Archives of real estate blog entries for May 2, 2009 (Page 5)

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Does Your Website Work ? Have You Checked Lately? - 02:56 PM
Is your real estate web site working for you? We all have our websites, some elaborate and some more simple but irrespective of design, is it working for you? Do you know? I have been receiving client e-mails about my IDX not working. I went to my blog website to check it out and sure enough there was a message to contact my IDX administrator.
Since the IDX administrator in this case is with my main real estate website, I made contact with a customer service representative. Unbeknown to me, they had cancelled the IDX service with the provider I thought … (25 comments)

Point 2 Agent Websites - 12:43 PM
I have always been a big fan of Point 2 Agent and their websites.  While I personally believe their sites are starting to look a bit old and dated, I also believe they have a product that every agent should utilize in their business.
Get Your Free Point 2 Agent Website Here
The reasons I think their product is awesome are many.  For example, they offer a very professional looking virtual slide show tour for free for every listing.  They offer branded and unbranded so now you can include them with every listing.
They also offer listing syndication.  Never heard of … (11 comments)

NAR Dipping Into The Mortgage Pool? - 11:25 PM
Realtors Federal Credit Union
Jay Thompson wrote about the NAR's foray into the world of controlled finances over a year ago...Eric Stegemann brought the topic up while at RE BarCamp-Phoenix, indicating it was his understanding that after a few delays, its a go. Fascinating implications. 
The largest trade organization in the United States, with all its lobbyist power, is for all practical purposes a lender.  Yes, yes, NAR and the Realtors (INSERT COPYRIGHT SYMBOL HERE) Federal Credit Union (RFCU) are separate and apart in all the right places but I love the messaging coming off the article on realtor.org:
Because operations … (49 comments)

Amityville Horror House? With Club Chaos Eye Candy?? - 10:17 PM
 
Amityville Horror House—Club Chaos Eye Candy?
Landmarks?  Local History?  I’d have to say for me, Amityville is Hyper-Local…it’s the very next town from where I live.  It’s the “Eye Candy” I’m not too sure about.  I mean there are not many people that aren’t aware of what happened in the town of Amityville, Long Island.  Interestingly enough, there were some facts even I didn’t know.
So far there have been at least 9 books and three movies done about The Amityville “Horror House.”  December 13, 1974 that Ronald DeFeo killed his family of four siblings and his mother and father … (38 comments)

Lots of action in the Attleboro Real Estate Market! - 01:17 PM
May is turning out to be a great month early. So far I have one under agreement and a second going under agreement on Monday. I have 2 new listings so far and it is only the 2nd of the month. I see a lot of positive signs with the people I am talking too each day! I will let you know how we do, but MAY is looking pretty strong!
… (2 comments)

Beach Park, South Tampa's Waterfront Community - 05:46 PM
Appraiser says not all communities in South Tampa are depreciating in value....that doesn't mean you can't get a great deal!  If a home is listed in today's housing market you can bet that sellers are MOTIVATED. Owners are now competing with banks and short sales, therefore they are forced to lower their price.
The prestigious neighborhood has many canal front and open bay view homes, which attracts many homeowners looking for a boating community with all the conveniences of being close to the major highways and Downtown Tampa. 
What makes the waterfront community of Beach Park in South Tampa one of the … (0 comments)

May 2009 Fun Things To Do Throughout the Bay Area, Marin County and the Wine Country - 07:05 PM
I know I'm a little late getting this event calendar together this month.  What can I say?  I've been busy.
Now, on to the important stuff:  FUN!!!
May 1 thru 13 - Your last 13 chances to enjoy Deuce!  One of my very favorite restaurants of all time!  They have sold and it's going to be a spaghetti factory or something underwhelming like that...
May 3 - Hike for GirlVentures Fundraiser at Santos Meadow at Mount Tamalpais State Park
May 3 - Marin County Civic Center Farmer's Market from 8am - 1pm
May 4 - Sean Penn Presents "The Films Of … (0 comments)

Puna Home Sales from March 1999 to March 2009 - 11:59 PM
Puna is one of 9 Real Estate districts on the Big Island of Hawaii.  (Click here to view a map that shows the location of the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii). Below is a chart that shows the number of Home Sales in the Puna District on the Big Island of Hawaii.  The data are over the last 10 years, starting with March 1999 and ending in March 2009.  (Data Source:  Big Island MLS)
According to this chart, the Puna District ihas MORE monthly sales in 2009 than it did in 1999.  Additional sales data and info can be found at … (0 comments)

What we are all about - 09:49 AM
Hi Everyone,
Thanks to Ray for creating this group, and what a great group it is.  It defines my small (my wife and I as agents and owners) brokerage to a T.  We are a virtual/home office based company.
We are 100% transparent, and while our website has a long way to go, we lay out our entire value-add on our sellers page.
Check out our home staging and transformit pages as well as our kudos pages.  These 4 pages alone have totally hooked sellers and buyers on our service offerings.
I look forward to sharing and learning.
… (9 comments)

Foreclosure Options, when buying on a land contract? - 02:51 PM
Foreclosure Options, losing a land contract to foreclosure 
Yesterday I received a panic phone call from a homeowner.  Well they thought they were the homeowner.  They were buying a home on land contract.  They had been in the home four years. 
They made a deal with a friend of theirs.  They gave him money down after the first year of renting and decided to purchase the home.
They wrote up a contract they purchased at the local office supply store.  It worked for them and they filled in the details of the purchase agreement and settled on a price and monthly payment.
… (1 comments)

When things go from bad to worse! - 05:08 PM
When things go bad sometimes they get worse!
That is what one of my clients told me this morning.  I asked why he would say that.
His credit card debt was rising because his hours had been cut.  It seems he had planned on the overtime in his budget.  Not a new story or scenario, now that his hours have been cut he has to adjust his standard of living...the problem is adjusting sooner than later.
So his option, to cure his financial problem, selling his home in a down market.  Many homeowners are faced with the same decision.
Before making … (49 comments)

Second Guessing Never Works - 05:46 PM
Have you ever second guessed a client? 
Thought you knew your clients well enough to understand their needs and wants.  I have found over the years that second guessing does not work.
Well here is something that may change your thoughts.  Some clients like the idea of privacy others want neighborhoods with active neighborhood associations.  Some clients love the outdoors, flowers, decks and others look at these features as maintenance issues they would rather not have.
I received a call from a client I have been sending newsletters to for over ten years.  She said she would like me to come over and … (3 comments)

Outdoor Dangers, Things we forget about Part 1 - 07:24 PM
We Northern state dwellers sometimes forget the weather dangers. 
One of these issues we forget about is lightning strikes.  Every year we hear of lighting strikes in the Northern states that injure, kill and cause fires in wooded and residential areas.
When severe weather comes it can be fast and unannounced.  After living in the lighting capital of the world...Florida you learn very quickly about the dangers of lightning.
Here is some things that people never think can be a problem.  Your hard wired telephone line is a great conductor of electricity.  That is why surge protectors were suggested for computers that originally … (3 comments)

Outdoor Dangers, Things we forget about Part 2 - 07:58 PM
We are entering into the summer months sunshine and outdoor fun.
If you are like me I love the outdoors and like crisp fall and spring days but I just enjoy everyday of sunshine.  I have always enjoyed anything that allowed me to be outside.  Teaching a worm to swim on the end of a hook, walking on a beach or showing clients homes.
We don't live in tornado alley but you better take heed and be prepared.  We have tornados that popup almost without notice.  Many times we have had tornados the just appeared and caused significant damage.
Having a … (3 comments)

Outdoor Dangers, Things we forget about Part 3 - 08:47 PM
As we enter the time of the year when storms can affect our lives being prepared is key to living life and keeping your family safe.
Storms can cause issues that we don't normally have to contend with and they always come when least expected.
Power Outages is a real problem.  I have always been one to create checklists and prepare for emergencies.  My experiences in Vietnam taught me to control what I can control and prepare for the issues I can't control.
So what do you do when the power goes out?  If you are reacting to a power outage … (7 comments)

Pink is My Favorite Color...or NOT - 01:38 PM
If you live in Tennessee, have friends or family in Tennessee, or know anyone in the Nashville, Williamson County school district, please read this!  Let's get Mike Caulk an even better teaching position than he had!
Via Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor- Realtor(R)- Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams-Ann Arbor):
Tuesday my husband was given a pink slip from Belleville High School. He is history teacher and social studies teacher. He is tenured.
I was shocked The schools in Michigan are handing out a lot of pink slips including: Flint 257, Detroit 600, Pontiac everyone, Lansing 170.
Last year at Belleville High School, (where he … (4 comments)

What Would You Do If They Came for Your Kid? - 07:14 PM
What if your teenage son was mistaken for a domestic terrorist.
If someone at the Department of Homeland Security suspects him, they can take him off and hold him in a jail cell indefinately.  They don't have to bring charges and they don't have to allow him a lawyer.  This is all legal under the Patriot Bill that was passed after 9-11.
Here's a story about a young boy that has been locked up for two months.  You tell me if you think he is a domostic terrorist.   If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.
Most people have … (3 comments)

April Sales For Shell Knob Real Estate - 12:51 PM
Sales trickled in slowly in Shell Knob in April 2009.  There were 4 or 5 properties closed, depending on where you look for the statistics, with a grand total of 12 closed for the year. That amounts to 3 sales per month!
 
 
 
 
If you were one of the lucky sellers, your property was sold for under $229,000 (which was the highest sale). The average sale price for the 4 sales was $128,125.
Prices and number of homes selling are still dropping here in the Ozarks. April of 2008 had 11 sales for an average price of $147,673. The … (1 comments)

Poacher Arrests Ends Paddlefish Season - 01:40 PM
Paddlefish Season Ends
Paddlefish season is looked forward to each year on Table Rock Lake. It runs for six weeks normally, from mid - March to the end of April.

A total of two fish per day is the allowed catch for these unusual creatures that are said to provide a "poor-man's" cavier.
 The harvest of paddlefish is strictly regulated by the Missouri Conservation Department to ensure the fish population remains healthy and to give a high quality angling experience for everyone to enjoy.
That quota was totally ignored by some poachers caught by Conservation Agents butchering 61 paddlefish on … (0 comments)

Used Cars And Home Buyers - 02:56 PM
I was car shopping recently and realized there was a coorelation with home shoppers and car buyers.    No - no .....not that realtors are like Used Car Salesmen, although there have been times I think people look on us that way.Let me explain, I started out looking for a late model Ford Van with the usual wish-list  for low mileage, good care, etc.  I was very precise with my needs at each car lot where I found nothing matching them.  I knew what I wanted, by darn,  and was sticking to my guns.That is..... I stuck to my guns until I … (10 comments)

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