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For the first 10 years of my life as a military spouse, I was not employed outside the home. I felt it was crucial to my children's well-being to stay at home with them. I did not return to the workforce until the youngest of my three children started school. When I reentered the workforce - armed with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university and past work experience - I was only offered entry-level administrative positions. That was all well and good - I was willing to pay my dues and work my way up - but no matter how … (15 comments)
My wife told me at 1:30 in the morning her water broke...
Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry to the Carnival of The Economics of Real Estate. We had over fifteen entries:
Welcome to the first installment of the Member Spotlight. This was inspired by my thought on how to get people networking with each other. I put a call out to the members and everyone liked the idea so here we are! The basic idea of this Spotlight is simple, when it is your turn to do it, you are going to write about someone that you did not know before, call them and share some information on that person. Your second task is to also interview the following week's author....
Lately, I've been all over the place (physically, but mostly mentally). This started not too long ago when I did something that went completely against my plan. More importantly, it went against the grain, against who I am and what I want for my life and business. I knew it almost immediately. Funny thing was, I actually knew it before I even did it. Yet, I did it anyway because of some crazy feeling of obligation or guilt. For a second I was living "out of integrity," but this too seemed to elude me. I mean, I knew something was off, but … (105 comments)
Are you aware of the precise reason why people fail so often in their lives?
I'm feeling nostalgic...don't really know why but I am. 
Man, we sure have come a long way in just a few short years… If you are familiar with the Wayback Machine, then you know how addictive it can be. I thought it would be fun to take a look at some old real estate websites…
Connections are the key! Who Are Your Connections? Well that could be a two fold answer that the members of Active Rain are beginning to understand more and more as we grow in numbers. Today, I read Colleen Kulikowski's post on spotlighting new members to the Active Rain Network. This is just one of the many Keys to how we, as Real Estate Professionals make Connections. The key to making Connections is not just who you know but how you reach out to them. Your connections could be viewed as any of the following:
Have agents gotten lazy or is this the Trend I am just not following. I've always been know as a "rebel" but this is one horse I am not riding.
Grab a cup of coffee an quit chewing your fingernails. The Grand Prize Winner of the 1st Annual ActiveRain Article Contest has finally been announced!
The coolest thing about technology is that you never, ever know everything. Well, I thought I knew everything about my Pocket PC, 6700 Smartphone...but I did not know that you could download Google Maps for Mobile devices. This is just a great product. Microsoft Live has a similar product, but I have never been able to get it to download to my storage card. Here is a great comparison between MS and Google. 
At dinner tonight I was excitedly telling my husband, Garry, about Active Rain and the close community it has spawned. I told him how we watch out for one another, give and receive encouragement, absorb all the information we can and share it with the group, and how the network is growing by leaps and bounds. Garry said, "You sound like the Borg, part of a collective."
Selling real estate in smaller real estate communities like Mount Vernon, Ohio and Apple Valley, Ohio can be very rewarding if you understand your market. There are some unique key factors you will want to consider before you launch your marketing plan into high speed. The benefits of a smaller market can make you a market leader quickly if you do the right things and if you are not likeable and approachable in a smaller market you can end your chances for success very quickly.
A common question of home owners in todays market cuts right through all the nonsense. Sellers that are relocating, and have to sell...seller's downsizing, or young families expanding...all ask the same question. We are considering purchasing a new home, but in this market is it wise to buy first, and then sell our home? Or is it wiser to get this home under contract and sold and then buy?
This past week I needed to attend an update course for continuing education, and decided to take the elective that was being offered. Not knowing anything about the auction process, I thought this auction course might be something of interest, after all it was only 4 hours, was in Wilmington, NC, only about a mile from my office and again I was clueless regarding auctions. Of course I had been to charity auctions, antique, and art auctions, but never to a real live house auction. 
Hello ActiveRainers,
I just got another referral from Activerain today! I love you guys!! I signed up 6 days ago and already, it's changed my life, my business, my outlook on blogging, my placement on google searches, and my income. If you are not a part of this phenomenon, you just are missing the boat!
In learning about DISC behavioral signs in this series, we have covered the (D)ominant, (I)nfluential, and (S)teady behavioral signs. The final sign is is the (C)onscientious sign, and like D's they are task-oriented rather than relationship-oriented.
Being in SW Florida, I hear concerns from people about Hurricanes from time to time. We usually end up discussing historical data, newest hurricane codes & then I typically go into 'natural disasters elsewhere'. 
Yesterday I was working at my desk trying to refine my power point presentation and figure out how to send it via email so it was easy and quick to download. The phone was ringing off the hook about all the ads I had placed, the i-net directory listings I had subscribed too and, well you all know how it goes when you are really, really trying to concentrate on something and keep getting interrupted! So, the phone rings again. It is a new customer who found me in the directory listing I had just done the day before. She was … (10 comments)
This is my third lap, if you will. Having been in the business since 1978, I've seen three full market cycles. The slow cycle for most agents comes when homes stop selling overnight and inventories creep skyward. This is when you need to ramp up for REO's. (REO = Real Estate Owned) This is the shorthand used by the industry to discribe the inventory of property owned by the financial institutions. Most of which come through foreclosure.
I would like to see a development in the Groups Feature to allow for "Private Groups" These would be by invitation only from the groups founder or moderators.
Many Realtors over the years have come into the business and looked at real estate as a way to make money and looked at it as numbers. "I have to have take many listings" and "I have to make this many sales" and "I have to have this many closings". They have charts in their office that tracks the number of listings each month and the number of sales and closings each month.
Yesterday, I wrote a very boring blog article about "zero down mortgages." It did not get featured, and to tell you the truth, I am not at all surprised. It was, after all, about home mortgage financing and I think the topic is truly boring for those of us that understand it (those of us in Real Esate). About 60 people read it and nobody commented! I think that means their eyes probably glazed over in boredom and misery before they ever got a chance to fill out comment sections. Nonetheless, this article could be of great use to the mortgage … (45 comments)
UPDATE: New post makes it easier. How to put You Tube in 7 steps.
So as of late I have been noticing extra clingy people who really can't do anything on their own merit so they use their people skills to have other people do things for them and they get the credit for it.
Joining ActiveRain has been one of the smartest things I've done not only for my Real Estate career, but for my personal well-being too! In writing for a public audience, I've had to do some pretty revealing self-examination. When I first started in the "Rain", I was using it to browse and read other posts. It was entertaining, and maybe another business tool. After further reading, I decided to try blogging. My first attempt was a dud. My second blog was written late one night. I was writing from the heart about an experience I had as an agent. I was shocked and amazed to find … (27 comments)
The time of year is upon us for home shows, bridal shows, boat shows, health fairs and more exhibit type shows at my local convention centers. I am prepared for whatever show I decide upon, thanks to Lawrence Yerkes blogs on Successful Exhibiting General Checklist an Successful Exhibiting Exhibit Inventory. Deciding on a show is my query. I need to figure out which convention will give me the most bang for my "booth" buck. 
Like many who check their numbers of visitors and e-mails on their web sites, I often tweak the lead capture settings. Since joining AR and thanks to the many tips from AR members I went from about 900 visitors a month to 2000 in 3 months and in some cases I am in the top 5 or 10 on the first page with certain key words with the name of my city first, on MSN, Yahoo, and Google. But should I block the settings for visitors to view my MLS IDX and force them to fill in their e-mail, name and phone number … (17 comments)
This post was inspired by Luke Constantino. Luke's post is about the email he received from a member of Active Rain. If you haven't seen this post I would say now is a good time to read it: 
30 seconds into my first day working in Real Estate I sat down, took the two paperclips from the desk drawer of my new office, clipped them together, stared ahead at the bare wall and asked myself out loud, "Ok, now what?"
It's time to bring Carnac back for another appearance. Just when I think that Carnac is running out of material...well, let's just say you make it sooooo easy. And so, here are Carnac's March Active Rain Predictions.
Looking for a condo video I came across this today. 
Are you thinking of remodeling your home? Consider the return on your investment before remodeling. Not all remodeling projects yield the same return in increasing your home's value.Updating your kitchen and baths is your best remodeling investment, returning a nearly dollar-for-dollar increase in home resale value. An updated kitchen and bathrooms make your home that much more attractive to potential buyers when you do decide to sell.By contrast, converting a basement into a family room (if you're are has basements) or adding outdoor recreation facilities, such as a swimming pool or sport court, yield the lowest return on your investment.Sometimes the … (1 comments)
A few years back when I entered in the Real Estate business I came across this approach to generate business. First I must give credit where credit is due. I have no idea if this approach was created by her but I give her complete credit for this and thinking outside the box. Her name is Sherry Daminski a wonderful and very giving Agent from Stafford, VA.
If you own, or plan to buy rental property, particularly with the intention of converting to condominums, in Los Angeles, you will want to watch City Hall very carefully this month:
Posted on Thu, Mar. 01, 2007
So, with the discussion of Michigan's Proposal A and its effect on taxes in a declining real estate market, it seems to me that there may be some folks that are looking for assistance in fighting their increase in assessments. If you are caught in the situation where you believe your assessed value has outpaced the increase in property value for your area, I would be happy to provide the market data for you to take to your municipality's tax tribunal.
The Truth About Your Deed - There has been a massive direct mail campaign from a company calling themselves National Deed Services, Inc. based in Washington D.C. that is targeting residents of Norfolk County with an offer to provide a certified copy of the homeowners deed to them for $59.50.
Septic Inspections are a very important part of the real estate deals in Jefferson County. Do to all of the changes in Codes over the last year it is rare for a home to pass their inspection and the repairs normally range from 6 to 15 thousand dollars. This unexpected expense is usually a deal killer. I tell all of my sellers up front that their system will probably fail but they always think that their home will be the exception. 
Wow, it has been three whole days since I posted on ActiveRain. That is the longest break I have had since June when I first joined. Well, let me tell you, it wasn't intentional. I have been swamped with business!! I guess that's a good thing, but I must say, this work stuff sure does get in the way of blogging. "Broker Bryant can you sell our house?" "Broker Bryant can we buy that house?" "Broker Bryant is our closing scheduled yet?" "Broker Bryant........?" Anyway, you get my point.
Did the title attract you?
This is the view from my back door, we hardly get any accumulation here and last night got hit with seven inches. It is like a winter wonderland here. Most all businesses are closed, schools are closed, again. This is about the tenth missed school day this year. However, I am enjoying the scenery.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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