Archives of real estate blog entries for February 18, 2011

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An Explanation of the Consequences of Short Sale vs. Foreclosure - 11:36 AM
 
Today at one of my short sale webinars, an agent asked for me to review the different consequences of short sale and foreclosure. I know that I have written about that before, but I decided to prepare a handy little chart that would help agents and their clients by providing an overview of the consequences (the pros and the cons) of short sales versus foreclosure.
Before you go move on down and print out the chart, I really feel that it is important for me to make my disclaimer that I am not an attorney and I do not play … (41 comments)

Hey! Bob! You are shoving me outside my comfort zone here! - 07:09 AM
Hey! Bob! You are shoving me outside my comfort zone here! (and other personal revelations....) Community Evangelist Bob Stewart left a great comment on my post yesterday about free publicity I got from the newspaper. He suggested that I (we) should pull together 8 or 9 of my (our) best posts and send them to the editor of our local paper and see if they would want me to write articles on a regular basis for the paper. Once a week, once a month, but on a regular basis. I actually broke out in a cold sweat when I read it. … (84 comments)

Short Sale Transactions Are Not For All Agents - 11:14 AM
Look. Short sales are hard. And they are not getting easier. In fact, what I'm seeing, the opposite.
They are long, with many pregnant pauses where no one knows what's going on.
They can take MONTHS, even YEARS to get approved.
They may never BE approved.
It is what it is. A short sale.
If you think the bank PREFERS to short sell your unqualified seller's house than foreclose on it as a hard, fast rule, maybe but maybe not.
If you think what the customer service representative told you when you called to inquire how to short sell the property … (32 comments)

The Mortgage Rap! - 04:10 PM
So here is my first Video blog! A few of the guys in the office have been playing around with videos for a while, and I figured if I am going to jump on board I might as well have a little bit of fun with it. Enjoy it, leave comments, and I hope that you enjoy your friday!!!
… (40 comments)

Your First Open House is On-Line | Are YOU and Your House Ready? - 11:16 PM
Your First Open House is On-Line Are YOU and Your House Ready?  Whether you like it or not, or have even given it a thought, your first open house is on-line.
Unless, of course, your REALTOR is showing your home BEFORE putting it on the MLS and other real estate sites.
Think about that for a moment.
Assuming your home is on the Internet, even if just the MLS, before any open house, your on-line listing IS an open house - an invitation to prospective buyers, thousands of them, to walk through your home before stepping in the door.
You may … (44 comments)

Top Tips for 1st-Time Home Buyers in Kitsap County WA - 02:21 AM
Advice for1st-Time Home Buyers in Kitsap County WA -  Top Tip No. 1
"Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew!"
As a licensed professional real estate broker here on the Kitsap Peninsula, perhaps one of the best bits of advice I normally dispense to 1st-Time Home Buyers is for them to stay within their means. By that, I mean, determine your workable budget for purchasing your house, and stick to it.
I have the pleasure of working with a lot of 1st-Time Home Buyers, especially Active-Duty Military Service Members and their families. Kitsap County WA is home to a number … (26 comments)

8 Things Brokers Should Not Do - 01:05 AM
8 Things Brokers Should Not Do
In managing a group of agents, brokers are guiding, supervising, encouraging, and sometimes correcting a salesperson. Here are 18 tips for what we should not do.
1. Don’t Angelize or Demonize Someone Just because one agent is very, very good at one thing don’t assume they are good at everything. You will miss opportunities to help them improve in other directions. The opposite of course hold true for person who is really bad at something. They too have good aspects to be encouraged.
2. Don’t Humiliate. Don’t humiliate any employee especially in front of others. … (58 comments)

Siding Guy, Meet Vent Guy - 03:47 AM
Arriving at a final inspection of a new construction, to a house no where near ready for us, practically before even saying hello to Coral Gundlach, the Realtor, I playfully had to show her this!  It kind of set the tone for the day...
Now, how fun is that!?
A siding guy simply wouldn't do this to his siding job.
And this vent guy simply doesn't know how to cut properly through a siding job to set a vent.
I think this is one of those post-facto things that happens when details are forgotten along the way.  It indicates improper configuration … (89 comments)

She's Pretty As a Picture...Just Don't look Under The Hood - 07:38 AM
Buying a car can be a lot like buying a home. When a car is to be sold, it is prepared for showing. The interior is detailed, the body is waxed and the tires and rims cleaned and shined. What often doesn't get done is any mechanical work. So what you have is a good looking ride that may not go anywhere. Homes are sometimes sold in the same way, especially homes that have been bought to be sold.
Not long a go I was asked to do a home inspection on a home here in Connecticut that was described as "gorgeous" by … (64 comments)

Surviving your Serengeti: An ActiveRain Challenge - 12:05 PM
Stefan Swanepoel is a visionary in the real estate business. His Swanepoel Trends Report is an annual report detailing the current state of the real estate industry, including in depth analysis of 10 emerging trends expected to impact Brokers, Agents, REALTOR® Associations and just about anyone associated with the industry in the coming years.
His position as an expert on the industry is unquestioned.
Next week, Stefan will be releasing a new book, Surviving the Serengeti. In Surviving the Serenget: 7 Skills to Master Business and in Life, Stefan offers a fascinating fable of life on the Serengeti plains of Africa … (391 comments)

What's worse than an Unrealistic Seller? - 05:11 PM
What's worse than an Unrealistic Seller?
I think it is common for a lot seller's to think their home is worth more than their neighbor's house that sold down the block a few months back and therefore want to ask X amount more.
They have granite and their neighbor didn't, so they add $5,000 more to their asking price.

They have crown molding and their neighbor didn't, so they add another $5,000.

Their home backs to a hedge, which they call a preserve, so they add another $10,000 on.

The days of getting $20,000 for … (40 comments)

Removing a Lock Box from the Sold Property ... Listing Agent's Liability? - 10:21 AM
 Removing a lock box from the sold property ... Listing agent’s liability?
A while ago I closed an investor short sale purchase for my client. The listing agent forgot to remove one of the two generic 4-Number Real Estate Combination Lockboxes.
I visited the buyer couple of days ago and noticed the Lock box and surprisingly it still had the keys in it. The new owner never realized his home’s duplicate keys were still in the lock box. Co-incidentally he never changed the locks of his home either.
Anyway I sent couple of messages for the listing agent via email and … (50 comments)

I wouldn't sell your house if it was the last house on Earth! - 11:08 PM
 
 I wouldn't sell your house if it was the last house on Earth!

As a Listing Specialist in my area, I come across all kinds of Homes....
from the very Luxurious Homes that we all Dream About...

To the Distressed Properties that we all wish someone would buy and fix...
 
 
But this particular situation came to me out of the blue so I sprung into action right away...So when I first got the call I searched the tax records and saw that the property has been listed 4 times in 2 years and had no sales...(Lets … (42 comments)

Got pocket listings? How many are too many? - 08:05 PM
Got pocket listings? How many are too many?
I am a huge proponent of the multi list system, that should be a given. Right?  I've been licensed slightly less than 6 years yet I can imagine life before the MLS. Think Pony Express versus email. I think as licensed practitioners we should make every effort to convert potential sellers in to REAL 'listers', and not stash an arsenal of pocket listings in an effort to thwart the efforts of our fellow professionals.
Somewhere there is what some apparently view as a 'pesky' little code of ethics.
Sure, folks say to me from time … (55 comments)

Are you sometimes happy when a listing expires? - 11:33 AM

 Back in my days as a teacher, the students were shocked to discover that the faculty looked forward to  summer break as well. After 35+ weeks of struggle we were crossing off days on the school calender just like the kids.
 The more things change the more they stay the same. Here I am in Real Estate world doing essentially the same thing! My "problem listing" (each agent should keep at least one) expired at 12am, and frankly I could not be more happy!
 This listing was the perfect storm of crazy. I "won" the listing after it expired from … (51 comments)

I Don't Show My Own Listings - 09:38 AM
As I walked in the office yesterday, I heard an agent telling another, about a potential buyer, and discussing a referral fee. While I checked my mail, and grabbed lunch out of the refrigerator, the conversation kept going. The referring agent stated that she didn't show her own listings. So she just walked across the hall, and referred it out.
Last spring, this same agent called me about a buyer, a cash buyer, who lived in the neighborhood of her listing and simply wanted to see the house. She asked for a modest referral fee (if they bought anything) and gave … (109 comments)

Why Do You Feel The Need To Attack Me? - 10:00 PM
If you bring me an offer I am grateful. It may not be the best offer, it may not even be a good offer, but it is an offer. It may be such a low offer that I think you have wasted your time writing it, but I thank you for taking the time anyway.
I think sometimes we forget that the offers we receive are not for "us" they are for our sellers. I have had agents tell me how mad they get when these offers come in. The truth is we are not writing them to "offend" we … (53 comments)


Blog posts


FL Real Estate - USA Hotel for Sale - Business for Sale FL - Hotels for Sale in FL - 03:22 PM
USA Hotel for Sale for $3,900,000 - Florida Hotel for Sale … (0 comments)

Surviving your Serengeti: An ActiveRain Challenge - 12:05 PM
Stefan Swanepoel is a visionary in the real estate business. His Swanepoel Trends Report is an annual report detailing the current state of the real estate industry, including in depth analysis of 10 emerging trends expected to impact Brokers, Agents, REALTOR® Associations and just about anyone associated with the industry in the coming years.
His position as an expert on the industry is unquestioned.
Next week, Stefan will be releasing a new book, Surviving the Serengeti. In Surviving the Serenget: 7 Skills to Master Business and in Life, Stefan offers a fascinating fable of life on the Serengeti plains of Africa … (391 comments)

It is Still "An Expired Thing" - 09:15 AM
The market is moving in South Florida.  And some things are changing.  The number of Expired listings in my area have decreased significantly.  I imagine it is a combination of things which is causing this to happen.  First of all, the number of sold units is going up...so more and more properties are actually closing rather than coming out as expired listings.   It seems to be easier to get motivated sellers to reduce the price.  The short sale agents are smarter about pricing and are reducing the prices until they go under contract.  So, more and more are selling rather than … (0 comments)

Do you Know Real Estate - CPR? It could save an Escrow! - 06:28 PM
Perhaps something like this has happened to you:
Pic by Fredirick MD Publicity at Flickr

I was minding my own business doing some Post here on Active Rain expecting Docs would be drawn on an escrow.  Then out of the blue I get the e-mail from the weaselly loan originator - the one I told my clients not to use!  She cannot do the loan!!!!  No qualification - no options - just plan NO!
I instantly went into Code Blue and called her up.  I was feeling a deep and painful loss - perhaps it was the vision of my … (6 comments)

Foto Friday- A Day at the Park - 05:11 PM

**Are You Packed Yet?**

Donna Harris, REALTOR®RE/MAX Austin Skylinewww.DonnaHomes.comaDonna@DonnaHomes.com
Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way. 
For real time Austin TX listings, click here.
** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **
Copyright© 2011 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post. * Foto Friday- … (14 comments)

Central California - Rain , Rain and More Rain - Finally! - 08:26 PM
Central California - Rain , Rain and More Rain - Finally!
After several weeks of some very mild weather we finally have rain again in the Central Valley.  In late December and early January Central Ca and other parts of California were hit with some pretty serious storms.  The snow pack up in the Sierras was well over 100% of average in most areas.  Then the rain stopped.
A big part of January and all of February up until early this week was dry.  In fact it was down right sunny and beautiful.  Some days we were near 70 degrees.  Central … (7 comments)

Fort Myers Beach duplex for sale - 11:19 AM
Fort Myers Beach duplex for sale:  Investor bought two nice properties and only has time for one !  This legal duplex has a one bedroom, one bath and a renovated two bedroom, two bath plus a den on a quiet mid-island street on Fort Myers Beach.  The den could be used as a third bedroom and would be perfect for a child or home office.  The prior owner was in the middle of a very nice renovation and the current owner is completing those projects. Recent improvements include: new A/C for the 2/2 side, new kitchen cabinets, new natural stone counters, … (4 comments)

Dollar Crisis is causing a Food Crisis - 10:12 PM
Quantitative Easing as Ben Bernanke has coined this term is just another tem for dabasing the dollar along with the world's reserve currency. This is causing the prices of wheat, corn and commodities to soar upward.
The world's poor, and starving masses have to understand that the benefits of QE, is a way that we can weasal out of our "debt crisis", by inflating costs, having more money in curculation, and making our debt look smaller. You see we just need to educate the poor! If our government doesn't make lots of tax revenue, and make our debt look smaller, by … (6 comments)

8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and Value to Your Home - 05:24 PM
By: Pat CurryPublished: February 18, 2011 Here are eight ways to help your home put its best face forward.    The way your house looks from the street--attractively landscaped and well-maintained--can add thousands to its value and cut the time it takes to sell. But which projects pump up curb appeal most? Some spit and polish goes a long way, and so does a dose of color. Tip #1: Wash your house’s faceBefore you scrape any paint or plant more azaleas, wash the dirt, mildew, and general grunge off the outside of your house. REALTORS® say washing a house can add $10,000 … (0 comments)

Jobs and Home Ownership. You can't have one without the other. - 06:49 PM
Good jobs enable people to achieve the American dream of home ownership. And every time a house is built, bought, or sold, jobs are created—lots of them—right here at home.
Home sales in this country generate more than 2.5 million private-sector jobs in an average year. For every two homes sold, a job is created. Each home sale touches 80 different occupations. Every home purchased pumps up to $60,000 into the economy over time for furniture, home improvements, and related items. Housing accounts for more than 15% of the Gross Domestic Product, making it a key driver in our national economy. … (0 comments)

Are You Thinking of Selling Your Baltimore Home? Call Margaret Rome - 09:35 PM
Ready willing and able buyers  who can be flexible with a settlement date. If you are thinking of selling your home in Pikesville -21208, 21209, Owings Mills-21117 or Reisterstown 21136...Please call me.
                                          
 
One specific buyer is looking for at least a three bedroom 2 1/2 bath single family home with a driveway. The main feature... move in condition and that means no major repairs.
Do you have a house that you are thinking of selling in Pikesville, Owings Mills or Reisterstown?
For the right house, this young couple could move  immediately or within several months.
To summarize...here are … (13 comments)

Is it FINALLY a good time to buy Poinciana Florida Real Estate? - 08:19 AM
It depends. If you are looking for a long term home. YES.
My wife and I bought in May 2010. We purchased a foreclosure in SoliVita and got a pretty good deal. The value has probably already dropped. But we plan on living here for many years so it doesn't matter. For us and our situation is was a very good time to buy. BUY A HOME IN POINCIANA If you are looking to buy a rental property. YES.
Investors are buying houses like hotcakes. You can get a 3 bedroom 2 bath home less than 10 years old … (12 comments)

Best Real Estate Buys in Star, Idaho - 05:12 PM
In my research this week for homes for sale in star I found these best real estate buys in Star, Idaho.
I have seen homes that are to be built as well as those that are 31-50 years old.
This week's list includes two rentals with tenants in them already.  As a landlord myself I would always recommend buying a rental with tenants in the house to insure cash flow.  I remember investors who approached me in 2005 and 2006 who had to have a rental in the Boise Metro area of Idaho and I refused to help them if I … (0 comments)

Best Real Estate Buys in Kuna, Idaho - 05:23 PM
I missed a day yesterday as I was out with clients.  I owe you an update on the best real estate buys in Kuna, Idaho for this week.
In an effort to get to know Kuna, maybe the best first thing to do is explain where Kuna is, in case you are a reader who hasn't been here before.
If you get off the freeway (I-84) at Meridian Rd. exit and head south that road is a five-lane road where you can travel most times at 55 miles per hour.  After a time the name of the street changes to be … (0 comments)

Breaking The Ties That Bind - Chapter One - 11:24 PM
It's been a long road to this strange place I find myself in tonight.  The journey began some years ago when RE/MAX opened an office in Merrick.  Unheard of in the local area at the time, it was not uncommon to go out on a listing only to be asked "who?" when we said we worked for RE/MAX. 
It was fun at the start, we were a small group of adventurers, leaving the warmth and comfort of the traditional office for the unknown turf of a totally different business model.  We shared our hopes for the future, our successes and our occasional failures.  In a minute … (18 comments)

Sole Sunny Isles Beach FL condo hotel, 2/2 lockout unit, spectacular ocean & city views - 06:01 PM
Sole Sunny Isles Beach FL condo hotel, 2/2 lockout unit, spectacular ocean & city views




Hollywood Florida Real Estate, Hollywood FL Real Estate, Hollywood Beach Real Estate, Hollywood Beach Condos for sale, Hollywood Beach Short Sales, Hollywood Beach Foreclosures, Hollywood Beach Realtor, Hollywood Fl foreclosures, Susan Weaver, real estate agent
For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood Florida Real Estate  &  Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.Hollywood-Beach-Florida-Real-Estate.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.
For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood  Florida … (0 comments)

Residences Hollywood Beach short sale, 2/2, best line, spectacular ocean views! - 06:17 PM
Residences Hollywood Beach short sale, 2/2, best line, spectacular ocean views!


Hollywood Florida Real Estate, Hollywood FL Real Estate, Hollywood Beach Real Estate, Hollywood Beach Condos for sale, Hollywood Beach Short Sales, Hollywood Beach Foreclosures, Hollywood Beach Realtor, Hollywood Fl foreclosures, Susan Weaver, real estate agent
For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood Florida Real Estate  &  Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.Hollywood-Beach-Florida-Real-Estate.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.
For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood  Florida Real Estate and Hollywood Beach Florida … (0 comments)

Appreciation Marketing... - 12:14 PM
 
 
Had the pleasure of speaking in front of a great group of professionals yesterday about the practice of Appreciation Marketing!
 
Great response and moreover how few of us do practice appreciation marketing daily.
 
Quickly, instead of complaining about your support end, praise them for the work they do...
 
Instead of huffing and puffing about the bad service and food at a restaurant; write a kind unexpected note to your favor tie restaurant.
 
Each day when you practice this concept you become more skilled in finding the good in things and leaving the bad things to … (3 comments)

HelenGaRealEstateHomes "Walkaround Weather is Here in Helen" - 10:48 AM
This will be a beautiful weekend in northeast Ga, and Helen is your first stop.  Come Shop,Bike,Hike, or just rest!  Walking around weather is wonderful and it is finally here!  Don't miss the opportunity to scout out some possible real estate, there are so many great buys in this area!  If you want an investment, want to come up for a weekend now and then, want a retirement home to look forward to, or just a second home, this is the place.  Close and yet you are so far away!!! Hope to see you, and let's talk!
… (0 comments)

Short Sale Transactions Are Not For All Agents - 11:14 AM
Look. Short sales are hard. And they are not getting easier. In fact, what I'm seeing, the opposite.
They are long, with many pregnant pauses where no one knows what's going on.
They can take MONTHS, even YEARS to get approved.
They may never BE approved.
It is what it is. A short sale.
If you think the bank PREFERS to short sell your unqualified seller's house than foreclose on it as a hard, fast rule, maybe but maybe not.
If you think what the customer service representative told you when you called to inquire how to short sell the property … (32 comments)

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