Archives of real estate blog entries for December 14, 2010 (Page 5)

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Sustainable Dining at Charlottesville University of Virginia - 04:00 PM
Students at the Charlottesville University of Virginia are encouraging the University to make its operations more sustainable. UVa Dining Services (Aramark) is part of the change, and has responded to the demand with the Fine Arts Cafe located in the School of Architecture on the Casteen Arts Grounds. The Fine Arts Cafe aims to source most of its ingredients locally, organically, and humanely. Watch to find out how this got started, what works well, and what students think.
U.Va. Dining Services is a University leader in sustainability, and a new video, produced and directed by graduate architecture students Megan Liddle Gude … (0 comments)

Looking to Recoup Your Home’s Lost Value? It’s not Happening—Ever! - 04:45 PM
I found this very interesting reading and thought you would too. Charlotteville, Virginia is in one of the geographic anomaly areas referred to below. While we have seen considerably less pain than other parts of the country, it has not been pain free.
Increase in value or not, our home provides us with shelter and a whole lot of happiness.  Our log home provides us a great place to live, in a gorgeous area, and that to us is what our home is really about.  Renting would not give us the same satisfaction, home ownership is still our choice, value appreciation or not. We have something to … (0 comments)

Looking to Recoup Your Home’s Lost Value? It’s not Happening—Ever! - 08:45 AM
 
A Maryland homeowner recently told me they wanted to rent their home rather than sell it because they wanted to wait for property values to "come back"...  I couldn't help thinking of them when I saw the title of this blog post by a Georgia REALTOR.
As I mentioned in my comment to this post,"Not Ever" is a long time, but I don't believe we'll see 2005-2006 prices again in our lifetime. 
Please click through to the original post to leave comments.  I've disabled comments on this post as a reminder for you to do that.
 
Via John Mulkey, … (0 comments)

It's 19 Degrees Outside... Do You Know Where Your Clients Are? - 01:03 PM
Are your former clients tucked into their warm beds in the homes you sold them?
Crofton residents awakened this morning to a light snow and frigid temperature of 19 degrees... admittedly nothing compared to many other parts of the country today, but plenty cold.  This cold spell sweeping the nation right now isn't pleasant for anyone, but I can't help thinking of the homeless families out there who don't have a warm bed with layers of blankets, like I do... or even a heated shelter with temporary relief from the cold and blistery wind. 
With so many people losing their homes … (20 comments)

Tips for Applying for a Mortgage - 12:15 PM
Good info! And i firmly believe in getting everything possible at the time of loan application and not needing it, rather than needing it and not having it.
Great Post!
Via Gabe Sanders, Stuart Florida Real Estate (Premier Realty Group):
Tips for Applying for a Mortgage  
How To Apply
In recent years the loan application process has been greatly simplified, however proper information from borrowers is still required. Most lenders today are looking for fully-documented loan applications. This may sound intimidating, however it’s not a big deal. Just take these steps:
At least three months BEFORE you finance or refinance real … (0 comments)

Our future customers are getting spoiled.. - 12:36 PM
Being in the industry for so many years, i've seen the rates fall, rates drop, and I remember sitting at my desk with about 24 floating loans the day the rates jumped 2 points (back in the 90's). I also remember getting my first house at a beautiful fixed rate of 16.25% back in the 80's. Let's face it, the rates are climbing and house values are flat in most areas. People are shopping rates for an extra 1/8th, and many times not taking into consideration the junk fees that offset that 1/8th. People's credit has suffered and somewhere back in … (0 comments)

Times Change - Buyers Change - Listing Agents Have To Change Too! - 09:06 AM
Times Change - Buyers Change - Your Listing Agent Has To Change Too! You've heard the quote, "The only Constant is Change!".  You're not going to get any arguments from us on that point. It's easy to verify.  Look in your closet, how many of those clothes were in style 20 years ago?  How about your hair style?  Flip on the TV, how many of those 436 channels existed 10 years ago?  Your TV was 29" then, you're probably flirting with double that size now! So as times changed, so did real estate.  A long time ago in the land of … (37 comments)

All Aboard the LM&M Railroad's North Pole Express!! - 11:13 PM
All Aboard the LM&M Railroad's North Pole Express!!There's snow on the ground and it's so cold you'd think you were at the North Pole!  Wait, did someone say North Pole??  Doesn't some fat guy in a red suit live up there? You got it, it's time for the Lebanon Mason and Monroe Railroad in downtown Lebanon Ohio to run it's weekend North Pole Express Train. This Saturday December 18, 2010 at 2:30 pm and 4:45 pm, and same times on Sunday December 19th!  The station is located on South Broadway just a block below The Golden Lamb.
You get Santa and … (13 comments)

Encinitas Homes for Sale | Pacific Station New Condos for Sale | December 2010 - 11:13 AM
Encinitas Homes for Sale - Pacific Station New Condos Are Now for Sale  The long-awaited Pacific Station new condos are now for sale in downtown Encinitas CA. 
The Pacific Station condos are the newest homes to hit the Encinitas real estate market.
Anchored by the very popular Whole Foods Market set to open later this year, the Pacific Station mixed used retail/commercial and residential community offers in-town urban living just blocks from the Encinitas beaches, in the midst of dozens of restaurants, a multitude of retailers, and The Coaster (commuter rail) train station 1 block away. 
There are several styles of Pacific Station … (13 comments)

Travel Security and Identity Theft Scams - 01:31 AM
Great article and information to re-blog. Robert ALWAYS has great subjects and excellent details to digest.
Any sharp Active rain member will subscribe to Robert's blog for a continuous flow of good info.
Via Robert Siciliano (Identity Theft Speaker):
Traveling for business or pleasure is hectic, unnerving, not at all glamorous and often draining. Often, we say we need a vacation after a vacation. And when traveling, the last thing you need is to be ripped off. Things to consider:
Hotel Rooms
Hotel rooms are not secure. Just last week I entered a hotel room with somebody else’s stuff laid out on … (2 comments)

Short Sale Fraud and Ethics - 08:52 AM
Miami had the dubious distinction of being one of the top cities for mortgage fraud when mortgage fraud was "the" thing to be doing in real estate.  I am happy to say I never took part in it.
Now comes along Short Sale fraud and we're just scrambling to take first place in that too! 
I am surprised when agents themselves look at me and say, "what is short sale fraud?"  I expect this from a consumer who doesn't make a living selling homes.
Short sale fraud occurs when any of these things happen:
The seller lies about his assets. The … (0 comments)

Agents Aren't The Only Ones That Need to be Ethical - 09:15 AM
I emailed an agent this morning to ask some specific questions about his short sale listing.  To his credit, his response time was great!  But that was the only thing that was.
He replied with:
"Call the number on the brokers remarks, that is the actual owner who is also a realtor.  Since its a short sale they are not allowed to list it so I do them the favor but they are handling it."
I looked at his signature and realized that he was the broker for a very large brokerage in Miami.  I was floored!
This "broker" is so … (9 comments)

Working at Home Isn't So Bad - 03:41 PM
There are many advantages to working at home. I treat this like a job which means I'm in front of the computer working by 9 am and work through the day. If it's a day with no appointments I'm on the computer all day, cell phone and land line next to the computer. The time I save driving I can use to extend my work day (or not).
Today was a work in front of the computer day. We had several inches of snow over the weekend and the roads are icy. The heavy snow fall increased the bird activity in … (6 comments)

31 Day Challenge- Days 13 and 14 - 03:55 PM
Yesterday worked on web site. Also started taking blog posts and pasted to word docs, added contact info and converted to PDF files. I have another couple dozen to do this with then I will add to my web site as reports. The way the site is set up, prospects need to enter their email address and an auto responder sends the report. I get great activity with lake maps. Hopefully will get decent activity with these new reports.
Today our offer was rejected so spent about 5 hours going over new search. We have a problem in this area with … (2 comments)

Information on a Kids Eat Free Web Site - 10:47 AM
I have came across this web site that looks to be pretty nice, if you have kids and want them to eat free. This site http://www.kidsmealdeals.com you can enter your zip code or Town and what day of the week it is and it will give you the places that kids are able to eat free.
I hope everyone has a Great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
… (2 comments)

“A Change is Coming” - New Offer to Purchase Contract - 12:19 PM
“A Change is Coming”

New Offer to Purchase Contract
I’m currently sitting in a meeting, where the NC Real Estate Commission is giving a briefing on the new Offer to Purchase. In my opinion the new contract was definitely needed, finally giving some protection to both the Buyer and Seller. 
The most significant difference is now we have taken out many, many contingencies and additional unnecessary dates and making it simple.  One date for a “Due Diligence” period, which the buyer pays for this period directly to the seller.  Buyer can now get all inspections, repairs agreement and financing … (0 comments)

Singer Island Market Report 12/06-12/12/2010 - 09:52 AM
Singer Island Market Report 12/06-12/12/2010
 
 These Statistics are compiled by using data from the Regional MLS.
For more information on this area and its listings:Singer IslandSinger Island Real Estate Website
Kathy Lewellen561-676-6333Kathy@Ocean30.comOcean 30 MarketingQuantum One RealtySinger Island Specialistwww.Singer-Island-Real-Estate.com
… (0 comments)

$1.4mil **To Be Built** Ridgewood, NJ Homes, Properties & Real Estate For Sale - 12:39 PM
… (0 comments)

Mortgage Market Weekly – Mortgage Rate Forecast – December 14, 2010 - 08:58 AM
I just realized I never uploaded this week’s Mortgage Market Weekly, so here it is, with one addition if you are interested.  For those looking for a quick summary, here it is…brief up, followed by the next leg down just like we have been seeing.  In simpler terms, no change expected.  Check out the bottom for a quick viewpoint and a link to a video worth watching.
WEEK IN REVIEW
In case you don't remember what I said last week, I summarized it as another week where we would see mortgage backed securities rise some, then resume their downtrend.  Well, that … (0 comments)

31 Days of December: Days 13 and 14 - 01:14 PM
Day 13:  I had broken a tooth over the weekend so half of Day 13, Monday, was spent at the dentist office going through the procedure for a crown.  Being numb, I didn't feel like much so I went through my listings on Zillow and added virtual tours and did some updating.  There were two showings on one of my listings.
Day 14:  Worked from the office for a few hours, checked with the mortgage broker on two ongoing transactions, met with the future tenant for one of my rental listings, then checked with the title company on a transaction that is closing tomorrow.  Got … (6 comments)

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