I'm trying to decide which direction to take my video tours or virtual tours.  I used to use real estate shows and was very happy with them.  I thought I would take it more to the level of a virtual tour so I bought my FLIP which I also love but feel like my tours don't look that great.  I found animoto.com which was cool when doing family videos to music but there is an annual fee for making real estate videos.  I checked out the webiste previsite.com but would have to buy their camera.  I am looking to my AR friends...what do you use/like/cost/etc.  Any advice would be great and I would be grateful.  Thanks.

This data comes from the assessed town values from The Town of Bourne website and the selling prices of homes comes from our local MLS (multiple listing service).  In 6 months in Bourne, MA, from 12/29/08 to 5/29/09, there were 54 properties sold.  Just 10 sold over the town assessment.  The rest sold under the towns assessment - and, in some cases, significantly under.  I know this is not an exact science but we had new town assessments that came out last Fall and they were lowered for most properties (except for waterfront properties it appeared).  I thought that current sales prices might be pretty close to the latest town assessments.  They weren't.  I know it doesn't really 'mean' anything, but since the Buyers are looking at assessed values, and in the interest of keeping my Sellers informed, I thought I would look at the data and I certainly did find it an eye opener.

1.  The volume of traffic increases.

2. My favorite ice cream shops open...Betty Anne's and Whistle Stop.

3.  My kids go bridge jumping.

4.  Our neighborhood association holds it's opening meeting and I see neighbors I haven't seen all year.

5.  My summer rentals start and I meet some nice new people.

6.  We take the boat out for a ride and stop at the beach for a while.

7.  I have to go to Christmas Tree Shops for more suntan lotion and beach chairs.

8.  My houses for sale get more showings because people start thinking if they are going to buy a Cape house, they should have it for the summer.

9.  I can sit on my front porch and read the paper, or watch the birds build a nest or just sit there enjoying the nice weather.

10.  The sunny days make everyone happy and appreciate this beautiful part of the world!

On January 24, 2009 I received an offer on a property on Cape Cod.  We closed on it yesterday, May 14, 2009.  Considering all the stories and tales of long sales, this doesn't seem that bad.  If you ask the Buyer and Seller, they'd probably tell you it was not fun and took way too long.  There were many tedious moments and I am glad it is over.  We did use a short sale mediator and I do believe she helped.  It was huge to have her gathering the paperwork and working with the Seller on that end.  She handled all the communications with the bank.  The one thing we didn't get at the end, and the Seller and his Atty were not happy about it...was a statement from the mortgage holder that the lien would be released upon their receipt of the proceeds from the short sale.  We believe it is their intention to consider the loan paid off in full, but they wouldn't give us a lien release or put it in writing.  I am curious if other realtors are getting this from lenders.  I still say the lenders need to find a better and speedier way to complete these short sales.

The sun is out, it's warm, my husband left me daffodils on my desk at home this morning, I am going to see my son in 'Little Shop of Horrors' at Roger Williams University tonight, my daughter's Stonehill College Rugby team is playing in the National Championship in California next week and I am going, my youngest is a high school junior and wants to be a pilot or a genetic engineer, I had 3 showings today and submitted one offer.  Life is good, good, good!!!Sto

You know the calendar says it is Spring and my crocuses have already bloomed and flopped over but it sure has been windy and chilly.  At my son's track meet yesterday I was in my winter coat, gloves and hat.  I felt ridiculous but was still freezing.  Today is really pretty out.  The real estate market has been busy though and buyers seem to have recognized that it is spring and if they want a Cape house by the summer, now is the time to look.  The mortgage rates are so great and first time buyers know about the $8,000 tax credit and are hoping to take advantage of it.  We've been busy showing properties and it's great.  Houses that are cleared of ALL clutter, neat, clean, well maintained seem to be the ones my Buyers are attracted to.  Unless it is an absolute steal.  Are others finding the same thing?  Most of my buyers have no tolerance for clutter and even minor repairs.  I find it interesting.  Here's to the always interesting spring season on Cape Cod.  Love it!

I wanted to show you this new listing I have at 150 Shore Rd in Bourne.  It looks like an antique Cape, which is how it was designed, but it was really built in 1986.  So I like to say you get the charm of an antique home, but without the constant upkeep.  It's almost 2,200 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths.  The detached 2 car garage with huge unfinished room above it was built last year.  There is a gas fireplace in the living room and wood stove in the kitchen.  The sunroom has a hot tub which can stay with the house as well.  Wide pine floors and custom woodworking make this house so warm and inviting.  Plus it is on 1.4 acres!!

I was taking pictures of a new listing and I thought this picture was so pretty.  Even as I was taking them, I kept thinking I will have to come back in a few days and take new pictures without snow.  And I still will have to do that, but, in the meatime, I downloaded these pictures and loved this one.  So, Cape Cod is pretty...even with the snow!Cape

Yesterday I took a client to see two properties listed for sale.  One appointment was made through the listing broker and I was told there were multiple offers but I still could see it.  The second appt was made through an appointment making company.  I usually love making appts this way because they always answer the phone and I know right away if I can see the house at the time I want.  This time, however, I made the appt and we saw the house and my Buyer wanted to make an offer so I called the agent when I got back to the office and the agent said the house was not available as an offer had just been accepted.  I always try to learn a lesson when something doesn't go right.  My lesson here was I will have to call the appt making company for the appt AND I will call the listing agent to get details.  It was a huge disappointment for my buyer as we thought it was still available. 

The town I conduct the majority of my real estate business in is Bourne, MA and the Cape Cod Canal cuts right through it.  I love the Canal.  I drive over it on bridges, I walk beside it, I swim in the bays and inlets that jut off it, I watch the boats travel through it and just looking at the water makes me feel peaceful inside.  Couple things I find interesting:  a 'canal' is an artificial channel for water.  The Cape Cod Canal's primary purpose was to provide a safer route for vessels traveling through the open seas around the tip of Cape Cod.  It is still used for that purpose today but it also provides so much more including fishing, pleasure boat travel,biking/jogging/walking beside the canal, ship watching, camping alongside it, and a spot to live for many homes and families.  The Canal is listed as being 17 miles but the part that cuts through land is 7 miles.  I am lucky to see it and enjoy it nearly every day of my life.  Here is a picture of a Caost Guard ship traveling through the Canal.