Archives of real estate blog entries for February 27, 2008

Featured blog posts


Why are you Still Over Pricing Your House? - 10:37 AM
Why are you still over pricing your house even after all the education I try to give and explain? Over pricing will get you no where.  It might get people in the door since people are looking in all types of price ranges, but as soon as they walk in, they'll say, "This house is not anywhere near a $350k house in this neighborhood, how could they price it at $369,900?"
The answer, the owners are investors and they're in the RED.  Do I care they're in the red?  Does a prospective buyer care they're in the red?  Isn't the best way … (58 comments)

Active Rain Strikes Again - 07:47 PM
We are currently working on my second and third deal thanks to active rain.  You guys keep blogging and answering comments and you will get calls also.  I don't write fancy blogs with pictures and graphs.  But I sure seem to get a lot of contacts from them.  Just set aside fifteen minutes a day and be consistent and watch the results. … (41 comments)

How To Maximize Your Income and Minimize Your Liability as a Real Estate Professional - 07:30 PM
Allow me to introduce myself; I’m the XBanker – a business-financing insider, shedding some light on the murky world of small business lending and business credit. This is the first post in a 4 part series focusing on business strategies for Real Estate Professionals.
Tom Peters’ article in Fast Company several years ago: The Brand Called You, had a drastic impact on my life and career. I quit looking at myself as an employee and instead as an independent business and brand. I highly recommend this article to everyone, regardless of career. Since branding isn’t my bag – I’m not going … (23 comments)

Mark Your Calendars - Portland RE Meetup - 11:41 AM
Reposted from Future of Real Estate Marketing but I wanted to let everyone in the AR community know about this too...
Portland RE Meetup - 6pm March 28,2008
We blog, we Twitter, we IM, we Facebook and ActiveRain with each other - so why not meet in person? Let’s have a few beers and talk Internet and Web 2.0, markets and marketing, Zillow and Trulia, Roost and Frontdoor, blogging and social media.
Ron Ares and I have been talking for a while about organizing a gathering of tech savvy or tech interested Oregon/SW Washington based Realtors, lending, title and technology professionals.
So I’ve … (5 comments)

Timing is Everything! - 04:27 PM
I was asked recently to talk a bit about how I fell into giving seminars... and like most good things, it is a story of waiting for the starts to align. 
As anyone whose heard me speak before knows, I came into real estate in the most roundabout way...   I started Rain City Guide about three years ago as a way to market my wife's (brand new) real estate business.   
The site got so popular, so fast, that I started giving seminars (or as we called them, Bloginars) with one of the contributors named Russ Cofano.   I had a blast … (24 comments)

The “No Significant Impact” Mantra – or why do all EIS reports for new construction sing the same song? - 09:28 PM
Having lived in a city that has undergone explosive growth over the past few years, I have become more than a little cynical about how we evaluate the potential environmental impact of each new development.  Am I being fair?  Why am I such a big cynic?  Well when every EIS (environmental impact statement) is exactly the same you must forgive me if I have a few “issues.” About 18 months ago I was sitting at a City Council meeting where a developer was trying to diffuse fears about a new project that was technically in a close-in residential neighborhood but on … (15 comments)

How to Insert and Align Photos in Your ActiveRain Posts - Not Just for Newbies! - 08:06 PM
I am relatively sure that someone has written about this subject in the past, but I have had a number of people call and email me asking how to insert and layout pictures here on our ActiveRain posts lately.  I have also seen a good number of posts that seem as though they could use this knowledge, so I thought this would be some good information to share. 
To begin, click on the small tree icon at the top of the blog entry box:

Once you click this, a window will open that looks like this:

 
You can see that there … (149 comments)

When Is Enough Enough? - 08:07 PM
So, I went and did a listing on Monday afternoon. I came back to my home office, started up my computer and got busy. First putting it into our local MLS, then point 2 and craigslist. Ooppps! out of time. Then yesterday, after my morning date with the coffee and Activerain, I started again. Zillow, zadzoo, seealllistings, uslister, a couple of blogs, and on, and on, and on. I was glued to the computer all day just to advertise one listing. Not that I mind. I didn't have anything else on my schedule other than a few phone calls.
It makes my clients happy to … (74 comments)

Expired Listings - - Should We Leave them Dead? - 08:07 PM
When I first began in real estate my team leader was real gung ho on going after expired listings. I did very well with them, but some of them you should leave dead and buried. My team leaders thing was get a listing...she didn't care if it had been on the market 2 years with 5 different agents or not. Any listing is better than no listing according to her. Eventually, every home will sell. But, is it worth it?
 There are a lot of things to consider when soliciting expireds...are you sure they've really expired? It's always a good reminder that … (102 comments)


Blog posts


H& R Block - Where Are These People? - 01:01 PM

I've used H&R Block for about 15 years to file my taxes. Each year I paid the extra money for the assurance they offered that if ever I had an issue with the IRS, they would come to my defense.
About a year ago here came the IRS, claiming I had over-reported the amount of interest we paid on one of our mortgages. I believe the interest came to about 14k and I sent in the correct forms from the lender to show that when we filed. Problem was, in the middle of the year in dispute we had refinanced. Now, … (6 comments)

Building Your Life Around Mass Transit - 07:34 PM
 
In recent months I've had many younger clients that are actually designing their life around mass transit. They want homes that are within walking distance of some of Washington's newest mass transit hubs. One such hub is the beautiful new Kent Station; the station offers restaurants, theaters, shopping, and dining.
There are still many affordable homes within a half mile radius of Kent Station, starting at around 300k. Many young clients have determined that sitting in traffic burning gas at almost $4.00 per gallon (and it's not getting cheaper) is the way of the past. By living close to the major … (9 comments)

Hey Is That Antman? Cre8buzz Interview With Mashable. Brilliant Marketing! - 06:12 AM
So who is the Antman?...can't say for sure who he is. Watch this interview and check out this brilliant marketing.

Yes I have a thing for the Antman and all the community members of Cre8buzz...so call this an official shoutout to all my friends on Cre8buzz...and look for my interview with the Cre8buzz crew.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Midori Miller and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty. Midori Miller and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content … (10 comments)

Boomers or (Nexers) Making This "The Time Of Their Lives" - 07:22 AM
This is creating a whole new market for developers and suppliers of home building products. Boomers want and are willing to pay for conveniences, such as touch activated controls for home systems and luxury bathrooms.   This generation is not afraid to make its voice heard and for those who pay attention this could be a beautiful thing.
Two new Active Adult communities are being built in Orange CT, Fieldstone Village by Rt. 34 and Grassy Hill Road and Lakeside Village on Orange Center Rd South.
To read the full story please visit our CTHomeTeamBlog.
… (1 comments)

School Information is One of the Top Concerns for Buyers--Seattle Elem. Open Enrollment Ends at Midnight 2/29/08. - 01:19 PM

I have just gotten off of the telephone with an office worker at one of the Seattle elementary schools and she told me that the “open enrollment” for elementary school for the year 2008-2009 ends at midnight on February 29, 2008.  The guidebook says:  their fax machine will be on until midnight—postmarks do not count.  Go to the guidebook link and you will find helpful information including checklists to help you do so.  The first link is where you will find enrollment forms etc.
Schooling is one of the top concerns buyers have when they are searching for a home.  Jesse and … (0 comments)

Is the Agent Holding the Open House Representing the Seller or the Potential Buyer? - 09:33 PM

At what point does the Agent showing the open house stop representing the seller and start representing the potential client?  If it is not your listing, what can you say about how you feel it is priced?  How about if you have a number of other listings of available properties in a book to show people when they come in--is that still representing the seller?
Just some questions that popped into my mind. 
Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. Just click on the blue "homes search" button and then click on the area you … (5 comments)

Mark Your Calendars - Portland RE Meetup - 11:41 AM
Reposted from Future of Real Estate Marketing but I wanted to let everyone in the AR community know about this too...
Portland RE Meetup - 6pm March 28,2008
We blog, we Twitter, we IM, we Facebook and ActiveRain with each other - so why not meet in person? Let’s have a few beers and talk Internet and Web 2.0, markets and marketing, Zillow and Trulia, Roost and Frontdoor, blogging and social media.
Ron Ares and I have been talking for a while about organizing a gathering of tech savvy or tech interested Oregon/SW Washington based Realtors, lending, title and technology professionals.
So I’ve … (5 comments)

Town of Gilbert holds 2nd Public Hearing for Handbill Ordinance - 02:52 PM
Last night the Gilbert town council held the second of three public hearings concerning the new handbill ordinance.  From what I read, it started with a complaint from one citizen with concerns about workers trespassing while leaving handbills.  Last night's hearing ended with the debate being more about trespass than handbills.  Council members also mentioned that the ordinance must cover everyone delivering advertisements or soliciting door to door, which would include neighborhood newspapers, phone books, church groups, charitable groups, and small businesses. 
In a time when the Town Gilbert is facing some economic hardships from the housing market, how much money and time is being expended on this … (1 comments)

Why are you Still Over Pricing Your House? - 10:37 AM
Why are you still over pricing your house even after all the education I try to give and explain? Over pricing will get you no where.  It might get people in the door since people are looking in all types of price ranges, but as soon as they walk in, they'll say, "This house is not anywhere near a $350k house in this neighborhood, how could they price it at $369,900?"
The answer, the owners are investors and they're in the RED.  Do I care they're in the red?  Does a prospective buyer care they're in the red?  Isn't the best way … (58 comments)

American Idol - 08:27 AM
Now I love Idol. I love the auditions - especially the people who can't sing. I love the show between the final ten and the winner. GREAT family entertainment - but I hate the let's get it down from 24 to ten part.
Right now I'm sure we're seeing lots of guys and lots of girls - and this is what is going on.
Last night Paula said "you look so great and you can really sing" while Randy said "check it out...check it out...check it out dawg. Song choice is so important at this stage of the competition. You have to bring … (7 comments)

The girl with the apple - 12:10 PM
My neice sends me things. I have blogged about them before. SOmetimes we don't know the truth of those things but then today she sent me the following. It is true. It is perhaps one of the most incredible stories I have ever read.
August 1942. Piotrkow, Poland. The sky was gloomy that morning as we waited anxiously. All the men, women and children of Piotrkow's Jewish ghetto had been herded into a square. Word had gotten around that we were being moved. My father had only recently died from typhus, which had ran rampant through the crowded ghetto. My greatest fear … (23 comments)

Global cooling a reality! - 10:26 PM
The fastest recorded change in temperature EVER - up or down - is now showing that the earth is cooling. In fact it has cooled so fast that it is enough to wipe out the last 100 years of Global Warming.
And this is not me speaking people so listen up.
Various news outlets are reporting that all four major global temperature tracking outlets have released data showing that temperatures have dropped significantly over the last year. California meteorologist Anthony Watts says the amount of cooling ranges from 65-hundredths of a degree Centigrade to 75-hundreds of a degree.
He says that is a … (25 comments)

Any 'agents from Cashiers North Carolina?? - 09:53 PM
I am looking for an agent in Cashiers to help me with some infomation on a new Development up there. I want to know if it is selling and if homes are being built now. Also if any have resold yet? If any are on the market how much they are asking.
www.riverrockdn.com
I know the area as I use to live up at Glenville and that lake is so beautiful up there.
… (0 comments)

Kudos to fellow rainer Matt Pellerin - 06:19 PM
Matt's website was featured in this month's REALTOR magazine as one of seven websites that "work". The integrated mls search, combined with advanced filtering capabilities won him a top seven spot out the thousands of websites across the country. Congrats to Matt & company for their impressive site.
Check out the winning site at www.phoenixhomes.com -Charles
… (5 comments)

Nevada's first GREEN community - 10:14 PM
The city of Henderson is getting the first Green community in the state, Sommerset. This intimate community of only 48 homes will be the first community built powered by solar energy. Homes will generate their own power through rooftop solar collectors and will feature excluse GE ecomagination products, including a whole house energy monitor that will tell the homeowners how much power and water they are using per month. The unit also tracks the amount of solar power being generated and keeps archives of production and use. Homes sizes range from just over 1,600 sf to over 2,700. All homes also … (2 comments)

Pearland, TX: Housing Market Trend - Texas - 08:36 AM
There are many great reasons… to feel very good about Texas real estate
As the housing market continues to make national headlines, I want to clarify that our strong economy in Texas is supporting a stable housing market.
According to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors®, seven of the eight Texas major metropolitan areas monitored had an increase in their median home price from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the fourth quarter of 2007.  Those cities are Amarillo, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Houston and Dallas.  Pearland is also following this trend.  As seen in the chart … (0 comments)

Does selling your home yourself make sense? - 08:51 PM
Nothing's stopping you from selling your home without hiring a real estate broker. Can you believe I just wrote that? Some of my fellow Realtors probably can't. But it's true. You can put a For Sale By Owner sign in your yard, buy ads, and negotiate the sale of your own home. That's a pretty attractive idea to some homeowners. Before you start heading down that road, though, you should consider a few things.
What do you know?
If you're selling your home, you've probably been through at least one real estate transaction. Perhaps you've even bought and sold a handful of homes … (2 comments)

Updated 2/1 Home in quiet, age-restricted community in Watsonville - $199,500 - 12:08 AM
Click to see more pictures of 636 Bridge Street, Watsonville View more Watsonville Real Estate Listings
… (0 comments)

HELP THIS HOUSE!! Cute little 2/1 home needs your love! $279,900 - 12:10 AM
Click to see more pictures of 132 Marin, Watsonville View more Watsonville Real Estate Listings
… (0 comments)

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day? - 09:27 AM
Texas is a land of oddly consistent inconsistency.  As the weatherman once said, during a weather report, "Drought.  Flood.  Drought.  Flood.  Drought.  Flood.  In other words, normal Texas weather."
Thus, rainwater collection is nothing new in Central Texas.  (Or anywhere else, for that matter.)  It's been practiced since the early days; even today, in some of our finer inner city neighborhoods, you'll see an old stone cistern, a remnant of the time when there was no city water and your water was obtained (if you didn't live right by the river) from wells and rainwater collection. 
Today, rainwater collection is new! and improved!  … (5 comments)

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