Technology Tracking: They Know Where You Are! - 07:26 AM
An interesting article in our Washington Post yesterday about the impact of technology and tracking in our lives. It features a local real estate agent whose "life is tracked through the gadgets she uses leaving digital breadcrumbs of her whereabouts for others to see."
You can find it at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/15/AR2007011501304.html
I remember when tne awareness of this digital tracking first hit me. I used my card at an ATM in Lyon, France, and immediately thought: the credit card company knew exactly where I was!
I love the technology as it relates to us giving better service to customers and clients, getting more done in … (1 comments)
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Starting As A New Agent....And Succeeding! - 03:42 PM
So many agents start out in this business, working hard, yet find only frustration. If this sounds familiar, read this secret of success from Linda DeVlieg of Coldwell Banker Legacy, Albuquerque, NM. Linda is one of my CyberStars(r) (www.CyberStars.net), and she exemplifies the qualities of the agent who succeeds wildly in today's changed world of real estate sales and marketingl.
Linda sent me this story awhile ago. Since then, she has had unparalled success, and I thought you might pick up a tip or two from her experience as a new agent.
“When I first started in real estate, I found myself … (4 comments)
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Mortgage Fraud Pop-Quiz - 09:33 AM
We did this before and it was great fun. And we all learned from it so I thought I would do it again. Select the best possible answer for the following statements or questions:
1. The ad reads, "Get Paid For Your Good Credit! Investor with massive assets needs to purchase 1000 homes in 30 days. All you need is a middle credit score of 680 or higher, ability to document your income and assets, and I will pay you $20,000 for each deal."(A) As long as the person with the good credit knows about the deal there is nothing wrong with … (1 comments)
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Some Free Web and Software Tools and Resources I Use Often - 10:49 AM
I keep a list of tools that I use very often in my business. I work from several locations so some of these are quite valuable to me and may be to you as well.
Instead of spending $50 or more on software to create PDF files when they only need to be read and not edited I use CutePDF. It installs like a printer and when you select PRINT from your menu on whatever application you are using such as Word, Excell, Internet, it will print that document into a PDF:
CutePDF Writer (Freeware) Create professional quality PDF files from almost any … (0 comments)
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Investor Financing News - 12:23 PM
I really do not know how to spell it but here is a picture. Most likely it would be spelled "shoo" or "phyew" but it is that sound you make when you just came through a strenuous time. That is how I feel as an investment lender.
Just a few years ago you had to have a credit score of 720, 6 months of reserves for ALL of your debt, full doc income AND twenty percent down to buy an investment property. From about 18 months ago until last month you could get 100% financing with NO documentation and a 620 middle … (0 comments)
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Real Estate Investor QuickStart Workshop - 12:33 PM
Okay - most of the smoke has cleared. The wildfire investor is out of play and you and I can get back to serious, honest, real estate investing. Whether you are a seasoned investor or you are just thinking about investing in real estate you should attend this small audience workshop. The next 2 are already booked but if enough people show interest I will add more times.
There are several workshops and seminars from which to choose but this one is, write this down so you don't forget, free to attend.
NO COST TO YOU
Real Estate Investor QuickStart Workshop
Tuesday, January 23rd, … (0 comments)
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Listing Appointments Are Like First Dates - Top Questions To Ask - 06:27 PM
In a recent sales meeting my manager was comparing a listing presentation to a first date. All the agents were asked to come up with questions we would ask on a first date to find out about the person and then we had to come up with questions to ask a seller on the first date.
I agreed with most of what he said until he said "people who sit home never get dates - it's the same with listings". I had to point out that was before the Internet. He's been married for a long time. As all of us … (54 comments)
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Who was the first to Welcome you to Active Rain? - 11:14 AM
Dustin's Active Rain blog entry about his Rain City Guide interview of Kristal Kraft is getting lots of comments from Active Rainers (on RCG!!! see Dustin's note about points... he's doubling points and they can be redeemed at Starbucks*) include Craigs:
10. Craig Schiller - January 17, 2007 "Great work... by both Dustin and Kristal.
Kristal was the first person to ever comment on my Active Rain blog. In that comment she welcomed me. That "welcome" really made me see what was possible in blogging... connecting to an audience. So for that I am grateful to Kristal.
Since then Kristal has been … (12 comments)
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Coldwell Banker's Contribution to Habitat House - 10:06 AM
In December, 2006, Coldwell Banker Advantage Real Estate was proud to contribute to Habitat For Humanity. Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha and Putnam Counties provides decent, affordable housing by working with people in need. Volunteers provide labor and many materials to make the dream of home ownership come true. As REALTORS, we know what an important step it is to own a home! Helping a deserving family to own their own home is a gift in itself. Below you can see pictures of some of our agents providing "sweat equity" to this worthy cause.
… (4 comments)
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1829 Sylvan Ct, Tallahassee, Florida - 02:13 PM
$97,000, townhouse with ceramic tile floor in main living area, carpet in the two bedrooms, ceiling fans throughout, privacy back with patio fence and wooded area. Close to mall, shopping, universities, on a quiet street. … (1 comments)
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Do you know anyone wanting housing in Tallahassee, Florida? - 09:14 PM
Kenneth Fach is trained to offer online marketing services to sellers, and systematic followup with property notifications to buyers. Kenneth inputs market statistics and contact information for prospects, buyers and sellers into his excel database. Kenneth believes in the functionality of excel. See Kenneth for real estate questions about Tallahassee, Florida. Kenneth will follow the Keller Williams belief system of WI4C2ts in all his real estate work.
… (0 comments)
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Bank REOs - 01:17 AM
Banks repeatedly exhibit the real estate owned (REO) homes at bargain prices. Depending on the bank’s resale policy, circumstances of the foreclosure house, and available financing, foreclosure opportunities fluctuate widely.
Many banks let home buyers borrow on their foreclosures at the same time as other banks just want out.
Great financing bargains become possible in the course of the banks who offer in-house terms. Apply for for no point’s loans, bare minimum loan costs, and no prepayment penalties. Make sure with your local lending institutions and find out how they sell their foreclosures. Quite a lot of of these … (0 comments)
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WELCOME TO REAL ESTATE AT LAKE LINGANORE IN FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND - 07:15 PM
LAKE LINGANORE - NEW MARKET - FREDERICK COUNTY - MARYLAND So close to the urban areas of historic Frederick, Maryland and New Market which is one of the popular tourist destination in Maryland, Lake Linganore is a taste of rustic outdoors, hillside chalets, lake front homes and wooded home sites and an atmosphere of wooded quiet. Real estate at Lake Linganore and New Market appeal to home owners who love the rustic atmosphere and convenient location just minutes to Frederick and 30-45 minutes to major employment locations in Montgomery County and Baltimore. New Market is near the Frederick MARC Train for … (1 comments)
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MLS System Changing - 05:56 PM
As of January 15th, the MLS system has changed the Realtor's access to the MLS. Tokens have been distributed to the paying members of the MLS system that are in good standing. The old way of getting into the MLS system was through a user name and password. Apparently there have been those that have shared their identifying information with other non-paying agents, clients and even sold their identity or the information to others.
Since we deal with critical privileged client information that needs to be protected, the MLS system has devised a "two factor" authentication log in system. Each Realtor … (70 comments)
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Interview with Real estate Agents on Market Conditions in There Region - 01:04 PM
I will be interviewing some of the real estate professionals across the country on my TalkShoe Internet program - Mortgage and Real Estate News.
As part of the interview you will advertise yourself. This is an excellent opportunity to get additional exposure.
The shows are 30 min long.
These interviews will be submitted to all podcast sites for internet exposure.
If interested please send me an email with your contact information and i will schedule you for your interview. This shows can be scheduled during the week as well as the weekends, so let me know what works for you.
PS If you would … (2 comments)
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Interview with Real estate Agents on Market Conditions in There Region-Update - 02:49 PM
FYI - Just to be clear, these Interviews will be conducted via conference call, or you can set up an access code and be "live" on the air (internet) during the interview.
You will also be able to send out invitations to your prospects letting them know what time you will be on the air and they can join the call "live" or listen to the interview at a later time. They can also call in and ask questions during the interview or text there messages so you can answer there questions.
It can be an interactive broadcast.
You can also … (2 comments)
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Grants aren't just for 1st Time Homebuyers - 02:14 PM
We see the programs out there for first time homebuyers. While they are good, there is so much more out there. I have worked with a realtor now for 10 years. His theory is that if there is something out there for free then we should be taking advantage of it. Grants are one of those things we don't take advantage of often enough. Let me tell you about one program that works for everyone:
THE GRANT
You go into the website and tell them how much you need for closing costs. Now you want to make sure it does not exceed 6% … (4 comments)
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Dated Kitchen made New!! Or was it?? - 06:30 AM
Okay everyone, now that I found my new TOY.....entering pics on blogs, I can go back to a blog I wrote about awhile ago...What's A Stager to Do..I think that was the one..
If I remember correctly this blog caused a lot of controversy because while the kitchen was definitely made to look a heck of a lot better (pics look too light for some reason, anyone know how to edit that?? CRAIG?) a buyer said the dishwasher was old. It is, it works and matches the other appliances. Does everyone remember that one??
Okay, notice that the clients snuck in their Mickey … (12 comments)
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What's Happening at Bloodhound Blog - 11:22 AM
Here are some of the top stories from BloodHound Blog (links open in a new window):
Technorati claims that Bloodhound Blog has "a lot of authority":
A lot of work, a lot of posts, a lot of linking, a lot of links back: A lot of authority . . .
Greg Swann posts his article from the Arizona Republic that discusses the explosion of blogging in the real estate community. This is a must read for all Realtors:
Blogs can help Realtors connect with communities
Greg Swann posts a short but great post about HUGE builder concessions to Realtors- lively discussion
Thank Heavens the Seller Pays … (5 comments)
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Local News Interview~What would you do? - 04:54 PM
Ok, I need the opinions and feedback from my friends and associates on Active Rain. I was contacted by the local news station to do a story, explaining the increase year over in Foreclosures increasing. With that said, a few things came to mind....
1.) The media in general is trying to put a large negative spin on the topic.
2.) The NAR is dumping large amounts of marketing money into curbing the negative media.
3.) I know how I would answer the topic, but would it be counterproductive?
4.) I appreciate being seen as the "go to" person and recognized as an expert in … (6 comments)
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