Archives of real estate blog entries for April 21, 2011

Featured blog posts


Youtube's NEW Online Video Editing Tools - 01:44 AM
Youtube's NEW Online Video Editing Tools and Features
I've been waiting since the launch of Youtube for them to do this.  Now that it's finally in place, I can only imagine that it's just going to get better and become an even more powerful module for Youtube video users.  The new Video editing features are awesome.  Let me show you some things you can do with that raw video from your mobile device, your flip or Kodak video camera, or even that HD $2000 video camera you just got for your birthday.
In order to use this new Youtube feature, you … (91 comments)

The Art of the Handwritten Thank You Note - 11:39 PM
The Art of the Handwritten Thank You Note  We've all heard, or most have, that there's something special about a handwritten "thank you" in today's age of email, texting, voice mail and mass produced newsletters and postcards. 
We all get bombarded with what I call artificial or impersonal communication, standing over the circular inbox to file it or tapping the delete key to make it go away. Admit it - you do that don't you? 
It's likely most of this form of communication makes less impact than we would hope, and our well-intentioned efforts may be met with a ho hum … (99 comments)

The Top 5 Most Useless Real Estate Listing Headlines - 03:24 AM
1." Owner Says sell!"
Really? Thanks for pointing that out. Stating the bleeding obvious may well be the absolute truth of the matter, but it's still completely useless.
2. "Beautifully Appointed"
I hate this term cliché when I see it and I see it a lot. Go into Google now and key in the search term ‘beautifully appointed'.  It's been done to death people and barely registers on a buyer's "must inspect "metre. "Next!"
3. "Impressive _____________! "
Impressive is an impressive word and in my property hunting experience, few can genuinely live up to it. It would seem to me that … (181 comments)

Houses Are NOT Bought Purely For Logical Reasons - 02:31 PM
Especially for men I would say to inform them that
Houses Are NOT Bought Purely For Logical Reasons
Logic has its PART, like monthly payment, square footage, floor plan, size of lot, distance to work, property taxes etc. but the reality is houses
Are bought on emotion and justified by logic.
What I mean by that is the "feeling" you have with picking out that house that becomes home. Women have a sixth sense with this feeling part but men have it if just to a lesser extent.
… (50 comments)

How to Submit a Low Offer - 11:37 AM
How to Submit a Low Offer on a New York Listing
What is more compelling to someone selling a home when presented with an offer on their property:
A voicemail     or A well written offer sheet complete with a cover letter, proof of funds, pre approval and specific terms If you are like me, you'll choose option two. So let me ask a question: If a well presented, full package is more convincing, would it not be especially wise when the offer is low? Would a low offer not need even more justification and clarity? Would a seller not ask … (40 comments)

Home Inspections In The Rain - 05:44 AM
Sometimes people will call me to ask if our scheduled home inspection should be canceled because it's a rainy day.  Of course I say NO!  When it's raining and water is flowing, on, off and around a house, you can see things not otherwise manifest!
Take this house for instance.  When I got there it had been raining all night and well into the morning.  It was raining hard at the time I arrived.  Taking the time to carry my things to the front porch, I noticed this leaking under the front porch roof.
There isn't any reason why water should … (59 comments)

Conquering the BIG "F" - 09:09 PM
There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure...
I was overwhelmed by this quote today.  We see failure all around us - friends walking away from their business, people working 2, 3 even 4 jobs, neighbors filing bankruptcy, peers going into foreclosure, the list goes on.  All the while, the media pumps out dire real estate news, causing panic in anyone who has ever thought of purchasing a home.  Is there any wonder why we're frozen by fear and are so afraid we're going to fail?
What You Focus on Expands
Would you … (35 comments)

Realtor Writes Letter to State Representative in Hopes of Help with Short Sale - 07:41 PM
A good Realtor friend of mine got frustrated with a short sale....How unusual????
He wrote this letter to our state representative to see if it might make a difference....  I certainly hope he get help!!!
Hi Sir,Hope this finds you and your wife well!I could sure use some direction on an issue I am having with "short sales".  One in particular, many in general.Here is the condensed version of my issue:  I am representing the buyer.1)  February 27, 2011 my clients and I find a short sale in the (Ashland, Medford area).  Call the listing agent, it is available at $219,900.  The agent … (16 comments)

Now THIS is a Spring Basket Auction Every One Can Enjoy- A Joint WCR Meeting and Everyone was a Winner!!! - 05:06 PM

Today's business meeting of the Women's Council of Realtors was a joint effort by the Greater Palm Beach Chapter and the Jupiter/Tequesta/Hobe Sound Chapter and it featured a Spring Basket Auction... always a favorite.
It was held at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott this Thursday, April 21, 2011.   Sandy Shepherd (Greater Palm Beach Chapter President) and Lynne Rifkin ( Jupiter/Tequesta/Hobe Sound Chapter President) presided over a packed room.
Our sponsor today was Steve Fenton of Handyman Matters.   Steve and Handyman Matters can help with any kind of repairs for a home but he is also a General Contractor … (23 comments)

Hey! I can blog that! - 01:16 PM
There have been a myriad of posts talking about what to do when you find yourself out of ideas for your posts.  In fact there's a featured post today called "when the blog posts idea generator is on the fritz..." by Bliz and Zil, or Biz and Lill, ooh... just  call them B'Liz.... suggesting that when you dry up, you should post about local things.
Fortunately for me (and often unfortunately for YOU)... I rarely have that problem.  I rarely go to the well and find it dry.  For me the well is often overflowing.  I find things to blog about … (50 comments)

Carnegie Hill: Manhattan Neighborhood Guide - 01:17 PM
Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side, Manhattan Uptown on the East Side, from 86th Street to 98th Street and from Lexington Avenue to Central Park.

The Carnegie Hill section of Manhattan, full of magnificient townhouses that are rarely for sale because their owners tend to hang on to them, has wonderful access to Central Park.
Larger buildings house prewar apartments of six or seven rooms, known as “Classic Sixes” and “Classic Sevens,” but the light in the area is generous as even these magnificient co-ops are usually not too tall.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
… (14 comments)

On Submitting Purchase and Sale Agreements - 03:07 PM
On Presenting the Washington State Purchase and Sale Agreement
In every state, laws have been enacted to help the public move through life with a regard for the accepted way of completing certain transactions. Some procedures have been found so damaging to the public interest that they have been made illegal. The real estate industry is guided by many such laws.
Some industries, like real estate, have practitioners who form groups, like the REALTORS®, which have devised stricter guidelines in the form of what we call our Code of Ethics. From the Preamble to the National Association of Realtors® Code of … (38 comments)

Nice Play Shakespeare - 03:53 PM
 
Earlier this afternoon I was showing some houses to clients of mine. They are great clients and it's fun touring around with them. The houses we are looking at fall under the "cosy" category.
We entered one particular house and were greeted by three rather young cats who started nuzzling around our legs as we walked through the house. Not a problem, this is quite common, they seemed nice enough.
When we were leaving the house I encountered a problem that I run into often enough. I forgot where I put the lockbox cover (I'm smart enough to leave the … (27 comments)

Spring Is Really Here ..... "The Evidence From Our Back Yard" - 08:58 PM

Spring Is Really Here ..... "The Evidence From Our Yard"
Spring In Greater Victoria is such an amazing time of the year, there are flowers everywhere, today I took a short trip, ....... to our backyard and took a few quick shots of some of the remnants of Peter's Dutch heritage.... We hope you like them...
 

 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This Information was provided to you compliments of Victoria BC Realtors, "Peter and Linda Pfann", Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA)®.  CPCAs are committed to providing exceptional service, … (39 comments)

Hey, Texas Fun Bunch & The Rest of You Funsters! Are You Going? Are You Going? Ha, Ha, Ha, I Can't Stop Laughing! I AM GOING! I AM GOING! To Rain Camp in Dallas! - 05:31 PM
DON'T   BE   LEFT   OUT  ! ! !    PLEASE DON'T WIMP OUT...JOIN THE CROWD!  REGISTER NOW!
ActiveRain Camp is finally coming to DALLAS, TEXAS!  I joined ActiveRain just over 6 months ago and I have to tell you ActiveRain changed my life!  First, I never expected to join anything that would take the time I willingly (GLADLY!) devote to ActiveRain daily.  Second, I never expected ActiveRain to provide so many networking, learning, business growing, and MONEY IN THE BANK opportunities.
My marketing goal is that I EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS!  I understand this and it is what I do everyday in my business of listing and selling properties.  ActiveRain is … (32 comments)

Etiquette, Ethics and Common Courtesy - 02:46 PM
Etiquette, Ethics and Everyday Courtesy
Recently, I took the course on The Ethical and Professional Practices of REALTORS®.  I think most of us consider ourselves to be ethical, in a general sense.  
But have you actually read the Code of Ethics?  (I see a couple of hands scattered around the room...)
It consists of 17 Articles with Standards of Practice listed further clarifying them.  It starts with a preamble: "Under all is the land...."   Zzzzzzzz......
It even spells out the Golden Rule, for those of us unfamiliar with it. (No, I'm not talking about "he who has the gold … (47 comments)

Happy Wife, Happy Life...? - 05:42 PM
 

Last Summer my wife brought home this little sign from one of her Craft Show excursions and has used it as a humorous suggestion for me to figure out how to make her happy. If she really wanted to get my attention she could have just faxed me an addendum with her request…I would have certainly got that.
Here’s what it would have said: “Here’s a list of things you can do as a husband that if you can do these things without being reminded, prodded or nagged would ultimately make me, your queen, Very Happy!”
“Everything on … (49 comments)

I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But How in the World Are You Managing to Practice Real Estate? - 05:31 PM
It's been an interesting week.  Sometimes you just get a listing that attracts agents you can't even believe hold a real estate license.  Like moths to a flame, these clueless wonders throw their half-hearted attempts at writing offers onto the pile.  Maybe they don't care.  Maybe they think they know best and that all that matters is price.  Maybe their English is so poor you can barely communicate with them.  Mind you, the Commonwealth of Virginia does not allow contracts to be written in any language other than English.  In fact, you can't take your real estate license test in any other language … (113 comments)

Time Management Is Bogus - 09:29 PM
Here's a little secret for you: there is no Santa Claus, no Easter Bunny and no Tooth Fairy. 
There also is no such thing as TIME MANAGEMENT.
We all have the same amount of time every day: 24 hours. 60 minutes in each hour. 60 seconds in each minute.
What you CHOOSE to do with that time is up to you.
But you cannot manage time. You can only choose what you do with that time you are given.
You can be proactive and set aside your time, time block and make appointments in your schedule for all you have to/want … (39 comments)

The First Thing I Should Do... - 03:27 PM
I often wonder how long it takes for people to make up their minds about something.
I just finished reading a book by Malcolm Gladwell called Blink.  Throughout the book the author commonly refers to a term called Thin Slicing.This term is described as, "our ability to gauge what is really important from a very narrow period of experience. In other words, this is an idea that spontaneous decisions are often as good as-or even better than-carefully planned and considered ones."
In the book, the author argues that a person makes up

 their mind in a split second.  Does that mean … (26 comments)

Man Up.... Hell, LADY UP! - 11:53 AM
If someone asks 3 questions I try to provide 4-5 answers. If they call me Saturday morning at 7:30 I make sure to call them back at 6:30 on Sunday morning. If my seller calls me twice a day to brainstorm about the market I make sure to call him 3-5 times the following day to brainstorm about their price.
 
I always (try) draw lines in a professional and straight forward manner; you have to in this business. Ever wonder why amusement parks, concerts and exhibits have so many checkpoints, ropes, signs and bullet points about "how to have fun?"  … (62 comments)

Call to Action from the National Association of Realtors - 12:50 PM
Call to Action from the National Association of Realtors
 
I decide to help sread the word to other Realtors on behalf of the NAR. I signed up for their newsletter a while back and here is the news:

 
Right now is the right time to urge Congress to preserve, protect and defend the mortgage interest deduction (MID) before they whittle down the MID at the expense of other more expedient budget cuts. Consider the consequences if homeowners and buyers lose the time-honored and cherished MID deduction. This tax deduction built the dream of homeownership in America. The bottom … (15 comments)


Blog posts


Condos & Townhouses - Blue Ridge Mountains NC Real Estate - WynnDcorp - 06:49 AM
Mountain View Luxury & Leisure Condos … (0 comments)

28th Amendment - Is it Time? - 10:32 AM

Here's a good start.....                                                                                                                      Brilliant concept!              Start the 28th Amendment                                                                                                                                                                                                    The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified!   Why?  Simple!  The people demanded it.  That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.                                                                                                                                                Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.                                                                                                                                                                                                          I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; … (2 comments)

Selling a Home in Pleasant Hill California - 04:17 PM
Selling a Home in Pleasant Hill California
If you are thinking of Selling a Home in Pleasant Hill California now may be the time to act.  Pleasant Hill is a popular community in Central Contra Costa County there is easy access to most of the East Bay and BART into San Francisco. 
Pleasant Hill is an upscale community offering fine parks, schools, shopping, dinning, golf and other recreational activities.
Home Prices in Pleasant Hill have fallen about 8% from last year based on Price Per Square Foot as per the attached chart:

However, there are a number of things to … (0 comments)

Are you Selling a House or are you Selling a Listing? - 06:13 PM
Are you Selling a House or are you Selling a Listing?
When Selling a House I think we would all love to have a stream of buyers lined up offering us a higher and higher price for the house.  When I am Selling a House for a client I know I love it when several people (or more) are all bidding on the same house; each one offering more and more than the last to get the house.
Of course you have to watch those offers when you are Selling a House to make sure the buyer has a solid offer.  … (2 comments)

Stanislaus County Short Sale Specialist - Change & Adapt or Go Out of Business - 08:28 PM
Stanislaus County Short Sale Specialist - Change & Adapt or Go Out of Business
Any business that thinks that it can rest on its laurels and maintain the status quo will probably not be around a long time.  Even McDonalds, the company that pretty much everyone in the world recognizes still spends billions (that's with a B) of dollars every year on advertising.  Most successful companies try to improve on what they do.                              
The same can be said for a Realtor.  In the seven years that I have been in the business I have seen the market change drastically, … (7 comments)

YOU'RE INVITED! Broker's Brunch in Brimfield Wednesday, April 27th 10-12 Noon - 03:58 PM
YOU'RE INVITED!  Broker's Brunch in Brimfield Wednesday, April 27th 10-12 Noon Hi All!  Just wanted to take a minute and invite you to our Broker's Brunch coming up on Wednesday, April 27th from 10AM - 12 Noon.  The first 5 people to come will receive a dozen of fresh eggs from the hens of the house.   Location:  3 St. George Road                Brimfield, MA 01010 Time:  10AM - 12 Noon Price:  $310,000
… (1 comments)

JUST LISTED - 3 Unit Multi-Family For Sale in Webster, MA - 01570 - 04:17 PM
JUST LISTED - 3 Unit Multi-Family For Sale in Webster, MA - 01570 JUST LISTED by Best Option Real Estate with RE/MAX Professional Associates!  This fully rented 3 family located at 26 Lincoln Street in Webster, MA was just listed April 12, 2011! For more photos, info & pricing visit our Fan Page.





Have a home to sell?  Visit us online to get a free comparative market analysis.  MLS #71215393
… (4 comments)

Learning to Give God all that is His - 12:02 AM
Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira  1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t … (5 comments)

Taking Down The Bird Feeder - 08:04 PM
 
This is the best analogy yet! Leave it to Maxine to come up with a solution   For the mess that  America is now in economically.
 
I bought a  bird feeder. I hung It on my back porch and filled It with seed. What a beauty of A bird feeder it was, as I filled it lovingly   with seed. Within a Week we had hundreds of bird s Taking advantage of the Continuous flow of free and Easily accessible food.
But then the bird s started Building nests in the boards Of the patio, above … (3 comments)

School of Trials - 08:53 PM
1 Peter 4:12-13 (GOD’S WORD Translation) Share Christ’s Sufferings  12Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don’t feel as though something strange is happening to you, 13but be happy as you share Christ’s sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory.
 
When you are facing a trial in your life are you also counting it all joy? Just as a young tree that has just been planted our roots are not very deep until we have matured. A young tree needs to be … (3 comments)

Welcome to the loan biz, FOX TV - 10:28 AM
A few day ago, Frank McCourt, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, took a loan from FOX to "meet payroll". http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2011/04/frank-mccourt-dodgers-fox-bud-selig-loan-payroll.html
MLB commissioner, Bud Selig, decided this did not look good, and ordered a league representative to take over operation of the Dodgers.  http://www.theeastsiderla.com/2011/04/mlb-takes-over-the-dodgers/
 
Baseball fans will have many opinions .... But I see something else here ....
Is FOX interested in making loans?
If so, I know of a large number of buyers (and homeowners wanting to refi) that no longer qualify for a mortage under today's stringent bank standards.  Many are self-employed, small business people, who actually are able to make their … (0 comments)

To Realtors and Buyers I have a question for you - 07:28 PM
Okay, this photo has absolutely nothing to do with the topic. I just liked it. I took this in Warwick Neck for a blog post that I am doing.
My question is to Realtors and to Buyers.  I had a Buyer call me on one of my listings. Actually he found me on Zillow!!
He is fully qualified and is a first time homebuyer.
The listing he had called on had already been at highest and best and we were not taking any more offers.
I asked if he was working with a Realtor and he said that he has spoken … (14 comments)

Comments Are Like Little Individual Gifts! - 11:59 PM
One of the things I enjoy about blogging is the instant gratification achieved by the comments left on my daily blogs.  Comments are like little individual gifts!
Look at this comment from my special friend... Joeann Fossland  who wrote "You ROCK!!!!! Margaret! Congratulations. They are wise to watch what you do and share your creativity and brilliance!!!!"
I am so glad that I invited Joeann to join ActiveRain back in 2006. I remember when she started her seven year old grandaughter blogging.
                           **************************************************
 
But today Marney Kirk and I spoke at the GBBR Why I Blog.... NOT...Why You … (30 comments)

The Worst Short Sale Lender. The results are in. - 08:47 AM
Hi Folks. I sent out a Poll yesterday trying to determine who Short Sale Agents from around the Country believe to be the worst Short Sale Lender. Bank of America won the title of Worst Short Sale Lender with 27% of the votes!!

I guess this isn't much of a surprise. Bank of America has been trying hard to turn it around by offering training to agents and using systems like Equator to make things easier. BUT......I guess it just ain't working. Why is that?
Is it because of all the old Country Wide loans they took over? Is it … (19 comments)

Map of Private Schools in Denver - 12:17 PM
Metro Denver has a wonderful selection of Private Schools View Denver Private Schools in a larger map If you discover there is a school I've not included, please submit the pertinent information and email it to me. I will be happy to include your private school as long as it's in the Denver metro area. … (4 comments)

Miami developers discount condos up to 50% - 11:27 AM
Miami developers discount condos up to 50% Buyers are taking advantage of the remaining developer inventory in Miami luxury Condos.
Currently there are fifty (50) new condominium towers in Miami-Dade County that still have unsold units. Most of these have been discounted from their boom pricing by from 25 to 50% depending on the building, how many units are left and who owns the property..
Some have just a handful of units remaining while others have 100′s..
… (0 comments)

Hoppy Easter Advice...Straight From the Bunny - 04:08 PM
 

 
… (3 comments)

PLumbing problems - 05:57 PM
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
-- Benjamin Franklin
Home Maintenance Tip -Tips for Preventing Plumbing Problems
 
When your home's plumbing system is working well, all is right with the world! Here are a few maintenance tips to help avoid plumbing problems that can literally soak you.
 
Use strainers for sink and tub drains to prevent clogs.  
Refrain from flushing anything other than toilet paper down the toilet.  
Do not pour grease down drains.  
Close foundation vents in the fall and winter seasons to prevent pipes from freezing.  
If your house is going … (1 comments)

Montgomery Real Estate For Sale:575 Cloverdale Road Montgomery, AL 36106 - 08:35 AM
… (2 comments)

What Some Don't Know They Do Not Know Could Fill Volumes - 09:03 PM
I recently was connected to a wonderful couple by a fellow Rainer AND a kindred ROCKER. Thanks so much again, Vic!
This couple had been approached by a buyer for their Bullhead City, AZ home.
The buyer didn't see why either party needed an agent . . . the deal would be quick, all cash and easy. (Turned out to be 1 of the 3--not all cash, and it was a little 'involved'--but we did get it done quickly.)
When your boss is a real estate broker (as the case was with one of the sellers), you KNOW that having representation … (6 comments)

Related links

New Members for 2011-04-21

 Archives:

30 Apr
29 Apr
28 Apr
27 Apr
26 Apr
25 Apr
24 Apr
23 Apr
22 Apr
21 Apr
20 Apr
19 Apr
18 Apr
17 Apr
16 Apr
15 Apr
14 Apr
13 Apr
12 Apr
11 Apr
10 Apr
9 Apr
8 Apr
7 Apr
6 Apr
5 Apr
4 Apr
3 Apr
2 Apr
1 Apr
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006