Archives of real estate blog entries for August 7, 2009

Featured blog posts


I had my civil rights violated yesterday, and I was illegally detained. Has the United States become a police state? - 06:29 AM
Yesterday, I drove a client to Macon Georgia to record a survey of a property that I had just listed at the Bibb County Clerk of Superior Court. It's about a two hour drive from the office, so it gave me a good chance brainstorm with the client as we drove the Georgia backroads.
When we got to the courthouse, I had my camera in hand (as usual) and my computer case so rather than go through security, I decided to wait outside while my client recorded the survey. It was a pretty day so I thought that I could get … (180 comments)

Why Mistakes Are Good for Us - 10:19 PM
Have you ever made a mistake and wished that you hadn't? Stupid question, right? Of course you have! We all have. Well, let me propose to you that you've had regrets like that for the last time!
 
I believe that part of our life purpose is to learn certain things. These things may very well disguise themselves in the shape of obstacles and so-called failures. One of life's big challenges is learning to decode them, to turn poison into medicine, and to learn to perceive obstacles, problems, and so-called failures as exciting challenges and opportunities for growth and evolvement instead.
… (38 comments)

Realtor® Criticisms--Bum Rap or Real Bums? - 10:57 PM
An article on MarketWatch today described how a Realtor® was refusing additional offers on a property because he wanted to maintain his “dual agency” and the higher commission that would result if his buyer made the deal. What struck me about the article wasn’t the account of one agent’s unethical behavior. No, what was most interesting and troubling came from the comments which were biased against Realtors by a 4 to 1 margin.
 
I like to read the comments on articles or blog posts because they often provide more information than the article itself. What the article’s comments told me … (152 comments)

2009 Inman Innovator of the Year goes to.......... - 12:59 PM
We're here in San Francisco for Inman News' Real Estate Connect Conference. Frank LLosa was nominated for:
-Most Innovative Web Service
-Most Innovative Blog
......and he lost both.....ouch...$600 plane ticket wasted.
So we thought:

That's right! 2009 Inman Innovator of the Year went to: -Frank Borges LLosa - FranklyRealty.com and FranklyMLS.com. Congratulations Frank!
From VideosByAddress.com
(BTW-used Samsung NV-24 point-and-shoot and found that the sound doesn't when work you zoom) … (36 comments)

Are you ready to start your own real estate firm? Here's how Part 4! - 12:58 PM
  

Finally, I get to write about the really fun and creative part of starting your own real estate firm:  Branding, logos and marketing materials!
If you have been following this series, Part I and Part 2  and  Part 3, you now are well on your way.  If not, you might want to go back and read them before reading this post.
Branding
We hear a lot about "branding".  As a matter of fact, there are some great posts here on ActiveRain about branding, one by Miamism.com's talented creator Ines Garcia stands out as a must read!  But, if you want a simple … (56 comments)

The Media is Finally Talking About Short Sales!! - 10:27 AM

Everyone is talking about it.  
Everyone knows someone who has done one.  
Everyone has thought of doing one themselves  
Everyone thinks they know everything about it. So why are Short Sales not talked about in the media?  I am not sure, but recently I found an article that many in the real estate industry have been jumping up and down about.  Why does a short sale take so long?
Short Sales, why Sellers are Frustrated by them
Foreclosures, Foreclosures, Foreclosures.  That is what the media talks about.  Why?  Foreclosures are usually not great deals, and have many … (50 comments)

Deutsche Bank: Half of All Mortgages To Be Underwater By 2011 - 04:19 AM
According to a new report put out by Deutsche Bank, half, or approximately 25 million homeowners will be underwater with their mortgage by 2011, the year in which Deutsche Bank expects home prices to finally stabilize.
Les Christie and CNNMoney.com are reporting that the Deutsche Bank forecast goes further than any other estimates that have been calculated to date, "First American CoreLogic estimated 11 million homeowners -- and rising -- were underwater by the end of 2008. Moody's Economy.com estimated 15 million at the end of March and projected 17.5 million by early 2010. Zillow.com reported that 20 million were already underwater at the end of … (61 comments)

How Redfin Listens to Our Customers - Inman Connect - 11:25 AM
Today I spoke at Inman Connect's internet marketing workshop on optimizing for conversion. I believe Redfin is pretty well qualified to speak on the subject since our only source of customers is our website (crazy, I know) Our agents do no offline or traditional marketing and in fact we also don't do any online marketing or spend anything on lead generation. Instead what we've done is built the best real estate search site out there and carefully figured out how to get folks on our site to convert into customers. How do figure out converting website users to customers? We do … (33 comments)

Caught in an Active Rain spiral! - 10:18 PM
Help! I'm caught in an AR spiral and I can't get out!.
Similar to a "Wiki spiral" (a phrase I've learned from my kids) in which you look up something on Wikipedia and get sidetracked with all the links and definitions inside the one article;   an Active Rain spiral happens when you start reading one post, which has links to another post, whose comments you read, and then you have to read the commenter's blog, and maybe their profile too.  
Pretty soon you forgot what page you started on, what the original subject was, if you commented on any of the posts, … (50 comments)

What should a Buyer's Agent ask a Short Sale Listing Agent? - 10:36 PM
When it comes to short sales, which for the record I don't take, I've been told and have read that there's "a list."  A list of questions that the listing agent will ask the bank when they take the listing or get an offer on the property.A majority of listings in my area are short sales and I'm assuming a lot of agents work from this "list."  Prior to even showing a short sale I will call the listing agent to see what the status of the property is and find out how they handle short sales.  You may be surprised … (54 comments)

Residential Agents: Blogging Mistakes That Cost You Business - 04:12 AM
Note: This is written from someone who is not a residential agent. Rather it is a critique of their practices.
Residential real estate agents face the difficult task of trying to stand out in a crowded market. They use a variety of techniques and honestly they tend to follow what everyone else is doing rather than try to be original.
I decided to write this post after a conversation I had with an agent earlier this week. I was eating at a restaurant that also provides wifi and was checking analytics/new pages on some of my commercial sites when the guy … (92 comments)


Blog posts


REO Nightmares - 02:34 PM
I am troubled by a pattern that seems to be developing for the marketing of REO properties.  Listings for bank owned properties are given to service companies around the country for marketing and sales.  Many if not most of these listings seem to go to offices well outside our marketing area and are not available to our IDX.  These brokers have little or no information about the property and in some cases are depending on the service company to manage the property.  The service companies begin authorizing dropping the price; see no offers and few if any showings.  Eventually the properties … (0 comments)

Best Buy on Luxury Novato Home for Sale. - 04:27 PM
Best Buy on Luxury Novato Home for Sale. This Novato Home is one of the finest Homes for Sale in Novato, located at 2424 Vineyard Road, Novato; it sets in the Prestigious Wild Horse Valley area of unincorporated area of Novato. This Novato Home features a large corner lot with a park like setting and a luxury interior that feels like a bed and breakfast.
This Novato Home is meant to be enjoyed in all seasons:
In Summer at your Novato Home you could take one of the two bridges across your own stretch of creek surrounded by natural foliage … (0 comments)

I've Done it! - 08:42 PM
I have reached the top 10 in my county and top 100 in my state at the same time.  I know if you live in Wyoming this might not sound like much, but we have over 800 members in Contra Costa County.  Working hard on our post and comments makes Active Rain a better place for all of us and the consumers.
… (15 comments)

Living in Oakley - Diner's, Drive Ins and Dives - Golden Dragon Buffet - 10:10 PM
Golden Dragon Buffet is a fine Buffet Restaurant located in Brentwood California. When people think of buffet dinning they often think of mass quantities of mediocre food. Well at the Golden Dragon Buffet you should think of mass quantities of really good food.

The Golden Dragon Buffet features Asian and American cuisine. Most of the American food is so so. Stick the Asian dinning, you will not be disappointed. My personal favorite is the bacon wrapped crab, but there are many fine choices to make off the buffet tables, including generous portions of sea food. The fried scallops are only … (1 comments)

My Game is Advanced Squad Leader - 11:01 PM
My Game is Advanced Squad Leader.  Many people ask me about my hobbies and when I tell them I like to play strategy games they do not quite get it, but giving them more detail really gets them confused.
Many Many moons ago in the 70's when I was 12 my friend bought a few games by a company called the Avalon Hill Game Company.  Like most boys we had always played army or war games of one sort or another, but here were military games played on cardboard game maps with counters to represent varies military units, dice and rules.  … (2 comments)

How Many Kinds of Ants are There? - 10:05 AM
Did you know there are about 10,000 species of ants?  I have no idea how a tiny little creature could look so different from the next to come up with 10,000 differences, but that's amazing.
 
The most common I hear referred to are red ants, black ants, and carpenter ants.  I guess I need some education in 9,997 other different kinds of ants.
 
I had an inspection on a house where the termite guy found "acrobat" ants.  Were the ants doing back-bends and cartwheels for him to determine that?
 
Some ants bite and others don't.  I'm allergic to … (15 comments)

Flowers by Nancy, too in Lakeway, TX - 01:53 PM
I stopped into Flowers by Nancy, too today to get my free "Welcome to the Neighborhood" plant that is offered.  I took this opportunity to get some information about this great, local flower store.

 
The first thing you'll notice when you drive up is that you're driving into a boat dealership.  This is because Donna and Jeff Parker also own Austin Boats and Motors right next door.  Within the boat store, they used to have a flower shop.

Some years ago, the John Deere dealership next door became available, and they moved the flower business over there.  … (2 comments)

Will Austin TX Weather Break a Record this Summer? - 02:36 PM
Today is day 48 of OVER 100 degree weather!  The heat is rather ridiculous if you ask me... and anyone else around here!
Here are some numbers to know:
69 days over 100 in 192566 days over 100 in 192350 days over 100 in 2008
After the weekend, we could very easily move into the third spot.  August is traditionally the hottest month of the year so we have plenty of time to hit another 19 days over 100 to climb to the top of the list.
Do I want to break the record?  Yes, but NO.  I'm sick of the … (10 comments)

Day 21: 100 Days of Central Mass Features Newport, RI - 09:52 AM
Since living here in New England, we have taken many trips to Newport, Rhode Island.  Known as the city-by-the-sea, Newport is full of shopping and activities.  Historic downtown Newport is filled with cobblestone walkways lined with shops offering eveything imaginable to the shopper.  There are beautiful spots to see the ocean crashing along the rocks and magnificent mansions you can tour.  Pack a picnic or eat at one of the many oceanfront restaurants.  Newport offers a glimpse of the past with it's museums, miles of coastline, scenic walking trails and historic architecture.  You can enjoy wine tasting at one of the three local vineyards.  … (0 comments)

B-52s at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI - 10:21 AM
I'm very excited!!!  Tonight I'm having a girl's night out with my mom and 2 of my aunts and we're going to see the B-52s in concert at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI.  I always LOVE fun music, and who can resist singing along to "Love Shack" at the local diner?  It's funny, I actually have it as one of my ringtones on my cell phone.  The B-52s was formed in 1976 as a new wave rock band and is still touring today.  If you're a fan, tickets are still available for tonight's show starting at 8:00PM and range from $25-$45.  They … (2 comments)

10 new updates on Birmingham Alabama foreclosures for sale 8/7/09 - 08:39 AM
10 new updates on Foreclosure homes for sale in Birmingham Alabama for 8/7/09. Are you a Real Estate Investor? Now is the time to buy if you like cash flowing rentals. There are many Birmingham Alabama foreclosures available that just need some minor repairs and cosmetic updates and you can be cash flowing in no time!
5 New Listings:
http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US10596235
5 New Price Changes:
http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US10596237
Contact Gusty Gulas with Realty South for all of your Birmingham Alabama foreclosure and real estate needs at 205.218.7560 or email at gusty1305@gmail.com
… (0 comments)

Seufer Nursery is back in Pueblo West, Breast Cancer 3-Day - 04:50 PM
Guess what?  Seufer Brother's Nursery is back in Pueblo West and here to stay (In a previous blog I reported their departure from Pueblo West).  They are located at their former location on 1087 E Holiday Drive (East of/behind Pueblo West Safeway), co-located with new property owner Rocky Mountain Landscape Materials.  The nursery offers a great (and reasonably priced) selection of locally grown trees and shrubs.  Nan Black is also back and can provide advice and assistance on the best plants for our dry, windy, high desert terrain.
I have been training for the 60 mile Breast Cancer 3-day walk to … (0 comments)

2409 BARLEY CLUB CT # 7, ORLANDO FL 32837 - 02:50 PM
 
 MLS# O4928440                 2409 BARLEY CLUB CT # 7, ORLANDO FL 32837     $$$ 25,000 $$$

Purchase this property for as little as 3% down! This property is approved for HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage. Great condo in highly desirable Hawthorne Village. Bright, airy and open layout. Fabulous kitchen with stainless steel appliances and spacious rooms make this a place you want to call home. This one will go quickly, so come see it today! *If exact square footage is a concern, the unit should be independently measured.
For the latest status on this property and many more like it … (0 comments)

4399 E MICHIGAN ST # 4399, ORLANDO FL 32812 - 03:17 PM
 
 MLS# O4927809                 4399 E MICHIGAN ST # 4399, ORLANDO FL 32812   $$$ 35,000 $$$

Purchase this property for as little as 3% down! This property is approved for HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage. Fantastic and cozy 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo in the Crossings at Conway. Open kitchen and spacious rooms with built in book shelves to add a custom touch. This property is affordable and just what you have been looking for! See it today. *If exact square footage is a concern, unit should be independently measured.
For the latest status on this property and many more … (0 comments)

9322 MUSTARD LEAF DR, ORLANDO FL 32827 - 03:23 PM
 
 
MLS# O4928230                         9322 MUSTARD LEAF DR, ORLANDO FL 32827      $$$ 200,000 $$$

Purchase this property for as little as 3% down! This property is approved for HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage. Fabulous home in Northlake Park, Lake Nona! Don't let this one get away!!! Wonderful tile throughout home. Spacious, bright and airy floor plan. Master bedroom is lovely and the master bath has a garden tub for total relaxation!!! Open kitchen and spacious rooms will make this home number one on your list. *If exact square footage is a concern, unit should be independently measured.
For the … (1 comments)

Have MONTHS of Fun for a good Cause ! - 08:51 AM
   People are lining up their picks for fantasy football...and making friendly wagers, drawing lucky numbers....and all in the spirit of good fun...Here's a way to have good fun and contribute to a good cause and you can benefit too all at the same time !

 
 
 
My Dad and my Uncle always loved a good bet....sports...a slot machine...a poker game...and I know there is a casino that they are managing ....my Dad has the slots and my Uncle is in charge of the Sports Book....For years, we have all participated in the Random Lake Lions Club Pool.....it … (4 comments)

Franklin TN Real Estate - Local Businesses - Where can I find a... CHIROPRACTOR? - 09:08 AM
Imagine moving in from out of state.  You've driven 2 days to get here.  You haven't met your neighbors yet.  You haven't had much time to do anything but unload the U-Haul.  As you're moving in that very last piece of furniture, you hear "POP."  "OH NO!"  The thoughts go rushing through your head.  "You've GOT to be kidding me!  NOW?!?!?!"  Yep, you've just thrown out your back and you haven't a clue who to call or which direction to head.  Who do I call?  The only person that pops in your mind is your Franklin TN Realtor - Tori Stamps.
… (0 comments)

Franklin TN Real Estate - Important Information - Requirements for Connection to Franklin's Sanitary Sewer System - 02:19 PM
If you own a home (or are thinking of purchasing a home) within the Franklin City Limits that is hooked up to a septic tank, the following information is very important! 
~ ~ ~
Requirements for Connection to the City's Sanitary Sewer System
During their July 28 meeting, the Franklin BOMA granted final approval to an ordinance requiring connection to the sanitary sewer system once service becomes available within 200 feet of an affected property.  The new policy requires homeowners to connect to the public sewer system within ten (10) days of their septic system either no longer complying with … (0 comments)

Franklin TN Real Estate - Leipers Fork Library - August/Sept 09 - 02:48 PM
I just received the Leipers Fork Library Newsletter and there is a lot of fun things planned in the upcoming months!  Here is the Library Schedule:  
Pre-School & Toddler Storytime!!  Tuesdays & Wedesdays @ 10:30 - I've been taking my son to these since moving to Leipers Fork 4 years ago.  Not only is it A LOT of fun for the little ones, but it's a GREAT way to meet other parents in the area. 
Sept 1-2:       One Monkey too ManySept 8-9:       Farmyard FunSept 15-16:  A Rainbow of ColorsSept 22-23:  Journey to the MoonSept 29-30:  Day at the Zoo
Book Signing … (0 comments)

Franklin TN Real Estate - Williamson County Public Library - August 09 - 03:40 PM
WOW! WOW! WOW!  While I would normally try to relay activities that are happening at the local library, I received a 5 PAGE NEWSLETTER outlining book sales, classes, tournaments, storytimes and other amazing events for the month of August!  ROCK ON! 
Because of this, though, I'm only going to post one small section, and tell you to click here to get the full schedule of events. 
I love that the Library has taken a proactive approach to help the community during this economic downturn.  The fact that they want to help gives me some serious warm fuzzies!  (*applause*)
CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERIES AT MAIN … (0 comments)

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