Archives of real estate blog entries for March 23, 2009

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Carnival of Real Estate - 134th Edition - 10:54 AM

 
 
What an honor it is to host the 134th edition of the Carnival of Real Estate and select the best of the best!  I choose this week's theme because everyone is looking for the best deal & way to save money. In honor of that, the theme of this week’s carnival is VALUE. 
This week's carnival is being judged on the value it bring to our consumers and the real estate business.  Without further adieu, meet the best of the best!
 
This week we have TWO Picks of the week.  How's that for VALUE?   

… (15 comments)

What You Ought To Know About People Reading Your Blog - 07:19 PM
We all know the people on ActiveRain that read our blogs, they leave comments and we get to know who is reading them. But what do you know about the consumer who is silently reading your blog? Do you even know who is reading your blog? Do you know how they found your blog? Do you know where the people live that are looking at your blog?
I do, and so can you. 
Here's How:
 I'm sure you all know about the great Google analytics, the problem with Google analytics is it doesn't currently work with your ActiveRain blog. How sad, I know! … (199 comments)

Tour Guide AND Buying A Home Go Hand In Hand - 06:07 AM
This weekend was great. I had not one but two Buyers out looking at homes. 
The first Buyer I have worked with before. Helped her buy her first home, a condo. She got married so we sold her condo and they bought a house. Now she wants a bigger house.  We found the house.
The second Buyer came to me via a referral. We had actually met a few years back when she was considering a new purchase. We never went out because it was determined she was really not ready. This time she is ready.
So while I was waiting for … (39 comments)

How to respond to Email enquiries. - 11:42 AM
My goal with Tutas Towne Realty, Inc is to make everything as automated as possible. We are a virtual real estate compnay. The days of driving around showing properties for days on end are over. Now don't get me wrong, you may have to show some, but my goal is to limit your time doing so. Wouldn't you rather work in your jammies?  
Foreign Investors will buy sight unseen. I know because these are the only buyers I ever work with. I don't have time to spend looking at homes.  
Our job is to find buyers and sellers and help them … (90 comments)

Buying a Foreclosed Home or Potential Foreclosure Property - 08:24 AM
                                                                                                                                                   
Are you considering buying a foreclosed property? Why not after all there are plenty of them all around the country and they can typically be bought at a discount to the present market value.
Buying a foreclosed home however, is not for the timid at heart and there are many things that buyers need to consider. If you have ever watched a late night infomercial you would think buying a foreclosed home can be bought for 50 cents on the dollar and immediately re-sold for a boat load on money. Don't plan on it!
Foreclosed homes generally can be … (94 comments)

With 100s of Homes on the Market in Your Area; How Does Your Home Compete? - 11:36 PM
NAR Released that over 87% of today's Home Buyers first "shop" the internet, or narrow down their "list" of properties to view in person, solely by how a home is marketed and perceived on the Internet by number and quality of the photographs of the home. But did you also know:
That only 10% of Potential Buyers can envision the home's true potential?
    
Is THIS how your home is being viewed on the Internet?  Wouldn't you rather it look like this?
    
What is this room for? Don't leave Buyer's guessing.
    
Awkward floor plans, what to do?  Staging … (49 comments)

Invest in Action, Gain More Sales - 10:54 PM
Have you noticed how much difference action makes? That's a broad statement, I know, so let's narrow it down to some examples we all can relate to.
Our economy is a roller-coaster ride these days, as we all know. The stock market is not the best barometer of how things are going because it is a very narrow part of the overall picture. But at the same time, it's quite visible. Have you noticed that when some specific, positive action occurs, that the stock market acts as if it had a double dose of caffeine? When housing starts are better … (28 comments)

I Write To an Audience NOT an Engine - 09:15 PM
I received a phone call today from a fellow Realtor/member of Active Rain. I must admit I had no idea exactly how to feel about his first few statements. He began by telling me how much he knew about search engine optimization. He went on to explain to me that I was wasting my time by posting to certain sites.
Ok. I thought, be nice Cherimie.
Thankfully, I didn't hang up on him.
He is a Beaufort Realtor that I haven't had the pleasure of meeting. After listening to him for a few minutes, I finally confessed.
"It isn't my goal … (89 comments)

The solution to the banking crisis - 05:29 PM
The administration's new banking rescue plan was officially released this morning after the details of it had been leaked over the weekend.  It sure didn't take long but pretty much every economist and financial blogger not connected with Wall Street has already ripped it to shreds calling it everything from a massive tax payer fraud, another big bank hand out and a massive government sponsored confidence game.  Economist and former Nobel prize winner Paul Krugman spent no less than 3 posts since Saturday blasting it.  While Mike Shedlock (Mish) went so far as to proclaim Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner the architect … (28 comments)

ActiveRain Now on iTunes - 07:15 PM
I was just notified that the Inter-Active ActiveRain Business Card is now available on iTunes.   Last week, I posted a video on how the app works and received a great response from many of you iPhone users.  That's not to say I didn't hear from the BlackBerry Crowd too!  lol~  As promised, I said it was coming...now it's here.
There is already more functionality, a new mortgage calculator, and a feature that allows iPhone 3G users to click on a button while in front of a property, (or in a specific neighborhood), that returns them a google map geocoded with the … (64 comments)

Marketing Strategy on a Tight Budget....Includes Blogging - 11:44 PM
A couple of weeks ago I did a portion of our Monday Sales Meeting for Century 21 Liberty Homes. The biggest thing I wanted to stress to our agents was that the Art of Blogging is the biggest part of marketing our business and our expertise in representing our buyers and sellers. 
It turned out to be a great meeting although it's taken awhile (and will take awhile) for some to really grasp the idea that putting effort into internet marketing is one of the best marketing tools there is. I also stressed the fact that I am a few years … (121 comments)

Memeless Monday...Meaningful Moves Make Money Matters More Memorable...!!! - 10:24 AM
Now that I have earnestly and safely disposed of the MEME my friend from Lehigh County, Jason Sardi, respectfully imposed upon me, I can get on with the business of survival in a still tractionless real estate market...  
Someone asked me this morning how business has been, and I responded with just that analogy...It's been like a car stuck in the snow trying to gain traction...the more gas pedal we depress, the deeper we get bogged down in the snow...I added that if only we could gain a little traction we might be able to pull ourselves out of this … (38 comments)

Tweeting The Content of Others on ActiveRain--Better than Reblog - 12:13 AM
The AIG fiasco has been the focus of much opinion and emotional conversation.  My nephew posted a thought about it on his Facebook page and I made a quick uninformed comment.  My niece (his sister) responded with a lot of interesting points about what is really going on.  Shortly after, I read AIG is just a Smokescreen! by Katerina Gasset - a well written and informative view about the reality of what is going on with AIG and the bailout. 
I was sure my niece would enjoy reading it and posted a link on her Facebook page.  The ActiveRain logo came … (44 comments)

You Never Know Who You're Helping - 07:15 PM
Thanks to Sandy Shores for her blog Would It Take a Brick to Get Your Attention?  It got me thinking about one of the things I love the most about my husband.  He is incredibly helpful: to friends, to family and to strangers.  We could learn alot from him.  It doesn't matter who they are or even if we know them.  My husband was brought up to help whenever he could and it is something he has passed along to our son.
A couple of years ago, my husband, son and I were coming home from a day of running around, … (60 comments)

AIG, Why Last Week Has me Worried - 01:51 AM
As a general rule I try to avoid politics on my web pages but after this last week I feel I need to speak up. I see some wrongdoing taking place and I see it very clearly. But unlike the perceived consensus I don't see AIG as the wicked players.
About a month or so ago we got a stimulus bill, loaded with special interest projects at a time when the country doesn't have the funding to pay for it. It's gonna cost us close to a trillion dollars, a million million or $1,000,000,000,000 or 12 zeroes. Can anyone really comprehend … (39 comments)

The Agent Makes the Difference... The brokerage is kind of like the fancy wrapper. - 01:55 AM
I made a bad financial decision in regard to my business last July when I changed brokerages. 
I thought that being affiliated with a local name brand brokerage would help me weather the tough real estate market, better than being affiliated with a different name brand brokerage quite a distance from my target market. 
I couldn't have been more wrong, and it was a very expensive mistake.
At my previous office, I was making a phenomenal commmission.  Trust me when I say it's almost too good to be true. I work from home so the distance from this office to my … (84 comments)

Mortgage Pro Week in Review 3/16/09 thru 3/22/09 - 01:58 AM
Jeff must be running out of people to write if he asked me to, but I must say I was honored to accept the challenge.
There were as many good posts this week as there were topics to cover. With the AIG bonus scandal playing second fiddle to the Fed's bond purchase announcement there was plenty to talk about. Though many wrote posts worthy of feature here, I tried to pick some of the less noticed ones. Enough jabber, let's get to the meat of things...
  Paul McFadden wrote this post that helps remind us it's tough times like these … (7 comments)

If walls could talk...the sanctity of a home's history. - 02:34 AM
I had the distinct privilege of showing two of my listings this weekend to people who used to live in them!
One lived in the home as a young boy. The other was an elderly couple who spent 25 years in one of my listings.
For these people, these homes were almost holy ground. Cherished memories, reminiscent of sights and smells gone by. It delights me to be just a small part of this experience. I consider it incredibly interesting. A home is such a big part of our existence.
I once owned a home by Manito Park, and a young … (48 comments)

Multiple Offers Notification - Just might cost your sellers money - 11:03 PM
Who would have thought that in this buyer's market you might find yourself in a multiple offer situation. Times have changed and I can honestly say that I have not been in this situation for the last 18 months.  Sure there have been homes that one of my buyers might have wanted to put an offer in on but after being told there was already one being presented they would just move to the next home because the inventory has been so high.
But, last week I did receive a "Multiple Offers Notification" from a local agent who had listed a … (79 comments)

How to position yourself as the Neighborhood Expert using Google maps - 07:24 AM
If you service a specific geographical area, make sure when potential clients are researching that area, your name comes up in Google searches as many times as possible, in various ways.  One tool for your marketing toolbox is Google Maps. my first Google maps tutorial was on how to put YOURSELF on Google maps this one is how to "claim" your neighborhood(s) for FREE of course! Step 1 Login After signing into your Google Account go to Google Maps, to to "my maps" in the upper left tool bar Step 2 Create Click on "Create new map" just under the upper … (94 comments)

RETech South In Review. And What A View It Is! - 02:10 AM

Before I know it, RETech South will be a distant memory. In my real estate world, the days just fly by. I can remember when I was young and how I wished for the day I could move out of the house from my parents, or graduate from college.....now I wish I could put the brakes on. Oh, wait...that's another blog post...sorry!Other than attending two NAR conventions, RETech South was my first chance to attend a meeting really targeted at real estate technology and social media. My eyes were opened in many ways, and my head is still reeling from … (32 comments)

Growth Leader - Week 8 - You Can Have It Too - 07:26 PM

photo courtesy of batega
Do you have Vision?
This week, Bob Stewart wrote on his blog about the availability of Vision to the masses.  In his post, "I can see clearly now - ActiveRain and Vision," Bob announced that ActiveRain had partnered with Market Leader to make the tools that those of us using Growth Leader available to ActiveRain members for a great price.   I actually felt lucky enough to know this announcement was coming soon, as I had been asked about my feelings on the product for a testimonial page.  Anyone that knows me, knows I believe in a … (29 comments)


Blog posts


The solution to the banking crisis - 05:29 PM
The administration's new banking rescue plan was officially released this morning after the details of it had been leaked over the weekend.  It sure didn't take long but pretty much every economist and financial blogger not connected with Wall Street has already ripped it to shreds calling it everything from a massive tax payer fraud, another big bank hand out and a massive government sponsored confidence game.  Economist and former Nobel prize winner Paul Krugman spent no less than 3 posts since Saturday blasting it.  While Mike Shedlock (Mish) went so far as to proclaim Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner the architect … (28 comments)

Low Cost Home Improvements When Selling Your Home - 09:27 AM
Bill Thank you! Excellent advice and great photos and links I'm taking advantage of your gracious offer to Re-Blog it.
Via Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty):
                                                                                                                                                  
In a very competitive Real Estate market one of the things that is vital to your success is how well your home shows in relation to the rest of the inventory for sale. There are quite a few simple things that you can do to improve your chances and maybe put a few extra dollars in your pocket at the same time.
Maybe you are not even thinking about selling your … (0 comments)

Happy Monday-Lets Sell Some Real Estate! - 06:32 AM
 
 
About The Author: Midori Miller is a licensed real estate associate with CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty, Real Estate Trainer and Manager .  Intersted in a career in real estate?  CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty is located in Volusia County with 2 office locations to better serve the public. Daytona Beach and Ormond by the Sea.midorimiller@yahoo.com (386) 453-3236 All inquiries are confidential!
… (18 comments)

Maricopa County Home Sales increase 10 times that of national market - 01:19 PM
Assocuiated Press WASHINGTON - Sales of existing homes rose from January to February in an unexpected boost for the slumping  housing market as buyers took advantage of deep discounts on foreclosures.
The National Association of Realtors said Monday that sales of existing homes grew 5.1 percent to an annual rate of 4.72 million last month, from 4.49 million units in January. It was the largest sales jump since July 2003.
Sales had been expected to fall to an annual pace of 4.45 million units, according to Thomson Reuters.
Here in Maricopa county sales of existing homes increased by 56%. Over 10 … (0 comments)

Maricopa County Home Sales increase 10 times that of national market - 01:23 PM
Today, the National Associate of Realtors advised that across the country existing home sales increased at a rate of 5.l percent from 2008.  Here in Maricopa county sales of existing homes increased by 56%. Over 10 times the increase across the country.    Today's low interest rates, investor and home buyers with available cash resources are making this a fast paced real estate climate for all home buyers.
Please give me a call or simply send an email my way for prompt, courteous and timely information about our area, available properties and purchase of same.
Thank you
Phyllis Borchardt, REALTOR® , e-PRO
… (0 comments)

City of Covington Library Event Week 3/24/09 - 04:11 PM

Here is this weeks Covington Library Events. Please take advanatage of these free events and Story Time for Children.
Wee Ones Story Times Event Type: Children's Story Times Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 Start Time: 10:05 AM Library: Covington LibraryDescription: Newborn through prewalkers with adultEnjoy bouncy rhymes, familiar songs and a wee bit of story in this 20-minute session. A fun way to bond with your baby through books.Age(s): Children & Families Other: Story Time will be held in the Story Time room
 
Young Toddler Story Times Event Type: Children's Story Times Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 Start Time: … (0 comments)

Maybe I am just too damn dumb to understand . . . - 08:15 PM
   
 
This is a map of the continental United States
 
Are you with me so far?  This is a broad picture and I know it does not include Alaska or Hawaii. For the sake of this post, let's just say this is America. If you pick any spot on this map and go there and begin digging, at some point you will reach dirt. It may be under concrete. It may be under a river or a bay. Regardless of the spot, there is nothing but dirt there. It was there when we founded the country. It is the … (10 comments)

Local Animal Farms within the City. Horses, Cows and more Cows Oh my! - 09:27 AM
This weekend, we took Alyssa to two different farms to see some cows and horses.  Yes, there are farms in the middle of big cities in Texas!
She had seen them in her books many times, and I made the sounds for her to know what they sound like.  Plus, some of her toys make some odd sounding animal sounds.  However, I figured what would put things into perspective better than taking her to see some real animals. 
When she was 11 months old, she rode a pony, but I don't think she grasped the concept at that age.  A couple … (14 comments)

Do You Have Kids? Toys 'R Us and Babies 'R Us is having a 1-day online sale! - 08:40 PM
If you have kids, and maybe they have a birthday coming up, are doing a good job potty-trainning, or they are just special, Toys 'R Us and Babies 'R Us is having a one-day ONLINE sale tomorrow, March 24, 2009.
It's $10 off a $30 purchase.  That's more than 30% off!!  I don't care for sales that are 10% or 15% off.  Those don't make a dent in the price.  But, 30% makes a nice dent!
You must use the promo code: Twitterdeal24
If word gets around enough through this Twitter offer, they're looking at doing more sales like that through … (19 comments)

Who’s on first? You are! - 06:59 AM
The last thing you want during a real estate transaction is a replay of the famous Abbott and Costello Who's on First? routine. Not only is it helpful to understand all the players' roles during the process, but this knowledge can help you determine what information to share with which parties. Here are the basics.
Customer or client?If you are working with a real estate agent to buy property, you are that agent's client, right? Not necessarily. You might be a client or you could be a customer. While these terms sound similar, don't think they are interchangeable. They connote different … (1 comments)

Waterfront Homes For Sale in Buffalo NY - 09:44 AM
View additional stats regarding Buffalo Waterfront Homes for sale...
… (0 comments)

5909 Oakland Road, Halethorpe Baltimore County, Maryland 21227 - 08:37 AM
… (8 comments)

Pod-Katzing, or Making a Podcast with Josef in Baltimore - 05:47 PM
A while ago I had the delightful experience of sitting down withJosef Katz to talk briefly about real estate investing for beginners in today's real estate market. In a short time we covered how to find an expert to work with, why having someone who really knows the local market is essential, and why signing with a buyer's agent makes good sense for someone serious about finding a great real estate deal that meets their goals.
Josef is doing a series of these podcasts that appear on the "Trump Tactics" page that provides "Real estate investment tactics and strategies from the … (10 comments)

How to respond to Email enquiries. - 11:42 AM
My goal with Tutas Towne Realty, Inc is to make everything as automated as possible. We are a virtual real estate compnay. The days of driving around showing properties for days on end are over. Now don't get me wrong, you may have to show some, but my goal is to limit your time doing so. Wouldn't you rather work in your jammies?  
Foreign Investors will buy sight unseen. I know because these are the only buyers I ever work with. I don't have time to spend looking at homes.  
Our job is to find buyers and sellers and help them … (90 comments)

Denver Area Employment Centers - Part 2 - 09:56 AM
Denver Area Employment Centers - Part 2
100 Real Estate and Relocation Tips in 100 Days (Day 9)
As we continue to move clockwise around Denver examining the major employment centers, the attention shifts the Interstate 25corridor south of Denver. Looking toward 5:00 o'clock, we first find the University of Denver and the urbanized area extending from the Cherry Creek Shopping Center south along Colorado Blvd to the I-25 corridor. As we move further south, we discover the Denver Technological Center (DTC), the crown jewel among the many office parks stretching south form the city limits of Denver into Douglas County. … (1 comments)

Happy Birthday Dad ! - 08:44 AM
 
 


Today, my father would have been 88....and  I know that he is sending guidance from another place...that he wishes prosperity for us...and for everyone we know..that his strength and wisdom has helped each of  his three children become the people they are.
   That we appreciate what he knew and what he did and what he taught us more now than we ever did and hope that he knows that.  That we miss him today and every day....being a parent is an awesome responsibility....not just genetically...but as a teacher, a provider, a role model...and Barbara Kate … (0 comments)

Maintenance-Free Luxury on the Coast of Maine! Open Saturday 1-4! - 01:44 PM
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Are you looking for a place in Maine?  Somewhere the whole family looks forward to coming to year after year? A place where you don't have to worry about keeping the grass mowed....or the shingles painted...or the roof maintained?  
Well, I've got the perfect place for you!  Nestled on 183 acres of common land, this new condo is perfect for either vacation or year-round use. Someone else takes care of grass...and the shingles...and the roof.  All you have to do is unlock the door!
Fabulous location is under 2 minutes to magnificent Popham Beach and historic Ft. Popham. Short drive … (4 comments)

2009 CoHousing Conference in Seattle, WA - 11:25 PM
2009 National Cohousing Conference
Frequent and regular readers know about my interest in the cohousing movement so I am thrilled to be able to pass this information on to everyone in the rain.
Friday, June 26, 2009 - Sunday, June 28, 2009The 2009 Conference is the first-ever annual conference. There will be a wide range of programs to satisfy  Cohousing neophytes as well as old-timers, professionals and planning officials. There is lenty fo current cohousing residents too. In addition to high quality educational programming, there will be many social networking opportunities - both formal and informal. Click on the links below to learn more … (0 comments)

SRP Customers in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona and our Valley - Air Conditioning Units Checked for $59!! Offer Good Until April 30! - 09:19 PM
Since our Arizona summers can reach into the teens, we rely heavily on our air conditioners to keep us cool. I think back on when I was a  child – way back – and remember only having an evaporative cooler. Even tin sheds now have air conditioning. ;-)
Each year, SRP offers its customers a deal for $59.95 per unit to have them checked by a licensed, bonded and insured contractor performing a 16-point checkup on our cooling equipment. 
Good idea to perform this service before summer arrives. Otherwise, you might be spending the night at a hotel or a … (15 comments)

Montgomery Homes For Sale: 3554 Bankhead Avenue - 05:02 PM
Montgomery Homes For Sale:    3554 Bankhead Avenue, Montgomery AL 36111 MLS# 262854   Fashionable Bankhead Avenue! Not your traditional ranch...this spacious brick home has a bright open feel. Large living/family room with fireplace has gorgeous views of the expansive back yard. Updated kitchen opens to "morning" room with 3 sets of double closet pantries giving more than plenty storage for all your "stuff." Got kids, the bonus room/den off the kitchen is a perfect playroom/hangout and has its own half bath. Two of the three spacious bedrooms have walk-in closets. If you enjoy outdoor living, you'll never want to leave the … (0 comments)

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