Archives of real estate blog entries for March 26, 2008

Featured blog posts


"Rain gods sighted in Atlanta!" - 08:42 PM
TMZ.com was the first one to break the story....
.....Rain gods, Jonathan Washburn and Bob Stewart, were sighted early tonight sucking down a few cold ones at a trendy microbrewery/restaurant in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
Phone calls made to their publicity agent, Kara Weber, to confirm the sighting, were not returned.
An anonymous tip to the "Contact ActiveRain" hot-line revealed the dynamic duo were slated to speak at Thursday's RETech South. 
The 'One-Day Only' event at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, boasts an unparalleled slate of many of the cutting edge Leaders of Real Estate Technology, sharing all the latest industry developments.
No doubt fellow Rain Drips from all over the Deep South will be traveling en … (36 comments)

Rainers Of The Lost Art...Of Mentoring!!! - 08:35 PM
Mentoring is defined in the dictionary as advising or imparting wisdom! Actually although the concept of 'mentoring' has been around for ages, the term 'mentoring' is relatively new...in previous generations it was referred to as teaching, apprenticing, training, or on the job instruction...with paradigm shifts occurring so rapidly, this was one concept that got thrown out with the wash water...or just slipped through the cracks, or putting it more bluntly, has fallen into disuse!
When I broke into real estate, my broker/mentor suggested that I spend as much time possible listening in on phone conversations by him and other seasoned agents in … (62 comments)

My First Listing Video Tour | And I (Gulp) Did it myself - 08:37 PM
Cherokee County Real Estate | 135 Market Lane
 I try to stay ahead of the Technology curve and it seems to me that the wind is blowing in the direction of Internet video. Now I have a monster marketing plan, if someone is looking for a house in my area they see my listings. The plan is effective, but it isn't cheap!
So rather than hire some fancy company to shoot my video I decided to tackle it myself. So here is what I did.
Mini Camcorder From Flip Video: $150Windows Movie Maker: Came with my ComputerLogitech Microphone: $27YouTube Membership: FreeBribing my … (44 comments)

A Typo DOES Make a Difference in Title - 08:31 PM
I had a specific errand to run this morning. I went to the Honolulu Department of Motor Vehicles (Satellite City Hall) at Pearlridge Shopping Center to correct 'someones' mistake.  Seems that in January it was time to renew my registration for my one year old car and lo and behold I notice that my husband's name is spelled wrong. It says, GART instead of GARY.
The only "GART" I could find online was from Wikipedia....Gart is an abbreviation of The Graphics Address Remapping Table (GART) is an I/O memory management unit (IOMMU) used by AGP and PCI Express graphics cards, through which … (68 comments)

ARE YOU VIOLATING THE REALTOR® CODE OF ETHICS WHEN YOU LIST A SHORT SALE? A RANT. - 02:58 AM
                                   * * * *   WARNING!  HARD CORE REAL ESTATE TALK  * * * *
DID I GET YOUR ATTENTION?  GOOD!  THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!
WARNING?  TAKING SHORT SALE LISTINGS WITHOUT SHORT SALE KNOWLEDGE IS SHORT SELLING THE CONSUMER!   As the real estate market continues to adjust, there are many home owners who are in need of real estate brokerage services of agents who are competent through training or experience in Short Sales.  However, day after day, agents with no short sale knowledge or or experience are taking listings, entering them in the MLS without the competency to manage the short sale … (145 comments)

Federal Funds Rate Drop v.s. 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgages - 03:00 AM
One of the biggest misconceptions in the mortgage and Real Estate industries is the fact that the when the Federal Funds Rate is dropped that it also means there will be a corresponding rate drop in 30 year fixed rate mortgages. People wake up - It does NOT! In fact many times the exact opposite occurs.
I can't even tell you the number of times I have been hearing lately people making the comment "Hey the Fed is thinking of dropping the rates again...Mortgage rates should be heading down". What can be even more shocking is when Realtors don't realize how things work either! A good … (60 comments)

Jo Soss Wins Week 3 in Military Relocation Contest - 08:34 PM
Congratulations to Jo Soss for her winning Week Three post, Naval Base Kitsap |Online Relocation Pacakge | Week Three | Out and About | The Arts.  Your 500 points for winning Week 3 are in the Mail!
John S. Murphy (Patrick AFB Area School Guide) and CynthiaTilghman (Educational Opportunities for Camp Lejeune Marine Families) were very close on her heels.  Thank you to everyone who participated in Week 3 - All of you had GREAT posts that will be helpful to families relocating to your areas.
Many many thanks to the judges for Week Three - Adam Waldman, Richard Bolen and Lisa Heindel. 
Our goal when this contest … (29 comments)

Jumbo Mortgage Madness: Where is the Salvation Promised By Higher Conforming Loan Limits? - 10:08 AM
Way out West in the land of JUMBO MORTGAGES, we don't get a volume discount when we borrow a BIG CHUNK of CHANGE to buy our PRICY real estate. We get a VOLUME PENALTY, and let me tell you, these days that penalty is HUGE. Jumbo money, no matter how you look at it, is ridiculously expensive as compared to that sacred cow with the magic number of $417,000: the conforming mortgage.
Its like saying that all women who weigh over 120 pounds need to pay double for their clothes. Who came up with that number of 120? How is that fair when it is a lot easier … (47 comments)

Vancouver Home Stager throws a punch... - 02:58 AM
...of color into a bathroom. 
Here is an interesting bathroom. Although cold feeling, I generally liked it when I first saw it. The fixtures were modern and even though the green wall isn't my favorite shade, I appreciated how it played off the polished concrete floor.
 
Painting this room a warmer color was not an option. Also the wall that is white is covered with plexi-glass so hanging artwork was restricted to the green wall.
What accent color(s) would you have used to present this room for sale?Scroll down to see the Reveal Estate solution...                            … (52 comments)

Virtual Tours - Music or NO Music? - 06:00 PM
How do buyers feel about them?
One of the latest trends in virtual tours has been to add music (and often motion) to the images. Is this a good idea? I don't think so, but let's talk about it! Here are some questions I have:
If buyers are shopping while at work, do they really want music to surprise them (and tell on them)?What if people think the music is cheesy or they just don't like it? Does it affect how they feel about the house?Do people want to wait longer for pictures to load just because it has music (or motion)?How many … (54 comments)

Disabling Comments—Will it Make a Cyber Stalker Angry? - 10:00 AM
A couple of weeks ago, I received a comment on an old post about septic systems. An Anoka County resident who is upset with a situation regarding his home purchase and septic system commented and sent me an email. Being the nice professional Realtor that I am, I empathized and explained that all agents are not the same; there are limits to arbitration and that dual agency does have its pitfalls. All in all, I felt bad for the guy and tried to sympathize and empathize with his situation.
After receiving a couple of emails I did a web search on his … (80 comments)

For Newbies Only: Content, Not Points, Will Bring You Active Rain Success - 08:32 PM

Don't fixate on points.  You'll run right off the road.  Let me tell you what I mean. 
You just joined Active Rain, and you're finding out about the point system. 
You've read TLW...ROAR's post on reciprocation--engaging other readers by commenting on their posts, and making sure you do this for folks who are kind enough to comment on YOUR post!
You found out that each post (up to a maximum of 10 per week) gives you another 200 points, so long as you use 50 words or more, and follow the rules.  Cool.  2,000 points per week!
You start moving you up the visibility … (62 comments)

"Highest and Best OFFER" - 09:52 AM
DOWN with Dual Agency

This has been an interesting week and weekend. Easter weekend you sure don't expect much activity but we were really busy. My buyer agents wrote 5 offers and I received an offer on one of my listings.

Three of the six are bottomed lined, and three are still in negotiations. Fairly sure two will come together. But, here is the questionable one.

A couple came in town to help their daughter purchase a condo. They started looking at the $130,000. tops range. Mom, dad and daughter couldn't agree. Mom wanted some yard space, … (102 comments)

Will ActiveRain be OpenSocial compliant? - 10:16 AM
I'm assuming the answer will be "yes".
I only just heard about this today. It sounds like Google, MySpace, LinkedIn and other big social networking sites are seeking to establish a set of guidelines relating to future development of social networks to ensure that things like widgets and plug-ins for one site will be compatible with the other social networking sites.
http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9902585-36.html?tag=nefd.lede
Does that more or less define it (for those of you "in the know")?
At any rate, I'm curious if benefit of creating a "standard" will outweigh the cost of hampering new and innovative technologies, in essence, not accepting new technologies … (43 comments)


Blog posts


Daytona Beach Homebuyer's Financing Advice From Your Real Estate Professional! - 08:32 AM
Life seems to roll by faster...faster than ever before, heck microwaves and computers sometimes are not fast enough.  Because our lives move so rapidly we sometime make quick decisions and in the long run end up costing us our time, energy and money.  It's those occasions where you wish that you could go back in time.

One of these occasions I am talking about is when a buyer obtains their home buying support team and fails to do their research. 
When I say buyer support team...I mean financing, their Realtor, inspectors etc, etc.
Regardless of what  you might think you as a … (16 comments)

So Now we're going to have an e-team - 11:42 AM
In an effort to create a specialist agent who uses technology to communicate with the consumer, our company, Century 21 Advantage Gold is creating an "E-Team" group of agents. I wonder if any other companies have tried to do that and what success is seen from the agent perspective. I would be very interested in feedback from agents or brokers - Each member of our team will need to take specific courses and achieve certain competency levels in order to participate - Have you seen anything like that?
… (1 comments)

HORSE FARM....OR IS IT? - 07:52 AM
It has been an interesting market with a true opportunity for those ready to make a dream come true!  I can buy a horse farm!!!!  Agents, shame on you, take advantage of this enthusiasm by labeling anything and everything that has a patch of grass, a "horse farm" or "farm" or "potential for horse farm".
If you are thinking of buying or are looking to buy, a property that will sustain horses, or any other animals for that matter, here are some of my thoughts:
1.  Timbered land, once cleared, takes up to two years to become pasture.  Clearing, dragging, fertiziling, seeding, fertiziling, seeding and mowing is a … (0 comments)

So you really want to know what happens when you cross the Clintons? Ask Billy! - 09:32 PM
The following might be the scariest ten minutes of your life. But it is ten minutes that I urge you strongly to spend.
it will bring you an insight and a deeper understanding as to what happens when you cross a Clinton - particularly Hillary.
The following is ten minutes of your life. It nearly ended one family's life - a family that had served this nation well through JFK, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush one and even Clinton himself - all that until Hillary wanted a friend in court.
Watch and be very afraid...

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Copyright © … (26 comments)

All You Ever Needed To Know About Blogging SEO, But Were Afraid To Say So. - 01:56 PM
I know what you are thinking…”not another SEO article, please…”
SEO focused companies have secrets.They want you to think that you need them to get you to the top of the search engines.They want you to think that you need to learn the complex details or you will fail.They want you to think that there is so much that goes into it, that you'd be a fool to not put your faith in them.They want you to think that your success depends on their knowledge and tools.They want you to think that their advice will make "all the difference".
Well folks, the … (14 comments)

Wordpress Plugins to check out - 07:23 PM
I have a great outside blog, and I used WordPress.   I have found several great tools that I thought you all might enjoy...
Akismet - Which checks comments for Spam.  Author: Matt Mullenweg NoFollow Free - This removes the "nofollow" tag from your WordPress comments allowing you to give link love to visitors.   Author: Michele Marcucci Twitter Tools - Have your blog automatically notify Twitter when you post.   Author: Alex King Google XML Sitemaps - This plugin creates a XML-sitemap for your Wordpress blog.  Author: arnee obsocialbookmarker - this is a Social bookmarking plugin with allows you to select the sites which your … (10 comments)

Spring Dons Her Fair Raiment - 07:54 PM

 
Spring is definitely, finally, here in Central Texas.  The first hint was that Memory, she who never sheds until the last frost has definitely come and gone, started releasing her winter coat.  
Then hints of green peeked through the brown grass, with promise of thing to come.  
 
 
 
 
 
Today, walking down the drive with the dogs to pick up the mail, I took quick pictures of the flowers that have appeared, as if by magic, in the last day or so.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
First were the little purple flowers under the old plum tree outside our back door.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Next, the beautiful yellow Iris blooming … (3 comments)

Trying to sell retail listings in a wholesale market!!! - 02:25 PM
 
Hi folks, today I want to talk about selling properties in Poinciana FL. It's brutal!!! The problem I'm running up against is Mr. and Mrs. Average Seller are just not able to compete with the wholesale market i.e. banked owned properties and short sales.
As primarily a listing Broker, I have been banging my head against the wall for about a year now. The biggest issue is a lack of equity. Homeowners in Poinciana have lost about 40% in value in the last 15 months.
What this means is most Sellers are just not in a position to sell, unless they … (61 comments)

Bear Stearns and the New Federal Reserve - 08:24 PM
On March 14th, Bear Stearns, the fifth-largest investment bank in the United States, entered a period of insolvency. As growing lack of confidence in the firm's subprime exposure grew, other banks eventually refused to lend to the stricken company, which has existed for over 85 years. Were Bear Stearns a commercial bank, (i.e. institutions that loan money to people or businesses) it would be able to, as a last resort, take advantage of the Federal Reserve's so-called "discount window," thus receiving a government loan at the lowest available interest rate. The reasoning behind making loans to private businesses is sound, because … (0 comments)

Filmmaking in Austin - 08:29 PM
For a long time, Austin has been considered the “Third Coast” in the film industry, with more filmmakers on the rise in Austin, and more Hollywood types coming to Austin to shoot their movies.
One of the biggest proponents of the up and coming filmmakers is UT’s Radio-Television-Film department. Though the film courses are a challenge to get into, with many vying for a slot and low numbers of students per class, many consider the red tape worth it, as UT has become a highly regarded film school, comparable to UCLA or NYU.
Though UT’s film school is on … (0 comments)

Austin Real Estate Update: "Houston, We Have a Glut of Inventory" - 09:33 AM
Last month, I reported that home sales in North and South Austin were doing well despite a down market from last year. At that time, previously "hot" areas such as Central East Austin and the South Congress area (78704) were suffering. Those trends continued in February.
View the Slideshow for the latest Austin real estate market statistics, based on February MLS data from the Austin Board of REALTORS®. Click to Download the February Update (copywritten).
 
| View | Upload your own  
Continue reading "Austin Real Estate Update: "Houston, We Have a Glut of Inventory"
… (0 comments)

FEMA: Flood Insurance - Truth and Fiction - 10:27 PM
Popular yet incorrect notions about the National Flood Insurance Program can lead homeowners and businesses to avoid this easy and important safeguard. For example here are some common myths:  * Homeowners insurance policies cover floods.  * You cannot buy flood insurance if you do not live in a high flood-risk area or if your home or business flooded in the past.  * National Flood Insurance does not cover flood damage to anything in the basement.  * You cannot buy flood insurance immediately before or after a flood.  FEMA has provide some truths about National Flood Insurance that can help residents prepare for floods... (Source: FEMA 1747-013) Full story...  For … (0 comments)

Norfolk VA Real Estate For Sale - 627 W 34th Street - 02:42 AM
627 W 34th Street, Norfolk VA 23508 - Norfolk Va real estate for sale!
Great property for the owner occupant; rent one unit and live in the other.  This three bedroom over/under duplex in Park Place has been completely renovated including newer furnaces, air conditioning, appliances, kitchen cabinets, flooring, windows and doors.  Looking to enter the real estate market?  This turn key property is just the place.   Looking for a hassle-free investment property where your 'Return On Investment' is in the black? This duplex is the perfect opportunity for either the first time buyer or the experienced investor.Each unit is three bedrooms and 1 … (0 comments)

618 E. Cornell Street, Avon Park, FL 33825 - 05:27 PM

$350,000      MLS# 202211
4 Bedroom, 2 Bath and 2 Car Detached Garage plus Enclosed Carport for Boat Storage.
This 1935 two story home is right out of the pages of Southern Living Magazine. 
The property also has a large workshop/shed (19x10) which will be handy for many uses. This is one of the nicest spots on the lake with a beautiful white sand beach and a large concrete picnic table from the 30's.  If you always dreamed of Old Florida lakefront living, now is the time to make your dream come true. This home is very well maintained and ready to move in.  … (1 comments)

A House for Hobbits - 11:05 PM
Check out this 300 square foot, 1 bedroom house that was recently on the market in Toronto.
Built in 1912 by a contractor who lived in the home for 26 years, it was totally renovated from top to bottom last year.
With increased media attention, the owners created a special website for viewers around the world to enjoy.
The house even captured the attention of Ellen Degeneres in January, who called the listing agent live from her show for more information!
At a little more than seven feet wide, it looks more like a 'house for hobbits' as reported on the … (4 comments)

Stone Harbor Avalon Vacation Rentals. Book On-line right here! - 12:16 PM
Stone Harbor Avalon Vacation Rentals. Book On-line right here! Beachfront to Bayfront .We have a Huge inventory of vacation rental properties.If you have not yet booked your Stone Harbor Avalon vacation rental for next summer you might want to do it now. We still have a nice selection of properties available.And We still have some prime weeks open !   Simply visit my site Click here for a list.
http://nancymalexander.com/VacationRentals.htm
if you have questions,please call me at 800.708.5792.Look forward to hearing from you!
www.StoneHarborRealtor.com
… (0 comments)

Video Tour of Portland Ct - 05:15 PM
… (1 comments)

Ovation St Pete - Hardhat Tour - 10:56 PM

 
Ovation, the latest luxury condominium by JMC Development, is rising in downtown St. Petersburg. The 27 story building is expected to be completed by the fall of 2009. It's currently at about 10 stories, and JMC invited a few people to tour the building today. Hardhats on we checked out the views, the floorplans (names of rooms were marked out on the floors), and the construction. I still say - this is THE place to be in downtown St. Petersburg. Located at the corner of Beach Drive NE and 2nd Avenue North, you're in the heart of everything, and could do … (8 comments)

Refund on any any of the fees or taxes for Northern Virginia Transportation - 10:57 AM
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today signed House Bill 1578 which establishes procedures to return taxes and fees collected by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the imposition of regional taxes and fees by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority was unconstitutional. "This bill creates an open, public process for the return of taxes and fees paid by individuals to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority" Governor Kaine said.The seven taxes and fees will be returned as follows:- The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will return the 1% initial vehicle registration fee and the $10 regional registration fee by … (0 comments)

Is There a Florida Real Estate Bubble? - 09:38 AM
The Florida real estate market, including the Tampa Bay real estate market, has been nothing less than a roller coaster ride in recent times. Indeed, many people in Tampa Bay and elsewhere in the Sunshine State have come to believe that they are on a roller coaster recently that only goes down hill.
Some time ago, the front page of Fortune magazine ran the following:
"The housing market is rapidly losing touch with reality… The passionate faith that money poured into real estate will magically multiply is creating a self-fulfilling speculative frenzy that's bound to end badly."
In layperson's terms … (0 comments)

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