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"Why buy the cow if you are getting the milk free?" Have you noticed you are getting less buyer calls in the last few years requesting your services as a buyers agents. It is not IDX nor is it the changing real estate markets! Have you noticed your buyer showings have reduced greatly, and even though you are showing the buyers what they want...they are not committing to work with you, and there is a reluctance to sign buyer agency agreements? Why is that? 
I had to write this post to not only thank Jeff Turner for recommending such a great camera, but to show you hands on what this little camera is capable of. Just in case some of you don't know, Jeff is the president of Real Estate Shows (a great tool to showcase your listings to your customers and on your websites - take a look at a show I did to test his product).
How would you like to know when the real estate market has hit the bottom and prices can be expected to appreciate again? Wouldn't that knowledge be worth a great deal? Well, believe it or not, I can tell you when that will happen. And if you want, I will share my knowledge with you.
The way the real estate market has slowed, you would think lenders would be just waiting to pounce on and approve next loan that comes through. You’d think our “turn times” would be faster for underwriting, drawing loan docs, funding and recording. You’d think loans should virtually fly through the approval process. You’d think all that, and yet you’d be wrong.
I recently wrote a post called "Preach, Preacher!" In the post, listed an action plan for my blog, my goals, and how I intended to reach them. Plus, I added a little rhetoric, just for fun. But now, the more I think about it, the more I feel like I can expand upon that theme. Here's my second offering.
Have you ever received a backhanded compliment and wondered how to respond? You're not sure whether to say thank you or bug off. Well, in the Blogosphere, Hijacking a Blog Post is rapidly becoming an issue that every Blogger must be aware of. When search engine results for Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate Agents began to consistently rank my Blog on the first page, some of my Blog Posts were hijacked! In it's most benign form, hijacking can be construed to be the on-line version of a back handed compliment. In it's malignant form, it is just plain THEFT. As a … (48 comments)
A lot of the times you'll see an article online or a press release that catches your eye. The temptation is to post it as is into your own blog. However doing so adds little to a readers understanding of you and what you do, in as much it does little to help you, or your readers. Darren Rowse has an interesting post to today on ProBlogger about adding value to the blog conversation. Darren describes blogging as sort of an "echo chamber." I like the analogy, but what I realy like is how he goes into is how to add … (21 comments)
As technology advances our world gets smaller. With these advancements comes the opportunity for indivual service providers to place a great number of stakes in the virtual plane of cyberspace. 
After reading this post you are going to wonder how I ever became an Interior Designer but I did. They say that people become what they need in this life and I am no exception! 
This question applies to some, not all, of the condo conversions I have seen here in the New Tampa area. The seller, in an attempt to cater to investment buyers, positions a deal something like this:
IT ISN'T NECESSARY TO HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THE COLD CALLER. THE decision to practice PUSH advertising leaves the PUSHER vulnerable to having the person you called hang up on you. Sometimes it's the only way to stop the conversation. The COLD CALLER interrupts your schedule, keeps talking and when you say "good-by" and hang up the phone, they accuse you of hanging up on them. We're not hanging up. We're simply ending the conversation. The rudeness isn't on the part of the person ENDING the conversation. The rude behavior is from the person COLD CALLING you to sell you something. 
Ever seen 20 condo developments marketed to you in less than 5 minutes…and for a good cause - to help the homeless! Well watch the Condo Run…because its exactly what we did. 
Well, you may think we are wierd but we still work in the cold around here.
Today, a loan officer that I was training had the phone slammed in her ear by at least a couple dozen Realtors. A few more pretended to listen with a bunch of "uh-huh's" and "yeah's" and one-- only one-- was kind to my new loan officer. She told my new recruit that she could drop off some cards at her office. The loan officer we are speaking of was cold-calling Realtors, hoping to find one that does not work with a loan officer regularly. She was offering something of value, at nobody's cost, but maybe a little time. My employee was articulate and I … (51 comments)
Recently I've been thinking about the Internet and how fascinating it really is. We live in such an "information now" society. Everything we want to know and need to know is right there at our fingertips.... LITERALLY! 
Yesterday I received an email from a friend of mine that had a movie attached called 212* - The Extra Degree. My friend knows I love to read (or watch) things that help to motivate and inspire me and thought I'd really like this short movie. He was right. This was a great movie that talks about the difference in being good and being great. Many times people are so close to becoming great, but don’t make that last extra effort to push them over the top.
I am just going to put my thoughts out on this one and I would like some opinions of your take on the situation.
Blogging makes the world my neighbor, Localism takes my neighborhood to the world!
Localism and Active Rain are an investment in time. No one could possibly contest that...but what HUGE benefits that time can reap!!! When you are blogging you are actually doing two things. The first is building bonds with the community. As you blog you are in a position to connect with more people than you ever have before! In writing blogs you can go to area restaurants and ask them to take pictures inside the restaurant to post on the internet. Tell them that you are writing an internet article and ask them to visit it. This will increase your visibility. I … (15 comments)
The saying "People hate being sold, but love to buy" seems to be a very true one in my experience as a real estate professional. I'd love to find out how everyone else sells, because I am a soft seller and don't usually put any direct pressure on my clients to buy. Why? Because when I sell a client on something, they have lost control and no one likes to loose control. What happens when THEY buy? They have control! A good sales person knows how to let the buyer buy and seller sell by bringing out basic desires to get the property sold and still … (19 comments)
Real Estate Happy Days are Here Again! By John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR Real Estate, Hemet CA I recently received an email with an article that I found a fascinating read. It turns out that the article only gave credit to the author - but not letting me know where it was originally published. I did a quick Google Search and found the author - but not his article to link to 
As the number of borrowers falling behind on their mortgage payments climbs to the highest level in five years, the number of "short sales" is increasing.
Avondale Sales for the 10 days prior to February 21, 2007
I'm writing this post today to try and help sellers understand that they aren't really paying the buyer's closing costs. In my market, Poinciana, Fl. It is very common for the buyer to request that the seller contribute towards their closing costs. In fact, the last 15 or so deals that I have closed, were all 100% financing with the seller contributing 3% or 6% towards buyer's closing costs. It's just the nature of my market. Now that it's a strong buyers market we have to take these offers seriously or we may not be able to sell the property. 
Okay Guys,
These Scam Artists were BUSTED!by Kaushik Sirkar, Chandler REALTOR®Chandler AZ Real Estate
A few weeks ago I was on the phone with fellow AR member Jeff Belonger when my other line beeped in. Low and behold it was a "buyer/ investor" who had found my profile on AR and was looking for a Realtor in the Wildwoods. I quickly ended the phone call with Jeff (not before sharing the good news) and gathered their information.
WE are BACK STRONGER THAN EVER!!
Today we're taking a Virtual Day Trip to Tamarack at Beckley, West Virginia. Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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