Archives of real estate blog entries for July 6, 2007 (Page 4)

Blog posts


Do I Need to Talk to YOUR BROKER? - 12:18 PM
Lender and Real Estate Agent Rules to be followed in a purchase/sales transaction: 
Rule Number 1: Our clients come first
Rule Number 2: Time is of the essence
Rule Number 3: Everyone should work together as a team 
One thing that I think is fascinating about Real Estate is the fact that no two transactions are alike. As much as we would like to "streamline" the process, to cut down on costs and improve efficiency...it simply never plays out that way. Why? I think it's simple...there are simply too many pieces to the puzzle in a purchase transaction.
The key is to keep each transaction on … (6 comments)

MD Title Company waives fees for military homebuyers - 11:49 AM

Active duty military personnel buying a home in Maryland are NOT taken for granted by Capitol Title, with offices in Annapolis Crofton, Dunkirk, Ellicott City, Ocean City, Rockville, Severna Park, and Suitland.
Inspired by Joe Long's blog that I read earlier this morning, about an article he saw at a title company, I looked around the reception area this morning before a settlement and found a flier about the company's "FREEdom" Program.  I'm so proud to do business with a company that has a policy like this, I just have to share:
In recognition of the hardships experienced by today's brave young troops and their … (13 comments)

Why a Reverse Mortgage? - 04:51 PM
My brother and his wife have entered into a situation that nobody would want to be in, they have a neighbor who has fallen very ill and they are the only ones who are there to "take care of him".  This is not something that they have to do but more like something that they feel compelled to do, the elderly neighbor is old and is totally alone.  At this point, he is unable to fully take care of himself and Medicare has made it clear that they will absorb and drain any money that he has in his name.  Its … (4 comments)

A Tenant you can refuse...(or not) - 04:53 PM
This morning I got an email from a landlord who is curious about what or how he can refuse a prospective tenant. 
======Start of Email======
"Hi I read your blog and you have good info on there.   Keep it up.  I have become a new landlord, some apartments are already rented with leases and two are not.  I have posted my own ads and I got alot of replies but some of them I am not to comfortable with renting to.  Can I deny a tenant a[n] apartment?"
Well in short, yes.
You can deny a tenant an apartment but you must be careful … (3 comments)

subscribe to blog, my id, signature - 12:16 AM
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Note: all images(except IPhone & Live Earth) are copyright(c) 2007 of marti garaughty and garaughty.com
 
BLOG IDEAS
Think fast... are you a realtor or a content provider? (the history of widgets)
 
widgets draft  (Draft)
I doubt that they is anyone here on Active Rain who doesn't know what a screensaver, wallpaper or ecard is and I'm sure you've heard ther term widgets a lot recently. 
 Sometimes we're so overwhelmed with all the new toys, gadgets and info available on the web that we lose sight of why it's there … (0 comments)

Test your knowledge of spam and phishing - 04:13 PM
6.1 Billion phishing e-mails sent world-wide each month.Average loss to each person sucessfully phished = $1200 according to Federal Trade Commission15,451 unique phishing attacks were detected in one month7,484 phishing web sites were found in  one month.We Realtors get even more spam than other members of public because our e-mails ids are available on our websites and blogs.  Can you recognize spam? Are you sure? Test your spam-detection skills with a short (10 point) test.
Click here to take the test. 
You will be surprised by the results. I scored 8 out of 10. I failed to recognize 1 spam e-mail and I … (3 comments)

IDENTIFYING A FORMER GROW OP - 04:31 PM
Wondering if a house you are trying to sell is a former grow-op
Grow ops often require extensive cleanup and repair. It is possible that these repairs were made and the real damage is hidden. Here are some noticeable signs that you may be dealing with a former grow op include:
• Mould in corners where the walls and ceilings meet.• Signs of roof vents.• Painted concrete floors in the basement, with circular marks of where pots once were.• Evidence of tampering with the electric meter (damaged or broken seals) or the ground around it.• Unusual or modified wiring on the exterior of … (0 comments)

IDENTIFYING A GROW OPERATION - 04:38 PM
The last post was about how to identify former grow-op. In this post you can learn how to recognize a current grow house. There are a number of signs that a building may be used as a marijuana grow peration.• Buyer or tenant unloads unrecognizable equipment and very few household furnishings.• Buyer or tenant unloads copper and/or PVC pipe, soil, halogen lamps, large amounts of black plastic aluminum ducting, and fans.• Tenants come and go at unusual hours but never seem to stay overnight.• Little or no garbage is brought to the curb each week.• Mail is rarely delivered to the … (1 comments)

IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL GROW OPERATORS - 04:49 PM
Be aware of clients who are financing multiple homes, and switching between first and last names for different transactions. Look for a common thread. For example, do you recognize the same clients buying multiple homes in the same neighborhood? 
Keep an eye out for the suspicious activity such as:
• Third party purchasers.• Questionable income sources.• No contract negotiation.• Offers to pay in large amounts of cash.• Multiple cash transactions.• Multiple down payments on behalf of one individual.• Secretiveness and no reasonable explanations.
What may eem like a reasonable request for a four-bedroom house with an unfinished basement in a quiet … (1 comments)

Circle of Knowledge - 12:13 PM
I recently taught a group of branch executives from the GMAC group in New England. Cheryl Wright one of the Branch Executives from the Lakes Regions in New Hampshire told me a great story to share.
Cheryl related: "My agent (we will call him Sam) was at a sales meeting I was running.  His phone kept making strange noises that he didn't know what they were.  The other agents and I looked and saw that he had gotten a text message.  It was from a listing lead he had gone out on.  She texted him instead of calling.  This freaked him out.  All the … (2 comments)

Networking tools for virtual assistants beyond AR - 06:25 AM
Sometimes one has to wonder about networking groups -- is there too much risk of limiting contact and/or either only listening or preaching to the choir?
The virtual assistant networking groups to which I belong seem to get along fine on days when I have client duties to keep me from 'hanging around'.  The very idea of numbers has to keep me humble.  Meanwhile, I know these resources are available if I need information.  Or when I can log in and read the posts of others, I can become part of the helping resource for the ones asking questions.
I gain a great deal from my associations with the … (0 comments)

Mansfield, Missouri -- We Had a Family Tradition Begin on July 4, 2007 - 10:17 PM
My cousin's family came to our house for the 4th.  We haven't been able, over the years to spend much time with her family, so we were really excited.  RL got so wound up when I told him they were coming that he just had to leave the office and go for a drive!   He found a produce stand with fresh garden things from the Boot Heel of Missouri -- roasting ears and Black Diamond Watermelon.
The guys all had a bonding time sharing hobbies while my cousin and I traded some family heirlooms.  The garden was looking good and her daughter … (4 comments)

Ways to generate good will - 01:13 PM
Do you give gifts to clients as an incentive when they do business with you?
If you do, do you give something that will last a long time and will create a good impression of you?
I hope so.
A good idea is to give something that will actually benefit your buyer.
Something like a  $25.00 Savings Bond or perhaps a $25.00 Gift Card to Home Depot or even Wal-Mart.  A Savings Bond will last for years and will be worth more to your prospects the longer they hold on to it. And they will remember you every time they think about it.  It's good … (2 comments)

Focus on YOUR business, not the competitor! - 03:51 PM
Stop Focusing on your Competition, Focus on YOU! Jim Rohn said it best when he said, “Don’t wish for things to be easier, wish for YOU to be better!” This is advice I think a lot of us could use more in our lives. If you study the law of attraction, you learn that when you worry and focus on your competition, you attract more competition, SO STOP DOING IT! If you subscribe to the idea that there is plenty of whatever it is you do out there for everyone, you stop worrying about competition. When I am out and about … (9 comments)

San Elijo Hills Real Estate - Elite Homes in San Marcos - 12:17 AM
… (1 comments)

Are You Being Ethical in Your Marketing? - 11:37 AM
This is somewhat long, and I suspect it will raise the hackles on some of you. Perhaps not in ways you expect. And certainly there will be question. However I bring this up to illustrate some issues to keep in mind, and to remind us that ethical matters are not always black and white...indeed it is the rare ethics issue that is clear cut.
[for those of you interested in Ethics issues, I previously wrote on Those Silly Rules, a pretty clear cut case of a violation where the agent described the COE as...well, you guessed it]
I sit on a professional … (71 comments)

Condo-Hotel Craze in Miami - 09:00 PM
Condo-Hotels have become extremely popular in the past couple of years because of many reasons and Miami is full of these type of projects in every price range imaginable.
Condo Hotels are usually luxury, high-rise properties in incredible and desirable locations. They are built in great vacation destinations near beaches, casinos, theme parks or golf courses. They are backed and operated by prestigious hospitality companies like Sonesta, Trump, Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and Four Seasons, which makes it desirable for anyone to invest in these type of projects. They also offer great amenities from full-service spas, fine-dining, resort-style pools and great guest … (26 comments)

Finally - Bill Making Mortgage Fraud a Crime - 06:23 AM
Newly approved legislation criminalizes mortgage fraud for the first time in Florida, where the crime has reached epidemic levels in the wake of a real estate boom fueled in part by risky loans. Florida leads the nation in mortgage fraud, and Miami-Dade and Broward counties lead the state. Senate Bill 1824 would make mortgage fraud a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison. If two or more properties are involved, the crime would be a second-degree felony punishable by a possible 15-year sentence. If signed by Gov. Charlie Crist, the law would take effect Oct. 1.
Cases … (5 comments)

Alfred Packer: The Colorado Cannibal - Colorado's Colorful History Revealed - 11:15 PM
Alfred Packer was only one of 3 American men ever, to be imprisoned for cannibalism.
Alfred Packer was a Union Soldier in the US Civil War and was discharged for epilepsy after only a short time in the military. (Per historical rumor: Alfred Packer's real name was spelled A-l-f-r-e-d, but while he was in the service he got a tattoo of his name and the tattoo-ist misspelled it A-l-f-e-r-d. Thinking it was funny, he went most of his life calling himself "Alferd" after his misspelled tattoo.)
Instead of being a soldier, Packer decided to try his luck at prospecting. He left … (9 comments)

Eastern NC Summertime Dessert - 01:34 PM
 
        The Crystal Coast has been a long time favorite for the most delicious Summertime Watermelon.
                    
  I can't think of anywhere else I would rather buy my summertime dessert than from The Guthrie Farm on Highway 24 at Guthrie Farm Rd , in Newport , NC ( Carteret County. )   The Guthrie Family ha been in produce for over 100 years and feel they have sunkissed soil that makes their crops even more delicious!              
                      Summertime Dessert    ..... Eastern NC Style !
 As President of the Bogue Sound Watermelon Growers Association,  Mr. Guthrie has a fresh produce stand this time of year with a parking lot full … (11 comments)

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