Archives of real estate blog entries for August 31, 2011

Featured blog posts


I'd like to find a good topless bar - 09:21 AM
I had a really awkward yet funny situation arise just the other day.  I was working with a very pleasant couple who are moving to Albuquerque from Texas.  We were looking at about 15 homes this day alone so we were enjoying some good conversation between properties. My clients mentioned as we passed a particular Church that they were of that same denomination and so we conversed about this subject a bit more. After brief pause and just a few moments later the husband states  “I’d like to find a good topless bar”. I hesitated a moment then said something like … (116 comments)

I've Been Blogging for a Week... And Nothings Happened - 07:52 AM
I've Been Blogging for a Week... And Nothings Happened As is often the case after the "I have no time for that blogging stuff" excuse, and " nobody is gonna read what I have to say" comes,"I've been blogging like you said and nothings happened" Conventional wisdom will tell us that most things worth doing take time, however with blogging I have seen new bloggers find a sweet spot and get big time recognition right off the bat. That is not the norm however. Blogging takes time and a key word in any blogging campaign is consistency, consistency, consistency, and while … (51 comments)

If you're thinking about a short sale - read on . . . - 10:15 AM
So, a short sale means that the Realtor has to be under 5' 3" tall?  No, not really, but there are a lot of scammers out there that are trying to convince people in distress that they are short sale experts.  In the process, the home goes into foreclosure and the homeowner's life is wrecked.  So, let me give a few simple guidelines when hiring a short sale agent.
Ignore every TV commercial that promises short sale success.  If the originators are not connected to a local broker you may have trouble verifying their credentials and their success. Don't pay someone … (31 comments)

An activerain Success Story from a Black Sheep Member - 05:22 PM
A small activerain success story from an inconsistent blogger:

I’m fairly new to AR, and as a Real Estate Auctioneer, most of my posts are about a niche in our industry that many people don’t understand, or perhaps I should say, don’t trust….
 
Learning how to be a blogger is a slow process for me, but I’ve got a long-term view of the benefits.
 
I like activerain , I’m a little afraid of the 100,000+ points super-members, most of the time I gravitate towards the member-posts that are written by average bloggers like me.
 
One day … (29 comments)

Sorry Mr. Listing Agent, but if the dogs aren't secured, I won't let my clients in your listing. - 10:32 AM
First let me say that I love dogs. I have two myself, and wouldn't give them up for anything. I'm not selling my house though, so they have complete run of the house to do what dogs do. 
The other day I was showing homes and came to one where I did have an appointment. I was told that someone would be taking the dogs for a walk. No problem...until I opened the door. Staring at me were two German Shepherd's. Beautiful breed, but also very large and protective. Each of these dogs looked to be over 80 pounds. Not an … (106 comments)

Missed Connection: Us and Selling Your Home - 09:30 AM
Missed Connection:  Us and Selling Your Home Us:  Experienced Real Estate Team who specializes in selling the homes that didn't sell the first time! You:  A motivated Warren County home seller who still wants to sell their home after a disappointing series of relationships with other agents.  You were wooed and left at the altar, still owning that home!  You can't move on with your life until that major task is accomplished.  When:  It happens all the time.  Not every home sells the first time, nor quickly, especially if there's something "challenging" about your home.  Maybe that corner lot you love … (39 comments)

Housing Can’t Recover Unless the Banks are Honest - 06:21 PM
 
While many have blamed irresponsible actions by homeowners for the recession and the collapse of housing, much of the problem lies with the big banks; and housing can’t recover unless the banks are honest.  Just yesterday an article on ProPublica described how the state of Nevada is suing Bank of America, one of the prime culprits in the housing fiasco, alleging that, borrowers were duped into unaffordable loans and then victimized again through a misleading mortgage modification program that homeowners tried to use to avoid foreclosure. Finally, the suit alleges, the bank filed fraudulent documents to move forward with the … (60 comments)

Where are you going? - 11:35 AM
Where are you going - professionally, I mean?  No doubt you want to be successful in your business - and make your clients happy. Me too, it’s a great goal. However, do you know exactly how to get there? Imagine being in unfamiliar territory (much like this market), and wanting to get to a certain place.  However, you have no directions and you aren’t even sure what the place is called - much less what it looks like. Do you think you’d get there? Exactly. Recently, I lost a large listing opportunity for a new 54 unit subdivision. It represented a  … (43 comments)

Sugar Land Central Prison Unit Officially Closed - 06:11 PM
The historical Sugar Land Central Prison unit established 102 years ago is now closed. The land is now under the General Land Office. Sugar Land hopes to redevelop the site plan to create a revenue generating business park and airport expansion, depending on the decisions from the General Land Office.
The valuable tract of land is estimated to be between 320 to 340 acres. The announced shut down of the facility came earlier this year due to a state budget shortfall. Existing inmates were transferred to other facilities. Closure of this prison is expected to save Texas about $12.5 Million per year.
… (10 comments)

7 Ways to Get Along Well with Others! - 03:29 PM
7 Ways to Get Along Well with Others!
I'm really not a Pollyanna, but, I'm just so tired of all the negativity and the difficult people. Really. There's no need for it.
If what you're doing isn't working for you, do something else. Quit whining about it! So, here's my list:
1. Put the Brakes on your Tongue! Say less than you think and keep your opinions about others to yourself. Remember, there's a reason that God gave us one tongue and 2 ears.
2. Never let an opportunity to say a kind or encouraging word to someone pass … (50 comments)

How Much Is Too Much? - 07:05 PM
This morning, I read a post on a website where the author of a book, was defending some points in the book. As I read on and on, my head began to swim. After about seven paragraphs, two subject changes, and lots of rambling, I tuned out, not even a third of the way through. One of the comments to the author wrote it best, when he suggested the author just post the book, as it took about the same time to read.
So how does this apply to Activerain? How much is too much with blog posts? Let's look at … (53 comments)

Real Estate Agent Speak … What Does It Mean? - 10:12 AM
Real Estate Agent Speak … What Does It Mean? Agents say many things in their advertising, but often we’re left wondering what does it mean? 
There is always an implied meaning, but the serious Buyer usually wants to know what they are really saying about a property.  Sometimes even agents don’t know and need to make a translation phone call to find out.  For example, “Gourmet Kitchen”.  A kitchen is often termed Gourmet if it has a 5 burner, or larger, cook top, over sized vent hood, and a double oven, but does that make it gourmet?  We’ve had true … (18 comments)

Short Sales are the Answer! But What Was the Question Again? - 11:59 PM

I was reading an article on CNN Money.com today titled “How to rescue the housing market: Foreclosures!”. Not a great title I would say and more importantly in my opinion not a great concept at all.
The gist of the article is that the government needs to reverse the policies of the last 4 years since the housing downturn and actually encourage foreclosures as a means of “stabilizing” the housing market. They included this interesting graph (above) showing how more home owners are becoming delinquent for longer periods of time. (read on after the jump for more)
I get the … (54 comments)

The Long and Short of it - 01:29 PM
Some are easier than others, some are tough as nails.  Whether the stars are aligned in your favor or against you, we still want to know.
What was the shortest length of time it took you to sell a home and what was the longest?

Recent Chatter Questions
Greener Grass Open and Shut Case Right Hand Man … (23 comments)

Who Hated Homework in School? - 11:17 AM
Were you one of those folks who hated homework in school? Not me! I was kind of an @$$ kisser when I was in school. All the teachers loved me (man did I have them fooled!) and I loved homework. Most of the time, I would have the homework done before the teacher even let out class. How? Easy, for the last ten minutes the other kids would sit around and goof off and I'd finish my homework. Throughout the day, there was almost always enough free time in my classes to get all my homework done during class.
I'm not … (172 comments)

Average Days On Market....Is It A True Indicator? - 07:08 AM
Average Days On Market....Is It A True Indicator?
I get this question all the time and it got me to thinking...Are average days on the market a true indicator? In my opinion no!
Most people when they see that a property was on the market for 400 days that it just wasn't a nice property ot that it was way over priced.....In my opinion that's just not the way we should look at it!
I'm just one of thousands and thousands of real estate agents across the country and if I have underlying circumstances that keep my properties on the market … (116 comments)

I CHOSE YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR LOCALISM POSTS - 07:14 PM
I CHOSE YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR LOCALISM POSTS!

I received a phone call last week from an agent who has moved to The Woodlands from another state.  She said that after reading many of my Localism posts here on Active Rain, that she decided to call me.  She and her family moved here a few months ago and used a local agent to help them find their home.  She realized that her agent did not know the area that well and that is when she decided to do some homework.
Localism posts are something I really enjoy writing.  The businesses … (42 comments)

Top 10 List Of Things A Realtor Should Not Be Doing! - 08:56 PM
 Top 10 List Of Things A Realtor Should Not Be Doing! After being in this business for sometime now, we have seen and heard other Realtors act in ways that may not be appropriate for a professional.   Here is our Top Ten List Of Things You Should Not Be Doing As A Realtor ~ 1. Call your past clients weekly to ask for a referral. Sure you should keep in contact, but don't ask for referrals each time.
2. At social get-togethers, hand your business cards to everyone there, including the staff service. There's a time and place for networking, not every social occasion should be … (60 comments)

Any advice for a new RainMaker? - 02:15 PM
 
So I just got signed up for RainMaker today after being on ActiveRain for about a month and a half now.  I’m really motivated to make the most out of ActiveRain to help grow my business here in the DFW metroplex.  I’ve started my outside blog but I just hope that I can make the most of it and any other resources available to RainMakers in order to be successful.
 
 
 
I would be so grateful for any advice from veteran RainMakers to help me take advantage of my investment in RainMaker.
 
… (56 comments)

Complementary Colors - 02:03 PM
Complementary Colors: The two colors opposite each other on the color wheel; in light when the colors are combined together they produce white.
There's been a contemporary trend of painting walls separate colors (treating each as its own canvas). It can create an incredibly playful modern feel to a room, but because it also bring such a specific personality with it, it’s not something a stager would recommend for a sale (in the same way we don’t tend to recommend vibrant colors). A bit back I blogged about a similar topic, and staging in homes with vibrant walls color vs. … (27 comments)

My seller was at my Open House and I didn't know it. - 10:05 AM
My Mom (business partner) and I currently have an estate listed for sale being handled by the siblings of the person who passed away. There are about 7 people involved in the estate.
Mom has met all the people involved, but I have not. 
A couple Sundays ago I held an open house at the property. There were about 8 groups through, and we try to get everybody to sign in but I know I missed a couple people as I was busy talking with visitors.
Mom met with all the members of the estate this weekend, and one of the … (50 comments)


Blog posts


New Construction - Mini Hotel in Historic Southern Portugal Village Center with Castle Views - Portugal Real Estate - 10:48 PM
New Mini Hotel In Portugal Village Center - Castle Views … (2 comments)

Who Hated Homework in School? - 11:17 AM
Were you one of those folks who hated homework in school? Not me! I was kind of an @$$ kisser when I was in school. All the teachers loved me (man did I have them fooled!) and I loved homework. Most of the time, I would have the homework done before the teacher even let out class. How? Easy, for the last ten minutes the other kids would sit around and goof off and I'd finish my homework. Throughout the day, there was almost always enough free time in my classes to get all my homework done during class.
I'm not … (172 comments)

Short Sales are the Answer! But What Was the Question Again? - 11:59 PM

I was reading an article on CNN Money.com today titled “How to rescue the housing market: Foreclosures!”. Not a great title I would say and more importantly in my opinion not a great concept at all.
The gist of the article is that the government needs to reverse the policies of the last 4 years since the housing downturn and actually encourage foreclosures as a means of “stabilizing” the housing market. They included this interesting graph (above) showing how more home owners are becoming delinquent for longer periods of time. (read on after the jump for more)
I get the … (54 comments)

Getting Smart (Phone) on Active Rain - Did I Miss Dial? - 03:59 PM
I finally got a Smart Phone for Christmas Last Year  - A Google Droid HTC EVO - It's great!
However, although I can read Active Rain Post on the phone I cannot type comments or post my own post from the phone.  When I go to write in the comments section the keyboard does not pop up.  Interestingly enough I can type into the Title Section for a Post.
Any ideas?  Is it me?  I would love to do AR on the go with my phone. 
… (1 comments)

Real Estate Investors - If you are looking around and cannot figure out who the sucker is . . . . . - 04:41 PM
Real Estate Investors - If you are looking around and cannot figure out who the sucker is . . . . . Well it is probably you.
Recently an Investment Property came on the market at an incredibly low price.  This home is ripe for a buy and flip.  My number one Real Estate Investor and I brought the contractor out and went over it and submitted an above asking price all cash offer with 7 day close.
Well of course it comes back that there are 13 offers to date and 12 of them all cash.  We were given a … (3 comments)

Where do you think you are coming from? It probably says a lot about where you are going! - 05:26 PM
Lately I have noticed certain elites in this country knocking Rick Perry, Michelle Bachman, and others for believing in creationism. 
I don't know where these smart people think they are coming from but most of America believes in some sort of higher power having a hand in things.  (And even if you do not believe it does not mean that God is not there!)
Now the terms Creationist and Evolution are fairly broad terms with many nuanced sub beliefs.  Some how the know it all elites immediately lumps every person that believes in a creator God into the same category as … (3 comments)

Happy Birthday Sherman - 07:59 PM
Happy Birthday Sherman Riemenschneider!
Today is a Fantastic Day!  Sherman Riemenschneider is Four Years Old!  Wow Four entire years. 
Although Sherman is very big he was not named after the tank - Sherman was his great grandfathers name who passed about the time Sherman was born.  His middle name is Lewis which was my fathers middle name.
Sherman is big and like to wrestle.  He can hardly wait until he is old enough to play baseball, take wrestling, and be in Royal Rangers.  He likes to get into things and harras his older brothers.  Omi Zoomie is the coolest Sherman Show … (3 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Busted with the Mashed Potatoes! - 10:05 AM
Mashed Potatoes? In my hair? Up my nose? In my eyes? I don't know what you're talking about...

My hands were folded the entire time, there's no way I put potatoes in my hair!

Oh really? You can see it? Umm, maybe I did do it?

**Are You Packed Yet?**

Donna Harris, REALTOR®RE/MAX Austin Skylinewww.DonnaHomes.comDonna@DonnaHomes.comaustin-texas-homes-for-sale.com
Austin TX Real Estate
and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, … (10 comments)

Stanislaus County Short Sales - Practice Makes.... - 07:16 PM
Stanislaus County Short Sales - Practice Makes....
I'm sure everyone has heard the term "Practice Makes Perfect".  I'm here to say that I don't agree with that statement.  I think it should be "Practice Makes Permanent".  Now I didn't come up with that on my own.  Years ago when I used to take Tae Kwon Do that is what my instructor used to say. (Thanks Jo) 
What he meant by that was that just because you are practicing something it does not mean that you will become perfect at it.  In Tae Kwon Do we could practice a kick over … (3 comments)

Turtle Creek Ranch, Fort Worth, TX - 03:11 PM
Looking for a home on acreage close to town? Look no further than Turtle Creek Ranch in Fort Worth, TX. Turtle Creek Ranch is located off Confederate Park Road just off Jacksboro Highway/199. Homes range in price from the mid $100's up to the mid $300's. Properties are at least 1 acre and some homesites are as large as 2 acres. Many of the homesites are treed, which is rare here in north Texas!
There are currently 8 homes for sale in Turtle Creek Ranch. They're priced from $210,000 to $289,500. It's not uncommon to find homes for sale in the neighborhood … (0 comments)

2000 Priscella Drive, Fort Worth, TX: Alexandra Meadows - SOLD IN 21 DAYS! - 03:25 PM
SOLD IN 21 DAYS! BEAT THE AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET BY 56 DAYS!
2000 Priscella Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76131  Alexandra Meadows
Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with approximately 2,405 square feet priced at $142,500
If you're interested in buying or selling a home in Fort Worth, I look forward to assisting you!

Sincerely,
Megan PhelpsRE/MAX Heritage817-999-2211soldbyphelps@aol.comwww.soldbyphelps.com
… (2 comments)

232 Neal Drive, Liberty Hill Texas....only 35 minutes to downtown Austin, Texas! - 02:35 AM
… (3 comments)

Pavilion in the Park...Pikesville Luxury Condo...3 Bedroom-2 Full Baths...Gorgeous Views From Three Sides - 11:41 PM
 
 
… (6 comments)

Denver Colorado Meetup ~ Thursday, September 8 - 09:09 PM

Save the Date!
It took a nudge from the Rain Gods, but nudge they did and now Denver will have a Meetup in honor of the Virtual Rain Camp happening that morning.
If you have never taken the time to come to a Meetup, now would be a good time to start!  It's casual, fun and very rewarding to meet with your peers, in person. 
Come, jump outside your normal routine and meet the folks you see online, in the flesh.  You may discover you like networking the old fashioned way IRL!
Here's the scoop:
Thursday, September 8, 2011
4:30 … (11 comments)

Hurricane Irene and Vermont! - 11:07 PM
Hurricane Irene and Vermont!
Vermont and Hurricane Irene collided on Sunday, August 28th, 2011.  But Vermont doesn't get Hurricanes.  That only happens in the South.  But the news said "she" was on her way.  We watched the news on Saturday as Irene hit North Carolina, then Ocean City, Maryland and on up to New York and New Jersey.  We all knew she was coming to Vermont and prepared accordingly even though we thought she would just bring alot of rain and winds.  Our generator was working, we had the extra batteries and water.  We stalked up on food. 
Then Sunday came.  … (4 comments)

Apple Valley Lake Community Lot For Sale - 06:39 AM
Owning this Apple Valley lot 239 and building site in Grand Valley View Subvision gives you access to the Apple Valley Lake for boating, fishing, swimming and it also give you access to the other amenities at the Apple Valley Lake.
You can also view our other available Apple Valley Lake Community lots for sale including Apple Valley waterfront, lake view and dozens of available lots.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  Apple Valley Ohio 
… (1 comments)

Lot For Sale at the Apple Valley Lake Community - 06:51 AM
Owning Apple Valley lot 179 and building site in Floral Valley View Subvision gives you access to the Apple Valley Lake for boating, fishing, swimming, all 3 beaches and it also give you access to the other amenities at the Apple Valley Lake.
You can also view our other available Apple Valley Lake Community lots for sale including Apple Valley waterfront, lake view and dozens of available lots.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  Apple Valley Ohio 
… (4 comments)

Tips on How to Speed up Your Escrow - 12:51 PM

Once you have an accepted offer on a property, the escrow office becomes your very best friend. The escrow officer’s main objective is to make the closing as efficient, easy, and error free as he/she can, and be an effective contributor to a successful closing and real estate settlement. During the whole escrow process, being able to secure the appropriate and comprehensive information is one of the important solutions to an outstanding escrow service. Your real estate agent can be of great help and support as the “information pipeline” and the escrow officer will surely appreciate an informed agent...read more
… (2 comments)

Labor Day Activities in Orange County - 06:56 PM
September 1, 2011 - Farmers Market9:00 AM - 1:00 PM A California-certified farmers' market where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public. Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the commodity being sold.  FREE Admission. 
OC Fair & Event Center - Lot B
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *           September 2 -4, 2011 - The Great Labor Day Cruise XXIX   Rev up your engines for the long Labor Day weekend and enjoy hundreds … (0 comments)

Leesburg Home Named “Best Home Deal in the Best Places” - 12:01 PM
Leesburg Home Named “Best Home Deal in the Best Places”

As many of you have heard, Leesburg has been named one of the” Best Places to Live” in the U.S. by Money Magazine!  But, did you know they also named the home located at 106 Cornwall Street, Leesburg as one of the “Best Home Deals in the Best Places?” That’s right, this home is a great value and once you tour it, it is easy to see why!
Listed at $599,900 this 5 bedroom, 4 ½ bath home offers the charm of historical Leesburg, yet the modern touches buyers today … (4 comments)

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