Archives of real estate blog entries for March 8, 2009 (Page 2)

Blog posts


Somebody had a question; my synapses answered. - 11:55 PM
At the time, it was indistinguishable as a moment I would recognize down the line.  After being down the line, I knew exactly what that moment meant.
Some of the questions that we get asked as folks working in the Real Estate Industry seem rudimentary... at least to us. 
"Should I refinance" is a question I get often.  Personally, I'd love to answer with a resounding, "YES!" each and every time.  But I can't.  It's just not the way it works.  For eight years now, I've heard a bunch of folks answer that question in different markets, with different motives, with different companies... and … (55 comments)

Appomattox Social Media Conference - 07:53 PM
… (0 comments)

Ballantrae Golf and Yacht Club - 08:20 AM


Ballantrae is a gated community of over four hundred homes located in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. We're on the North Fork of the Saint Lucie River with direct access to the South Fork of the river which leads to Lake Okeechobee and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the Indian River Intracoastal Waterway and access to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lucie inlet are both within an easy sail down the river.
There is a newly updated and private Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, Santa Lucia River Club. This is a par 72 championship course of masterful design that winds … (1 comments)

SHORT SALES PRIMER - BACK TO BASICS UPDATED - 08:30 AM

Via Richard Zaretsky, Florida Real Estate Attorney (Richard P. Zaretsky P.A. ):
Short Sale Primer For Brokers, Sellers and Buyers
A Primer -
Since I wrote the Short Sale Primer the short sale methodology used by lenders has morphed several times.  It is a different animal than it was almost 10 months ago.  The passage of time requires that the original article, which was very popular (thank you) be revised to reflect new policies by the lenders.  I have also added several pertinent links to more detailed discussions on the various subjects in this article.
Short sales are nothing new.  When I … (0 comments)

Learn to be more patient - 08:53 AM
To work more effectively, stop rushing
This exercise can help you cultivate patience in your work and life.
When you find yourself in the middle of a project, a relationship, or the journey toward a personal goal, do you often respond by rushing and trying to force things? If so, try this:
* Don't concentrate on getting the job over with. Experience what it has to offer.
* When you find yourself rushing, take a few minutes to visualize yourself slowing down and enjoying the job. Open yourself to the wisdom you can find in doing the job carefully.
* Pause … (14 comments)

Living a courageous life - 03:48 PM
When you think about people with courage, soldiers and firemen probably come to mind. But courage is more than reactions to traumatic events.
Speaking to your boss or at a meeting takes courage. So does sharing your true feelings and opinions of value with a listing prospect.
Courage involves thinking. Instead of being paralyzed, it enables you to think clearly and take constructive action in spite of your fear of the risks involved.
Hope can be an obstacle to courage. While it has many positive qualities, it allows us to relax and gives us permission not to act. It can be accompanied … (5 comments)

Stagers: Working For Free Doesn't Belong on Your Menu of Services - 07:09 PM
I'm committed to ending this practice of free home staging because it lowers the perceived value of a stager's expertise and does a disservice to all of us.
My students don't stage homes for free "just to get their business started," they get paid for their time and expertise because they are providing a valuable service and should be compensated for it.
I know many new home stagers, afraid that they can't get their first client, will disagree with me. But hear me out for a moment:Picture this ... there's a new restaurant...
The chef's on the sidewalk, saying "come in … (21 comments)

Ernest Money - 10:29 AM
I've just read a blog where the clients are fighting over a $250.00 earnest deposit. Can you believe it $250.00!
With no mention of what the financing contingency clause said commentary is coming down strongly on both sides of the issue and several non-issues. One person even ranted illogically against mortgage brokers, it turns out that the lender was one of our largest banks.
As I said: "Who gets the money depends entirely on the contract." Unfortunately no one seems interested in the contract.  
There was a great deal of concern over the amount of the deposit. Opinions ranged from it should … (12 comments)

New Luxury Home Listing in Nanaimo sets the bar high (off the market) - 03:18 PM
3210 Quennell Road, Nanaimo, BC is the most expensive non-waterfront single family home ever listed in Nanaimo. The home is 8000 square feet which also makes it one of the largest homes ever listed in Nanaimo.
To view additional photos - Nanaimo Luxury Homes
 
A spectacular 9100+ square foot, secluded, luxury estate nestled on 24.21 acres on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Crafted by award-winning, Palladian Developments and three years in the making, this exclusive property is truly in a class of its own. Custom-built with the best of everything, the primary residence boasts meticulous craftsmanship and custom detailing both inside … (1 comments)

"Not Winning" The War in Afghanistan ? My A55 - 02:36 PM
An excerpt from my latest constibution to "Tin Foil Hats' productions":
All this could be chalked up to Obama’s inexperience (which we knew when we elected him).  After all, it was only five years ago that Obama was still mixing it up in Springfield as an Illinois State Senator.  I’m not riled up because of that. I got all worked up when I opened up the Sunday fish-wrap; I  damn near spit my eggs out:
Obama says outreach to Taliban a possibility President Barack Obama says the U.S. is not winning the war in Afghanistan and he’s willing to open the … (0 comments)

ActiveRain People are the Best! - 11:45 PM
If you're new to ActiveRain, you're in for a treat. 
This week will mark 2 years since my first ActiveRain post, and I could not have imagined how many doors that would open for me.
A Crofton home seller contacted me through ActiveRain a few days after my first post.  I really thought it was a scam initially, but I met with the caller at her home and found this was a legitimate seller who was impressed by my knowledge of the Crofton market.  That did it... I was sold on ActiveRain!
Consumers who have found me through ActiveRain over … (25 comments)

Market Update for Edgewood, Harford Co., Maryland for the Week Ending February 21, 2009 - 07:58 PM
Edgewood Maryland is located in Harford County.  Edgewood is located north of Joppa and east of Bel Air in close proximity to Aberdeen Proving Ground.  Edgewood is conveniently located east of 95 and can also be reached along Rt. 7 and Rt. 40.  It is a convenient commute to Baltimore and also Aberdeen.  It is also served by AMTRAC which makes it easy to commute to DC.  Harford County provides affordable housing for many who seek a more laid back life style.  Harford County offers both rural and town living and something for everyone. 
These figures are taken directly from our … (0 comments)

Market Update Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland for Week Ending February 21, 2009 - 08:03 PM
The market remains fairly stable despite the drop in interest rates.  The number of new listings has decreased but we are still seeing a similar number of homes going under contract and settling.  I'm surprised I'm not seeing more individuals making the decision to buy with so many great deals available.  The weather has been changeable from record breaking cold to unseasonably mild this week, with temperatures today reaching 54 degrees.  Many people have put off their home buying for the seasonal activities of Christmas, Hannukah and other festivities.  Now with the economic stimulus changes and low interest rates it will be interesting to see … (0 comments)

Silent Auction for Daniel - 09:31 PM
Silent Auction and Benefit for DanielOn Christmas night 2008, Daniel was flown by air ambulance to the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton. Just 14 years old, Daniel was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The current treatment protocol for children with ALL involves chemotherapy and several different drugs or combinations of drugs delivered over three years. It also involves ongoing testing and evaluation at the Stollery.Daniel is the oldest of three children. His parents are currently going through a divorce and his mother is the primary custodial parent. She is a freelance writer.The family is enduring the enormous stress of coming … (0 comments)

Market Update for Edgewood, Harford Co., Maryland for week ending February 28, 2009 - 09:46 PM
Edgewood Maryland is located in Harford County.  Edgewood is located north of Joppa and east of Bel Air in close proximity to Aberdeen Proving Ground.  Edgewood is conveniently located east of 95 and can also be reached along Rt. 7 and Rt. 40.  It is a convenient commute to Baltimore and also Aberdeen.  It is also served by AMTRAC which makes it easy to commute to DC.  Harford County provides affordable housing for many who seek a more laid back life style.  Harford County offers both rural and town living and something for everyone. 
These figures are taken directly from our … (0 comments)

Market Update for Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland for the Week Ending February 28, 2009 - 10:12 PM
The market remains fairly stable despite the drop in interest rates.  The number of new listings has decreased but we are still seeing a similar number of homes going under contract and settling.  I'm surprised I'm not seeing more individuals making the decision to buy with so many great deals available.  The weather has been changeable from record breaking cold to unseasonably mild this week, with temperatures today reaching 54 degrees.  Many people have put off their home buying for the seasonal activities of Christmas, Hannukah and other festivities.  Now with the economic stimulus changes and low interest rates it will be interesting to see … (1 comments)

100,000 Points on the 'Rain ;) - 09:35 AM
So this post should officially take me over 100,000 points on the rain. I have been here awhile and quite honestly a lot of the leaders here when I first started were barely ahead of me with rankings and now they have about 4-5 times as many points. Regardless, I can now join the "100,000 PT club". People that don't blog ask me all of the time why I blog. I figured that would be a good subject for this post.
Why should I blog?
I blog for search engine rankings. I blog to allow potential customers and referring agents to better … (15 comments)

Cardiff Real Estate - Cardiff Market Report for February 2009 - 09:48 AM

As a buyer or seller in the Cardiff real estate market, having information about the current market conditions will enable you to make an informed decision regarding what to do with regard to buying a home in Cardiff, or selling your Cardiff home.
The Cardiff real estate market is very localized, and knowing what is going on in the market with regard to inventory and sales is important for making a buying or selling decision. Finding comparables for determining price for either a listing or a purchase can sometime be tricky. 
Here is a summary of the Cardiff real estate … (0 comments)

San Marcos Real Estate - San Marcos Market Report for February 2009 - 03:26 PM

The San Marcos real estate market continues to evolve, especially with the large number of distress sales. These data do not include any private sales nor manufactured housing; the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate but are not guaranteed.
Media reports speak in general terms, rather than local, so that information may not represent the reality of our local San Marcos real estate market. Having data from a knowledgeable agent about the local market conditions benefits you as the buyer or seller.
In February 2009 there were 83 homes sold in San Marcos' 2 … (4 comments)

Carlsbad Homeowners - Got Junk? Here's How to Get Rid of It - 07:12 PM
We all have stuff we no longer want or need. And often our buyer and sellers clients do as well. Getting ready to sell, or move, frequently means garage sales and packing away stuff we don't need but keep moving anyway. 
If you "got junk," here are some ways to get rid of it. 
1-800-GOT-JUNK - a terrific service for hauling away your unwanted stuff, especially if it is the sort of thing you cannot recycle in your town or take to the dump. They charge a fee depending on volume, you pay and they load and haul it away. On-line … (8 comments)

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