Archives of real estate blog entries for March 5, 2012

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THE BROKEN WINDOW THEORY....A Call To Action For The Real Estate Community!.... - 10:02 AM
THE BROKEN WINDOW THEORY....A Call to Action for the real estate community.....
I read in the Wall street Journal yesterday of the passing of a great conservative thinker and theorist, James Q Wilson. He was the source of a new theory about crime in the early 60's, which offered up an unusual experiment of sorts and something about his legacy and this experiment in particular, left me wondering...Can and does this theory apply more broadly in society? Can and should we apply this sort of thinking in our own profession, within our own communities?....You be the judge:
 
SETTING THE STAGE.
In the late … (81 comments)

Got Great Credit? Now's The Time to Buy in Gladden Farms, Marana - 10:40 AM
Got Great Credit?  Now's The Time to Buy in Gladden Farms, Marana
If you're a buyer with good credit right now, I can't hardly express how great a time it is to buy in Gladden Farms, off Tangerine Farms Road in Marana ...RIGHT now.

Ten re-sale homes are offered right now...at an average of $75.91 a square foot.  So imagine a home, no older than 2004 and possibly built in 2010. Contemporary exterior, block wall surrounds, lots at .14 of an acre on up to .23...in an immaculate neighborhood.  Taking that a step further, let's suppose you'd like a four … (10 comments)

Putting Facebook To Work - 07:09 AM
Putting Facebook To Work
Are you putting Facebook to work for you?  It’s true we all network, socialize, and advertise our real estate business differently.  I have a specific Facebook business page and quiet honestly it doesn’t really get much attention nor do I promote it much.  I have found my personal Facebook page seems to work best for my business.I have friended many old clients and as I acquire new clients I ask them if they are on Facebook and if so asking if we can be friends.  I invite them to be friends on my personal page and acquire … (59 comments)

Do you have to be delinquent or past due to short sale your home? - 07:50 PM
Do you have to be delinquent or past due to short sale your home?  The answer to that question is NO, but you better be able to prove your hardship in a very clear way to your lender.
Allow me to expand on this topic by giving you a recent experience I had with a client.  First, I am proud to say that I was able to get a short sale approval with Bank of America on a loan that was 100% current and never past due.
I speak to homeowners almost daily that ask about short sales and as an … (14 comments)

What does it cost for new construction in Palo Alto? - 02:19 PM
Are you considering or already own a property in Palo Alto on which you'd like to build a new home?  Perhaps you're considering buying a new home and want to know if you're getting a good deal.  You need to know the cost of new construction before going down either path.
Home buyers ask about the cost of new construction a lot but it's not an easy question to answer.  A ballpark cost to build a new home is $200-300 per square foot.  This is a wide range because determining the actual cost depends on a few major factors.
Factor 1: … (15 comments)

I wrote my first blog one year ago today. Wow, it went by fast! - 05:31 AM
The Active Rain blog roll says I've been blogging one year today.  For the past 365 days I've posted my zany thoughts, ideas, revealed my wacky sense of humor and related my experiences, and it has been a blast.  I've met some really awesome people, and I've learned the equivalent of a couple college courses.  I've had great phone conversations with some amazing Rainers, and the email correspondence has been just as exciting and just as good.

In the past 365 days, I've only missed a couple days of blogging.  I've posted 642 blogs, garnered 240 subscribers and collected 276,000 … (115 comments)

I Promise to Love, Cherish ... and Pay My Bills?? - 02:28 PM
 
 
 I Promise to Love, Cherish ... and Pay My Bills??

    *  Food for thought: 
          According to the 2010 Current Population Survey (conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau), there are about 7.5 million unmarried opposite-sex couples cohabiting in the United States today, a well as another 620,000 same-sex couples. The same source reported that married couples now account for only 48 percent of all households.                 More and more often, especially with young, first-time home buyers, I am assisting unmarried partners with their mortgage financing ... and I'm seeing huge differences in many of … (47 comments)

Active Rain Really Helps Your SERP Rankings! - 04:08 PM
Active Rain enjoys a very strong search engine presence. It currently is rated #4067 on Alexa - an international website rating service of all the tens of millions of sites and blogs on the internet. Just by being on Active Rain, we have that additional power. Most of our own websites rank in the high 7 figures or higher.
Well, in addition to being seen and ranking higher by virtue of the tremendous online activity, an AR presence helps with our SERPs (search engine results page) or organic search.
Just a little while ago I did a Google serach for "real … (105 comments)

Protect Yourself Against Weak Passwords - 01:28 PM
Spammers can run scripts to try to login to accounts where they go through a list of weak passwords to try.   The biggest, strongest and mightiest wall you can create to protect yourself against such devious acts is a strong password.
Anyone know what the most commonly used password is?  If you guessed 'password1' pat yourself on the back.  If you use a password like this please go sit in the corner for 1/2 hour.  A weak password like this pretty much says "Come on in, hack me". 
A combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols are the recipe to … (94 comments)

Stop Taking In Stray Buyers - 12:39 PM
Stop Taking In Stray Buyers
We've all done it before.
Phone rings. Someone on the other line wants to see a house. We start explaining the process of getting pre-qualified for a mortgage before we start looking at homes, etc.
They swear up and down that they have awesome credit and a pile of money in the bank for a down payment.
Their excitement wears us down and we agree to show them the home, with the understanding that it's one home ONLY, then we need to have them pre-qualified by a lender. (if it's a cash sale, then we need … (76 comments)

Think You Aren’t Violating Any Lease Terms? Think Again! - 05:50 AM
Over the years of managing property, tenants tend to be surprised when they learn they have violated terms and conditions in their lease – and never even knew!
These are just a few things you as a tenant might do – that you might not be able to:
Letting someone stay in the home until they find their own place.  Many leases require you to notify the landlord if you have anyone living in the home other than those listed on the lease.
Starting a home based business.  It sounds harmless, but home based business present liability issues for landlords, homeowners, … (52 comments)

Real Estate Trends Favor Buyer or Seller in March 2012? - 02:24 PM
Raleigh Real Estate Trends Favor Buyer or Seller in March 2012?  Media sound bite usually based on limited data and normally national in scope. 
What are media comments based on?  In my experience, it's usually a comparison between the current month and the prior month or the current month compared with the same month a year ago.  More comprehensive data is needed by those who will actively participate in the real estate market.  In response to that need, I present you the following market analysis.

Market divided into four segments: Black Line: Represents Most Expensive Homes Orange Line: Represents Upper Middle … (10 comments)

Selling real estate - who is the decision maker? - 08:36 AM
Selling real estate - who is the decision maker?
One of the first things I learned in Marketing 101 in college was to make sure you are speaking to the decision-maker when making your sales pitch - and that holds true in every profession, even real estate.
Recently a friend of my husband's contacted me about purchasing some midtown Tulsa real estate. He was not finding what he was wanting and asked me to help him out.
In addition to the description of his dream home, he very clearly told me that his ten year-old daughter would be spending weekends with … (26 comments)

The United Colors of Active Rain - What's Your Favorite Color Say About You? - 03:11 PM
You’ve no doubt heard of the United Colors of Benetton. I think they have an effective advertising campaign, plus I like the message - color is beautiful. Their colors weave a tapestry of harmony. Diversity in skin color, and cultures, help make our world a richer place to live. The United Colors of Benetton effectively sells that concept along with its colorful line of clothing and related products. In Active Rain, we have a lot of colorful people, and not just culturally. We have some pretty bright personalities too - loud, bold and vibrant. We also have some softer personalities, more … (66 comments)

FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE CHANGES - 03:31 PM
FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGES CHANGE
FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE CHANGES What? Are you ready?
Facebook Business Pages Change stems from the 2012 fMC. The following video is the Keynote Address given by Sheryl Sandberg, COO since 2009, at the conference. Other speakers included  Mike Hoefflinger, Chris Cox, David Fischer, Chris McCann, Scott Sorokin, Jennifer Kasper and Louis Eisenberg. Topics were  discussed in Breakouts and those included were Pages, Hacker Way, What People Share, Page Insights and Marketing Strategy. Included were a Fireside Chat, a Photo, Music, and Timeline Experience/Q&A as well as a set of Interviews and Experience statements
Have a happy day - … (42 comments)

Highway Markers Can Enhance "Local Expert" Status - 02:31 PM
No matter where you live in the 50 states there are highway markers "teaching" you about the history of your community. You would be wise to consider taking advantage of it.
Since joining AR My husband Arthur and I have made a conscious effort to visit historic buildings, read highway markers and blog about them. At the very least it has made us appreciate Prince William Country even more - that enthusiasm is evident in our client conversations.
I was unaware Davis Ford Road was the primary road from Woodbridge to Manassas since 1781. It is a narrow, treacherous two lane road.
Unless … (80 comments)

Mission Viejo Farmers Market and the HEAL Initiative - 01:20 PM

 
 
Mission Viejo has always been committed to healthy living. The original planned community in Orange County, California.....all homes have local parks, walking trails and easy access to recreation centers and sports fields. The Mission Viejo Farmers Market was an easy extension of this lifestyle.Last spring (2011), the City Council acted to create a cooperative program with Mission Hospital and the Farmers Market to promote healthy living and lifestyle. The HEAL initiative (Healthy Eating and Active Living) purpose was to bring healthy food choices to the community and support state-grown and locally made products. Every Friday from 9am to … (22 comments)

I have 10,000 people in my database...who are you again? - 06:58 AM
These words were recently spoken to me by a contractor I had recently used on a huge job at my house.  I won't go into details, but we spent 5 figures with this company and had quite a bit of work done last October.   I am a Realtor®, and I have also used this contractor on occasion for work on listings.    So when I called him to see if he worked in an area in a neighboring county where I have a listing coming up,  I was surprised when he had absolutely no idea of who I was.  I … (148 comments)

You're Taking The Furnace? Really?!? - 03:40 PM
We Realtors see all sorts of odd behavior.  Not too surprisingly, these "interesting" occurrences seem to have increased along with the increase in short sale and foreclosed properties on the market.
I once participated in a sale where a disgruntled seller removed all of the light fixtures, the built in microwave, screens, storm doors, and even the toilet paper holder.  He said the toilet paper holder had "sentimental value."  ...and this was NOT a short sale.  Needless to say, he ended up having to escrow thousands at closing while the buyer enjoyed a shopping spree to replace the items.
Until today, … (89 comments)

Wait A Minute...Did You Actually Say What I Thought I Just Heard? - 09:55 AM
A Listing Broker's Lament
 
 
 
GOOD GRIEF.  Did I hear what I think you just said?
We've had your condominium unit on the market off and on for the past two years.  Remember how you called me - frantically - just 3 short weeks after moving to Boston, saying that you had made a huge mistake by moving here for the wrong reasons and wanted to sell your condo and move back "home"?
Remember when I told you as we were writing up an offer on the condo that the color of the money from your cash offer was the same to the seller whether it came from … (75 comments)

Just Ask The Right Questions..... - 08:32 PM

Halfway through my listing presentation today I was so sure that there was no way I would get it, I almost packed up my stuff and left.  The lister was all over the board, indecisive, wishy-washy and did I mention, totally unable to make up his mind about any facet of the sale of his home.  Back and forth he went about price, listing date, furnished or unfurnished, etc.  Finally I just looked at him with exasperation written all over my face  and said “ I just read the most appropriate article on this site called Active Rain, entitled “IS … (71 comments)


Blog posts


USA Hotel - Southwestern Alabama Comfort Inn - 2.05 Acres Off I-65 - 60 Units in 20,360 Sq Ft - AL Real Estate - 01:32 PM
Alabama Comfort Inn Hotel for Sale … (0 comments)

Home value Des Moines, WA - 12:56 PM
  Looking for Home Values in Des Moine, WA?
CALL "The Team That ROCKS!" at 1-888-518-ROCK (7625) or visit
http://kingpiercecountyhomes.com to reach our Home Valuation Specialist!
 

 
 
CALL "The Team That ROCKS!" at 1-888-518-ROCK (7625)
Fill out the Form Above and receive a Free Home Analysys from our "Home Valuation Specialist"
Are you looking looking for a partner in King and Pierce County to help you negotiate the complexities of selling a home? Then you've come to the right place. With 30 Plus years of combined experience, "The Team That Rocks" will help ensure the successful and profitable sale of your … (0 comments)

All Downspouts MUST Discharge Water Away From The Foundation Wall - 08:38 PM
Buying a Home in Brentwood Ca
If you are Buying a Home in Brentwood or Beyond you need to get a Home Inspection.  We all see the big things but you need someone who will spot the details for you.
Here is a great post on Home Inspections.
If you are looking to Buy a Home in Brentwood or Beyond give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC):
All downspouts MUST discharge water away from the foundation wall.  As they say, denial isn't just a river in Egypt.
Anything else simply … (0 comments)

Oh no, we're not going to do any painting! - 08:41 PM
Selling a Home in Brentwood Ca
Selling a Home is a challenge and there are lots of things you can do to get the home ready.  Staging is one option, but an economical and very effective thing to do is paint.
Read this post on using paint to Sell a Home.
For more information on Selling a Home in Brentwood or Beyond give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via Janice Ankrett Burlington Ontario Accredited Staging Professional (Janice Ankrett Home Staging):
I realize that painting is work and an expense but it is also one of the most cost effective ways to improve your … (4 comments)

Stanislaus County Home Sales for February 2012 - MODESTO - 06:15 PM
Stanislaus County Home Sales for February 2012 - MODESTO
 
The sales figures for Modesto California for February 2012 are in.  The totals below are for single family homes sold in Modesto.
 
 
Total Sales - 191   (229 sold in February 2011)
 
Bank owned Sales - 71  which was 37% of all sales.
 
Short Sales - 52 which was 27% of all sales
 
Overall, distressed sales (Bank owned and short sales) made up 64% of all sales.
 
The lowest price home sold in Modesto during February 2012 was $32,000.   
 
The highest price home … (0 comments)

It is no wonder we had competing offers! Another HomeRome Baltimore Condo Under Contract. - 04:15 PM
  It is no wonder we had competing offers!
Another HomeRome Baltimore Condo Under Contract.  The Elmont- 6317 Park Heights Ave #516  
 
We have the right buyer for this luxury 2 bedroom 2 full bath condominium located in the Upper Park Heights area of Baltimore. It is no wonder we had competing offers! Not one, not two, not three but four offers in the same week!  Why?   Because this one has it all... a new kitchen, new baths, new flooring, a ton of closet space and beautiful views from the 5th level location. This is a full service elevator … (11 comments)

FHA Fees Going Up April 1st - 05:09 PM
 
FHA Fees Going Up April 1st FHA has raised the annual Mortgage Insurance Premium to 1.25% beginning April 1st.  MIP is required on all FHA loans and used to fund losses by lenders for borrowers who default on their mortgages.  As of June 1st, FHA loans in excess of the standard maximum of $625,500, in high-cost areas, will have a premium of 1.5% of the loan amount.
In addition to the increase in the annual MIP, FHA also announced it plans to raise the fee on the up-front MIP from 1.00% to 1.75%.  No date was reported for its implementation.
… (0 comments)

I Feel Like John Quinones...What Would YOU Do ?..... - 03:57 AM
 
I feel like John Quinones....
     What would       YOU Do ?
     In Wisconsin….if after a buyer has done an inspection, the licensed home inspector discovers “issues” ,  and the buyer elects not to complete the transaction due to these issues, the agent, on behalf of the buyer, sends the Sellers and their agent…a Notice of Defects.  The defects are listed on the notice and the buyer gets their earnest money returned and goes on to buy another property.
 
The homeowner is required to do an “amendment to the real estate condition report” and report how the defects were … (15 comments)

Quick Weekly Santa Monica Real Estate Market Update – February 24 to March 2, 2012 - 05:58 PM
 

Santa Monica Real Estate – Single Family Homes:   Active Listings: 69* Short Sales – 3* Bank Owned/REO – 1   Of the 69 active Santa Monica homes for sale, 18 had their List Price decreased, and 3 of them actually increased in list price...continue reading
 
… (0 comments)

Monday Morning Matters: Agents who make 100K do so with Marketing - 05:23 PM
Monday Morning Matters: Agents who make 100K do so with Marketing
Inman survey: Agents who make $100K or more
  SAN FRANCISCO – Feb. 21, 2012 – Real estate professionals who earn $100,000 or more per year show quite a few differences in how they do their job – and the technology they use – compared to real estate pros who make $30,000 to $50,000 a year, according to a new survey conducted by InmanNext, an Inman News website.Read the rest of the story: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?p=1&id=272042
Today's Prayer Dear God, Sometimes I find it hard to manage my time well. There is … (4 comments)

I Promise You Won't Get Arrested, Even Though This is a STEAL! Welcome to 20414 Cliftons Point Street Sterling - 06:26 AM
Price Reduced! Here is Your Chance to Get Into Rivercrest! … (2 comments)

Shot Gun! Call it Before Someone Else Does! Discover 47433 Middle Bluff Place Sterling - 06:29 AM
Picture Perfect Brick Front Beauty in Sought After Rivercrest! … (0 comments)

Ask Gina & Company “Proud” Sponsor of Booze-a-Palooza - 10:00 AM
Ask Gina & Company “Proud” Sponsor of Booze-a-Palooza

 
We at Ask Gina & Company can recognize a great deal when we see one, so when we had the opportunity to become an official sponsor of the Booze-a-Palooza Golf Championship Tournament being held in North Carolina this March 8th-11th, we jumped at the chance!
Under our agreement, Ask Gina & Company may now exclusively refer to our Atlantic High property holdings as home of the “Booze-a-Palooza Golf Tournament!” Included in this once in a lifetime deal, we also receive on course marketing and hospitality rights in addition to an opportunity … (4 comments)

Montgomery Real Estate For Sale:1942 Graham Street Montgomery, Al 36106 - 03:47 AM

Classic brick Tudor Cloverdale cottage near all the hot spots and recent loft construction. Entrance foyer is columned and arched doors add to the old house feel. Main bedroom is down with great bath area. Kitchen has newer appliances and features great attached gathering room. Backyard has deck and is fully fenced for your children and pets. Detached garage offers space for your projects or even your car. Call us or your favorite agent for a viewing before it's gone.
Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists … (1 comments)

the slight edge - 07:05 AM
How many of you have read "The Slight Edge" by Olson?  His small steps are fantastic! One of my small steps will be to get involved with ActiveRain instead of just reading it.  If you have read the Edge, what did you think of it? I'd really like to know.
… (0 comments)

The Academy of Home Staging at the Resa Convention - 02:25 PM
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/609408
… (0 comments)

Bullhead City AZ Commercial Real Estate Deals - Old Bullhead City, AZ - Lil Red Schoolhouse - 03:33 PM
Bullhead City commercial real estate has undergone a spectacular evolution, and yet there are still some beautiful pieces of history that have endured to this day.
Did you know that the very first schoolhouse ever built in Bullhead City, AZ 86442 is STILL standing AND conducting classes?

This Little Red Schoolhouse was built in 1947 and has been used since 1948 by the Bullhead City Elementary School District for special programs such as music education.
The District now includes seven schools, five elementary and two junior high schools.
Old Bullhead City (also called 'Original Bullhead City') AZ has a lot … (0 comments)

PMH Financial Requiring Res.net Professional - 06:37 AM
Last week an email was sent out to all of the PMH Financial registered agents stating that in order to get any REO properties that we would be required to register for a Professional account.  I currently have a Premium account and have never received any properties from PMH Financial as of yet. I do however receive properties from another Asset Management company that uses res.net but I haven't received any REO properties as a result of my registration.
While they are giving a discount and I need to renew my membership soon anyway, I'm worndering if it is worth the cost of the … (0 comments)

2012 BIA Parade of Homes: Meadows at Lewis Center - 02:29 PM
The 2012 BIA Parade of Homes is at The Meadows at Lewis Center.  The Meadows at Lewis Center is on Lewis Center Rd., just west of Old State Road.

This year's BIA Parade of Homes at The Meadows at Lewis Center
Our mild winter weather has given home builders at the BIA Parade of Homes site a jump on the season, I think.  Or perhaps it just seems that way, I have never had an opportunity other years to continually drive by the neighborhood and see the houses take shape.
Pictured is the home by Miller Troyer Custom Homes … (2 comments)

Ready to Sell Your Gainesville Home? - 07:50 AM
If you are ready to sell your Gainesville area home, there are two very important things to consider when selling your Gainesville area home.   
PRICE and PRESENTATION  
Let's talk about Presentation first.  You have to know that today's home buyers have started searching online before they start viewing homes with their Realtor®.   This is why your Gainesville home must make a good first  impression from the moment they pull into the driveway.  Some call this curb appeal.   Take a hard look at this list to see if you will need to tweak some things to make your home interest the buyers that come … (0 comments)

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