Archives of real estate blog entries for January 10, 2012

Featured blog posts


2011 Market Report for Mill Creek, Washington - 12:30 AM
2011 Market Report for Mill Creek, Washington2011 Market Report for Mill Creek, WashingtonMill Creek real estate was on a lot of peoples' minds this last year. Now that the year is over we can report activity, averages and trends.I would characterize Mill Creek real estate activity as brisk and picking up based on the experience of the Phil Leng Team. We sold sixty eight homes this past year, with an average market time of 49 days!However the overall statistics for Mill Creek are sobering. Number of homes for sale is down 39%. Number of homes sold is down 18%. And, the … (14 comments)

Buying Midtown Atlanta Real Estate - Are You Using Your Own Buyer's Agent? - 08:34 AM
Are you considering purchasing a Midtown Atlanta single family home or condominium For Sale? If so, this purchase may very well be the largest, most expensive purchase you will ever make. When making such a purchase, you want someone you know and can trust to advise you throughout the process. That person would be a real estate agent or broker that is your Buyer's Agent. Once you've selected who you want to work with, you need to clarify in fact that they ARE working FOR YOU and they are your buyer's agent! Think of having to go to court, say for … (13 comments)

Hey You - Put the Hammer Down Now - 09:38 PM
 Put the Hammer Down Now

The other day I had an interestingly weird conversation with a fellow broker/friend.  It started out fine, she was kind of upbeat and excited about the new year and our market improving... but it quickly took an ugly turn. After listening to her beat herself up over and over it got to be quite annoying.  I was thinking   'why are you talking about yourself so negatively and how can I get you to shift this craziness?  I made several attempts to turn the conversation around which went nowhere. She just kept going on and … (116 comments)

No room no problem, let's take a look at the attic. - 05:33 AM
No room no problem, let's take a look at the attic.
On a recent inspection I was all set to look at the attic. This home had an access in the closet on the second floor.
When I got in the access door I found a myriad of duct work that had been run every where.

Holly molly I thought. What's on the other side of that mess. I needed to take a look and see for my self.

This open junction box was one of three I found hiding on the other side of the mass of duct … (110 comments)

WHO DO YOU TRUST...and WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST ME? - 11:58 PM
 WHO DO YOU TRUST...and WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST ME?
TRUST is not something to be taken lightly.
It’s not something you can buy, and it can turn to dust if not properly maintained.  It takes a great deal to earn it, but it can be lost in an instant. What is trust and how do we get it in the first place?
 
We are all born innocent and we immediately trust everyone.   Initially that can be a good thing until we get a little older and it becomes something dangerous in the world we live in.  At some point, we all have … (49 comments)

The Genesis Of Staging (OR-In The Beginning There Were Breakfast Trays...And It Was Good) - 01:15 PM
I have been wrestling with how the very word "Staging" resonates...with buyers, sellers and agents...and just yesterday I wrote about choosing to use PREPARING as the verb to describe what I do.
Then today Rich Iarossi of Long & Foster RE in Crofton and Annapolis MD wrote a great post about his buyers' noticing-then becoming pre-occupied with the 'faked' elements in a Staged property, instead of the property itself, and asks if a property could be Over-Staged?
Boy, people give this "S" word a lot of power! But I get it, I really do. Here are some thoughts I'd like to share from 30 … (24 comments)

Quit rolling those eyes... it's MARKET REPORT TIME! - 01:48 PM
Think those market reports are boring? I admit to not enjoying the task of putting them together. There, I said it. I feel much better now. However, let me tell you what my boring market reports have done for me.
Helped me to learn my markets inside and out. Helped with my listing presentations. Helped me to understand what is going on in other parts of the country. Given me more Google MILK. Show that I am an expert in my local markets, that I UNDERSTAND what is going on. Gotten me calls and emails. (And that is what it … (77 comments)

Florida Foreclosure Update- Banks Must Prove They Own Your Note! - 01:29 AM
Florida Foreclosure Update- Banks Must Prove They Own Your Note! 
The 4th District Court of Appeal has ruled that the banks must prove they own your note before they can foreclose on your property. 
This ruling may force the banks to dismiss some of their cases against homeowners and go back to start the foreclosure process over again after they get possession of the real note. This is good news for homeowners in the state of Florida- they get to have their day in court in order to prove their case. This of course, is also good for foreclosure defense attorneys and … (23 comments)

Dear Wells Fargo... Congratulations! You Bought a House for $8,000 less than offered! - 11:17 AM
 
Dear Wells Fargo,

Congratulations!  You've bought a house!  I know you are going to be very happy there.  The schools in the area have a great reputation.  What's more, there is a community pool, tennis courts, and an extensive trail system throughout the area's lakes and open space.   Even though you have never seen the house or been inside - in fact, you aren't even in Colorado - I know that you will appreciate the 5 bedrooms and 4 baths.  The basement is set up perfectly for out of town guests, with its full bedroom and bath and … (165 comments)

Topics are Everywhere! Choosing What to Write About in the Rain - 09:32 PM
Topics are Everywhere!  Choosing What to Write About in the Rain
It is hard to put into words exactly how I choose the topics I am going to write about here in Active Rain, (but for the sake of this post, I am going to).  Some are gimmes such as for this 2012 Big Jumpstart  Back to Basics Blogging Challenge and other Contests....well...because they give us the topic we need to write about to earn big points and sometime prizes!   Other topics I choose come from things we must do to really have Active Rain or the spirit of blogging truly work for us … (54 comments)

Home Staging, how a front door can sell your house. - 09:54 AM
Everyone knows first impressions mean a lot. When it comes to selling your home the first thing potential buyers see is the front of your house. For some this begins at the curb and for others it's the front door. For this reason it is incredibly important to remember these areas when getting your house ready to sell.
In fact having a terrific entry is so important Anita Cooper of Realty Biz News recently listed replacing the front entry door as one of the top three home improvement projects which "mostly pay for themselves."
2 Reasons the front door is so … (39 comments)

Community Guidelines - 06:20 PM
Oh, sure, I read them.  But, more perused them is accurate.  I understand that there are people who post just jokes.  I have posted some adages from time to time, and some recipes, to be sure.  But I felt that those items were more useful to the Community.  
When we are all in this together, a little camaraderie goes a long way.  And, so, I love to read the recipes Dick Greenburg and Endre Barath post because they make my gustatory life even better!
Now, after you have looked up the word "gustatory", you will understand.  
As every great … (40 comments)

Six things you need to stop doing! That's right, just knock it off! - 09:00 AM
I've spent a great deal of time, here on Active Rain, telling other members what they should, or could be doing, here in the rain.  I'm kind of a positive guy, so I like to spread positive messages.  And I like to tell people what to do... (it's something I picked up from my wife).
Here is a list of six things that, in my opinion, the participants, here on Active Rain, need to stop doing.  That's right, just knock it off!
1. Stop posting copyrighted artwork.  First, it's illegal... forget about the fact that nobody's going to catch you... character … (264 comments)

#9 In A Series - Has Active Rain Lost It's Punch??? - Have You Googled Your Name Lately? How Would You Like A 5,730% Increase in Hits In Google? - Thank You Active Rain - 02:49 PM
#9 In A Series - Has Active Rain Lost It's Punch??? - Have You Googled Your Name Lately?
How would you like a 5730% Increase in Hits In Google
Back in 2007 I read a post Have you googled....you?  by Lisa Merritt,  who only played in the rain for a year, that caused me to Google My Name then, and now Barrie has done it again for me as part of my decision making process for what I will be spending my time on this year.
 
Here are my results in the early days of Active Rain participation
added Cal Yoder Asked … (89 comments)

Do you have a challenge with online lead generation? - 10:47 PM
Lead generation is a challenge for any sales force.  As a REALTOR® our business is based on our business development strategies.  Every year we formulate our annual business plan and determine our numbers for the entire year.  They can be broken down by quarter, by peak season, and even by weekly timeblocking tasks.
With that said, we market both online and offline.  Our offline marketing tends to be traditional in nature.  More often than not we do the same things our competitors do.  Online marketing is where we begin to see the difference.  Keeping in mind that the average age of … (35 comments)

Where the heck did that come from? - 01:50 AM
 
I read a short blog post where the author complained about the point structure and ActiveRain.  Where the heck did that come from ?  The author reflected that some people used the same comment over and over again and got 25 points for each one.  I agree that was pretty lame but it has nothing to do with the point structure. The same point structure has been around since I've been a member and the points are what they are. 
The blog asks why a featured post is worth 200 more points than a regular post.  I looked to see how … (72 comments)

Google Is Lying To You About Your Rankings: How To Find The Truth! - 07:43 PM
If you're like me, you like to check your rankings in Google about 35 times a day to see if anything changed. Did I move to #1 yet? Am I still on the 2nd page?? Google why don't you like me?! But then, all the sudden, I see my keyword pop up at the top! Woot! But wait, my traffic hasn't jumped...why am I not seeing more traffic? Ughh...that dang Google lied to me! I'm not really on the first page...how rude!

Google Is Lying To You About Your Rankings
When checking rankings on your own computer, you may see … (71 comments)


Blog posts


USA 13 Unit Riverfront Lodging - 1.31 Western North Carolina Mountain Acres - NC Real Estate - 01:06 PM
Enjoy life while earning money - Operate it all year or Seasonal North Carolina Lodging for Sale for $695,000 … (0 comments)

Des Moines, Washington: A City of Pioneers - 05:22 PM
The Location
Des Moines(pronounced as de moin’) is a magnificent city nestled in the King County of the state of Washington, USA. It encompasses a total land area of 6.3 square miles and is found along the eastern shore of thePuget Sound. If you’ll check the map, you’ll notice that it lies in between two flourishing cities, Seattle and Tacoma respectively. It has been a Northwest community for more than a hundred years and its history dates back to 1867.
 
The Discovery
It is established in history that the very first settlers in America were actually the Indian tribes or … (0 comments)

Short Sales in Brentwood - Latest Info in the Short Sale Arena - 07:07 PM
Short Sales in Brentwood
The Short Sale rules and market are in a constant state of flux.  Right now Short Sales are very difficult, but many people think that 2012 will be the year of the Short Sale.  
Banks are supposed to be streamlining and making the Short Sale process faster and quicker.  I believe in the long run this is best for all concerned; borrowers, buyers, agents, and even the banks taking the loss.
Melissa here has accumulated a lot of Short Sale information.  Take a look at what she has put together and let me know what you … (2 comments)

Calaveras County - Wine - Frog Jumping and Frog Balls - 06:03 PM
Calaveras County - Wine - Frog Jumping and Frog Balls
 
Living here in the Central Valley of California we are very close to a lot of cool things.   The nearby foothills are a wealth of history and beautiful views. The foothills are home to many wineries. There are several small towns that are fun to explore.   Two of those towns are Murphys and Angels Camp.  Both are in the famous"Mother Lode" of California.  
 
Murphys Ca, known as the Queen of the Sierra, is home to more than a dozen wineries.  Downtown Murphys has many tasting rooms, … (3 comments)

Hey You - Put the Hammer Down Now - 09:56 PM
Anna has a great way of expressing herself. She would be a good person to have around when you were thinking negatively. I will remember her hammer idea the next time I feel down. No need to be down like this lady, remember the hammer.
Via Anna 'Banana' Kruchten - Phoenix AZ Broker,CRS 602-380-4886 (Phoenix Property Shoppe):
 Put the Hammer Down Now

The other day I had an interestingly weird conversation with a fellow broker/friend.  It started out fine, she was kind of upbeat and excited about the new year and our market improving... but it quickly took an ugly turn. After … (1 comments)

My Love Affair With PC Is Over - 12:21 PM
After spending the better part of four and a half hours online and on the phone with Norton support, I finally get it.  The mass exodus to Apple products made more and more sense to me as the hours ticked slowly by, with little more being accomplished than me getting a massive headache and a shorter temper.  My first destination, after finding I had a computer problem subsequent to installing recommended updates to my IE browser and system, was online chat.  Symantec reassuringly suggested, by virtue of the smiling countenance of their virtual tech, that was the most efficient way to … (7 comments)

Stowe Vermont Home Sales Report - Market Report 2005 through 2011 - 12:53 PM
Stowe Vermont Home Sales - Market Report 2005 through 2011
Stowe, Vermont is a beautiful, four season resort town.  Stowe has a full time population of about 4,500 people.  Many of Stowe homes and condos are vacation and second homes.  Below are market statistics by year and a chart for each year.  The data used is from the Northern New England Real Estate Network MLS.  Most of Stowe's sales are through the local MLS.  You can click on the charts for enlarged versions.  Towards the end of this article, is a year to year comparison.
 
2005 Stowe Home Sales# of Homes … (0 comments)

14025 FAIRWAY ISLAND DR # 315, ORLANDO FL 32837 Hunters Creek - 10:15 AM
14025 FAIRWAY ISLAND DR # 315, ORLANDO FL 32837                                                          $$$ 78,900 $$$
Consider paradise found with this amazing 2 bedroom, 2 bath home!  As you drive through the gates, let that feeling of serenity settle over you as you take in the lush landscaping and attention to detail.  The community clubhouse and fitness center greet you first with basketball, tennis and community pool overlooking the lake.  You might find yourself spending a lot of time here, but first, drive a short distance further to arrive home.  As you enter, you'll smile at the thought of being home.  Fix a quick snack … (0 comments)

6673 TIME SQUARE AVE # 103, ORLANDO FL 32835 Hamptons at Metro West - 10:18 AM
6673 TIME SQUARE AVE # 103, ORLANDO FL 32835                                                          $$$ 89,900 $$$
This stunning 3 floor 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath home is your perfect retreat for the new year!  As you walk up the curved stairway to your covered front porch, imagine welcoming your guests into your spacious living room with bay window!  Check out the window seat with hidden storage before passing on to your dining room and kitchen.  Upstairs, you'll find your master retreat and 2nd bedroom, while your garage is downstairs.  Venture out to discover the lakefront, community pool, and fitness center, or head beyond the gates for … (0 comments)

14819 HAWKSMOOR RUN CIR, ORLANDO FL 32828 Stoneybrook - 10:28 AM
14819 HAWKSMOOR RUN CIR, ORLANDO FL 32828                                                 $$$ 239,900 $$$
Short Sale. Gorgeous 4 bed pool home with Bonus room that could be used as a 5 bedroom if needed.  Newer solar heated, salt water pool,brick pavered pool deck, located in the premier gated golf community in northeast Orange County.  Gorgeous hardwood floors, crown molding, guest bed on 1st level, master bedrooms and 2 guest bedrooms on 2nd floor.  Master bedroom includes huge walk-in closet, garden tub and separate shower in master bathroom.  Nice ceramic tile flooring as well.  Community provides free basic cable service, as well as Internet services. Other … (1 comments)

304 SANDDOLLAR CT, KISSIMMEE FL 34743 BVL - 10:31 AM
304 SANDDOLLAR CT, KISSIMMEE FL 34743                                                                        $$$ 117,500 $$$
Let this charming 3 bedroom, 2 bath pool home captivate you!  From the quiet cul-de-sac to the long driveway, you'll be drawn in.  Your spacious kitchen with sunny breakfast nook awaits off your foyer, convenient for all your culinary needs.  The pass-through window allows you to keep on top of the action in your dining room and living room beyond.  Of course, the views of your glistening swimming pool will call you out to enjoy the fresh air and wooded views beyond your fenced backyard.  You'll be making happy memories out here … (1 comments)

2638 EAGLE CLIFF DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34746 Eagle Lake - 10:35 AM
2638 EAGLE CLIFF DR, KISSIMMEE FL 34746                                                         $$$ 130,000 $$$
SHORT SALE. BEAUTIFUL WELL MAINTAINED HOME OWNERS PRIDE SHOWS THROUGHOUT. Turn Key ready home located in the Family-Friendly Community of Eagle Lake in Kissimmee. 3 Bedroom/2 bath home. Great location and close to shopping.  This home will not last long so don't miss your opportunity, come on by and take a tour.  Please note, Stainless Steel Refrigerator, Microwave, light fixtures and ceiling fans do not convey.
For the latest status on this property and many more in the Kissimmee area, contact Steve Glose with Keller Williams Realty direct at 407-616-7286 or visit www.thefloridalivingteam.com. … (2 comments)

Come SHOWER the Babies at TMJ 4's Community Baby Shower Friday Jan 13th ! - 07:23 AM
    You won't have to play "pin the diaper" or guess the weight, sex, due date...no games at this shower....Just pure enjoyment knowing that you helped to welcome  the newest members of the community with your gift of things that they need most.   You can go to the grocery store and find a case of formula....the drug store will have an array of pacifiers, rattles, diapers...all things Baby.....Clothing is sooooo cute...tiny sizes dressing up the newest additions to our community.  Don't forget blankets...Wisconsin winters show no mercy and these bundles of joy need to be kept warm.
   Whatever you choose....know … (13 comments)

TEXAS and The Houston Economy is The Best in the US - 10:09 PM
Texas housing markets are faring better than the nation's.
According to the real estate data provider, the average home price in Houston dropped .8 percent in 2011. Nationally, prices dropped 2.1 percent.
In fourth quarter 2011, the city's home prices increased by 1.8 percent compared with the national decrease of .4 percent.
Houston home prices to increase by 3 percent this year, compared with the nation's .2 percent.
Three Texas cities are among the top U.S. cities favored by foreign real estate investors, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate.
Houston held onto last year’s ranking at No. 7. Austin moved into the eighth spot … (0 comments)

Bucks County’s Most Expensive Homes – 2011 - 02:03 PM
Most people know that there are parts of Bucks County, where real estate is very expensive. In 2007, the most expensive Bucks County home sold for $5,850,000!  In the same year, there were six homes that sold for more than $3 million, and another that sold for more than $4 million!
Fast forward to 2011.  Drum roll, please…
In 2011, if you were prepared to spend in excess of two million dollars, you were looking at the most expensive homes in Bucks County!

9 Woodland Road, Newtown, Pa. 18940: $2,050,000
Listed by Linda Krick Danese of Kurfiss and sold by … (1 comments)

Need An Option To Foreclousre? You can start Fresh in 2012 - 09:11 PM
If you are underwater in Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze Florida give us a call, you have options and we can show you the way. Here is a great article to get started with but we recommend that you study up on short sales and know what you options really are.
Via Sheila Newton Team~Anderson & Greenville SC Real Estate/ Foreclosures/Short Sales (RE/MAX Realty Professionals):
Give Yourself and Your Family the Gift of a Fresh Start to 2012!  
If you spent too much of 2011 living under the dark cloud of an unaffordable house payment, you're in good company. Current estimates … (0 comments)

Fire Safety Tips - 09:19 PM
Heed the warnings and take the advise of the experts, always err on the side of caution here are several pointers to help you make it a safe New Year.
Would you like information on buying or selling Foreclosures / Short sales CLICK HERE or Search All MLS Listings CLICK HERE
Buyers are taking advantage of our Smooth Move Program at closing, Choose between 1% Cash Back, 1 year taxes paid, 1 year insurance paid, Free Home Warranty and Use of our Moving Van or Free Survey with Free Termite.   Renters are taking advantage of our Smooth Move Program, Choose between Free … (1 comments)

Just $2,100 Per Month for This Fabulous Rental Located at 8451 Byers Drive, Alexandria - 09:54 AM
… (2 comments)

Discover Brambleton Living with this Amazing Rental! Welcome Home to 23374 Virginia Rose Place, Ashburn - 09:56 AM
… (0 comments)

Going, Going...Hurry! This Home Won't Last Long! 136 Hampshire Square SW, Leesburg - 09:59 AM
… (0 comments)

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