Archives of real estate blog entries for November 2, 2006 (Page 6)

Blog posts


New Number One in Minnesota - 07:29 PM
My superior has chastised me for not offering an appropriate fan fare for her taking over the number one position in Minnesota.  I hate being the lackey!  Now when her competitor takes over the number one position, (and she soon will.  These two flip flop positions and one is never far behind the other) SHE'LL want a parade too.  This is going to be ugly....
But Today, Right Now, Our number one real estate agent in Minnesota is none other than...the one...the only....
TERESA BOARDMAN!!
 
<<Silently wondering to myself if they'll make room for me when I catch up to them!>>
… (5 comments)

Do you show up or do you ARRIVE? - 01:41 PM
Nicely said Seth.  The Unlimited Power of Enthusiasm. … (1 comments)

Interest Rates Are Falling.......Let The Selling Begin!!! - 04:17 PM
Hooooo Eeeeeeee!  If I sound all charged up, it is because I am.  I just got the new Rates for the week from Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), and the 30 Year Fixed Rate has dropped to 5.25% until next Thursday.  That is right, it isn’t a typo, it dropped to 5.25%, and it is a 30 Year Fixed Loan.  CHFA, is the premier mortgage loan in Connecticut for first time homebuyers. It is only available to buyers who have not owned a home in the last three years (with a couple of exceptions).  It is FHA Insured and only requires … (18 comments)

Negative Team Building - 06:08 AM
The other day I read a post here on AR that saddened me. It was posted by an RE Broker who was upset with the performance of his team. That afternoon he was to have meeting with some of his “key players,” and implied that some members should choose to leave.
Okay, that’s business—but, it doesn’t seem to me that AR is an appropriate place, especially since this post was not “For Members Only,” to announce his plans. The implication in the post is that he was going to gather these team members and critique their performance in public, so to … (9 comments)

Identity Theft Awareness Seminar - 09:11 PM
                     
You are invited to an
Identity Theft Awareness Seminar
Thursday, December 14th, 2006 @ 6:30 P.M.
Keller Williams Partners Realty
1801 N. Pine Island Road Suite 210
Plantation, FL  33322
(Corner of Sunrise Blvd. and Pine Island Rd. inside Bank Atlantic Building)
Identity Theft – This white- collar crime continues to plague American consumers, and while it has a direct impact on your wallet, it’s not just about money anymore.
5 Ways you can become a victim
¨       Driver’s License Identity
¨       Medical Identity
¨       Social Security Identity
¨       Character Identity
¨       Financial/Credit Identity
WI4C2TS
Customers: always come first
We at Keller Williams value our customer’s best interest as our first priority always.
… (0 comments)

Great Place to Network!!!!! - 03:32 PM
Hello Everyone.  I just wanted to take some time to say just how great Active Rain is to establish and increase a network of contacts in the local area.  I truely think this is one of the best sites out there.  I am always looking to expand my network of contacts.  Please contact me!!!!  … (3 comments)

Web sites and web marketing - 07:00 PM
I am interested in finding out from Activerain bloggers how they track the effectiveness of their web sites. What software is used and the cost. How do you check how  your site is ranked with the different search engines? Is there a SEO that works well without having to pay a fortune?
Not a huge post but as the winter nights, particularily here in Minnesota, are long and cold,I thought that tuning web sites was a good use of this time.
… (6 comments)

What a response - 09:51 AM
I really kind of forgot about this site since this is the first time back since September.  I is amazing that 10 people aready visited and cheered me on to continue blogging.  It is fun writing stuff for others to read.
 One suggestion was to write about that which I am an expert on.  Well what a thought!  An expert!  I am passionate about single family homes in the Waterloo region and in particular for first time home buyers.  I really should spend more time cultivating the first time home buyer.
 Here is what I find about the first time home buyer.  They … (1 comments)

Complaint accuses Zillow of misleading consumers - 03:07 PM
Complaint accuses Zillow of misleading consumersCompany defends valuation serviceZillow.com has landed in the hot seat over claims that its home-valuation tool is inaccurate.
The National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that promotes equal access to credit and capital for underserved communities, filed a 12-page complaint against Zillow on Wednesday with the Federal Trade Commission.
It says that Zillow's valuation "mechanism is highly inaccurate and misleading to consumers." The complaint seeks immediate action from the FTC to stop Zillow from engaging in activities that it says deceive consumers.
The NCRC also notes -- citing its own audit -- that Zillow is off … (0 comments)

Bubble-proof markets - Seattle is # 3 - 03:23 PM
 
 Income trends and development restrictions have made Seattle one of the top cities safe bets for investors.
Seattle   Average annual home price appreciation (1949-2006)*:   3.2%The newest graduate to join this elite class of super-expensive cities, Seattle is the least likely to hold its place. New zoning laws approved by the city council this year lift restrictions on building heights in the downtown core, and promise to generate $100 million worth of affordable housing.
*National average: 2.3 percent
By Business 2.0
… (3 comments)

Top US 10 cities: Where to buy now and Top US 10 cities: Where not to buy now - 04:17 PM
Top US 10 cities: Where to buy now.
The real estate slump could get worse before it gets better. But these 10 markets offer great opportunities for those who have the patience to buy and hold.
1. Panama City, FL
2. Vero Beach, FL
3. Bridgeport, CT
4. Lakeland, FL
5. McAllen, TX
6. San Luis Obispo, CA
7. Wilmington, NC
8. Manchester, NH
9. Fort Collins, CO
10. Atlanta, GA
 
* Also: Where not to buy.(at least for the next year or so)
These 10 overvalued cities have run their course, and home prices are expected to drop over the next year.
Click on the link: http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/biz2/newrules_wherenot/index.html
By Business 2.0 at CNNmoney.com
 
… (0 comments)

Construction Strong in Pueblo, Colorado - 04:15 PM
New Home Construction in Pueblo West
Construction of new homes continues to be strong in Pueblo and Pueblo West.
2006 - 1,066 single family residence building permits have been issued as of Oct 31
2005 - 1,110 single family residence building permits issued
2004 - 1,099 single family residence building permits issued
Total permits for new residence, townhouse, duplex & manufactured homes 1,161 (2006)
Year to date 588 permits have been issued for Pueblo West
October 2006 - 42 permits were issued for Pueblo West 
… (0 comments)

My high horse, errr house. - 05:10 PM
 
Kristal Kraft wrote a blog today, that got me thinking. (She’s good at that!) Foreclosures...What the Public Perceives. Five days a week or more I sit in a model home. It is a 1524 sq. ft. passive solar home. This house was designed to be completely used and to cut your energy bills. It’s practical, it’s functional, it’s pretty, it’s affordable and it serves a purpose. Our biggest compliant is that The GemStar Passive Solar home is NOT a mini mansion.
When did we as Americans decide that bigger houses are better? That each member of the family had to have … (3 comments)

Welcome to Lulu Strategy!!!! - 09:33 AM
I have to introduce my most fabulous marketing agency, who joined Active Rain today!  If you aren't familiar with them, they are marketing specialists for real estate agents and firms.  They are more innovative and more responsive than any of the others (IMHO) and definitely specialists in branding.  Please take a moment to welcome Erin Wright and visit their website at www.lulustrategy.com.
They designed my team logo, FYI, and here it is.
They also have designed (and they implement) my regular mailings into my database.  We also are in the process of sending out a special piece designed around a new development that … (18 comments)

Vacation Homes for 1/10th the Price - 05:40 AM
Vacation homes now are being sold at 1/10th the price on North Carolina beaches.  I personally have two properties on Ocean Isle Beach which have recently been listed for fractional ownership.  You own 1/10th of the deed and might be able for the second home write off depending on your situation.  These properties are listed at 135,000.00 for 1/10th share, for more information please visit my website www.seameforloans.com or www.firstnorthcarolinamortgages.com.   W. Smith Mill is the listing agent and there website is www.wsmithmill.com, they have survey's and other particular information on fractionals.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks … (2 comments)

Is it fair in this market to give a new agent only 60-90 days to produce? - 06:38 AM
Is it fair in this market to give a new agent only 60-90 days to produce?
I just wonder what is really right or wrong.
I came across an agent I used to work with who is still working with the company I previously was with for 5 1/2 yrs, but I decided to move onto bigger and better things.
So we were talking about the situation she is in as management has changed quiet a bit and she was telling me agent turnover was so high, that this manager they hired is more a figurehead having another agent act as director of sales when the … (41 comments)

CRS DESIGNATIONS - 08:14 AM

I recently decided after 10 yrs in the real estate business to get my CRS designation.
I had already had my brokers license in another state, but since moving to another state, I just kept the assoc title and didn't have much time to go for the brokers license, still might down the road, but not at the moment. I think the CRS might be a good one to get.
I have 2 more units to complete and then "I am finally finished!" Other than the designation just to have it, I hope and already picked up a few things on the education side that might … (5 comments)

Do you brush your teeth or prefer a root canal? - 08:07 PM
Recently I received a panicked call from a listing agent on a transaction I was representing the buyer on, upset about the fact that a lein popped up at the last minute and now her escrow wasnt going to close... I asked her if she had reviewed the preliminary title report?  No she said, that is the title officer's job.  I asked her if she had prepared a net sheet for her seller and gone over any loan balances they may have had and she said "no the seller's know what they owe on the property!"
 
After I got … (3 comments)

Getting more people outside of Active Rain, more Active with the Rain……Active Rain!!! But beware of those that act like a member in our profession, that really are consumers or possibly your client next store. - 11:32 PM
I had a pleasant conversation with Damion Flynn earlier this evening. Talking about his area of expertise, how he likes to invest, running his business, and just talking to people from Active Rain. And he was kind of enough to explain to me about back linking to sites in general and also was helpful in how investors can buy investment properties in his local area.
Then I got to thinking how great it would be not only to help expand Active Rain to new members, but getting the average consumer to actually participate more. Drive them to the Active Rain site. While … (17 comments)

Negotiating Skills for Today's Real Estate Professional..... - 01:51 PM
I went to a four-class today held by our local association.  The instructor pointed out something that I never gave much thought to before.  She stated that if we make ourselves available 24/7 then we are like a major discount store.  The difference is that we are not selling but working for just pennies.  That I had to agree with.  She further mention that our relationship with our family will suffer.  This is true, if we as realtors are not able to set realistic time for our families, then, no matter how good the monies might seem, no matter how good … (0 comments)

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