Archives of real estate blog entries for January 1, 2008

Featured blog posts


2007 Active Rain Year in Review – A Hawaii REALTOR’S® Perspective - 03:51 PM
                                                                  
I was quite honored to be asked to participate in the 2007 year in review.  2007 is the first complete year for Active Rain.  It was a wonderful year and I look forward to being part of many more with Active Rain.
Many of us find this forum to be such a terrific way of sharing knowledge with other top professionals in the real estate industry and a great way for the public to find us and check us out.
Let's start with some of the 2007 events here on Active Rain that stood out in my mind:
The First (?) ActiveRain Meme - … (62 comments)

Active Rain YEAR IN REVIEW 2007 ~by janeAnne "Greenolina" - 03:48 PM
Trends, "Green" Horizons, & Thanks, Active Rain    IF you are like me, a fast-track to real estate news and views is a big "Plus"- one "Plus" I've appreciated since I joined  Active Rain  back when there were just a few thousand members. Another "Plus"- connecting.  I love to "listen" to the authentic voices/opinions of our colleagues. Come to think of it, the various Groups at AR remind me of charrettes where conversations can turn into action- particularly conversations about the red-hot  and mighty "green scene".  
There's a lot happening here at AR. Given this, when I was asked to write AR's 2007 (Green)Year in Review and highlight just … (62 comments)

2008 Open Source Business Planning Day - This Friday, Jan 4th - 03:52 PM
Do you have a business plan for the New Year?
If you do already have a plan, would you like free feedback from practicing real estate professionals around North America?
If you don't have one yet would you like some help getting started?
If you answered yes to either of the last two questions please consider participating in AR's 2008 Open Source Business Planning day, being held this Friday.
This Friday featured post positions will be reserved for blog posts by AR members that detail their 2008 business plans. 
Instructions:
1. Please tag your business plan posts: "2008 business plan". 
2. Feel free to publish your … (56 comments)

Real Estate Resolutions for Home Buyers, Sellers and Investors - 02:32 PM
 
2007 brought a changed real estate market to Minneapolis, St. Paul and the extended Twin Cities suburbs. Home sellers counted market time in months rather than days. Home buyers stayed hidden in the woodwork in the first six months of the year. Those who ventured out to open houses or showings with real estate agents were often confused by the smorgasbord of properties available. In every price range and most locations there were several OPTIONS. Town homes, single family, split levels, ramblers, two stories, remodels, foreclosures, short sales and new construction.As a Realtor serving Anoka County, Ham Lake and communities in … (41 comments)

Active Rain Year in Review...12 Significant Trends & Real Estate Issues! - 07:07 AM
In a remarkable way, 2007 has been an extreme year. I was asked to write this "Year In Review" by Jennifer Fivelsdal. It was an exciting challenge to be asked to share my personal perspective on significant events and issues that were reflective of the real estate community and the Active Rain network.
Personally, it was a year which fast forwarded my learning curve into stratospheric dimensions. This year I started Blogging in earnest, served on the a Special Task Force to understand and advise our local Board on the Foreclosure/Short Sale crisis and served on the Professional Standards Committee.  Each of those assignments … (80 comments)

ActiveRain 2007 Year In Review...My Virtual Classroom by Monika McGillicuddy - 07:06 AM

Welcome to the ActiveRain Virtual Classroom 2007... 
One of the greatest benefits of being an Active Rain member is the incredible amount of learning that happens nearly every time you log on.
For me, from the get go Active Rain filled a void. When I joined in November of 2006 I was suddenly able to learn from about 9,000 other professionals, all for free and all on my own terms.
It was an eye opener to say the least. I was able to learn from their mistakes and from their success stories. My mind expanded to a degree I never … (53 comments)

Activerain Year In Review - 07:07 AM
I joined Activerain in December of 2006, so not one of the first to join; but in Activerain months, I guess I am old.
Jennifer Fivelsdal invited me to contribute to the Year in Review for 2007 for the Activerain Community.
There are dozens of posts that have been paramount in growing my business this year and with the 15 or so of us contributing, I encourage everyone to follow all the links and see what you may have missed out on, or what you can implement in 2008. I spent hours, a few weeks ago, going through all my bookmarks. That was … (107 comments)

ActiveRain 2007 Year in Review - Home Staging Edition - 03:48 PM
I was invited to write a Home Staging Year in Review by Jennifer Fivelsdal.  It was an honor to be included in this project. To will find all of the posts at the ActiveRain 2007 Year In Reviewgroup home - have fun reading this ambitious AR summary.
A year ago there were only about 100 home stagers on Active Rain, today we are over 1600 strong. Active Rain has given us a voice in the real estate community and for this we are grateful.  
The home staging industry is in its infancy and we are dedicated to changing the way homes … (41 comments)

Active Rain - 2007, and beyond - 03:51 PM
I did not have time to include Canada in this but will as soon as I have time.
Active Rain is about member generated content.  Without the content there is no Active Rain.  I thought I would take a look at who we are and where we live.  The number in, or near each state represents the number of Active Rain members in those states.  The red numbers are to highlight the states that have more than 2000 members.

Since membership varies from state to state the number of points needed to be number one in each state also varies.  Of the … (60 comments)

To TEAM or NOT to Team... - 02:39 PM
Years ago, I started in this business working as a partner purchasing corporate housing, renovating, then immediately 'flipping' the homes.  We had a fantastic time doing it and I was in the best shape of my life!  My partner moved and I wound up working alone and didn't really enjoy it as much. 
I then, thought it would be a great idea to partner up with a relative who was in the business part-time--we had a great time together and I couldn't have imagined being partners with anyone else!  She would give me the leads, help when I needed it...WHOA...that's not quite … (68 comments)

Pre-Listing Appointment - 02:36 PM
Good Morning Active Rain Friends and Collegues...
One of my goals this year is to segway into the listing appointment by presenting a pre-listing package. (At this point I am not interested in doing the whole CD Rom thing since I am starting out with my idea). I am a no pressure agent and pretty much know off the bat if I would have a good working relationship with the seller. In that being said, I finally feel confident in the pre-listing appointment. But I think I might be like a lot of agents feeling it is best to write up the … (30 comments)

Happy 2008! A brief look back and forward - 02:30 PM
 
I would like to take a minute or two (as we are less than two hours away from the new year here in Texas) to wish all of my Active Rain friends and subscribers a very happy new year!  I look forward to more networking and fun here on AR in 2008.  I don't really have a well-planned message for this post, which is frankly very typical of the way that I compose my blog.
In nearly five months on Active Rain, I have made some friends that make me laugh so hard that I feel like I am in grade school again, … (46 comments)


Blog posts


The top 4 secrets to acheive SUPER blog post success! - 04:32 AM
This is blogging baby; not research paper or novel time. Blog readers skim hundreds of posts looking for the ones that promise to give them what they want. Use the following secrets to let them know that yours is the post they should be reading! 
1. Use the Title to tell the reader up front what they are going gain by reading your blog post.
2. Use the first line of the post to tell them again what they are going to gain by reading your post.
3. Use a captivating picture that somehow associates with your post. Ideally it gives the reader some … (35 comments)

My name is Jonathan Washburn and I have BCD (Blogger Comment Disorder) - 03:42 PM
It's true.  I violate the #1 rule of blogging. The rule that is even more important on ActiveRain where community is so important.
I really can't help it. 
I try so hard, but I just can't seem to bring myself to comment on my own posts!
When I do follow the post and comment like I should, the experience consumes me, and before I know it I give up on blogging.
I have a really tough time looking at the work that I put out. I am pretty tough on myself and commenting on my own posts requires that I go back and … (25 comments)

2008 Open Source Business Planning Day - This Friday, Jan 4th - 03:52 PM
Do you have a business plan for the New Year?
If you do already have a plan, would you like free feedback from practicing real estate professionals around North America?
If you don't have one yet would you like some help getting started?
If you answered yes to either of the last two questions please consider participating in AR's 2008 Open Source Business Planning day, being held this Friday.
This Friday featured post positions will be reserved for blog posts by AR members that detail their 2008 business plans. 
Instructions:
1. Please tag your business plan posts: "2008 business plan". 
2. Feel free to publish your … (56 comments)

Midori's Way Of Change...Implementing It One Task At A Time! - 02:49 PM
Every year I go away for a planning session a retreat..a goal setting getaway.  One of the things I have noticed that each year gets better.  Regardless of what is going on in my life, it seems each and every year I am better prepared.  In my mind, its just gets better.

These planning sessions allow me to take a hard look at my flaws and my mistakes that I have made throughout the year.  Things I would rather recognize and adjust now before a customer points it out to me.  dig deep...to find the flaws...to see the mistakes.. recognize it.... … (22 comments)

Slippery Slope of forcasting for 2008 - Real Estate is Local..... - 02:01 PM
According to RISMEDIA "total existing home sales - including single- family, town homes, condominiums and co-ops rose 0.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.00 million units in November from an upwardly revised paces of 4.98 million in October, but are 20.0% below the 6.25 million unit level in November 2006.  Lawrence Yun, NAR (National Association of Realtors) chief economist, said the market appears to be stabilizing.
"Near term, existing-home sales should continue to hover in a narrow range, just as they have since September, and that's good news because it'll be a further sign that the housing market is stabilizing," … (1 comments)

A New Year Snap Shot of the Hemet CA Real Estate Market - ACTIVE LISTINGS - 08:02 PM
It seems as if I am keeping up with a newly established "New Year Tradition" or analyzing data from the MLS to get an understanding of where the market has been, where it is today so that I can do my best to stay ahead of the curve in order to best serve my real estate clients - whether they be first time home buyers, sellers, investors or someone who is in trouble with their mortgage.As I dig deeper into the data, I will be releasing information that I find interesting.  As of this point, I have downloaded both the SoCalMLS … (6 comments)

Adams Morgan - 10:06 PM
 
 This is Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan is probably the most culturally diverse community in the District. The 18th Street corridor is lined with restaurants, nightclubs, coffee houses, bars, bookstores, art galleries and unique specialty shops. The restaurants offer cuisine from just about everywhere in the world from Ethiopia and Vietnam to Latin America and the Caribbean.
 Adams Morgan is also home to some of DC's liveliest nightlife. Weekends find sidewalks filled with young professionals. Several of the clubs feature live entertainment. There is no metro stop in Adams Morgan but there are public garages within walking distance of most attractions.
Housing in Adams Morgan is at … (2 comments)

DC is My Kind of Town - 10:38 PM
 
I was born in Washington, DC.  My parents had an apartment in Cleveland Park on Porter Street. Later, they moved us to a wonderful row house on Lanier Place in Adams Morgan. I have moved here and there as an adult. I have realized one major thing, you can take the man out of the city...but you can never take the city out of the man.
As a boy, I played stick ball in the alleys of Adams Morgan.  Summers were filled with expeditions in Rock Creek Park, visits to the zoo and day trips to Griffith Stadium. I have had the … (2 comments)

Marion Barry....Thank You - 11:03 PM
Marion BarryWe have never officially met face to face. That is more my fault than yours. You have been accessible, I have never had the courage to just walk up and tell you "Thanks".
I grew up in the city. When I was still a boy, my parents bought a home out in the country. It was on Georgia Avenue and I always found comfort in the fact that the road in front of my house would take me right to Griffith Stadium or the Wonder Bread bakery across the street from the stadium.
I was just an oblivious teenager when I … (16 comments)

Happy 2008 everyone! - 08:37 AM
Just thought I'd take a few moments to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I know some of you have had a tough 2007 and now that's over with, perhaps it's time to greet the new year with a new and positive attitude.
My 2007 was certainly filled with some challenges. I had back surgery which went well, but the hospital made a real good effort to kill me after it was over. I was down for three months instead of two weeks and that was not easy. But I never lost the smile on my face or the song in my … (21 comments)

WordPress.org One Click Install - 10:50 AM
Disclaimer:  Although I know all kinds of TypePad stuff, I am a total beginner in WordPress.  But as I learn things, I am sharing them here.  (Make that writing them down here in AR so I don't forget them.)
In fact, my poor brain has processed so much in the last 48 hours that it may overheat.
As things would have it, I ended with some unused web space on MidPhase, a web hosting company.  I thought, cool, maybe I'll try to install a WordPress.org blog there.
Googling around, I learned that MidPhase offers One-Click WordPress installation with Fantastico.  OK, I didn't know what … (13 comments)

Area home sales, prices continue to rise - 07:37 AM
Another positive article in today's newspaper states that area home sales and prices continue to rise. 
"November is the third consecutive month that home sales and prices have exceeded the previous month."
"The median price of an existing home in Bradenton-Sarasota was $267,700 in November, $3,600 higher than it was just one month before."
"The biggest positive price jump in 2007 occurred between September and October, where median sales prices increased by nearly $20,000."
The article also states that prices aren't going to continue to grow by "leaps and bounds" this year, but at a more normal slow pace upward. 
Since our market was … (2 comments)

From Single to Team to Single Again - 09:39 AM
In 2000 when I turned 50, some friends gave me golf lessons for my birthday.  I think they were trying to tell me I was working way too hard and I needed to have more fun. They were right... So I decided to take golf lessons AND build a team.  After 23 years, I had a great business and the ability to generate more leads than I could handle.  My team was formed and during the past 7 years, I've had great success with buyer specialists and a full time "Client Care Manager".  And I had time to do some golfing.
Today I become single again.  Today I … (44 comments)

Santa Cruz, California welcomes the minimum wage increase. - 03:19 PM
Santa Cruz, California welcomes the minimum wage increase.
 Living is Santa Cruz, California is easy and difficult. The lifestyle is easy, but the cost of living makes it difficult for the entry level worker. The California state law went into effect today, January 1,2008 to raise the minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $ 8.00. While this seems like a big increase, and nearly 1.5 million Californians will benefit from this, it is not enough to live on in most parts of California.
Wait people often get income above this due to good service whereby they receive tips, but … (0 comments)

Price of Gas... Thoughts for 2008 - 12:59 PM
I know many of you may have seen this before, but it's just a quick reminder. I have heard that in Europe and the Middle-East, gas prices are upwards of $5.00 (US) per gallon .
Think a gallon of gas is expensive? This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective.
Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ...... $10.32 per gallon Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ...........$9.52 per gallon Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 .... $10.17 per gallon Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 ......... $10.00 per gallon Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ........... $33.60 per gallon Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 ... $178.13 per … (0 comments)

Baby Boomer Statistics - 01:13 PM
If you're thinking of a niche to target in 2008, this might help spur on some thoughts:
As published in "The Power Broker - Network Report" by RISMedia Vol. 2/Issue 12 December 2007 www.rismedia.com
The Huge Impact of Baby Boom Retirements:
Some current National Trends for Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964)
Total population: Nearly 80 million
Median Age:  50, 46% are still in their 40's
First wave turns 62 next year: 3.2 million - 365 an hour (49% of men & 53% of women plan to choose early, reduced Social Security)
37% live in suburbs; 24% in cities; 40% in small towns or rural areas
78% own a … (0 comments)

Suggested Reading for 2008 - 01:21 PM
"The Angel Inside" written by Chris Widener
This is a quick, easy read!  A friend of mine in the Seattle area gave this to me on my last visit.  He didn't say much about the book, but just handed me a copy.
I started reading it a month or so ago & I just finished it this morning. Short & powerful, this book talks about creating a Life of Power and Beauty and following your passion, after determining what it is; to set fear aside and ask some basic, simple questions of yourself.
It's all of 111 pages; most could probably read it in a … (0 comments)

Tracking Your Business.. Thoughts? - 01:33 PM
I have kept a spreadsheet for every real estate transaction since I got into the business in 1996.
These last few years, I have tried to break-out from where each sale came from.  I have used categories such as: Past Client, Sphere of Influence, Ad Call, Sign Call, FSBO, etc.
A couple of years ago, I added a category; "Market recognition".. I would ask peole where they got my name or number and they have simply said, "I see you all over town, in ads, on signs, you're everywhere", so I couldn't pinpoint the real source.
the indirect, "campaign" marketing does pay off. You may … (8 comments)

Wishing You a Healthy and Prosperous 2008 - 09:06 AM
Wishing all of you ...... and a Prosperous and Healthy 2008!We are thankful and feel blessed that we have survived 2007 and despite it's many challenges have finished strong.  We now look forward in 2008 as we have planned and are in the process of implementing many exciting enhancements to continue expanding our effective market coverage and increasing our ability to provide the best service to you!So stay tuned and hold on, we're just getting started!Visit my web site for additional services and support: LawrenceYerkes.com   and visit Besthomes-NJ.com to shop for the latest New Jersey Real Estate property listings (Residential, Commercial, Multi-Family, Farm, Land).    Copyright 2007 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights … (0 comments)

HDTV and HD Broadcasting State of the Art - 12:23 PM
For Christmas, I purchased a new High Definition TV (HDTV) for our home.  Up to this time we had a large, but older analog TV which had been fine, but lately the picture was deteriorating and everyone was starting to complain.We had some smaller LCD TV screens that had HD viewing capabilities, but it was hard to tell the difference because of the size of the screen and their HD display limitations.We have HD digital cable subscription service into our home so all the available HD signals for our area were already accessible though the cable control box.After setting up the HDTV unit late on … (0 comments)

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