Archives of real estate blog entries for February 4, 2007

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WHY Is It SO HARD to Succeed In Real Estate??? - 11:22 AM
Lately I've heard from several people that they think they'd like to become a real estate agent.  After I talk to them about it for a few minutes, I hear about the two week licensing class and flexible schedule, plus looking at the pretty houses -- it's a simplified version of the job and probably a view I had myself!  
The truth is that there is a roughly 80% failure rate for new agents.  Licensing classes don't tell you about fees and start up costs, which will be surprising if no one has warned you.  In fact your licensing class won't teach how to do … (60 comments)

Creative Offers? Seller Holds a 2nd and forgives debt if prices drop? - 11:16 AM
I'd like to talk about creative offers in this down market. What is legal and what isn't. 
I'm working with a buyer that is very concerned about prices dropping in the area. I can't blame him, and I'm not the type that is going to tell him that it won't go down. Or sell him the Realtor lemonade that brainwashes the public into thinking that the market can never go down. Even when it is down, it can always go further.
Anyhow, I recently helped somebody ratify a contract on a new construction being completed next year. I tried talking him out of … (30 comments)

Thinking Like A Hard Money Lender: Let's Play a Game ! - 11:20 AM
I am about to fund a loan for the purchase of a mixed-use property.  The borrower is solid but the property is very unusual.  It has a dupex and a non-conforming exempt tavern/convenience store with detached 1200 sq. ft. garage.
INCOME:
The tavern and duplex are going to need improvements and the garage will need to be cleaned up a bit.  Currently, the property receives income of $750/unit each for the duplex, and $400/month for rent for a billboard.   The tavern has a liquor license and should net $5,000/month when renovated.  The garage can be turned into a tack/feed store and should … (35 comments)

Dear Abby - 11:28 PM
I asked Dear Abby for help several times in posts on Active Rain.  She was just not there for me.  So now I am on a mission.  I hear the problems and complaints of my fellow rainers and would like to appoint my self as the Dear Abby substitute.
I have previous experience.  For several years I acted as an employee advocate in a large, mindless money grubbing, heartless, greedy corporation.  I listened to peoples problems all day long and provided solutions.  Most of the time they solved their own problems but thought that I did.  Which was nice because I got to keep … (64 comments)

A REPORT ON THE FOX SUNDAY MORNING SHOW ABOUT WHY YOU DON'T NEED A REALTOR TO SELL A HOME - 11:12 AM
INTERVIEW ON FOX NEWS SUNDAY (CABLE) TURNS INTO A COMMERCIAL FOR THE INTERVIEWEE 
9:05 a.m. Sunday, February 4, 2007
WANT TO GET LENN FIRED UP??  JUST SUGGEST THAT MY SERVICES HAVE NO VALUE TO CONSUMERS.  Yes, this is a RANT. 
Something just caught my attention on TV.  I'm going through my morning e-mail and heard on the TV,  "Stay tuned, we're going to show you how you can sell your home without a REALTOR.  You don't need one."This is being written "AS THEY SPEAK", so to speak.  So, necessarily, I missed a lot.  But, the slant of the interview was definitely PRO FSBO.  THE CAST:FSBO:  Colby Sombrotto:  … (56 comments)


Blog posts


Nothing Endures but Change. - 12:30 AM
It's been 12 days since I as much as looked at ActiveRain. Change and more change. Jonathan Washburn has rejoined ActiveRain and de-activated his status as President of Brio Realty. When I joined Brio Realty just about a year ago, he was the broker of record. His lively mind was much the reason why I signed on. When he relinquished the broker position I applauded (quietly) because that role is neither his strength nor love.
The man he hired as broker, Patrick Flynn, enjoys the role. Pat likes sharing what he knows; he's a good teacher. Jonathan likes leaving the small things … (5 comments)

Valentines Day...Did you Remember? - 03:23 PM
 Did you know according to NAR statistics 2005 44% of buyers and seller's come from our sphere of influence.  It makes sense to me to spend a portion of my marketing dollars on them.
 Valentine-Noun
 A sentimental or humorous greeting card to a sweetheart, friend, or family member Saint Valentine's Day
  A gift sent as a token of love to one's sweetheart on Saint Valentine's Day
  A person singled out especially as one's sweetheart on Saint Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is the perfect time to let someone know just how much you really care.  In our business, we encounter people going through … (3 comments)

CRS Sell-a-bration Day Three - 12:08 PM

It is getting near time to go to dinner and "fun night."  They are going to have another dance contest this year, which would be fun if I had a partner.
Today I attended a sessions on Regaining Control of Your Time--and Life and Marketing Strategies for a Down Market.  One thing I got out of this second session is that the Realtor needs to educate their client that in the changing market, there are many more homes on the market and they are taking longer to sell so the seller needs to make sure the home is in the best condition … (3 comments)

Ardell, Ardell, Ardell - 01:04 PM

I logged onto ActiveRain this morning and I  see that Ardell DellaLoggia has written one of the funniest blogs I have read yet A Funny Thing Happened to me in Active Rain --and it was about me.  She was saying that she didn't want to pass me up because I was "so nice."  She even mentioned that I was a "Saint."  Well that may be pushing it just a tad (white isn't my best color).  Ms. DellaLoggia mentioned that she was thinking of going back to Kirkland--sounds like she was in a western and "run out of town."  And look … (3 comments)

Tips for Newbies and Old Codgers - 01:48 PM
 
 
Dan Weis had a good post: Do You Drag, Roll or JUMP Out of Bed In The Morning?  He wrote “I challenge you to re-evaluate where you are today, where you want to be 5 years from now and decide to take action!   Write your personal WHY card and begin reading it out loud every day: for 7 minutes when you wake up and for 7 minutes before you go to sleep.” I would also like to suggest (if you are not already doing this) start using affirmations.  Because our subconscious mind does not know the difference between fact and fiction, … (0 comments)

Business Card Ettiquette - 02:38 PM
 
I have a question about handing out business cards when you are with other agents.  As I have mentioned in several of my latest posts, I have been at a real estate conference (CRS Sell-a-bration).  One of the reasons for the conference is to network with other agents across the country.  So there is a great deal of handing business cards back and forth.
At the check out desk at the hotel I was speaking with a couple in the next line asking where they were from (San Francisco and no they were not from the real estate conference) and making … (2 comments)

Residences at the InterContinental Hotel - 06:22 AM
… (0 comments)

Snow in Hot Springs - 08:04 AM
Every winter, we are always anxiously waiting for a beautiful snow day in Hot Springs . . . and it finally came this year.  The ground was covered with about an inch of snow and then quickly melted by noon the next day.  Oh well, it was pretty while it lasted.
 
… (1 comments)

Another Newbie Question - or What Are You Talking About? - 10:38 AM
Another Newbie Question - or What Are You Talking About?by John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTORREAL ESTATE, HEMET CA
Yesterday, I answered a "Newbie's" question in a comment and turned it into a post for other new members of ActiveRain to grasp.  The ‘newbie', Michael Hall wanted to know what type of results and success stories we are experiencing here in the Rain
Today, I am reading thought the recent posts of my associates and I come across a question from Eloise Gift of Albuquerque NM - and she wants to know how long she can hang on to her "Newbie Status".
Take a look … (4 comments)

At Home With Diversity - 01:37 PM
Darryl King, GRI REALTOR®, is proud to announce that he has achieved the At Home With Diversity Certificate in December of 2006.
Attaining the AHWD certificate just makes good business sense. With minority buying power in America at over $ 1 trillion and minorities accounting for 40% of first-time homebuyers, it is good business for REALTORS® to develop the skills to reach the growing multicultural market of prospective homeowners. As the 2000 U.S. Census has reported, America is more culturally diverse than at any other time in the nation's history. This diversity is now considered to be one of the country's greatest assets. … (0 comments)

Prediction- The underdogs win it. - 01:25 PM
All I have heard this last week or so is how the Colts are going to dominate the Bears. For me, it's about being consistent and I think the Bears are poised for a huge upset.  Why? Well, for starters, the Bears have been hot all season, the Colts have been up and down, 2) I am not a fan of Peyton Manning. He is a great talent but he gets a pass on just about everything including dogging his own teammates and have you ever seen him in an interview? Horrible! I know, my reasons may seem a bit on … (2 comments)

Point 2 Agent - Standard vs. Professional vs. Premium options - 01:32 AM
I started responding to Jaclyn Erwins post about the value of upgrading to Professional or Premium websites with Point 2 Agent!
First - I don't think there is a better deal for real estate agents than the "Free" standard Point 2 Agent websites.  I personally think the standard sites from Point2 exceed many of the other vendors $300 to $1000 options!  Why? Start with my belief that everything that I try and do in real estate is driven by three goals - Get Listings, Sell Listings, and find Buyers.
So my answer to why starts with the Listing functionality of the Point2 handshake … (63 comments)

Juno Beach Florida - A Showcase Tour - 06:34 PM

Welcome to Juno Beach Florida.  I was invited to participate in a contest on Localism that ends in Monday 2/5.  The contest created a reason to evaluate a Virtual Tour provider that I had not used before.  First impressions of www.RealEstateShows.com were very good.  The product was easy to use and provides for selections in music, zooming method for the photos and text positioning and color.  I will have to create a show with the same images to compare the presentation fairly.  The product is one of the best priced Virtual Tour solutions on the market.
Click here to learn more about … (2 comments)

Dinner at the Crab House in Jupiter - 08:15 PM
Tonight my wife, Ruth and I were the guests of our Grandaughter, Chris, at the CrabHouse in Jupiter. I Was struck by how few people were out on this cool, rainy Superbowl night.  The food was excelent as usual, but there were only about 10 or 15 other people and there were almost that many employees.  If you want to see what all the Crab House is about it is www.CraabHouseSeafood.com and they are all over the country.
 The rain tonight was more like an Alaska drizzle than a Florida thunder storm.  Just a steady mist with a few larger droplets.  We … (0 comments)

Are you a Type E? - 09:51 PM

 
Today, I ask all of you Type E's are you feeling a little out of control or out of balance?  If so, take the advice that I got earlier this week -- exercise, eat and get rest...  Margaret Rome gently reminded me earlier this week that I have been neglecting myself.  "When did you last eat, sleep or exercise?" was all she asked, when I said I don't know -- she said "well you have your answer".  
I was nearly over the edge and in tears from the stress of getting a 6 bedroom 4.5 bath house with Media Room, Game Room, … (11 comments)

Save the Clutter, Save the World! - 11:20 AM
We've all run into the situation with a listing that is in serious need of decluttering.  One problem is that the seller doesn't want to just "throw away" their precious "stuff" - to them it IS precious.  Well, there's a solution to that that recognizes both the need for the "stuff" to move on, and that it has value - to them or to someone else.
That solution is Freecycle.  If you're not familiar with it, Freecycle was created some years ago by a man who saw the need for a way to keep things out of the landfill - things … (13 comments)

Lose the attitude and do the job! - 09:25 AM
Anyone who reads articles of mine knows I am a big proponent of the VA and FHA Loan Programs. Just like many others, if I believe in something, I (somewhat) blindly defend it when someone complains about it. I managed to become embroiled in one of these conversations recently, and ended up jumping fence mid-stride and agreeing with my conversational opponent concerning the often unbelievable arrogance of VA appraisers.
Who do these people think they are?
Here's the story. Joe and Brunhilda Homebuyer want to use their VA eligibility to purchase their first home. Uncle Sam says it's okay. The seller says … (21 comments)

BLOG...Nope It's Not a Word!! - 11:38 PM
 
Blog NOT a word! How can this be? What are we all doing on Active Rain? Gee, I thought we were Bloggers who were Blogging and writing Blogs!
          
Did you know that Blogging is not a word?     Boggle is a word!  
While I am typing  the word "blog" right this minute, there is that squiggly red line under the word "blog" which we all know  is  saying there is no such word!  
There is a list of suggestions including, bogging and flogging and logging and clogging and slogging, but absolutely NO BLOGGING.
Now we were all really excited when Active Rain announced that we have a spell check.
 We have … (16 comments)

One day at a time... - 07:02 PM
Florida Sunshine State
Nothing is worth more than this day.- Anonymous
After some terrible storms and loss of life it is just a reminder of how precious each day is and what we all have.  Many people north of Orlando in Deltona and Lady Lake lost everything, some are still without power and some paid an ultimate price.
  Once again some of the worst damage was done in Mobile home parks. 
We enjoy our sunshine and tax free state
Live today as tomorro does not yet belong to us.
… (0 comments)

Interest Rates a Week in Advance - 07:04 PM
WEEK IN ADVANCE   A light economic calendar next week yields little in the way of market moving data or events. The Treasury's $38 billion quarterly refunding will probably have the most impact. With little to go on, it looks like the financial markets will continue to enjoy the Goldilocks scenario of steady rates, moderate economic expansion and easing inflation. 
Key Interest Rates  Latest  6 Mos Ago  1 Yr Ago  Prime Rate  8.25%  8.25%  7.32%  Fed Discount  6.25%  6.25%  5.32%  Fed Funds  5.25%  5.27%  4.44%  11th District COF  4.396%  4.090%  3.296%  10-Year Note  4.82%  4.96%  4.55%  30-Year Treasury Bond  4.92%  5.05%  4.63%  … (0 comments)

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