Archives of real estate blog entries for March 7, 2007

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100,000 Points on Active Rain and Just Getting My 2nd Wind - 12:52 AM
                                                        
When I joined Active Rain a few months back I had no experience with blogging at all.  I was not sure if I really wanted to get into this at the time.  I was quite busy with business, family and community.  I didn't have any idea how you get started blogging.
I registered with Active Rain and set up my profile.  That was easy enough.  Not what?
I began to get flashbacks from when I bought my first personal computer in the early 80s.  I remember the big day well.  I opened the boxes, carefully followed the instructions and connected everything … (108 comments)

What Is Your Client Trying To Tell You? - 12:23 PM
Body language - Is it as important as we once thought or has more been made of it than is necessary?
I for one had an experience a few years ago.  A man I had known most of my life was interviewing me because he wanted to list his home.  He and his wife were going through a divorce.  I met the both of them at the home they were selling.  After the meeting my friend "Thanked me for giving his wife good eye contact".  Wow!  I am very much a people person and always give good eye contact but didn't think I was doing … (43 comments)

Different people, different rules... apparently. - 07:36 PM
OK, I've come across this sort of thing before and I just sort of shrugged it off. But it seems to be increasing with alarming regularity and it drives me absolutely crazy.
Today I was searching for something online and I came across another one of these FSBO-type sites. You know the ones, "Your property listed with us online until it sells! Only $299! Sell your home for 0% commission!" OK, not a big deal, it's a free world and this business model, even though it's not one I would ever use, has its place. What really bothers me is that after … (26 comments)

VACANTS - A Growing Market - 06:01 PM


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There have been lots of calls lately on vacant properties.  It is a growing problem for agents and sellers, but not for stagers who are prepared and able to handle the vacant housing market.  In case you've been asked by an agent or seller about vacants, I've come up with a list problems I see with vacant homes based on things I've read and personal observations and have listed them here below.  Maybe there are additional things to add to this list, feel free to share.  A vacant property is often a much harder one … (60 comments)

Is GREAT service still enough to grow your business??? - 02:16 PM
I have been in the mortgage business for over 8 years.  When I started it seemed that if you answered your phone and closed deals smoothly... the sky was the limit!  These days things have changed and I am not sure if it is for the better.
It seems to me that great service just isn't enough anymore.  Now, that is not to say that great service isn't important because it is.  If you don't have good service you aren't even in the game.  Great service can still give you a solid foundation, but it doesn't seem to actually grow your business … (58 comments)

Lesson #9: Get Organized with Firefox - 12:00 PM
(Side note: This post may seem really elementary to some of you, so don't say I didn't warn you.)
Everyone has different reasons for using Firefox over Internet Explorer – security, speed, fewer glitches, whatever.  All of these things attracted me to Firefox in the first place, but after a few weeks of getting used to it, I began using extensions (or add-ons).  Here’s where Firefox beats IE, hands down.
You can customize your browser based on your preferences.  Now I'm sure you're thinking, "What's there to customize, and how can I have preferences for my web browser?"  I thought the same … (43 comments)

3 Ways to Avoid Getting Caught in the Subprime Maelstrom - updated - 05:16 AM
Unless you've been sleeping under a rock and avoiding ActiveRain for the past weeks,  you've probably caught wind of the meltdown that's  been happening in the subprime lending sectors, with 30+ lenders shutting their doors and many more in trouble. It's fairly obvious that rising credit guidelines and risk premiums will make it harder to get your buyers approved; far less obvious are the steps you should take to survive in an interest rate and lending environment the likes of which we have not seen in perhaps 10 years. Here's a few tips that from me on how I think the … (23 comments)

Protecting Your Good Name ~ updated to correct link - 02:06 PM
The age of WEB 2.0 has brought with it power that can be weld in a wrong way.  If in your business endeavors you end up working with a web savvy consumer who feels you've done him wrong, he could be slinging mud at you from cyberspace. 
It is so easy these days to leave nasty comments on blogs or forums.  There are sites where a consumer can write an unsavory note about you and your company, you may never know it's out there. How many people could be looking at it before you find out?  How much lost business is it causing you?  … (86 comments)

Counterfeit Blogging - "What's in Your Blog?" - 08:45 AM
One of the primary purposes behind the growing trend of realty blogging is to convey your own, unique voice - to share your own personal opinions, thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences.
Real estate is a highly relational business. All of us know this. It's one of the main reasons we love what we do! We are human beings, working closely with other fellow human beings. We are not automated robots dutifully cranking out loans or shoving clients down a conveyor belt past prospective properties. We're constantly communicating - face-to-face, hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder - working relentlessly with and for our clients, helping them to achieve their home buying or … (102 comments)

New Age of Real Estate Lesson 21:"But, I already have a Realtor" - 06:31 AM
I`m a firm believer of having potential buyers use our web site to locate property. We allow them the freedom to search without any hassle. After a few days we have one of our Realtors contact the "Potential Buyer" to see if we can assist them in locating a new home. Many times we convert these people into buyers. In some cases we have "Potential Buyers" tell us that we already have a Realtor. My belief is that if you`re dealing with another Realtor,than you should have that Realtor send you listings, or better yet, why aren`t you using "Your Other Realtors" website?  
I have … (76 comments)

An Active Rain echo chamber? "Helllllllllllllo out there...." - 12:16 PM
Remember as a kid learning about echoes?  Standing on a hill or mountain? Yelling down into a canyon....saying "helllllllo out there!"...? Or yelling "Echo!" ? and it came back at 'ya? "Echoooooooooooooo"?
I remember going to a cave that had an echo chamber... you could whisper and it would echo...  
Ellie McIntire felt intimidated about writing on Active Rain and wrote:
"And then there is actually the ability to create a helpful and original post. I have deleted some of my attempts after being shamed by harsh criticism that my topic was covered so more eloquently by another member just 2 months ago. Good grief am I … (34 comments)

Lessons I learned in doing a short sale. - 11:22 PM
I had a short sale closing today and just wanted to share some things I learned through the process.  I have been through this process once before but the two were toally different.  I remember the last one taking a long time but it was nothing compared to this one.  I guess each bank must be different to work with.
The most important lesson I learned was that it can take a very LONG time.  Prepare your buyers that they will need to be VERY patient. We lost two buyers in the process.  
The process started back in October.  We had a contract … (36 comments)

Playing on the Emotions of Prospects for Personal Gain - 08:22 PM
It's wrong, illegal, unethical and it should not be tolerated!
Now that I got that out... I have two prospects that I and another agent from office have been talking to about possibly listing their homes for sale.  These two prospects are both acquaintances of ours and they are business partners with each other, so they talk to each other every day.
Prospect #1 had his home on the market last year, but it had expired.  He told us he wished he had listed with us in the first place and asked if we could come and look at it.  He told us … (38 comments)

Let's Throw It All In The Lake...ROAR! - 04:15 PM























WARNING THIS POST IS FOR FUN. DO YOU LIKE FUN? NO. OKAY THEN. SCROLL ON AND LET THOSE WHO DO LIKE FUN HAVE AT IT.
 
 
Some time ago I posted this pop quiz. When I did, it had a scoring chart. The scoring chart did not work out very well so I'm posting my new and improved pop quiz. If the creative minds out there see a good way to add a scoring system to … (102 comments)

To Pend or Not To Pend? When is a Sale Pending? Does it Matter? - 02:49 PM
When is your sale pending?  That is the question.  When is it OK to put up the Sale Pending sign?  When you go in contract? Absolutely not, unless maybe there are no contingencies. 
What about after the home inspections are over and resolved?  Maybe, and a lot of my peers practice that theory but I'm just not always comfortable at that stage of the game.  I've seen too many deals fall apart.
After the buyers receive Loan commitment? Well yeah, but since the processor signs off on the loan about three hours prior to closing more often than not, it doesn't really … (73 comments)

Furiously Blogging For Fun & Profits! - 12:15 AM
While I Won't Blog for Food...I most certainly Will Blog for Profits!   This week we have worked on 3 referralswhich are a direct result of people reading our Blogs. One called from out of state with an interest in a 16 unit multi-plex, another couple had been reading my Blog and decided to use our company to purchase a home and the last one...  Well, that's the subject of this post. 
You see, I almost deleted the e-mail.  The title simply read...vacant land.
  I opened it and to my surprise read:
Hi Lola,   
I am  a Realtor and my husband is the gen. contractor for moving  manufactured … (33 comments)


Blog posts


Interviewing an agent to sell your Nashua NH home - 10:51 PM
Interviewing a listing agent (seller's agent) over the Internet offers several advantages for you as a seller. You can do a little pre-qualifying before you meet the agent in person and you can see how your agent will use the Internet to communicate with you and to market your home. With more buyers turning to the Internet to view homes, shop for loans, and learn about the home buying process, the agent whom you choose to market your home can't afford not to be in command of this powerful tool called the Internet.
Although many agents will tell you that they … (0 comments)

5th Annual Daffodil Days at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs - 11:48 PM

Botanical beauty! The spring season begins at Garvan Woodland Gardens with the "Dance of the Daffodils." Come enjoy the beautiful color of over 150,000 daffodils from 327 varieties on a breath-taking 210 acre botanical garden on Lake Hamilton.
Don't miss it!  The Gardens are so beautiful this time of year, and the weather has been perfect ... with many days in the low 70s.  You can even bring your fuzzy family member (pets) along for a stroll in the garden. 
… (0 comments)

looking for good home inspector stories - 01:56 PM
I know that it is very difficult for some homebuyers to scrape together enough money to cover the down payment and even closing cost, but I will stick by my advice that you should always hire a professional home inspector when buying any property. I would never consider buying a house or condo without at least having it inspected by a professional home inspector. It's just not worth the risk. Has anyone out there had an inspector save the day? Saved your client 1000's of dollars in repairs? please share your stories!!!!
… (0 comments)

Avondale Sales for the 7 days prior to March 7, 2007 - 09:25 AM
Avondale Sales for the 7 days prior to March 7, 2007
The previous 7 days saw 27 homes close escrow the week in Avondale. Average home sale price was down to $250,379 while the average asking was $252,442. Average days on the market were up 3 to 100, with 30  homes expiring from the MLS.
The average square footage for all these homes was 1,848. That comes in at just over $135 per square foot, up about $1 per sf. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition of the home and property and location, location, location!
While many … (0 comments)

Litchfield Park Sales for 7 days prior to March 7, 2007 - 10:11 AM
Litchfield Park Sales for 7 days prior to March 7, 2007
The previous week saw 8 homes close escrow as the month ended in Litchfield Park. Average home sale price was $418,308 while the average asking was $530,025, with a few anomalies affecting the asking over sales price. Average days on the market were 48, down from 116 the previous week, with 12 homes expiring from the MLS.
The average square footage for all these homes was 2979. That comes in at just over $140 per square foot, up $2 dollars. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual square footage, condition … (0 comments)

Goodyear Sales for the 7 days prior to March 7, 2007 - 10:19 AM
Goodyear Sales for the 7 days prior to March 7, 2007
The previous week saw 26 homes close escrow toward the end of the month in Goodyear. Average home sale price was $293,369 while the average asking was $308,900. Average days on the market were 84, down from 183 with 40 homes expiring from the MLS, due in most part to the end of the month.
The average square footage for all these homes was 2,016. That comes in at just over $145 per square foot, up from $135 per sf the previous week. Of course these figures will vary depending on actual … (0 comments)

Gary Keller Donates $5 Million - 08:14 AM
Anyone see the story about Gary Keller donating $5 million to Baylor's School of Business?  It will be for "studying the issues that are pressing for real estate companies and agents in today's market."  The Keller Center will be somewhat different than most university real estate researchers.  Most place more emphasis on statistics and trends.  Keller's will focus more on agents and businesses. … (0 comments)

23 Alderman Ct. Timonium, Md. 21093 - 08:42 AM
  … (2 comments)

7121 Park Heights Ave. Baltimore, Md. 21215 - 11:47 AM
… (2 comments)

3313 Devonshire Dr. Baltimore, Md. 21215 - 12:32 PM
… (3 comments)

Active Rain in Realtor Magazine - 10:25 PM
 Check out page 33 of the latest issue of Realtor Magazine (March 2007)
 5 Websites that help you get connected online. Boost your network by connecting with other practitioners and professionals online. It's a great way to get referrals and advice...
Active Rain (http://activerain.com): A free networking site for real estate professionals where members can share ideas, gain referrals, and access or create blogs. Members are categorized by geographic location.
The four other sites listed were: Ecademy,Linkedln,Ryze and WannaNetwork.
It wasn't a very big spread but Active Rain is in Realtor Magazine. I love seeing Active Rain get recognition. Where else have you seen the Rain?
HomeRome.com
Baltimore,Md.
… (9 comments)

New Security Form Due to Assault on Realtor - 03:31 PM
Here in the St. Louis Area I am sure most of you have heard about the assault on one of our Coldwell Banker Gundaker Agents. On March 4th 2007 an agent from one of our offices had a gun pulled on her in a home she was showing. She was handcuffed to a post in the basement while all of her money, credit cards, wedding ring, cell phone, etc. were taken from her.
Our company has now created a form called the "Prospect Identification Form". This form is to be filled out by all new clients. The form requests Name, Address, Home and Business phone … (1 comments)

Protecting Your Good Name ~ updated to correct link - 02:06 PM
The age of WEB 2.0 has brought with it power that can be weld in a wrong way.  If in your business endeavors you end up working with a web savvy consumer who feels you've done him wrong, he could be slinging mud at you from cyberspace. 
It is so easy these days to leave nasty comments on blogs or forums.  There are sites where a consumer can write an unsavory note about you and your company, you may never know it's out there. How many people could be looking at it before you find out?  How much lost business is it causing you?  … (86 comments)

Help: How Do I Add Documents To P2Agent Site? - 01:54 PM
 
I would like to add forms for my prospective clients to download and preview and/or print directly from my Point 2 Agent Website. The obstacle here is I simply do not know how to add this forms on my website so that they can. Now, I do have a Professional Point 2 Agent subscription. The forms I want to add are in MS Word format. I also have Adobe on my computer, just in case I need to do some type of converting to PDF first.
I'm sure this can be done, as I have seen websites with downloadable forms designed … (6 comments)

Spring Adult Softball League Registration - 02:18 PM
Spring is rapily approaching at with it comes one of our favorite past times, Spring adult softball league registration. Even though the registration has already begun there is still plently of time left to get a team together and get signed up. Many of my friends play on leagues and really enjoy it. It gives them opportunities to meet new friends, hang out with old ones and get some excercise in the process. So get a group of friends together, your office or just the neighborhood and sign up for Spring softball league and have some serious fun.
Below is the registration … (12 comments)

How about a WORLD view on Real Estate? - 11:07 PM
How about a WORLD view on Real Estate?by Kaushik Sirkar, Chandler REALTOR®Chandler AZ Real Estate
Real estate makes up a big part of the lives all Real Estate Professionals in this country.  When it comes time to buy/sell a home - it impacts non-professionals very significantly as well.  With our country, we know that places in the rust belt and in Texas are relatively 'cheap'.  We know some cities on the coasts like San Francisco and New York are extremely expensive.  One such city is Los Angeles - I recently saw a statistic where less than 2% of the LA population could … (10 comments)

Convincing Sellers You Don't Control The Market - 06:38 AM
Convincing sellers you don't control the market (courtesy of Alexis Bolin, ERA, Pensacola FL):
I don't control the market. God didn't choose to give me that kind of power. And if he had, I'd be using it to cure cancer, put a stop to crime and that sort of thing. I sure wouldn't be wasting it on real estate!
My only power is to tell you the truth about what's going on in this market. And only you have the power to react to that truth. So what'll it be? Working with the truth...or looking for someone with a magic wand?
And there's … (5 comments)

The Higher Road - Motivational Writings for 2007 - 09:30 PM
The Higher Road Sometimes they are going to test your strength And other times they are going to beat you down But I'm gonna keep reaching when the goal is too far And aim high but keep my feet firmly on the ground Sometimes they are going to turn their back And other times they are going to disbelieve But I'm gonna keep trying my hardest to rise And I know good things will eventually come to me Sometimes they will disapprove of your actions And other times they will turn a blind eye But I'm gonna overcome the disappointments And … (0 comments)

Dont Quit - 09:48 PM
"Dont Quit"
Author : Unknown
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,  When the road youre trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, Anf you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest! if you must but dont you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might had won had he stuck it out; Don`t give up though the pace seems slow; you might succeed with another blow.
Often the … (18 comments)

The things you learn from your kids.... - 04:11 PM
I feel like a 10 year old boy saying this, but man I love the Nintendo Wii.  The game system is amazing and I am hearing more and more stories of little old ladies at nursing homes perfecting their bowling game by using the Wii.  There was another news story about some guy who lost weight from playing.   Santa scoored big when he brought this present down the chimney.
Why am I blogging about the Wii???  Well after spending hours (I can't include the exact amount for fear of shame) playing with my son's new toy, I began to think......  what if … (2 comments)

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