Archives of real estate blog entries for December 22, 2011

Featured blog posts


ActiveRain 2011 Review and a Look Ahead to 2012 - 01:09 PM
Happy Holidays ActiveRain! 
As ActiveRain is getting ready for the holidays and New Year, I thought it would be useful for me personally to jot down some notes on what we have accomplished at ActiveRain and talk openly about some of our challenges.  Hopefully, we will be able to address many of the challenges in 2011.
As many of you know, 2011 has been an eventful year for me personally and for ActiveRain.  I started in April of 2011 at the same time, ActiveRain was facing significant technology and business challenges.  Prior to April 2011, ActiveRain.com would be down for extended … (77 comments)

When You Get a Referral, and You Agree to Pay a Percentage... Is it Forever? - 04:14 PM
I was recently given a referral for an investor from my Transaction Coordinator.  Their kids go to school together and the investor knows that my TC works in Real Estate.  My TC, who is a licensed agent,  has been very busy by the work I have been doing with other investors...and I am pleased that he is confident in my abilities and skills working with investors.
Today I received a detailed list of criteria from this investor-- who has gathered other buyers to form an LLC-- regarding their search for properties.  They are seeking REO's, distressed, fixers, to rehab-- some to … (97 comments)

Should My Short Sale Seller Pay HOA? - 09:51 AM
Dear Melissa: 
I am representing a seller in a short sale. This seller has stopped making mortgage payments because she does not have much money. She lost her job. She wants to know if she can also stop making payments on the HOA dues. What should I tell her? --Confused in SoCal
 
Dear Melissa: 
It is often best not to advise clients as to how they should manage their finances—especially with respect to a short sale. That being said, the HOA in the state of California can cause terrible trouble in a short sale.
As you know, I am not an … (63 comments)

An Open Letter to Jamie Dimon - CEO J. P. Morgan Chase - 11:31 AM
                                                                Cornerstone Business Group, Inc.                                                                             P.O. Box 1864                                                                       Winchester, VA 22604                                                                             540-722-6029    December 22, 2011Mr. James DimonChief Executive OfficerJ. P. Morgan Chase270 Park Avenue, Manhattan,New York City, New YorkDear Mr. Dimon:I hope you and your family are preparing for a wonderful holiday celebration.  It is a magical time of year.  The Christmas season is a time when excitement and hope rise in the hearts of people.  The freshness of cool winter air and the sounds of Christmas music abound.  Children wait in great anticipation for the 25th to arrive with the promise of presents and family and hours of laughter and … (85 comments)

"The Staff that Stole Blogging" - 12:27 PM
A Christmas Tale about the ActiveRain Headquarters Holiday Hours We here at ActiveRain are about to leave you…. just for a week.We will be closing down our office from Friday, December 23 at 5pm PST to Tuesday, January 3 at 9am PST.  During this time, we won't be answering our phones or emails.  If you are having trouble, a great resource is activerainuniversity.com, which has great troubleshooting tips along with tutorial videos.If you have a time-sensitive issue that just can’t wait, fill out the contact form at the very bottom every page on the website (or simply click here) and we … (106 comments)

Sorry. You Need Your Agent To Call For Showing Instructions! - 10:14 AM
Recently, I was sitting on my adjustable, vibrating, craftmatic, tempurpedic bed enjoying my morning coffee and "working" on ActiveRain, when my phone rang. I answer...."Good morning Tutas Towne Realty, this is Broker Bryant your local area Real Estate expert, how can I help you on this beautiful sunny Florida morning?" Well, maybe I didn't say EXACTLY that, but it was close.
 
Anyway, a very pleasant lady on the other end starts asking me about one of my listings. She said she was a Buyer, so I answered her questions about my listing and then asked her if she was … (113 comments)

Lead Conversion P90X Style! Plus Bonus 9-9-9 Plan. - 02:07 AM
3) Email them. Obvious, but try to pull out 3 or 4 listings and say: "Can you tell me what you think about these? Can I set up email alerts for you to get alerts for similar homes to these, or shall I adjust the search to another area or price range."
Keep it short and sweet!
(Sidenote email tip, CLEAN UP YOUR EMAIL HEADERS!! Read my post on this. So your from looks like a Realtor and not a high school buddy)
4) Send a postcard!
If you reverse searches the number and found a home address, have a stack … (51 comments)

If it sells too quickly it was UNDER-PRICED to begin with! Pricing your home to sell! - 02:18 PM
If it sells too quickly it was UNDER-PRICED to begin with! Pricing your home to sell!
This is what my seller said to me yesterday when discussing his price point.  I said "Excuse me?" & he repeated it, nodding his head up and down.  I quickly thought of my most logical response to this myth & said "What do you feel is a reasonble amount of time on the market before it sells?" "Well, I don't know" he said "but under 10 day's is too short!"
I quickly went into the process of selecting a price. 
First, I talked about our competition, our competition … (67 comments)

The Good O Days According to Papa - 08:44 PM
Before my Grandfather passed away he had a saying "people talk about the good o days, I tell you what the good o days are now".
He grew up through the great depression in a home with no electricity, no running water, the rest room was a out house they heated with wood that they had to chop for them-self. He would work in the fields from daylight to dark for ten cents a day. He had a mule to pull the plow. All the crops were picked by hand. The only meet they had was what they raised or shot … (28 comments)

Listing Appointment must have tool..the Reality Hammer. - 09:41 AM
Every one of us that go on Listing Appointments has a tool kit.  Each of our kits has something unique to us.  There's the standard list of things...
1.  Your personal information
2.  What I can do for my Seller to produce a CLOSING for them.
3.  Company credentials
4.  Comps, Comps, Comps..
5.  Personal items to you..here's my personal tool-The Reality Hammer.
 
What exactly is a Reality Hammer?  It's a small, light weight..actually completely weightless, invisible to my clients' eyes..hammer.  Clawtooth of course, and I know mine has a pink handle.  I had to use it yesterday..
Seller: "I … (35 comments)

A day at HQ - ActiveRain, and I almost fried my noodle! - 09:49 PM
A day at HQ, and I almost fried my noodle!
So here I am in Arizona blogging like a madman having multiple successes with my Blogging, Blarming, and overall Google Dominance, when i decide hmmmm - maybe I had better see for myself what this stange virus called Activerain is for myself. So one plane, car and hotel booked I show up on Activerain's doorstep like cousin Eddie from the Griswald's.
So after fighting for a parking spot in the trendy "loft" district, that Amazon has bought up for its continued global expansion. I arrive at the mecca for blogging. Once … (44 comments)

People Who Take Responsibility Earn Respect - 08:59 PM
  
Motivational Power Quote
 
People Who Take Responsibility Earn Respect   
“Those who enjoy responsibility usually get it,
those who merely like exercising authority usually lose it .”
Malcolm S. Forbes, American Businessman    
 
 
As I see it . . . . . . .
 
People who take responsibility earn respect
 
Responsibility can come in many forms. There are those who step up and take reasonability for their decision and the results.  They will stand strong in their success and face their setback with the courage that it will take to bounce back.
 
There are those that … (38 comments)

Buyers Have the Right to their Own Representation - 05:37 PM
Buyers Have the Right to their Own Representation
There have been a couple of blogs recently - and one not so recently - that I have been meaning to re-blog.  They all deal with agency issues, disclosure & the right to buyer representation.  Rather than re-blogging each one, I decided to tie them all together in one blog post.  Please read the original posts.  They are all excellent.

Most recently, there was Carol Ann Palmieri's It Is Always Your Choice Who to Use as Your Realtor where Carol tells of a "friend" who emailed her to apologize because she was buying … (33 comments)

ActiveRain Holiday Greeting Card Contest WINNERS!!!!! - 06:38 PM
The Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul group holds an annual Holiday contest and the ActiveRain Holiday Greeting Card Contestwas a huge success!  Members chose from variety of Holiday Greeting themes for clients, peers and anyone included in our long list of those involved in the Real Estate Industry.
It is always my pleasure to host the contests and to keep all the links together but with almost 80 entries for this contest the Judges had a VERY hard time picking from all the wonderful cards!  The creativity for the cards along with their ‘greetings’ and a short story on why … (55 comments)

Accompanied Showings In Real Estate Don't Create Sales - 11:34 AM
Original article source: Accompanied Real Estate Showings
For those that do not live and breath selling Real Estate every day you may not realize what the term “accompanied showing” means. This little piece of Real Estate jargon is when the buyers agent is required to meet the listing agent when showing a home or other property.
When I am getting ready to schedule all the properties I am going to show for a particular day the last thing I want to see in the showing instructions is that the listing agent has to be present so please coordinate your schedule accordingly. … (95 comments)

It is ALWAYS your Choice Who To Use As Your Realtor - 09:05 AM
It is ALWAYS your Choice Who To Use As Your Realtor
I received an email today from someone I care deeply about.     She tells me that she is sorry.   She saw a home on line, and sent an email inquiring about an open house.    The broker was at the property and why doesn't she come on down.    Well, they did, and needless to say fell in love with it.   
Her email told me that she had to move quickly and prequalify through the listing agents mortgage people or they would lose the home.    They are signing P&S today.   
She tells me … (50 comments)

Employment RESIDENCY Requirements For Municipal New-Hires CO$TS Residents! - 06:15 AM
The City of Charlottesville hired a new City Manager over a year ago.  Their new-hire lives in the county of Albemarle with his wife and 3 small children * all boys.  When he was hired, he signed an employment agreement that required him to relocate and live in the City.
They listed their beautiful, rural home for sale and got very little activity because they had purchased the home originally at $390,000 and it is NOW worth $317,000.
According to the linked article, the City Council still wants him to move into the City and is agreeing to a $90,000 DOWN … (16 comments)

31 Days of December Challenge-On Days 21 & 22 Look What Active Rain Blogging Got For Me - 12:55 PM
After a few phone calls, some emails and a rather scary looking legal document I'll have a new blogging assignment starting in January.  The Washington Post has for years had a column in the Saturday Real Estate Section called "Where We Live."  I've had the good fortune to be interviewed and quoted in the section a few times over the years.  Now the Washington Post is taking the section on-line and has asked a few local bloggers to become their eyes and ears on the streets.  I'm fortunate to be one of them.  My "beat" is Northern Virginia and Prince William … (64 comments)

If a post falls in the Rain... and nobody comments... - 10:59 AM
Charles Buell wrote an interesting post this morning... (or at least it was featured this morning, I have no idea when he wrote it), bemoaning (as an advocate for newbies) how to get your voice heard.  He entitled it, as only Charles can do, "How come nobody knows I exist?  I have something to say, too!"
It's a good question.  As a newbie, you kinda find your way around Active Rain blindly, hands out in front of you, feeling your way around.  You see lots of interesting blog posts... some of the freakin' brilliant... some of them lame as hell.  Some … (116 comments)

Why Are Agents Sending Traffic Away From Their Web Site? - 07:15 AM
I’m puzzled and perplexed.
After having spent a lot of time and effort over the past six months to drive traffic TO my business web site and blogs, I’m puzzled to see so many agent web sites driving traffic AWAY.
I’ll get to the point.  Just about every coach, consultant, teacher, professor and crackpot who preaches the art of web commerce says that sites should be easy to find and sticky.  The goal is to create a web presence that attracts and retains loyal fans who visit the site regularly, use the tools provided on it, refer others to the site, … (158 comments)

How come nobody knows I exist---I have something to say too! - 09:11 AM
I have been thinking of writing this post for some time.I have tried to come up with some way to write it that would not seem self serving.I finally gave up and decided to write the post anyway---throwing caution to the wind.  It is an idea that I think is important for those that are new to ActiveRain.I suspect that Newbies often have trouble figuring out how to navigate their way through the maze of puddles and streams here in the rain---I know I did, and it wasn't as complicated back when I started.  One puddle to jump into is making … (69 comments)


Blog posts


Global International or USA - Buyer Wants Off Market Commercial Income Properties - 07:34 PM
"BUYER WANTS"; OFF MARKET Commercial Income properties … (0 comments)

December 2011 Blogging Challenge Day 22 - 10:41 PM
 
December 2011 Blogging Challenge Day 22 ~  Real Estate in Southern New Hampshire.
 
It is another beautiful day in Southern New Hampshire. We had a bit of rain overnight, but that’s ok.. I didn’t have to shovel it!  On the other hand, it looks like tonight is THE night.. S--W!  Time to get out the shovels. It will be nice to have a bit of snow before x-mas.
     I spent the morning organizing some files in my home office. I am continuing to work on my business planning... I’m getting close to the end.  Now, I have to figure … (9 comments)

Awesome Round Rock Neighborhoods - 09:53 AM
Round Rock, a city just north of Austin, has quickly grown into Austin’s largest suburb.  It has become one of the favorite destinations for people moving to the Austin area.  In 2009, Round Rock was one of the fastest growing cities in the country and the estimated population in 2010 was almost 100,000.One of the reasons for Round Rock’s popularity has been affordable homes.  A large number of ranches were sold to developers and many very nice master-planned communities sprung up.  The land was relatively inexpensive and development costs were not as much as other parts of the Austin area. Round … (1 comments)

Austin Luxury Neighborhood Update – December, 2011 - 05:53 PM
People not from Austin might be a little surprised to find so many very high end neighborhoods here.  If you stop and think a bit, it makes perfect sense that Austin would have some very expensive areas.One reason is the kind of city Austin is.  It is a tech city and a lot of people have made a great deal of money from tech start-ups.  There are also some very highly paid executives at places like Dell, Trilogy, National Instruments and the like.  Another reason is the incredible Hill Country and the area lakes.  There are some over the top Lake … (2 comments)

7014 Deerfield Rd. Pikesville MD 21208 Colonial Village - 08:01 PM
7014 Deerfield Rd. Pikesville MD 21208  Colonial Village
 
Thanks to Bridget McGee for posting this to her special site.  Click to see more information on Deerfield.
 
LOADING   Home Page Payment Info Find Out More Print Brochure Home Rome Realty : Baltimore MD : 410-530-2400 Design & Contents Copyright © 2011 - All rights reserved - Data last updated: 12-22-11 at 6:42 Translate to: -- language -- English Spanish Chinese Japanese Korean French German Italian Portuguese The broker, seller, builder, and/or developer does not guarantee the accuracy of information such as square footage, lot size, architectural images, or other … (9 comments)

Sorry. You Need Your Agent To Call For Showing Instructions! - 10:14 AM
Recently, I was sitting on my adjustable, vibrating, craftmatic, tempurpedic bed enjoying my morning coffee and "working" on ActiveRain, when my phone rang. I answer...."Good morning Tutas Towne Realty, this is Broker Bryant your local area Real Estate expert, how can I help you on this beautiful sunny Florida morning?" Well, maybe I didn't say EXACTLY that, but it was close.
 
Anyway, a very pleasant lady on the other end starts asking me about one of my listings. She said she was a Buyer, so I answered her questions about my listing and then asked her if she was … (113 comments)

Boise State Broncos Play in the Maaco Bowl tonight - 06:13 PM
After a four-year run our seniors are at 49-3 (94% winning percentage).  They are playing tonight in the Maaco Bowl in Las Vegas and we hope to extend that record to 50-3.
Our quarterback, Kellen Moore has the highest percentages in college football but gets overlooked because he plays for a smaller university in Boise, Idaho.  We hope you will all tune in to ESPN tonight at 6 pm Mountain Standard Time and watch a great game with Arizona State University.
Thanks for the great games you have shared with us, the fans. Go Boise State!
… (0 comments)

Because...It's All About the Party....December Challenge Day 22 - 07:11 AM
  Today we are invited to two holiday open houses...party, party, party.  One of my "Life-isms" is that you envision the success, SELLABRATION, party....you have when the listing closes, the short sale is approved, the goal whatever it is...is reached....and keep your eye, heart and soul on that goal...and the party is the result !
   These parties are of allied businesses and we are bringing signature desserts...tiramisu and strawberry Santas....and along with them we are also bring Hanson Claus's bag of imprinted items. If you have not used ad specialties as an integral part of your marketing program...you are missing...an … (6 comments)

Lot For Sale at the Apple Valley Lake at 124 Apple Valley Subdivision - 12:29 AM
124 Apple Valley Subdivision lot for sale at the Apple Valley Lake.
You can also view and compare all of our available lots for sale at the Apple Valley Lake.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  AppleValleyOhio.com
… (4 comments)

Mount Vernon Ohio Fairgrounds Road Home Just SOLD by the Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty - 04:06 PM
The Sam Miller Team of Re/Max Stars Realty has done a great job this year of getting homes sold and placing buyers in just the right properties at incredible interest rates. visit www.BuyInKnoxCountyOhio.com for extensive information and beautiful virtual tours!
Via Sam Miller - Knox County Ohio (RE/MAX Stars Realty):
Real estate and especially home sales are strong in Mount Vernon Ohio and the 4th quarter may prove to be one the healthiest in years.  The low interest rates and the excellent inventory of available homes are both helping fuel the recent increase in home sales activity.  If you are in the market … (0 comments)

What Does Your Realtor® Want Out Of The Deal? - 04:18 PM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Associate of The Fiddler Realty Team in Mission Viejo, CA could not have said it better. My niche is primarily working for Buyer's and my business is largely based on referrals. My primary goal is ALWAYS my client's best interest. I keep that in mind and in the end everyone is happy!
Via Karen Fiddler, Broker/Realtor, Mission Viejo ((949)510-2395,The Fiddler Realty Team/eVantage Real Estate):
 
I'm not a monk, nor a priest, nor a volunteer, nor any of the many other people who take a vow of poverty.....I'm a Realtor®. This is how I make my living and I don't … (2 comments)

Thursday For Knowledge with Charles Stallions: two great post about ATTITUDES - 09:29 AM
Thursday For Knowledge with Charles Stallions: two great post about ATTITUDES. Sometimes in life it is all about as my wife says your glass being half full or half empty. I found through my search today two very good post that may help with that. Enjoy!!
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2655107/boost-positive-attitudes-its-much-better-than-the-alternative
 
Christopher Pataki Hockessin Delaware Real Estate
 

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2641036/pay-it-forward-small-acts-of-kindness-in-the-shopping-mall

 

Kristi DeFazio is a Realtor in Colorado Springs

Buyers are taking advantage of our Smooth Move Program at closing, Choose between 1% Cash Back,  1 years taxes paid, 1 years insurance paid, Free Home Warranty and Use of our Moving … (3 comments)

Nashua Short Sales- Short sales and You - 09:17 PM
Nashua Short Sales and You  
If you owe more on the home than you may possibly sell it for then you are what's called "underwater" onto your home. This is never safe. But it's not the final of the world. In a very frustrating situation like this that you have two options:
Market it for whatever you can find for it Wait it out there until home prices rewind up Surely, if you can, waiting can cost you less. If you can maintain the payments until sales turns around then it is a best thing to do. That way … (1 comments)

Local "Pollenating" Around Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley, AZ Small Businesses - 03:13 PM
Local "Pollenating" Around Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley, AZ Small Businesses
This year, realizing how critically important it is to support our Bullhead City and Fort Mohave AZ local businesses, we're making a concerted effort to patronize as many locally owned small businesses as possible during this holiday season.
This is a super fun thing, actually.
The objective was to circulate our money where it can directly benefit the local economy.
Here are some of the Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley AZ area businesses we've visited and purchased goods or services from this month:
Tri-Tech Lube, … (3 comments)

Approved short sale $58K 2 bedroom townhome in a resort neighborhood - 11:09 PM
Resort living in Ocala … (1 comments)

Thanks For Your Hardwork - My 2011 Gainesville Real Estate Team - 10:02 AM
As the 2011 year comes to an end, I want to sincerely thank the other professionals here in Gainesville that are part of my team for Gainesville real estate services.
My primary goal to clients is provide total satisfaction and personalized service for their real estate needs in Gainesville Florida.  To accomplish success with each of our clients, we need a strong team for all the aspects of their real estate transaction.  Whether you are a buyer or a seller in Gainesville FL, my team is ready to be part of a smooth, successful real estate transaction.
Thanks to Jacques Guitton at A+ Home Repair LLC.   His company has been … (0 comments)

Where in the World is Walhalla??? - 01:37 PM
Where in the world is Walhalla SC, just in case you need a map Santa we are in the Northwest corner of South Carolina and are the county seat of the Golden Corner of South Carolina (Oconee County). Our little town has a Main Street you will not miss.  People come from all over just to ride down our Main Street (and cruising is allowed so you can make more than one trip without fearing our fearless city police).  Our city works for days to put up all our decorations and they will not take them down till after the first … (1 comments)

Embrace the goodness - 03:12 PM
Today, life is more beautiful and meaningful than it has ever been. Right now, the possibilities for richness and fulfillment are greater than at any other time.
Whatever may seem to have been lost has not really been lost. For the beauty and wonder of it all are still very much alive in your heart.
The frustrations and disappointments are possible only because you are certain of how very good life can be. Life’s goodness is real, and there is no end to how much of that goodness you can continue to create.
Love is your true nature. The more love … (2 comments)

Stuart Florida Market Report ZIP Code 34994 – Condo, November 2011 - 07:03 AM
Stuart Florida Market Report ZIP Code 34994 – Condo, November 2011
Stuart Real Estate Snapshot for ZIP Code 3499, Condo Sales for November 2011
For November, 2011 in the 34994 Zip Code area of Stuart, Florida :
 
There are currently 146 active condo listings (Up 11 from October).


 
35 Condo sales are pending and awaiting close or lender approval. (Up 4 from last month)
 
10 Condos Sold in November (Down 11 units from October).
Unlike the residential market in Martin County, Florida, the Stuart condo market for the area in ZIP code 34994 ontinues to show some weakness.  While inventory … (4 comments)

Day 22: 2011 December Blogging Challenge - 08:03 PM
Day 22: 2011 December Blogging Challenge Working on my business plan for 2012.  Unfortunately my long time partner has decided to lessen her work load and leave our firm and I will miss her.  I currently have help from a couple of other agents, but it’s just not the same.  I’m currently looking for a permanent replacement.  If you know any one that’s an excellent agent and willing to work hard, please have them call me. … (0 comments)

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