Credit Reporting - How to do it? - 06/28/10 12:31 AM
I recently sold a house to a tenant via owner financing.  I would like to report the mortgage and timely payments to the credit bureaus to improve her credit score, so she can refinance into a conventional mortgage in the next year or so.
Does anyone know how to do this?
I also want to report judgments I have against former tenants.  I want to report the bad and the good, and the only companies I have found so far will only report the bad.
Thanks,
Aaron
 
 
… (10 comments)

Negotiating Advice for Buyers and Agents Alike - Some Perspective from my 13-Year Career - 06/27/10 02:40 AM
Very good advice.  I will like to counter with a higher than asking price when I receive a ridiculously low offer.  The buyer and/or buyer's agent tell me I cannot do that, but no one ever said I had to lower my price in a counteroffer.  If I receive a ridiculous offer, my counter will be ridiculous as well - ha.
Via Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC):
One of my favorite things about being a real estate broker/agent is helping my buyer clients to negotiate the best deal on the home they have chosen.  Having … (2 comments)

South Carolina’s unemployment rate drops - 06/25/10 11:37 PM
South Carolina's unemployment rate drops
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/34723-south-carolina-rsquo-s-unemployment-rate-drops-to-11
Although South Carolina's unemployment rate dropped, the unemployment rate is still entirely too high.  The state government passed a bill to make our state more business friendly this week which will help attract businesses to SC.  This is a good step towards bringing more jobs to SC. 
More initiatives need to be passed to help the current businesses in the state.  It is easier to grow the already existing businesses than it is to bring in new businesses.  Additionally, an existing business does not need start-up time.  Existing businesses are in place and are ready … (2 comments)

Weekend Events for the Charleston, SC (The Lowcountry) - June 25, 2010 - 06/24/10 01:48 PM
Here is a list of activities for Charleston, SC for this weekend.  By no means is this all Charleston has to offer.  It is simply a list of the events I know about.
Most of these events came from Charleston Regional Business Journal Weekend! 10 Ways to Play.  You can signup for the weekly email at http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/resources/new.
Sports
USA vs Ghana - Saturday - Visit your local soccer pub!
Charleston Battery Soccer - Away Game June 29 - http://www.charlestonbattery.com/welcome.asp
River Dogs - Home Games Friday, Saturday and Sunday - www.riverdogs.com
Music
Boone Hall Beach Blast - http://boonehallplantation.com/beach-blast.php
Eye Level Are - … (4 comments)

Mount Pleasant named a Top 10 All-America City - 06/23/10 01:59 AM
Mount Pleasant named a Top 10 All-America City
http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/137564/1/
Mt. Pleasant was named a Top 10 All-American City by the National Civic League.  Although I do not know the significance of this award, it might carry some as the mayor and multiple businesses donated money to the campaign to receive the award.
I imagine this type of award and exposure can only be positive not only for Mt. Pleasant but  the entire Lowcountry. 
Great work to everyone who had a hand in bringing this award to Mt. Pleasant.
Aaron
 
 
… (4 comments)

Weekend Events for the Charleston, SC (The Lowcountry) - 06/17/10 01:39 PM
Here is a list of activities for Charleston, SC for this weekend.  By no means is this all Charleston has to offer.  It is simply a list of the events I know about.
Most of these events came from Charleston Regional Business Journal Weekend! 10 Ways to Play.  You can signup for the weekly email at http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/resources/new.
Sports
USA vs Slovenia - Friday - Visit your local soccer pub!
Charleston Battery Soccer - June 22 - http://www.charlestonbattery.com/welcome.asp
River Dogs - out of town :-(
Music
Rockin' On The Point 2010 - June 18 - "Simplified w/Villanova" - http://www.rockinonthepoint.com/index.cfm
Charleston Carifest 2010 … (0 comments)

Are You Worth Your Commission? - 06/17/10 09:36 AM
This is the first article in the series Every Realtor is a Small Business.  You can read the Introduction to the series at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1680357/every-realtor-is-a-small-business-introduction.
Over the past several months, I have read numerous blogs on commission rates.  Some Realtors will negotiate (discount) and some refuse to budge (side note - mechanic, baker, plumber, tutor, etc (pretty much any job) can be inserted in place of Realtor).
A few of the comments from Realtors who do not negotiate commission rates include:
1.       The Realtor is worth the X% commission (aka payment).
2.       The Realtor has overhead and costs associated with listing a … (11 comments)

Is it Real? Or is it an Illusion? You Tell Me! - 06/15/10 04:25 AM

Via Bryan Watkins (LRA Real Estate Group):
 'Trompe L'oeil' (trick-of-the-eye) by artist John Pugh.
Today I received an email from an old friend. He is fascinate with interesting stuff that people make and do. Is this painting real or illusion? If I lived in the Bay Area still I would drive by and check it out.
So, an artist named John Pugh paints the side of buildings, but not just with a paint sprayer. He makes it real life. Can you tell? It is called 'Trompe L'oeil' (trick-of-the-eye) by artist John Pugh.

Main Street , Los Gatos , California . Even the … (5 comments)

145 Jobs saved in Cherokee County - 06/15/10 12:37 AM
Parkdale Mills to occupy former Wellstone building, save 145 jobs
http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/137509/1/
This is good news for those working in the Wellstone building and for all the residents of Cherokee County.  Although the news does not create jobs, it prevents job lose which is probably more important in today's economic climate.
I imagine the workers and their families tighten their belts a bit when they found out their building was scheduled to close.  Now they can breathe a sigh of relief with Parkdale Mills acquisition of the building.
Aaron
… (3 comments)

Foreclosure crisis yet to hit South Carolina - 06/12/10 08:17 AM
Lowcountry MSA posts highest number of foreclosures across S.C.
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/34612-lowcountry-msa-posts-highest-number-of-foreclosures-across-s-c
South Carolina has definitely had a problem with foreclosures over the last few years; however, we have not experienced the crisis many other places have. 
Greenville's real estate market has faired rather well through the last few years.  They have even seen an increase in value at times when the rest of the state saw a decrease in values.
The key to Greenville's real estate market fortitude is their job base and location.  Although other MSAs cannot change their locations, they need to focus on job creation.  Everyone already knows this, and … (6 comments)

A lot of houses removed from inventory, but a lot of buyers also removed. - 06/12/10 07:15 AM
Home sales up 29%, still boosted by federal tax credit
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/34616-home-sales-up-29-still-boosted-by-federal-tax-credit
May sales numbers showed another much improved volume compared to last year.  The downside is a lot of buyers took advantage of the homebuyer tax credit which will reduce the number of buyers for the next few months.
One optimistic (although reserved) sign is sales prices are holding steady.  I read somewhere over half of all home sales are REO or short sales.  That statistic leads me to assume average sale prices would decrease; however, we are not seeing that trend. 
Maybe the fact a lot of homebuyers are receiving an … (6 comments)

Tips for "Lite Remodels" of Bathrooms - 06/09/10 11:24 PM

Via Laxson Realty l La Jolla Real Estate:
In today's market anything our clients can do to make their home "sparkle" and sell quickly for top dollar is important.  Sometimes the simplest changes can have the most impact.  Kitchens are perhaps the first choice for clients to improve on; however I also think that bathroom improvements can help!  Here are a few ways to make bathroom improvements that don't cost a lot!
Color - Take your bathroom from ordinary white to a splash of color.  Remember that cool colors can create a calm and peaceful environment and dark colors can be warm … (1 comments)

I Built It But They Didn't Come - 06/09/10 03:39 AM

Via Randy Ostrander-Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI (Lake and Lodge Realty LLC ):
The old saying "Build it and They Will Come" doesn't play with blogging. What makes a person click on your blog and more important what drives the reader to comment on what you have wrote? I have written blogs that I thought would be a flop and they were featured, yet I have taken hours to write one that is meaningful and insightful and received no comments at all. One of my last posts about Blogger's Remorse was featured and a lot of comments … (1 comments)

The wait is over - Boeing is now hiring! - 06/08/10 07:27 PM
Aircraft assembly hiring taking off at Boeing Charleston
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/34562-aircraft-assembly-hiring-taking-off-at-boeing
 
Boeing came to the Charleston area with the promise to create a lot of jobs.  After months of waiting the wait is finally over.  The first wave of hiring is about to start. 
Applications are due by June 25.  Application information is in the article at the above link. 
Here is to the start over improved jobs in the Lowcountry - cheers!
 
… (2 comments)

Every Realtor is a Small Business - Introduction - 06/05/10 05:56 PM
As a Real Estate Investor, I had to adjust to the economy along with everyone else.  My business partner and I spun off one of the real estate activities to its own business and have grown it into a profitable business. 
In addition to that I created a business consulting company.  To jump start the business, I purchased a business financing and consulting franchise.  I was more of a service provider than a consultant, so I decided to part ways with the franchise and have since become an idea provider for small business owners.
My entire consulting focus is how a small business owner … (2 comments)

SFR Mortgage Note for Sale - 06/04/10 06:20 PM
I owner financed purchase of one of my properties to the tenant that had been living in the home for over 2 years.  Now that I have the note, I want to sell it.  The details are below.  Please send me any offers or contact me for more information. 
The home is worth approximately $55,000 and located in Florence, SC.  There is a first and second mortgage on the home, and I want to sell the first mortgage.  The mortgages were created June 1st 2010.  The homeowner lived in the home as a tenant for over two years.  Taxes and principal … (2 comments)

Should I do inspections PRIOR to putting on the market? Hmmmm... - 06/04/10 02:37 PM

Via Chris Alston (Keller Williams Realty, Cupertino California):
The primary reason why a buyer backs out of a contract is due to the buyer discovering something out about the property that they did not know about prior to making the offer...  This can enhance the cold feet that they may be having, giving them a reason to back out. 
In addition, prior to removing contingencies, the buyer can come back and negotiate the contract again based upon something they discovered on a pest inspection or a property inspection or even a roof report making the seller nutty with all the requests even … (0 comments)

Building an Eco-Friendly Kitchen - 06/03/10 02:51 PM

Via Southern Maryland Real Estate~ Jonathan Benya:
I ran across this video online and I figured that with today being Earth Day and all, this would be a very timely post! If you're looking at more ways of going green, here's a great example of an Illinois home that's designed an eco-friendly kitchen! Looking For My Expert Opinon on Southern Maryland?  Find it Here:  The Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog
… (0 comments)

Weekend Events for the Charleston, SC (The Lowcountry) - 06/03/10 02:45 PM
Here is a list of activities for Charleston, SC for this weekend.  By no means is this all Charleston has to offer.  It is simply a list of the events I know about.
Most of these events came from Charleston Regional Business Journal Weekend! 10 Ways to Play.  You can signup for the weekly email at http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/resources/new. 
Sports
Charleston River Dogs at home this weekend - www.riverdogs.com
Charleston Battery 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at home - www.charlestonbattery.com
Music
Barenaked Ladies at the North Charleston Coliseum Performing Arts Center - http://www.coliseumpac.com/events.php?id=124
5th Annual "Hazelnut Hang" presented by Sister Hazel at … (0 comments)

20 Eco-Savvy Steps Sellers Can Take to Attract Eco-Friendly Buyers and a Speedier Sale- Part 2 - 06/03/10 01:28 PM

Via Asheville NC Real Estate- Land, Second/Vacation:
Sellers, if you want to make your home stand out from all of the rest take a look at the photo here.It is a study in possibility. There are numerous FREE, inexpensive, cost effective and eco-friendly improvements that could be made to this home to meet the demand of today's Buyers. What would you do right away?

Would you trim? Would you remove clutter? Would you call in a Feng Shui expert? Would you paint? What kind of paint would you select? 
 Imagine a landscape, spruced up and enriched with fruit-bearing trees and/or native/edible … (1 comments)

Complete Remodel of Home - need green tips and products to use - 06/02/10 02:08 PM
I am in the process of completely remodeling a home I will move into.  I removed everything down to the studs, and I even moved walls.  The house was a 4/2, and I turned it into a 3/2.5.
I know some green remodeling techniques; however, my knowledge is limited.  I am looking for tips on everything from insulation to hot water heaters to venting of attic space. 
Thanks in advance for the tips.
Aaron
… (2 comments)

Upside down and moving up - 06/01/10 04:19 PM
Something to consider when a seller is concerning upgrading their home.
Aaron
Via Michael G Regan- Petaluma Home Loans- Purchase and Refinance Mortgages (Mason-McDuffie Mortgage):
Many home owners today have little to no equity in their current residences but that doesn’t mean they can’t purchase a new home.  In these situations it’s imperative that these clients are pre-approved because the guidelines are getting stricter. 
The existing buy and bail policy is if the borrowers don’t have 30% equity in their current residence, a lender will not use any rental income to offset the payment.  The borrowers must qualify with both home payments.  … (1 comments)