Archives of real estate blog entries for January 18, 2007 (Page 2)

Blog posts


Figuring Absorption Rate--North Port, Florida - 12:13 PM
 
We often get asked, "which months are your busiest". So I decided to research it and it looks like the most sales take place March-June. I also included a formula for figuring the absorption rate. Looking at the data it doesn't look like the "sky is falling" in North Port. There were 30 more listings sold in 2005 than there were in 2006. Not exactly a gloom and doom market in my opinion. Hope this helps to bring more optimism to buyers and sellers.
# of listings in North Port= 1,630 active listings
# sold last month from Dec1 -Dec 31= 55 listings … (4 comments)

Meme Fest 2007 - 02:09 PM
OK, I guess I was memed by Sharon Simms a few weeks ago so this is long overdue.
1. I have three girls, Coral 14, Willow 9 and Iris 2 years old. I love to spend time with them. Coral is very involved in an ancient Chinese game called GO. Willow is involved in Soccer and Tae Kwon Do and Iris just likes hanging out with me :) I took my real estate exam (and passed) while I was 9 months pregnant. I have been married for 7 years to my wonderful husband, Tony. We got married on my grandmothers birthday, Nov.19, … (19 comments)

The Best Thing since sliced bread! - 03:39 PM
Ok, ok I've been really bad about blogging, commenting, etc on Active Rain for the past few months. I do sneak on every few weeks or so and try to read a few blogs. But to be honest we've been swamped with buyers and sellers and I haven't been very good about participating. I don't know what all this talk about a slow market is because we sure haven't been experiencing it!
Well, a few mornings ago I got an email from Active Rain, this is exactly what it said:
So, we give the guy a call and he's looking at selling … (37 comments)

New book just published: Billion Dollar Agent - 08:45 PM
Everyone.
A new book was just published that I feel is a book everyone that is serious about real estate sales needs to read:  Billion Dollar Agent 
In a nutshell, the author interviewed hundreds of agents throughout the United States and Canada to determine agents that have sold or will sell soon at least $1 billion in real estate in their career.  
The book was introduced at Floyd Fest 2007 in Chicago this past weekend.  I have read about 1/3 the book so far, fabulous book.  Nothing like this has ever been published; the author, Steve Kantor,  interviewed these agents to find out … (7 comments)

Fact or Myth? Salespeople can't say NO to Salespeople... - 08:10 PM
Unfortunately, I just realized something that gets me really upset.  I am an above average Realtor, with a track record to be proud of, since my "Rookie of the Year - 1998".  However, I have a hard time not falling for a sales pitch (even the bad ones).  Someone mentioned to me, maybe to make me feel good, that salespeople are usually the easiest clients to work with.  I understand the point, but I don't like it.  The main thing is: I cannot say "NO".  I'll buy anything offered because I can't say no, at all.  Sometimes I need to mumble some … (2 comments)

If you can't win... enjoy the bumpy ride! - 08:12 PM
I remember going to a very funny play where a guy in the first row was talking all the time. The main actor probably felt offended by his disrespect for the professionals on stage and picked on this guy, by including him in a few jokes. We all loved it, but after the show the guy left the theater complaining. I remember thinking that even though he would bad mouth the actor forever, the actor actually had the last laugh. The gentleman kept quiet (and embarrassed) the rest of the show and we had a wonderful time.
In sales, as in … (0 comments)

Interacting with clients after the sale (or the show...) - 08:16 PM
I love the theater.  That's why I wrote a book examining Sales with the Broadway point of view.  I do believe we are all actors (some very good ones, hopefully).  We can learn a lot from the acting industry.
For example, when the curtains close, the audience wants to see the actors, shake hands, get autographs, and show their appreciation as fans. Let them!  As Realtors, being accessible after the closing creates loyalty, admiration and respect.
Studies show that acquiring a new customer costs 7 to 10 times more than selling to existing customers. Why would any business or salesperson not want to … (1 comments)

Point Clarification, Please - 05:24 AM
The "rules" have, for some time, been that you don't get ActiveRain points for more than 10 blogs in a week, and I assume that posting listings, which don't get points because they're advertising, don't count toward this total.
I also thought that THE WEEK at ActiveRain went from Sunday through Saturday.
When checking my points I saw that a few of my blogs from last week received 0 points with the comments that over 10 blogs a week get no points. Since my calculations show that I didn't have 10 blog posts last week, Jan 7-13, I'm wondering why this happened.
Has THE … (7 comments)

Florida Heat Wave - St Pete and Pinellas County - 07:22 PM
We've had warm weather while the rest of the country freezes. The headlines this morning led to a story commenting that this was the warmest stretch of warm winter weather that we've had in 73 years! Really strange weather all over the country.
San Antonio was pleasant last week, and now the Riverwalk is frozen over and the Alamo closed down. People all over are without power.
Many people are changing their vacation plans and heading to Florida - just be sure you don't fly through Denver or even Dallas.  You may only get part way. 
Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in … (2 comments)

Silver Spring, Md Oakview Pool Celebrates 50 Years! and First Community Pool in Montgomery County - 04:20 PM
                                                                                                                                                          The Oakview Pool was the first Community Neighborhood Swimming Pool in Mongomery County.  The  Pool opened in 1957. The pool was built and is still owned by the Oakview Recreation Corporation, a group of Oakview Residents.Oakview Pool is home to the OAKVIEW OCTOPI a very active swim team that competes with other swim teams in Mongomery County.  This year, they mark their 50th Aniversary.  Along with their regularly scheduled Annual Community Day in early June, the Oakview Pool is planning a Big 50th Aniversary Event for Pool Members. In honor of their 50th year the Recreation Corporation is putting together a scrap … (1 comments)

Are You Using A Virtual Assistant Yet? - 12:44 PM

Hopefully, you use a VA (Virtual Assistant)  to help you get to the top!  If not, perhaps this post, taken from my online newsletter (www.CyberStars.net) will help you see that a VA is crucial to your success….so that you can “do the little things that the winners do”! 
By now, you know what a Virtual Assistant is: someone who does specific real estate tasks for you and, probably, for other agents.  The VA is usually not in your office or even in your area (I am in Virginia, my VA is in Texas) yet can take care of the “little things” … (32 comments)

Is your blog a real estate blog or a place blog? - 04:54 AM

Bloggers: If you have another blog is your blog a real estate blog or a place blog? Or both?
What's a place blog? What is the difference in a real estate blog and a place blog? Is every real estate blog with a name of a city a placeblog?  
"-It's about the lived experience of a place." is a quote Sellsius Blog used from PlaceBlogger.com 
In Place Blog Aggregation Next Big Thing - Sellsius° Blog wrote: "Teresa Boardman, Maureen McCabe & Brad Nixwere the first placebloggers we met. If you want to know anything about St. Paul, Columbus or Atlanta, you are likely to … (16 comments)

Two Lots Available in Woodridge - 05:25 AM
… (1 comments)

Ever Seen a Water Dragon? - 11:27 AM
It may be the wrong time of year to be bringing this up, but I wanted to hit on it while it was on my mind.  There's a great little park hidden away in Milton that you really should try out if you live in the area.  It's called April Dawn Park and is located at the corner of Mason and Smith Streets.  Nestled among historic homes, it boasts a great "water dragon" play area for kids.  I have "tested" this park with my own kids we rated it LOADS of fun!  The dragon has stairs and a slide at the … (2 comments)

Someone, Please, Explain the Benefits of Range Pricing - 12:37 PM
Lots of folks are talking about it around the country.  It is a method of pricing homes in a range.   For example, putting a house on the market for $1,000,000 to $1,100,000.  I understand that it is common practice in some places (San Diego, California being one).  But, the MLS where I am, Marin County, California, doesn't accommodate it.  And even if it did, I am not sure I would do it. 
That's where you come in-I know there's lots of knowledge out there.  So, someone, please, explain the benefits of range pricing?  And beyond that, how do you convince a … (3 comments)

In the news today - 06:49 PM
Jerry Seinfeld has to cough up about $100,000 to his realtor.  He and his wife had a Real Estate (buyer's) agent working on their behalf.  They went to look at a property on her day off (to observe the Sabbath).  They purchased the house.  However, they did not include their agent in the transaction.  Therefore, she lost a big commission check. 
She took them to court.
The judge agreed and now he has to pay her commission of almost $100,000.
Being in this industry, I am glad to see it happen (sorry Jerry).  We work hard for customers without getting paid until … (17 comments)

Where Is Ridgewood Park? - 11:29 AM
This is a neighborhood I mention quite a bit as being a sleeper of a neighborhood. It is small and relatively unknown by most Tampa residents. Most people recognize the names of its neighbors, Tampa Heights and Riverside Heights, but many, if not most, have not heard of Ridgewood Park. If you’ve ever been to Rick’s On The River, just look across the river to Ridgewood Park.

Map Courtesy of Hillsborough Community Atlas
Ridgewood Park is comprised of 83 acres of land adjacent to the Hillsborough River, due north of the University of Tampa and Blake High School. Its … (2 comments)

Follow up on the NEW ARRIVALS - 12:07 PM
For those of you who have been following our new puppies, here is a shot of three of them after nearly four weeks of life.
As you can see, they are coming along great.  Looks like most will have the blue eyes of the breed, and to be perfectly honest; wish we had the room cuz I would keep them all.
Have a great day!
Gary Nelson
… (5 comments)

7 Simple Tips For Baltimore First Time Home Buyers - 02:15 AM

Buying your first home in Baltimore is a huge step that comes with a number of very severe decisions. Countless Baltimore home buyers are frightened by the process, and keep on renting a lot longer than they should, or need to. On the other hand, if you split the home buying process down into these simple steps, and follow these vital tips, you will find the course of action less threatening, and much more manageable.
1) Before you start on looking for a home, pose yourself One Question
How long will you reside in your next Baltimore home? For at least … (1 comments)

Negatives are not Always Negatives... - 01:15 PM
 I have been in so many homes that I'm shocked at what people do to their homes !!  The way people decorate their homes amazes me.  I sometimes wonder how people can actually live in the home day-to-day.  I could see that the homeowners were trying to accomplish a look and it just wasn't happening...Most of the time it's over-kill....
Yesterday I was with my First Time Home Buyers during the Home Inspection.  While the Inspector was doing his thing my Buyer asked my thoughts on the master bathroom...My Buyer said she is planning on stripping all the stain off the double … (10 comments)

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