Archives of real estate blog entries for May 31, 2011

Featured blog posts


The Hospital is Only as Good as the Doctor Who Treats You! - 01:06 AM
The Hospital is Only as Good as the Doctor Who Treats You! The school is only as good as the teacher your child gets! And the real estate company is only as good as the agent you work with.
When associated with the big real estate company, I asked three questions on a listing appointment...now there are only two questions.
1-Are you 100% sure you want to sell your house?  2-Are you 100% sure you want to use me?
The third question used to be: "Do you have any questions about the company I work for?" Most times there were none … (93 comments)

Divorce And Real Estate - 06:48 PM
It's a subject we don't like to address often, but divorce happens. In fact, nearly half of all marriages end in a parting of the ways. And when those divorces happen, very often, a home is involved in the process. Often, the couples and families involved in a divorce don't communicate well. That lack of communication and compromise often leads to a problematic real estate situation.
A Cautionary Tale
A few years ago, a couple we'll call Lance and Tracy (not their actual names) went through a divorce, and nearly lost their home as a result. After ten years of timely … (57 comments)

Bad MLS Photos - 03:46 PM
Do you do something every day to help the real estate market improve?
It's an odd question given most agents are just waiting for good things to happen. But I'm offering this small challenge.
Spend just FIVE MINUTES every day doing something that will help the market.
A small thing.
 
You are in the mls looking at new listings and you see a tilted house. You know we all see them most every day! 
Take that photo, straighten it out and send it to the listing agent all fixed up.
 
DEMONSTRATION
Below is a good example of a tilted … (80 comments)

Will County, Illinois ... Showcasing a Great Place to Live, Pt. 1 - 02:45 PM
 
 Will County, Illinois ... Showcasing a Great Place to Live, Pt. 1
 
     
     Will County in Illinois is beating the odds!       
    The Illinois Association of Realtors recently reported that Will County's median and average home prices rose during the 1st Quarter of 2011 versus the prices of a year ago.       
     According to the Chicago Tribune's reporter, Mary Ellen Podmolik ... all the national accolades that many of the County's communities have received has definitely boosted the county's reputation as a good place to live.  The positive news regarding home prices proves it.       
     … (6 comments)

Top Five Reasons Why home buyers are sitting on the Fence. - 02:31 PM
Top five  Reasons Why Home buyers are sitting on the Fence .
1. Buyers may have been looking at homes since January and have narrowed the search to one or two neighborhoods but they may not want to make an offer because they may think the perfect house may come on the market. They may want to look at more homes specially those with champagne taste and beer budget.
2. Buyers may be waiting for prices to  fall further.
3 Buyers may be waiting for lower interest rates.
4.Buyers may be uncertain about their employment and worried about a lay  off.
5 … (45 comments)

How Will the Government Financial Overhaul Impact the Phoenix Real Estate Market? - 12:42 PM
I have to say this first. This will be my official first post on my own blog on ActiveRain. I have spent a lot of time trying to pull together this first post only to get really wound up over the quality of the content and so on. Here is the thing, the feeling that all needs to be perfect is my own mind helping me procrastinate. So instead of procrastinating I am writing. Thank you for reading my blog and here is the real reason for writing it.
 
The impact of the financial overhaul that the government is proposing … (27 comments)

Outdoor Movies at the Beach - 07:25 AM
Outdoor Movies at the Beach

Starting on June 1st, 2011, Every Wednesday evening, Outdoor Movies can be enjoyed at the Atlantic Beach Circle.  Movies begin at dusk (usually around 8:00 PM) and are Free to the public.  Parking is also free for Movie Goers.  Bring your beach blankets, camp chairs, and a picnic dinner and kick back on the beach to watch great movies. 
 
June 1st - Despicable Me
June 8th - ET the Extra Terrestrial
June 15th - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
June 22nd - Field of Dreams
June 29th - Raiders of … (29 comments)

ActiveRain Meetup NYC - Chris Paredes - 02:47 PM
ActiveRain has a new senior developer on the job! His name is Chris Paredes and he's doing a terrific job in some unusual and often stressful circumstances. Chris came on the job as some shifting and shuffling was going with the ActiveRain lead staffing. His responsibilities quickly became magnified as the previous technical lead, Jorgen, had decided to move on. Chris has stepped up and is doing a great job! As Niki has oft mentioned, their focus right now is on system stability and Chris is working tirelessly behind the scenes for all of us in this regard!
I had the priviledge today … (31 comments)

Whisky A -Go-Go: A Must visit Rock Mecca on the Sunset Strip! - 05:09 PM
Whisky A -Go-Go: A Must visit Rock Mecca on the Sunset Strip!

As I was driving on Sunset Boulevard I drove by Whisky A-Go-Go (http://www.whiskyagogo.com ) and started remembering the legendary hangout of musicians and hipsters of the 1960's. The ones that did not get their first opportunity at the Troubadour (I have written a blog post a few years ago about the Troubadour   http://actvra.in/bFJ ) started here at the Whisky A-Go-Go.

They opened their door on January 11, 1964 and the rest is Rock History Legend and Folklore. Just to name some of the performers The Door, Joplin, … (29 comments)

How the Housing Crisis Affects the Value of Your Highland Park Home - 06:55 AM
If you think you don’t have to worry about selling your Highland Park home and moving on when the need arises, think again.
Every day means your house is losing value.
That’s right. Every single day.
Face value
Overall, economic and market forces continue to plague the real estate marketplace, and will for some time to come.
One of those market forces has to do foreclosures and short sales.
Short end of the stick
Over the past year, 21% of all single-family detached homes sold in Highland Park were ‘distressed’ homes ... either foreclosures or short … (16 comments)

Upstairs, Downstairs - and All Around the House - 07:21 PM
Upstairs, Downstairs - and all around the house!  What I am talking about is bedrooms, and where they are located within a home.  Many buyers are hunting for homes with a particular layout of the bedrooms, so it is nice that our NW MLS system in the Olympia area allows agents to search for particular possibilities of bedroom locations.
 

The listing will show how many bedrooms are located on each floor in a multilevel home.  So if you are looking for all bedrooms to be on the same level, you can find it.  If, instead, your preference is for … (34 comments)

“Los Angeles 411” Let the kids spend the summer at the Wildwood Equestrian Center’s Summer Camp in Santa Clarita, California - 01:13 PM

So you are looking for something fun for your kids to do for the summer, why not let the kids spend time at the Wildwood Equestrian Center’s Summer Camp in Santa Clarita, California!
The Wildwood Equestrian Center is located at 23845 Wildwood Canyon Road in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The Wildwood Equestrian Center Summer Camp program runs from June 13th thru August 12th 2011.
At the Wildwood Equestrian Center, there are so many fantastic ways to enjoy your experience at this fun and amazing place!
The Wildwood Equestrian Center offers a wide range of activities for their awesome summer camp … (7 comments)

Can Your Buyers See A Lifestyle? - 04:37 PM
Can your buyers see themselves living in your vacant property?  Can they see a lifestyle emerge when they walk through the front door? 
 

 

 

 

 

 


 






We Specialize in Vacant Home Staging!
 
… (31 comments)

Home Staging Tip - Hiding Techno Clutter - 07:48 AM


We all have them…unsightly techno gadgets cluttering up our kitchen counters. Technology is great, but the chargers and plugs can add up.  Most Home Staging consults I’ve done have involved dealing with cordless phones, cell phones and phone chargers.  
Sellers would prefer to avoid the inconvenience of having to relocate their phones while their house is on the market.  
One solution is to hide the “phone clutter” within a decorative or “breadbox” type container.

By drilling a hole in the back of the container, using a hole saw, your phones, cords and chargers can live inside the box.  All the mess is hidden inside, … (136 comments)

Save a Life, Save a Family - 11:10 PM
Save a Life, Save a Family

This is Barbara, my sister-in-law and her two sons, Brian and Kevin. Their dad, my husband's brother passed away 5 years ago. Six months ago Barbara was told  she was in kidney failure and was put on the transplant list before going on dialysis. NJ has a five year waiting list and unless a family member matched there was a good chance she wouldn't live that long. During this time, I never knew what Barbara and her boys were going through because she chose not to disclose her condition to me because we had just … (118 comments)

Stubbornly Marooned on the Island of UnSold. - 11:34 AM
"Why, oh Why" you ask "is my house still unsold?"
Well, Mr. & Mrs. Seller, there are many reasons. 
REASON #1You're overpriced.  This one seems like it should be obvious, but apparently it's only obvious to everyone but you.  Yes, the homes nearby that have sold, have sold for the same $550,000 price tag, as your listed price.
At $550,000, buyers have some specific expectations, and your house just isn't living up to those expectations.
The homes that have sold have had brand-new kitchens, stainless steel, granite, high-end appliances (Wolf, Sub-Zero), painted in popular neutrals, hardwood flooring and finished basements.
YOUR … (69 comments)

Year Over Year Decline in House Values – What the TelePrompter Isn’t Telling the Pundits to Say - 01:08 PM
The TV news shows are abuzz with how house values have gone down relative to same month prices from last year. “Economists are puzzled,” they say.
Maybe they should ask a Realtor! Remember the $8,000 tax credit that propped up values last year? Realtors remember. Realtors run comparable market analyses all the time for clients and know that there was a mini buying frenzy in spring 2010. In the first 2 quarters of 2010 buyers rushed to buy houses to get $8,000 cash back from the government.
What Has Changed?
In 2011 that incentive does not exist. It did in 2010. … (16 comments)

My first blog! - 02:48 PM
I am so new to this blogging business and I'm not sure what to say. I am just starting out as a realtor working with Exit Seacoast Realty in Ipswich MA. Like many I was laid off from my job in December and figured what better time to change careers, so here I am! Now what? I'm here to learn from everyone so lets get the ball rolling!
Thanks
Joe
 
… (62 comments)

Types of Union New Jersey Housing - 06:32 PM
Types of Union New Jersey Housing
 
Are you familiar with the different types of housing that you can purchase in Union New Jersey? If you are on the market for a new home, it is important that you know the difference between a single family home, a townhouse, and a condominium. Familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each so that you make a wise decision about your home purchase.
 
Single Family Homes
 
The single-family house is the most common type of housing in Union New Jersey. This type of housing dwelling designed for a single family … (16 comments)

Active Rain T Shirts and Logo Stuff - Time for AR to open a store?? Whatcha think? - 11:59 PM
Where do you wear your Active Rain T Shirt?  Don't you wish you had another one? Mine is about worn out - I think we need an Active Rain store!I wear my AR T shirt a lot.  We had more rain this last winter than ever before, more than our average of 7 inches of rain already this year.   When I wore my AR t shirt on rainy days, strangers would notice and say, "quit wearing that shirt!"
I laugh and tell them that Let it Rain means something else.  Then I tell them about my blog - and hand … (55 comments)

No - I'm Not An Artist - But, I Am Learning To Write - One Post At A Time! - 04:35 PM
Whenever I see a beautiful sunset or a rose at the perfect stage of blooming- I wish I could paint.  I have seen some of the most fantastic pictures taken by AR members and posted right here on AR.  Some of you have a wonderful talent for taking georgeous pictures of your precious grandchildren, your adorable pets or a sunny day at the beach!  I guess I wasn't in line when God passed out those gifts.  But, with your help and patience, I am learning to write.   I know I'm not quite ready for the great novel yet, but who knows where these blogs will take … (30 comments)

Hey Buyer's Agent You're Playing that "Friend Card" a Little Too Much - 02:54 PM
Hey, Buyer's Agent,You're Playing that "Friend Card" a Little Too Much.  My sellers found some friends who possibly want to buy their lakefront cabin. The buyers in turn found a mutual friend to be their agent. They all came out to Fishhawk Lake yesterday. The agent picked up keys from me, because she wanted to show them two other properties as comparisons. I went earlier that morning, opened them up, turned lights on and got them ready.

The agent stopped by, but seemed uninterested in any local information I was going to give her and didn't take my card.  My sellers were their first … (145 comments)

If I Can Afford My Rent Then I Should Be Able To Get A Mortgage - 06:41 PM
If I Can Afford My Rent Then I Should Be Able To Get A Mortgage.  This was a statement made to me last week by a Borrower that I actually had tried to Pre-Approve for a mortgage a year ago. 
Last year this Borrower called me wanting to know how much she could be Pre-Approved for. I began as I always do by pulling a Credit Report and asking about income.  The Credit Report showed that this Borrower had credit issues.  There was a judgment, and almost $20,000 of collections.  Income was also questionable, because the Borrower was self employed and … (41 comments)


Blog posts


Come See It in Business - Tube Down Deep Creek - Commercial Property - NC Real Estate - USA - 09:53 AM
Enjoy life while earning money - Operate it all year or Seasonal North Carolina Lodging for Sale for $695,000 … (0 comments)

Adopt A Child Backpack Program - Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS - 01:51 PM
Let's face it times are tough and some Volusia County children will not have the basics they need to have a very happy and productive school year.  Let's just forget about school for a minute and think about the lives these same poverty stricken children lead as they go without undergarments, proper nutrition and things so many people take for granted such as toothpaste, deodorant and 3 squares a day. In most cases these same children are put down, held back and ridiculed.  For children, being poor is not a choice its what they were born into, life happened and the … (2 comments)

Cheyenne Hispanic Festival - THIS WEEKEND! - 12:47 PM
Kick off summer with Cheyenne's Hispanic Festival taking place

Friday, June 3 - Sunday, June 5, 2011
Cheyenne Depot Museum
Various Hours throughout the weekend
Brought to you by the Wyoming Pork Producers council, this festival provides the City of Cheyenne with the opportunity to celebrate the various Hispanic cultures in our community.  The festival will provide educational and cultural exhibits, as well as a variety of food and entertainment.
The exhibit "Paredes de Halbando, Walls that Speak", murals by Steven Lucero will be displayed in the Hynds building.
Come enjoy live music, folkloric dancers, beer and food, food and … (0 comments)

I need a Vacation to get over my long Weekend! - 06:47 PM
Do you ever come back from a long weekend less rested than if you had just worked on Monday?
Well that is how I am feeling today.  And I am not even sure why.  I didn't do all that much.  Played some board games with the kids, BBQ, did some dishes, read a book and watched TV. 
I think I real must enjoy the peacefulness of my office.  Quiter than 6 kids under foot.
Well they say hard work never killed anyone.  But those vacations are murder.
… (3 comments)

He Gets The Last Word - 04:15 PM
1 Peter 5:10 (The Message) He Gets the Last Word  8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the … (1 comments)

HORIZON CITY Near El Paso Land Scam - Beware - 04:46 PM
HORIZON CITY (El Paso Times) – Owners of desert land near El Paso have recently been the target of an advertising scam perpetrated by a Florida-based company.According to the El Paso Times, investors purchased undeveloped tracts north of Horizon City between 1962 and 1975 for thousands of dollars apiece. The land was purchased from Horizon Corp., which promised buyers a quick return on their investments. The El Paso Central Appraisal District later determined the land was worth an average of $10 per acre.Now, those landowners, many of whom would like to rid themselves of the land, are being contacted by American … (0 comments)

Texas EXISTING APRIL HOME SALES DOWN 18 PERCENT - 05:05 PM
COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Sales of existing single-family homes in Texas last month dropped 18 percent from a year ago, according to the most recent Multiple Listing Services (MLS) data compiled by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.Just over 18,000 existing single-family homes were sold last month.The median home price dipped 1 percent to $145,700, and the state's overall inventory was at 7.8 months.April 2011 MLS data for many Texas cities are available on the Center's website. Here is a sampling (data current as of today):
If you would like to know how your area is doing, … (1 comments)

The Roller Coaster Ride A Short Sale Brings. . . - 09:42 AM

Fernando Herboso has just completed his 31 Reasons Why You Should Do a Short Sale Before Allowing a Foreclosure on Your Property.  I've explained short sales to many and been involved on both sides of the deal, but there's still so much to know and Fernando doesn't leave anything out.
Included in this 31st reason blog, are links to reasons 1 through 30.  Anything you ever wanted to know about short sales, but didn't know who to ask.
Via Fernando Herboso Broker: Check All www.ReallyNiceHomes.com in MD & VA (Herboso & Associates LLC- Broker 240.426.5754):
Short Sales Maryland
For the month of May … (0 comments)

Day 31 of the 31 Days of May Challenge - 11:43 AM
I am glad I took the challenge, I've learned a lot and have plans to continue blogging. I went from being ranked #55 in Ohio to #41 and I think I can get into the 20's pretty easily. I'm no longer afraid to put my thoughts "out there" for the world to see. I have seen it myself that Google will find my blogs, sometimes within just a couple of hours.I look forward to writing blogs for SEO and not just to say "I made a blog today" - When my future clients find me via my Active Rain Blog, there … (4 comments)

The Hospital is Only as Good as the Doctor Who Treats You! - 01:06 AM
The Hospital is Only as Good as the Doctor Who Treats You! The school is only as good as the teacher your child gets! And the real estate company is only as good as the agent you work with.
When associated with the big real estate company, I asked three questions on a listing appointment...now there are only two questions.
1-Are you 100% sure you want to sell your house?  2-Are you 100% sure you want to use me?
The third question used to be: "Do you have any questions about the company I work for?" Most times there were none … (93 comments)

Thank You Active Rain for my Header - 05:07 PM
Wow, I found some time to start to work on adding my header back to my Active Rain blog and went back in to my blog. Low and behold, there was my header. I couldn't believe it. My support ticket for Active Rain said they could not fix it, but fix it they did. I am so glad. I really appreciate your work on this and having my header back on my blog.
… (2 comments)

Collage Competition: What ActiveRain Means To Me - 09:14 PM

As is my wont, here I am, pulling up the rear in the Collage Competition:  What Does ActiveRain Mean To You?, a contest proposed by Nikesh Parekh, with a deadline of today.
Believe it or not, I'm one of the earliest membersof this community we call ActiveRain.  A group of the CyberStars joined way back in late June and early July of 2006.  We had no idea where this fledgling operation was headed, but we jumped in with both feet, enjoying splashing around in the puddles.  As happens when you take up residence in a new place, we got to know each … (8 comments)

Cool free stuff - 09:58 AM
Here's a couple of new free stuff aps that some may find useful.
First is called "NudgeMail" which sends you email reminders when you want to be reminded of something, e.g. appointment, birthday, whatever. You can set your email to just send you an email reminder on the appropiate date and/or time.
I know lots of other stuff does the same thing but it's one more tool in your toolbox to keep you from missing something that's important or that you really want to do.
It also synchronizes with Google Calendar.
'Fallin off a log' easy to use, free, and can … (5 comments)

Trump Parc - Stamford - Slashes Prices on Select Units - 10:44 AM
A LEED Qualified Green Building. FHA Approved.   Another RICH residential experience Trump Parc Stamford is now offering for sale a limited number of luxury residences at significantly reducedprices. These residences are available for the first 20 lucky buyers. Don't wait. Prices this good don't come along every day. And they won't last very long. Live a life of luxury at Trump Parc Stamford...affordably!
Residence Description Sq Ft Sale Price
24 PH-B 2BR/2.5Bath 1,738 $ 722,326
____________________________________
26 PH-B 2BR/2.5Bath 1,738 $ 751,768
____________________________________
27 PH-C 3BR/3.5Bath 1,863 $ 761,200
____________________________________
28 PH-C 3BR/3.5Bath 1,863 $ 774,400
____________________________________
30 PH-C 3BR/3.5Bath … (1 comments)

Mount Vernon Ohio Country Home with Land - 10:55 AM
Additional listing details and an extensive virtual tour photo slideshow are available by visiting 13280 Butcher Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.  We have also created a special real estate listing link that features all of our available Knox County Ohio homes with acreage and we organized it in price order. 
Offered by Sam Miller of The Sam Miller Team at REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  Knox County Ohio Homes For Sale
… (4 comments)

This home offers freedom from renting and it's cheaper than most rentals - 05:54 PM
So many times I hear potential home buyers tell me the reason they want to buy their first home is to have the ability to have their own place and the freedom that home ownership creates.  This home is just about as affordable as they come when you consider that the monthly payments including real estate taxes and property insurances would be similar if not cheaper than what you would pay to rent a home like this.  Owning certainly has it's advantages because you can decorate the home the way you want, you can pick paint colors that you want, you … (3 comments)

Who Wants to get Up Close and Personal with the Washington Redskins? - 09:56 AM
Who Wants to get Up Close and Personal with the Washington Redskins?

Are you the ultimate Washington Redskins fan? Yes? Then get ready to catch this opportunity! On June 1st, from 6PM-8PM, you can enjoy "An Evening at Redskin Park" where you can mingle with Redskin Alumni (including: Roy Jefferson, Pat Fischer, Mike Bragg, Ricky Ervins, and Ravin Caldwell!), tour the facility, participate in a live auction, a buffet, and much more!
Tickets are extremely limited, so get your today by clicking here: An Evening at Redskin Park Tickets.
Thinking about selling your home in the Loudoun County Real Estate … (0 comments)

Montgomery AL Foreclosure Trends - April 2011 - 10:27 PM
There were 1,311 Montgomery AL foreclosure homes for sale with 171 new foreclosures in April 2011. The average selling price of a Montgomery AL home was $163,408 and the average foreclosure selling price was $93,093 a $70,315 savings, according to RealtyTrac.com.
Montgomery AL Foreclosure Activity and 30 Year Interest Rate
Montgomery interest rates averaged 4.84% in April while the number of foreclosed homes decreased from 228 in March to 171 in April.

Foreclosure activity is based on the total number of properties that receive foreclosure filings - default notice, foreclosure auction notice or bank repossession - each month. Interest rate is based on the average 30-year … (0 comments)

America's Best Real Estate Companies and Agents - 12:57 PM
… (0 comments)

My Website Real Estate Marketing - 01:09 PM
                      The Most Important Purchase and Investment In Your Life Is Your Home Because Your Home Is Where Your Heart Is. (This is where you and your family share YOUR most important memories)   We Will Find You And Your Family The Best Home In The Best Neighborhood At The Best Price!We can also find you the best real estate investments for your wealth portfolio.When it comes to buying or selling any property you need America's Best Agents On Your Side!
Home Buyers And Sellers Are Our Friends For Life!  Please Read Our Testimonials                                                                    Did You Know there are … (0 comments)

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