Archives of real estate blog entries for November 28, 2009

Featured blog posts


Blame it on the Blog - 06:42 PM
So, I must confess, today I had to blame it on the blog!  As some of you may know, it it easy to become a little obsessive and compulsive about blogging.  It sometimes consumes your every thought.  And, it can at times, make you late for certain events.  Today was one of those times.
I needed to send a letter by Fed-x to someone in San Diego.  I figured I had plenty of time to do so.  I continued to blog about events in Grants Pass Oregon and I seriously lost track of time.  Once I realized it was 3:30pm, I started calling around for … (46 comments)

Reclaim Your Life, One Hobby at a Time! - 05:19 PM

  Today I dusted off my Rollerblades and off I went, skating through the neighborhood.   I can’t remember the last time I skated; I think it was last year, or maybe the year before that.  I spent my childhood on skates.  My kids learnt to roller skate when they were two years old.  Skating has been a constant throughout my life until…    What happened?  Work and responsibility took over my life and somehow I found less and less time for myself.  When my grandmother passed away this spring, I started taking inventory of my life.  I came to the … (67 comments)

11 months and 100,000 points later... THANK YOU ACTIVE RAIN!! - 05:12 PM
This blog entry will put me over the 100,000 point mark here on Active Rain.  I had this GRAND IDEA in my head that this post needed to be something SPECIAL, something MAGICAL, something that NOBODY WOULD FORGET!!!  I wanted to talk about my journey here on Active Rain but wasn't quite sure how to do it...
I started typing it 4 times already today and each time I stopped after 2 paragraphs because I realized I was trying too hard.  I was going to delete what I had started typing but then I remembered Richard Weisser's post about Recycling your … (31 comments)

How To Create and Use iFrames and Tables on Your Blog - 07:43 PM
How To Create and Use iFrames and Tables on Your Blog
Last week I promised to create a post explaining how to add iFrames and tables to your Blog posts.  Instead of making this a long drawn out technical "How To" tutorial, I decided to make it really easy for those of you interested in using this feature.  It is HTML based and does require a little HTML skill, but I think the way I'm about to show you will totally simplify the process and keep you from losing your sanity! lol~
The hardest thing you'll have to do is … (148 comments)

MBS, or mortgage-backed securities, rating agencies under renewed squeeze - 01:35 PM
The unprecedented real estate bubble the nation just experienced was partly created by the credit rating shops that were tasked to value mortgage-backed securities, or MBS. The three large agencies doing that are Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's. The ratings the three arrived at were then attached to MBS issued by Wall Street firms and subsequently offered to investors who were seeking to invest money based on their own risk preferences. Obviously what the large investors world over were seeing made them confident that MBS were sound and worth acquiring, so they bought boatloads of them, stoking … (50 comments)

How Far Will You Go? - 10:24 PM
How far will you go to get or keep a listing? How far will you go to pacify demonstrate to a seller you are the professional in your area? The best person to successfully market their property and help them achieve their goals?
I read this article today in the New York times about agents who are stepping outside the box in order to make their clients feel as if they are doing everything they can to help in the home selling process. Some are cooking dinner for their clients during open houses, others are cleaning or walking dogs and some are babysitting.
Really...??
… (89 comments)

Two Additional Benefits of Comments... - 08:48 PM
I would be the first to admit, when it came to commenting, at first, I was in it for the points.
I mean really, it was hard not be.  25 points for a comment.  That seemed like the very definition of a bargain. 
I'll take ten of those please.
But the value of commenting, beyond the 25 point gain, became apparent pretty quickly.
It fosters a great sense of community.  You get to hear about what other Real Estate professionals are going through. 
For instance, just today I commented on post about a cash buyer who just up and disappeared.  … (58 comments)

ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE RIGHT AFFILIATES? - 09:17 PM
On Thanksgiving Day I drove by a friend/client's home (who lives across the street from my in-laws) and saw a real estate sign in her yard...from another broker!  After spending 1 1/2 years diligently working for, and waiting for, this [friend} I feel a little betrayed.  Here's the story...
I first met (we'll call her Mary) in the spring of 2008.  Mary was wanting to find a home with some land so she could have goats, chickens and a little elbow room.  Her current home is small and has little land, plus it's in the city limits and Mary feels the desire … (110 comments)

ActiveRain Breeds the Best of the Best ! - 07:40 PM
~
Sometimes you just stop for a moment in life, and realize you are in a pretty good place !

Here at activerain there are some community Terms of Service for us all to follow, but the members here are made up of something a little more special than those guidelines.
 
I am now approaching one real year of real blogging here, and I feel so fortunate to have joined this membership.
Not only has my Real Estate knowledge shot through the roof, but my enjoyment of life has been enriched by the unbelievably supportive, entertaining, caring, and just … (75 comments)

Excuse me, I think your keyboard threw up on your business card. - 10:43 AM
Excuse me sir, I think your keyboard threw up on your business card.
Have you ever had an interaction with a real estate agent who hands you’re their business card and it looks something like this:
Marie Davis ARB® DHG® GIR DJO CCAE FHHU VHV PWD TFX TYP CSZ TPL LLW MVL RBE WOZ VPW XOF?
Yea…don’t be that person.
I have been trying to figure out what would be so compelling about listings all of those designations after ones name? A Doctor goes to college for eight years and all he gets is 2 or 3 letters, but a real … (108 comments)

Common Blogging Mistakes that Cost You Money - 10:20 AM
Groups and Channels and Categories Oh My
Unless you are already making too much money, the name of the game with this blogging thing is to get found. If you want readers to find you, you need to maximize your exposure. Often, I find blog postings that are fantastic but under read, not because they aren't good (some of them are great) but because they are unintentionally "hidden." And if your best stuff is hiding, people can't find you. Here are some mistakes I see that are easy to avoid and will make a difference if corrected:
 
Making a post … (55 comments)

Doll Face, Come On And BORE ME! Counterproductive Advertising - 01:43 PM
I had a very ENLIGHTENING conversation with a fairly active real estate consumer about what he finds impressive and what he deems ineffective in agent advertising. We laughed as we went thru Twitter, blogs, real estate magazines and Facebook pages.

 
 
 
When you read below, you may think, "Well, duh!"
But take a cruise around agent websites, blogs and gasp! ESPECIALLY Twitter/MySpace/Facebook pages.
In the interest of transparency, we have lost some of our common sense.
 
 
 
 
 
These are messages we probably shouldn't convey to consumers via a public page or ad:
I'm Really … (65 comments)


Blog posts


The Diet Continues - Week 12 - Not a bad Thanksgiving - 01:00 PM
Well this was Thanksgiving week.  I stuck to low carb foods, although there may have been some carb creep for a couple of days.  When our church held it's big annual Thanksgiving Dinner I kept it to Turkey, Ham and salad with 0 carb dressing.
My wife made great low carb reciepes for me.  And I managed to drop 1 pound in a holiday week.  Tonight is going to be another challenge.  I am off to my 30th class reunion.
… (7 comments)

I am ready for Christmas - 01:20 PM
I am ready for Christmas!                                                  Photo by GraceFamily on Flickr

I don't mean I am ready for Christmas in that everything is done that needs to be done; I am ready for Christmas in my heart.  I have been ready for Christmas for weeks, so ready I feel like a department store.  One of my kids told me I had to stop signing carols as it was not time yet.
There is a lot to be glummy about this year, the national economy, my personal economy, the direction of our country, and worry over the future; but I am filled … (8 comments)

Home Searching Made Easy - 11:18 AM
FREE Home Finding ServiceEasy to use, Powerful, 24/7 Connection
 
Please click on the "Search Now" to begin your Home Finding Experience!
Now you can be the first to hear about new properties as they come on the market!Just think of the valuable time you will save! Never miss a home that's right for you!
Pictures, Prices, Addresses & Directions to EVERY Listing!
ALL the Matching Listings from ALL the Real Estate Companies!
Search all Metro East Illinois Homes for Sale, including Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Shiloh, Mascoutah, O'Fallon and more!
Paul Walker, Broker AssociateRealty Executives of Metro East1109 Hartman Ln, … (1 comments)

If you want to go Virtual then here are some tools I highly recommend. - 11:49 AM

Hi folks, As most of you know I run a virtual real estate office. What this means is that my associates and I all work from our homes. I do most of my business over the Internet. I rarely talk on the phone. And I rarely show properties.I list Florida properties for sale without ever meeting the Sellers and I sell Florida properties without ever meeting the Buyers. This is my preferred way of handling business. I mostly communicate via email and text messages.I have found that conducting business like this is very efficient. I am able to spend more … (40 comments)

About Bryant Tutas. Bio and Disclaimer - 04:29 PM
ABOUT BRYANT TUTAS I am not a lawyer or an accountant. Any legal or financial advice I give is my opinion based on my own experience. Always seek the advice of a professional in these fields before acting on something that I might say.
I am however an expert when it comes to listing and selling Real Estate in Florida. I am a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Florida. My opinions on real estate have been formed from my experiences and 18 years of working in the business. My opinions are in line with Florida Real Estate laws … (0 comments)

Mortgage Rates Hit Historic Low - 05:28 AM
Mortgage rates fell this week with three of the 4 major mortgage products hitting all time lows. The most important of the four mortgage products the 30 year rate fell to 4.78 from 4.83 equaling the previous low. The 15 year mortgage product hit 4.29 beating the previous low of 4.32 reached last week. The 5 year arm came in at 4.18 breaking the previous low of 4.25 also reached last week. The 1 year arm stayed at 4.35. Below are rates from the weeks from Oct 29, 2009 to Nov 26, 2009

Nov 26, 2009
30-yr 4.78 … (3 comments)

Steps for Avoiding Foreclosure - 05:58 AM
If you're struggling with your finances and don't know what your options are, you're going to feel helpless in your situation. Here are some tips and tricks to avoid bankruptcy, and options that are available to help you resolve your outstanding mortgage.

The best advice you can ever get regarding your mortgage is that your highest priority in paying bills is to pay your mortgage first. That's hard advice to follow, though, because you can't live without utilities or food. It becomes even more complicated when you need to buy gas to look for a job or get to work … (3 comments)

A Financial Check-up - 06:05 AM
Whether by choice or circumstance, people are finding they have more time and more need to ponder finances these days. Very few people are making their way out of this recession completely unscathed and most are trying to be a little wiser about money in the process. In these times of layoffs and pay cuts, giving yourself a financial check-up is a good way to save money and perhaps change some bad habits.

Accounts
Take a look at all of your accounts, starting with the savings account. Either through past paper statements or online, take some time to check balances, … (1 comments)

Mortgage Lenders Bailed Out By the U.S. Government - 06:10 AM
Beginning October 2008 through October 2009, the U.S. Treasury Department has been bailing out U.S. banks. In efforts to undergird the economy, and stabilize the struggling institutions, over $200 billion has been paid out to over 600 mortgage lenders through the Treasury's Capital Purchase Program.

Surprisingly, almost $71 billion has been paid back to the U.S. Treasury so far. That's almost 36 percent of $200 billion being paid back by 41 different banks. Interestingly to note, almost 7 percent of the banks who borrowed federal money owed 36 percent of the government's capital purchase.

Looking at the extensive list … (2 comments)

I Admit It...I AM on Drugs.. - 05:04 AM
 

  After a medical procedure yesterday...I freely admit...I am on drugs. I am from the "Can't heal when you hurt school....and all things in moderation"....so the drugs are much milder versions of the knock you silly pain killers...but allow for a good night's sleep...no driving...drinking, lifting...etc.  Soooo my days and nights are  little confused....and maybe that is the problem...but I think the Proxie Pixie and the Rain Raiders are playing with the calendar and the clocks..comment dates are scrambled...or is it an unordered mind on medication ?  Hmmm...what say you Rain Gods....?
… (15 comments)

Decisions...Be a "Know it All..." - 06:01 AM
->Part 2 - Decisions Decisions Decisions
 
  One of the most important factors in major decisions is gathering facts….and this is one of the most difficult for many ….agents, managers, buyers, sellers, investors…our own perceptions, experiences, prejudices, desires, often Color the decision making process…..here are some examples.
 Buyers
Develop an emotional attachment to a house that has mega structural problems Are victims of “undue influence” rather than listen to the realtor…the parent, neighbor, friend, etc. becomes the expert based on their limited or perhaps out dated experience Belief in media trends may not apply to the area in which … (10 comments)

Follow The EXIT Sign - 09:34 AM
… (0 comments)

Is a change of life style in your future, I may just have the perfect destination and home. - 07:40 PM
Looking to change your life style or just to get away from the cold north come on down to Pensacola, Florida is an activity-packed destination featuring culture, outdoor adventure, fine museums, attractions and over 50 miles of beaches. Whether you're an art enthusiast, birdwatcher, golfer, foodie or a shopaholic, you'll find happiness here in Pensacola .
Unique home on large landscaped lot with workshop, near Pensacola Christian School. Ranch style porch across front of home. Larger than large room sizes. Large kitchen with island counter and plenty of cabinets and storage. Master bedroom has study/ nursery/office area attached with seperate door.  Come on and visit us here on the … (1 comments)

Home Staging Training Myths Uncovered - 12:30 PM
So many people ask me what the best type of Home Staging training is and if they can really learn all they need to know in a Home Staging Training program to start a successful Home Staging business.
As a Home Staging educator, I have compiled the differences for easy evaluation between the different types of trainings available:
•-         Online
•-         3 day Workshops
•-         5 Day Hands-On  Private Training
 
Online Training is available for those who feel confident in their design aptitude and learn better from audio and visual, rather than by doing. Although many of these programs may … (0 comments)

Doll Face, Come On And BORE ME! Counterproductive Advertising - 01:43 PM
I had a very ENLIGHTENING conversation with a fairly active real estate consumer about what he finds impressive and what he deems ineffective in agent advertising. We laughed as we went thru Twitter, blogs, real estate magazines and Facebook pages.

 
 
 
When you read below, you may think, "Well, duh!"
But take a cruise around agent websites, blogs and gasp! ESPECIALLY Twitter/MySpace/Facebook pages.
In the interest of transparency, we have lost some of our common sense.
 
 
 
 
 
These are messages we probably shouldn't convey to consumers via a public page or ad:
I'm Really … (65 comments)

Dirt, Grime, Rust and a lot of HDR - 07:02 AM
It is fun to shoot rusty stuff and grimy stuff too.

They still use this for parking. Down by  the river, under the railroad tracks. An excellent example of urban decay.

They fixed up this old grain elevator and turned it into a kind of interpretive center but they left the mechanicals just as they were.  There is a lot of rust and some dirt too.

If you look up on the right you can see a face.  This boiler room is in the building where our office used to be and to move out we had to … (17 comments)

Worthington - Santa Claus is coming to town - 08:01 AM
Worthington - Santa Claus is coming to town - Sunday for the  Holiday Open House and Christmas Tree Lighting (a pdf from Worthington.org the city of Worthington website with all the details.) 
Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and Worthington is a city, not a town but Santa Claus will be in Worthington on on Sunday
Sunday November 29, 2009 Open House in the shops and restaurants on High Street in Worthington from Noon to 5:30.
Santa Claus will be hanging out at the Worthington Inn, outfront in the sleigh. The Worthington Inn is at 649 High St. Worthington, Ohio, … (0 comments)

Hilliard homes for sale November 2009 - 01:04 PM
Hilliard homes for sale brought to you by Maureen McCabe

This graph shows the inventory of single family homes in Hilliard schools for the past 15 months.  Inventory is  certainly down from a year ago.   
Hilliard homes for sale - a market report
Hilliard homes for sale -  376Hilliard homes sold in October 2009 -  94Months of inventory based on sales - 4.0Homes for sale than a year ago -27.4% (less) Months of inventory of Hilliard homes (based on closed Sales) in comparison to October 2008 -50.6% (less) Average active price $282,000Average sale price $198,000Hilliard homes for sale - neighborhoods
… (0 comments)

Highest Hills around New Orleans and South Louisiana are the Levee's - 04:35 PM
Levee's in South Louisiana are very normal. The higher the better!
 
        When surrounded by water as much of South Louisiana is Levee's are very important.  Levees are made of clay covered with grass to keep the water on the other side.  This one is on the Mississippi River not to far from where I live.  One of the recreational benefits is that they stretch for miles and miles.  You can jog, roller blade, cycle and just plain walk along the small road on top.  Not uncommon to see ocean going ships going up and down river with their cargo from all over … (0 comments)

Barrington Illinois Relocation - Welcome Package Info - Relocate to Barrington IL - 04:35 PM
As a real estate agent in Barrington Illinois with Royal Advocate Realty and a resident of the Barrington area, I help people find their perfect home in one of the villages that make up the Barrington area. I hope this will give you an insight into the area, yet I know you'll have plenty of questions before you relocate to Barrington IL, so feel free to leave a comment and I'll get an answer for you, or just call me.
Barrington IL encompasses over 90 square miles of real estate with a population of about 40,000. Residents live in - The … (5 comments)

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