Archives of real estate blog entries for May 18, 2012

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Realtors® Rally Under the Shadow Of The Washington Monument - 07:29 AM

 
Yesterday was the Rally to Protect Homeownership in Washington DC.  According to the count by the National Park Service we were 13,000 strong on the grounds of the Washington Monument yesterday morning. 
The rally was not just a chance to stand around idly to talk about the value of homeownership but part of the annual mid-year conference held in DC every year.
Besides hearing from other Realtors® at the rally Sen. Johnny Isakson from (GA) and Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD) also spoke about the importance of homeownership to the American economy.   What they didn't say and might not have … (117 comments)

Home Ownership Matters! - 12:12 PM
I literally just got home from the NAR 2012 MIDYEAR MEETING in D.C. Here I am with Connie Niedzwiecki, our PIC for GLAR (Greater Lewisville Association of REALTORS®and Jeri Boland-Bucker, our Association President.

As Chair of Government Affairs for my Association for 2012, it's been an exciting year to be involved in the REALTOR® Party. Standing in front of the Washington Monument, listening to Dr. Martin Luther King's, recorded speech on, "I HAVE A DREAM," in the nation's capital, and to be at the Rally that drew in more than 13,000 REALTORS® from all over the United States, made me feel like … (42 comments)

Why Throw Away Your Old Electronics? Check Out These Other Options - 07:47 AM
 

Why Throw Away Your Old Electronics? Check Out These Other Options

Do you have a pile of obsolete (to you) electronic items: Old cell phones, computers, printers? Join the club. According to the EPA, Americans bought 438 million electronic products in 2009. That means millions of other electronic gadgets became obsolete.  If everyone donated or recycled those: 2 million tons of waste would not hit our landfills. Visit the EPA to find out more about it epa.gov/ecycling. What can you do to help? Check out these optionsWhy Not Can Donate It - You don’t get very much on … (47 comments)

Dozer Days - Where the rides are bulldozers, dump trucks and excavators. - 10:08 AM
Dozer Days is one of East County's most popular family events and it's this weekend at Fisher Quarry. Imagine going to a fair where the rides are bulldozers, dump trucks and excavators.  
Kids get to jump into the drivers seat and operate big rigs with a professional driver by their side. And, perhaps the best part - Dozer Days is also a fundraiser for many local children's charities.
 
In addition, Dozer Days features hands on activites for kids of all ages, including treasure hunt digs, pipe crawls and concrete craft making. Grown-up's favorites include a dig for real … (30 comments)

Facebook Fridays - How to Generate More Leads in Facebook! - 12:50 PM
Facebook Fridays - How to Generate More Leads in Facebook!Many of us are members of NAR®, National Association of REALTORS®, and may be very familiar with REALTOR.com, but are you familiar with the Social Media tools available to you to generate more leads on your Facebook Pages? Recently I shared a Facebook Fridays post about using Social Connections with your Facebook Business Page. Now, there is another tool from REALTOR.com called, “Social Bios”. Once you add the Social Bios to your Facebook Pages, your friends and fans are able to make recommendations to their friends about you. I have added both … (48 comments)

You Can't Close Them All (So You Better Have More Than One) - 08:11 PM

FACT #1--Some deals are going to die.
FACT #2-- There is nothing agents can do about fact #1.
 Regardless of our efforts, some transactions are destined for that grand closing table up in the sky. Loss of income, destruction of the property, non-performing buyer or seller, things happen that are beyond our control. At the end of the day we cannot make the client sign on the dotted line.
 What's the best defense? Simple, always have multiple deals in escrow. When I started I was the lone deal ranger. Because, well I usually only had one deal! Did I service … (28 comments)

What’s My House Worth in Forest Lake, MN? Or Lino Lakes, Ham Lake, Scandia or Blaine? - 06:58 PM
It's not a trick question. But it can be tricky to get a realistic answer because whether it is a buyer's market, seller's market or something in between, there is no simple way to come up with an exact market value for the average homeowner Many people think if they pull out the big vinyl envelope from the last time they refinanced they have a document with an accurate home value. After all good money was paid, usually several hundred dollars, for an appraiser to come up with a dollar figure of value for the bank to approve the loan. So … (14 comments)

How Do You Make Those Cute Little Symbols? ♦♫©♣☺☻♂♥ ♀ ♠ ® ♪ - 09:08 AM

♥ How Do You Make Those Cute Little Symbols? ♫

Cathy Bureau wrote a post on Facebook asking how to make the ♥ Heart ♥ symbol. It reminded me of one of the very first blog posts I ever put on ActiveRain....

So I thought I would get out the old post, dust it off a little, give it a little facelift, and post it again.

By the way to meet Cathy, just clik on her name. To subscribe to her blog, just click on her picture! ☺

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

On … (61 comments)

Knowing Where To Put The Chalk Mark - 06:42 AM
Knowing Where To Put The Chalk Mark There's a story that once upon a time there was a giant turbine that was out of balance.  Try as they might, the company experts couldn't get it back into balance so a specialist from outside the company was called in.  The specialist arrives, examines the turbine for a few minutes, walks over to the turbine, pulls a piece of chalk out of his pocket, puts a mark on the turbine and says "Add a one pound weight here".  The specialist presents his bill for $10,000.  The company representative almost blows a gasket "$10,000???!!!  … (103 comments)

Foreclosures Rise By 158% In April - 03:58 AM
Foreclosures in Leon County are growing at an alarming rate, and all this talk about a real estate recovery is soon going to be drowned out by a market saturated with distressed properties.
New lis pendens filings in April grew by a scary 112% over April 2011, and foreclosures in Leon County grew by an even scarier amount of 158% versus April 2011.
This is not what a "getting better" real estate market looks like.
Foreclosures In Leon County Rise 6 Months In A Row When we look at the real estate graph below, we see that lis pendens (new foreclosure … (32 comments)

DON'T EAT THAT YET!! Famous Words from an ActiveRain Gathering in Annapolis MD - 05:16 AM
Don’t Eat That Yet!! Famous Words from an ActiveRain Gathering in Annapolis MD  
I was truly blessed last night.
 
I am on a whirlwind trip to Philadelphia, for family reasons, and to Washington, DC for the mid-year meetings for the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) for 4 days. I had mentioned to Martha Brown, in Annapolis, some weeks ago about coming back east and she organized a group of AR friends for dinner last night at the Severn Inn in Annapolis on the Severn River with the Naval Academy as back-drop across the water.
 

 
What a … (58 comments)

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE - 09:10 PM
No question that I love my ActiveRain family.  For the past year, I have enjoyed commenting and writing and interacting with the 'family' that I have come to know and love in this community.  Sometime about two months ago, life took some little twists and turns.  Mom (91) has had a few health issues.  I was at the hospital with her in early April when Kerrie called from ActiveRain to tell me that I had been appointed an Ambassador.  I was THRILLED, and excited to get back into the groove in the Rain. 
Then Clients started coming out of the … (69 comments)

Top three things agents could blog about. - 11:30 AM
Blogging is a fairly recent addition to the lexicon of Realtors.  Many of them still consider it a foreign language.
So the question arises fairly often, "What should I blog about?"
I'm certainly not the final answer on this subject, but here are the top three things that I find work, when blogging, in trying to connect with that ever-elusive real estate buyer or seller.
1) DAY-TO-DAY LIFETell your readers a little about your day-to-day encounters.  Certainly don't go into any great detail as to give away any proprietary information, or any personal information about clients, (or friends for that matter).  … (53 comments)

Palm Beach Gardens Home Staging- You Can Do It! - 03:46 AM
Palm Beach Gardens Home Staging-You Can Do It !A Home Staging Consultation can be a valuable tool in preparing your home for sale.   But  if you think that Staging is costly and will require your knocking down walls and remodeling your whole house... take a look. Room Service! Home Staging had the pleasure of providing a Home Staging Consultation for a  family in a small gated community in Palm Beach Gardens.  The Seller was aware of the  need to pack and remove a lot of their excess furnishings and just needed some guidance and a game plan.When I met the Seller … (58 comments)

"So You Had A Bad Day" - 03:24 AM
Sometimes the stars just don't line up and the lyrics of that song go round and round in your head.  I've blogged recently about a buyer who has been persistant in trying to buy a bank owned property...remember the "no inspections" story?  The bank lowered the price just after he stepped away last time.  He gave it a couple of weeks and came back with another offer and yesterday-instead of a counter-we got a notice that the property was going to auction and he now had to buy it on-line without financing.  Cash only!  And guess what-the starting bid is $25,000. The … (48 comments)

When Did You Become a REALTOR? Just Wondering. - 07:55 AM
This post is for all of you secret agent Realtors out there.  You know who you are.
You didn't go to school to become a Realtor.  Not originally.  In fact, you don't even have your license.
But you know everything there is to know about the market.  Congratulations.  For most of us licensees, it takes time to assemble data.  And not just today's data.  Us silly licensees like to track the data so that we have a better picture of the overall market.
How ridiculous.  Why would you need someone who does that?  
Everyone knows that it's still a buyer's … (28 comments)

Riding Someone's Coattails....I Love It. - 03:21 PM
I happened to invite someone to the Rain who is now in the top 250.  And, she will soon hit the magic number of 500,000.
Why is that number important?  Because it means that she will never have to pay a single dime to post here or comment here. 
Has it been easy, probably not.  But, she has given me over 46,000 points so far, and maybe more. 
How many of you have recruited someone to the Rain who has been a Superstar?  I would love to hear your success stories. 
 
It was never my intention to be a big … (35 comments)


Blog posts


USA & International Health Care, School, Special Use Properties - 06:53 PM
Health Care, School, Special Use Properties For Sale … (1 comments)

Do the Blogging Groups Mean Anything Anymore? - 10:46 AM

Do the Blogging Groups Mean Anything Anymore?
 
 
 
So I have about 15 groups that I belong to and will look at blog posts in those groups to find meaningful information. Each group has a description of the purpose of the group. For example, 1st Time Buyers, purpose is “A Resource Clearinghouse to Better Equip 1st Time Home Buyers and Enable them to Successfully Achieve Their Home Buying Goals”.  When I look at the posts for this group it is rare that I find information to help 1st time home buyers. Instead I find listings, open houses, and … (0 comments)

Nashua, New Hampshire ~ Pawsitively Pets Expo - 09:31 AM
Nashua, New Hampshire will be the venue for the Annual Pawsitvely Pets Expo
WHERE:   Daniel Webster College - 20 University Drive (off Pine Hill Road in Nashua)
WHEN:     May 19, 2012
TIME:      10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
IT IS A GREAT DAY TO ATTEND THIS PET EXPO
   All four-legged pets from all over NH are bringing their owners to the Exp.
     This is a free event to attend but people are encouraged to bring donation for the Humane Society for Greater Nashua.
 
Support the Humane Society for Greater Nashua by making a donation in lieu of an admissions fee and/or by … (0 comments)

Jobless Rate in Austin Down to 5.5% - 01:50 PM
We added over 6,300 new jobs in April and that is a big number.  That dropped Austin's jobless rate to the lowest in several years - all the way down to 5.5%  Any other major city jealous about this? 
… (2 comments)

Tips For Home Buyers: Do I Need Title Insurance? - 10:28 AM
Buying a Home in Brentwood Ca
When you are Buying a Home you should get Title Insurance.  Here is a nice post that talks about the different types of Title Insurance and what it does.
For more information on Buying a Home in Brentwood or beyond give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via Anita Clark Realtor® Warner Robins Homes for Sale ~ Warner Robins Real Estate ~ (ColdwellBanker SSK Realtors ~ 478.960.8055 ):
Tips For Home Buyers: Do I Need Title Insurance? Unsure if the extra expense is worth the cost, a frequently asked question I hear from Houston County GA buyers is, … (1 comments)

What are the Alternatives to a Los Angeles Short Sale? - 10:31 AM
Short Sales in Brentwood
Short Sales may be the most common type of transaction right now.  Here is a great post talking about some of the options to a Short Sale.
For more information on Short Sales in Brentwood or beyond give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via Jenny Durling- Search Silver Lake homes for sale. Los Feliz, Eagle Rock, L.A. CA (L.A. Property Solutions):
Ten years ago hardly anyone had heard of a short sale. Now, since the real estate bubble burst, “short sale” is almost a household word here in the Los Angeles area. The current situation is the result … (0 comments)

Home Seller FAQ 3. Why should I make minor repairs ? Can't I just give buyers a credit? - 10:34 AM
Selling a Home in Brentwood Ca
Here is a great post on why you should do repairs on your Home before selling it.  Selling a Home is tough.  Get every advantage you can.
For more information on Selling a Home in Brentwood or Beyond give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI BUCKS County & Philadelphia, PA HOMES (RE/MAX Centre Realtors):
Home Sellers often ask me if they can just give buyers a credit for minor repairs.
I suggest that they take care of minor repairs prior to listing the house.
Homes that show well sell for more money and they … (1 comments)

55 Plus Community...Are we doing it wrong? - 10:44 AM
Brentwood Summerset Homes
Brentwood Summerset Homes are not necessarily about downsizing.  This is an interesting post about why some people avoid Active Adult Communities.  However Summerset Homes come in all sizes and there are some very large nice homes, that would not involve down sizing.
For more information on Summerset Homes give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via Cheryl Thomson, Real Estate in Northern Virginia, REALTOR®, U.S. Army (Retired) (Buyers Advantage Real Estate Corp. (c: 703.216.5635)):
55 Plus Community...Are we doing it wrong?  This is just my opinion and 2 cents, however, I welcome yours.  From my observation there are more and more … (1 comments)

How To Win in a Multiple Offer Situation when you are limited on price - 10:47 AM
Getting an Offer Accepted on a Brentwood Home
There are lots of Home Buyers and not enough homes these days.  Here are some tips on how to get an offer accepted.
I have some other tips on getting your Offer Accepted on a Brentwood Home or Beyond.  Give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via Ralph Gorgoglione - California Real Estate (800) 591-6121 (John Aaroe Group):
How To Win in a Multiple Offer Situation when you are limited on price
Well, it seems that we're back in the type of market where multiple offers are becoming common.
There's a mixed bag of buyers out … (2 comments)

We Won't Sell Your Home - 10:54 AM
Selling a Home in Brentwood
Here is a great little post that will give you some ideas on how real estate works and how agents work together to Get Your Home Sold.  If anyone tells you to sign a contract with them because they have a ready buyer be wary.  If that is so they do not need a long term exclusive contract.
For more tips on Selling a Home in Brentwood or Beyond give me a call at 925-260-4321.
Via Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton (513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com):
We Won't Sell Your Home Probably.  That's right, … (2 comments)

East Contra Costa Homes for Sale - May 2012 - 01:01 PM
  East Contra Costa Homes for Sale – May 2012   Housing Supply   The East Contra Costa Real Estate Market is a Strong Sellers market and homes are hard to find. We have an absorption rate of close to 100% and over 100% in some local market. Absorption rate is what percentage of homes on the market at any given time will sell each month in a given. You can get over 100% because the homes coming on the market sell so fast that there are actually a lot more homes on the market in one month than at any … (0 comments)

Brentwood Ca Housing Market - May 2012 - 02:10 PM
Brentwood Ca Homes for Sale – May 2012 Housing Supply Brentwood Homes are in a Strong Sellers market. The absorption rate is close to 100% and over 100%. In other words we are selling almost as many homes every month as come onto the market.
Home Sales in Brentwood On 5/17/2012 there were 90 Homes for Sale in Brentwood. There are 335 Pending Homes. Total Home Sales in April were 80, very close to 100%. The large number of Pending homes is due to quick sales and the large number of Short Sales that take a long time to close.
What … (2 comments)

Those Are Blogging Words..."Don't Eat That Yet!" - 03:44 PM
 
                                          Those Are Blogging Words:  
                                             'DON'T EAT THAT YET!'
 
 
Words from  bloggers who met at the Severn Inn in Annapolis on Thursday evening.                             Margaret Woda, Margaret Rome, Rich Iarossi,  Chris Ann Cleland, Cindy Jones, Diane Philips, Bridget McGee,  Laura Murray, Pat Kennedy, our wonderful hostess Martha … (19 comments)

Welcome to the World ROLAND EDWARD GONZALEZ - 06:07 AM
  It doesn't seem that long ago...that we sold Katie Klopetek her first home...and then Katie became Mrs. Gonzalez marrying Dan Gonzalez....and now...the proud Mom of Roland Edward, Born May 14th - 17" and 5 pounds, 10 oz. Welcome to our sphere !
    Healthy and happy.....everyone is home now and working on sleeping and eating schedules that work harmoniously !
   By the time you are old enough to read this...it will probably be an outdated media form...but for now....you are a Cyberspace star and the universe welcomes you ! 
                       Wishing you All the Best Life Has to Offer .
 
… (4 comments)

Keller Williams - Officially Ranks Top 10 to Work - 10:32 AM
… (0 comments)

Spring Time is Home Selling Season - 09:27 AM
The wonderful weather of Spring and Summer make these months the best months for selling your home; so if you’ve been debating putting it on the market this may be the time to make your move.
Add to the fact that this is the best season to sell a home that homes are finally beginning to sell at much faster rates and it’s definitely time to consider your options.
The past economic situation has been far from beneficial from a seller’s perspective. Home sales were slumping, with houses sitting on the market for 9 months to a year or more in … (0 comments)

Common Misperceptions of First Home Buyers - 09:31 AM
If you’ve been thinking of buying a home but keep putting it off because of a variety of concerns have no fear. Although the process may seem riddled with riddled with potential obstacles many are easily overcome by doing a little research.
By doing your own due diligence and become educated about the specifics of the home buying process you will soon see the path to home ownership is hard as difficult as it first looks.

I Need To Save For A Huge Down Payment – This is not always the case and the size of the down payment needed … (1 comments)

2415 Redstone Avenue -- $168,800 - 10:16 AM
… (0 comments)

STOP RENTING! BUY THIS HOME NOW FOR ONLY $70,000!!! - 09:52 AM
… (0 comments)

Yardley and Bucks County, PA – Our History - 01:57 PM

 
Most people who live in Bucks County, PA know and appreciate the rich history of the area. Named by William Penn after his hometown in England, Bucks County became known for its importance during the Revolutionary War.
 
For those who are new to the area, or are thinking of moving to Yardley, Newtown or any of our wonderful Bucks County towns, there are many opportunities to immerse yourself in our local history.
 
Here are just a few:
 
The Old Library in Yardley
 
Opened in 1878 on land donated by William Yardley’s heirs, the Yardleyville Library … (0 comments)

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