aways: … (26 comments)

Buyers and Sellers: Fundamental Changes in Real Estate Views - 01:42 PM

I think it's safe to say that the real estate market of 2002-2005 was an  anomaly. Rather like Halley's Comet, that only shows up once every 76 years, it will be a long time before we see something similar.  While this was not the first market to see multiple offers and prices in excess of the asking price I think it was the first that fundamentally changed people's views about real estate.
The basic expectations of buyers and sellers appear to have changed rather drastically from a few years ago. Ten years ago you bought a home as a place to live. … (13 comments)

Just Singin' in the RAIN - 09:40 PM
AR is your pro-active secret weapon for building an ‘e-network', getting a picture of how to do it BETTER, MORE, at OTHER PLACES until you have woven a mesh that touches more and more people.  People with whom you can work to accomplish the mission of your niche, be it real estate marketing, services which bolster real estate marketing such as insurance, mortgages, closing, services which buttress the marketing program such as advertising, assistants and staff.
Caleb Mardini wrote eloquently about the weaving in  ARE YOU MAKING RAIN?   which reminded me of a note I received today about an article written by … (7 comments)

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