Archives of real estate blog entries for January 18, 2008 (Page 5)

Blog posts


Thank You, Eric Bouler! - 08:32 AM
  It's not a great surprise to anyone that the real estate market in New Orleans has its own unique set of challenges in the current marketplace.
And when a market is challenged, where do you turn when you have excellent clients whose son is leaving New Orleans? These folks are lovely-we've worked together on several transactions over the past few years here in Charlotte NC and, well, they love me. =)  They called me when their son in New Orleans needed to sell his home-and they wanted a RE/MAX agent.  (who can blame them?) 
Usually, when I need to send a referral, … (4 comments)

Welcome To My Newest Team Member, Melissa Randolph - 08:59 AM
Give a hearty welcome to my newest buyer specialist, Melissa Randolph.  I'm absolutely delighted to have Melissa as a part of my team.  She has been practicing residential real estate in the Charlotte NC market (particularly in Concord and Cabarrus County) for the past two years. 
Melissa has made the choice to join a team so that she can better focus her efforts on serving buyers, which is her favorite part of reall estate! 
Melissa, her husband and two 12-year old daughters live in Concord.  She understands completely the questions that folks may have about public schools and property taxes-two of the … (10 comments)

Changes to Active Rain Site Search - 10:11 AM
I would like to thank Active Rain for changing the site search engine. Previously everyone was able to search Profiles, Groups, Blogs, and Blog Comments.  The search engine has been changed.
The updated version allows you to enter your search word or phrase and select Search. You can now decide after the search results come up whether to further sort your search by:
BlogsGroupsMembersQuestionsAllI encourage everyone to make use of the search tab on the top menu bar. This is a great tool that you can use to find answers to your questions or search for ideas when you have writers block.
… (16 comments)

How Important is Impact? - 03:33 PM
Many of the new residential offerings have hurricane impact glass and doors more or less as a needed requirement. However, these options create value you may not ever use.  There are countless articles regarding the improvements in products prior to the new building codes being enacted.  Few of the original, older communities in Mediterra have the added protection of hurricane impact glass.  Forward thinking buyers installed upgraded features such as hurricane impact glass providing an added level of assurance when they built their homes.  The initial value of this upgrade could be as much as $50,000 in a residence like Milan. … (0 comments)

Is Real Estate an Investment Any More? - 03:35 PM
Recently I was asked by a radio station to provide some insight into the real estate investor capacity and tolerance level.  The perspective taken was based on my 28 years of successful Real Estate sales, real estate related investment services, and expertise as an investment banker.  They asked what direction the real estate investors are moving these days. 
 
Currently, the so called “new investors” (experienced circa 2004+) are not moving at all and neither is their real estate investments acquired in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  The “real estate investors” are moving, (or returning) to products that do not require … (0 comments)

Countrywide & Mozilo - Should we go back to Western day hangings ??? - 11:27 AM
 
 
I know many of us are probably sick of reading about Countrywide and Angelo Mozilo, but let's take a look behind the scenes. Many of us know that Bank of America will buy Countrywide for 4 Billion dollars, that's if everything goes through. Matt Heaton talks about a break up fee if Bank of America decides to pull out of the deal. But it gets more interesting. Let's take a peek behind the scenes that aren't widely talked about within the media.
 
Did you know :
Mozilo is receiving compensation for his empire that he not only built, but allowed to crumble. … (49 comments)

Top Dog for 2007 - 09:32 PM
In case anyone was interested in what the most popular dog breed was for 2007, it was the Labrador Retriever. I like LABS, I'm not overly fond of being whacked by one of those wagging tails though!
I was a bit disappointed to see my breed the English Springer Spaniel way down at #27. If anyone has ever owned a Springer, you can not imagine your life without one!  To see more Springer Spaniels visit: http://www.springershowcase.com/  you can even check out my boy DOMINO at http://www.springershowcase.com/v9n4fr.htm He's on page 52.
If you want to read DOMINO's life story (he just celebrated his 1st birthday yesterday) with … (0 comments)

10 Best Types of Links - 05:33 PM
From SEO Diva 
Which types of links will help your site the most - give you the most "juice?"
The reality is you need all kinds of links. Google wants natural link building. The way to make your link building natural is to have a mixture of the following types of links, using a variety of keywords:
Authoritative directories with high PR - namely, Yahoo.com* ($299) and Business.com ($199). Links from lesser but still good directories - like JoeAnt.com. Links from free directories, especially those that are specific to your business niche. Paid links (a few) from highly relevant, high traffic sites … (38 comments)

Desert Ridge Market Report 2007 Year End - 09:59 AM
The Year in Review
As we begin a new year, I thought it appropriate to put this past year in real estate into perspective.  The media coverage has been extraordinary, and for the most part negative.  I am not going to tell you that everything is rosy, but the negative media spin tends to lead to a self fulfilling prophecy.  The more negative press, the more people become scared, and the less likely that they will forge ahead with plans. 
The market will continue to suffer through 2008 due to excessive inventory.  This causes many sellers to sell in desperation further lowering … (0 comments)

A Shave amd a Haircut - 07:47 AM
 
In recent years, I have been wanting to be pampered a little more than normal.  I have been getting massages for years.  I used to work with a guy named Bob and his wife Suzi.  He was my sales mentor and she was my life mentor.  I hated to let either of them down.   But, it was they that helped teach me about some of the finer things in life like a good massage and even a manicure.  Well, it has been a while since I got a manicure, but guys don't knock it till you try it.  The pink nail … (3 comments)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Marketing With Your Business Card - 02:08 PM
REALTORS always have plenty of business cards and usually are never shy about handing them out. But..........have you ever developed a real marketing plan for your cards?
Here are some ideas that you might not have already thought of. But before I give you those ideas, lets first discuss your business card and what it says about you.
Is the design of your card a simple corporate design with your photo and all your vital contact information. If the answer is yes, here are some thought provoking questions for you.
What sort of impression does it leave? Pretend for a moment that you … (198 comments)

Your home doesn’t get second chance to make first impression! - 10:43 AM
Home staging is becoming more and more popular as homeowners are learning importance of sprucing up their private residences for the market place.
                      Your home doesn't get second chance to make first impression!
                                                      
   Don't forget goal is to sell a home quickly and for the largest amount possible by attracting as many potential buyers as possible. Staging includes depersonalizing, cleaning taking away clutter and landscaping in an effort to make the home inviting and appealing place to live.
  In today's market when inventory is higher then usual it is very important to stand out and make … (1 comments)

U.S. 70 Bypass of Havelock is coming! - 11:04 AM
 
                                                  
At a meeting Thursday night, officials of the department asked for local help in making the changes safe and attractive. More than 110 residents, who use U.S. 70 as their Main Street, filled the Havelock Tourist and Events Center looking for answers to questions about the state's Super 70 plan. There was a map showing a planned U.S. 70 Bypass of Havelock and property owners will be notified when land acquisition for the bypass begins in 2010. The Transportation Department hopes to start building the bypass in 2015 and have it ready for traffic by 2019. The U.S. 70 … (1 comments)

"How do you know whether interest rates will remain low?" - 12:25 AM
"How do you know whether rates will remain low?"A client of mine asked me that earlier today!  It was a great question!
Rates move daily...but here's how it works... 
Stocks and Bonds compete for the same investment dollar. This means that investors can choose to invest their money in the Bond Market or, they can choose to invest their money in the Stock Market.
When the economy is doing bad, it creates negative consumer sentiment; or in this case, negative investor sentiment. So in the face of negative economic news, such as a poor Jobs Report, investors look for a safe harbor; … (7 comments)

Hot or Not?! - 02:47 PM

So after my post of cardboard furniture for staging, I found cardboard rugs! These rugs are the brain child of Dutch designer Wendy Plomp, whose artist statement is :
“Cardboard is probably the cheapest industrial packaging material available on the market. Any image that is printed onto this typically throwaway material can turn into a streetwise design object; something that can have a glorious second life if left to the street where it can be spontaneously employed in new applications.For instance, it could be reborn as a disposable carpet that could instantly provide you with a clean space wherever you … (6 comments)

Carnival of Real Estate Home Staging Deadline This Sunday! - 08:42 PM
EVERYONE can submit as long as the subject matter pertains to staging. 
 
Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of real estate home staging using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. All the past editions are also archived at the new site: corehs.info. Feel free to join the network on the site
To submit to future issues of Carnival of Real Estate Home Staging, do one of the two things here:
1. via blog carnival
2. via email to corehs@staged4more.com. If submit via email, please include:
Article … (0 comments)

You like me, you really like me! THANK YOU! - 02:44 PM
oops that's a different award.  : )  If you know the origin of that comment, you can guess my age. 
Truthfully it is my honor to have been nominated in the category of Staging Realtor of the YEAR 2007.   Thanks Chris for the thank you blog while awaiting my return from Denver this past week.  I didn't want anyone to think I was not surprised, honored and pleased that I won... Grateful for the validation from my peers, clients and friends. 
First I have to say the company I keep is quite awesome. 
Missy Caulk of Michigan, "I used to ask my clients to … (10 comments)

Throw Out That Business Plan - 07:26 AM
 
       How many times have you talked to someone who has said "I would like to buy a house someday."            Dream or goal?
       DREAM
A Dream is a desire lacking a plan.
     "I plan to buy a home for under $250,000 by Decmeber of 2008."
        Goal- It has a specific time frame attached to it.
A goal is specific in nature.  Too often people are sidelined by dreams thinking they are goals and fail to accomplish them.   They fail primarily because they do not have a working plan which will allow them succeed.
           An open ended question
 "How much money would you like to make"? Can actually … (27 comments)

VILLA SOL- KISSIMMEE FLORIDA - 04:04 PM
Yearning for Mediterranean living?  Seeking the sanctuary of a Village but need the conveniences of great shops, restaurants and convenient location close to Orlando?  Then discover the hidden gem in Kissimmee, Florida.  What lies behind the gates is a sprawling TownHome Community offering tranquil sunset walks, a fitness center, a community pool, and access to East Lake Toho.  There are basketball courts, tennis courts, and the convenience of Townhome Living. 
Inland Homes a leading builder of quality Townhomes has reduced prices.  Origianlly in the mid 200's these fabulous spacious, high volumn celing townhomes are spacious, well designed and offer 3 bedrooms … (2 comments)

Fine Dining At A Modest Price...Ridgewood Restaurant Week - 07:13 PM
Come one, come all....for great food and friends at a reasonable price.  Ridgewood, New Jersey's Restaurant Week 2008 has almost arrived!  The event kicks off on Thursday, January 28th and runs until January 31st than again on February 4th thru the 7th.  For these eight days, participating restaurants in Ridgewood will offer patrons a special three course menu all for the price of $20.08...notice the 2008 resemblence?
Participating restaurants include:
Blend Restaurant,  Café Tulip, Dim Sum Dynasty, GEN Hibachi & Asian Cuisine, It's Greek To Me, LaCambusa, LaPiazza Bistro Italiano, Latour, A French American Grill, Lisa's Turkish Kitchen, Mediterraneo Restaurant, Natalie's Special Café, The Office Bear Bar & Grill, Sushi Sakurabana, Wasabi Restaurant, … (0 comments)

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