Archives of real estate blog entries for January 18, 2009

Featured blog posts


"When I Search My Name, Nothing Comes Up!" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips - 05:23 PM
Going through our ActiveRain Help Desk Tickets tonight, I came across the following inquiry:
Can you tell me what's wrong with my profile? Or is your search function broken? Something just isn't right!  I am ranked 10th in my city, and 14th in the county, yet when I type my name in the Search box, nothing comes up! I've tried several different variations of my name, along with my office name, and city, but I'm not getting any results! Could you please help me?  I don't see any purpose in being involved on here if people can't find me!
Here was … (75 comments)

Making Sense of Phone Connections - 10:19 PM
Picking up the phone to make calls are not people's cup of tea including mine. Honestly, most people don't know what to say or how to get the message across without sounding like another salesperson. The phone is a fearful prospecting tool when your attitude is not at the right place. This post is to encourage you to come up higher than your shortcomings (mine included). Remember, a change of mindset can do wonders for you and for those you serve.
Why Phone Connection?

I strongly object against using the word, Cold Calling. The term is not friendly to begin with. … (60 comments)

All I did was... take it from an anything goes bachelor pad to a cool urban lifestyle condo. - 06:33 PM

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that when you own a piece of the waterfront and want to list at the top of the market comparables you would do well to invest in a consultation by a Professional Home Stager.
This two bedroom condo facing Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe in Barrie had terrific home furnishings to start with. The challenge was taking it from a swinging bachelor pad to an image of a cool urban lifestyle that either a single person or a couple would be attracted to. Nightlife, art galleries, shopping and the … (89 comments)

Can anyone explain this advice? Makes no sense to me! - 06:31 PM
I happened across an article by a Montana Realtor on line discussing the benefits of going after expired listings.  I have read the excellent series by Katerina Gasset (Wellington Homes and More...), and wondered what this fellow had to add to what they had to say.
Well, after telling his readers what a great money-maker this niche is, and how easy it is to do, he completely lost me.
He said that he sympathizes with the agent who is not a Realtor, because he will have no access to the MLS and consequently no daily list of expireds to mine.  To … (58 comments)

A Cure for Time Exhaustion.The Solution that Business Planning Forgot - 09:32 PM
Do you ever feel like,
You are running out of time? Your clients don't value your time? You are always pushing up against your time deadlines? The time warp is a common trap for entrepreuners.  Now that we interact socially online and blog for business the availability of our time takes on a whole new meaning.
Mismanagement drains the well of time and leads to severe time exhaustion. 

Time exhaustion isn't an anomaly, but an illness akin to the common cold.  Let's nip these sniffles in the bud right now before you end up with your business on it's backside crying for relief.
Take … (64 comments)

Are you Googlicious----or getting a Googlectomy? - 10:42 AM


     When I was a kid there was a radio show called "The Shadow."  I don't really remember anything about the Shadow except, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"  Today the same can be said of Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, Lycos and others----Google is the "Kleenex" of search engines and is rapidly becoming the manifestation of our collective conscience.  Almost any thing anyone wants to know can be found with a good search engine.  While the internet is becoming the repository of the sum of human knowledge----the search engines are the way to … (55 comments)

New Twitter extension for FireFox - 10:54 AM
As stated previously, I am new to Twitter and I am enjoying finding third party applications or add-ins that enhance the Twitter experience.
My default browser is Firefox, so I was pleased to find an extension for FireFox that checks my Twitter account and provides me with updates to my Twitter status. 
Twitterfox is a free add-in (donations accepted) that places a small Twitter icon in the lower right portion of your FireFox status bar.  Once you provide the preferences dialog with your Twitter account and password, the system will periodically check your status and give you access to your tweets. … (19 comments)

Charles Scrase (Google-Ann Arbor) even Needed a Realtor - 09:48 AM
 

We recently installed the newly elected and returning Board of Directors for the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors.
 
This will be my third and final term, I actually ran again because we were in the middle of two projects I wanted to see completed. One was interviewing MLS Vendors as our contract with mlxchange was up and one was extending our contract with Supra-E-Key.
 
 
 
Our main speaker was Charles Scrase from Google. Charles graduated from University of Michigan and recently moved back here to work in the Ad-Words division of Google. In his talk … (44 comments)

Brokerage is Alive and Well - 09:04 AM
The reports of our demise seem premature. Even in this horrendous economy, there is no groundswell, grass roots change from traditional brokerage to virtual office, online, discount/FSBO brokerage despite the chatter to the contrary. Contrast that with the almost overnight decimation of stock brokerage and travel. The Internet hammered those professions, yet, as Active Rain and other sites clearly illustrate, the 'Net has actually helped real estate brokerage. Why?
You can't click on a house and buy it. You have to see it, walk through it, smell it, and sit in it. And few do that without a licensee present. Few do … (27 comments)

I'm Proud Of My Work. Aren't You? - 09:34 PM
Call it an inherent trait; when I do something, regardless of what it is, I strive to do my very best.  My ultimate goal is to be proud of what I've done.  I know I'm not alone.  In fact, I firmly believe that the majority of people strive for the exact same thing.
I'm also not naive.  "Born at night; but not last night", as the saying goes.
One of the things that I work hard at is my web site.  I work hard at the verbiage it contains, the photos it houses, etc...  And like most who take pride in … (66 comments)

9 things I wish I'd known before I got a real estate license! Part 3 - 08:40 AM
Determine Your Niche!
It really didn't take me long in the business to realize that if I got focused on specializing in some specific area, a niche, rather than generalizing, that I could be more successful. And it doesn't matter the size or location of your market. It's really hard to try to be everything to everybody, and it can be financially and emotionally draining. Determining and clarifying your niche allows you to pinpoint where you should spend your time and your marketing resources, and it helps you develop a sphere of influence that creates success within that area of expertise.
… (30 comments)

My 4-1-1 in Progress - 07:32 AM
For the first time in my almost 14 year career I put a business plan in place.  It has been 1 week since I started it (I know this isn't a long period of time but everything starts with the 1st day than week) and I am both excited and anxious. 
This 4-1-1 is without a doubt a work in progress.  When I first sat down with my pencil and paper I wanted to accomplish everything - if you saw the plan you would have laughed.  After a couple of days, almost having an anxiety attack trying to meet or bite … (31 comments)

Localism Writing & The Relevance to Real Estate - 12:06 AM
Being an advocate for Localism has been one of my favorite past times on ActiveRain. When I first joined ActiveRain there were about 19k members. Localism was geared toward all types of local area writing. There were listings, market reports, local area points of interest, community happenings and loan information. We posted photos and created the communities and kept plugging away to get the Localism site full of content, views, scenery and more.
Then the launch of Localism last year caused a ruckus because it was going to be geared more toward Local Area Businesses and happenings.
Change always seems to … (70 comments)

Caller Said I Probably Wasn't Meant to be a Real Estate Agent. Episode #4 Video Agent Guy - 06:32 PM
I had a caller leave me a message saying that some people just aren't cut out to be real estate agents and I might be one of them.  This is because I said it might be difficult to find a home that fit all of her criteria.
 
She had called me  from out of state.  She sounded nice and I thought I was making progress.  She wanted to find out about areas around Atlanta where she would be able to find the kind of house she desired.
I get many calls like this and have learned that I need to ask … (77 comments)

Realtors and string bikinis....ON FACEBOOK! - 05:25 PM
I am just getting the hang of things on Facebook and starting to expand my "friends" and Groups.
The first few weeks I was playing catch up with some friends that I have not seen in 20 Years. No wonder, as they had moved 800 miles away! I loved it. Then the drinks started getting passed and the snowball fights broke out. I couldn't keep up with only 24 hours in the day. So at this point I was thinking "what have I got myself into here."
Pressing bravely forward I thought it to be a good idea to join my local Realtors Associations … (120 comments)

My First Active Rain Success Story -Why I turned down a client in this economy. - 10:44 AM
Finally, finally, after all these months of blogging and reading how others had great success and clients calling them from their blogs, I got a call!

Someone had read my blog about one of the beautiful new home communities that I visited.
 Now, many months after this first blog, I had a call about the community. The person on the phone actually had read my blog first, and then went to the community without me.  Luckily she called me the next day to tell me about a house there she wanted to put an offer on!   We talked for about … (81 comments)

My Son Gave Me A 500K Lead That I Wasn't Sure I Wanted - 06:32 PM
My son put me in touch with a HOT lead. Motivated buyer, relocating to the area, in town for only a few days. Must be decisive and find something fast. Looking to spend around 500K. And, no referral fee! Good lead - right? ...WRONG. Why do I hesitate at this opportunity for a fast and meaty paycheck?  
Yesterday I called my friend and colleague about a motivational real estate session being offered next week. It's an hour away and I would really like to have somebody to keep me company during the drive. So, I asked my friend if she was interested in attending. We talked briefly because she … (41 comments)


Blog posts


Martin Luther King Jr.-His Dream Must Live On! - 07:19 PM
"Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."  Martin Luther King Jr., Speech at Civil Rights March on Washington, August 28, 1963 His Dream Must Live ON!
 Can you pick out......El DeBarge, Fat Boys, Full Force, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Whitney … (9 comments)

Panama city real estate - Home for sale - 09:55 AM
2009 continues it's promising outlook as more and more, buyers and sellers are entering the market.
With some of the lowest interest rates we've seen in years, it's a great time to buy a new home or investment in the Panama City real estate market.
Here is a new listing you may find of interest:
1013 Harmon Ave, Panama City - 3 bedroom/2 bath. Close to major shopping centers and easy access to good schools, centrally located in the middle of town.
For pricing, photos and additional information, please view the listing or contact me directly (850) 774-6582  about this or … (0 comments)

Panama City Beach home for sale - 2 bedroom/2 bath investor special - 10:06 AM
303 Memory Lane, #B, Panama City Beach - 2 bedroom/2 bath attached single family home.
Lease-back opportunity in Panama City Beach.
For pricing, photos and additional information, please view the listing
Contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for additional information on this or other Panama City Beach, Florida homes for sale.
Sellers, I have buyers looking for homes. If you're considering selling your home, contact me for a free no obligation market analysis today.
… (0 comments)

Panama City Real Estate - East bay project upate - 10:15 AM
Several of my customers have requested information in regards to the East bay development project.
I am pleased to report that I have been in contact with a representative of the project and have posted updated information in regards to the Panama City - East bay development project.
If there are other projects or properties you'd like information regarding, please contact me directly (850) 774-6582.  I'll do my best to obtain the information and post it promptly.
 
… (0 comments)

Lead Management - 02:40 PM
Anybody out there have any advise for Lead Management software?
I am a broker and would like to follow up on the leads that I send my agents.
… (1 comments)

New Listings - 02:44 PM
Hello-
Have a handful of new listings this week-
1637 W. Wrightwood #1N
Beautiful surprise when you enter this spacious 1600 Square foot duplex unit. Large bedrooms both with walk-in closets. Kitchen features Granite counters & stainless appliances. Unit has extremely high ceilings, hardwood floors and updated tile in lower level. Modern fixtures, gas fireplace, wet bar, entertainment area. Storage in unit plus 2 car-tandem parking spaces. Outdoor area for building. Great space for price
… (0 comments)

Chicago Illinois Foreclosures and surrounding counties on the rise! - 08:38 AM
Sellers, if you are behind in your mortgage payments, upside down on your house value, a divorce, job loss etc. and can't handle the payments any longer, we can help.  We now offer Loan Modifications and have a 98% success ratio at closing short sales.  Yes we can sell your house, NO MATTER how much you owe or how upside down it is in value and our short sales services cost you NOTHING out of pocket!   Here's just a few of our outstanding pre-foreclosure short sale deals for January 2009.    Investors and buyers, looking for a good deal? Now … (1 comments)

Are your Christmas lights still up? - 09:42 AM
Are your Christmas lights still up? 
Seems to me that lighting up the Christmas lights on Inauguration Day could be seen as a display of hope and support for the new incoming President.   (Just the lights, tho... hold the Santas, the reindeers and camels. )
I suppose that's an unconventional thought,  does anyone else feel that way?

 
… (2 comments)

Proud to be a Arizonian - 05:24 PM
A few of my AR friends know that I hold "dual citizenship", in Los Angeles, California, and in Green Valley, Arizona.
Today, January 18, 2009, at 3:22pm, Pacific Time, I am sooooo proud of the Arizona Cardinals!!!
On to the Super Bowl!!!
… (2 comments)

Loving 2009! - 10:01 PM
Well, my books are almost done for 2008...
I made it, thank goodness! So many good agents did not. I watched one of our offices top producers lose his house. Actually I think I saw 4 agents in our office lose their house in '08. Although we are competitors, it was horrible to watch. We are also brothers in arms of a huge change/adjustment/recession in our market. Many refused to look for where to shift their focus rather than just putting their head in their hands and fretting.
And we have been blessed in the Pacific Northwest! We weren't hit as … (3 comments)

Was 2008 a good, bad, or normal year for Knoxville area home sales? - 03:12 PM
The 2008 sales figures are out from the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors. What kind of year was 2008 for us?
Here are the figures.

About a 31.3% drop in units sold from 2007 versus 2008. Still 11,850 is a bunch of homes.
How about median sales prices for 3 bedroom homes?

Looks like we're trending towards selling lower priced homes by about 9.5% or close to 2006 levels.
Average days on the market is up about 10 days; no big change there. In fact it seems to have been pretty consistent for the past few years.

Here … (1 comments)

Listing Router, $62.90 in charges so far in January 09 and - 04:35 PM
I've accumulated a whopping thirty cents in credits.
Hmmm, this is starting to shape up like Google and Yahoo's pay per click. I was paying a few hundred bucks a month before I finally pulled the plug on them. 
My problem so far is that I can't seem to attribute any business to Listing Router.
Anyone else experiencing similiar results?
I'm also wondering if AR members looking around in other areas might be creating some of my charges?
I also wonder where that town is that only gets thirty cents a click???
… (18 comments)

Bunco Babes Ocala score Big for 1st Annual Charity Fundraiser - 07:34 AM
Bunco Babes Ocala hosted a great evening for Realtors, their clients,closing agents, and many more lovely folks supporting Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It was a great evening of Bunco( a fun dice game), silent actions, door prizes donated by many local attorneys, physicians and merchants in the Ocala area. It was so exciting as Survivors were recognized for their fight against cancer! The heavy hors d'oeuvres were great featuring fresh vegetables, dips and swedish meatballs and provided by Woodlea Gardens. Great job providing healthy food. The overall winner received a Tacori Diamond Pink Ribbon necklace valued at over $ 2000 donated … (2 comments)

Ironwoods 2008 Market Update - 01:37 PM
It’s time again for a year-end neighborhood real estate market update.  Since my mid-year update, no additional homes came on the market in Ironwoods so the stats remain the same.  The chart below shows the high, low and average figures for 2008. As a Realtor and neighbor, I am very happy to report that this year sales in Ironwoods were very strong.  Overall, sales are down a solid 30% in Chapel Hill and across the Triangle.  I was thrilled to see the responsiveness of the market to homes in Ironwoods.  All the homes that came on the market in Ironwoods sold … (0 comments)

You Meant to ...You Wanted to...and now you CAN for $4.99/Month - 07:56 PM
 
 
 
 
 
   It's easy to caught up in listing, blogging, servicing buyers and sellers and "meaning" to get listings posted to more sights....here is an easy way to do it...your listings, photography, tours, etc, are picked right off off MLS for just $4.99 a month....and your listings will be submitted to:
 
 Google Base Yahoo! Real Estate Oodle Trulia Real Estate Search CyberHomes AOL Real Estate  
    Just try it...it's called - www.ListingLaunch.com
 
        Give it a try...your sellers will be glad you did !
 
… (0 comments)

Was I the Only One With Tears Streaming...... - 08:24 PM
 

 
    Tonite while I was catching up on e-mails, returning calls and anticipating the sunshine and warm weather of the Palm Beach area...I had the television on and was captivated by the music, the joy of the participants in anticipation of the inauguration.  Forget who you voted for...that was then, and this is now...right now....for all of us.
   We are very excited to be in Palm Beach...not because it is not the frozen tundra of Wisconsin where wind chill factors were 40 BELOW ZERO and snow falls were trying hard to beat record rates....though I have to admit, … (1 comments)

Paying My Penance - GO STEELERS!!! - 06:26 PM
OK, so I'm not really a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, but, BUT I am keeping my end of a bet that I lost.  This was my penance - to write a glowing post on how awesome the Steelers are and how they should win the Super Bowl.
The only thing, about the only thing, i know about the Steelers is that their colors are black and yellow.  Who would choose those colors anyway??  Alright, I know, I got off course on that remark,  Oh, and one other thing I know, the mayor of Pittsburgh changed his name from Ravenstahl to 'Steelerstahl' - … (42 comments)

Okemo Mountain Second Home Tax Breaks - 07:34 AM
Okemo Mountain Second Home Tax Breaks
If you are in the market for a second home, congratulations! Not only is Okemo Mountain a great place to ski and relax, you also can garner some tax benefits. Here are some tax breaks as spelled out by Kiplinger.com:
Mortgage interest. If you use the place as a second home -- rather than renting it out as a business property -- interest on the mortgage is deductible just as interest on the mortgage on your first home is. You can write off 100% of the interest you pay on up to $1.1 million of debt secured by … (3 comments)

Mesa, Arizona - Mountain Vista Medical Center Offers Education Events for Those 55 and older! - 08:07 PM
Mountain Vista Medical Center is located at Crismon and North of the 60. In July 2007, I took photos of the new medical center and shared them on a post here. The post was later commented on by the architect. Pretty cool!
Mountain Vista Medical Center is offering special education events for all of those 55 and older. I've posted the events and the dates and times below, but be sure to click on the link above for the Medical Center for further information.
Heart Healthy Day - Saturday February 28, 8-11 a.m.
Seminar Series - FREE health seminars are designed … (10 comments)

Montgomery Real Estate for Sale: 2632 Boultier Ave - 09:18 AM
Montgomery Real Estate for Sale: 2632 Boultier Ave #B, Montgomery, AL 36106 MLS 261089
Condo living at its best. This 4-unit complex is located just a short walk from the business Hub of Old Cloverdale and Huntingdon College campus. A few of the amenities include parquet floors, fire place, downstairs master bedroom, good storage, and a private courtyard. Smooth Move inspection is available. Price reflects the fact that minor cosmetic improvements need to be done. Put this first on your list to see. Learn more about 2632 Boultier Avenue and other Montgomery real estate by visiting HatTeam.com. Search all Montgomery … (0 comments)

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