Archives of real estate blog entries for September 8, 2011

Featured blog posts


What is ActiveRain? A Comprehensive FAQ - 03:46 PM
What is ActiveRain? If you've been on here for any length of time you probably know all this.  But if you're new, like we all were once, this might be a helpful FAQ to get you started. Visit the links within the questions for more information on that topic. Q. What is ActiveRain?
A. ActiveRain is an online real estate related blogging platform.  It is designed to connect Realtors®, financial advisers, inspectors, stagers, and real estate marketers to each other for the purpose of referrals, marketing and expanding their business through blogging.
Q. Can Anyone Join?
A. A free account is … (130 comments)

Pre Approval Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make - 07:30 PM

You have spent the last several weeks scouring the city for your dream home. You wrote an offer and ‘hooray’, it was accepted. You were pre-approved for a loan by your lender a month ago, but understand that your next step is to complete the mortgage application process.
When you initially spoke with your loan officer everything from credit to income looked good. Even though you feel nothing has changed financially, you worry that any teeny tiny discrepancy could result in loan denial.
So how can you avoid the stress of the “unknown deal killer?” Below is a … (63 comments)

RainCamp... What it is like talking to yourself... - 10:57 PM

RainCamp!
ActiveRain RainCamp online was today!  9am to 1pm PST, so for us out on the west coast we started in the morning, and ended right after lunch.  
Webinars are great to be on.  You get to hear the instructor talk, your computer shows the screens that they are explaining, and you get to check your email all at the same time.
Have you ever thought about what it was like on the other side?
I teach classes several times a week, sometimes to hundreds of students.  When I teach in person, I can see you, I can see … (105 comments)

Would you rather be right, or would you rather be happy? Thankful Thursday, 9/8/11 - 11:05 AM
I have an almost childlike need for things to be fair.  When I was a child my mom says that I would often lament that "that's not fair"!  My son Max is a chip off the old block and he's grown out of it some, but when he was younger, he would often say the same exact thing, in the same exact way... "that's not fair"!  Intellectually I know that life isn't fair and I often tell my kids that.  Life is not fair, get used to it.  But I have not lost my need to try to make it so.
… (84 comments)

Freddie Mac Short Sale Addendum - Item #13 - I DON'T THINK SO!! - 11:44 AM
Freddie Mac Short Sale Addendum - Item #13 - I DON'T THINK SO!!
The Freddie Mac Addendum is often a required doc for the bank in a short sale transaction.
I've had 2 short sales with BofA recently that have a Freddie Mac Short Sale Addendum as part of the transaction, however I see a new added Item #13 that reads the following:
"13. Each signatory agrees to indemnify the Servicer and Freddie Mac for any and all loss resulting from anynegligent or intentional misrepresentation made in the affidavit including, but not limited to, repayment ofthe amount of the reduced payoff … (83 comments)

Fence Sitters??? Shadow Buyer Inventory??? Future Clients!!! OH YEAH!!! - 03:49 PM
 
  I recently came across The "Other" Shadow Inventory by JPhilip Faranda that discussed all the buyers out there working with Realtors/agents, looking at properties but who will probably never result in the purchase of a property.  But it was Karen Fiddler’s Buyer's On The Fence.....Waste Of Time Or Pipeline that struck home for me.   While JP may be presenting the realities of his experiences in his market, for me, here in my market, today’s fence sitters and shadow buyer inventory are future buyers/borrowers.  Like Karen, I too have several different client pipelines and while some of these are active … (48 comments)

Customer Service is not a two letter word - 06:08 PM
Customer Service is not a two letter word
During the last couple of days I read and commented on two blogs about customer service. Each covered one end of the spectrum, one left me inspired and prompted me to give kudos to the blogger/agent and the other left me speechless and appalled and prompted me to write this blog. THE APPALLING EXAMPLE OF 'CUSTOMER SERVICE' The agent in this worst case did not do anything wrong but just relayed a scenario and asked: What would you do?¹ She had received a phone-call from a lady who was close to tears. Said … (36 comments)

Are You Stealth Blogging? - 12:10 PM
Are You Stealth Blogging? First of all, this has NOTHING to do with SEO.  We're not gurus and lay no claims to special magic knowledge.  We've picked up tips reading the posts in the Rain, but primarily we write to the humans, not the bots, and mix in a few appropriate links (hopefully back to relevant blog posts we've already written) and see what happens from there. If you've been following us for awhile, you know we made a major shift in blogging policy some months back.  There's a LOT less agent directed posts and more to our area residents (that … (121 comments)

When In Doubt, Do You Refer Out? - 09:19 AM
When In Doubt, Do You Refer Out? - Originally posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog
 

 
Most business professionals, especially those of us in sales, are faced with this dilemma at some point. Do we take on a client that we may not be able to properly service, or refer it to another professional?
Sometimes it's very cut and dry, while other times it can be an agonizing decision. After all, business is tougher than ever, plus people in sales are competitive by nature and don't like to give things up. Given the state of today's economy it … (52 comments)

Killearn Acres In Tallahassee Reports 29% Decline In Home Values - 08:37 AM
Killearn Acres is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Tallahassee and typically is in the top five or six in terms of the number of homes that sell each year. Located just north of Killearn Estates, it has been popular due to its location and price point (just above Tallahassee's median home price).
As with all subdivisions in Tallahassee, Killearn Acres is seeing real estate depreciation bring home values down.The current average home price is just under $158, and the average price per square foot of homes that have been sold this year is down to $93.
ActiveRain Notice: Check … (6 comments)

Yes, Your Current Customers Are Reading Your Blog! And That’s Great News! - 05:41 PM
Yesterday I wrote a blog entitled One More Thing To Watch Out For When Buying A Foreclosure. Basically it was about the bank wanting to start the inspection period retroactively before there was an executed contract. It was a blog about a current situation with a current buyer I am working with. This morning I received an email from that buyer. He saw the article on my Facebook wall and knew it was about his deal. He wanted to thank me for being on the ball and looking out for him and his wife. How about that folks! I was very … (26 comments)

What Are the Best Months to Sell My House? The Seasonal Effect. - 09:22 AM

When you need to or want to. All homes sell. It is just a function of price, condition, time and marketing. As you can see from the bar chart below June and July are typically the months that have the highest number of homes going to settlement in Northern Virginia.

The advantage of selling in spring and early summer? That is when most buyer's are looking. The downside? More competition. Can I sell in the winter? Of course. In this area people are moving in and out all the time. The advantage? Less competition. The disadvantage? Fewer buyers … (43 comments)

Southeast Feed Seed Machinery Fencing Materials Livestock Supplies Idabel Oklahoma 74745 - 06:45 PM
Southeast Feed Seed Machinery Fencing Materials Livestock Supplies Idabel Oklahoma 74745
 
Southeast Feed Idabel, Oklahoma, is THE place to go for feed for your animals whether it's cattle (cows), sheep, horses, mules, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, hogs, pigs, dogs, or cats.
 
Southeast Feed Idabel Oklahoma has just about any kind of feed that you need for animals.  
 
Cattle cubes, Creep Feed, Chicken Scratch, Laying pellets, Sweet Feed, corn, wheat, etc.  How about hay?  Yep.. they have that too.
 

 
Salt and Mineral Blocks.. are in stock too.  
Got a hankering to plant some veggies next … (40 comments)

ActiveRain Stewardship and Holding Self to Higher Standard - 06:28 PM
Four and a half years ago, I wrote a post here on ActiveRain titled Stewardship: The Way to a PLEASANT Blogging Experience.   The idea was from a post from a comment thread in which our own Bob Stewart - ActiveRain talked about holding ourselves to a higher standard. 
Bob wrote, ""If you have a following on ActiveRain, you need to HOLD YOURSELF TO A HIGHER STANDARD. Having a big following (and there are a ton of you commenting on this that do) means that you take stewardship over the community as a whole. ..........Your actions reflect positively and negatively on ALL … (54 comments)

Using Groupon Power to Purchase Real Estate - 06:12 PM
Recently I was invited to join this investing opportunity using "Groupon" buying power to purchase Real Estate.  Is this a fad, a trend, or will it become a standard in the home purchase and selling process?  I've used Groupon to make "deal" purchases for smaller material items in the past but never considered investing in purchasing real property in this manner? 
I remember hearing that someone put their home on eBay and sold it.  I was told another homeowner put an ad on Amazon, and I've seen hundreds of homes on Craigslist and other classified sites but Groupon power?  I'm curious … (61 comments)

Build a Tracker and Award Yourself Points - 09:57 PM
 To survive in the real estate business you must have a positive mindset.  You must plan to succeed.  Obviously you can’t just think about listing and selling houses.  You have to get out and do it.   Sometimes this is easier said than done.  That is unless you build a business tracker and award yourself points.  
 
Now, I’ll be really honest.  When you are really busy listing houses, negotiating contracts and attending closings, that tracker is going to fall to the way side.   However, if you are just starting out or you need to kick start your business the tracker … (28 comments)

It all comes down to the last $2,500... Got the Negotiating Blues! - 06:22 PM
It's been a good year for me, and for that I am certainly grateful.  But there's been one consistently painful thing about this year that's giving me the negotiating blues - the last $2,500!
It doesn't seem to matter who the players are?  It doesn't seem to matter what price range they are in?  It just matters that each time the parties are $2,500 apart - Stalemate!  They have endured as much financial pain as they are prepared to take.
What closes the last $2,500?  Most of the time they look at me!  The listing sold too quickly - deduct … (54 comments)

Left Out In The Cold - 09:01 AM
A couple of weeks ago a lady called me nearly in tears. She told me she needed to find a rental quickly because her house was going to close on September 30th and she would have no place to live.
In the beginning of the conversation all I got was the "need a rental" part, so I asked for her criteria and email address so I could set her up to receive active rental listings.
Then it dawned on me "house is going to close", so I asked her if she had a listing agent that sold her home and she said yes.
… (31 comments)

Make Localism Work For You! - 04:16 PM
Make Localism Work For You! This is a post I've been meaning to write - then I came across Bliz's great featured post on the same subject:  Are You Stealth Blogging?" Some people on Active Rain don't put much effort into localism and community posts - they say the most that happens is that somebody reads the posts and calls them thinking that they are the store or restaurant that was written about.  And yeah, that can be a pain. But think a little harder about what you can do with these posts.  Liz and Bill Spear suggest sending links to … (56 comments)

CRITERIA Needed for ALL Loan Originators to quote you a rate... - 12:10 PM
The lending environment has changed. I'm sure we've all heard this on the radio and TV for years now... right?
We also know that the Government wants to make "mortgage rates" a commodity and make it EASY to shop for. But the problem arises when someone calls up and says "whats your rate?" and truly expects to get an instant answer back.  I certainly wish I could answer that question with a simple "we're at 4.25% today" or "3.5% for a 15 yr"... but its not that simple.
In general I (and everyone else you talk to) needs to get MOST … (16 comments)

When You're A Blogger, LIFE Is A Blog Post! - 12:09 AM
When LIFE Becomes A Blog Post I am often asked how people come up with topics for blog posts.  I ramble through my routine answer:
There are great ideas to be found reading through others' blogs... ...or reading the news. Write what you've sent someone in the business via email--an explanation of terms, etc. Where did you dine out this week?  Write a restaurant review. What schools are in the close proximity to your home?  Write about them. What is the market doing in the communities that you serve?  Do a market report. Yada, yada!  Oh, there's plenty more...just ask or … (106 comments)


Blog posts


Price Improvement - International Flag Resort 153 Key Hotel - Some Seller Financing Possible - Mexico Real Estate - 08:22 AM
REDUCED - SOME SELLER FINANCING POSSIBLE - Mexico Flag Resort Hotel … (2 comments)

Brentwood Ca Apple Hill Homes - 07:50 PM
Brentwood Ca Apple Hill Homes
Apple Hill Estates is the most upscale community in Brentwood if not all of East Contra Costa County.
Apple Hill Estates is a Gated Golf Course Community featuring custom homes.  The homes are in a variety of sizes and styles but tastefully laid out so as to provide a nice visual appeal without an eclectic feel.
Apple Hill Estates features a club house with pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and more.
Apple Hill Estates is minutes from shopping, fine dinning, movies, fishing and delta water sports; not to mention the fine Brentwood Ca schools.
Apple Hill … (4 comments)

MacArthur receives J.D. Power Award! - 08:14 PM

John MacArthur receives J.D. Power Award for customer satisfaction
         RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger offered congratulations saying "It truly reflects your professional excellence, your enthusiasm for education, your commitment to distressed sellers, your individual drive, and many other qualities that serve the interests of your clients. Your efforts change lives, and those people have spoken."
         Home buyers and home sellers used a 1,000-point scale.  Consumers used the following categories:
Overall satisfaction Agent/Salesperson professionalism Variety of additional services Real estate office Real estate company marketing (seller survey only)         … (2 comments)

Central Texas Wildfires - Austin Area Donation Locations for September 9 & 10 - 11:07 AM
Central Texas Wildfires are out of control! I've been wanting to post information about evacuees and shelters and school closures and such, but things were and are changing so much all the time, I wouldn't have been able to keep up with all the latest information, so I chose not to post anything and allow the news' websites to post their updates. However, I can help with some donation information.  Walmart, the Salvation Army, and KXAN have teamed up with a partnership to set up 7 area donation sites this Friday and Saturday, September 9 & 10, 2011 from 8am - … (5 comments)

Turlock Short Sale - Peacock Estates - 05:02 PM
Turlock Short Sale - Peacock Estates
If you are looking for a great home in Turlock in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in town this is it.  This home has a newer roof and AC and exterior paint.

If you are looking for a big lot and RV access this is the one.  This home sits on nearly a third of an acre.  There is room for an RV on the side of the house and out back is a pool and spa and a putting green.

Inside you will find a large living room with a … (1 comments)

I Found You On Rain Something - 10:39 PM
I Found You On Rain Something
I found you on the Internet on rain something.  That is what one of my Stanislaus County Short Sale sellers told me recently.  She had sent me an email wanting information on doing a short sale.  We exchanged emails a couple of times before she called me.  I am always curious to find out how someone got my name, so I always ask.
What this person was referring to is ActiveRain. So you might be asking yourself, just what is ActiveRain?  Is it a weather channel, a site about people that like to dance in … (21 comments)

HUNTLY 9/11 MEMORIAL SERVICE - 11:34 AM
Where: James C. Dhamer Town Square, Church St. & E. Main St., Huntley, IL Date: September 11, 2011 Time: 12:00pm The Village of Huntley holds a September 11 Memorial Ceremony at James C. Dhamer Town Square. Speakers will include Village President Charles Sass, Pastor Mark Boster of the Shepherd of the Prairie Church, Monsignor Steve Knox of St. Mary's Church and Bruce Cole of the Faith Community Church. Also in attendance will be members of Huntley's American Legion Hall, the Huntley Fire Department and the Huntley Police Department. Taps will be performed by Tom Nash. 
VICKI WATZLAWICK, EXIT PLATINUM REALTY, 847 … (0 comments)

1505 Laurel Street Highland IL 62249 Home For Sale - 05:28 PM
… (2 comments)

Collinsville IL Homes For Sale, 395 Wilson - 06:44 PM
… (1 comments)

Roxanna IL 62084 Homes For Sale, 139 W Second Street - 11:42 PM
… (2 comments)

ActiveRain MeetUp in Baltimore Was a Success! - 10:47 PM
ActiveRain MeetUp Baltimore Was a Success! Lots of liquid sunshine along with the ActiveRain Meetup in Baltimore. Wonderful day in Baltimore for celebrating RainCamp and my birthday! We missed Erica Ramus who got flooded out earlier in the day. We had a wonderful turnout. Just look at the list below!  
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
 
                                      
                                          
 
                                                         … (22 comments)

Only for Margaret Rome would I sit in Rush Hour traffic- The Maryland AR Meet-Up! - 11:20 PM
Ellie took the time to put this video together and make my day  very special.
What a fabulous birthday present. Love the way Ellie put the gatherings together. This was a lot of work but each second was appreciated by me.
Ellie  helped make each gathering special and today was another success. In spite of the weather and the traffic... Ellie was  there to take pictures and share with all of us.
Thank you so much. This would be a terrific Pay it Forward Post!
 
Via Ellie McIntire Real Estate in Howard County Maryland (The McIntire Team of Long & Foster):
… (8 comments)

Flipping and Flopping With Your Short Sale - 06:54 AM

You forgot!! The FREE Q @ A with Wendy and Bryant was Wednesday the 7th at 4 pm Eastern time.
But fortunately you can listen to the replay below.
DiscussionsRepliesLatest Activity
This site is owned and operated by REGrow, LLC
Wendy Rulnick and
Bryant Tutas
Brokers of Record
A Licensed Florida Real Estate Brokerage
407-873-2747
628 Grand Canal Dr
Poinciana FL 34759
ShortSaleSuperStars@gmail.com
… (8 comments)

A Countrywide Mortgage Blast From The Past! - 05:40 PM
Hi folks. Check it out. I wrote this article 4 years ago. Any wonder why Countrywide Mortgage no longer exists?
Enjoy!!!
You want my buyer to do what?  Originally posted 9-29-2007 This morning, I took my buyer back to the builder to do the contract for her purchase. This particular builder requires that buyers are pre-qualified through their preferred Lender who is on site. You don't have to close with them but you do have to qualify with them. They do this so they can remove the financing contingency from the contract.
Anyway, while our sales rep was preparing the contract … (6 comments)

Mount Vernon Ohio Home for $67,000 Near East Elementary School - 11:00 AM
103.5 Oak Street in Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
You can also view all of our available Knox County Ohio homes that are priced at between $48,500 to $100,000.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  Knox County Ohio Real Estate
… (4 comments)

Truly one of the best values available for a Mount Vernon Ohio country home - 11:53 PM
1751 Vernonview Drive in Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
You can also view all of our available Mount Vernon Ohio homes for sale and organized from highest prices to the lowest prices available.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty (740) 397-7800  Knox County Ohio Real Estate
… (1 comments)

Home Sales for August 2011 - 03:35 PM
The following information was compiled from the Cape May County Board of Realtors MLS and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed:
Posted by:
Geraldine "Gerri" RescignoSales Associate, CRS, e-PRO, RSPSRE/MAX BEACH HOME REALTY4200 Landis AvenueSea Isle City NJ  08243
www.GerriRescigno.com
 
… (0 comments)

Should I stay or Should I Sell? - 02:18 PM
We've been asked by many of our clients in the past year if it makes sense to sell their existing home and purchase another.  Here are some thoughts on Moving Up. Does Moving Up Make Sense?   
1.      How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you’ve owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains.
 
2.      Has your income increased enough to … (3 comments)

Market Report: Central Ohio home prices - 01:10 PM
Market Report: What the graph tells you about Central Ohio home prices.

Market Report: Central Ohio home prices
The green line shows you the average active (homes for sale) home prices for the area by month.  The red line shows you the average sale price for the area by month.   The graph is well marked. 
The numbers across the bottom are months.  Typically a report is for the past 15 months.  That can be changed but I usually do the past 15 months. 
I do Central Ohio real estate market reports monthly.  They usually start to be available … (0 comments)

You are not going to believe this! Or maybe it's happened to you? - 03:15 PM
 
I can’t believe this day.  I received a call from obviously another agents listing coordinator last night.  She couldn’t get the listing to go into the MLS because I still had it listed…   Yes, my listing doesn’t expire for another 45 days. In fact the date is right on the listing.  Did the agent not see that when he spoke to my seller and got another listing agreement? 
 
I had emailed the client telling her that I had ran comps again, and we needed to drop the price 5K.  She replied back she wasn’t giving her house away … (9 comments)

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