Archives of real estate blog entries for April 14, 2011

Featured blog posts


The Darkest Side of Real Estate - 05:53 PM
I bumped into a Realtor friend of mine yesterday whom I hadn’t seen for a while. Like most conversations we started off by asking those ‘catching up questions’ like ‘how have you been’ and ‘how’s business’?
I immediately got the sense that she had had a few very hard months – she was wearing it on her face. That became even clearer when I saw tears appear in her eyes.
‘I can’t seem to catch a break’ she told me. ‘I have plenty of listings. As you know I’m a hustler when it comes to getting home buyers to work with … (65 comments)

What I took away from RainCamp-a free Kodak Touch and no more Excuses! - 06:45 PM
by Kate Akerly of Village Confidential
I’ve been telling myself for months that I need to incorporate video into my marketing but I’ve let my lizard brain take hold and have continuously made excuse after excuse. Here are some of my best ones!
I don’t own a video camera! Guess what, you don’t necessarily need one. You can make a complete video montage with photographs using Animoto.com
I only want to produce high quality video and I can’t afford the kind of camera and equipment I would need: You need to start somewhere and build on that foundation. … (15 comments)

We April Fooled My Clients at their Home Inspection on April 1st!! - 07:02 AM
We April Fooled My Clients at their Home Inspection on April 1st!!
Forgot about this little gem! My clients have purchased their NEW home, a new construction move up and they Love, Love Love this house. Now what better way to make them feel really warm and fuzzy about their new home than to pull an April Fool's on them.
The Home Inspection was scheduled for April 1st so I called the Inspector, Jayme Clark with Clear Choice Home Inspections and gave him my thoughts, he was already thinking about something and said he would take care of it.
Now I … (19 comments)

Stop Treating Me Like a Lead - 10:01 AM
Chuck Carstensen recently wrote a great blog post, Not Everyone Is A Lead.  I don't know Chuck, but he gave me a pretty clear sense of his priorities and I already like him.  Isn't ActiveRain great?
Anyway, Chuck made it clear that treating people like "leads" instead of living, breathing human beings is no way to grow your business.  Of course, he's absolutely right.  If you want a business that lasts YOU MUST ESTABLISH AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.    
Here is the real GOLD in what he was saying:
Most of the people you meet are not looking to "buy" from … (30 comments)

A Home Was Never Meant to Be An Investment - 04:35 PM
When did a home become a commodity? When did it become a stock or something to put money in and watch it grow? It was never supposed to be a savings and loan bank or an ATM machine. Remember we built homes for pure shelter, we have moved far away from the shelter idea these days. Everytime someone buys a house the first thing they ask is how much do you think it will be worth 5 years from now?
My answer always is "well if I had a crystal ball" BUT I DON'T! my point is yes we have seen values … (19 comments)

Now Where Was That Article Again? Google Bookmarks! - 06:26 PM
The amount of information that inundates us on a daily basis is overwhelming! How many times do you come across something online that you know has GREAT value but, at the moment, you don't have time to follow through on it. So what do you do then? What I do is click my all-important "save for later" big red button! You know the big red button Staples has, "that was easy!" Here's the thing about "save for later"... it may be EASY to click the bookmark option, but if you've been online for more than a week, your list of saved … (48 comments)

Is anybody really working 24/7? - 11:40 AM
Is anybody really working 24/7?


I did at one time!  That's why I don't do it anymore.  Talk about your burnout.  I was so tired and disconnected from my family I had a hard time remembering my children's birthdates.  And my husband, well, we were more like strangers in the night!

Real Estate is not your average job.  REALTORS® are not your average people.  At heart, we are entrepreneurs.  We like setting our own schedules, making our own business plans, being our own bosses. A successful real estate agent is one who knows how to make business happen.  … (86 comments)

What? You're too busy??? Are You Kidding Me??? - 08:33 PM
What do you mean REALTOR friend of mine that you're too busy to take an hour out of your day to show someone a lease? Do you realize that because you and the three other REALTORS they called were "too busy" to help out, you have missed out on $998,875 in sales so far?
I am so glad I was able to help couple #1 because that simple $1800 lease has turned into a pipeline of referrals. It turns out that couple #1 also had a home to sell in a neighboring city. I was able to get that listing and … (31 comments)

This House Blew That Only Chance To Make A First Impression! - 10:46 AM
A house in my neighborhood recently went on the market, and being the Crestwood expert, I ran right over to see it.  Like many Washington, DC homes, it has several sets of steps leading from the sidewalk to the front door.  And they look like this:

Now, let's talk curb appeal - or the lack thereof - and the real life impact it has on people who see your home.
This is a house with a past.  It sold a few years ago in "as is" condition - a granny house needing a serious face lift with a very funky … (51 comments)

Watch out Texas, RainCamp is headed your way! - 11:32 AM

That's right, RainCamp is heading to Dallas next, and we're making our stop May 24th-25th!
If you haven't heard already, RainCamp is now a 2-day event, and all attendees are invited to join us for both days.  We'll be bringing you double the learning and double the fun - and not just because everything's bigger in Texas!  
Day 1 of Camp you'll hear from hand selected keynote speakers, a local success panel, and ActiveRain's own Bob Stewart will be leading a town hall style discussion on a topic voted on by attendees.  The focus of the day will be on … (84 comments)

Blogging: Quality over Quantity Still Works - 07:17 AM
Blogging: Quality over Quantity Still Works When to blog, where to blog, how to blog, if you're in the blogging community, you see posts on the subject practically every day.  If you're like me, you've heard that you have to blog early and often, blog at least once a week, twice a week, three times a week, once a day, multiple times a day.  If you don't blog often enough, your readers will forget you and move on.  Just put something up! BUT, as an avid reader of blogs and my experience, along with a bit of research, I discovered that … (21 comments)

Running Your Small Business Debt FREE - 02:42 PM
I'm very debt-adversed. I rather go through child birth or root canal than to take on debt. I will never take on another debt in my life. Have I disclose how much I plan to avoid them yet?
One of the clearest take-away from the Dave Ramsey Entreleadership class is: DEBT (ie. Borrowed Money) BORROWED MONEY magnifies MISTAKES. That's the reality.
I've heard and seen many who take on home equity or credit card loans to grow or sustain their small businesses. Well, it's just not a very good idea.
Grow your business slowly and with cash. You don't need to … (107 comments)

Cleveland Oh Luxury Homes - Market Report First Quarter 2011 - 10:27 PM
Cleveland Oh Luxury Homes - Market Report First Quarter 2011
 
 

 
The following is our first quarter market report for Cleveland Ohio luxury homes, specifically the east side suburbs including: Beachwood, Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Cleveland Heights, Gates Mills, Hunting Valley, Moreland Hills, Orange, Pepper Pike, Shaker Heights, and Solon.  In this report, we will first list all luxury home sales during the first three months of this year, make a comparison between the first quarter this year to the first quarter of 2010, and finally give our commentary. A luxury home in the Cleveland Ohio market is considered … (8 comments)

Florida Governor Rick Scott addresses Florida Realtors - 08:21 PM
Florida Governor Rick Scott addresses Florida Realtors
Yesterday, I traveled as part of the delegation of the Hernando County Association of REALTORS to Florida's capitol Tallahassee for the Great American Realtor Days.

Tallahassee brought out the red carpet for Realtors coming from all over the state to attend meetings with their legislators and to share their concerns about issues that affect the Florida housing market and our communities. 
Some of the important issues that are currently discussed in the Florida legislature that are of interest to Realtors are property tax assessments, the septic tank inspection program, the Sadowski housing trust … (26 comments)

South Florida Short Sales & Foreclosures Declined In First Quarter - 08:59 PM
 
Foreclosures declined dramatically in South Florida and in most parts of the nation during the first quarter of this years housing market, but analysts say that it is not a good indication that the market is improving.
The reason for the decline is banks are having a hard time processing the foreclosures due to the foreclosure attorney "robo signing" and allegedly falsify foreclosure documents.
Foreclosure experts were expecting the numbers to rebound in the first quarter, but the according to a Irvine, California based foreclosure listing firm. said, "To be honest, we thought the numbers would rebound in the first quarter, but this has … (11 comments)

When did we Allow for our Industry to become so Transparent? - 02:08 PM
When did we Allow for our Industry to become so Transparent? Recently I was asked to particpate on  a panel of speakers talking about blogging and what it has brought to my business. One of the questions asked by an audence member was "how many deals do you do year?" While I understand that question was not meant to be intrusive to me personally,  the question really made me think, and brought up some interesting dicussion afterward amoung colleagues. I wonder how many other professions would adhere to such a question? Really can you imagine being in your doctors office and … (42 comments)

NEWSFLASH: There Is NO Inventory!!! - 09:43 AM
I was in a conversation with one of the most productive agents in our area recently and he told me that there were "no homes for him to sell". I thought he had a brain cramp. Look at all the ‘For Sale' signs, all the homes on MLS, all the short sales and foreclosures plus all the shadow inventory on its way. Had this respected agent lost his mind?
As he saw the puzzled expression on my face (which was his intent), he began to explain that every home that is priced correctly is being gobbled up by buyers right away. The … (21 comments)

No Blogging Allowed - 08:49 AM
No Blogging Allowed
As ActiveRain members, we are always encouraging each other to blog and we are always encouraging non members to join and start blogging. But how well and how much do you really know about the people you invite to join and start blogging actively.  And if you are a broker, does the very thought of someone in your office joining ActiveRain send chills up and down your spine.
I had this conversation with a fellow agent the other day and she described someone in her office that had some unscrupulous practices. I begin to wonder, how many brokers had blogging policies … (90 comments)

Million Dollar Listing: Oh No They Didn't - 10:14 AM
Ok people...so yesterday, I was watching Million Dollar Listing and saw something that made me go "hmmm where do they do that?" Normally, IF I watch this show, it's for entertainment like anything else. But yesterday, what I saw, I wondered if the seller saw too later on and what they did about it.
Forgive me but I don't know the cast member names here. Anywho, the two listing agents were sitting talking about one of their listings. The one listing agent says they got an offer. When he was explaining it, it really seemed a little bogus to me but … (70 comments)

Have you thanked your ActiveRain Subscribers to your blog? - 02:07 AM
I just checked to see how many people have subsribed to my blog and realized I have never directly reached out to them.  I have never made the time to make the subscribe to me widgtets or anything so the few people that have taken the time to subscibe had to take time out of their day to do this.
I just felt humbled when I realized I never took the time out of my day to tell them "thanks".
That will be my task before I call it a day.  I know I really get a lot of value from … (23 comments)

Are You an Advocate for Home Ownership? - 07:32 AM
Are you an advocate for home ownership?  What do you do in your day to day activities to display this message to the clients?  With all of the NAR policy advocacy talk, I think this is a perfect opportunity for agents to evaluate their position on home ownership.  What are you willing to do as an agent to help a consumer get in a home?  To what means do you believe in the business that you are participating in?
I have consumers call me all the time that do not meet minimum requirements for lending.  Which means on the face they … (32 comments)

Yesterday I received a disturbing phone call from a senior citizen... - 03:43 PM
Yesterday I received a disturbing phone call from a senior citizen...
Close to 4 in the afternoon as I was going over files with my assistant, I answered my cell phone and was surprised to hear a man crying. At first I wasn't sure who it was but I quickly leaned it was an older client of mine who has had some tough times this past year or so.  Last time I saw him we enjoyed lunch at his favorite restaurant, Applebees, and he seemed like he was doing so much better. 
So I haven't been worried about him this last … (78 comments)

Questions You Would Like to Ask But Side Step - 04:31 PM
 
When we receive a call from a seller or buyer regarding our services there are always those questions you would love to survey prior to investing much time with the potential client.  Just dive right into discovery.
Seller Survey
Before I spend many hours working on a market analysis for your home, do you have a price that you know is way over market that you will only list at?  Do you even care what I recommend as you have your mind made up? Are you willing to improve the condition of your home by taking the staggers recommendations … (21 comments)


Blog posts


Condos for Sale - Casitas for Sale - Land for Sale - Nicaragua Real Estate - International Real Estate for Sale - 08:13 AM
Oceanfront Nicaragua Condos & Casitas … (1 comments)

Watch out Texas, RainCamp is headed your way! - 11:32 AM

That's right, RainCamp is heading to Dallas next, and we're making our stop May 24th-25th!
If you haven't heard already, RainCamp is now a 2-day event, and all attendees are invited to join us for both days.  We'll be bringing you double the learning and double the fun - and not just because everything's bigger in Texas!  
Day 1 of Camp you'll hear from hand selected keynote speakers, a local success panel, and ActiveRain's own Bob Stewart will be leading a town hall style discussion on a topic voted on by attendees.  The focus of the day will be on … (84 comments)

8 Easy Ways to Green Your Home - 11:04 PM
 
St. Patricks day may have come and gone, but are you still feeling the urge to go green?  Here are 8 easy ways to green your home provided by CNNMoney.com:
1. Be wise about windows.  By putting windows in the right places, you can benefit from the most old-fashioned kind of solar power.  Homes in the northern part of the country with most of its windows facing the sout will collect more light, and therefore more heat in the winter.
2.  Ventilate and if circulate.  The key to keeping cool in the summer without cranking the air condition is to force warm air out … (0 comments)

San Diego Home Inspections — Here a crack, there a crack (part 4) - 12:50 PM
I rebloged the first on in this series and will have to go find the other two.  Russel is a very good home inspector.  When Buying a Home people often have questions about cracking.
If you have other questions about Buying a Home go to HomePointRealEstate.com.
Via Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector (Russel Ray, Property Consultant):


Here a crack, there a crack....(part 4)
DISCLAIMER: This discussion is based on several decades of experience in real estate, including as a home inspector and general contractor. I am not now a concrete professional or licensed structural engineer, so if you are … (0 comments)

HUD Homes Still Require Originals in Blue Ink - You Are Playing Old School, HUD!! - 10:08 AM
Why does HUD still require originals and blue ink?  This is getting ridiculous. As the real estate industry moves forward with being able to scan a clean contract into a PDF instead of faxing where the contracts shrink, in addition to many people using digital signatures and doing everything via email and phone, sometimes from out of state, why does HUD still require the contract to be in their office as signed originals with blue ink?  Why are they scared to accept an email?
I submitted my online bid last Thursday. We found out first thing Friday morning that our bid … (5 comments)

City of Lakeway - Austin TX - Annual Easter Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza - Lakeway City Park - 03:17 PM
The City of Lakeway TX is have their annual Eggstravaganza this Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 2:00pm at the Lakeway City Park. 

There are many activities going on so it's fun for the entire family.  If you're not there at exactly 2pm for the egg hunt, you're going to miss out because they start right at exactly 2pm!!
If you don't want the mad rush of the egg hunt, some of the other activities taking place are a petting zoo, tattoo artists, and a musical puppeteer, Cowgirl Sue.
The City of Lakeway has requested you leave your pets at … (3 comments)

Swansea Illinois Homes for Sale, 2 Kingsbury - 02:35 PM
… (1 comments)

Americans Still Optimistic About Housing - 11:39 PM
A sluggish real estate market hasn't shaken the confidence of the public in how it views home ownership, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. Eight in 10 adults (or 81 percent) say owning a home is the best long-term investment a person can make, according to the Pew study of about 2,000 adults conducted in March.
Read the Full Story
… (8 comments)

The perfect Beach in Rhode Island - 09:06 AM

On first day of spring, we took a ride along Rhode Island's coast once again. I love going in the spring because we get to see so many beaches without all the summer crowds.
 
We decided to ride up to Misquamicut Beach and then lazily travel back torwards Charlestown, RI.
 
After riding by the Atlantic Beach Park and many closed for the winter cottages and neat little restaurants, we headed over to Weekapaug.  Watch Hill is just south of Weekapaug and we will take that trip on a warmer day.
 

If you ride by Spray Rock Road, (where this house … (9 comments)

The Seller is 100% Sure...Another HomeRome Listing!! - 12:13 AM
Yesterday, I went on a listing appointment and  posted about  A Delightful Letter Carrier ..Named Jim.  The seller was only 98.5% sure  she wanted to use me. Remember, I ask two questions on a listing appointment. -First question: Are You 100% Sure  you want to sell? -Second question- Are you 100% sure you want to use me?  
 
This home owner would not make decision without sleeping on it. This morning, as promised, a call  was received leaving the following message:  
" Hi Margaret Rome...The other 1 and 1/2 percent is all taken care of ..I slept on it...I … (19 comments)

Photography | All Is A Flutter In Butterfly Jungle ! - 11:17 AM
This featured blog, done by my friend and mentor, is spectacular..maybe one of my favorite photography posts on ActiveRain.    Thank you William Johnson!
This is the comment I left on his post: 
'I sincerely enjoyed this bit of heaven you have discovered. I would love to have a camera and YOU by my side touring this piece of heaven!  I am in love with your butterflies!!!Please share more...cannot wait.'
..and he did...take a look at William's comment #55 on the original blog. It that not fabulous?!! 
Via San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson GRI CRS e-Pro CDPE (RE/MAX Associates):
All Is A Flutter In Butterfly Jungle … (10 comments)

365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio series, Day 5 - 12:38 AM
 
Mount Vernon, Ohio is filled with wonderful parks that range from sports style parks with ball fields and tennis courts, skate park, parks with play grounds and swing sets, we have a fishing park and also we have a park that is designed just for remote controlled airplanes.  Today as part of my "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio" I visited the Mount Vernon R.C. Airplane Park on Cougar Drive. This park is located just off of Mount Vernon Avenue between the Kokosing Gap Trail Bike Pathand the Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  Many people in Mount Vernon and Knox County aren't even aware this park … (1 comments)

THE 14 MONTH SHORT SALE THAT FINALLY CLOSED! - 10:20 AM
This is a great example of sticking with a short sale and not giving up when the deal stretches on for over a year.  In the end it all worked out and Joe was able to save a seller and their home from foreclosure.  
Via Joe Jackson (Keller Williams Capital Partners):
NOW TO BE FAIR, IT DID NOT THE THE BANK 14 MONTHS TO APPROVE THIS SHORT SALE!
 
I listed this home in Feb. of 2010. Seller was way upside down and really did not care if it sold or not. All summer it was a struggle to get him to mow … (2 comments)

Now is the time to buy..... - 06:19 AM
April 2011 Spring has arrived! We are certainly feeling it in the real estate market. So far it feels like the busiest spring we have had in years. Home buyers are getting off the fence and housing inventory is shrinking. I'm enjoying the fast pace of the market. Is it a great time to buy? YES! Fortune Magazine agrees. For those adverse to risk, Fortune Magazine says forget stocks and forget gold, invest in real estate. I've shared the cover story for this month's edition below. Is it a great time to sell? YES! The most qualified buyers often wait until … (0 comments)

Hey Fannie, Freddie and HUD! Bullhead City Vacation Home Buyers ARE NOT INVESTORS! They are OWNER OCCUPANTS! - 11:12 AM
Hey Fannie, Freddie and HUD! Bullhead City Vacation Home Buyers ARE NOT INVESTORS! They are OWNER OCCUPANTS!
Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley, AZ are resort, vacation home areas where many, many homeowners are vacation and seasonal home owners.
They do NOT rent out their properties.
They have NO INTENTION of flipping their properties.
They DO live in their properties part time.
Many seasonals and vacationers will relocate and/or retire here.
These consumers love, respect and add to our area culturally.
They have disposable income to enrich our economy by visiting our local shops, casinos, restaurants.
We want these people … (8 comments)

Another strategy to use when negotiating a Loan Modification - 07:50 AM
IL – Lenders hate losing money. They hate loan modifications, principal reductions, and any other thing that causes them to lose money. But, in today's tough economy they have no choice but to accept them. The primary reason a lender will grant a loan modification is because that usually reduces their losses. Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here. If they foreclosed on the house instead, then the losses would be larger. Besides most foreclosures take 18-24 months and often longer. (That alone should convince you that their losses will be larger after … (0 comments)

Short Sales: The Wait To Buy Another Home After A Short Sale Was Recently Changed to 3 Years - 07:53 AM
IL – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Christina. Here is her question. Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here. "I just read your article Frequently Asked Questions about Short Sales. You mention that you can obtain another home loan two years after a short sale. Who are these lenders and how can I contact them? I have been looking but so far no luck. Everyone is insisting we must wait three years. I'd appreciate any information you can provide. Christina." We just heard back from our mortgage broker on … (2 comments)

Mobile AL Real Estate Market Snapshot - 04/13/2011 - 08:10 AM

Below you will find a table that contains the Market Activity report for April 12, 2011 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 04/12/2011
Single Family Homes and Condominiums
Steve Shaw Gulf Region Properties Team Keller Williams Realty … (0 comments)

cRaZy women in Powell - 05:29 AM
crazy in Powell...
the window panel? Door panel?  ... sign on glass says "Evaluation Center for Disturbed Women"

A sign for "Asylum For the Insane"  for sale in an antique store in Powell.   The frame looks older but the lettering on the glass looks pretty darn fresh....
Antique?
Or something made up to look old?
"Evaluation Center for Disturbed Women"  I was in Powell about a week ago and went through a couple of the antique stores,  This sign caught my eye.  Curious.  Very curious.
Edit closing comments due to spam!
… (13 comments)

Schaumburg IL Real Estate - Search for Schaumburg Homes Here! - 04:04 PM
Looking for a home in the Schaumburg IL area?    Check out what's available in Schaumburg Homes now!
These are the current market numbers and availability for Schaumburg Homes.  Lots of great home selections in Schaumburg (184 potential choices) with some below the $200,000 range and we've got great custom construction for price ranges above that!  Build your dream home for $1,600,000 and above.
But the best selection is between $200,000 to $300,000. The current average listing price for Schaumburg Homes is $339,149.  Some 'handyman specials, foreclosures and fixer uppers' are available for buyers trying to get instant equity in the … (3 comments)

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