Archives of real estate blog entries for April 30, 2008

Featured blog posts


HomeGain, FSBOs, Idiots and "going it alone"! - 07:57 PM
 
Hi folks, you may have already read about HomeGain's new "Personal blooging network for real estate professionals" If not read this post by Brian Brady and this one by Greg Swann over at Bloodhoundblog.
This post is NOT about Homegain's new blogging platform. This post is about REALTORS® and their attitudes towards folks that choose to "go it alone". But there is a connection....so please bare with me.
Jeff Turner posted "For Sale By Owner: Raise the price then call a REALTOR®" a couple of days ago. Jeff's post was basically reposting a question that a FSBO had placed on Twitter. The … (103 comments)

"Just What Part of 'Referral' Do You Not Understand?" - 11:57 AM
Okay, jumping up on my soapbox today. For those of you who actually 'get' this, please forgive my rant in advance!
We have a feature here on ActiveRain. It's called the "Referral Exchange." It's one of the primary tabs, right there at the top of your AR page. It's for the expressed purpose of passing referral clients between our members. Here's the definition/requirements clearly stated on the referral submission page:
"The Referral Exchange is the place for members to effectively pass/share client referrals with one another. A referral is a 'live' client contact, someone who is seriously considering either buying or selling a … (71 comments)

Open House: How to Throw a Party to Sell Homes - 01:30 PM
                                                
An Oscar-themed soiree with fancy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and an open house featuring a worldly selection of wine and cheeses are giving a whole new meaning to today's dog-eat-dog home-selling market. I recently read an article in The Wall Street Journal on a growing trend among real estate professionals hosting swanky parties at listed properties to lure in prospective buyers. It's another creative way Realtors are showcasing their clients' homes.
Top chef In my former life, I worked as an event planner and catering manager. I regularly worked with Realtors to cater open houses. Although most of the homes … (42 comments)

Now That's what I call Balance - 01:14 PM
I thought I would make fun of myself today.
There have been many many posts that have been written about Activerain and the balance it should have.
Some people like to post about Real Estate. Some people like to post about their life. Some people like to post jokes and some people like to post recipes. I'm not sure if I was the first one to come up with the idea but I can tell you it is my content. Maybe I just altered it a bit. So I thought it would be nice to add balance on Activerain.
I thought it would be interesting … (64 comments)

Active Rain Does Not Rain! It Pours! $1,300,000 Closing Because of the Power of Active Rain! - 01:14 PM
Celebrate the power of Active Rain. Celebrate the opportunity we all have here on Active Rain. It is not Raining with closings, it is pouring! 
We just closed on a house for $1,300,000. We are listing agents and refer buyers to our new buyer agent. But right before we hired Doug to be our buyers' agent, we received a call from a buyer who was looking for an aeronautical community. 
He just told us today that he had called several agents but that not one of them called him back, well, no  one except for us! You snooze, you lose. He … (75 comments)

ActiveRain Hosts "Carnival of Real Estate!" - 02:26 AM
ActiveRain is excited to be sponsoring the upcoming 89th edition of the "Carnival of Real Estate!" 
What is a Blog Carnival? Welcome everyone! The Carnival was started by Zillow.com on July 10, 2006 to help bring the real estate blogging community together to share valuable information on trends and news in the industry. It is open to everyone in the real estate industry and we mean everyone! (you can read about how it all got started HERE)
A Blog Carnival is a weekly summary of the best blogging posts that appeared in someone’s blog during the previous week.  A different blog hosts the … (24 comments)

Is this "magic" staging furniture? It sold 3 different homes in days - Before & Afters - 01:09 PM
Room Solutions Staging in Portland OR was selected to stage Home #1 ... it had been on the market for 5 months without a sale.  We staged it using a colorful red sofa & matching chair, a fun brown wool rug, and some typical tables, etc.   Home #1 SOLD in only 3 days, with 3 back up offers!  Here are photos of the living room in House #1, Before & After:


When House #1 was about to be de-staged, another broker called me for a staging quote on a contemporary home he was about to list.  With Home #2's … (66 comments)

When is Enough, Enough? Ethics Concerns - 01:35 PM
Any real estate agent that has been in the business for multiple years has inevitably gone through the following situation, or something similar.  I'm just curious what you would do in this scenario.
I had a newer agent in my office come to me with a concern the other day.  He had just cancelled a luxury listing that he had been trying to sell for a couple of months.  The owners were going through a divorce, and are within months of losing the home.  This agent tried and tried to get them started down the lonely road of short sale, but they … (58 comments)

Quick Selling Keys In Today's Real Estate Market - 02:23 AM
I have received numerous contacts over the past few weeks from real estate blog readers, customers, and friends asking me different forms of the same question…. What does it take to sell a home in today’s market? How much time does it take? Can you really quickly sell a home in Tallahassee? These are questions that have their basis in the fear that has been generated and perpetuated by a media establishment caught up in the frenzy of the housing credit problems. While we are certainly in a buyers’ market, homes that are positioned correctly are selling every day. The key … (43 comments)

Switching Real Estate Firms: Google May Be Sending Your Prospects to Your Former Company - 02:20 AM
Last weekend, I went searching for an agent friend on the Web.  This fellow works in a vacation home market north of the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metro area and he's been a well-known and successful agent there for years.
I Googled his name and found at least half a page of entries under his name.  But the problem was, all of the page one search results pointed me to his former company.  And he started his own firm nearly a year ago!
How many referrals from other agents and offices would you be losing in a situation like this?
How many repeat … (53 comments)

Realtors, Should There Be a Dress Code? - 02:20 AM
The issue is Dress.  Should we as Real Estate Agents try to have an established dress code?
My personal thought on this is that one should NEVER judge another person based on what they wear. 
Who is to say that the person wearing a business suit has any more intelligence, knowledge or character than the one dressed in the blue jeans?
Currently, I differentiate what I wear according to my client.  If they are the most comfortable in their business suit, then I wear a business suit.  If they are more the blue jeans and t-shirt type, then I think "yippee!" and put my … (68 comments)

Agent Mobility? Is It Important? - 02:24 AM
My opinion is yes.  In fact, it is surprising to me how few agents even come to a physical anymore.  The reality is that in today's agents require and thrive on mobility and office's are not as necessary to the daily routine of an agent. 
Brokerages need to understand this and cater to this need.  If you are not, agents will be forced to do one of two things... 
1. leave to find a broker who will or...
2. develop their own set of mobile tools and come out of pocket to do so.  If/when they select option #2, the agent is not … (47 comments)

Hairdressers, Home Stagers and What the Heck do They Do? - 02:08 AM
 
You know what a hairdresser is.
 
Here is something else you know about hairdressers. You know what it is they do. They cut hair. Hairdressers also color hair and they even take it upon themselves to make curly hair straight and straight hair curly. Hairdressers are on their feet a lot.
 The bottom line about hairdressers is it is their job to keep their clients looking great! Although, I do remember seeing a sign in a beauty salon which read, “I am a beautician, not a magician!”
 What got me started on this post was a recent remark from … (60 comments)

Buyers Agents: What do you tell your buyers about Foreclosures\Short Sales ? - 01:38 PM

   With shortsales and foreclosures popping up in every market...what do you tell your buyers ?  I tell them...if they are first timers or have less than an unlimited budget...to stay away, far, far away from homes that do not have a condition report and perhaps a less than sterling "past." For rehabbers or folks prepared to put in sweat equity and have the funds to pay for unforeseen expenses....have at it. 
   We recently had one of our buyers who has a townhouse and is now looking to buy a single family ask to see a home in foreclosure. They have excellent credit but have … (37 comments)


Blog posts


What an interesting spam - 01:07 PM
I received this interesting spam message from RealtyTimes today. If you click on the link "click to Play Video" it runs a video that appears to be customized for me, even using a nickname for me "John" in the video.  Sure I was kind of put off by the fact that the message starts off with "Dear [Customer Name Here]," but was intrigued with the rest of the customization they did for my newsletter; they even found videos with me in them and put them in the "Interviews with Jonathan" tab.
The only thing I don't understand is why they choose to … (24 comments)

ActiveRain Hosts "Carnival of Real Estate!" - 02:26 AM
ActiveRain is excited to be sponsoring the upcoming 89th edition of the "Carnival of Real Estate!" 
What is a Blog Carnival? Welcome everyone! The Carnival was started by Zillow.com on July 10, 2006 to help bring the real estate blogging community together to share valuable information on trends and news in the industry. It is open to everyone in the real estate industry and we mean everyone! (you can read about how it all got started HERE)
A Blog Carnival is a weekly summary of the best blogging posts that appeared in someone’s blog during the previous week.  A different blog hosts the … (24 comments)

How To Become a Featured Member - ActiveRain Points Breakdown - 05:48 PM
There is only "ONE WAY" you can be the featured member.  It's Points!  You have to have the most points... period!  It is not based on your successes, your experience, your moral or ethical values, it's all based on points.  I will tell you from personal experience, that points don't get you leads, and points will not get you referrals, it's the content of your Blog that is the most important of all.  However, points do determine where you are placed both on ActiveRain and on Localism.com.If you are not in the top 10, you will not show up on Localism.com in your area.  … (0 comments)

Trespassers Beware - 12:15 AM
When you are given a bank listing you need to check them at least once a week soooooo...A couple weeks I jump in my car to make my rounds around Orange County checking on all my listings. By the time I get to my last one I had to use the restroom and all the others where untouched and still vacant so when I pull up to my last and final listing I just ran up, unlock the lock box, and ran to the bathroom. As I was finishing up washing my hands I felt a strange presence. The hairs on … (9 comments)

BPO Companies - 03:53 PM
So a BPO is basically a CMA and I hope that every Realtor knows how to do a CMA. I have been doing BPO's for a couple years and I find that a year ago there was a couple big names in the biz and now to date I have found hundreds. Yes I said HUNDREDS. Can you imagine? 
Now i drive a diesel. In south Orange County, CA diesel is 4.50 cents. (if anyone knows of a cheap diesel fuel station please let me know) Most companies pay $50 for a drive by and $75 for interior. Including drive time and … (14 comments)

San Clemente Ocean View - 04:10 PM

Can you imagine coming home to this? Sunset view off the patio of your own backyard. 3/2.75  and 2500 square feet is just the beginning.  Great home in a great neighborhood and close to everything. What's great about this property is that the master bed and bath are seperate from the secondary rooms. Also, the secondary rooms are very roomy. The lot is about 8,000 sq ft and it also has a 3 car garage. Let me know if you would like more info. Asking 1,200,000 
… (0 comments)

REO Site - 04:25 PM
So I was invited to become a member of this new REO site. NREON.com They are running a special deal for the first 1000 agents. I figured I would try it since you pay once and it's good for a lifetime. It doesn't promise a whole lot but I signed up with USRES a couple years ago and didn't see much action but now I am knee deep in transactions and I am glad i took that chance on a new co. Many agents might think I am taking a risk and I have learned in my 8 years that the … (1 comments)

Back on the Market - Great price and a Pool !! - 06:55 PM
… (0 comments)

My girls! - 11:25 PM
It was 1991. My second daughter Rachel was just born and my eldest - Lauren - had just turned two. I had gotten over that terrible feeling you have when your second baby is about to arrive. You know - the "how can I possibly love another child the way I love my first child and therefore I must be a horrible person because why would I bring a baby into the world who would not have as much love as the first one" If you have more than one kid you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.
Anyway - … (17 comments)

Naples Home Market Conditions March 2008 - 05:50 PM
The market conditions for Naples covers both the month of March 2008 and the first calendar quarter of 2008, ending March 31, 2008. A monthly analysis reflects activity during a month with comparative data for the previous years of 2007 and 2006. The quarterly analysis covers a longer period of time, therefore, giving a more [...]
Click here to learn about Naples FL real estate.
… (0 comments)

Naples Condo Market Conditions March 08 - 05:53 PM
Market conditions and trends are important for both condominium buyers and sellers in determining their actions in the Naples real estate market, as well as, cyclical variations. The market conditions for Naples condominiums cover both the month of March 2008 and the first calendar quarter of 2008, ending March 31, 2008. The monthly analysis reflects [...]
Click here to learn about Bonita Springs real estate.
… (0 comments)

Laguna Royale at The Vineyards - 06:02 PM
March 31st represents the end of the first calendar quarter, I have started to update community and neighborhood information showing the annual median sold prices since 1998. The neighborhood updated, for no particular reason was Laguna Royale at The Vineyards. It is interesting to note that in 1998 the median sold price was $257,500 and in 2007 it was $450,000 - an annual increase over the ten years - 6.40%. … (0 comments)

Real Estate News 04/25/08 - 06:32 PM
REAL ESTATE TAX AMENDMENT
Florida’s Taxation and Budget Reform Commission voted yesterday in favor of a constitutional amendment to decrease property taxes in exchange for higher sales taxes, providing it’s approved by 60 percent of voters in November.
FORECLOSURES
The Bush administration "strongly opposes" Democrats’ housing rescue package, an official announced yesterday, calling it a bailout [...]
Click here to learn about real estate in Naples Florida.
… (0 comments)

Real Estate News 04/28/08 - 06:39 PM
COUNTRYWIDE
Consumer advocates claim Countrywide has not been responsive enough to homeowners struggling to make mortgage payments, and that Bank of America needs to do more when it takes over the troubled lender. The Fed is currently investigating the allegation, as it must do under the law, to make sure consumers wouldn’t be harmed by [...]
Click here to learn about Naples real estate.
… (0 comments)

Real Estate News 04/29/08 - 06:42 PM
FORECLOSURES
The number of homes in some stage of the foreclosure process rose again in the first quarter, according to RealtyTrac. And while Florida had a number of cities near the top of the list, California and Nevada landed the top spots. Stockton, Calif., ranked Number 1, with one out of every 30 homeowners in [...]
Click here to learn about Estero real estate.
… (0 comments)

Real Estate News 04/30/08 - 06:46 PM
FEDS CUT INTEREST RATE
This afternoon the Federal Reserve cut the Fed Funds rate a quarter of one percent from 2.25% to 2.0%. The prime rate should follow with a drop of one-quarter percent from 5.25% to 5.0%. The rate cut will not affect fixed rate mortgages, however, those borrowers with home equity loans, a home [...]
Click here to learn about Naples Florida real estate.
… (2 comments)

Did Reverend Wright's Wrong Make a Right for the Left? - 06:20 AM
No need to rehash the whole scenario... we're all very much aware of what has been happening on the political scene the past few days.  It seems that the talking heads from both sides (or all three sides, if you will) are all on the same page with this one.  They see it as pretty much doom for for the Dems in November.
But I see another possibility.  While I won't go as far as to say this little faux pax by the good(?) Reverend was cleverly planned in some dark, smokey back room of the Democrat Headquarters, it wouldn't surprise me if … (21 comments)

Wisdom from 1905 courtesy of Google Books - 08:46 AM
I enjoy old books.  (Plus material from old books in public domain can be freely re-used in a number of ways without risking copyright infringement.)
Anyway, I came across an interesting book at http://books.google.com   (Google has digitized thousands of books, and put them online, use the "Advanced Book Search" and enjoy!!)
The book is "How to Buy and Sell Real Estate at a Profit" -- it was written in 1905.  I suggest you download it, and go first to (printed) page 202  -- page 209 when opened as a PDF (page number discrepancy is because Google digitizes the cover, title page, any blank pages at the front … (12 comments)

The CyberPros Take Pittsburgh - 08:37 AM
Only about four hours from home, Pittsburgh was our destination on Sunday. The CyberProfessionals group was gathering for our semi-annual meeting, and that meant lots of talk, lots of laughter, gigabytes of memory, and some of the good old fashioned kind of memories that you make when with people you enjoy. And, of course, some good eating to go with the good company.
On the way up from Baltimore I was able to catch up on some emails, clear out all my spam folders, and post on Active Rain. Thank goodness for wireless connectivity! About ½ an hour from home I … (10 comments)

Technology and Chocolate for the CyberPros - 08:36 PM
Yesterday we wrapped up two filled-to-overflowing days of CyberProfessionals sharing knowledge, food, and lots of talk. From my photos you might think all we did was eat, but really the rest of the time I was so busy listening and taking notes that I hardly got the camera out.
Since we're the CyberPros, of course we focused on all things electronic. As usual, I learned a lot. Kristal Kraft did a presentation (using my AR blog as an example!) that taught us more about tags and what they mean to search engines. Fascinating stuff, and helpful to understand when adding tags … (19 comments)

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