Archives of real estate blog entries for April 2, 2012

Featured blog posts


Feeling Anxious about Buying a Home? Try These Tips... - 11:51 AM
  Buying a home is very exciting, and sometimes, a bit daunting, too. So here are a few tips for buyers on relieving stress in the home-buying process.
1. Exclusive Buyers Agent (EBA) Never heard of EBAs? Then now's the time to find out.  An Exclusive Buyers Agent (EBA) is a real estate agent who solely looks out for the interests of home buyers (not sellers). We are experts on the home buying process, from initial search to closing, negotiating the best deal and terms on behalf of buyers only.  We're also experts at giving tours (real or virtual) to help you discover the … (16 comments)

"You have reached 850-xxx-xxxx. Please leave a message at the sound of the tone" - 04:17 AM
"You have reached <insert pause> 850-xxx-xxxx. Please leave a message at the sound of the tone."
That's the greeting I received yesterday when I dialed the phone number on the rider perched atop a For Sale sign. I wasn't calling to buy the house, but rather to let the listing agent know that her vacant listing appears to be squatted in - that someone might be living there without the blessing of the owner. 
As I dialed the number on a Sunday morning, I assumed I'd get voice mail since this is the south and a lot of people tend to hang … (75 comments)

Sensei/Grasshopper - An April Challenge! - 03:03 PM

ActiveRain may be the most complete repository of real estate information and expertise available in the galaxy. With over 2.5 million blog posts in the archives and over 220,000 members, it's an information-rich environment that can help anyone find and use tools to improve their business model, adopt and adapt new technology, and achieve success.
And while ActiveRain makes Herculean efforts to help newcomers get oriented and make sense of what at times can seem an incomprehensible and overwhelming array of options and information, it can be a daunting task to get started.
Think back to when you first got … (120 comments)

Sipping the "Sold Champagne" Too Soon Can Cause A Major Headache - 07:58 AM

"I can't believe she sold our house in less than a week", exclaimed my out of state friend. This house selling is easy! My hubby is on his way home now with the wine. After a quick congratulations she was off the phone. All the way in Louisiana I could hear her family celebrate...
 "I thought our house was sold", you could hear the desperation in my friend's voice. Followup calls a week after contract are never good. Much like an early season hurricane, my friend's buyer fizzled out and disappeared. The details of the disappearance were a bit sketchy, … (38 comments)

Is your house an island? It better be. - 07:10 AM
 
Crawl spaces can be one of the biggest contributors of moisture in the attic space.  Crawl spaces with exceptionally high moisture levels can overwhelm even crawl spaces that have “technically” adequate ventilation.  Moisture as vapor (a gas) will move from the crawl space, through the living space, and end up in the attic where it can condense on the cold roof sheathing.  This moisture vapor can overwhelm an attic that also has “technically” adequate ventilation.
On a recent inspection, I had such a crawl space.   Much of the crawl space had flooded to such an extent that the vapor barrier … (43 comments)

There's No Consolation Prize In Real Estate! - 06:46 AM
There's No Consolation Prize In Real Estate! Buying or selling your home is a full contact sport!  And unlike kiddie sports where everyone gets a trophy or ribbon, real estate is for the big girls and boys and coming close just makes you the "first loser".  Yes, we know that's kind of harsh, but so is the reality of this competition, and don't be lulled into thinking it's some easy going market out there. You like your neighbors (maybe) and they like you (maybe), but when it comes to both of you selling your homes, the gloves are typically off.  Both … (66 comments)

New Hampshire Home Stager's Top 10 Tips To Making Spring Cleaning Fun - 05:17 AM
 New Hampshire Home Stager's Top 10 Tips To Making Spring Cleaning FUN

It's that time of year, again.  Time to shake off the cobwebs and do the whole refresh and renew thing.
Spring Cleaning!
  You can whine and complain about the drudgery or....
make the best of it.  It's all a matter of attitude.
 
Here are my 10 tips to the MOST FUN you can have Spring cleaning: 
 
 One:  Crank the tunes....get your favorite music playing, and I mean loud!
 
 Two:  Tie hair in ponytail.  You'll feel younger (providing you don't look in a mirror) and work much faster.
… (40 comments)

Dear Seller about that expired listing... - 11:00 AM
Sometimes, a potential client can be stubborn. Sometimes they can be too anxious. Whatever their situation, Ill be forthright.
 
Dear Seller,
 
About your expired listing:Here in these parts, generally, if you purchased a home half way through ’06 through 2009 and are in need of selling now, chances are you will not get all of your investment back.I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that, but I am not going to Sugar Coat it. If I have insulted you, I'm sorry again, but you have really high expectations, in this market.I know your previous Agent promised you … (24 comments)

Please don't scam the clients!!! - 11:12 PM
Please don't scam the clients!!!
I got a phone call from a client who received a letter from another real estate agent.  In this letter, the agent proclaimed she had a buyer for my clients unlisted property.  My client was ecstatic, to say the least.  She gave me the letter and told me to contact the other agent and get it done. 

I looked up the other agent before calling her.  She had several listings in the development of my clients vacant land and so I call her and left a message.
The first time I looked at the letter, … (75 comments)

Don't Offer A Bonus In Commission If Your Seller Can't Afford It! - 01:03 PM
Part of taking a listing and representing a seller is crunching those initial numbers correctly. The seller should understand what it's costing them to sell their home.
 
Example:
List Price: $200,000
Estimated Sales Price: $194,000
$194,000 x commissions and seller closing costs = X. *Seller closing costs are about 1.15% of the Est. sales price. (OTP, Escrow fee, attorney fees, blah, blah blah *nothing to do with the agents involved.)
 
Estiamted sales price - X = Y.
Y - pro-rated taxes & payoff = Sugar Cookie.
 
Sugar cookie - any bonus offered to other agent = seller net.
 
Pro-rated … (28 comments)

Think You Don't Have Radon. Think Again...Radon Can Appear Anywhere - 05:33 PM
 
So You Think You Don't Have Radon. Think Again... Radon Can Appear Anywhere. Yes anywhere and until you test you really have no idea if you have it or not. Don't have a basement? Makes no difference. Yes radon seems to appear more frequently in basements and crawl spaces but it can also be in rooms above ground as well. So what is radon? Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. radon can cause lung cancer and is the only known effect on human health. And if you are a … (21 comments)

Reform Of Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Unlikely In The Near Future - 06:54 PM
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have spent over 180 billion dollars of tax payer money since 2008 when they entered into Federal Conservatorship, and the latest prediction are that they will continue to tap into taxpayer funds for at least the rest of 2012.  Unless privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac becomes a hot political campaign issue very quickly, nothing will be done before the Presidential Election.
What that means is that if steps to once again privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, don't happen before the Presidential Election, then in my opinion we are likely to still be talking about … (19 comments)

Spring MeetUp Locations - 02:34 PM
The list is here, mark your calendars and MeetUp with other ActiveRain members in your neighborhood!  RainCamp is happening April 19th and what goes better with RainCamp than MeetUps!?!?  Everyone who's experienced getting together with other 'Rainers can attest to the fun.  We have quite the list of superstars who believe in the magic of a MeetUp so they've been kind enough to host one in their area.  We're going to mix it up a bit this round and offer a chance at receiving some well earned points for those who attend.
2000 points to anyone who blogs about their MeetUp experience … (77 comments)

Just because it was recommended on HGTV - 04:03 AM

There are a myriad of home improvement shows on television.  Homes are improved, updated, changed and sold and it all looks so terrific.  I recently saw one of these shows and the "paint expert" recommended a Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172 colour for walls.  He said it had a hint of green.  I have a lot of green in my home and thought - wow, I could do grey walls that would update my home and still be okay with the furniture and furnishings that I own.  Off we went to the paint store and got a small paint chip to … (106 comments)

Surprise: That Property You Found Online Is Already Under Contract! - 07:02 AM
One of the most often asked questions by people looking at homes on our Tallahassee Property Search Tool is about the status of properties under contract.
Some people want to know why we even both to continue marketing properties under contract, they feel that these just get in the way when they are looking at what is still available.
But there has actually been a lot of consideration put into this, so I figured it might make for an enlightening blog post.
Properties Under Contract Might Not Close Real estate companies who are hired to sell a home in Tallahassee sign … (43 comments)

How You Know You're NOT a ROOKIE Agent Anymore... - 06:57 PM
Think back to the days when you were a new agent...
Now think back to your first dozen or so listing appointments..
Tell me the truth...did you or did you not compromise on a few things?? Maybe it was your commission, the list price or maybe your honest opinion of the condition of the home.
We were all so excited at the possibility of having a listing - ANY listing - with our sign out front. You wanted your friends, neighbors, EVERYONE to see your sign. The adrenaline was crazy...like a newbie firefighter going to put out their first fire, or … (58 comments)

I Dodged a Copyright Bullet - 03:25 PM
Blogging on Active Rain for any length of time, you’ll quickly become aware of posts talking about Copyright issues, and how important they are. Personally, if an image is on my blog or website, I either took it, or licensed it for use.
 
That’s why I was surprised today when I received a letter from the legal department of Getty Images. Sure enough, they had a picture on my website, with an image that is licensed to them. Along with a picture of the image was a bill for $875. Just pay in 14 days, or else. It sort of … (80 comments)

Is Real Estate A Big Bad Dream? - 06:28 PM
Is Real Estate A Big Bad Dream?
This morning I woke to the most vivid dream I’ve had in a long time. It involved the buyers I’ve been working with for almost a year. Recently, we made an offer on a 3.5MM home (with only 50K to separate us apart), regretfully it still has not been accepted, and we are stuck in a holding ground. Knowing the listing was to expire on February 1, and what was to come next, it was deeply on my mind.
So I dreamed, I was showing the mother and her kids some homes, while her husband … (59 comments)

I just closed an Active Rain referral & I’m thrilled…Oh and they are too! - 05:41 PM
Not long ago I received a call from an agent in Orlando who had customers looking to buy asap.  They were making a radical change in location and climate from Alaska to Florida.  You can’t get much more radical than that.  Now Alaska is gorgeous but it’s cold. Florida is warm but relatively flat and other than waterscapes it's not necessarily what folks would find stunning. 
We found the best of both worlds in the very first house we saw.  I have to admit I am a little partial to this neighborhood as it offers such amazing surroundings.  On one side of … (30 comments)

Now where do I live? - 07:22 AM
I am currently working with a buyer who has decided to downsize. She went through an ugly divorce, and is wanting to get a fresh new start in life.
We found a lovely townhome for her, and she immediately fell in love. It has a nice, functional floorplan that makes the most of the space, and the seller had the home meticulously cleaned and staged. The idea of never having to mow the lawn again was also a huge draw.
The seller was anxious to sell because she was getting ready to embark on a new journey of her own- she … (31 comments)

As a REALTOR®...That "Like" button could get you into trouble - 06:59 PM
Read an interesting article today regarding social media and the ways it might just get a REALTOR® into trouble.  Little things you may not think about.
For example...if you advertise an open house on your Facebook page, do you have your brokerage name and the fact that you're a REALTOR® clearly indicated on your profile? You should.  Even if you think you're only connecting with your friends who know you are a REALTOR®, you can't take your REALTOR® hat off.  Equal housing and all that other important stuff still applies.
So, what if you "like" an off color joke or comment … (52 comments)


Blog posts


Commercial/Business Investment Real Estate - Riverfront Lodging - Smokey Mountains - Western North Carolina Real Estate - 12:58 PM
Enjoy life while earning money - All year or Seasonally - North Carolina Riverfront Lodging for Sale for $695,000 … (2 comments)

Tacoma Farmers Market - 09:50 AM
Tacoma Farmers Market Tacoma Farmers Market celebrates every Thursday from May through October with an exciting array of sights, sounds and smells. Freshly picked fruits and vegetables, handcrafted artisan breads, quality hand-made gifts, toe tapping music and fresh flowers have beckoned shoppers from near and far.
Tacoma Farmers Market creates a lively gathering place for families, while offering a diversity of local farm products, specialty foods and handcrafted wares. The family friendly atmosphere and warm sunny afternoons, draw the locals out for an afternoon of grocery shopping, alfresco dinning, and listening to local musicians fill the streets with melodies. The market … (3 comments)

ActiveRain Meetup in Austin - Hula Hut - April 17 2012 - 11:18 AM
ActiveRain meetup for Austin will be at the Hula Hut overlooking Lake Austin on Tuesday, April 17 from 11:30-1pm. Come on out and enjoy the beautiful weather we're going to be having that day. We can sit outside and watch the calmness of the water move along.
It should be a fun time for all. I want a better turn out than the last meetup event!! Hula Hut - 3825 Lake Austin Blvd - Austin - TX - 78703
**Graphic courtesy of the internet Google search.
**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 … (4 comments)

Stanislaus County Short Sales - March 2012 Stanislaus County Sales Stats - 11:40 AM
Stanislaus County Short Sales - March 2012 Stanislaus County Sales Stats
 
The sales numbers are in for Stanislaus County Home Sales for the month of March 2012. Sales of single family homes are down slightly this year and Distressed properties (Bank owned and Short Sales) are still dominating the market. 
 
Here are the March 2011 and March 2012 Sales Stats for single family homes:
 
Total Sales March 2012: 515  sold   * 41% (212) Bank Owned   * 29% (150) Short Sales   70% of sales were distressed properties
 
Total Sales March 2011: 637  sold   * 54% (347) … (2 comments)

Turbo Realty and Danny Frank, The 2012 HAR.com Chair-Elect, and The Pearland Real Estate Expert Join Forces - 02:30 PM
Turbo Realty and Danny Frank, The 2012 HAR.com Chair-Elect, and The Pearland Real Estate Expert Join Forces.


Danny has joined forces with Chris Schilling, Turbo Realty. With the move to Turbo Realty,  Danny Frank will help grow Turbo Realty with a new plan for local agents. Both Chris and Danny are experts in the field of technology and real estate technology.  The team at Turbo will focus on getting listing SOLD in a HURRY and helping buyers find the right house for their needs.
Call Danny Frank at 713-581-4702 to find out about the “Sell Your Home Guarantee” … (0 comments)

Special Needs for Lacey? Can You Help? - 09:32 PM
 
  … (3 comments)

The Bank Of America Cooperative Short Sale Is A Thing Of Beauty - 05:18 AM

Folks, as we all know, there are many things that are wrong in the Short Sale world. And in my opinion there is one thing that is very right. The Bank of America Cooperative Short Sale. The Bank of America Co-op is what Short Sales should be.
 
Low to no documentation from the Seller.
Pre-approved pricing with aggressive price reductions.
$2,500 cash to the Seller at closing.
Full Waiver of Deficiency.
6% Commission..
Can be an investment property.

It’s basically HAFA without all of the paperwork and time delays. I’ve done quite a few of these … (11 comments)

Millecento Residences - Brickell Condos Miami -Miami Real Estate Booming Again - 10:24 AM
Millecento Residences Condos For Sale The Millecento Residences is one of Miami's newest most luxurious condo towers. Designed by world class architect, Carlos Ott, Millecento Residences is the latest from the Related Group. You can't go wrong with an apartment in Millecento Residences.
If you would like a complete analysis of the price per sqft at which recent sales in comparable have been closing, please contact us at the MiamiCondoLifestyle.com Team and we will prepare our market report for you.
About Millecento Residences Condos Community: Brickell Architect: Carlos Ott Views: BiscayneBay and City Year Built: 2014 Bedrooms: Studio 1 & 2 … (1 comments)

"I Thought It Was an April's Fool's Joke ...!" Cried the Agent - 03:51 AM
“I thought it was an April Fool’s joke….” cried the Agent… We got a call from an agent who had been referred to a Seller. She went and met with the Sellers for over 2 hours on the first visit and in addition to explaining her qualifications as an agent, as they requested, went thru every room and the basement and exterior and gave them suggestions for what would put their best home forward before they put it on the market.
      She also , at their request, gave them suggestions for contractors to assist with these items. A week later … (16 comments)

Charm and Character Filled Mount Vernon Ohio Home at 801 East Vine Street - 05:09 AM
801 East Vine Street in Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.
You can also view all of our available Mount Vernon Ohio homes for sale organized in price order.
Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty 740-397-7800 KnoxCountyOhio.com
… (4 comments)

DOD Program Agents? - 10:10 PM
Does anyone know how an agent can register with the Department of Defense to represent home buyers?  I just lost a buyer I had been working with for several months because his wife decided she wanted to utilize the services of a Realtor registered with the DOD. She's moving as a civilian DOD and apparently they pay for part of her closing? Anyone familiar with that program as well?  Thank you.
… (0 comments)

Encouragement Corner....with Jay McHugh Happy Holy week - 05:53 AM
Where has the time gone..we are in Arpil already....enjoy this little story today ENCOURAGEMENT CORNER...   F A M I L Y by Julie Hebert, © 2012 We've all heard the saying,about family and of friends.We can't pick our family, but we can pick our friends.For all sayings said, how true this one is.Family can be problems, whether it's yours or is his.But family is your blood, a bond so very strong.And although emotions get in the way, family is lifelong.The thing with family is, we all think we know what's best.And we all are just as stubborn, we forget that we … (3 comments)

625 Dundee Road -- $199,900 -- RENTED APRIL 2012! - 09:26 PM
… (0 comments)

625 Dundee Rd -- 1,500 -- RENTED APRIL 2012! - 09:34 PM
… (0 comments)

Perdido Key Florida Condos for sale and Market Report for March 2012 - 03:54 AM
Perdido Key Florida Condos for sale and Market Report for March 2012 is brought to you by Charles Stallions Real Estate Services, we continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find Perdido Key, Florida real estate statistic. For last months stats scroll down, call me or e-mail for even more details. What can I do to sell my home for more money? SELLERS TIP # 3 
In my opinion the market in Perdido Key Florida Condos is taking off once again although we are not completely out of the downturn that came in … (3 comments)

Monday Morning Matters - A Brokers Open House to remember - 06:09 AM
Monday Matters is brought to you every Monday hopefully with an idea that you can use to increase your business. If you like suggest to your agent friends and Let's have a PARTY.
 
We have a Brokers Open either on Tuesday 11am to 2pm (that is tour day for most offices and I always suggest to their brokers to see if they can schedule their tours toward mine and they love this suggestion because most managing brokers are on a time constraint). The other time is a Monday Evening from 4 to 7, this will get the football fanatics to … (3 comments)

Sarter Ranch Home in Perkasie PA Boro 700 N 5th Street Perkasie PA 18944 - 11:17 AM
… (1 comments)

Outside Maintenance Must Do For Spring - 11:17 AM
Primary residence or rental property you have invested inshould be looked at seasonally should have a maintenance check up along with yourspring-cleaning. Follow the check list below and you can help your home or investment property operate more efficiently. On the Outside Check the A/C. Don’t wait for you’re a/c unit to actually fail. Just like your car it will run much better with an annual tune up! If the system is running at the manufacturer’s rated efficiency it will keep your energy billswhere they should be. In our humid climate it is also a good idea to inspect the system’s … (0 comments)

Franklin County, Ohio HUD Homes Priced $100,000 to $200,000 - 03:24 AM
Franklin County, Ohio HUD homes priced from $100,000 to $200,000 brought to you by Maureen McCabe.
What's a HUD home?  Read  HUD Homes Jeopardy...  (a Re-Blog of "I'll take HUD Homes for $200, Alex")  The homes in the links  below are a mix of HUD homes and REO homes. An REO home a bank owned home that was not financed with FHA financing by the previous owner. 
Franklin County,  Ohio HUD homes*priced from $100,000 to $200,000 by school district: 
Dublin HUD homes (or REO homes) priced from $100,000 to $200,000
Hilliard HUD homes (or REO homes) priced from $100,000 to $200,000
… (1 comments)

Worthington, Ohio Foreclosures - 06:21 PM
Worthington FORECLOSURES

I'd like to call them HUD and REO homes because that is what the Real Living HER search calls the homes.  The search field is HUD homes and REO homes...  I see lots of REO homes but no HUD homes in the search results , today. 
Worthington foreclosures priced under $100,000
Worthington foreclosures priced from $100,000 to $200,000   Worthington foreclosures priced from $200,000 to $300,000   Worthington foreclosures - HUD and  REO homes   What is a "HUD home"? I learned a couple of years ago locally to NOT to call HUD homes "foreclosures." Here is … (1 comments)

Related links

New Members for 2012-04-02

 Archives:

30 Apr
29 Apr
28 Apr
27 Apr
26 Apr
25 Apr
24 Apr
23 Apr
22 Apr
21 Apr
20 Apr
19 Apr
18 Apr
17 Apr
16 Apr
15 Apr
14 Apr
13 Apr
12 Apr
11 Apr
10 Apr
9 Apr
8 Apr
7 Apr
6 Apr
5 Apr
4 Apr
3 Apr
2 Apr
1 Apr
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006