Archives of real estate blog entries for May 20, 2009

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Where will your next lead come from? - 08:38 PM
We all know that "social media" is a great way to find leads, make connections and quite honestly learn from others.  Friends and family are another super source of the same!  Today, however, something happened to me for the very first time...I got two leads while pumping gas!  About a month ago, I invested a hard earned 40$ (or so) in some little magnetic signs and placed them on the doors of my car, hoping that my neighbors (the ones I don't really know well), acquaintances from the gym or maybe the guy who I let in on the access road … (81 comments)

Why must there be a Hardship to do a Short Sale? - 04:40 PM
Hi folks. Today I have mixed emotions. Lenn Harley has a great featured post today basically showing how asinine our Government has been by throwing away trillions of dollars to bail out banks while ignoring the true issue……lack of equity.  According to Lenn (and I agree) we have an equity problem in this country. Until this problem is solved nothing else matters.Homeowners will need to move or want to move at some point and if they can’t sell because they owe too much they are stuck. So they are forced to make hard decisions. Some will stay and stick it out … (119 comments)

Diary of a Short Sale- Day 2 - 03:21 PM
Short sales are a very common phrase now a days, but few people understand the actual ins and outs of what short sales are and how they work.  Therefore, we have decided to outline and blog about our experience in working a short sale.
Please check back daily for a real-time short sale negotiation as it unfolds. 
Day 2- Diary of a Short Sale
After an eventful and stressful Day 1 (click here to read Diary of a Short Sale Day 1), today we received the last of our documents that were needed to complete the short sale package to send over to … (18 comments)

What I learned at REbar Camp Charlotte 2009 - 03:43 PM
   

 
I must admit, while I had been hearing about REbar Camps in Pasadena, San Francisco etc. I really had no idea what to expect when I arrived at 7:30am to help greet the attendees at the first Charlotte NC REbar Camp.  Here is what I learned:
The Program:

At about 9:00am we assembled in the main room to plan the first half of our day.  Organizer Chad Huck explained a few details and then asked for potential topics for our morning break-out groups.  After everyone had had their chance to suggest a topic, the sheets of paper with the topic … (47 comments)

Why Staging a Vacant Home is Critical - 08:48 AM
# 3  When A Room Is Kept Empty, Buyers Focus On Negative Details
Can you imagine a brand new Mercedes without a paint job?  Do you think people would notice the beautiful car or the missing paint?
It's so much easier to notice that crack in the wall, or the chip in the tile when there is nothing else to look at.  Home Staging capitalizes on the positive aspects of a home, while de-emphasizing negative aspects in order to position a home that will make an emotional connection with buyers. 
Contact Pearle Staging & Design for all your Home Staging and … (17 comments)

Quality agents... yeah, that's the ticket! - 11:04 AM
I accompanied my buyers in a recent inspection.  It was a small, modest ranch-style home, with a full unfinished basement.
This was an estate sale, and the house was empty, not a stick of furniture, which was nice... so we could fully inspect every inch.  The home was modest... 3 bedrooms, and a bath and a half.  A "used to be nice" kitchen, Living Room/Dining Room "L"... a small yard, and a dilapidated 2-car garage.  The home needs lots of work, but it's in a desirable neighborhood, so my clients are prepared to put the work into it. 
The structure is … (48 comments)

$TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BANKS. SOUND BITES TO HOME BUYERS. CATCHY TITLES FOR HOME OWNERS. - 06:46 AM
FACT:  Banks are in trouble because home owners are going to foreclosure.
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY:  Let's try to cure the economy by giving a few $Trillion Dollars to banks. 
CONGRESS:  Good idea.  I have a list of contribu. . . .  er um, ddistinguished banking institutions that could use a few $Billion Dollars.  These distinguished bankers are telling me that they've lost a bundle on their investments in mortgage backed securities.
CONSUMER:  "How is giving money to banks going to help home owners?"
CONGRESS:  "We don't have a clue but the bank lobbiests are saying that if we give a few $Trillion … (90 comments)

Knighted into AR - 02:26 AM
I am not the schmoozing type agent (at least my daughter tells me that) and I live wonderfully without all the Realtors get-togethers. I may not know a lot of agents, and I most probably do not miss many anyway. But being in the business means that I call Realtors and they call me and we work on deals together, and often it is a good experience, and sometimes it is not.
I have invited several people to Active Rain, a lot of my invitations were never accepted. Several months ago I worked on a deal with a ReMax All Pro agent Nadine Caldwell, and this … (40 comments)

I lost a client to an algorithm... - 05:38 AM
We hear this question daily. We've reached the bottom, right?
I don't think that's the question as much as can you qualify and/or get a loan. My buyers never thought they couldn't qualify for a simple house loan.
We have excellent credit they would tell me. (710) But credit scores are not the only variable when we are looking at home financing these days, I guess. One client, who was ecstatic about finding a home they thought was affordable, was turned down because of the neighborhood. This was a lender that my buyer had chosen.
The finance company, told my client, … (58 comments)

How Not To Stage Your Home ... - 11:27 AM
Having kids with working parents is one thing. Kids rooms are kids rooms, buyers are understanding about "keeping things perfect."
But what about those people who have NO KIDS? Perhaps their listing agent forgot to explain to them just what exactly staging is.
 
Here are some actual photo's I took from actual listings this past week:
 

YUMMY!
As God is my witness this SAME pan was sitting in the SAME spot when we came back for a SECOND showing 2 DAYS LATER! Lucky for these sellers my buyers were open minded enough to look past the days old breakfast … (91 comments)

Economic recovery based on consumer sentiment and stronger banks - 05:49 AM
An apparent gap exists among different economic indicators as to the state of the recovery.  Surveys of consumer sentiment and home builders both indicated significant improvement in recent weeks. Economists and markets quickly pointed to these surveys as evidence that the economy is nearing the bottom.
Consumer confidence and GDP
These reports though were followed by hard data that were contrary to the surveys. For Consumer Confidence the better-than-expected improvement was countered by a worse than expected drop in Gross Domestic Product and lower Retail Sales figures. These in addition to continuing high unemployment figures.
Builder sentiment and housing starts
This … (26 comments)

Homebuyers Practicing Real Estate Without a License - 09:56 AM
Have you seen the movie musical The King and I? There’s a charming scene where the King, as played by Yul Brynner, defends his kingly tradition of having many wives by singing a short and sweet song to Anna, as played by Deborah Kerr.
 
To fly from blossom to blossom A honey bee must be free, But blossom must not ever fly From bee to bee to bee.
 
Lyrics from The King and I
 
 
 
 
 
This is how certain homebuyers search for homes, as if they’re blossoms flying from bee to bee to bee. … (48 comments)

NAR wades into ethics of blog comment moderation - 01:59 AM
Hey Realtors: If someone posts a comment to your blog that disparages another Realtor, what do you do? Delete it? Edit it? Ignore it?
Under amedned and new Standards of Practice in NAR's Code of Ethics approved by the Board of Directors last week, Realtors will be obligated to delete or issue a clarification when a commenter makes a false or misleading statement as soon as the publishing Realtor learns that the statement is false or misleading. This has opened up a proverbial can o' worms with many unanswered questions, such as:
How does this affect Section 230 which protects Internet … (28 comments)

Higher Taxes make for the Happiest People on Earth - 01:30 AM

I read a fascinating article online today. It was titled: "The Happiest Taxes on Earth".
The article went on to say that according to a survey conducted by The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the happiest people on earth live in Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.The three ranked first, second and third, respectively, in the OECD's rankings of "life satisfaction," or happiness."There are myriad reasons, of course, for happiness: health, welfare, prosperity, leisure time, strong family, social connections and so on."
"But there is another common denominator among this group of happy people: Taxes."
So why does paying higher … (130 comments)

4Ever Yours: The 4% Mortgage and the 40 MPG Car...Are We Having Fun Yet? - 12:17 PM
I have a favorite number these days. It is "4".
When your car gets 40 miles per gallon and the rate on your mortgage starts with a "4", what does that make you?
Clean? Green? Lean? Serene? All of the above? I know what it makes me. Someone people want to talk to. I am a mortgage broker who also owns a car company.
Not that anyone LIKES shuffling through the the 500 documents required to refinance a house these days.
Or wedging yourself into something smaller than your refrigerator and pretending to like it.
But we need to feel good … (52 comments)

Is is still Raining at Activerain or is it drying up? - 08:23 PM
 Is is still Raining at Activerain or is it drying up?
 I have been with the Activerain Network for around 17 months and I have seen people come and go around Activerain.
 I know there are over 147,000 members and growing strong, but I am afraid it's not raining as hard as it was 6 months ago.
 What happened?
 Are members disappointed because Activerain/ localism are not bringing enough return?
 Or have many older members become bored with posting blogs?
 Please try not leaving a comment stating that these people or you are to busy working to post blogs. I work three … (127 comments)

10 Things Your Agent Wants To Tell You, But Won't - 04:55 PM
EDIT - Due to the amount of members that I have found copying this post I just wanted to add a disclaimer.  This post is COPYRIGHTED.  Do not re-publish without permission.  Just ASK ME and I'll be glad to give you permission.  Now, on with the fun!
--------
Now that the selling season in our area is heating up, I've been handling a lot more clients.  So, just to make myself feel better (and maybe help you get a laugh as well), here is my list of the top 10 things I've wanted to say to a client in the past … (239 comments)

For greater success, decide what to do, what not to do - 06:28 AM
When Jim Collins makes a plan for the new year, before designating new projects, he identifies three things he wants to stop doing.
Collins, author of Good to Great, says having a not-to-do list is as important for achieving your goals as a to-do list.
First, the to-dos as recommended by Gary Bencivenga, author of Success Bullets.
* Apply the famous 80/20 rule to your work. About 20 percent of your activities are responsible for 80 percent of your success. Give those activities a high priority. Review your to-do list every day.
* Rise an hour earlier and give your highest-payoff … (41 comments)

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait! - 09:15 AM
We all know the old adage, "Good things come to those who wait." Let's face it, though... sometimes waiting is just plain hard!
Personally, I've had a tough year so far business-wise. I've had a ton of things in my pipeline, but nothing seemed to be coming to fruition. I had listings, but we weren't getting any offers! I don't admit this to many people, but that's what my AR friends are for... I haven't received a single commission check since December. Yes, you read that right. Needless to say, I've been hanging on by a thread.
Finally, within the past couple … (57 comments)

So I ask You: How Do You Educate Your Buyers to Keep Their Loyalty? ...from Web Sites, Craig's list, Other Agents, or The Folly of Waywardness - 03:22 AM
As an Agent or Broker, we Realtors do not work as communists,
Dear Mr. or Mrs Buyer, I'm glad you returned my message on where are you? Oh, ...Yes I'm pleased for you that you found your new home and got it under contract. Good for you. Enjoy.
Excuse me if I don't celebrate a communal high five from the collective. See, it was my efforts that educated you on our area and my gas that transported you on numerous jaunts to hither and yon on many occasions. Yes we all share the listings on the MLS, we just don't share … (62 comments)


Blog posts


Find Your Voice and Become A Social Media Expert! - 04:06 PM
Last week I made a decision to read more...comment less 
Now with all the talk of social media experts...when you think about it..those that are doing it and successfully are social media experts.  
What works for one may not work for another.
Bill Gassett is a social media expert to me but I could never nor would I want to follow his footsteps..its his voice...his expertise and I am truly impressed as he is the social media real estate expert for his area.
How about Lane Bailey now that branding!  Then there is Mary McKnight...WOW is all I can say...and … (15 comments)

Seville Homes for Sale - 08:22 AM
Homes for Sale in Seville - Gilbert Arizona
Seville Homes | Gilbert Homes | Quick Search | Just Listed Today  Bank Owned Homes | Just Listed Bank Owned
You can search for homes in Seville, Gilbert or the entire Phoenix Arizona Metro Area without obligation or sign up. Our easy to navigate search will help you find all of the Seville homes for sale. Search by city, neighborhood (subdivision), community, pool, golf communities, gated communities, waterfront, zip code, school district, year built, price range, bedrooms, baths, square footage, foreclosure, bank owned and short sales. 
When you find Seville Gilbert homes or properties that interest you....give us a call!  … (0 comments)

Val Vista Lakes Homes for Sale - 08:29 AM
Homes for Sale in Val Vista Lakes - Gilbert Arizona
Val Vista Lakes Homes | Gilbert Homes | Quick Search | Just Listed Today  Bank Owned Homes | Just Listed Bank Owned
You can search for homes in Val Vista Lakes, Gilbert or the entire Phoenix Arizona Metro Area without obligation or sign up. Our easy to navigate search will help you find all of the Val Vista Lakes homes for sale. Search by city, neighborhood (subdivision), community, pool, golf communities, gated communities, waterfront, zip code, school district, year built, price range, bedrooms, baths, square footage, foreclosure, bank owned and short sales. 
When you find Val Vista … (0 comments)

Big Time Real Estate Fraud – What Should We Do? - 02:37 PM
I have noticed a trend of clients calling me and advising that they have found a home on line and wanting more information. The home is not on our local MLS (and we only have one) and frequently it is not on the Alliance site that covers most of the state. Amazingly enough often they are on Realtor.com, and a lot of sites for discounters and fly by night outfits. As a PI with 20 years of Fraud Investigation experience I can smell the stink.
(As an aside Realtor.com really ticks me off as I feel a bunch of big shots … (3 comments)

10th Amendment Movement - Update - 03:35 PM
 
I am not a Bircher, but the information is true and accurate in regards to what is happening in over 30 states.  Check it out directly.  The biggest conflict between the state and federal governments is brewing since the Civil War.  I suspect this movement will only grow.
 
Via Tony Toto Real Estate Investor Gurnee, IL (Nouveau Riche):
Here is the most up-to-date status of the 10th Amendment Movement.  If this does not tell you anything regarding what is transpiring in the U.S., then I don't know what will!
Status by State, 2009 
Alabama
House: HJR298 "Tenth Amendment to U. … (0 comments)

24 Day 7 Season Finale - 08:36 AM
If you haven't watched the Finalle yet, don't read any further...
I'm not sure how to react... I didn't care for the ending. The description did not say "Series Finalle" so we don't know if it's coming back next year or not.
Though, it looks like Jack was training Renee to take his place as she held a gun to Janice and walked into the room with Allen Wilson.
Can you believe Tony??  I was shocked to find out he was only doing what he did because of Michelle.  I don't recall knowing Michelle was pregnant when she died.  I can't … (9 comments)

GREAT NEWS!!! $8000 Tax Credit May Soon Be Used Towards Down Payment! - 06:48 PM
First time home buyers have been enjoying the benefits of an $8000 tax credit back on their home purchase.  The FHA is in the final stages of working on a plan to allow that tax credit to be used for the down payment of their home.  The National Association of Realtors has been calling for this change for some time.  Buyers will be able to access the tax credit through a bridge loan that will make the funds available to them at the closing table.  The complete details have not been finalized but the FHA is working to finalize this in the … (0 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Much needed rain headed for Fort Myers Beach - 03:31 PM
 Fort Myers Beach gets plenty of sun shine.  We also need some rain for the farmers, reservoirs, etc.  Shot with a Nikon D80, 18-135 tele lens.  Can you see the rain ? Can you feel it, smell it ?
 
 

… (6 comments)

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Memorial Day (x5) - 03:45 PM
Let's all pause to remember the really important things !
Via Robert Rauf (REMN The Real Estate Mortgage Network):




 
 Happy Memorial Day
Rob
Robert Rauf
Mortgage Banker
www.RobertRaufHomeLoans.com   or my blog: http://activerain.com/blogs/rrauf
(732)223-1630 x102
Since 1987 I have been helping my clients fulfill their dream of home ownership!
Real Estate Mortgage Network

 
 
 
 NJ Mortgages, New Jersey Mortgages, Mortgages in NJ, mortgage in New Jersey, Mortgages in New Jersey
… (3 comments)

What's the deal with the UN-WELCOME Mat?!?! - 08:46 AM
The following is a true story.  The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Ah yes, another beautiful day and another eager couple excited and ready to head out and find their dream home.  With a strong need and desire to make an offer on something TODAY and CASH in the bank, Bill and Joan are a seller's dream come true - No cause for concern about credit since they have more than adequate cash on hand to purchase the home of their choosing.  No concern about the timing as they don't need to close for three months but are willing to … (0 comments)

Bank of America to ease up on Short Sale rules? - 09:52 AM
According to an announcement yesterday, Bank of America is going to loosen its policies on short sales.  This is a result of a Treasury Department announcement of plans to increase incentives for lenders to work out short sale deals.The norm has been for the bank to adhere to Fannie Mae guidelines of giving second lien holders about 10 percent of the 2nd mortgage balance in a short sale. However, this new information indicates that when it holds the second lien, Bank of America is willing to accept a mere 5 percent of the net proceeds of the short sale, Furthermore, when Bank of Americait is the first … (0 comments)

Wolf Creek Townhome - MOVE IN READY - Jacksonville, FL near Jax Beach - 10:34 AM

13365 Stone Pond Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
Click above link to view the POWERLISTING(TM) Website presentation of this beautiful home for sale in Jacksonville, Florida.
DESCRIPTION:  Offering a spectacular lakefront view, this absolutely immaculate 3 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath Townhome has 1728 square feet of dynamic living space and a one car garage. As an end unit, it provides an abundance of natural light and added yard space for your enjoyment. Located only minutes from Jacksonville's beautiful beaches with easy access to all major highways, you'll find no better address to call home.This 86.4 acre beautifully wooded neighborhood features two … (0 comments)

Just sharing a story - 09:43 AM
The link to this story came in Susan Weed's Wise Woman newsletter.  Susan is a healer and an herbalist ... a Follower of the Old Ways ...
Anyway, the real estate twist made me smile
 
Go here to read the story  http://www.susunweed.com/An_herbalist_6.htm
… (0 comments)

Why must there be a Hardship to do a Short Sale? - 04:40 PM
Hi folks. Today I have mixed emotions. Lenn Harley has a great featured post today basically showing how asinine our Government has been by throwing away trillions of dollars to bail out banks while ignoring the true issue……lack of equity.  According to Lenn (and I agree) we have an equity problem in this country. Until this problem is solved nothing else matters.Homeowners will need to move or want to move at some point and if they can’t sell because they owe too much they are stuck. So they are forced to make hard decisions. Some will stay and stick it out … (119 comments)

Quick and easy summer recipes for Knoxville backyard chefs - 11:11 AM
Before becoming a Realtor many, many years ago, I was in the restaurant business, mostly in management but I love to cook and create new recipes.
Here’s a couple of my summer favorites that meet 2 of my main criteria for cooking; quick and easy.
 

Pulled BBQ pork, serves 4
You can fix this one in your crock pot or slow cooker.
Ingredients:
2 pound Boston Butt Roast or boneless ribs work well also Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 a 14 ounce can of beef broth (you can freeze the other half for later use) Your favorite BBQ … (2 comments)

Has it Become TOO Much...Just about the Money ? - 07:43 AM
  Yesterday. I went to  see one one my very favorite physicians...Dr. Manfred Chiang...he is wonderful...compassionate, bright, cutting (he IS a surgeon) edge....he is truly the highest and best.  Last year in an attempt to permanently rid myself of what I thought was recurrent phlebitis...I had 3 laser vein treatments...with 2 more scheduled.  After 3, I was no better....and had other medical priorities that got in the way of doing the last two. I questioned the wisdom of 2 more when the first three had not produced any noticable result. Plane rides, desk sitting, webinars, seminars are all forbidden activities without … (0 comments)

Going the Green Mile - 11:07 AM
I am a firm believer in not reinventing the wheel and this says it as well as I ever could.
Via Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors, LGLS CP Trainer (510-STAGING)):
If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.  Well, we are the problem.  According to statistics published by the Nature Conservancy, the average family of 4, in a detached home, in North America will generate 110 tons of CO2 annually.  The average family outside of North America will generate 22 tons of CO2 annually. 
Finally, some progress in reversing the metaphorical snowball rolling downhill that has been … (1 comments)

A little help here if you please. - 08:49 PM
I have kept an attorney on retainer for all three of our companies for five years at $1000. per year and have never had to use them.
A young man I met at a Real Estate luncheon told me he could provide that service and identity theft protection for around $400. a year through some company called Pre paid legal for less than half that.
Has anyone heard of them and do you think I should switch. Please comment and let me know if you have dealt with them.
 
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   THOUSANDS OF HOMES.... One Address www.charlesstallions.com Looking for a … (5 comments)

Yard Sale... But please no realtives. - 08:57 PM
As you may have noticed from a few of my post. The wife and kids went out of town a few weeks back. So while they were gone I decided to do a serious spring cleaning.
I boxed up everything from the attic that we have not touched for years in the past. I went through all my kids stuff like stuffed animals videos, and clothes I hadn't seen them in in years. Then came the wife's stuff (but we want tell her), clothes and OMG the shoes and wound up with over 15 boxes of stufffffff. I called the cleaning crew in on … (16 comments)

Waterford Lakes Real Estate Market Update 05/20/09 - 08:41 AM
This is the most recent market information for Waterford Lakes Real Estate. Waterford Lakes is located in East Orange County and part of unincorporated Orlando Florida.
To date there are currently 7 bank owned homes for sale in Waterford Lakes and there are also 54 short sale opportunities in Waterford Lakes. Considering there are 54 out of the total 117 properties for sale in Waterford Lakes, which equates to approximately 46% of the properties for sale in Waterford are foreclosures. This does not mean there are only 117 foreclosures in Waterford Lakes, it just means there are only 117 foreclosures currently for sale in Waterford … (0 comments)

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