Archives of real estate blog entries for September 14, 2009

Featured blog posts


Clients Will Remember Your Telephone Number Forever - 05:31 PM
My wife wrote about this a while ago, but I think it's worth a re-visit, since we have had so many new ActiveRainers sign up since then.
This post is about the Vanity Telephone number.  I think any mortgage broker or Realtor is going to find this post very useful.
So imagine that somebody wants to recommend you to a friend-- wants to give you a referral.  Of course, the former client doesn't actually have your card on him, so he tells his friend that he'll look you up and call and...
We know where this is going.  You never get … (74 comments)

they're not yours for the taking. - 08:23 AM
I'm often asked about my blogging experience (since I'm one of the few in our office actually blogging regularly), and was speaking with someone in our office with decent blogging knowledge.
They asked me to blog about a specific localism event, which I agreed to do... and when I asked if we had any photos for it, they suggested that I just go online, google some images, and take some generic photos of the area, and post them.
My jaw must have sagged a little bit... but I recovered quickly, and went on to explain that those "google images" were often … (109 comments)

MLS Gone Wild - Whose Interests Are Being Served? - 11:06 PM
Last night I was playing around with the IDX on my website.  I was startled to see that my listing search results didn't include the Description field - just photos and the little snippets of info about size, etc.  No matter how much I fiddled I couldn't get the Description to show.
I was stumped - why would anybody want to use a website without getting to see the Property Description? Not me that's for sure.
I emailed my IDX provider and was dismayed to get an email today that said the problem stems from new regulations on the part of the … (74 comments)

Taking your own photos is NOT always best - 06:56 PM
Newsflash...   Taking your own photos  is NOT always best
You can say "don't use copyrighted photos" to one another over and over  and pat yourself on the back for taking all your own photos...to adorn your blog posts and share stories of someone who just does not get blogging, Web 2.0 or social media...
But do YOU?  
Jeff Turner  wrote a couple of great posts about using Flickr to connect to people.
Locals?  During Project Blogger in 2007 Jeff shared an assignment he gave his apprentice, Julie Ferenzi.
"The thing is, Julie's blog is local, her goals are local, … (44 comments)

REALTOR by Day & Jumping Jet Skier by Evening (We have to have outside interests!) - 05:49 PM
It's so important to have other interests besides real estate. I don't think I could keep up my stamina with my work load and be excited about working every day if I didn't have other hobbies and interests.


 
 
 
It's also important to stay in shape so you can have a full, long work day. Not only do you have to eat in your car half the time, (bad food), but when you are showing properties and homes, you need to have the physical fitness to show 10 homes in high heels and slacks. It gets tougher … (43 comments)

First Time Homebuyers - Don't Just Check On The Rate! - 04:30 PM

There are tons of first time homebuyers out there negotiating the best deal on their new home, and now it's time to get a mortgage.
Most of them only know how to ask one question:  What's the Rate?
We've been in the mortgage business for over 20 years - and the only thing most people know to ask is - "What's the Rate?" 
While that's a great question, it's kinda' like going into a shoe store and asking if they have any shoes in a size 9.  Just shopping the rate is not necessarily going to get you the best … (27 comments)

How to Add Custom Links to Your Blog Sidebar - 06:06 PM
Jeff Dowler wrote a great post regarding "How To Use His Blog - A Road Map" showing Buyers, Sellers, and Visitors how to navigate his Blog on ActiveRain.  This was a fantastic idea, so I wanted to expand on it, thanks Jeff.  As with any Blog roll, as content is added to your Blog, the previous Blog is moved down the roll allowing for the most current post to be at the top of your Blog.  In this case, Jeff's great post will eventually be pushed down the Blog Roll and end up off the page. (it's already dropped down to … (65 comments)

Twitter - I'm Normal! How About You?!!! - 08:12 AM
For those of you who read, “So, You Think Social Media Isn't For You? Think Again!”, you can see from the video in that post that Social Media is here to stay.
Twitter is the biggest thing since sliced bread right now!

I mean, for goodness sakes, even that reptile from the Paleozoic era, Larry King, has a Twitter account!
As a result of Twitter’s success, you knew it was only a matter of time before a gazillion start-ups created sites to help you improve your Twittering experience.
One such site is TweetPsych.  This little web site uses some … (77 comments)

The New Marketing Mix: The 4 Us - 05:05 AM
When studying marketing, one of the first concepts that we learn about is called the Marketing Mix.
There are 4 elements to this marketing mix:
Product: this element describes the specifications of the actual goods or services and how these specifications relate to the end-user's needs and wants Pricing: This refers to the process of setting a price for a product, including discounts Placement (or distribution): refers to how the product gets to the customer. It has also sometimes been called Place, referring to the channel by which a product or service is sold. Promotion: This includes advertising, sales promotion, including … (38 comments)

Tucson's Signal Hill Petroglyphs - 1,000 Year Old Graffiti - 02:45 AM

Tucson's Signal Hill Petroglyphs are thought to be as old as 1,000 years or more.  Signal Hill is located in Saguaro National Park West, on the western flank of the Tucson Mountains.  It's immediately south of the community of Picture Rocks, so named because of the ancient rock art you see here.
I spent my Sunday afternoon hiking in the Park with the intent of photographing some of the petroglyphs to share with you.  They're beautiful, aren't they?
No one knows just what they mean.  Created by ancient Amerindians known today as Hohokam, the images of the sun, snakes, lizards, game … (54 comments)

Agents Not Returning Phone Calls-The Flip Side - 04:20 PM
Recently DeVonne Batts wrote a featured post, "Would You Return My Call...Pretty Please" about agents who don't return phone calls in a timely manner.   However there is a flip side to some of those unreturned calls, agents who don't read the instructions in the MLS or listen carefully to voicemail before they hit the panic button about an unreturned call.
This past week I was across the country babysitting my young grandchildren.  My voicemail CLEARLY said I was out of town, limited access to VM, different time zone and please call my associate with any issues that needed an immediate response.  … (105 comments)

The best marketing, right under my nose. - 06:24 PM
So like many of my fellow real estate professionals I sat with a photographer and had my photo taken. Any more this is a must and is expected in our industry. I not only used this photo on my corporate real estate marketing campaigns but also uploaded to my Facebook, Twitter, AR, MySpace and other blogs. 
So what was I missing? This image is what most of those who look at my marketing remember, my face. While I am not sure if this is a positive, it certainly gives a personal touch to my message. Until today I never thought anything … (50 comments)

The ABC's of Real Estate ... A is for Alarming Allison - 05:35 PM

Here is the first blog post in what I hope to be a fun-filled series of posts about realtors, other vendors and participants in this process, and our crazy zany world. It is inspired by the AR Gods' summer series contest. I had so much fun in the hyperlocalism contest and the series contest,
I am going to try to keep going here, by blogging an entire 26-part series on TYPES. It's meant to be tongue in cheek, fun and of course contain an edge of truth to it. And hopefully each post will contain a little lesson.
So get … (41 comments)

A|R Commitment ! ... want more blog comments ? ... well here's one for free ... Guaranteed :o) - 05:14 PM
~ Hello Everyone ! ... and I mean all 158,937 of you I just read several posts this past week from bloggers who wished they had more comments on their blogs.
Well there are some very tried and tested ways to get more comments on your posts, but it requires dedication.

 
 
I was assisted very early on by a number of ActiveRain Legends who gave me the guidelines that I stuck to avidly, and in the process gained a terrific amount of friends and commenters here on ActiveRain, and 224 subscribers to my blog in just 9 months.
… (131 comments)

Relocation Company Outrage - or - Does Anyone Else Object to Being Robbed? - 02:20 PM
I have been moved to write about this due to recent posts on this topic and my resulting comments. For anyone who may have read them, the genesis behind the comments was in a transaction of mine that recently closed: 
I received a call from a doctor who was planning to relocate from San Francisco to my area.  He had been referred to me by another doctor, a former client of mine who has bought several properties through me.  
We talked for awhile and established the types of properties he was interested in and discussed location. I connected him to my … (80 comments)

Just Do Your Job and Present the Offer! - 08:47 AM
CAUTION...THE FOLLOWING IS A RANT!
Yes I know the offer is low.  And I understand from our phone conversation that YOU don't like it.  And I know your seller probably won't like it too. 
DUH, I'M NOT STUPID!
But let's face reality.  Your $97 per square foot house in the $81 per square foot neighborhood that looks like it could go up in value OR down in value just doesn't warrant your asking price.  You're too high and quite frankly, I don't understand how you got to that price.
Sure, the house is great.  The color of the paint in the rooms is right … (211 comments)


Blog posts


Real Estate Investment Pitfalls to Avoid in San Jacinto, CA - 09:35 AM
The current real estate market in San Jacinto CA has many investors constantly on the look out for good real estate deals.  Many of our investors are now seasoned, however there are still a number of Johnny-come-lately's who want in on the action.  Not saying that they can't play in this market, but they best know what they are doing or be in the hands of a seasoned REALTOR® that knows the ins and outs.Here are a few tips on what you should avoid - for both seasoned and new investors...First, Investors should never be ‘herd' animals.  Yes, there may be … (0 comments)

Now Here are 3 Guys Who Deserve to go to JAIL - 10:24 AM
Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times published a web article about 3 Los Angeles Mortgage Brokers who did more than help their clients lie on applications to close deals and collect commissions...they forged documents and took refinance proceedings.I found a similar article on line  at examiner.com, that opens with, "This is a news story, that if proven true in the courts, sets a new milestone in hubris and anti-social behavior by three licensed real estate professionals towards the public. When you read what has been alleged, perhaps you will wonder as I do how these individuals thought they could commit … (13 comments)

There is Never a Bad Time to Add Curb Appeal...or Get Busy - 11:50 AM
The long hot days of summer are coming to an end.  Already the days seem shorter and a bit cooler than they did just before Labor Day.  The kids are back to school and everyone at work is back from their vacations.  Seems like life has returned to normal.The fall season is the best time of the year to work on your yard and get it ready for the upcoming year.  This is especially true if you are hoping on selling next year and you need to capitalize on your homes curb appeal.FERTALIZERHere in the Hemet - San Jacinto Valley in … (4 comments)

What Does Prostitution, Child Prostitution, and Human Trafficking have in Common with ACORN? - 12:34 PM
Ouch - Looks like ACORN got Caught with Their Hands in the Cookie JarApparently we will not have the US Census Bureau hiring the community advocate group to perform our census.  As we all know, there was a lot of controversy over the part that ACORN played in our last presidential election and voter registration.This time, ACORN was caught on tape advising a young couple on how to buy real estate that could be used as a good old fashioned whore house.This video has been circulation on YouTube all weekend.  You can follow this link to read an in-depth article and … (0 comments)

NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES REAL ESTATE MARKET STATS 09/07 - 09/13 - 06:51 AM
New listings entered
Price reductions 
Reported pending
Reported sold and closed 
These zip codes include the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon.
 
… (0 comments)

Better Than New Water Front Property! - 09:57 PM
… (1 comments)

Beautiful 4 bedroom home on the GOLF COURSE! - 10:04 PM
… (1 comments)

Day 42: 100 Days of Central Mass Features Glen Echo Lake - 01:54 PM
Glen Echo Lake is located in Charlton, MA and is a fully recreational lake.  It is approximately a 116 acre lake.  There is a portion of the lake where it gets narrow and locals call this "The Narrows".  Because the lake is smaller, they enforce speed limits and boating regulations to help keep the lake enjoyable and safe for all.  The Glen Echo Improvement Association was formed in 1972 and currently has 115 resident members.  It costs $25/year to join and they help maintain the lake and do weed control. 
Charlton is known for it's great schools and growing community.  … (0 comments)

Amherst NY Home For Sale - 11:46 AM
There are many reasons people purchase homes. The first decision after deciding to purchase a home is to select a Realtor®. I want to be that Realtor® that you select. That is why I have created this resource for Real Estate buyers. I have a wonderful group of Associates that are ready to assist with every aspect of the home purchase process. Here is a great home in Amherst NY that is for sale and ready to move in! Just think if you are a first time home buyer you can take that $8,000 tax credit and put it in the … (4 comments)

Be Careful What You Ask For! - 08:33 AM
With one of the most serious droughts in decades here in Central Texas, pushing two years, grass not only crunching but powdering when you walk on it, giant cracks in the Houston black soil  here on the place, grass growing in the bottom of the year-round creek that's been dry that long, a lot of people, myself included, have been praying for rain.  I was on the verge of organizing an official Rain Dance. 
Then, on Friday, it started.  11 inches later, this was the view off of our front porch. 
 

 
Understand, the creek that rose this high?  … (11 comments)

Know your rules, please! - 09:31 AM
Part of being a good real estate practitioner is to KNOW YOUR RULES.   While I sold Albuquerque real estate for years without having served on a committee or visiting a Board meeting, I was probably walking a tight rope when it came to properly practicing real estate.
Some mistakes that I see every day are just plain honest mistakes.  Some are really quite amazing.
The one that is on the top of my mind today is VARIABLE RATE COMMISSION in the MLS menu.
It seems the definition lies more in what it ISN'T than what it is....what is ISN'T is "this … (0 comments)

Real Estate Deals in Ginn Reunion Resort....Davenport Florida - 04:19 PM

Hi folks. Today I want to give you a little taste of the real estate market in Central Florida. If you are not in Florida, California or Nevada it may be hard to comprehend how bad things got. How drastically values declined.Let’s use Ginn Reunion Resort as an example. Reunion was designed to be a would class vacation resort. It features 54 holes of Championship golf designed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicholas. Reunion Resort also has a 10 acre water park, 17 pools, horse stables, tennis, spas, shopping, ANNIKA Golf Accademy, condos, townhouses, single family homes and … (29 comments)

Mortgage Rates Stay Down - 11:28 PM
There were some expectations that mortgage rates would fall this week. Instead rates not only did not rise but fell slightly this week. The 30 year rate fell from 5.08 to 5.07 hitting a new low for the summer. The 15 year rate fell from 4.54 to 4.50. The 5 year arm fell from 4.59 to 4.51 while the 1 year arm rose slightly from 4.62 to 4.64.

The continuing fall of the 30 year rate is good news for the national real estate market which is in the midst of a lukewarm recovery. The 5 year arm is seeing … (0 comments)

Stress- Free Moving Day - 11:32 PM
Whether moving across town or across the country, there is no denying that while going into a new home is exciting, it can also be a stressful and time-consuming endeavor. Hiring a moving company to pack, load and unpack on the other end certainly makes things easier, but still requires a certain amount of preparation and vigilance. An organized relocation will relieve a lot of the stress of moving day.

Begin by finding a reputable moving company and thoroughly checking their references, along with comparing prices of various companies. Everyone has heard a moving horror story or two, so doing … (3 comments)

The Recession is Over, In Case You Hadn't Noticed - 11:36 PM
The Associated Press reported recently that a new government survey indicates that the recession is over. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and analysts across the country say that the economy is showing growth again. However, what no one can predict is how deeply the so called Great Recession has permanently changed Americans' spending habits.

"A study by research firm AlixPartners concluded that once a new normal sets in after this recession ends, Americans will spend at about 86 percent of their pre-downturn level," a recent AP article reported. While the Fed expects business spending to increase in the next quarter, … (5 comments)

The Pleasures of the South First Street Area in Austin Texas - 11:39 PM
The South First Street area has become a vibrant community lately, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists, since it is so densely packed with new establishments and businesses. The area is very unique and quirky; many of the businesses cater to the music industry and other artistic types.

There are a number of interesting clubs and restaurants as well, most of which offer live music on a regular basis. Two such venues are Jovita's and Freddie's Place, both delightful locations with shady trees with well known as well as new musical acts which usually perform early in the evening, to the … (2 comments)

6 New listings and price changes on Birmingham Alabama Foreclosures - 10:32 AM
6 New listings and price changes on Birmingham Alabama Foreclosures. Good Monday Morning Birmingham!! I hope everyone had a good weekend. We watched the Trueblood season finale last night and loved it and there was some controversy at the Video Music Awards that everyone is talking about. Well you didn't come to my blog about that but here is a short list on Birmingham Alabama Foreclosures:
2 New Listings:
http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US10891279
4 New Price Changes:
http://bhammls.net/BAARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=US10891281
Gusty Gulas is a Realtor for Realty South in Birmingham Alabama with a focus on foreclosures and first time home buyers. Looking for that perfect home … (0 comments)

When Was The Last Time You Saw One Of These - 09:06 PM
While conducting an unintended archeological dig in what used to be my son's room, tucked away in the hollow space under the headboard I found this relic of the real estate business.  To think we used to do business carrying these things around and dog earing pages of favorite listings as we waited for the latest update to come out.
So much about the business was different then.  We (at least most of us) had no presence on the developing web.  There was no Facebook, Twitter, Linked In or any of the other social media avenues to interact with our consumers or each … (19 comments)

Stowe, Vermont Real Estate Auctions - 09:15 AM
Stowe, Vermont Real Estate Auctions

On Friday, September 11th, 2009, I attended two real estate auctions in Stowe, Vermont.  I have been a Realtor in Stowe since 1998 and have never been to a real estate auction.  As a former Bed and Breakfast owner in Stowe, I used to attend many furniture auctions.  They were always a lot of fun and I certainly was able to purchase some great antiques for the bed and breakfast.
In these trying times, I think we will see more properties going into foreclosure.  Some on the auction block. 
I decided to witness the auctions for … (2 comments)

Who would YOU like to Meet from the Rain ? - 06:52 AM
 

 
  The other day after talking with....e-mailing and working with some AR pals I just thought about who I would like to meet live and in person...was that really their high school graduation picture on their blog ? Was their voice as varied in pitch and excited as their blog content ?
  Go ahead you can do it....Name MORE than one if you wish...have a virtual wish list./conference call...
  This isn't an AR sanctioned Contest...I don't have the time, talent, patience, or permission to give points for entries....
   It's just a curiousity thing...If you could … (9 comments)

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