Archives of real estate blog entries for October 12, 2010

Featured blog posts


Do you have faith in what you do not see? - 04:55 AM
When I started in this business I thought okay I'll get my license and sit at a desk.  People will line up to call me and I'll make money and not do much.  Goes to show you what I knew.  Anyway do you have faith the market will turn around?  Do you believe it has hit its low?  If so hold onto your wallet while I don't think it has hit its low I do believe it is close and the market will come back like gangbusters.  Have faith wait and see.  It's a great day to buy or sell a … (40 comments)

Hey Congress, Want to Stimulate the Economy? Let Banks Foreclose Faster! - 08:31 PM
Hey Congress, Want to Stimulate the Economy? Let Banks Foreclose Faster!

Sounds Crazy right?   However, here me out for a minute.   First of all, I am not speaking for the families who are trying for loan modifications with their lender or trying for short sales.   I completely believe that banks should do everything possible before foreclosing on anyone and exhaust all options if the homeowner is cooperating and trying to save their home.
However, in many cases the homeowner just simply cannot afford the home any longer and they are not actively engaged in trying to save … (16 comments)

Investors and Short Sale Processing - 09:56 PM
A few years back, I met with the head of a chain of real estate offices and he said something to me that got me thinking. He said, “I love this word escalate. With short sales, it takes on a whole new meaning.” And, he was right. It does.
I would bet dollars to donuts that half of the bank employees who currently use the word escalate to address the status of a short sale file were not using that word in 2005. The word escalate, of course, refers to taking it up a notch. In the wacky world of short … (23 comments)

How Often Do You Need to "Remind" Your Sphere of Influence that You Sell Real Estate? - 08:24 AM
Had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine the other day. I was telling him about my recent Go-Giver Chronicles and interactions with Bob Burg (co-author of The Go-Giver). My friend mentioned that his first real estate agent helped him find a rental house when he moved to the area, free of charge. Just helped him. No compensation, no contracts, no obligation. Just helpful help.
So, my friend continued, when it came time for him to purchase a home in the area, he called up the agent and hired him to be his buyer agent. His point was that because the … (98 comments)

That's Not An Installation Defect Under The Kitchen Sink; It's The Work Of A Genius. - 06:05 AM
One of my least favorite chores in the kitchen has always been re-filling the built-in hand soap dispenser at my kitchen sink.  Through years of extensive research in to this matter, I've discovered that I'm not alone.  Approximately 57.3% of soap dispensers in the Twin Cities metro area remain unfilled; sitting next to the empty soap dispensers, I often find unsightly store-bought bottles of hand soap.
I have many reasons to not refill my soap dispenser.
For one, they're difficult to access.  Mine is so tough to get at that I need to lay on my back under the kitchen sink … (128 comments)

I Got My Job Back! What Do I Owe You? - 02:07 PM

Yesterday I got an unexpected call.  My Crestview Florida short sale seller has some good news!  He had originally contacted me because his Fort Walton Beach company was downsizing.  He had no choice but to relocate when they moved his position to another part of the state.  His wife had also lost her job.
This Crestview Florida seller listed his property as a short sale, because he could not rent out his house to cover the mortgage payments.  He also did not have funds to cover the mortgage balance if he sold, since the property was worth far less than … (80 comments)

MERS. Who Will Kill The Beast? - 02:00 PM
Hi folks. While cruising around Face Book this morning I found a link posted by Matt Heaton that really helps to explain the beast that is MERS (Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems).
The key points.....in a nut shell are:
* Tax Avoidance. In the mid 1990s Mortgage Bankers set up MERS to avoid paying State and County transfer taxes. All the assignment of mortgages would take place within this shell company so technicallly the owner of record would not change. * "Employees" who really aren't. MERS "owns" 60% of the Nation's mortgages yet has no real employees!! They allow employees of mortgage … (52 comments)

STAIRing at the Ups and Downs of Real Estate (uplifting)! - 06:11 PM
Your probably thinking this is another blog with charts and grids of past years vs. current sales, or of capturing the trends in today’s’ market. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. This blog is about Stairs (and I don’t mean the kind you get when your zipper is undone, or when you have toilet paper stuck on your shoes).  I’m talking about the houses you show, perhaps 10 in a row, or the Open House you attend, going up and down more times than you can recall. This is how to handle multi-floor homes and the variety of stairs you … (49 comments)

Gap is the "Social Media Winner of the Week" - 08:53 PM
n case you missed it, over the past week or so, Gap decided to change their corporate logo, then got pressured (largely via social media channels) to change it back. My initial reaction on seeing this was to assume that they planned it this way from the beginning, but I don’t have any contacts in the “Gap circle of trust” to know for sure.  Gap has been around a little longer on the earth than I have, and my cursory research didn’t reveal whether their iconic blue box logo had been around since they were founded in 1969, but I know … (67 comments)

DOWNSIZING AMERICA...PROXIMITY IS KEY; Mini-Estates Are Being Created Right Here In Southampton!!! - 06:39 AM
DOWNSIZING AMERICA: Proximity is key; Mini-estates are being created, right here in Southampton!!! Builders are building them and buyers are buying them---where is it heading? I think we may have a trend here!
No more 10,000 Square foot houses--no more multiple acres of land to manage and no more cookie cutter designs for this "New Home" buyer! No! They want the new and  special, custom-home on a 1/3 to 1/2 acre, near everything including the ocean and the center of town---at least here they do!!!
THE NEW, "NEW HOME" BUYER
What is it that buyers like about a brand new house??? … (41 comments)

Buyers' Despair - There is nothing out there for me to buy. - 06:33 AM
Maybe you have not found "your" house.  You have been out looking on Open House days and with your agent at scheduled appointments.  So far, there is nothing for you.  I want you to hang on to hope.
No two houses are identical.  Even if built by the same builder and at the same time, each house is on a different lot.  At minimum, the view is slightly different and the address is not the same.   We might have to see a lot of houses that seem similar to find "your house".
Thousands of homes sold last year in your area. Shopping for a house … (33 comments)

Underwater Mortgages and Negative Equity is in FULL BLOOM - 06:15 AM
The latest foreclosure debacle by BofA, GMAC, JPMorgan and PNC will, IMHO, most undoubtedly be joined by Wells Fargo, Citi and even Fannie & Freddie. To that point it is our belief that a meaningful and useful solution to the negative equity in residential real estate is one major component that the administration and the treasure refused to address. To add fuel to this fire, is it not interesting that the latest "hot dog" bill from Barney Frank and Chris Dodd (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) specifically signals out and distances itself from helping folks in the hardest … (20 comments)

Kill a Watt ~ LED vs CFL... - 06:37 AM
Kill a Watt ~ LED vs CFL...Being a conservative independent, I have long been mindful of our ecology and finite resources. As the global population expands, so does our need for power to fuel the wheels of commerce. Because the power bills from NES here in the Nashville, TN area continue to spiral higher, one consumer is making every attempt to lower their consumption and spread the word.One of the threads on my post last week "Kill a Watt ~ A Tale of Two Power Bills", Lenn Harley, a member of the ActiveRain real estate network, asked about LED bulbs. Quite … (64 comments)

Misleading FHA Rumors & FHA Myths - Information needed to be properly armed - 09:54 AM

 
FHA loans are not dead and shouldn't be going any where soon.
The other day a loan officer sent me an e-mail asking me if FHA loans are going away anytime soon.  I asked, where did you hear this nonsense.  The loan officer replied, “from 3 realtors in my area.”  Sounds like water cooler talk to me.
My Common sense – If FHA loans disappear, so will our economy, right off the map. Here is why..
 
Positives with FHA loans -
FHA still allows you to put 3.5 percent down as your down payment, even with a credit … (34 comments)

Icons, Typefaces and Graphics, oh my! ~ or ~ 10 Reasons why you might get more comments - 09:36 AM
Sherilyn Cervantes asked the "featured" question "What makes you comment on a blog?", and I started to answer in her comment stream (which I did) but suddenly realized I was on autopilot, and typing up a storm.  So I figured, I must have enough in me to create a post of my own... and here we are.  
 1. CUTE ANIMATED ICONS    Nope, they don't help get comments, in fact, I find them quite annoying. I don't know about you, but I avoid these like the plague.
2. CREATIVE USE OF TYPEFACES   While this helps make the post look nice, and … (62 comments)

She's (NOT) Gonna Blow, Captain! - 08:50 AM
One very important aspect of a pre-drywall inspection, is to check for proper distribution of HVAC systems.  Modern HVAC distribution tubing includes a lot of flexible stuff, a slinky really, made up of a slinky-like spring, wrapped in plastic, surrounded by insulation and then another final layer of plastic. 
Another thing to look for is how the flexible ducts have been treated.  Slinkies, if you recall, were easy to manipulate.  They could be smashed and come back springing!
At times these flexible ducts are wrapped so tightly around joists or roof rafters that they are literally crushed. 
The more they … (43 comments)

Sail On! Sail On and On! - Lessons From Christopher Columbus - 01:05 PM

Sail On! What we can learn from Christopher Columbus. 
"By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination."  Christopher Columbus  Take the time to read this entire post. It is long but worth it.   Today- October 12- is Columbus Day. The first recorded celebration of Columbus Day was in New York City in 1792 honoring the 300th anniversary of Columbus landing in the New World.  In 1892 President Harrison asked people to participate in the 400th anniversary and that is also the day that our Pledge of Allegiance was first recited … (31 comments)

While Dwelling With Drips - 10:46 PM

… (51 comments)

Buyer and/or Buyer's Agent to Verify All Before Close of Escrow - 10:28 PM
Buyer and/or Buyer's Agent to Verify All Before Close of Escrow  We often see this statement in our MLS listings, as well as on feature sheets and brochures. I expect you do as well. 
Sometimes you simply see B2VAB4COE or something similar - space is tight in some MLS fields. 
The point is the listing agent is reminding the buyer and buyer's agent that their role is to verify all information before the transaction closes. 
Of course that makes sense, and any savvy buyer's agent and buyer will do so, even if not reminded. 
But I can't help but wonder if … (36 comments)

Would you know me if you passed me on the Street? - 07:08 PM
Would you know me if you passed me on the Street?
 
I hear agents talk about changing the photo on their business cards...All the time!  I totally agree that your photo should look like you!  Especially now, with social media playing such an important role in our businesses.  I recently attended the North Carolina Association of REALTORS Convention where I met several people in "real life" that I had already gotten to know through ActiveRain and Facebook.  As I was leaving one of the many Education Sessions, There was a woman waiting in the back of the room for me...Who … (70 comments)

What you should do about this recent trend of buyers asking for rebates......here's my take - 01:40 AM
What you should do about this recent trend of buyers asking for rebates......here's my take
I recently read a featured post by Judith Abbott that inspired me to write this blog post.
It's regarding clients looking for rebates, or cuts of your commission.
This really is getting out of control.
On a current short sale that I am negotiating for another agent, we're all set to close this week.  And what happens?  The buyer thinks they're going to be smart by literally hijacking the situation and demands a "randsom" amount of the listing agents commission before they will sign loan docs.
… (43 comments)

Real Estate Educating Clients to Your Needs...What Do You Want Them to Know? - 11:48 PM
I sell Real Estate...and I am supposed to care about the clients needs, but what about "my needs", our needs.  What do Real Estate Agents and Realtors really expect from the other people in a transaction of buying and or selling properties.
 
Real Estate Agents write tons of stuff.  We have blogs to educate.  Blogs to entertain.  Blogs that are written to network so we have a good referral base, but really what have all these blogs taught everyone?  Why are we still trying to educate people about some of the basics of Real Estate transactions?
 

I am … (35 comments)

Your Desperation is Showing... or Your Rudeness... or Whatever is Prompting Your Action.. - 10:08 PM
Your Desperation is Showing....or Your Rudeness...or Whatever is Prompting Your Action
That is not good.
Remember that desperate people do desperate things...
Rude people do rude things..
Hateful people do hateful things...
but
Kind people do kind things...
Nice people do nice things..
Gracious people do gracious things...
Get the drift...
Our actions speak from our hearts.
I've been reading some blog posts that were entered in one of the contests here on Active Rain. It struck me that the entries that read all had a link in a comment to particular other entry.
Come on.. that's not nice...
Links in … (41 comments)

When was the last time a surgeon reduced their professional fee? - 10:21 PM
When it comes to the topic of negotiating reduced, discounted or lower commissions, I imagine we've heard it all in the last few days right here at Active Rain.  
I just read A FEATURED post in which the blogger stated that it's against licensing laws to give a portion of the commission to anyone who is not licensed in the state of Texas.  There is no such law.  If a broker wants to share their fees with a principal to the transaction OR a broker wants to reduce their fees for their client, it is perfectly legal to do so in Texas.  The agent/blogger said that a recent request by a … (131 comments)

Frankly my dear listing agent, I don't give a damn about your seller - 09:39 PM
 
 
Frankly my dear listing agent, I don’t give a damn about your sellers.  
 
Are we not in a depressed market?  Should we as Agents not be doing back flips when we get an offer on our listings?  Don't we all realize that an offer is just that?  An offer!  I’m not asking you to be happy...just save the lectures.
 
                           
 
I presented you a low offer...you bet I did.  Get over it and let’s counter and get it sold.  I presented you an … (118 comments)

Is there a support group for AR? AR Anonymous, or something? I need help. - 04:41 AM
I begrudgingly entered the unknown world of blogging about 13 days ago.  I felt like an old codger unwilling to buy into "this whole compact disc madness". 
But I opened my shiny blog package for the first time, approached it like a snake that might bite me, and proceeded with the greatest of trepidation.
Blog #2 (#1 was a waste): Wrote it Re-wrote it Edited it Scrapped it Wrote it again. My mouse pointer hovered over the Post Blog Entry for what seemed like a full hour.  I think I felt a droplet of sweat trickle down my neck.  Doubt and fear of … (92 comments)

Are You Giving Up Unearned Runs to Your Competition? - 08:23 AM
In baseball, unearned runs are the runs that a team gives up because they committed an error in the field.  It's a "gift" to the other team for your failure to execute the fundamentals of the sport.  With the Major League Baseball playoffs in full swing :), the Atlanta Braves demonstrated over the last two games against the San Francisco Giants that giving away runs due to poor fielding is the way to eliminate yourself from the game! Our real estate lives can be the same way.  Are you giving your competition unearned runs??  Do you follow up quickly?  Do you … (67 comments)

Fear motivates. Can you scare distressed homeowners into action? Is it ethical or effective? Striking a balance. - 01:04 AM
Fear sells in advertising, that's not up for debate. Fear is a motivator that galvanizes people into action. 
Yet at what point does in become outrageous? 
I saw a mail piece today from a client that in big bold letters admonished homeowners on our 30-60-90 day list that the sheriff will be coming to their door and removing them from the home if they do not act now. The effect was to scream at the homeowner. 
A balance has to be struck, I suppose. You have to build trust and rapport and empathy with a struggling homeowner. Yet a little reasonable … (18 comments)

Personally I am thankful (in a way) for the current market, but probably not the way you would think. - 03:15 PM
Yes I said thankful. No, not because I'm a short sale expert or an REO agent either. My client base is the very people who have lost everything; their jobs & other income, as well as their homes. And don't misunderstand, these are my friends as well as my clients and I do feel horrible for them. In fact, I am one of them. I have felt as big a hit as anybody and hit rock bottom.
On the upside, it turns out that's exactly what I needed to work past my fears and comfort level to doing what it takes … (20 comments)

Cat Fight Blogging- NON GENDER SPECIFIC - Is It Really Professional? - 09:17 PM
  CAT FIGHT BLOGGING and it is not gender specific - catchy name isn't it? It got your attention to read this post. The term came to me this evening while driving home from an appointment thinking about something I read on Active Rain. What on earth is she talking about you are probably asking yourself?
LAST NIGHT in the very very early hours of the morning (You addicted to active rain readers understand this), I was reading the various posts that I would come across that interested me. One in particular was a recent post, maybe an hour old at that time.
As … (58 comments)

Selling Our Own Homes: Are We Worse Than FSBOs? - 10:07 PM
Today, I wrote an offer on a house that is owned by a colleague.  It's a nice place.  New kitchen with granite and stainless.  There are two new bathrooms, wood floors, new carpet in the bedroom.
Even though it's vacant (and not staged, by the way), I had to call for a combo lock box.  Then came a series of calls.  Like about ten each day. 
You know, feedback?  Yeah, my guy sorta kinda likes it.
Then, wanna show it again?  Yeah, maybe.  He'll want his dad to see it. 
How'd dad like it?  Well, not as much as the son.
… (68 comments)

Responding to an Agents Showing Feedback - 09:42 PM
I have a listing that is vacant (only one you ask??) and it was to be shown tonight from 7:30 to 8:30.  I made a special trip over there, not too far from where I live to turn on the lights since it will be dark at 7:30 and to vacuum up the little bugs that always appear by the windows on vacant homes.  I actually carted my own vacuum over there.  Ready to show!
Just received an email at 9:30 that since it was so dark they didn't go into the home.  How would it not occur to the listing agent … (53 comments)


Blog posts


Pacific Coast Lot for Sale for $69,900 - Central America Condos for Sale -Nicaragua Casita for Sale - 04:33 PM
Oceanfront Nicaragua Condos & Casitas … (1 comments)

Bank of America Short Sales - Another Point Of View - 05:19 PM
I know a lot has been said and written about the horrors of a Bank of America Short Sale.  They have also been in the news a lot the past week or so.  I know that Bank of America has earned their reputation.  But my experience with Bank of America short Sales has been the complete opposite.
I had a Bank of America Short Sale listing in Ripon Ca.  I entered all of the information into Equator.com and waited.  And waited.  Finally after getting no response I called the BofA short sale department.  It was then that I was told that since the … (13 comments)

The Tax Code, Snooki, Twitter and Foreclosure Freeze - 01:56 PM
The Tax Code, Snooki, Twitter and Foreclosure Freeze...
Having spent countless hours preparing my taxes over the years or preparing the documentation so that my accountant can prepare my taxes...
And having spent about 2 minutes pondering the popularity of this Snooki character (okay, that's two minutes of wasted life that I'll never get back)...
And having spent countless hours learning how to use Twitter to enhance my business (hours that include reading, watching webinars and taking social networking courses)...
 
 
I have come to the same conclusion regarding the Tax Code, Snooki and Twitter ----
 
I don't understand them!
… (0 comments)

Metro East | St. Clair County Illinois Real Estate, Homes for Sale - 11:35 AM
Our Real Estate Services
We help anyone, from first time buyers to retirees, to find the home that's right for them. See our Buyer's Guide for tools that will help you in your home search, such as our mortgage calculator. Ready to start looking? Search for homes now in the local market, or see our office's Featured Listings.
Are you ready to sell? Check out our Seller's Guide, and get a Free Home Evaluation to find out how much your home is worth on today's market.
To learn more about our services and expertise, please see our About Us page.
… (0 comments)

OFallon IL Homes for Sale, 731 Erics Run OFallon IL 62269 - 11:55 AM
My Bookmarked Listings My Saved Searches Settings Sign Out New Search Property Details Bird's Eye View Get Local Streetview

$254,750 - 731 Erics Run Drive, OFALLON IL Homes for sale
4 Bedrooms 3 Baths 3,175 SQ. Feet 0 Acres BETTER THAN NEW-SUDDEN TRANSFER MAKES THIS 6 MONTH OLD HOME AVAILABLE-PRISTINE CONDITION-OPEN FLOOR PLAN-VAULTED CEILINGS IN GREAT ROOM & MASTER SUITE-LUXURY MASTER SUITE & BATH-UPGRADED CABINETS AND STAINLESS STELL APPLIANCES IN KITCHEN-FINISHED BASEMENT W/BEDROOM, FULL BATH, FAMILY ROOM & OFFICE-FAMILY ROOM IS PLUMBED FOR A WET BAR-BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED YARD-COVERED PATIO-WHY WAIT TO BUILD WHEN ITS ALL DONE ALREADY AND JUST … (0 comments)

When to list as a short sale - 11:09 PM
Here is a very important summary for sellers facing a bankruptcy or considering a short sale, or a myriad of other options that may fit a home sellers situation.
Every state is a little different as to what a seller may face doing a short sale and it's consequences. Certainly a seller should seek legal advice as well as speaking to a qualified short sale Realtor.
Also, it is extremely important that a seller keeps good communication with their lender as well as document each conversation. Be sure to get all of your tax records, pay stubs, dates that your have … (3 comments)

Baltimore Home in the Gardenville Neighborhood 21206 - 12:09 AM
Baltimore Home in the Gardenville Neighborhood 21206 will be on the market or so we thought.
A call from the sellers today: After doing all the odds and ends to get the house ready for sale...they fell in love with their house all over. Not going to sell at this time!
 
Adorable and Affordable Single Family Home in the Baltimore City neighborhood of Gardenville. Large fenced level lush yard for all your organic gardening. Take a look at these tasty raspberries growing along side the pumpkin...all ready for Halloween. I almost ate them all before the picture was taken!
          … (9 comments)

MERS. Who Will Kill The Beast? - 02:00 PM
Hi folks. While cruising around Face Book this morning I found a link posted by Matt Heaton that really helps to explain the beast that is MERS (Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems).
The key points.....in a nut shell are:
* Tax Avoidance. In the mid 1990s Mortgage Bankers set up MERS to avoid paying State and County transfer taxes. All the assignment of mortgages would take place within this shell company so technicallly the owner of record would not change. * "Employees" who really aren't. MERS "owns" 60% of the Nation's mortgages yet has no real employees!! They allow employees of mortgage … (52 comments)

How To Be An REO Listing Agent - 10:10 PM
How To Be An REO Listing Agent
Our market is full of bank and lender owned properties. Short sales come in as a close second. And then we have the "normal" market of seller owned properties. With such an enormous amount of distressed property being sold, the homeowner must price their property to compete. It becomes very hard to sell those properties not labeled as foreclosure or distressed property.
Most of my calls today are people wanting a foreclosure. They don't want to look at a property unless it is a foreclosure where they feel they will get a real "deal" … (6 comments)

Interesting! Sometimes A Gain Is As Good As A Loss When You're On A Diet - 10:05 AM
Five weeks into the healthier eating diet, I've been getting sloppy.  No longer excitedly buying my fruit and vegetables, opting instead for the quick sugar fix, even if it is a better choice than before, I'm losing momentum.  As with so many things in life, our failures can teach us as much as our success if we pay attention.  The little critic who sits perched on my shoulder has been tsk tsking for two weeks now, shaking her head as I reach for the ice cream bar instead of an apple or some grapes.  I was so excited when, with each shopping trip, … (7 comments)

Long Island Real Estate Networking Event - Wildfish, Nautical Mile, Freeport, NY - 08:11 PM
s
With more stress in the local real estate market on Long Island than ever, regularly scheduled networking events are drawing more and more people.  Last night, the once a month meeting sponsored by a group of brokers, mortgage and home inspection professionals, was a huge success.  The venue, Wildfish, a charming seaside restaurant on Guy Lombardo Avenue on Freeport's Nautical Mile, was the perfect backdrop for a relaxing evening with old friends.  With an attentive staff, open vistas, and really good food, this location has become a favorite for the crowd.
"Networking Event - Wildfish, Freeport" Create a free slideshow with Picnik! The weather couldn't have been … (8 comments)

ActiveRain Announces Listings - 09:50 PM
This new Active Rain Feature could bring about excellent potential for SEO of your listings for the benefit of you and your sellers!
Another Google Juice program from the Rain!  Thanks AR!
Via ActiveRain Corp.:
ActiveRain has done it again!  We've added yet another feature to enhance the AR Community.  Members now have the option of posting Listings! 

Here's how:1.  Go to http://activerain.com/action/listings and click New Listing2.  Upload photos, enter the address, description and stats3.  Click Save Listing4.  Click Activate

I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "It can't be that easy can it?"  Yes, my friends it is.  A few … (3 comments)

Good Questions to Ask! - 10:02 PM
 In Jeffrey Gitomer's book, "Little Red Book of Selling," He has some awesome ideas and simple things to make you think.
The secret to formulate a power question is to structure the question that makes them think (and respond).
Whether you are trying to gain a listing or recruit an agent into your real estate office, here are several lead-ins to Power Questions...
"What do you look for...?" "What have you found...?" "How do you propose...?" "What has been your experience...?" "How have you successfully used...?" "How do you determine...?" "Why is that a deciding factor...?" "What makes you choose...?" "What … (10 comments)

Identifying Homes with Acreage on Your Website - 01:37 PM
I will keep this very short and to the point!  There is a significant segment of the home buying population who are specifically looking for homes with land / acreage.  The challenge is that many real estate websites don't have acreage as a search provision.  We have created a listing tag on our website that we use when we enter the listing so that it is listed on our "Homes with Acreage" website pages.  If you click on the "Homes with Acreage" link it will take you directly to all the listings which have an acre or more.  Another great use … (7 comments)

American Savings - 04:56 PM

It's a trend that started decades ago. Even former President Jimmy Carter, in his 1979 "Malaise" speech, warned of its effects if Americans continued on their path.
He said, "In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns."
Yes, more than a handful of Americans are guilty of living beyond their means. The symptom of this fact was never more evident than during the recent … (2 comments)

How To Make Buyers Want Your Home - 05:06 PM


You love your home but when it comes time to sell, you have to share the love. In the other words, you have to make your home be seen in the eyes of potential buyers as their home. That can be tricky.
But if you do some of the basic things such as clearing clutter, creating light, bright, and open space, adding curb appeal, removing personal items (family photos, trinkets), fresh paint, and clean or new carpet -- you'll be on your way to attracting serious buyers. I've written a lot about staging and creating curb appeal so check … (1 comments)

Tips for Great Yards - 06:13 PM

We may not all have been blessed with a green thumb, but thanks to some helpful pointers, growing the garden of our dreams can now be a reality.
A major joy of homeownership can be your yard, where you are able to cultivate your own piece of nature. It says a lot about a home, as well, and by extension you. No matter your taste, there are some simple ways you can make your yard the toast of the neighborhood.
Let's examine a few great tips from the experts.
Tips for watering
Like all other living things, plants need water … (0 comments)

How To Make Your Montgomery Home Inviting To Buyers - 08:00 PM
Although the interior of your home may be lovely, you can't use that fact to your advantage if potential buyers don't come inside to see it. The majority of house shoppers are influenced by first impressions, and, according to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 50% of them make their decision about your Montgomery home before stepping through the door. Ensuring that prospective buyers will want to see more doesn't have to be time-consuming or cost-prohibitive; there are numerous ways to strengthen your home's curb appeal, to capture the interest of buyers, and most likely increase the selling value.
When selling … (1 comments)

Commercial Warehouse Office For Lease Downtown Phoenix - 02:11 AM
This is a phenomenal office and warehouse commercial property for lease in downtown phoenix. This is the best priced office and warehouse space right in the middle of downtown phoenix. you cannot be more centrally located! This commercial warehouse and office space has the space you need to grow your business to the next level. 13,500 square feet, 3 grade level doors, NEW AC, state-of-the-art phone system, security system, and much, much more. 44 cents per sqft per month. 5.33 per sqft per year. 12 parking spots, 7 of which are covered parking spots, a fenced yard, and a possible additional storage yard. The … (0 comments)

Mobile AL Real Estate Market Snapshot - 10/11/2010 - 07:33 AM

Below you will find a table that contains the Market Activity report for October 11, 2010 activity in the Mobile AL Real Estate market according to the Mobile Association of Realtors MLS system.
This information is derived daily directly from the local MLS System. For more free Mobile AL real estate information, reports, and statistics, please visit http://www.GulfRegionProperties.com or http://www.AlabamaBestHomes.com . Please e-mail me or call 251-215-9382 if you would like additional information on any of the listings shown.

Mobile AL Real Estate Market Snapshot 10/11/2010
Single Family Homes and Condominiums
Steve Shaw Gulf Region Properties Team Keller Williams Realty … (1 comments)

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