Archives of real estate blog entries for June 23, 2012

Featured blog posts


A Place For Mom - a Great Resource for Seniors and their Families - 08:20 AM
Are you familiar with A Place for Mom? It's a great resource for Seniors and their families As a residential Realtor® working in San Mateo County and the Silicon Valley, I enjoy working with Seniors. Perhaps it's because I feel close to my own mother when I do, or perhaps its because they are so appreciative of a bit of guidance and care. Whatever the reason, when I can make the selling of their present home go smoothly and well when it no longer is enjoyable or practical for them to live there, I feel tremendous satisfaction. Often the house has … (11 comments)

Land Contracts. A Good Deal or a Potential Disaster? - 06:24 PM
Land Contracts. A Good Deal or a Potential Disaster?
While buying a house on Land Contract sounds like a great idea, here are a few potential pitfalls to think about:
There are a few things to consider before going after a land contract home. First, they usually require a 20% down payment or more. Most of the time, the lack of funds is the reason that you can't get a mortgage in the first place. The homeowner will require a credit check, references, W-2's, etc, just like a mortgage company would. So, if you've recently had a bankruptcy or foreclosure, it's … (16 comments)

Forget about blogging comments. Kind of. - 08:52 AM
I know a lot of us love the points that come with blogging on Active Rain, Trulia and other blogs sites.  It's a great way to stay accountable to our regular blogging regime, but there is something else that brings a smile to our faces.  Comments. 
Comments are a simple form of affirmation from our colleagues that we're on to something.  The comments may be complementary and in agreement with our musings, or they may be diametrically opposed.  Regardless, they mean people are reading what we write, and that feels pretty good.
Now that I've established that, let offer you … (49 comments)

Colorado High Park Fire - Day 15 Update - 07:47 PM

We had another bad day yesterday with the High Park fire. Triple digit temperatures, no precipitation and high winds saw firefighters losing ground, as the fire dropped from 60% contained to 45%, and entered new areas. To date, over 75,000 acres and 191 homes have burned. The number of homes will continue to climb, since the total does not include homes that were destroyed last night in the newly-evacuated Glacier View subdivision. And several hundred new pre-evacuation notices have been sent to residents of other foothills subdivisions.
The High Park fire is now the second largest wildfire in Colorado history. … (20 comments)

What does Sun City West in Arizona have to offer me? - 01:10 PM

Sun City West was started in 1978 with variety in mind.  To avoid “cookie-cutter” look Del Webb made sure that no two identical houses were built side by side.  There were choices of 3 different elevations offered.

Knowing that many mid-westerners wanted grass lawn, Del Webb offered certain models in areas with park-like expanses of grass.  Others are on tree lined streets.
Golf is one of the main attractions of this community.  It boasts 7 golf courses and a private Country Club, Briarwood.  The builder, Del Webb, wanted you to have the option of playing a different course every … (12 comments)

What do you charge to sell us a house? - 02:24 PM
What do you charge to sell us (Buyers) a house?    No charge.  It's FREE in terms of my fees to you as a buyer as long as you end up buying one of these homes:   1.  A home that is listed for sale with an agent that is a co-operating brokeage office.  (Most of them are in our area).    2.  A home that is listed with our brokerage office.     3.  A FSBO IF the seller agrees that we can show it and agrees to pay a fee to the agent if their buyer buys it.     When a seller lists … (26 comments)

Market Hype and Market Blues - 11:10 PM
I think it was 2005, when The Devlin Group announced their next development - Ocean Sands condominium in Daytona, an absolutely gorgeous 19-story modern luxury building. Ocean Villas Condominium was under construction, all units were pre-sold, and prices started from $1 Mil and up. It was a huge success, and the next building was promising to be an even bigger success. My client wanted to reserve the unit in Ocean Sands, and I showed up at the sales office of the developer, where the party was about to start, and the reservation list was supposed to be filled fast. I was … (10 comments)

Marriage On The Rocks, ActiveRain Is To Blame - 01:05 PM
Marriage On The Rocks, ActiveRain Is To Blame. Not really, but since I have discovered ActiveRain and gotten involved in the community, my husband has felt left out and neglected. I admit it takes a lot of time to check in with my new friends and see what they are saying. And what about all the people I haven't met? I have to give myself a chance to meet them also and I just don't want to miss a thing; it is such valuable information. Of course there is the Google situation where we all are trying to rise in the ranks. It … (42 comments)

Real estate leadership and inspiration - 06:48 AM
Just like people in other businesses, Realtors also need to find inspiration from those in leadership positions, official and unofficial, within their industry.  This week I spent a few days at a conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, considering the topic of Couragous Leadership.  This was an all female group, AFIRE (Awesome Females in Real Estate), headed up by Bernice Ross and RealEstateCoach.com.  I came away with a lot to think about.  Here are some questions for my colleagues in real estate to mull over:
Who are the real estate leaders who inspire you? What leadership qualities do you aspire to imitate and … (9 comments)

6 Things Golf Can Teach You About Buying A Home in Breckenridge - 08:38 AM
6 Things Golf Can Teach You About Buying A Home in Breckenridge


1. Golf reveals character, so does your home. The location of your Breckenridge home speaks volumes about your lifestyle choice, personality and future plans. Take the time to ensure your new home purchase is you. Is it located where you want to be? Do you have kids or plan on having grandkids coming to visit? Will there be enough space, yard and surrounding activities to fulfill everything for your future?
 
2. Don’t cart it, walk! Get a feel for the course. Take some time to scope out … (14 comments)

Cutting Corners to Get the Deal Done -- I'm Not Impressed - 05:57 PM

I think one of our greatest responsibilities as a real estate agent is to provide service based on honesty and integrity. Sometimes it's tempting to cut corners to get the deal done quicker. Doesn't mean it's the right thing to do, but the temptation is there.
I think back to when I bought my first home and know that the agent could have so easily not completed the forms completely or accurately. And because of my lack of real estate knowledge at the time, I would have been none the wiser. I wish I still had those forms to take a … (25 comments)

Raising the bar in the Real Estate Profession - 03:21 AM
When I first started out, knocking on doors to find clients, talking up strangers etc ,what struck me more times than not, was the lack of trust they have for our profession.
Granted, we are always going to find the client/customer who merely wants to pick our brain ie get a free comparable market analysis from us so they can go FSBO, however its rare to find a new customer who really believes that we are there for them. And what a joy that client is! What a pleasure they are to work with, right? Because we get to actually work … (89 comments)

Beverly Hills – Wood Roof Ordinance - 10:35 PM
Beverly Hills – Wood Roof Ordinance The City of Beverly Hills has taken several steps to protect the safety of its citizens and its buildings, by enacting an ordinance to help prevent the house-to-house spread of fire. Specifically, in 1989, the City of Beverly Hills passed an ordinance, which requires Class A assembly for all new construction and replacement roofs (the “Ordinance”). In 1993, the City further restricted the permissible types of roof coverings, by requiring that all wood roofs be replaced with Class A assembly roofs no later than July 1, 2013. In response to a 2007 brush fire and … (13 comments)

What Are Groups in ActiveRain and Why Would You Want To Join Them? - 07:07 AM
 
What Are Groups in ActiveRain and Why Join Them?
 

I call them Group Loops and they are what you get when you join a bunch of Groups in ActiveRain. Why you would want to join a bunch of groups in ActiveRain? And, I don’t mean one or two groups; I belong to 20 something, and I’m sure some Rainers belong to many more.Belonging to many Groups means you will make many friends; many of your friends will be in other groups that you belong too so now you’ve formed a Group Loop. A circle of group friends.A newbie … (58 comments)

CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER FLINTSTONE CHARACTER. - 08:33 AM
I have been in Real Estate for more years than I care to tell.  When I started way back in the dark ages, and they really were dark, you were almost chained to your desk. I was Wilma Flintsone doing Real Estate.  Having a front desk was high on the totem pole and the up board was king.
 
Slowly it changed, step by step.  I wore a beeper and my beeper number was on my business card and I never ventured out without coins for the pay phone.  Fast forward and I had a cell phone that was almost as … (13 comments)

“Good enough” isn’t – what relationship do you have with your client? - 09:15 AM
“Good enough” isn’t – what relationship do you have with your client?
 
I recently fired a client for reasons that skirt into this topic. 
 
At their core, all Agent-Client relationships have many commonalities.  One of those is the “sales” or customer service aspect of that relationship.  I challenge all AR readers to consider exactly where is this “line” of customer service drawn.  How often do you compromise other aspects of this relationship in order to maintain the customer service aspect?  In my observation, we as an industry bend this line too easily and by too far.
 
Of … (15 comments)

I want to work 9 to 5 but I'm a Realtor® - 07:36 PM
       Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living!!!!
http://youtu.be/mpKAA2VxWY8
     Okay, this is a rant - I admit it - I'm having a horrible day.  I'm working with two different buyers who are both FULLY APPROVED for their loans and anxious to buy a home.  Guess what - both sets of buyers work 9-5 (more like 7am-7pm including commuting time,) Monday through Friday, which means their times for showing homes are limited to the weekends with one business owner also working on Saturdays. 
     So, for Sunday's showings, each couple chose 5 homes they would … (67 comments)

Young and restless. - 11:51 AM
I am new to AR and just beginning to discover the value and challenges of blogging. I am also dealing with the obstacle of being unquestionably the youngest agent in the office at only 22 years of age.  There have been several times when I feel frustrated because of my age. Fresh out of college, It is clear that I do not have 10+ years experience under my belt and when I meet new potential clients I often feel like they automatically assume I know nothing about real estate or they view me as "just a little girl."
Using age as an asset, not a liability!
Trying … (22 comments)

Please Take Off Your Shoes...And Walk Through My Dirty, Wet House - 12:07 PM
Please Take Off Your Shoes...And Walk Through My Dirty, Wet HouseWorking Friday night is hardly ever fun, but it is often necessary given the demands of our local market. A new listing comes out, and you have to hustle over to see it immediately. Sometimes you have just one day to place an offer so that you can be sure to be included in the inevitable bidding war. So, instead of going home and enjoying a nice dinner, I bought a Chipotle and ate at my desk so my clients wouldn’t miss out on seeing this one house. Such is the life of … (56 comments)

No Glass Jaws Allowed, This Is the Mortgage Business - 08:14 AM
 
… (10 comments)


Blog posts


Hotels for Sale—North America FL AL GA Commercial/Business Investment - 06:43 PM
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Nashua, NH - Best Fitness Benefit for Wounded Warrior Project - 02:47 AM
 
Best Fitness in Nashua, New Hampshire invites YOU to
COMMUNITY TRX® EVENT
 

 
This event is open to the public and the cost is $10 ~ all proceeds will support the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, an organization whose mission is to empower injured service members.
 


When:  Saturday, June 23rd
 Where: Best Fitness   55 Northeastern Blvd
 Time:    9:00 am - 12:00 Pm
 Cost:     $10
 
TRX® SUSPENSION TRAINING® was created by the Navy SEALS and includes body weight exercises that simultaneously develop strength, power, endurance, mobility, durability, balance, flexibility and core stability.  Take a look at … (3 comments)

Hollis, New Hampshire - Annual Strawberry Festival - 07:15 PM
   
Annual Hollis Strawberry Festival
 The Annual Hollis Strawberry Festival is this Sunday June 24, 2012 from 2-4 pm.   The venue for the Annual Hollis Strawberry Festival is the Historic Monument Square in Hollis. 
   Enjoy juicy red strawberries from Brookdale Farm and Lull Farm in Hollis  served over homemade shortcake and fresh whipped cream.  Add some locally made ice cream from Doc Davis and you will be in for a treat!
  There will be music by the Hollis Town Band. They will play a variety of marches and patriotic music.
   The Hollis Woman's Club … (10 comments)

Oakley Pool Homes for Sale - 08:30 PM
Oakley Pool Homes for Sale Oakley Pool Homes are attractive and affordable. Oakley is between Antioch and Brentwood on the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta.
See Oakley Pool Homes Here! Any time of year is a great time of year to own a Pool Home in Oakley. Even during our mild winters many of these pools have hot tubs; and during the hot summers the pools are really appreciated.
Oakley is a very affordable community while offering a fantastic quality of life. Many of Oakley's Luxury Homes have pools, but sometimes pool homes are no more expensive than homes without pools.
Most … (3 comments)

ALERT: Short Sale Fraud Alert Nationwide - 09:45 PM
Here is a great post on Short Sale Fraud.  Sometimes something that seems innocent or just clever can get you in a lot of trouble.  
If you are considering a Short Sale in Brentwood Ca or in that area give me a call at 925-260-4321 for a free consultation.  
Via Kristin Hamilton CDPE, SFR, CHS Realtor Redlands/ Loma Linda Homes for Sale, CA (Keller Williams Realty):
I attended a webinar this week about Short Sale Fraud. As a real estate agent, I thought I knew all I needed to know on this subject but I was amazed. Here are some of … (4 comments)

And The Heck With SEO, Enjoy The Comments. - 06:30 PM
And The Heck With SEO, Enjoy The Comments..   It is time to write Localism posts for SEO, thanks to Bob's encouragement.  Yesterday when I left my box of keys in the other car and could not reach Lee to meet up and retrieve them, I had to change my schedule. When I did speak with him, he told me the container of keys were on the roof of my car!!! Oh no!!!!                                                              … (22 comments)

Real estate leadership and inspiration - 06:48 AM
Just like people in other businesses, Realtors also need to find inspiration from those in leadership positions, official and unofficial, within their industry.  This week I spent a few days at a conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, considering the topic of Couragous Leadership.  This was an all female group, AFIRE (Awesome Females in Real Estate), headed up by Bernice Ross and RealEstateCoach.com.  I came away with a lot to think about.  Here are some questions for my colleagues in real estate to mull over:
Who are the real estate leaders who inspire you? What leadership qualities do you aspire to imitate and … (9 comments)

Sea Air Towers short sale, 2/2 with beautiful southeast ocean views! - 05:34 AM

… (1 comments)

Giving Short Sale Sellers a Hand/Hammer Up ! - 04:50 AM
   Sometimes distressed Sellers who find themselves doing a short sale have had some deferred maintenance issues that can make the house seem less attractive to a buyer.  Needless to say....or at least we hope it would be needless....if someone is unable to pay the mortgage....a new roof, repaired drywall, updated this and that are not realistically affordable.
   We know that in "traditional real estate" when a buyer sees a repair or update that may be evident before or after an inspection, the imagined cost to make the repair or do the update skyrockets as they look for an excuse … (7 comments)

Things To Do In Santa Monica|Happy Hour – 50% off on All Drinks at FIG - 01:55 AM
FIG Restaurant Santa Monica101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401310- 319-3111Email: info@figsantamonica.comWeb site link: http://figsantamonica.com/
FIG Santa Monica is a seasonal bistro with an emphasis on organically grown and locally sourced ingredients, located at the Fairmont Hotel. It is suitably named after the 125 year old Moreton Bay Fig tree surrounding the hotel’s entrance. The hotel location was once a private estate of Senator Percival Jones, and the tree has been planted there more than a hundred years ago...continue reading
… (1 comments)

Franklin TN Home Buyers That's What Contingencies are For - 04:52 AM
Tammie White has prepared a good list of contigencies that or as good for her Franklin Tn. folks as well as our Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze Folks' A great read and packed with information so here it is in print.
Would you like information on buying or selling Foreclosures / Short sales CLICK HERE or Search All Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze Area MLS Listings CLICK HERE for Rentals and Homes For Sale.
Sellers Flat Fee of $2995 when one of our agents sells your home or if you want MLS (where you home is available for all Real Estate Agents to sell) … (2 comments)

NEW SHORT SALE TIMELINE BEGINS JUNE 25TH - 05:10 AM
While Joe has written a good post on the "New Timeline for Short Sales" and many are skeptical me. for one because when you have an out of control government as we have had for over 30 years and this one being by far the worst what can you expect.
As for my Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze folks it is how you prepare the short sale, I start the closing from the time I put the property in the MLS. What that means is I already know all the players better know as the decision makers before an offer comes … (4 comments)

Have you missed a mortgage payment- Can I do a Short Sale?- Avoid Foreclosure Questions - 07:24 PM
Thinking of what it takes to do a short sale in Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze here are a few suggestion and popular questions. Give me a call for a free consultation, no obligation with great results.
Would you like information on buying or selling Foreclosures / Short sales CLICK HERE or Search All Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze Area MLS Listings CLICK HERE for Rentals and Homes For Sale.
Sellers Flat Fee of $2995 when one of our agents sells your home or if you want MLS (where you home is available for all Real Estate Agents to sell) then the best program … (2 comments)

Should I Do a Short Sale or Just Let My Home Go Into FORECLOSURE? - 07:27 PM
If you are considering your options of a foreclosure or short sale in Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze give me a call for a free no obligation just the facts consultation.
Would you like information on buying or selling Foreclosures / Short sales CLICK HERE or Search All Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze Area MLS Listings CLICK HERE for Rentals and Homes For Sale.
Sellers Flat Fee of $2995 when one of our agents sells your home or if you want MLS (where you home is available for all Real Estate Agents to sell) then the best program TODAY is $1495 to us +3 … (0 comments)

The SECRETS to getting a SHORT SALE Approved. What to do and what to avoid... - 07:30 PM
If you are considering a short sale in Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze call me for a free no obligation, just the facts, consultation.
Would you like information on buying or selling Foreclosures / Short sales CLICK HERE or Search All Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze Area MLS Listings CLICK HERE for Rentals and Homes For Sale.
Sellers Flat Fee of $2995 when one of our agents sells your home or if you want MLS (where you home is available for all Real Estate Agents to sell) then the best program TODAY is $1495 to us +3 % offered to Buyers Agent for bringing the … (1 comments)

Demand for foreclosures triples, How about Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze - 07:48 PM
Demand for foreclosures triples, How about Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze
 
Realtor.com survey: More homebuyers (64.9%) now interested in a foreclosure, with 92.1% wanting to buy it to live in. Read more.
According to the Realtor.com survey, homebuyer interest in foreclosures jumped 159 percent since October 2009 when foreclosures accounted for 29 percent of all home sales. In fact, more than two-thirds (64.9%) of today’s homebuyers said they’re likely to buy a foreclosure compared to 25.3 percent two and a half years ago. Only 6.9 percent of today’s potential homebuyers are interested in buying a foreclosure as an investment, down … (2 comments)

Using a CMA as a tool for my BPO "Buyers Price Opion" - 08:05 PM
Using a CMA as a tool for my BPO "Buyers Price Opion"
 
Many agents use CMAs to educate sellers, but it's also an effective marketing tool for listing price recommendations. Read more.
A CMA should include sold properties, which are critical in determining market value because they involve closed transactions where the buyer and seller have agreed on a value and transferred ownership. Only sales closed in the last six months should be included in analyses of markets experiencing active appreciation or depreciation; in other markets, only sales from the last three months should be considered.
Today's Prayer Dear God, … (2 comments)

Dress your Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze home for a successful sale - 08:47 PM
Dress your Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze home for a successful sale
 
With buyers looking for move-in ready homes, sellers may need more than simple staging to get their properties sold. Read more.
Buyers these days are seeking properties in move-in condition, and they make purchase decisions primarily on how a home makes them feel and whether it fits their lifestyle.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, You know the importance of commitment. You have witnessed the devastating affects of broken commitments through the ages. Please help me to be a person who always keeps my promises and takes my commitments … (0 comments)

Old vs New - 07:12 AM
1.  The Charm Factor. Obviously, “older” and “newer” are relative terms. If your area is one where “older” homes are those which were built in the ‘60s or ‘70s, you might not find them to be particularly charming. But many buyers do find there to be a particular charm and aesthetic detail in homes built in the early part of the last century - from the 1900’s to the 1940’s, say - that is uber-attractive and decidedly craveable. (To be fair, in some areas, the Eichlers and other modern styles of the mid-century are seen as having similar cachet as much … (0 comments)

Gahanna: The Residences of Creekside Sold - 08:34 PM
 
The Columbus Dispatch reported yesterday that the Residences of Creekside and in fact the total multi-use development known as Creekside on the Big Walnut Creek in downtown Gahanna was sold.  According to the local newspaper the receiver sold the development to Strathmore Development Co. of Michigan.  The Columbus Dispatch said:
“The three-building property was purchased yesterday by Strathmore Development Co. for $10.5 million after several months of proceedings. The property includes upscale condominiums, as well as retail and office space and a parking garage.”
More about the June 2012 sale in Gahanna:  The Residences of Creekside Redeveloped on ColumbusBestBlog.com with … (1 comments)

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