Archives of real estate blog entries for September 7, 2007 (Page 1)

Blog posts


Getting the Most out of Your Rain - 06:24 PM
The ActiveRain Real Estate Network is here to help connect real estate professionals to each other, and also to real estate consumers.  While connecting to consumers seems obvious to most, many people have a hard time understanding that why real estate professionals would need or want to connect to each other.  I believe that it's more important than most people realize.Today, through technology it's easier than ever to live in a disconnected world.  With fax, internet, and email, we have many conveniences that help us get through transactions.  We have more freedom to do things on our terms, on our time-line, … (2 comments)

Getting the Most out of Your Rain - 06:24 PM
The ActiveRain Real Estate Network is here to help connect real estate professionals to each other, and also to real estate consumers.  While connecting to consumers seems obvious to most, many people have a hard time understanding that why real estate professionals would need or want to connect to each other.  I believe that it's more important than most people realize.Today, through technology it's easier than ever to live in a disconnected world.  With fax, internet, and email, we have many conveniences that help us get through transactions.  We have more freedom to do things on our terms, on our time-line, … (41 comments)

Attending the Louisiana REALTORS® Meeting Sept 20th - 06:40 PM
I'll be at the Baton Rouge LRA meeting I look forward to meeting any AR Members there. … (2 comments)

Nancy Dance..You Inspire Me...Happy Birthday! - 10:38 AM

I can remember my first encounter with Nancy Dance!  She actually hired me word of mouth. 
That's right, she did not know me from Adam.
I can remember sitting with her and Nancy-Ellen Otte in the conference room of the Ormond Beach office and feeling their positive energy.
Yes, I knew right off the bat, I wanted to be part of this great company!
You see when I relocated from Pompano Beach, Florida and moved to Daytona Beach I was in a very dark place.  A place I wish no one to be. 
Life events caused me to move...move for my own survival.  In 2001 my sister passed away … (24 comments)

Blessings in small doses - 09:02 PM
Today I find myself at the "Bright and Bold" in Renton, a coin laudromat where I wash towels, casual wear and intimates in light of the plumbing problem in my new home's laundry room. It's near possible to locate a coin laundry in Bellevue (but no problem at all to find cleaners who are willing to do laundry service. However either I'm a prude or it's just too weird to have someone else do my intimates). I've been thinking about just how blessed we are. I could compare myself to the next person, to either feel good about what I have … (17 comments)

What is my blog all about? Is it Real Estate? Is it SEO? Is it personal? Or is it…? - 11:45 PM
What is my blog all about?   Is it Real Estate?  Is it SEO? Is it personal? Or is it...?   by John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTORMission Grove Realty 
I am often asked where do I get my ideas from to blog about?  I am told that it seems as if I never run out of good ideas and I have been told that my blog articles are always somehow relevant to the current world of real estate.
                                                         You have to realize, that when I blog, I do so for a reason.  Yes, there are times when I may cut loose on a … (23 comments)

Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in the Washington DC area - 12:30 PM
This is a contest entry to the The Active Rain Buyer Challenge
Dear Ms. Hilton,
I received your request for information regarding your pending move to the Washington, DC area. There is a lot to share and I hope to cover the pertinent points with this letter. Should I fail to cover something that you have a question about, feel free to give me a call and I will answer any questions. I understand that you have a very busy schedule and I will make every effort to be available at times that are convenient to you.
You mentioned that you plan to … (16 comments)

Help !!!!! - 12:53 PM
I am caught in the short end of one contingent two sided deal that is on the ropes. My clients will not proceed unless they have an offer on one of these units by Monday. I am just taking a shot in the dark with hopes that one of you might have a buyer. Thanks.
Shadywood   $200,000
3860 Shadywood Dr 2D Jefferson MD
PRICED UNDER FHA AND CONFORMING GUIDELINES! Closing help available. Home features 2 nice-size bedrooms, separate dining area and open kitchen. Washer/dryer in unit. Well-cared for home in a great neighborhood. Tot-lot park steps from front door. Don't miss it!
Virtual tour … (0 comments)

Richardson TX Schools Rated "Recognized" for Second Straight Year - 10:13 AM
The Richardson Independent School District in Richardson, TX (some residents in Dallas, TX) have achieved the "Recognized" status for its second straight year.  This is very hard to do.  Richardson is the largest urban district in the state of Texas to achieve this accomplishment!!
Each year, the different campuses, Elementary, Junior, and High Schools, are all ranked based on the TAKS Test (Texas Assessment of KNowledge and Skills).  There are 24 rated categories throughout the tests and each category must be passed by each student group in order for the school to pass in order for the district to pass.
In addition to this … (0 comments)

Richardson TX National Night Out Results are In - 10:25 AM
Each year, the second Tuesday of August, the country celebrates National Nite Out.  NNO helps neighbors get together and get to know each other, and in turn, this is supposed to help promote safer neighborhoods as people start looking out for their neighbors and new friends.
I was on the Social Committee in my neighborhood this year, and it was a blast!  We had 51% of our neighborhood present, which is huge!  We have Crime Watch signs up throughout the neighborhood and one of the criteria to keep those signs is that we must show at least a 40% attendence at the … (2 comments)

Pulling a Response Out of An Agent - 06:26 PM
I find myself in unfamiliar territory currently.  I've traditionally been more of a buyers agent than a sellers agent.  That seems to be changing with the day.  Currently I have three properties about to go under contract and am only working with a few buyers.  I've found the frustration on the other side of the rainbow....
I received a call from an agent on Tuesday evening while I was at an open house for my son.  I called back as soon as possible, answered his questions and he stated he would be putting an offer in on the property the next day.  … (13 comments)

Market Report for B/CS August 2007 - 08:15 PM
In August the Bryan-College Station MLS reported 318 closed sales.
539 new listings came on the market for a total of 1217 active residential listings.
The average sales price was $163,637 and the average days on the market were 109.
The greatest concentration of closed homes occurred in the 120K-139Kprice range.  A range I've been watching for months.  We had 54 single family and 7 condominiums or town-homes close in August for a total of 61 closings.  There are 173 active listings in this category.  35% of our active listings sold in August in this price range!  Even a better percentage closed if you … (4 comments)

So how ethical are you? Stewart Title is apparently a lot less ethical than me! - 07:31 AM
It constantly amazes me that Realtors are happy to accept gifts from title companies, mortgage brokers, home inspection companies and even home warranty companies. There is only one figure that is acceptable - $0!
I set my office policy and on the odd occasion when someone does send us something two things happen. We send it back and we tear up their business cards. I make a point of informing my buyers and sellers that whenever we suggest they use someone it is because we think they will do a good job and not because some magic Dollar amount will appear in … (11 comments)

Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Orlando - 12:58 PM
Hey Paris - THIS IS HOT! I'm talking about the weather, the City and the home you just have to buy because it's so cute!
Remember when you said "The way I see it, you should live everyday like its your birthday"? Well today is your birthday and you'll be pleased to know there's no bars on the windows and plenty of room in the grounds for you to drive around as drunk as you like without being stopped and having to say "Thank you, officer. We love the police." as you did so recently.
OK - I know the attention span isn't … (1 comments)

Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Orlando - 01:01 PM
Hey Paris - THIS IS HOT! I'm talking about the weather, the City and the home you just have to buy because it's so cute!
Remember when you said "The way I see it, you should live everyday like its your birthday"? Well today is your birthday and you'll be pleased to know there's no bars on the windows and plenty of room in the grounds for you to drive around as drunk as you like without being stopped and having to say "Thank you, officer. We love the police." as you did so recently.
OK - I know the attention span isn't … (17 comments)

Marco Island | Week in Review - 07:22 PM
Ok, why is a Realtor from Celebration Florida writing about Marco Island?  Because I used to work and live on Marco Island and I still have ties to the community!    This week I posted a few articles about Marco Island and as a regular feature David Podgursky posted too!
The Olde Marco Island Inn & Suites and Marco Beach Ocean Resort are two Condo Hotels on Marco Island.Rising in popularity is an alternative to timeshares - Condo Hotels. Condo Hotel are rising in popularity, especially in areas like ours!  Read more at Marco Island | What is a Condo Hotel?
Adjustable Rate … (4 comments)

Attention ActiveRain Members that are Vendors/Service Providers - 07:42 PM
 
 Do you provide a service or are a vendor to Realtors in the support of selling their listings.  I need your help.  I am thinking:
Visual Tour, Video TourFlyer CompaniesStaging CompaniesSpiritually RelatedMortgage/Title CompaniesDon't let this list limit you, you think you might have something to offer, let me know... 
Interested in being part of a future contest here at ActiveRain?  
I have a contest that I am working on that will take a look at creative ways to getting a listing sold.  
So why am I looking for vendors?  I was approached by one vendor and I need to connect a few others to … (3 comments)

To Cart or Not to Cart - 01:36 AM
Okay, it's no secret.  We're all trying to separate ourselves from the pack in the local market.  After all, everyone knows someone who knows a Realtor® And, while my work ethic of "I'm only as good as my last transaction" always keeps "I'm here to look after my client's best interests, provide them with the best service available" at the forefront my mind is great; it helps me to show my clients I care, and, more often than not, I eventually get a referral...
Operative word: "eventually."
Yes, word of mouth is the best advertising you can ask for because A) It's from … (3 comments)

A Sign of the Times - 01:47 PM
Here's a question I'm really interested to hear some feedback on.
Your yard signs... whose number is on it, yours, or your brokers?
In my office, there's sort of a hierarchy system in place.  The agents who've been in the office for X amount of time, they're allowed to have their direct line on their signs.
Newer agents are not.
No one is allowed to put their home office number on their signs, and, for someone who works from home, I can tell you checking 3 or 4 different voice-mails IS a hassle.  But having come from a management background, I understand the thinking here... sorta.
Any thoughts? 
… (6 comments)

A Newbie Worth His Salt - 03:02 PM
Well, I'm happy to see we now have Mr. Michael Boito amongst our ranks as a Hermosa Beach local.
Not only is Mike a great guy and a creative, aggressive lender, he's a former client of mine.  I listed and sold his condo out in Studio City, and helped Mike and his beautiful wife Jen find the town house in which they now reside, about 2 blocks from the water in Hermosa.
In today's mortgage market, where low FICO scores and minimal down payments are often deal killers, call Mike.  If anyone can get a tough loan done in today's market, Mike's your man!
… (3 comments)

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