Archives of real estate blog entries for April 14, 2008

Featured blog posts


Seller Conveys Mineral Rights... Yes or No ? - 12:15 PM
I went on a listing yesterday.  Everything was going just fine.  My suggested pricing was accepted.  I also suggested that today's buyer... perhaps more than ever... might be in need of having some or all of their closing costs paid by the seller.  That was fine, too.
We walked through the home, and I made various suggestions about making the home more ready for showings.  I suggested thinning out the closets of items of clothing that the seller will not be wearing over the next four to six months.  I suggested that since she was not going to be wearing her winter … (105 comments)

Inaugural Real Estate Top Blog Index: March 2008 - 04:41 PM
Introducing the Real Estate Blog Index! This is the inaugural index, so my list is incomplete and I am eagerly hoping for submission of blogs to add to my list.
The Rules:
Blog must be about real estate.The URL must be ranked individually on Alexa and Compete. (For instance a blog address of sethgodin.typepad.com would not be allowed because the typepad.com domain is the site that is being ranked. This applies to all inside ActiveRain blogs as well; sorry.)The blog must drive the majority of traffic to the domain name. (For instance although Bloodhoundrealty.com is a real estate brokerage, it is my opinion … (101 comments)

MORTGAGE PRO Week in Review -- 04/07/08 through 04/13/08 - 05:08 PM

As we head into Spring, and a real estate market that is starting to take shape, we need to forge ahead and educate all around else. We need people to better understand the whole buying process, with details and not just assumptions.


I want to put a challenge out there before I share with you the mortgage blogs for the week. I truly think that we need to step up some of the quality of these mortgage posts. Not only chock full of mortgage information, but making them interesting and creative. I took a stab at it for a specific … (28 comments)

Tech Support and FAQs for ActiveRain Customizer - 11:29 AM
As I look through ActiveRain, I am amazed at all the great looking blogs that have been created in such a short amount of time. The ActiveRainCustomizer.com website has only been live a few days and already, almost 500 people have successfully customized their ActiveRain blog. And while the overall feedback has been great, there are a few people that have had difficulty customizing their blog.
Technical Support Options Because this was simply a side project that I put together at no cost to the ActiveRain community, I am somewhat limited in the amount of time I can dedicate to … (61 comments)

Active Rain Gathering in the scenic Hill Country of Texas + one Mystery Guest - 03:55 PM

Ricki Eichler and Ms. Judi Morgan brought the Texas Active Rain group together + one special surprise blogger who flew in all the way from Temecula Valley California just for the occasion.  None other than Tom Plant aka the Active Rain Ambassador.  Rickiand Judi put a ton of effort into planning this event in Bandera Texas and invited everyone to come and finally meet in person all of our friends we have come to know and love on Active Rain.  My hat is off to you ladies, you did a great job, and all we had to do was show … (45 comments)

A Tip Even I Can Do!!! - 12:13 PM
 
  I just stumbled on the greatest tip that some of you may have seen but for the benefit of those who haven't....you will love this!
  I wanted to give credit to the person whose post I saw this on but am not even sure it was on here!
  Call it a case of "Brain Freeze"
~~~
  Most of us are in the habit of taking our cameras with us in our daily travels. Here is a make it yourself "tripod" you can fit in your pocket.
                                                               
  Don't you love it!!
Concord New Hampshire Realtor
… (80 comments)

Fair Housing Violations - 12:52 PM

Are you in violation of fair housing laws?
Do you have comments in your public remarks that say things like...
"Walking distance to schools?"
Does Walking distance discriminate against those who cannot walk? 
Is this a violation of the Fair housing?
Read more here.
http://www.mvfairhousing.com/ad_word_list.php#
Walking distance is an example here of a "Be Careful" word.
In today's research I have found over 236 possible violations in some board IDX feeds.
And other articles and comments have come directly from the NAR web site that have references to Walking Distance.  It all seems quite complicated anymore. 
Daily Real Estate News  |  April 9, 2007 Buyers Want It All Within Walking Distance … (51 comments)

Two Tools, Instant Success - 12:08 PM
Two Tools you might want to use that have really helped me are GetClicky and Flickr.
Here’s why?
 
Yesterday was the Spring Practice game for the University of Michigan football team,  known at the “Maize and Blue” game. I went and took my FlipVideo camera. Last night I posted it up on YouTube and blogged about it on my Ann Arbor Real Estate Talk blog.
GetClicky is a service that tracks who is looking at your blog, where they came from and most important what terms they are searching for. Today I went into my GetClicky site to … (59 comments)

First Impression-ist Masterpieces Now Hang in the Active Rain Gallery - 11:05 AM
Last week something new began to be seen in the great hallowed halls of Active Rain. Beautiful blog masterpieces started to appear. Active Rain gave to us all another great new improvement to help us all better differentiate and further brand ourselves through our blogs. We now all have the access to a FREE tool, the ActiveRain Customizer, that allows us to easily create a visual masterpiece of our own blogs. I have scoured Active Rain's walls to find 15 fine examples of blogs that have a new and improved branded" look. I encourage you to click and open the examples below, to see in detail what others have already done. You … (58 comments)

Agent Wanting a Commission Is Entitled to Nothing - What Would You Do? - 12:43 PM

Last week a local Salt Lake agent presented an offer on one of my listings.  So far so good.  
As she's walking out the door, she says "Oh, by the way, we should probably add into the purchase contract that I will get paid an XX% commission.  After all, that's what you pay anybody else."  (To see why we can't add commissions to the purchase contract, view my blog entry about commissions in a purchase contract .)
Here's the kicker.  This agent, who is actually a real estate attorney that can't fill out a contract to save her life, is not a Realtor.  … (71 comments)

Posting Listings to the Web: Are We Practicing Due Diligence? - 12:55 PM
Okay, so let's admit it . . . for the most part, technology has taken us a long way, and to a degree, made parts of our jobs easier (once we figure out how to use the technology!).One tool in particular that we constantly see posts on AR about, is the ease of distribution of high quality pics and tours of our listings through various syndication and distribution channels . . . V-Flyers, Postlets, Imprev, RealBird, Point2NLS, and ListHub, among others.  Our listings are everywhere (one post I saw recently promoted their listings as being on "75,000 websites").This is great!But my question is . . … (52 comments)

If You Think It Can't Happen To You...You'd Be Wrong About That...ROAR! - 12:54 PM
Before I begin this post I would like to dedicate it to Lenn Harley. In my not so humble opinion she is “The Queen Of Copyright” here on Active Rain. Many weeks ago Blog Boy (Broker Bryant) was over at the Lake house. He found a Fed Ex laying in the driveway. The Fed Ex was a cease and desist order along with a bill for almost $3,000. So you’re probably wondering what this is all about. Well, to make a long story short…It was related to Copyright Infringement. Yup. One of the images Blog Boy used on his Blog (a … (169 comments)


Blog posts


Inaugural Real Estate Top Blog Index: March 2008 - 04:41 PM
Introducing the Real Estate Blog Index! This is the inaugural index, so my list is incomplete and I am eagerly hoping for submission of blogs to add to my list.
The Rules:
Blog must be about real estate.The URL must be ranked individually on Alexa and Compete. (For instance a blog address of sethgodin.typepad.com would not be allowed because the typepad.com domain is the site that is being ranked. This applies to all inside ActiveRain blogs as well; sorry.)The blog must drive the majority of traffic to the domain name. (For instance although Bloodhoundrealty.com is a real estate brokerage, it is my opinion … (101 comments)

FAUQUIER COUNTY HORSE FARMS - IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK (PART IV) - 11:21 AM
The final "gig" on farms in Fauquier County!!!  More and more realtors are out showing properties - with clients who may not understand much about farms.  Questions to ask may be:
(1) Can the land be subdivided?  (County zoning will be of great assistance here...with a phone call, or some $$$..either is a HUGE investment in understanding before buying!!!)
(2)  Can anybody build a home around me?
(3) Are there easements?  (Gee, do I have to share with somebody else?  If so, who does what to keep it useable?)
(4) Is the well and septic on my property or elsewhere with a deeded maintenance agreement?  … (0 comments)

FAUQUIER COUNTY HORSE FARMS - IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK (PART IV) - 11:21 AM
The final "gig" on farms in Fauquier County!!!  More and more realtors are out showing properties - with clients who may not understand much about farms.  Questions to ask may be:
(1) Can the land be subdivided?  (County zoning will be of great assistance here...with a phone call, or some $$$..either is a HUGE investment in understanding before buying!!!)
(2)  Can anybody build a home around me?
(3) Are there easements?  (Gee, do I have to share with somebody else?  If so, who does what to keep it useable?)
(4) Is the well and septic on my property or elsewhere with a deeded maintenance agreement?  … (1 comments)

Spring Inspiration and Positive Views: the end to our winter of discontent - 11:55 AM
 I live and work in close proximity to our Nation's Capital. I have experienced three score or more Springs. As April finds her way clear of chilly March winds and shakes of the dusty remnants of a long winter past........the world changes overnight.
Bright blue skies frame delicate cherry blossoms throughout the area. Grey trees erupt in delightful coat of more shades of green than one could imagine. The dank, musty odor of spring shower covered mulch is removed and replaced by the soft scent of hibiscus, hyacinth and delightful aroma of fresh grass.
No one does Spring like Washington.
I have to admit, … (14 comments)

Week 15- Official Weigh-In Challenge Results - 10:12 AM
Can you believe it's already mid- April?  I can't believe I've stayed motivated the past 4 1/2 months!  Today is Monday and weigh-in day for Week 15 of the Offical Weight Loss Challenge.
I did not do so well this week, but I anticipated that.  I haven't had a chance to exercise very much, though I did go on a 40 minute walk this weekend.  Plus, I have been tinkering with my calorie intake to see if that would help with nursing, but it hasn't so I'll stop eating more starting today.
Here are my results for this past week:Today's weigh-in: 134Loss (GAIN) from Last … (5 comments)

The Word is Out- ActiveRain shows up on Supra's Survey - 01:41 PM
Apparantly, the word is out on how addictive ActiveRain is.  My local association (MetroTex Association of Realtors) sent their weekly email yesterday, and within the email was a link to take a survey from GE's Supra to help them design a new lockbox. 
One of the questions was:
9. What software applications are of interest to you on a smartphone?
I did not mark that answer as I don't use my Treo for blogging and can't see myself using it for blogging in the future because the keys are too small and my mind goes faster than my fingers can press those tiny buttons, … (13 comments)

Buying a bank owned home - 02:39 PM
 
  If you are thinking about buying a bank owned home, and lots of people are, here are a few tips.
 
 
 
 
1. Use an agent that has some experience representing buyers of bank owned homes (REO)
2. Put down at least a 1% earnest deposit.
3. Most of the time the seller (Bank) is going to choose the Title and Escrow company.
4. You will probably not get any repairs paid for by the seller (bank). (If its a safety issue you might)
5. If it is a low priced, good condition, clean REO there may be multiple offers.  (We are seeing this happen a lot … (4 comments)

Meet a United States Marine Hero! - 09:32 PM
It would not be right to talk about this Marine without talking first about Navy Seal Michael Monsour - who sacrificed his life to save others by falling on a grenade. I mention him, because he also saved the subject of this blog entry.
I am posting this because I am so sick of the people who consistently say our troops don't want to be in Iraq. Well I'd like you all to meet United States Marine Gunnery Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson.
You see Spanky Gibson was shot in the knee. It did so much damage that he had … (27 comments)

Fort Myers Beach " OPEN HOUSE " Monday April 14, 2008 1 - 4 PM - 10:29 AM
If you are looking for a great Fort Myers Beach home for under $400k this is it !   Very charming 2/2 just across the stret from the Gulf.  Two under building parking spaces, nice lot with room for a pool, rear deck and nice views.
This association owns a private Gazebo on the Gulf and a small dockage on the bay for the use of owners.  Very nice neighborhood !
Priced at $350k this is one of the best values on the island !  Stop  by and say " HI "

… (0 comments)

Portsmouth, NH Real Estate - March 2008 Market Update - 07:00 PM
You might not believe it, BUT, the National Association of Realtors stated recently that sales of existing homes rose to a 5.03 million annual rate in February which is an unexpected 2.9% increase.  Why?  The answer is that sales are being spurred by lower prices.  Falling prices improve affordability and encourage people to make purchases. 
In addition to existing home sales, new construction homes for sale at the end of February dropped to 471,000 units (in the US), the fewest since July 2005. 
Rising sales and lower prices have also stimulated the mortgage market.  This is due in part to recent … (0 comments)

Connected through a Stoneware Network - 07:45 PM
Have you ever been to a dinner party where everyone had something in common with someone else there? It's like a giant game of cat's cradle – the lines of connection criss-cross and eventually include everyone. That's what we had the other night when a friend hosted six couples. Like the excellent hostess she is, Malynda put together interesting people and the conversation never stopped. (Well, maybe the men didn't get to say much!)
There was a woman who owns a bank, another who is a senior mortgage loan officer, and another who is with a major residential builder. All the conversation … (10 comments)

What Is Going On With Mortgage Rates This Month - 03:06 AM
Mortgage interest rates remained relatively unchanged for the second week in a row.

April 10th, 2008
30-yr 5.88 15-yr 5.42% 5-yr ARM 5.56 1-yr ARM 5.19
April 3rd, 2008
30-yr 5.88 15-yr 5.42% 5-yr ARM 5.59 1-yr ARM 5.18
March 27th, 2008
30-yr 5.85 15-yr 5.34% 5-yr ARM 5.67 1-yr ARM 5.24
So what is going on? The FED has been attempting to stimulate the economy by cutting the FED Funds rate. But the first few times the fed cut rates in 2008 banks did not respond by lowering mortgage interest rates. Since this is one … (0 comments)

Austin Neighborhood Profile : Clarksville - 08:33 PM
The West Austin area of Clarksville was originally a freedman’s colony for slaves freed after the Civil War. Clarksville now has a very diverse population, and this diversity is reflected in the various nationalities of the residents. There is an excellent public grade school in Clarksville, named Mathews Elementary. Every fall, Mathews holds a carnival on the grounds, which includes the Clarksville Annual International Dinner and the Octoborama Festival, which is held at the end of October. During Octoberama, local musicians, many of whom are the parents or relatives of Mathews School students, perform at the carnival. Also, most of the … (0 comments)

Three Reasons Why Austin is Among Top U.S. Real Estate For Empty Nesters, Boomers - 09:08 AM
Empty Nesters are moving to cities like Austin and Las Vegas in droves, keeping the local economy afloat during the current recession while growing housing demand.
Empty Nesters are couples whose children no longer live at home. They're often members of the Baby Boomer generation, between 55 and 64 years of age. Baby Boomers have made huge impacts on health care and real estate due to the fact that there's going to be about 78 Million of them.
Both Empty Nesters and Boomers are mobile and unafraid of change. In their lifetimes, they experienced America sending a man to the moon, the advent … (0 comments)

29 Highmeadows Drive, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 (SOLD) - 08:46 PM
One of the most affordable condo homes available in Knox County Ohio and featuring 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a great room design with an open vaulted ceiling that combines the living room, dining room and gorgeous kitchen, master bedroom suite features it's own private bath, nice laundry and utility room, natural gas heating and central air, enclosed sun room, covered porch, attached garage with added storage.  You will be impressed with this condo especially when you consider how affordable it is at only $112,500.  Call Sam Miller of RE/MAX Stars Realty.  (740) 397-7800 or 1-800-282-9096.  www.SamMiller.com
 
 
 
 
… (3 comments)

8980 Fairview Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 (SOLD) - 09:16 PM
 
The ultimate affordable country home for the Knox County Commuter
Clean, nice and neat with tremendous living spaceCountry setting with 2 acres of gorgeous landSpacious 3 bedroom, 2 full bath ranch style homeSuper cozy family room with a fantastic fireplaceAttractive appliance filled kitchen is exceptionalBig master bedroom suite with huge closet & bath $120,000 is a value price so don't delay...it's sell!Sam Miller (740) 397-7800 or 1-800-282-9096 Samsells@sammiller.com and RE/MAX Stars Realty 
 
… (1 comments)

Layton Area Statistics - 11:24 AM
I like numbers they are soothing undiscriminating...very factual and unemotional. Here are the latest statistics for the Layton Area. I think things are looking great and they are only getting better.
Zip Code 84040, 84041 Sales Activity Trend Report Report Date: Monday, April 14, 2008Time Period: March 1, 2008 through April 1, 2008
Our FHA number is growing and our cash is shrinking from last year. We are experiencing realistic pricing and sales.
Average Sales Price Ranges from 200,000- 150,000  and the average price per sq ft is between $71-$73. It just depends on which of the two zip codes your house would … (0 comments)

Going....Going....Gone - 08:16 PM
Another homesite SOLD at Parkfield. The demand has been very suprising in light of the media scaring potential home buyers. We still have two Feature Homes that are READY for quick settlement. The Covington Features: 4 Bedrooms 2.5 BathMaster Bedroom with enormous walk-in closetSpa tub in master bath42" cabinets in kitchen with GRANITE countertops!Oversized 2 Car Garage Gas Fireplace Hardwood floors in the dinning room, foyer, and powder roomTray Ceilings with crown molding in the dinning room.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS HOME AND OTHER HOMES IN PARKFIELD, MANOR TOWNSHIP, CALL BRANDON CLARK, at 717-560-5500 ext.544 … (0 comments)

Housing Update for Waterford Lakes including Waterford Lakes Foreclosures - 06:47 AM
As of Sunday, 04/13/2008
Waterford Lakes Area of Orlando, Florida Housing Market Update
This information includes specific details on Waterford Lakes Foreclosures.
In Waterford Lakes which is located in South East Orlando, within 30 minutes of downtown Orlando, 50 minutes to Walt Disney World, and 45 minutes to Cocoa Beach Florida (Orlando's Beach) and Cape Canaveral.
Waterford Lakes is one of East Orlando, Florida's older communities, if 10 to 12 years is considered old? Nestled around the Waterford Lakes Town Center where shopping is within easy access to national retailers such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, Lowe's, and many more regional and local shopping … (0 comments)

Housing Update for Eastwood Community of East Orlando - 06:49 AM
As of Sunday, 04/13/2008
The Eastwood Community of Orlando, Florida Housing Market Update
This information includes specific details on Eastwood Foreclosures.
Eastwood which is located in South East Orlando, within 30 minutes of downtown Orlando, 50 minutes to Walt Disney World, and 45 minutes to Cocoa Beach Florida (Orlando's Beach) and Cape Canaveral. Eastwood is composed of just over 2000 homes in all
Eastwood in my opinion is one of the lesser know jewels of East Orlando. Besides Stoneybrook East, Eastwood is one of the 2 communities that can boast that is has a true gated community. The Preserve of Eastwood actually has a 24 … (0 comments)

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