Patricia's Blog

Go East Carolina University!

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:41:12 -0500

Go Team Go! As I am writing this blog East Carolina is slamming West Virginia with a score of 24-3 in the third quarter. Last week East Carolina beat Virginia Tech by 5 points. Both of these schools WERE ranked in the top 20. What a team - who would have known! Goooo Team!

Recipe for Tailgating

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:29:49 -0500

Tis the season for tailgating! Whether it is for high school, college, or pro- football games. I have the perfect recipe; it only takes a few minutes to put together and it will stay warm for a long time.

Party Potatoes:

8-10 Potatoes

1-8 ounce pack of cream cheese

1-8 ounce container of sour cream

3 teaspoons of butter

Chives

Peel and boil potatoes then drain. Put pottoes in a mixing bowl, then add remaining ingredients. Mix together with blender, then place in a baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes on 350 degrees.

Going Green in the Grocery Store

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:32:14 -0500

Remember when the question used to be plastic or paper in the checkout line at the grocery store? Well, now it is do you have your own bags or would you like plastic? There are stores even giving discounts if you bring in your own bags. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates 380 Billion plastic bags are used every year. That statistic is unbelievable - we all need to start using reusable bags for all stores! I carry several sizes in my car at all times, including one that keeps items cold. All you have to do is get into the habit of taking in your own bags when shopping.

Rent vs. Buying Part 1

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:57:27 -0500

Let's see which is better to rent or to buy a home? Well, when a person rents they pay the landlord and never see the money again, plus they cannot use it as a tax deduction. When a person buys a home they are paying on an assest that they will eventually sell. Then the remainder of the payment goes to the lender and the interest is usually all tax deductable! Hummmmm.... which is better renting or buying?

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty

www.864homes.net

864homes@bellsouth.net

Building a Home Part 3

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:38:17 -0500

When building a home there are mainly three ways to go about it. One, build a custom home - which will cost the buyer more because the builder is only building buying for a couple of homes usually. Two, build with a "Track Builder" - they tend to build by the volume and you have to choose from their floor plans and you pay for each upgrade. And the third way is to buy a spec home. The builder just builds a home to sell with noone in mind to purchase it. There is no right or wrong way to build a home, it just depends on what would work for you and your family!

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty

864homes@bellsouth.net

Building a Home Part 2

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:28:26 -0500

When building your home you must find a piece of land that will fit your family's needs and lifestyle. Another thing to consider is location, location, location for resale! You must also consider the floorplan because the home may not meet the neighborhoods covenants/restrictions (if you plan to build in a neighborhood). And you want to think about the amenities the neighborhood has or does not have. There are other items that I have not listed, but each family needs to write down what they would like to have ie. many acres, neighborhood, pool, etc. Hope this helps!

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty

864homes@bellsouth.net

Building a Home Part 1

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:17:59 -0500

Building a home can be a stressful experience if you do not have the proper professionals working for you! When it comes to choosing the most experienced builder you must do your homework. Talk with other people that have built their own home, work with a REALTOR that knows the builders in the area, and look at the Better Business Bureau's website. There are many experienced builders you just have to do your homework so your don't get stuck in a mess! To be continued...

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty

864homes@bellsouth.net

www.864homes.net

Which rooms should you invest in when remodeling

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:40:40 -0500

A homeowner should always think about which rooms to remodel to get their best return. Two of the best items to invest in are windows and siding replacements. But, when you are remodeling rooms you should update a kitchen with solid surface countertops, custom cabinets, upgraded appliances, and either wood or ceramic flooring. The bathroom is also major room to update with a large shower with multiple showerheads & tile surround, solid surface counters, and ceramic tiles for the floor. When showing homes to buyers these are the main items they are looking for.

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty

864homes@bellsouth.net

www.864homes.net

Why a REALTOR is your best resource when buying or selling your home! Part 2

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:05:10 -0500

The key to a quick sale is pricing the home right in the beginning! REALTORS spend their time getting to know their market and the numbers so they are able to produce the most accurate market analysis. Whether an agent is working with a buyer or a seller they must do a market analysis to make sure the price is acurrate. The price of a home can change with the market, unfortunately a seller may think their home is worth one price but is really worth another. A REALTOR also makes sure the buying and selling process goes as smooth as possible for their clients!

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty

864homes@bellsouth.net

Why a REALTOR is your best resource when buying or selling your home Part 1

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:51:22 -0500

Consumers are faced with so many questions and information these days with technology. The media feeds us information every day and you never what to believe. The best way to obtain information is through your REALTOR. 90% of sellers and purchasers work with a REALTOR. The number one reason to consumers use a REALTOR is to provide expertise on negotiating and closing on a home. Plus, REALTORS sell homes for 16% more than those sold by individuals. To be continued....

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

CRS, GRI, ASR, ABR

Keller Willaims Realty

Spartanburg, SC

864homes@bellsouth.net

Credit Makeover

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:23:31 -0500

Credit makeover is something a lot of people are doing now! Great credit requires more than paying bills on time. It only counts for 1/3 of the points, therefore 2/3 of the score comes from four other areas. The second area is debt, ie. credit cards, auto loans, etc. The third area is the older your credit report is the more points she will earn in this category. The forth is New Credit - you should only apply for credit when you really need it. Finally, the fifth category is a mix of accounts. This information is good for everyone to review every year.

Patricia Fisher

Staging Your Home

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:15:48 -0500

When selling your home staging it is very important. If a home is not de-cluttered from the day it is listed you could lose any buyers that may have already looked at your home. Staging will get your home sold quicker and at the best possible price.

Therefore, when you are getting your home ready to sell think about the way the buyer wants it to look. Staging is about everyone's taste, not an individual's taste. To get ideas for staging go to open houses, visit model homes, and read/watch about home decorating.

Have a Great Day,

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

CRS, GRI, ASR, ABR

Keller Williams Realty

864homes@bellsouth.net

www.864homes.net

Understanding Today's Real Estate Market

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:58:04 -0500

What created today's market? Many homeowners and real estate professionals are asking themselves this. The slowdown is largely due to the demand started by the global investment market and by individual investor/speculators. In other words in the year of 2000 the world's pool of dollars exploded, between 2006 and 2007 it doubled. Therefore Wall Street ceated new ways to package mortgages, then sell them and pass the money and risk to the investors. These loans required little information on buyers income and assests. Unfortunately lenders used adjustable rate, interest only, and other loans much more frequently and possibly mis-used. We are now seeing the affects of these mortgages.

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

CRS, GRI, ABR, ASR

Keller Williams Realty

864.494.7818

864homes@bellsouth.net

www.864homes.net

Buying A Home Make Buying Easy By Pre-Planning Part 3

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:53:11 -0500

Once your purchaser has chosen a house and they would like to make an offer you want to make sure you have certain papers ready for when they come to the office to make an offer. For example the pre-approval letter from the lender, a Seller's Disclosure, Lead Based Paint Discloser if needed, etc. Now you write the offer up and have either the listing agent present the offer or if you would like you may present the offer to the seller's. (This depends on your state laws.) Remember to explain to your buyer to not take the counter-offer personally, because the seller already has a price in mind that they would like. The key word is negotiating! To be continued in Part 4......

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

CRS, GRI, ASR, ABR

Keller Williams Realty

864-494-7818

864homes@bellsouth.net

www.864homes.net

Make Home Buying Easy by Pre-Planning - Part 2

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:26:26 -0500

Once the buyer finds out the price range they can afford without going over budget they can start looking for a home. This is the fun part! When I am working with a buyer I always sit down with them and have the persons buying the home list what they would like to have and/or fill out a form with a list of different features. For example, a large kitchen, home office, large master bedroom, etc. This allows me to help them narrow their choices. A lot of times you will discover there are features they had not thought about before. To be continued....

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

CRS, GRI, ABR, ASR

Keller Williams Realty

Spartanburg, SC

864.494.7818

864homes@bellsouth.net

www.864homes.net

Make Home Buying Easy by Pre-Planning Part 1

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:04:34 -0500

Not only can home buying be one of the most exciting times of your life, but it can also be one of the most difficult times! To make it easier make sure you get your finances in line first and foremost. A buyer does not want to move into their dream home and be in financial ruins. The next step is to be prequalified by a mortgage specialist. Your REALTOR can suggest several names and you can also ask friends/family for names. This process will make it much easier for the buyer and agent to make sure you stay in a price range that is affordable. Part 2 tomorrow!

Patricia Fisher, REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty

Spartanburg, SC 29301

864-494-7818

Email: 864homes@bellsouth.net

Website: www.864homes.net

Blogging Class in Spartanburg, SC! Hi ActiveRain!

Patricia Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:08:36 -0500

Hello! This is Patricia Fisher from Spartanburg, SC. This is my first time in Active Rain. Just finished my blogging class and I am looking forward to interacting with other Real Estate Professionals. This is a new door that has opened for my real estate career. Well I must go for now - I need to put a listing in the Spartanburg and Greenville MLS. Thanks Kirk for a great class! Patricia Fisher