Archives of real estate blog entries for August 21, 2012

Featured blog posts


Repackaging the obvious characteristics of homeowners is meaningless. - 04:46 AM
There has been an uproar about the recent NAR commercial that cites some statistical advantages with reference to home ownership and happiness and well-being.
And while is easy to become self-righteous and indignant at the suggestion that there are benefits to home-ownership beyond dollars and cents, this may simply be a case of restating the obvious.
After all, people that purchase homes generally have adequate credit scores, a good job history, a savings history, and sufficient resources to meet their monthly obligations.
Also as a rule of thumb, it generally makes more financial sense to purchase a home if one plans … (30 comments)

Baby Boomers Love Villages - 09:09 PM
So many boomers love the idea of living, working and/or retiring in a location where the atmosphere of a neighborly village is tangible- regardless of age.
Given the boomer home choice trend toward  “aging-in-place”  (-I call it Aging –in-Palace©- my upcoming eBook- )  the village-concept is getting lots of attention these days.  The concept, though it appears innovative to some, is as old as the hills.  There can be  safety and comfort where caring people gather.
But the boomer generation, and those born just before boomers, the “Lucky Few,”  may exert a strong influence not seen in the past. Boomers seek … (25 comments)

My neighbor's listing .. a train wreck in slow motion - 10:19 PM
So, my neighbor's listed their house for sale about 2 weeks ago and I feel like I'm watching a train wreck in slow motion. I am not the listing agent and I am more than okay with it. Although I do have the neighborhood advantage and could market this to the nth degree .. it's just well, a little too close too home and I know too much - too much as in obligated to disclose. I've been the helpful neighbor for a few months, dishing out advice like no other, providing market updates and even doing a bit of yard … (43 comments)

New Monthly Mortgage Insurance For USDA Loans October 1, 2012 - 09:54 AM
New USDA Mortgage Insurance  

As of October 1, 2012 the annual MI on all USDA loans is increasing from .3% to .4%. This should not be a huge concern as the rate is still relatively low especially compared to FHA which is at 1.25%.
On a 200k loan the usda monthly mortgage insurance will go from $50 per month to $66.67 per month a difference of $16.67. The up front MI will stay the same at 2% for new purchase.
USDA Refinance  
On USDA Refinances (which are currently out of funds until at least October 2012) will also … (18 comments)

RainCamp Speakers: Sue Adler and Ryan Dallas - 08:05 AM
Over the course of this week I will be introducing you to the speakers who will be sharing some amazing information with us during RainCamp on August 30th.
I'm very excited to announce Sue Adler and Ryan Dallas.
Sue Adler If you haven't heard of Sue Adler, you probably don't pay attention very close to what others in the industry are doing. Sue was on Inman's 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders 2011 and her team ranked #91 on the Wall Street Journal's list of most successful real estate teams nationwide. They did annual production for 2011 of $77 million.
Let's … (39 comments)

"A Category of One"...(On Great Service) - 06:10 AM

"Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap",.  "Tap, tap, tap, tap".
We heard a series of them shortly after takeoff though they soon ended and we forgot about them as our breakfast was served.  Until I noticed that for the very first time, after eating hundreds of similar airline breakfasts, this one was different...The lid was off of my yogurt.  Not only that, but my fruit cup was in a glass instead of its normal plastic cup...
I asked my American Airlines commuter flight attendant Tom McCarthy why the lid was off my yogurt.  "I've seen too many people get squirted when they … (83 comments)

Why do I even plan my day on Mondays? - 12:36 AM
 
Why do I even plan my day on Mondays?
 
I have always been a believer in planning my day. Planning reduces the amount of wasted time that can grow quickly if not checked. Having a plan gives me a benchmark against which I can “grade” the day. The list of things-to-do usually far exceeds the time to complete in that day, but it keeps the important items in front of me until completed.
Lately Mondays have been crazy, and I’m wondering why I even have a plan. The emergency calls, the urgent estimates for repairs, and the when can … (78 comments)

The Not So Simple Task of Quoting Interest Rates - 10:01 AM
 
 
The Not So Simple Task of Quoting Interest Rates                     I liken Interest Rates to onions in more than a couple of ways.  Much like onions, Interest Rates have "layers".  In today's mortgage financing, a  Mortgage Lender  must weigh all the facts and peel away "layers" of information and data to find and reveal the answers to your  Interest Rate questions.         And right now with Interest Rates being at historic lows (but rising at the time of this writing), the more  you can peel away and sift through those layers of … (26 comments)

Faux Works but does it Work? Roof Vent Inspections - 08:16 AM
Faux Works but does it Work? Roof Vent Inspections – Grant County and Quincy Home InspectionFaux is a French word for “False” or “Fake”When performing home inspections we run into many Faux details. Such as exterior finishes that may look like rock or stone and are just a cement products (fake). Or Faux finishes in the home like laminate flooring or countertops that can look like wood, stone or tile but it is not (fake).But what we do not want to see is items that that as Faux that are "false".
Here we have an example of a faux metal roof … (37 comments)

The Psychological Value of Changing One Tiny Word - 09:55 PM
Marketing has a truism that many have tried to dispute, but it can't be done.
That truism is that "People buy from emotion and justify the purchase from logic." And of course, it applies to more than just buying a product. It also applies to things like giving to a charity and choosing a service provider - whether that's a real estate agent or a copywriter.
 
That's why every marketing copywriter pays attention to the psychological/emotional value of words. It's why we sometimes spend hours searching through a thesaurus to find exactly the right word to convey a subtle meaning.
… (36 comments)

Hello, Newbie Tuesday - 07:48 AM
Hello to Newbie Tuesday As a new Ambassador, I’ve been thinking of ways to welcome Newbies to Active Rain. It’s easy for most of us to recall those first few weeks months as we struggled to  learn, not only how to write good content for SEO, but how to make the font larger, or add attractive photos or video to our posts. Yeah, as I recall, it can feel a bit overwhelming. Therefore, each Tuesday, I’m featuring an Active Rain newbie and offering a different tip. I”m hoping it will benefit all of the Newbies and also give them encouragement to … (64 comments)

Beat At My Own Game - 07:07 AM
A few weeks back, I received a knock on my door at home from one of my neighbors. 
"Martin - you have sold most of the houses on the block and you know what it takes to sell a home.  We're impressed and my wife and I are so confident in your skills that we'd like you to list our home for sale."
Obviously flattered, I arranged to meet with my new prospective sellers in two days so that I could sit down with both of them and discuss the opportunities and challenges in selling a $1mio + home in a … (35 comments)


Blog posts


Hotel, full hospitality, surfers heaven, extra beachfront property - 07:13 AM
Surfers Dream - Mexico Beachfront Boutique Hotel … (2 comments)

Nashua, New Hampshire - Best Place to Live in America - 06:31 AM
 Welcome to Nashua, New Hampshire     
Nashua, New Hampshire ranked 93 out of the top 100 best small cities to live by Money Magazine in 2012. 
This is the third time Nashua, New Hampshire has been recognized by Money Magazine. 

Nashua ranked No. 1 as the Best Place to Live in America in 1987 and 1997.

     Nashua is home to many high tech companies such as BAE and Oracle.  Also, mentioned was the proximity to the Boston area and tax free shopping at Pheasant Lane Mall and the new outlets in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
    … (22 comments)

Downtown Austin Block For Sale - 10:23 AM
Something is happening that has not happened in a very long time.  A large tract in downtown Austin is available for sale.  The block between Congress Ave between E 5th and E t6h, which consists of around 2 acres, is up for sale.  Included in the deal is the 26-story Bank of America tower.There are a number of tenants within this area including office buildings and a lot of garage including the garage in the Littlefield Building, which is where I parked for a number of years while working downtown.  In other words, redevelopment will be tricky and expensive, but it … (0 comments)

RE/MAX Austin Skyline - Top Producing Selling Agent - Donna Harris - 02:13 PM
While others have gone on vacation and turned their phones off, I worked this summer. I worked hard. The summer isn't over yet. I've surpassed my goals and though I feel like no one notices sometimes, this time people noticed.  So excited!

**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 surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, CedarPark, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of … (10 comments)

Stone Home in Baltimore's Upper Park Heights - 06:38 PM
 
 
  … (0 comments)

Baltimore Stone Home Upper Park Heights - 07:30 PM
… (10 comments)

Making The Most Of Your Open House - 08:28 AM
Has the technological advances in real estate marketing via the Internet made it so convenient for buyers to view photos of homes online, that open-houses are now unnecessary? No, because that old-fashioned marketing technique of inviting interested buyers into your home to look around is still effective if done correctly.
De-cluttering, cleaning, and getting your house in tip-top shape is always done before listing, so you just need to determine if an open-house would draw prospective buyers. If your property is in a high traffic area, then your home would be a good candidate for an open-house.
The real estate chant … (2 comments)

Short Sale vs Foreclosure...What's The Big Difference Anyway? - 09:17 AM
In a foreclosure, an official eventually comes to the home and tells the occupants to leave – sometimes before the foreclosure date & sometimes right after the foreclosure sale. In a short sale, the seller knows the closing date and can prepare in advance for the move. In many cases, your neighbors, friends and family needn’t even know of your financial difficulties.
You could possibly avoid a deficiency judgment. In almost all distressed sales, the bank can legally go after the seller for the difference between the loan amount and the selling price (known as a deficiency judgment). Most banks will … (1 comments)

Positive News For Real Estate Market – 2012 Housing Starts Increasing - 11:42 AM

 
Bucks County home buyers can enjoy some national good news from the construction industry: Housing starts in June 2012 rose 6.9%, which is the highest level in over three years. Although starts dipped 1.1% in July from June, they were still up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis, continuing a steady upward trend since a large decline that started in January of 2008. The sight of new homes being built in our communities is a good sign for a recovering economy.

 
The economy as a whole may still be lagging, with still below-average housing starts, and foreclosures and … (0 comments)

Reduce your mortgage by pre-paying principal and eliminate your interest. - 06:07 PM
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 buyer.  When you understand how agents work you will clearly see why we sell 94% of our homes at or above asking price and why REAL ESTATE AGENTS would rather sell our homes than anyone else’s. The Real Estate Agent gets paid more and the seller saves over 63% on average.
Property Management for … (0 comments)

Tenants Smoked In The Home? Now What?! - 06:07 PM
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 buyer.  When you understand how agents work you will clearly see why we sell 94% of our homes at or above asking price and why REAL ESTATE AGENTS would rather sell our homes than anyone else’s. The Real Estate Agent gets paid more and the seller saves over 63% on average.
Property Management for … (5 comments)

Montgomery AL Real Estate For Sale: 2024 Hazel Hedge Ln - 07:15 AM
Montgomery Real Estate For Sale: 2024 Hazel Hedge Lane Montgomery, AL 36106
MLS#287290

Fantastic Short Sale Investment! Life can be easy! Updated single story end unit townhome perfect for downsizing or second home if you're here alot--much cheaper than renting and a great lifestyle, too! Investors, this property currently rents for $875. By my reckoning, it should cash flow nicely with as little as 15% down on a 6% 15Y loan. And $50/month takes care of the yard thing. That's easy!!
Learn more about 2024 Hazel Hedge Lane and other Montgomery Real Estate by visiting HatTeam.com. 
Search all Montgomery Real Estate and … (2 comments)

Check Local MLS Listings To Discover Value Shift - 05:50 AM
 

The latest indications that we have seen the end of the sagging real estate market have started some Naples, Florida homeowners thinking it may be time to sell. For those who are wondering if the long recession has altered how people look for homes – and if so, in what ways  – we’ve noticed a couple of new trends.
As before, the first stop for most potential buyers is the Naples MLS listings. When you compare the language and features most prominent there, huge changes do not leap out. But a comparison with former language does reveal something … (0 comments)

Arina's Shoe Repair Shop - Convenient Little Gem in Silver Spring - 06:39 PM
Arina's Shoe Repair has been around since the 1960's.  This one of a kind shop repairs shoes, purses, belts,  jackets, luggage and just about anything made of leather.  You might not think this is a big deal (like I did), until you need this service.  There are not a lot of these little specialty shops around anymore.  If you need new heels on a pair of nice leather shoes or a leather briefcase, jacket or purse repaired, where would you go?  If you live or work in or around Silver Spring's Downtown, this is the place to go.The man that works … (2 comments)

Amazing Custom Home For Sale in Queen Creek - 11:56 AM
View Larger Map … (0 comments)

Olentangy High School Football 2012 - 07:01 AM
Olentangy High School Football Schedule 2012



The Olentangy High School Football season starts this Friday! The Olentangy High School Braves play their first game, this Friday, August 24, 2012. I found the 2012 Olentangy High School Braves  football schedule on a site called MaxPreps.com
Olentangy Local School District
Olentangy High School Football Schedule 2012 
Date / Home Opponent or @ Away  / School District
08/24/2012 - Home Worthington Kilbourne (Worthington schools)
08/31/2012 - @ Olentangy Liberty (Olentangy schools)
09/07/2012 - Home Lexington  (Lexington schools)
09/14/2012 - @ Big Walnut (Big Walnut schools)
09/21/2012 - … (2 comments)

Arrowhead Elementary School Neighborhoods - 11:14 AM
Arrowhead Elementary School in the Olentangy Local School District is located at
Neighborhoods that children attend Arrowhead Elementary School include: the Meadows at Lewis Center,
While the 2011- 2012 grades from all Ohio school districts are delayed, the previous year Arrowhead Elementary, in the Olentangy Local School District was rated “Excellent” by the Ohio Department of Education. 
The report card for the school district:  2010- 2011 School Year Report Cards - Olentangy Schools
Always verify school attendence areas with the school district but know that school attendence boundaries within the school district are subject to change. Check property records for … (0 comments)

Thomas Worthington Football - 2012 - 01:59 PM
 
Thomas Worthington Football Schedule 2012

The high school football season starts this Friday! The Thomas Worthington High School Cardinals play their first game, this Friday, August 24, 2012. I found the 2012 Thomas Worthington High School Cardinal's varsity football schedule on a site called MaxPreps.com
Thomas Worthington Football Schedule 2012
Date / Home or @ Away Opponent  (School District )
08/24/2012 - Home against Jonathan Alder (Jonathan Alder schoools)  08/31/2012 - Home against Worthington Kilbourne (Worthington schools)09/07/2012 - @ Westerville Central (Westerville schools)09/14/2012 - @ Upper Arlington (Upper Arlington schools) 09/21/2012 - Home against Westland (South-Western City schools)09/28/2012 - @ Dublin … (2 comments)

Gated Community Home for Sale in Dry Creek - 02:21 PM
This new listing is in the Dry Creek area of Turkey Creek Master Association, a guard/gated community between the City of Gainesville and the City of Alachua. You will have easy access to where you need to be in Alachua County.
This home was built by Gary Weseman in 2001.  You will love the features of this home.  Original owner, and this home shows very well.  Pride of Ownership and very well maintained & updated. 
 
Gated Community Home For Sale in Dry Creek … (0 comments)

Port Manatee Condo in Rocky Point with 40′ Dock - 05:00 AM
Port Manatee Condo in Rocky Point with 40′ Dock Join us on August 26 from 1 to 4 PM to view this Port Manatee Condo in Rocky Point with 40′ Dock.
There are only 20 units in the Port Manatee Condo Association.  This Port Salerno Condo with 40′ dock is an end unit on the first floor.  All ages welcome and one small pet is permitted.

Looking for a full time home or just a getaway? Are you a boater or fisherman? This is the perfect place for you. Spacious first floor, 2 BR, 2 BA condo in the Manatee … (5 comments)

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