Archives of real estate blog entries for March 25, 2009

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Stop and Go For World Famous BBQ in Richmond KY - 01:06 PM
Stop and Go For World Famous BBQ in Richmond KY
New restaurant and catering location at 101 Hi Lane Drive in Richmond KY with Russell Cantrell as General Manager!

Former diner location on Water Street...

When you live in the South, you grow up eating BBQ.
You learn pretty quick that people have their favorite recipes passed down through the family or invent new ones that are fabulous.
Summer weekends at festivals have backyard chefs competing for trophies and bragging rights of whose sauce reigns supreme!
Growing up in Madison County, Kentucky, I can remember my parents taking … (34 comments)

Home Buyers, that Information is just a Urine Specimen & Retina Scan Away. - 09:53 AM

Amazingly, I still see listing information provided on some Realtor sites (both big and small, national and local) accessed in a way that puzzles me. I mean I understand the "WHY" of it, I just don't understand the logic of it. So maybe you can help.
So I look to the realtor community to shed their insight on this perplexity. How does RESTRICTING access to a listing's information and photos on a realtor's web site help a property sell? Why, on some sites, is it still required that a potential buyer first provide private contact information before unlocking a listing's … (64 comments)

Ummmmmm, now we're getting a top 10 ranking on Google thru Twitter's back door - 09:30 PM

 
 In case you missed it or you don't hang out with the geek crowd, there's been a buzz in the past few days about a lot of Twitter profiles showing up in the top 10 search results on Google.
 
 
 

 
 Before I explain why I think this is so important and has tons of possibilities, let's take a couple of minutes to read a post by Patrick Altoft over at BlogStorm.com that explains in non techie language what seems to be going on. Here it is...
 
Google Starts Ranking Twitter Search Results Pages
 
… (109 comments)

Posting the 1,000,000th blog ~ Brandon Farmer | Charlotte, NC - 10:03 PM
WOW I won the GOLDEN TICKET...This came as a shock to me.  I thought it was a joke when everybody was commenting on my blog.  I am fairly new to ActiveRain and had no idea that the website was so close to such a huge milestone.  Congrats to ActiveRain and thanks for all the resources that the site opens to all of us.  
As I was explaining ActiveRain to a group of agents in our office, I opened my page to show them my most recent blog posting...and BAM....comments from everybody on having the 1,000,000th post.  Social media and social networks are … (98 comments)

I just referred someone to an Activerain Agent I don't know! - 03:51 PM
One of my Real Estate Agents contacts in California through a linkedin group said she had a client with a high end property here in Texas to sell and needed a referral to an Agent to list the property.
One of the Agents I referred her to I know from my old life in the technology business. They don't have an active rain profile. 
The other does have an active rain profile, posts regularly, and has over 200,000 points.  Tells me that she is probably tech savvy, personable, and capable.  Don't know for sure as all I've ever done is read her blog and troll her … (50 comments)

FHA Appraisals - 03:58 PM
It has been a little over three years since FHA made changes to their appraisal process. It is hard to believe that it has been that long, but it is even harder to believe how many people in this Industry are still not aware of those changes.
In January of 2006 FHA finally listened, and made major change to their appraisal requirements, these changes removed many of the obstacles that use to have us all running around trying to correct in the past. With these changes FHA moved significantly closer to being on par with conventional appraisals.
When these changes were … (65 comments)

I am writing TWO offers today! (Pssst! One of them even came from Localism) - 03:27 PM
Thankfully, this month has been a whirlwind activity with my buyer clients, and I also managed to get my last listing sold in the meantime (guess I need to get some more!). 
Today, for the first time in (mumble mumble) months/years, I will be writing two offers, and I just had a closing two days ago as well.  Things have picked up mightily in March for us, and I am hopeful that it will carry into the summer and fall months ahead.
 
Rather than focusing strictly on the good stuff that has happened for me this month, I wanted this … (91 comments)

$100K Off The Top? - 01:04 PM


I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe my primary residence (pictured) in the Forest Glen/Sauganash area of Northwest Chicago has dropped $100,000 in value since the purchase in September of 2007. Say it ain't so, Joe.Cut me some slack, Jack. I sold it to myself. I did the comps. I know my market. Hell, I even talked my wife into it. So, wassup with the Bank Appraisal?Just so you know, my Lender is a little reticent about allowing us to refinance right now. Something about reduced LTV (Loan to Value), a Declining Market, Back End ratios and other sundry … (42 comments)

ActiveRain Hits 1,000,000 Blog Post Articles - 04:48 AM
Congratulations to Brandon Farmer from Charlotte NC who has posted the 1,000,000th post on AR. 
Brandon may have never known if it weren't for the first comment posted by Michael Thornton. Nice Mike :)
Here's the Official 1,000,000th post on ActiveRain: Charlottes-Positive-Market-Indicators
We have been waiting and watching patiently for this day and just wondering who it would actually be?

 
Jay Thompson wrote the very first Blog post on AR back on 06/25/2006.  Then 140,501 ActiveRain Members joined the community, followed Jay's lead, and together, have helped build this Network with enough content to reach this goal today.
… (121 comments)

Get Your Vote On Bay-Bays! Inman Innovator Time - 07:34 AM
We all know some great writers in the Rain. Payback time! Click this link for the Innovator Awards Real Estate Connect San Francisco 2009 info. This event is scheduled to take place Aug 5, 2009 – Aug 7, 2009 at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco.
Time to quote the website so I don't mess this puppy up:
Ready? Read: "The Inman Innovator Awards recognize companies that use technology and innovation to enhance the real estate transaction and experience for consumers and real estate professionals. In addition, an annual award honors one individual who embodies the spirit of real estate innovation."
"The … (17 comments)

Your Active Rain Profile Link Tutorial in 3 Easy To Follow Steps! - 09:16 AM
Your Active Rain Profile Link Menu Tutorial in 3 Easy To Follow Steps! This post is a continuation of  the Active Rain - Building Your Profile on Active Rain series of tutorials.
Here is a list of those tutorials so far. You can click on any of these to get right to that particular tutorial. It is best if you go in order because these are step by step tutorials that will take you through the entire process of each section of your profile and blog on Active Rain.
Active Rain- It's All In Your Name,
Active Rain Profiles- … (57 comments)

So..How Do I Become A Professional Stager Anyway? - 04:13 PM
I have been told I have "an eye for decorating".  I have staged many homes.  I would like to get the Professional Stager accreditation. 
So... I see advertisements everywhere.  Which are worth the time, effort and money?  How do you become a bonafide, certified, accredited (not sure if any of these adjectives are correct) stager? 
I guess what I am trying to say is that there are Interior Decorators and there are Interior Designers.  Anyone with a God-given talent can be a decorator, but it takes a college degree in Interior Design to use that title.  Is there some sort of differentiation in … (36 comments)

What Happens When Buyer's Want To Meet The Sellers - 03:29 PM
Scares the pants off a Realtor I can tell you that much.  But just maybe, it can be a good thing.
Case in point:  Recent sale involved a place that just sold 6 months earlier and the seller only lived in the home for 5 days.  The home was then put on the market for 18% less than it sold for 6 months ago.  My buyers fell in love with the home and the price ( 20 Acres in the Bull Mountains) so we made a little better than full price offer and got it accepted.  During the acceptance negotiations, the … (50 comments)

Do you know you sound desperate? This isn’t helping! - 03:12 PM
Showing you are desperate, doesn't get me to respect you. I was recently in a transaction that the listing agent immediately started calling me upon showing the property. I told her my clients like the home, but there were others that my clients wanted to see first that were comparables, but about $19,000 less than her listing. (Her listing was the highest priced active listing in the comparables.)
She said that she knew, but we should put in an offer anyway, just to see if the sellers would take less.... WHAT? How is that representing your clients? Luckily for her my … (55 comments)

Loan Denied? Prove it! - 07:51 AM
I'll admit it.  Over the past 10 years, if a lender supplied a denial letter, I pretty much took their word for it that the buyer couldn't qualify.  Best to just get the property back on the market and move on....
Well, Jennifer Keltner, who has been working with me for a few months now, opened my eyes to a phrase I had not used in our contracts.  It gives the listing agent and seller the right to request written proof of why the loan was denied.
Today, we had the chance to use this clause in the contract.  Here's how … (70 comments)


Blog posts


Wordless Wednesday-Cure Cancer - 07:16 AM

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Living in Daytona Beach, Florida- I Love The Daily Grind - 08:35 PM

 
Coffee House and Cafe E. Dave Mathews Live Friday 3/27/-09 7:00pm Today one of the REALTORS in my office and I went out to have a cup of coffee. 
Ana and I enjoy sitting and chatting about real estate outside the office.  After all she partners with me in any real estate transaction that I do.
We decided to try out a new local coffee shop..and I can tell you weren't disappointed.  So we went a few blocks from the office and went to the.....
Daily Grind While we both ate prior to meeting, we did enjoy a fresh … (3 comments)

Jeannette Neerpat Scared-Say What? - 09:38 PM
Jeannette Neerpat, 3rd place winner of the Makover2Takeover contest has a small dilema.  She need words of encouragement.  You see the little expert is fantastic on video but has a small fear..

A long time ago..I too used to have stage fright..OK maybe when I was 5 but the reality is whenever I get in front of a crowd..I don't get nervous...I'm pumped...and go into a state. 
I'm excited...and I tell myself that when my hands shake..it doesn't last long..I'm not nervous..I'm excited...and sometimes when the crowd is big I attempt to do what Marcia Brady did...  Maybe Jeannette can … (13 comments)

Hidden Storage Solutions - 01:39 PM
Every house has potential storage space that goes to waste. You just need to find that space and put it to work.
Extend upper kitchen cabinet all the way to the ceiling to stor items you rarely use. Use a step stool to access the space.
Equip your cabinets with features that maximize storage. For deep cabinets, install pull-out shelves or baskets that use up all of the space; for tall shelf spaces, use stacking platforms. Corner cabinets can be fitted with lazy susans.
Make closets more accessible. Low closet doors complicate access to the top shelf of a closet. Oversize … (0 comments)

Has Pittsburg California Hit The Housing Price Bottom? - 04:28 PM
This is the market housing report about Homes for sale in Pittsburg California. The numbers here were taken from the Multiple Listing Service Covering all the Homes for sale in Pittsburg California on March 25, 2009. It includes only Single Family Homes for sale in Pittsburg California.

In January 2009 there were 101 home sales in Pittsburg, CA. The average price of the homes sold was $191,267.00, with a median price of $175,000.00.
In February 2009 the number of sales picked up, but the prices dropped hard. In February 125 homes sold in Pittsburg California. The average sale price of … (0 comments)

Counting Active Rain Posts - 08:05 AM
Active Brad's post here about the number of posts on Active Rain hitting 1,000,000 made me ask ... how the heck do you see how many total posts there are?
Michael Thornton answered the question for me.
Click on the title of a blog post

 
Then look up in the address bar of your browser

 
The number right after the word "blogsview" is the number of that post in the system

 
To see the total number of posts in the system at any given moment, you would simply need to click on the title of the most recent … (5 comments)

Tech Product Advice Sought - Need Company Website, "Back End" - 10:31 AM
Hello friends in the Rain,I've been doing a lot of research and not finding what I need, so I'm asking for help. The collective knowlege here on AR is fantastic and I'm optimistic that one or more of you will have some helpful input for me.
Together with a small band of agents, I'm helping to form a new brokerage in Siicon Valley, Luxor Real Estate Group.  We need a good website and a fantastic "back end"!  (I am working on creating a company blog, in case you were wondering.)  This is really a critical "next step" for us.  So far, … (5 comments)

Location, location, location! - 11:58 PM
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! 100 Real Estate Tips in 100 Days (Day 11)
This old adage seems to come up most every time someone talks about buying or selling a home. Seems like a good rallying cry from the sideline observers, and there certainly is a great deal of truth to the words. So let's look a little deeper:
First and foremost, as a consumer, your only opportunity to have a choice in location is at the time of purchase. AS obvious as this fact is, it is forgotten or ignored by the average consumer way too often. Buying any real property … (8 comments)

923 SPRING PARK LOOP, CELEBRATION, FL 34747 - 05:55 PM
 
 MLS# S4650797                 923 SPRING PARK LOOP, CELEBRATION FL 34747                 $$$ 849,000 $$$

Welcome home. This beautiful and inviting conservation lot pool home shows like a model. The interior has a neutral palate and an open floor plan that provides plenty of natural light. The large gourmet kitchen boasts plentiful counter space, a center work island, unique built-ins, upgraded cabinetry and sleek stainless steel appliances less than 2 years old. The exquisite family room has   maple floors, French doors opening out to your private patio/ pool area, and soaring ceilings. The generously sized main floor Master Suite overlooks conservation. The second … (0 comments)

Welcome Teresa....enjoy your Wisconsin Tour...! - 10:50 AM
 

 
 The day finally came...our e-mail gal pal arrived from Iraq and we have begun our "tour of southeastern Wisconsin" which she is finding more pleasurable than the one in Iraq.  She arrived at the Country Inn in Brookfield, and we made sure that the purple basket (we share the same favorite color) of goodies which included every pampering thing for her first good soak in a whirlpool was in her room. From scrubs to bubbles and potions and lotions...and a relocation kit with maps, brochures full of local information....our card of course and leisure reading material about the … (2 comments)

Short Sale Seller Nerves.... - 09:25 PM
 
 
 There once was a short sale seller who
 Didn't want to leave the state before closing on her short sale even though she had a  good over asking offer....at the very great risk of losing her new out of state job Paid a lawyer to tell her exactly what we already told her...paying him with money she didn't have made her feel better. Was sure if we lowered the price no one would feel any urgency to buy her once very over priced house Was sure, as a former real estate agent, her short saled house would sell in … (2 comments)

Sellers Solve Pent-Up Demand in the Luxury Santa Monica Condo Market - 10:29 AM
Even in an economic slow-down, there's pent-up demand within the segment of the market that comprised the buying population of yesteryear in the luxury Santa Monica condo market. A majority of my business from ‘04 through ‘08 was made up of representing buyers and sellers in the $900,000 to $1.5M price range, mainly in Santa Monica.
Many prospective buyers in this price range have discontinued their searches for many reasons: 1) Lost capital toward down payment in stock market investments (most likely where money was being socked away in anticipation of a real estate purchase), 2) In the old market, with … (0 comments)

Investing in Green Real Estate—Giving Back to the Earth and Your Pocketbook - 07:14 PM
Building or remodeling your home or commercial building to be green can be a bit of an initial investment, but did you know that it has the potential to save you money in the long run-and make your building more desirable for resale or future leasing?
The typical added cost of constructing a green building (as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council) can range from 1 to 16%; however, the added value comes when you factor in the less expensive mechanical systems that cost 20 to 40% less to operate. This can decrease the long-term monthly costs for business operation … (0 comments)

Not Just the White House Lawn! - 11:09 PM
For those of you who don't already know it I am a big fan of edible landscaping. I am also a big fan of Commity Supported Agriculture so when I found a project that combined them, I had to share.
Obviously, I am among those thrilled at the prospect of a vegetable garden on the South Lawn.  It will be the first vegetable garden grown at the White House since Elanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden.
Closer to home for most of us are the stories I have read lately about folks organizing their neighborhood into mini farms. Some use backyards, some use … (6 comments)

What is a BPO? - 11:42 AM
What is a BPO?I was asked by another Realtor not too long ago, "What is a BPO?  I've heard of it, but I have no idea what it is."  In hopes of helping fellow Realtors as well as any confused homeowners, I'll explain.BPO stands for "Broker Price opinion".  It's a fancier version of a CMA, only BPO's are done specifically for banks.  What happens is that when a homeowner has stopped making their mortgage payments, the lender will hire an agent to perform a BPO on the property in question.  Depending on the bank (and the property), a BPO can require … (5 comments)

Not Your Typical Hobbies! - 02:51 PM
Not your typical hobbies!
 
Here in Southwest Florida, people from all over the world come to enjoy the sunshine.  If you live here or have visited, you know the typical lifestyle here: beaching, fishing, boating, shopping.  However, recently I have starting thinking about all the other hobbies that Southwest Florida is great for and there is a lot to be said for people who come here for reasons OTHER than the beach!
 
Motorcyclists love our year-round warm climate and rare thunderstorms.  I have family members who are Harley enthusiasts, and when they want to ride for days on end … (0 comments)

Phoenix, Arizona Celebrates Earth Day In Style!! Mark This On Your Calendar!! - 11:41 PM
Well, here we are again, celebrating Earth Day helping us learn and remember how we can help keep Phoenix beautiful at a lunchtime celebration from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, at Cesar Chavez Plaza, Jefferson Street and Second Avenue – downtown Phoenix.
This event is sponsored by “Keep Phoenix Beautiful” and will include booths and other activities where we can learn about recycling and sustainability and pick up useful giveaways.
For more info: check out: Keep Phoenix Beautiful. See you there!!!
 

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a … (5 comments)

1871 Augusta Dr, Jamison, Pa 18929, On the Golf Course - 01:20 PM
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5071 Beacon Hill Ct. Doylestown Pa. Fireside Bucks County - 01:47 PM
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861 Nathaniel Trl, Warminster, Pa. Heritage Creek Estates, Bucks County - 02:43 PM
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