Archives of real estate blog entries for July 14, 2007

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COPYRIGHT REVISITED, OR IS IT RECYCLED. Correcting Misinformation. - 01:48 PM
ACTIVE RAIN MEMBERS WHO COMMENT ON COPYRIGHT SHOULD FIRST READ THE OFFICIAL COPYRIGHT OFFICE WEB SITE. 
Checking my Active Rain messages this morning showed a comment made just yesterday about an article I posted about COPYRIGHT on August 13, 2006.  The comment was so wrong, wrong, wrong. 
             "You make a great caase for copyrighted material.  But alas most people do not               copyright their work so suing will not be an option."
THAT STATEMENT IS NOT ACCURATE.  SUING IS AN OPTION.  I've done it and WON.  I have filed suit and THEN registered the copyright.  Back in 2002, I had not the slightest idea that anyone, especially a fellow … (60 comments)

Sellsius Blog Tour Comes to Michigan Today - 09:05 AM
 
Come one, come all Michigan Bloggers.  We are being honored by a visit.  Sellsius Blog Tour USA is stopping in Birmingham and we are meeting at SKBK Sotheby's today around noon.  I presume Rudy and Joe will be in town for the afternoon, so if you can't make it at 12:00, give me a call on my cell phone (248.961.0801) and I will tell you where we are (in walking distance of my office in downtown Birmingham).
Missy Caulk is driving in from her cottage, Black Tie Todd Waller has promised me he will have his bow tie and tux on and … (21 comments)

If You Ain't Cheating, You Ain't Trying - 03:00 AM
How is baseball like applying for a home loan?  Read the title.
I am thoroughly amazed at how normal, sober, upstanding members of the community purposefully commit mortgage fraud.   Like baseball, they don't cheat alone; they have plenty of help.  Lazy Realtors and shady mortgage brokers will gladly "go the distance". 
The buyers were encouraged to lie on their loan application.
READ ON AT AMERICA'S MORTGAGE BROKER … (57 comments)

Buyers: It's Time to Stop... Look ...and... Listen - 02:02 PM
 
 If you want to buy a house the best thing you can do is slow down.   I know that sounds a bit strange in a market that is slow..but if you  really want to buy then you need to focus on those things that will help you accomplish the goal. 
Too often buyers are scurrying around looking at open houses, talking to their friends about the market, reading media items and just generally doing everything but thinking about what they need to do and the best way to do it.   If you really want to be a homeowner then you need a plan.
7 things you need to do … (44 comments)

Part-Times Realtors: Who Needs Them? - 09:41 PM
I started out as a part-time Realtor in April of 1987 because I could not afford to have come into the business otherwise. As the owner of a small firm in Arlington, VA, I have seen, first-hand, the challenges and benefits of hiring and working with part-time Realtors. It's not easy for them or you. It's hard to imagine a comparable profession where someone can work 2 to 10 hours a week and be expected to perform like someone who works 35 to 50 hours per week.
So, here's a question: Should people be allowed into real estate when they physically do … (89 comments)

Help the Buyers that no one else will - 08:11 PM
Too many Realtors only work with buyers that are ready to "Buy Now' and we have the best intention of following up with buyers that cannot get a loan today but all the best made plans tend to go by the waist side.
Instead of letting these buyers go unattended or worse, refer them to a lender that may not have the time to follow up with them, help them now.  Helping them is easier than you may think.
One in three consumers have no idea what information is on their credit report and that could cost them money and hurt their chances at landing … (45 comments)

Breaking AWAY From an Unintended Niche Market - 06:55 AM
 
I know this probably will sound strange to some, but I have found myself sorta stuck in an 'unintended' niche of my local market, and I don't really want to be there. 
Another agent I work with finds herself in an 'unintended' niche market as well, and she doesn't want to be there either. 
 
She and I work very hard at our jobs helping people buy and sell real estate in our market areas, and we love what we do.  Somehow, with all our other listings sold, we find ourselves in a part of our local market we don't really want as a niche … (66 comments)


Blog posts


A day in Loveland real estate: Saturday, July 14th - 02:16 PM
 
There were 13 properties newly listed in Loveland on Saturday July 14, 2007. View new listings Minimum price: $119,900 Median price: $169,900 Average price: $228,837 Maximum price: $435,000 There were 10 properties with reductions in price in Loveland on Saturday July 14, 2007. View reduced listings Minimum price: $139,800 Median price: $219,900 Average price: $272,770 Maximum price: $699,000 Today, July, 14th, there were 16 Featured Listings in Loveland, Colorado
    
  
… (0 comments)

You Wonder Why You Need Title Insurance? - 12:56 AM
You Wonder Why You Need Title Insurance?   by John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR®   Hemet CA Real Estate
It is always amazing that people want to cut their costs in the most ridiculous ways.  I'm not even going to go into how silly people are when they spend their money - but when they want to save, they will "cut off their nose in spite of their face", as my grandmother would tell me so many years ago.
Title insurance is just one of those things that you NEED to transfer property.  I suppose there are deals made everyday that don't have Title insurance.  … (0 comments)

What Do You Need for Your Loan - 02:16 AM
What Do You Need for Your Loan   by John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR®   Hemet CA Real Estate
My job as a REALTOR® is to help you find and buy (or sell) a house.  It does not matter if you are looking to buy your first home, a second home, if you are a move-up home buyer or an Investor.Unless you are paying cash - you will be seeking financing.  As your REALTOR® I really don't want to hear your tales of financial woe any more than I want to hear how magnificent you are with money and how much you are worth.  … (12 comments)

Thompson Crossing- Year to Date Market Activity - 11:45 AM
 Here is a summary of the market activity (1/1/07- 7/1/07) for the Thompson Crossing subdivision. Thompson Crossing is a brand new development in the heart of Northern Colorado's hub, (nocoHUB.com) specifically in the 2534 master development. Thompson Crossing is very close to all the amenities of Northern Colorado including easy access to Interstate 25, walking distance to the Promenade Shops, numerours restaurants, banking and the future Grand Station.
ACTIVE
Total Number of Residential-Detached Listings: 9
NONE SOLD
… (1 comments)

Waterfront at Boyd Lake- Year to Date Market Activity - 12:00 PM
Here is a summary of the market activity (1/1/07- 7/1/07) for the Waterfront at Boyd Lake subdivision. Waterfront at Boyd Lake is an established waterfront development in the heart of Northern Colorado's hub, (nocoHUB.com) specifically in the Centerra master development. Waterfront at Boyd Lake is very close to all the amenities of Northern Colorado including easy access to Interstate 25, a short driving distance to the Centerra development, Loveland Soprts Park, Promenade Shops, numerours restaurants, banking and the future Grand Station.
ACTIVE
Total Number of Residential-Detached Listings: 1
… (4 comments)

Highland Meadows- Year to Date Market Activity - 12:13 PM
ACTIVE
Total Number of Residential-Detached Listings: 48    Total Listings Reported (All Types): 49
… (0 comments)

Bait and Switch, or Just Plain Bad Advertising? - 08:35 AM
I trudge out to get the mail yesterday and there are 2 envelopes with absolutely no identification on the exterior to tell me what company they originated from except a small print line in the "U.S. Postage Paid" box that says "Reader's Digest".  On one, in large type on the inside of the envelope it states "Rate Adjustment".  You definitely notice this before you notice who it's from... 
Inside I find, that from their family of magazines, basically I'm eligible to get the same rate at which I initially got the magazine at.  It doesn't, by the way, tell me when my … (4 comments)

Loving Your Job - 09:34 AM
Yesterday I took a trip to, A&M's arch rival, University of Texas to pick my son up from computer camp.  It's a beautiful campus that offers quite a bit of fun, as well as an overabundance of burnt orange (their colors).  I have to say at the Texas Student Union Center I was quite impressed by one gentleman.
There is a Wendy's in the building and we, interested in a quick snack, went up there.  A gentleman in an orange shirt rushed up to the register and asked us what we would like.  He, with great enthusiasm, punched the keys on the register and told … (10 comments)

Showing the Agents Own Home - 11:10 PM
I've written a few times of the frustration that a buyers agent may have in setting up appointments, dealing with other agent's clients that either don't want to show the house, or want to tell you every feature of the home while you are on the phone. 
Interestingly enough last month I was taking some potential buyers (that subsequently decided not to buy) to several areas of Bryan.  I scheduled 12 homes to show and, midway through showings, realized that they were taking overly long in each listing and we wouldn't be able to make them all in the time we … (13 comments)

Silence in the Negotiation - 11:37 PM
Don't underrate the pregnant pause when you are negotiating a deal!  Many times what isn't said can be much more powerful than what is said.  Sometimes just throwing a nugget out there, and letting it soak in, can be worth more than pontificating for the next half hour, and produce immediate results!  I've seen "tough as nails" agents reduced to stutterers in the face of silence.
Today in the midst of negotiating an amendment, the buyers agent was pushing and pushing to get each line item taken care of despite the fact that my client was unwilling to deal with some of the issues.  … (9 comments)

Texas Agents, Please Read! - 11:52 PM
What do you think of an Active Rain get together for Texas?  I've been toying with the idea for months now and think that, since the Sellsius folks missed us we might need a blogging event here for the great state of Texas.
I'm thinking that perhaps College Station would be a good area to have it in as to be close to the middle of the state to, hopefully, get as many agents to join us as possible.  I'm thinking probably in September or October so that the market will be sufficiently settled down from the busy season.
Any comments would be … (15 comments)

About Pingree Grove - 10:02 PM
About Pingree Grove
Pingree Grove is a quaint, historic village founded in the 1880's and located in Rutland Township, formerly known as Deerfield Precinct.  Pingree Grove celebrated it's 100th year of incorporation on February 14, 2007.
The Village has enjoyed a rich history ever since Andrew and Daniel Pingree arrived in 1838. That was also the year that the Village acquired its name "Pingree Grove". In 1838, the Deerfield Post Office opened two miles west of Pingree Grove. As Pingree Grove began to grow, the Pingree Grove post office was established in 1848. In 1882, Pingree Grove was laid out and platted … (0 comments)

How to get to Pingree Grove Illinois - 10:10 PM
Getting Here
By Plane:O'Hare International Airport is located approximately 30 miles east of Pingree Grove and offers the most connections more times a day to more cities than any other airport in the world. It is accessible by car and by public transportation.
Midway International Airport is 10 miles south of downtown Chicago and about a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Pingree Grove. After an eight-year renovation project, it is one of the fastest growing airports. Midway is accessible by car and by public transportation.
Chicago Rockfor International Airport is located 45 northwest of Pingree Grove and with their free … (0 comments)

Manatee County Market Stats 2006 vs 2007 For The First Half Of The Year - 11:38 AM
Here are the Manatee County Stats for the first half of the year for 2006 compared to 2007.  Average days on market are definitely longer, not too unrealistic though.  Days on market seems to be around 90-120 days which is typical of a more normal market.
Prices have come down compared to last year.  Hopefully things will start to pick up again in August or September.  We shall see!!
January 1st thru June 30th.
… (0 comments)

FREE STUFF * FREE STUFF * FREE STUFF - 05:47 PM
Here's a list of 10 free things I've come across you might find helpful.  I'm sure there are a lot more, but these were the one's that came to mind right away.
Primo PDF lets you convert to PDF from any application by simply 'printing' to the PrimoPDF® printer - it couldn't be easier! Within minutes, you can create high-quality PDFs by converting from Word, Excel, and virtually any other printable file type. Wufoo is an easy and fast way to build custom forms for your website or blog. With One True Media, effortlessly combine photos and video clips with words and music to personalize … (32 comments)

Covered Bridge in Ellenton Florida - 07:26 PM
Covered Bridge in Ellenton Florida is located approx. 2 miles from the Ellenton Outlet Mall.  Commuters seeking easy access to Bradenton, Palmetto, Parrish and St Petersburg will find Covered Bridge a viable option.  Covered Bridge is geared towards families making this a great place to raise your children.  There is a wide range of homes in Covered Bridge, sizes start around 1200 sq ft and go up to 3000 - 4000 sq ft.  Buy your first home in the smaller home size range and then when the time is right upgrade and never leave the neighborhood.
Amenities:
Swimming Pool
Basketball Court
Playground
Tennis Court
Club House
Utility Information:
Electric … (1 comments)

River Woods in Parrish Florida - 07:35 PM
River Woods is a beautiful community tucked away in Parrish Florida off of Old Tampa Road.  Its location makes it convenient to Palmetto, Bradenton, Sarasota, Tampa, Brandon and St Petersburg.  Beautiful Lennar homes with some of the best floor plans I have seen grace this lovely neighborhood.  If the individual home doesn't have a pool, no worries, the community hosts a huge community pool located towards the front of the neighborhood.
River Woods is a peaceful community that sets is somewhat of a country setting yet close to stores and amenities. 
If you are looking to move up from your starter home … (0 comments)

Lexington in Parrish Florida - 07:44 PM
The perfect location between Tampa, St Petersburg, Palmetto and Bradenton.  Lexington is located in Parrish and contains single family homes and villas. Parrish Real Estate is expanding every month it seems with new developments opening up on a regular basis.  Lexington in Parrish Florida was one of the first developments to open along the 301 corridor.
Take a walk through the 2 miles of foot paths. Spend a lazy day out fishing on the fishing pier.  Invite your friends over for a game of basketball on the full length basketball court.  Afterwards, enjoy the huge pool with water sprays.  Have a picnic … (0 comments)

Kingsfield Lakes in Parrish Florida - 07:48 PM
What a great place to live, close to Bradenton, Palmetto, Sarasota, St Petersburg and Tampa. Right next door to Kingsfield in Parrish FL and across the street from River Wilderness, a beautiful gated community, making this a convenient place to live.
A new shopping center is going up at the end of Old Tampa Road in Parrish, this will make running to the grocery store very easy.  It use to be that you had to drive for miles to get to anything, not the case anymore.  The development has arrived and shows no signs of slowing down.
So if you are looking for … (0 comments)

Bradenton Real Estate Squidoo Lens - 07:52 PM
I have just created a new Squidoo lens for Bradenton Real Estate.  Feel free to pop over and check it out.  I contains information about Bradenton and links to other real esate areas near by.  If you have any questions feel free to email me and I will be happy to answer your questions.
Bradenton Real Estate Lens Here
… (1 comments)

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