Archives of real estate blog entries for February 16, 2011

Featured blog posts


The Beauty of a Short Sale in Temecula Valley, California - 04:14 AM
The Beauty of a Short Sale in Temecula Valley, CaliforniaThere are benefits for a homeowner to complete a short sale of their home, rather than walk away and let it go to foreclosure.  As with anything, there are downsides. The disadvantages of a short sale should be weighed against what the homeowner will save in the long term.The beauty of a short sale:1.    Save credit, avoid foreclosure, be able to buy a home in less than 2 years2.    Get out from under mortgage payments no longer can afford3.    Homeowner doesn’t pay real estate commissions, lender does4.    No deficiency … (23 comments)

FHA MIP Increase - 07:40 AM
FHA MIP Increase This week, February 14, I announced an increase in the Mortgage Insurance premium at FHA in the amount of .25% per year. It is important for all to at least understand the reason. I know there may be many responses to this, and I will be unable to respond, but I do think it important for all to understand the obligation.  FHA has suffered greatly from originated loans in years 2006-2008 and fortunately due to the changes we have implemented in the past two years since I was sworn in, we have managed to avoid external intervention into … (42 comments)

What's in Your Brochure Box? - 09:53 AM
What's in your brochure box?  Do you make custom, color brochures for your listings so they stand out when perspective buyers are driving through the neighborhood pulling flyers?
Let me first start by saying that I think it is very important to have outside flyers at a listing and to make sure the box is never empty.  This is such great exposure for the home and the agent.  And - it's so easy!
I use Sharper Agent for some of our flyers but, for those homes that I need a custom brochure, I use Microsoft Publisher. 
There are so many tools … (54 comments)

ActiveRain MasterMinds - February 2011 - What are some of our strongest issues related to appraisals, and how do we solve them? - 09:35 AM
ActiveRain MasterMinds - February 2011 - What are some of our strongest issues related to appraisals, and how do we solve them?
OK, MasterMind Groups.
We had a GREAT inaugural month in January, and there is alot of buzz surrounding this group!
Time for your next challenge.
Here is the challenge for February, 2011:

 
Your team's solutions must be posted HERE on this blog post no later than March 1st, 9pm Pacific Time in order for the team to be assigned the bonus points.
Also, you must list each team member WITH their headshot in your post as well.
… (31 comments)

Is Your Property Stigmatized? - 12:30 AM

When we put our homes on the market, we all want two things: for the home to sell fastand for the most money possible. We start the selling process with such hope however when a home doesn’t sell or develops a stigma, sellers are often confused and unable to figure out what to do next.
What creates a stigma? What makes a property sit and sit on the market, generating few if any visits and absolutely no offers? Well, I feel its all about denial. Denial about price.Denial about the appearance of the home. And let’s face it, denial can cost a seller a … (34 comments)

Condos, Co-ops and Townhomes What's the Difference - 05:53 PM
Glenn Roberts | Ravenna Park | My Seattle | Lake & Co Real Estate
 
Condominiums, Co-ops and Townhouses
What’s the Difference?

I'll be meeting with a new referred buyer this Saturday and he said on the phone that he is looking for a condominium or a townhome on Capaitol Hill. It occurred to me that he may not know the important differences.
Although the terms are often confused, knowing the difference before you buy is an important discovery step before you make an offer on a home.Condominium is a legal term and most states have laws governing how they … (36 comments)

List To Last? Or Is There More Than One Way To Skin That Cat? - 09:38 AM
I know.  I know.  Your broker is telling you "List to last!"  You are spending your time prospecting for FSBO's and expired listings, and you are trying to get a strong foot hold in your  geographic farm.  And none of this is a bad thing.  Not at all.
But listing, while it's important, isn't the only way to make a living in the strange markets we are seeing around the country.
Perhaps it's because I came into real estate during a really "awful" market.  Interest rates were just starting to come down from an all time high of around 18%, and … (68 comments)

FOUR WAYS UTILIZING SHORT SALES TIME FRAMES BENEFIT BUYERS - 10:06 AM
BUYERS 4 REASONS WHY TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE IN ST. CLOUD FLORIDA SHORT SALES
Short sales can take a little time to navigate through the channels. As a home buyer this time is an advantage to you for the following reasons:
1) It affords you the oppportunity to saVe additional money. Over the period of a couple of months, that could be really helpful in decorating your new home.
2) It gives you time to plan your move. Efficiently and effectively.
3) It provides an opportunity to plan in advance the changes you want to make to your home, placement … (18 comments)

Celebrating Four Years On ActiveRain - 10:06 AM
It was February of 2007 when I wrote my first Blog post here on ActiveRain.  Hardly seems like four years could have gone by this quickly.  I realized today that all the time and information I have contributed here is pale in comparison to all that I have learned and the relationships I have made.  As I looked at the numbers, reviewed the stats, counted subscribers and analyzed traffic, it really hit me.  Even after all the posts and thousands of hours I've spent here, it all boils down to one really important thing for me...
ActiveRain Is ALL about creating … (81 comments)

Technology is not always on your side - 01:01 PM
Folks, as much as love my iPhone and the ability to multi-task all day long through emails, text messages and 4-way conference calls....I think we are in a trend that will hurt us more than help us. I wish we could all rewind 10 yrs and observe the people we all thought were “out of control” busy back then. I guarantee they would all seem average in performance and capacity today. It’s not that they were different people..rather they had less technology around them that allowed for all this instant connectivity we experience now. So what is my point you might … (44 comments)

MERS MORTGAGES CAN'T BE FORECLOSED - FEDERAL JUDGE RULES - 09:28 AM
In a federal bankruptcy court decision in the influential Eastern District of New York, Judge Robert Grossman explained in a 37 page decision in In re: FERREL L. AGARD, Case No. 810-77338-reg that MERS must have specific powers from its "principal" to transfer the mortgage and promissory note, and that the transfer of the mortgage by MERS does not automatically also transfer the promissory note it secures.
Borrower attorneys nationwide have called suspect the practice of the splitting of the promissory note from the mortgage using the MERS concept of "nominee" and "mortgagee of record". MER'S "... argues that any member/lender which holds … (26 comments)

You say no one is calling you back !!! COME ON REALTORS - 04:52 PM
It truly is a shame that every week I get phone calls from frustrating people looking for a realtor to help them in their search. I keep hearing the same thing over and over again.
 
They don't call back.
They don't do what they say they will do.
They don't provide me with what I want.
They dont' do what I ask.
They let me down.
 
What a sad situation this becomes when many clients are not having their calls returned, or emails answered. Many of these people are serious buyers or will be. To me each client is … (81 comments)

The "R" logo ... a badge of shame? - 09:10 AM
So I peruse Inman News this morning.  For the uninitiated, Inman News is one of the trade publications covering the real estate industry.  One of their top writers, Matt Carter shared that the NAR has been "cooking the books" to create the illusion that the market is better than it really is.  The NAR (the National Association of Realtors) has always offered information with a overly positive spin.  Real Estate agents have had to overcome questionable advertising done the by the NAR for years.  A case in point, as homes across the country were falling into foreclosure and the facts were … (41 comments)

What is your “effective” age? - 10:36 AM

What is your “effective” age? 
 
I don’t know about the rest of the world, but here at the coast, tax assessments and appraisals list two ages for houses.  The “Actual” and the “Effective” age.  I’ve seen homes where the effective age is ten to twenty years younger than the actual age and I’ve seen those where the effective age is ten to twenty years older due to neglect or lack of updates.  
 
What about you?  Is your effective age older or younger than your actual age?  I was born in 1950 so my actual age is … (29 comments)

Would Sellers Trade Paying a Commission for Billable Hours? - 11:27 PM
Rob Hahn has written an extremely thought provoking piece on the role that broker commissions play in the pricing of real estate. It isn't what I originally thought when I read the title- I was expecting a "commission is just a markup" but it wasn't about that at all. It did get me to wonder aloud, however, if there is a seller out there that would, in exchange for no commission, retain a broker and then just pay billable hours until the house sold. 
I am in the field. Rob's article is eye opening. If I were to charge $X per … (55 comments)

Say what you mean, and mean what you say... - 03:55 PM
"Say what you mean, and mean what you say"...pretty simple concept I've always thought. ;-)
The market is heating up in San Francisco, and (at least for the moment) it seems as though there are more buyers than there are properties to show.  I don't how long that will last, but you know the old saying, "when it rains, it pours".  So, when the market shifts, we (as agents) must shift with it.  Our strategic presence and our actions need to correspond accordingly.  That being said, I recently acted quickly in getting an appointment to show my clients a condo unit … (58 comments)

My Photos are Not Free for Your Use - 11:34 AM
Dear Listing Agent:
 
Congratulations on your new listing that I saw added to the MLS. As you probably know, I listed and sold that property last year. I am sure you know this, as your listing contains my prior listing photos.
Just to be clear: the photos you have on your website and in the MLS were taken by me. They are not free for your use. I work hard to photograph the very best shots and your use of them actually is "stealing" my work.
I did contact your broker, but received no response. 
Therefore I filed a complaint … (152 comments)

Email Question: Does Size Matter? - 12:17 AM
First...get your mind out of the gutter...next this comes up quite often on listing appointments when a seller says "but my home is way nicer then the neighbor across the street...and they got way more then $$$$$ for it!!!!!"
The Question:
Hello Jeffrey,
We have decided to use you as our Realtor. We do have a question: we interviewed six Realtors besides you and they all told us the the home across the street was worth more then ours. The only reason you all say that is because it is about 500 feet larger. Our home is much nicer and has … (36 comments)

Unintentional Brilliance - 10:59 AM
It was totally unintentional.  I really did not mean to do it, but this mistake turned out to be a bit of a gold mine.
When I work my list of leads from United Country, I generally send as much info as I can without bogging down the customer's inbox.   First, I should explain the definition of these "leads" - they are people who have contacted the home office for more information about property that they desire in Colorado.
COULD BE ANYWHERE in Colorado....
So I work them, email them, call them when I have a phone number to see if … (75 comments)

How To Tell if The Listing Agent Is More Motivated Than The Seller - 04:57 PM
1. While you are showing the property the LA calls you to make sure you got in okay. In reality they are hoping you say.. "offer coming, or something like that"
2. When you call to schedule the showing they immediately call you to tell you how beautiful the home is and how they can't wait to work with you. They call you little names like "hun, baby, darling and badass"
3. While showing the listing you trip over one of those little statues the agent has buried in the yard for faster selling.
4. When you do submit the offer … (59 comments)

5 Tips on Dealing with Realtors Who Are "Jerks" - 12:09 AM
You just received an offer on your listing.  Yippeee!  The other agent didn't tell you to watch for it and you've never even heard of this Realtor, but that's ok.  You got an offer!    So, you call the other Realtor to let him know that you received his offer and that you will be presenting it to your clients tonight.   Then......The Jerk speaks.   He is full of bluster and bologna and you recognize his type immediately. 
Never fear!  I have worked with many of these Jerks or Jerkettes over the years (as I'm sure many of you have) and your first … (362 comments)


Blog posts


TX Real Estate - Business for Sale TX - USA Hotel for Sale - Business for Sale in TX - 06:14 PM
Texas Hotel for Sale for $3,500,000 - Renovated in 2010 … (0 comments)

Custom Map for Ann Arbor Michigan - 06:09 PM
We are in the process now of completing the programming for Steve Wicklands custom site built on Word Press that has the same branding! This was a very fun map to work with. Steve will own all of this, the only way to go! CLICK HERE :: Custom Map for Steve Wickland

 
Cherie Young www.CherieYoung.comwww.BeautifulCustomMaps.com
… (0 comments)

HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Pittsburg California 94565? - 05:43 PM
HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Pittsburg California 94565?
Every month I prepare detailed reports on Short Sales in Pittsburg California 94565.  If you want more details on the Short Sale market reports or other market reports in Pittsburg California 94565 or other markets you can e-mail me directly. 
The numbers on Short Sales go up and down some from month to month but one thing remains consistent about Short Sales - They are not selling as fast as they should!
Right now in Pittsburg California 94565 there are 95 Short Sale Homes on the market representing slightly over 1/2 of … (0 comments)

HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Antioch California 94509? - 05:55 PM
HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Antioch California 94509?
Every month I prepare detailed reports on Short Sales in Antioch California 94509. If you want more details on the Short Sale market reports or other market reports in Antioch California 94509 or other markets you can e-mail me directly.
There are two Zip Codes in Antioch California.  The 94509 Zip code is generally the more established part of the community featuring many fine homes.
The numbers on Short Sales go up and down some from month to month but one thing remains consistent about Short Sales - They are not selling … (1 comments)

HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Antioch California 94531? - 06:03 PM
HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Antioch California 94531?
Every month I prepare detailed reports on Short Sales in Antioch California 94531. If you want more details on the Short Sale market reports or other market reports in Antioch California 94531 or other markets you can e-mail me directly.
There are two Zip Codes in Antioch California. The 94531 Zip code is generally the newer part of the community featuring many fine homes.
The numbers on Short Sales go up and down some from month to month but one thing remains consistent about Short Sales - They are not selling as … (0 comments)

HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Oakley California 94561? - 06:41 PM
HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Oakley California 94561?
Every month I prepare detailed reports on Short Sales in Oakley California 94561. If you want more details on the Short Sale market reports or other market reports in Oakley California 94561 or other markets you can e-mail me directly.
The numbers on Short Sales go up and down some from month to month but one thing remains consistent about Short Sales - They are not selling as fast as they should!
Right now in Oakley California 94561 there are 68 Short Sale Homes on the market representing almost 1/2 of the … (0 comments)

HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Brentwood California 94513? - 06:55 PM
HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Brentwood California 94513?
Every month I prepare detailed reports on Short Sales in Brentwood California 94513. If you want more details on the Short Sale market reports or other market reports in Brentwood California 94513 or other markets you can e-mail me directly.
The numbers on Short Sales go up and down some from month to month but one thing remains consistent about Short Sales - They are not selling as fast as they should!
Right now in Brentwood California 94513 there are 91 Short Sale Homes on the market representing nearly 1/2 of the … (1 comments)

HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Discovery Bay? - 07:14 PM
HAFA to Speed Short Sales in Discovery Bay?
Every month I prepare detailed reports on Short Sales in Discovery Bay. If you want more details on the Short Sale market reports or other market reports in Discovery Bay or other markets you can e-mail me directly.
The numbers on Short Sales go up and down some from month to month but one thing remains consistent about Short Sales - They are not selling as fast as they should!
Right now in Discovery Bay there are 23 Short Sale Homes on the market representing over 1/3 of the Discovery Bay real estate … (1 comments)

The "R" logo ... a badge of shame? - 09:10 AM
So I peruse Inman News this morning.  For the uninitiated, Inman News is one of the trade publications covering the real estate industry.  One of their top writers, Matt Carter shared that the NAR has been "cooking the books" to create the illusion that the market is better than it really is.  The NAR (the National Association of Realtors) has always offered information with a overly positive spin.  Real Estate agents have had to overcome questionable advertising done the by the NAR for years.  A case in point, as homes across the country were falling into foreclosure and the facts were … (41 comments)

200,000 AR Points - 07:57 PM
Wow, I've finally made it to the 200,000 AR point category. Sometimes it has been a struggle deciding on a blog for the day, and sometimes it seems easy to come up with. I do try to blog at least once per day however, and after awhile it does get into your blood, and you know it is something that you want to do, and the day is incomplete without going to AR.
     
Local Scott AFB | Metro East IL Real Estate Guide Metro East & Scott AFB Illinois Home StoreBe The First To Find Your New Home You may … (15 comments)

Mortgage Interest Deduction Vital to Housing Market - 10:55 AM
By: Dona DeZubePublished: October 29, 2010The home mortgage interest deduction saves the average home owner thousands of dollars at tax time, supports home values at the community level, and helps American home buyers get into their first house. How the deduction works In general, any home owners who pay U.S. taxes and who itemize their taxes can deduct mortgage interest attributable to primary residence and second-home debt totaling $1 million, and interest paid on home equity debt of as much as $100,000. Mortgage interest deduction threatened In recent years, the mortgage interest deduction has come under attack. Among the suggestions for … (0 comments)

This is All you need to know about Government Bureaucracy - 05:51 PM
Pythagorean theorem: ...............................................24 words Lord's prayer: ..........................................................66 words Archimedes' Principle: ..............................................67 words 10 Commandments: ................................................ 179 words Gettysburg address: ................................................286 words Declaration of Independence : ..............................1,300 words US Constitution with 27 Amendments : ................ 7,818 words US Government regulations on sale of cabbage:  ..26,911 words What else needs to be said? Our government is out of control. Wake up America and take back our country... *************************************************************
Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or … (2 comments)

Your St. Augustine, FL and Surrounding Areas Notary! - 04:07 PM
Hello All,
I am also a Notary in the St. Augustine area looking to be placed on a list(s) as a traveling Notary. Any help you can give to spread the word would be most appreciated!
Thank you in advance!
Notary Since 1994
… (0 comments)

Whitetail for Sale and Only 90 Minutes From Baltimore! - 08:44 PM
  Whitetail is for Sale 90 Minutes from Baltimore. My friend/trainer John Vargo is selling a wonderful condo that is only 90 minutes from Baltimore. Thought I could help John and his real estate agent get the word out.
. A getaway for me means options. If I want to be still (though that is really hard to do) and just relax, that's what I'll do. Or if I want to be outside and more active, then that's what I'll do. I need choices. A condominium that I can rent for a couple of nights or a long weekend – that's … (6 comments)

Sneak Peek - 50 Websites in 50 Minutes - 03:46 PM
I haven't been on Active Rain in awhile. It isn't that I wasn't thinking about my old friends here. I missed you all a lot. I even tried to resurrect Carnac more than once, but found it absolutely impossible considering the growth of Active Rain and the fact that 99% of the 200,000 members wouldn't even recognize Carnac. I suspect that some of the new folks would think I'm a wise ass rather than a really nice person with a sense of humor that offends occasionally. (Ok, more than occasionally.) Oh, how I miss the ginzu knives, moderator dart boards, and the spatulas from Spatula City.
… (12 comments)

Best Real Estate Buys in Eagle, Idaho - 08:47 PM
Another week has gone by and I was researching for the best real estate buys in Eagle, Idaho today and I found several to choose from.
When looking to Eagle, Idaho one must first look to the downtown sector.  It is a small, quaint group of small businesses and the senior center.
It extends to the library and the post office to the east and more restuarants and offices to the west.
Whether you go to the Italian Restaurant, Davinci's in the downtown section on State Street or Bella Aquila off eagle Road by the river, we have it covered in … (0 comments)

Paying It Forward - And Life Begins To Change - 08:06 PM
For those of you who read chapter one of the Brent saga, here is chapter two.  The day Brent moved his things into my house was frenetic, with stuff going everywhere.  He'd asked me if he could store some extra stuff in the basement since he came from a much larger space.  I said no.  It was too risky, since my basement had been known to take on water in a heavy rain if the winds blew in just the right direction.  Instead, he put some things in my garage -- something we had not discussed.  A portent of things to come?
… (5 comments)

Did You Know?….. The Internet: - 10:17 PM
Did You Know?….. The Internet:
 
More than 16 billion search queries per month in the United States alone and on-line search has become the dominant channel for consumers to discover information and make decisions. (Source: comScore).
 
7 out of 10 people initiate their Internet experience with a search.
(Source: comScore).
 
84% of searchers will never make it past the 2nd page of Google
(Source: Get to #1 on Google in Easy Steps) and 95% of Website traffic comes from the 1stpage of search results. (Source: iCrossing).
 
6 in 10 consumers say the Internet is important … (17 comments)

Executive Home for Short Sale in Chapel Hill's Hunts Reserve - 05:27 PM
Executive Home in Chapel Hill's Hunts Reserve … (0 comments)

2708 TOLWORTH AVE, ORLANDO FL 32837 - 10:07 AM
 
 MLS# O5030082                   2708 TOLWORTH AVE, ORLANDO FL 32837   $$$ 139,900 $$$

Gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2 bath Hunter's Creek home awaits!  Step in to find your formal dining room and living room ready to entertain.  As you pass through the arch, you'll discover your breakfast nook and spacious kitchen.  With vaulted ceilings and plant Gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2 bath Hunter's Creek home awaits!  Step in to find your formal dining room and living room ready to entertain.  As you pass through the arch, you'll discover your breakfast nook and spacious kitchen.  With vaulted ceilings and plant shelves, you'll have fun … (1 comments)

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