Archives of real estate blog entries for April 9, 2011

Featured blog posts


Contemplating Personal Notes and Class Acts - 11:32 PM
People love personal notes. I always try to keep up with our local newspapers, THE SYLVA HERALD and THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS to stay informed about things happening in the lives of friends and clients. Its a pleasure to drop a note card or a personalized e-card to someone who's achieved an award or their child may have received recognition for something.  Sometimes its the only way to find out someone may have lost someone important in their lives and you have a chance to reach out to let them know you care.
I love to receive personal notes too. I … (16 comments)

Beautiful office in Madeira beach but nobody in it. - 12:10 AM
Beautiful office but nobody in it.
8 years ago I bought a huge office, completely remodeled it, spend a ton of money on real hard wood floors, and furniture, computers, printers, software etc. It was by far and probably still is the nicest real estate office in Pinellas County. The moment we opened the doors the place was buzzing, we had realtors and clients come in and out all day long. Well, the way we do business has changed, nobody comes to the office anymore. Clients want to meet at the property rather than at the office, realtors all have their … (76 comments)

Home Buyers Heed the Recommendations of Your Agent When it Comes to Professional Services - 07:26 AM
Home Buyers Heed the Recommendations of Your Agent When it Comes to Professional Services Buyers can sometimes be skeptical of their Real estate agent when it comes to recommending other professionals for services. Their thought is that the Agent will somehow be compensated for sending them to a particular professional, or that the professional will take shortcuts that will be detrimental to the buyer. That should never be the case. When a real estate agent recommends a particular bank for the mortgage, lawyer to handle the legal end of the transaction, or home inspector, they are referring them to a professional … (48 comments)

"Google Places"... Are you there? - 06:11 PM
How do buyers find you? Everyone knows I am big on lead generation and have no problem sayin' it. One of the things that I have noticed is how the consumer is searching. It is a way that I would not have believed but it is happening so consistently I wanted to share.
Google.com/Places Now the other interesting thing is the potential buyers are searching my companies name. The back end of my web site shows me how they found me with the exact string the home shopper put in. ex... Keller Williams agent Ann Arbor.
Now I would NEVER search … (126 comments)

Make Your Own ActiveRain Toolbar - 11:33 AM
OK, so admit it... ActiveRain is where you spend a good portion of your online time! In this post, I'm going to share a tip that I use to help me navigate very quickly to all the different pages on AR that I frequent the most. I'm going to show you how to set up your browser's bookmarks bar (a.k.a. favorites bar) with links to your favorite AR pages.
Your favorite pages might be a little different, but mine are "My Home" (ah) stats and dashboard, "Statistics" (as) where you can see hits on your articles as well as who has … (88 comments)

Using Powers Of Attorney To Buy And Sell Real Estate For Those Who Can't - 10:48 AM
Later in life with elderly parents needing to change their housing needs whether to downsize, move back in with family, or move to assisted living or nursing homes, family members need to assist them with their finances and selling or buying property. A Powers of Attorney form with each state governing their rules allows you to assist them. There are three main types:
General - gives general authority, and is often too vague for Title Company purposes Special - authorized for very narrow authority to do a specific act. Sometimes called a specific power of attorney Durable - specifically states that … (29 comments)

Want To Have Me As A Customer???...Then Listen When I Speak - 06:46 PM
Want Me As A Customer...Then Listen When I Speak


I have another listing hitting the market in a few days. It is an estate sale and needed a good cleaning from top to bottom and the carpets cleaned as well. The housecleaning was easy to find as I have a favorite and the best in the area to call when a cleaning like this is needed, Shore Can Clean, but the carpet cleaning was a different story. The carpet cleaner (CC) I had used successfully in the past had retired so I needed a new one to call. The … (26 comments)

LOTS OF LEADS...BUT AT WHAT PRICE? - 12:55 AM
I attended a real estate expo on Wednesday.  It had a plethora of featured speakers with no shortage of topics on how to create more business.  Much of the recommendations included calling as many people as possible in a few hours time.  We were told to commit to calling for at least an hour to 3 hours a day.  We were even given a suggested script.  The speakers confessed that they didn't look forward to doing this, but it is part of being a successful agent.
Now, I have no doubt that this works.  In fact, by the time I left I was … (227 comments)

Have You Ever Tried Living on a Stage? - 01:09 PM
Have You Ever Tried Living on a Stage?
I am one of those REALTORS who has moved before.  Actually, during my corporate years, my wife and I sold our homes seven different times.  We have seen the evolution.  Yes, our house was always freshly painted--my wife used to joke that as soon as she put down the paintbrush from the last project we wanted to do after moving in, I would get the call that it was time for us to move again.  Yes, our house was always picked up and tidy--even with very young children--but "decluttering" and packing up 3/4 … (63 comments)

Listing Presentation Tools- One You Don't Want To Be Without - 11:07 PM
Listing presentation tools- one you don't want to be without. 
If you were at RainCamp AC you heard me talking about doing your listing presentation on your blog without calling it a listing presentation. The seller interviews you without disclosing to you who they are. They have a comfort level lurking, peering into your life, work, business and marketing skills.  One of our favorite listing presentation tools that can be used off-line and on-line is the Clustrmap widget.  This is a widget that you can place on your blog right sidebar and it is FREE.  This is especially powerful if … (73 comments)

Sometimes You Just Have to Take a Little Time to P.L.A.Y.! - 12:40 PM
Sometimes you just have to take a little time to P.L.A.Y.

 
I've been trying to write a post every day and so far, knock wood, I've been doing this since December.  Now for many of the super prolific bloggers here, this is just peanuts! They do it every day and have been doing so for a lot longer than a few months.
Normally I try to write late in the afternoon for the next day's post.  Up around 6, post it, then off to walk.  Doesn't always work out that way, though.  Last night I sat poised... fingers over … (40 comments)

How Many Things to Do Are There in YOUR Community? I Bet There are 365 - 11:50 AM
How Many Things to Do Are There in YOUR Community? I Bet There are 365  Writing about things to do in your community will generate interest in your blog and bring you traffic, and business. 
We all know the value of hyperlocal posts; many writers here on AR are masters. And there is no shortage of things you can write about in your community. 
The 365 Things to Do in ____ (your community) notion has become incredibly popular and spread throughout the blogosphere, with a host of variations, over the last 1+ years with literally hundreds of Things to Do sites. 
… (48 comments)

Why I added Social Media icons to my websites (including an icon to my ActiveRain blog) and so should you. - 10:03 AM
Why I added Social Media icons to my websites (including an icon to my ActiveRain blog) and so should you.
For approximately half of a decade now, I have been writing, sharing photos, and embedding videos on my blog here on ActiveRain. I cannot stress enough how valuable of a role ActiveRain plays into my career as a Celebrity Real Estate Agent and TV personality here in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Via my YouTube channel Sin City 90210 and my blog on ActiveRain, I have made over approx. a million dollars (in 5 years) as well as landed over 30 local and … (25 comments)

Are YOU in the Clouds? You just might find doing business is easier there... - 11:06 AM
Are YOU in the Clouds?  You just might find doing business is easier there...
 
Cloud computing;  You could probably asked a dozen Realtors® what that means and get at least 8 different descriptions  
 
It's a term that's been used time and time again, and means different things to different folks...  So here's my 2 Cents ~ Cloud computing means for me the capacity and availability to get my information from more than just my office computers.  Cloud computing can be a full out application, data sharing, and/or collaborating with my team.Cloud computing is something that I have … (48 comments)

Why Would a Lender Accept a Strategic Short Sale? - 08:44 AM

Hi folks. Judy Chapman wrote a very good article titled  "To do a strategic short sale or not to do a strategic short sale ... that is the question". 
If you haven't read Judy's post please take a minute to do so.
A couple of her readers didn't understand why a Lender would even consider a Strategic Short Sale. This article may help answer that question.
A Strategic Short Sale is a choice. It's a choice made by a seller (borrower) to sell their property to get out from under a mortgage that no longer makes sense and put … (54 comments)

Just for laughs! SEO and email - 12:14 PM
I had a CMA this morning.  So I popped into the office and grabbed my "stuff" for doing a CMA and headed out.  I glanced at my emails and nothing urgent.  I have a new listing, but the owners want to put some "finishing touches" on getting it ready to market, so I'll be taking photos on Monday and you can see my new listing then.
So now that I'm back in the office I'm reading the jokes and watching the videos, oh and I called Brad Anderson and asked him to hook up Abigail with a new Zillow pen.  Someone … (72 comments)

Homeowner Forecloses on Wells Fargo - and WINS - 12:37 AM
Sometimes there are just stories that are too good to pass up.  This homeowner, who was totally fed up with his bank, ended up filing a foreclosure on them for violation of RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) laws - AND WON!  What I didn't understand from this video, and I still don't understand, is why Wells Fargo insisted that he carry a million dollar insurance policy on a home worth about $250,000.  In their words, they said it was to "prevent a total loss should devastating damage occur."  When the homeowner refused to comply, Wells Fargo put a forced-placement policy … (40 comments)

THE OFFICE BULLY; I THINK I JUST FOUND OUT WHO HE IS! - 10:38 PM
THE OFFICE BULLY; I THINK I JUST FOUND OUT WHO HE IS!  I was actually doing a friend a favor--lots of us know what that can mean in the long run! I want to share this story for one reason: This type of behavior seems to be coming more and more a common occurance in this industry...We need to be aware of the smouldering emotions that hide behind a very warm personality, a once trusted associate and handle ourselves with a degree of alertness that we never needed before. A lot of people are really on edge right now!
My Doctor, who lives … (120 comments)

Establishing yourself as the "go to" real estate person has its advantages - 04:40 PM
Establishing yourself as the "go to" real estate person has its advantagesAs a real estate agent you can become the reliable resoure for the community for all real estate questions and then some!  You may end up getting calls for vendors...who to take care of trimming trees, painting, landscaping, sprinkler repair, how much your home is worth, what is the trend in the prices in the community...the list goes on!  They are all excellent opportunities to establish a relationship with future clients and maintain past relationships.
As your dominance in listing homes increases in the neighborhood soon agents will be calling … (54 comments)

Getting the Fluff Out of Here. . . Why Cash Should Be King Again - 10:16 PM
Getting the Fluff Out of Here. . . Why Cash Should Be King Again
I read the featured post Suddenly Last Sunday by Paula Hathaway, and it hasn't left my thoughts all weekend.  She invited me to write a supporting post, but I must admit it will take me more time to put my thoughts together on the matter.  Even before reading that piece though, my blood was coming to a slow boil over the economic situation in the country.  Things have been bad for a long time now; there is so much pain out there right now over financial issues, … (67 comments)

Activerain Newbies: Don't Become Intimidated By The Points - 10:36 AM
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time of course. Frankly, I don't know why anyone would want to eat an elephant. I'm more of a buffalo man myself, but I digress. The saying is accurate, because if we view seemingly large goals as a giant task, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. I've been intending to write a post about Activerain points for some time now. When one first comes to Activerain, you see these point totals, 100,000, 250,000, the rare half a million points and think you'll never get there. 
Imagine my suprise, when Charita … (51 comments)

Humphrey's Field Guide to the Great North American Timewaster - 05:18 PM
Good morning campers! Hope everyone has their binoculars at the ready! Today I am going to introduce you to a few variants of the Great North American Timewaster, some species that you may encounter when on your outings into the Real Estate Jungle searching for nesting birds. None of these creatures is poisonous, but a few can suck the life out of you in other ways; it is well worth your time to learn their distinguishing features so that you will be able to identify and avoid them. Ready? Great, let's go!

 

The Blue-Footed Booby - This shy creature will come … (28 comments)

I guess I'm official now...I had to file my first RE related police report....Also a lesson in trusting your gut! - 12:24 PM
One thing I can say about being in the wonderful world of real estate is that it is never dull for me...I seem to have some of the strangest things happen, at times even things my managing brokers have never seen.... 
To make a long story short, I have a client who is renting a home just a few houses away from a HUD property she has a fully executed contract for...She keeps a close eye on the people coming and going especially now that her offer is now official...Yesterday she noticed a truck backed up to the home with two guys … (68 comments)


Blog posts


International Real Estate for Sale - Green Hotel in Fishing Village - Portugal Real Estate - 08:51 AM
Ecological Hotel in Portugal Fishing Village … (0 comments)

Last Two Commission Checks Were Active Rain Referrals - 12:07 PM
Active Rain has now become my first stop when looking for a referral agent.  And did I get a response when I posted a buyer referral.  Some agents responded immediately and it took others a few weeks (I don't get that). 
I had spent some time with a very picky buyer looking for Orland Park and Tinley Park homes and after several showings she mentioned that she was interested in looking in Indiana.  When I say she was a picky buyer I meant she was picky with agents.  She interviewed me in my office before committing to working with me.  So … (4 comments)

We Don't Want To Be #1 In Our Market! - 11:08 AM
This is a good post about working with small teams or Brokers.  Home Point Real Estate is not the biggest (far from it) Broker around, and that has never been our goal.  Our goal has been to provide great service to the clients we have.  Personal attention.
If you want great service go to HomePointRealEstate.com.
Via Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton (513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com):
We Don't Want To Be #1 In Our Market! Yes, you read that right!  We DON'T want to be the listing team with 100 homes on the market!  There's no aspiration to have … (4 comments)

"Completely New Roof" - 11:11 AM
Here is a great post from Jay Markanish, he is a top Home Inspector in Virginia.  He talks about what to watch for when someone says they have put on a new roof.
If you are looking at Buying a Home go to HomePointRealEstate.com.
Via Jay Markanich (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC):
So said the ad, that the roof had been "completely redone" and was a "completely new roof."
To me that means the previous layer, or layers, of shingles had been removed, and new tar paper and shingles were applied.  (It also could mean that new sheathing was put down everywhere, … (0 comments)

The Cost of 100% Financing - 11:19 AM
When you hear about 100% financing be careful.  In fact be careful about any financing that sounds too good to be true.  There are deals and ways to do things but each one has a catch.  This post is an example.
If you are looking at Buying a Home go to HomePointRealEstate.com.
Via Karen Rittenhouse (Triad Residential Solutions):
The Cost of 100% Financing
 
Tuesday was a good day for the business. We had two closings on properties we sold.
Here was the interesting thing about one of them. The buyers came to closing with USDA financing. Are you familiar? Under … (0 comments)

New Construction . . . Bells and Whistles - 02:32 PM
If you are looking at Buying a New Home here is a post you should consider.  I work with people Buying a New Home too, but you should always be aware of the details.  You should also always use your own agent when Buying a New Home and never go to the models without getting the agent first.
If you have questions about Buying a New Home go to HomePointRealEstate.com first and let us know what you are looking for.
Via Carla Muss-Jacobs Principal Broker/Owner EBA Portland LLC | 503.810.7192 | (Exclusive Buyers' Agent for the Portland Metro Area):
New Construction is very … (6 comments)

It's Time For Us to Give Back: RainMaker Price Breaks - 06:48 AM
I've been around Active Rain since 2006, so I am one of the Original Grandmas.  :-) 
I think this new pricing structure is a great idea.
Via ActiveRain Corp.:
Our active members and their generous contribution to our Community makes ActiveRain what it is today.  In the spirit of recognizing our most dedicated members we are introducing new reduced RainMaker pricing. Members who are constantly blogging, commenting and inviting new members are adding to the value of AR so we want to reward them for their contributions.
We have adjusted our RainMaker subscription cost.  The more active you are the less moolah you'll … (4 comments)

For lease: Vintage 1 bedroom loft in Higgins Building - 02:59 PM
Offered for lease:  102 West 2nd Street, unit #208
1 bedroom, 1 bath loft with private patio deck in the Higgins Building.

The historically designated Higgins Building is filled with a sense of vintageLos Angeles elegance and charm, and is one of the first adaptive re-usebuildings in the Historic Los Angeles Civic Center Core District. 
The building offers 24 hour Concierge/Security and has many authentic loft featureslike polished concrete floors, original tile, exposed brickand ductwork and the original cage elevators.

On the top floor you'll find a roof-top lounge with amazing city views. The retail street level includes PitFire Pizza, Lilya's China Bistro,Groundsworks, … (1 comments)

Mortgage Rates Change Little Amid Positive Employment Report - 11:34 AM
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), which shows the 30-year fixed-rate inching upward for the third consecutive week to 4.87 percent but well below its average of 5.21 percent a year ago, the highest it had been since August 13, 2009.
Read the  FULL STORY
… (1 comments)

SHORT SALE! Triplex and Fourplex! Huge Price Drop! - 11:40 AM
Fourplex NOW $139,000! Huge Price drop on this unique Opportunity! All reasonable offers will be submitted to bank! Please do not talk or disturb Tenants! Large 2 BR 2 Bath Owners Unit with Washer/Dryer, 1040 sqft and attached 2 Car Garage! Three 2 BR 1 Bath Units, 625 sqft each. One Apartment is vacant. Needs work, but mostly cosmetic.
Triplex now $135,000! Huge Price Reduction! This is an Opportunity to own a unique property! All reasonable offers will be submitted to bank! Please do not talk or disturb Tenants! Spacious 2 story Townhouse style 2 Bedroom 1 3/4 Bath Owners Unit … (2 comments)

Late Night Dining ..Baltimore's Sabatino's in Little Italy! - 02:02 AM
Baltimore has wonderful restaurants and here is another of our favorites...Sabatino's in Little Italy! We went with friends after an evening at the BSO..
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra There is not a lot of late night dining  in Baltimore but this is one... Sabatino's in Little Italy!
                                                             
 
Our food was beautiful, fresh, hot and delicious.
The first dish on the left is VEAL FRANCESE PARMIGIANA ...Tender medallions of veal lightly breaded, pan browned, topped with homemade tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese... recommended by our waitress and enjoyed by all.
The plate on the right is TLH 's all … (19 comments)

Why Would a Lender Accept a Strategic Short Sale? - 08:44 AM

Hi folks. Judy Chapman wrote a very good article titled  "To do a strategic short sale or not to do a strategic short sale ... that is the question". 
If you haven't read Judy's post please take a minute to do so.
A couple of her readers didn't understand why a Lender would even consider a Strategic Short Sale. This article may help answer that question.
A Strategic Short Sale is a choice. It's a choice made by a seller (borrower) to sell their property to get out from under a mortgage that no longer makes sense and put … (54 comments)

Prospecting For New Business....A Concert of Methods Produce The Best Results!!! - 06:05 AM
thanks for sharing...I agree the upside of using Social Fusion and traditional best practices is the number reason I see agents misunderstand the value adn the core of those two subjects...one with out the other leaves agents puzzled as to why they are not as successful as they expect to be....once learned and understand the sky is the limit....a balance of great closing techniques (call it what you would like) and social media creates a system of expected and measured results....coming in second place is not a result in real estate....those that get it are successful; those that do one without … (3 comments)

Should I buy One bedroom Condo or Two or more bedrooms Condo??? - 08:54 AM
Biggest attraction for the my first time home buyers, investors or empty nester downsizing love condos in the Northern Virginia area. Very fact condos needs low maintenance itself is a biggest justification for them to purchase a condo. Other reasoning we all know is location. Sometimes condos are the only options when you are looking for housing in certain prime location. Apart from that the questions comes up what is better to buy a one bedroom unit or a two or more bedroom unit condo. Scenario: Recently I was working with a young professional individual. As a first time home buyer … (4 comments)

Lipstick on a Pig – Understanding the Dangers of Rehabbed Foreclosures - 12:20 PM
Many first time investors, buyers and even experience seller read about the success stories online or have viewed commercial about the overnight $$$$ person made by flipping a foreclosure property in Virginia. Unfortunately the reality is that there is so more involved than just the initial sales price.
Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):
Lipstick on a Pig – Understanding the Dangers of Rehabbed Foreclosures
 
With millions of homes having been lost to foreclosure and millions more to come, savvy “investors” may purchase some of the best deals with the intention of turning them for a quick profit.  Unfortunately, some of those … (1 comments)

Tenants...It is none of your business!!!!! - 01:26 PM
With spring market is full swing in Virginia and around the country, Realtors are running around crazy trying our best to accommodate and work with buyers to show homes. There are so many short sales and regular sales where tenants are being a pain to schedule showings. They are restricting the times Realtor can bring buyer to show homes. I had a rental family that was interested in previewing a rental listing. With low inventory, this was thee home my folks wanted to see. After 3 times rescheduling finally we got an appointment. Tenants who are planning to move out the … (0 comments)

Dublin home sales - 03:46 AM
Dublin home sales for March 2011 brought to you by Maureen McCabe of Real Living HER

This graph is showing homes for sale and sold for the Dublin City School District for the past 15 months.  The dark green bars on the graph are the numbers of homes sold each month.  The light green bars are the homes for sale in Dublin schools each month.  You can see Central Ohio and Dublin home sales are seasonal.
The homes represented in this graph are listed as single family homes.  This graph does not include properties listed as condominiums.
Search Dublin homes … (2 comments)

Worthington Ohio - Smart City - 11:02 AM
Those in Worthington know Old is good. 
Old Worthington
Historic preservation... 
A friend in Memphis shared an article about historic 
http://www.smartcitymemphis.com/2011/04/misunderstanding-historic-preservation/
I was disappointed to see Flint School missing one night when I drove throught the Far North Columbus community, actually I drove by when it was being torn down.
 
… (0 comments)

Did Localism Die? - 12:35 PM
There is still a link to Localism on the ActiveRain dashboard.

Postings to the site which was "powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network " seems to have ceased a little over a month ago.  Last posts I see on the Localism site looking at Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin are dated February 28, 2011. 
Do the States pages (here's Ohio)  on Localism replace having a separate site for the Localism content?  Remember when those pages were changed?  The outcry over the old pages on ActiveRain?  The most important thing to most seemed to be the Leader Board?   Are the … (24 comments)

Home sales in Olentangy schools - 09:06 PM
Home sales in Olentangy schools brought to you by Maureen McCabe of Real Living HER

This graph shows homes for sale (light green bars) and home sales (dark green bars) for the past 15 months in the Olentangy Local School District in southern Delaware County Ohio.  The graph and market report are just for homes listed as single family homes.  The graph (and market report)  do not include all residential properties in the school district which would include condominiums. 
You can see our market is seasonal looking at those dark green bars!  The dark green bars, the homes sold  are … (0 comments)

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