Hurry Escape, Escape, Escape - 04/30/09 05:02 PM
Escape to Presque Isle Peninsula Erie, PA
Yesterday was my day to escape to my favorite place. I love to walk here either alone or with a friend. Join me as I reminisce through the photos.
Walking trail along the bay side
Below--Notice the white caps on Presque Isle Bay... The temp was 8 degrees cooler here than a short distance inland.
Erie, PA is off to the right approx two miles in the above picture. Below is Lake Erie & breakwalls.
Alternative energy--wind
High school students on field trip. Reminds me of my teaching days.
… (11 comments)
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So What? (So says the customer) - 04/28/09 03:59 PM
Have you seen real estate profiles like this one? I recently saw a billboard with a glamour photo promoting the agent's real estate business. So many agent ads in both print media and internet profiles have every credential known to real estate.
Im D. Greatest, Associate Broker, Realtor, Multi-Million Dollar Producer ABR, CCIM, CRS, CRB, GRI, MIA, RRS, SHS, SIOR, SRES, Life PAR Excellence Award, licensed with Alphabet Soup Real Estate Company since 19__. Highest producing agent in Er... County ever!
YOUR AREA PROFESSIONAL Call me today 1.888.1212
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The consumer is thinking . . .
So What???????????????????? … (13 comments)
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Let's Go to the Zoo - 04/25/09 09:22 PM
Feels like a Zoo Day!! The weather is warm and the sun is out. Put the kids in the car and let's go to the Erie, PA has a wonderful zoo.
Are we there yet? How many times have we heard that?
How big is the giraffe's tongue?
Of course the train ride is a must!!
Oh, inquiring minds want to know why????
The conductor pointed out the deer (Pere David Deer) we saw near the tracks. Hunter wanted to know why they were called Pere David Deer. Answer: … (12 comments)
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Successful Real Estate Agents ARE . . . - 04/24/09 02:08 PM
Successful Real Estate Agent Qualities ARE . . .
Listen more than they speak--Ask questions to learn more about the client. Listen with your eyes as well as your ears. Learn to read their body language and read between the lines. A favorite excuse for a failed real estate transaction: 'If they would have told me they wanted a two story instead of a ranch . . .' If you are showing the buyers numerous two story homes and they are not picking one, ask, "WHY NOT???" The best agents know more about their clients than the client knows about them, except … (10 comments)
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More Bad Economic News Every Day--Is this a good time to become a real estate agent? - 04/23/09 08:31 PM
I just read Number of people moving drops in Erie Times and I heard the same story repeated half dozen times on cable in last twenty-four hours. With more & more bad economic news every time we turn around--Is this really a good time to become a real estate agent? Absolutely!!!
This is a Great Time to get a real estate license. Let's look at the facts.
Fact #1 80% of the business is being done by 20% of the agents. Fact #2 One third of the agents are leaving; one third just getting into the business; ONLY one third are working Fact #3 The … (11 comments)
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Who's Not Green Today--Earth Day? - 04/22/09 03:08 PM
Who's not green today? Going green is even triumphing the Wearin o' the Green on St. Patrick's Day, March 17 in Erie, PA, a very Irish community. Only those people who do not turn on the TV or internet or read print media have not been inundated with green feature stories or green ads. It seems that every major advertiser is using green in their ads. www.goerie.com At Sam's Club earlier today I counted 8 'eco-friendly' products just inside the door. A sticky note on one purchase read, "In an effort to help the environment, we have switched to this new container which … (9 comments)
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The Green Buzz--What's New on the Green Scene? - 04/20/09 03:00 PM
"It ain't easy being Green!" Kermie
KERMIT THE FROG "It ain't easy being Green." This quote made famous by Kermit the Frog from Sesame Street & The Muppets described pre-1970's sentiment about environmental issues. Energy costs and gasoline were very inexpensive compared to today. Some of us may remember gas prices under $1.00, right? Landfills accepted all waste products and few thought about recycling or reusing.
EARTH DAY On Wednesday, April 22nd, the world will celebrate Earth Day and more and more individuals and companies are proclaiming their greenness. Today it is hard to turn on the TV or internet or … (11 comments)
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Social Networking or Social Disease? - 04/15/09 02:30 PM
Have you been exposed to the Social Disease called Social Networking???
Millions have been exposed. If you have a computer or an e-mail address chances are that you have been exposed to or invited to join a Social Networking site. Have you been tested yet?
Disease or Waste of Time Now that I have your attention I must say that some people, especially the old guard, feel the buzz about Social Networking is just a Disease or a waste of time at best. Oops! I hope I haven't offended you. Most of us and yes I am one of the old … (84 comments)
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Considering a Real Estate Career--Are You Crazy? - 04/15/09 11:16 AM
Considering a career in real estate Have you told your friends and family that you are considering a career in real estate? With the current economy chances are that they will respond, "Are you crazy?" Well, that is how a few of my friends responded in the mid-80's when I announced my decision to take real estate classes. Maybe you remember or heard that interest rates were 16% - 18% and Nobody could afford to buy a home! My mother told me, "Why do you want to do that? You only need a Realtor once in your life." At 86 she … (9 comments)
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Green Paradigm Shift - 04/14/09 05:53 PM
What caused our thinking to shift from using energy to conserving energy?
Big is better! This was the American theme for homes as well as autos as long as I can remember. There was a temporary shift to smaller cars with increased fuel efficiency during the oil embargo of the early 70's, however that was short lived.
Americans quickly reverted back to their infatuation with big cars & trucks. Europeans and Asians developed smaller, more fuel efficient cars, but they weren't available in the American market. Over the last few decades we built bigger & bigger homes.
The master … (7 comments)
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Green Your Office - 04/13/09 03:56 PM
Is it your office Green? Not the color green of course, but is your office environmentally Green? Recently I posted Green Mis-understood telling how I mis-understood a decorator' comment, "I am going to help my client Go Green." I thought she was assisting her client in making her home environmentally greener when the client just needed help chosing the right shade of green paint.
PAPER
Think before your print Use print preview before you hit copy Ask yourself: Do I really need a copy? Instead of printing could the information be saved on your computer Make double sided copies Use back … (10 comments)
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Greetings from Presque Isle (Erie, PA) - 04/13/09 02:52 PM
Easter--Eggs--Bunnies--Candy-- Spring--Warm Weather---OOPS!! Someone forgot to tell the Erie meteorologist that Easter means spring and spring means warm weather. Except Erie, PA is located on the shores of Lake Erie which was a giant ice cube until recently. (Remember water retains heat well in the fall, but warms slowly after the ice melts.)
So the Easter Bunny has left and the kids still have one more vacation day. What to do? Why not take them to visit Presque Isle? Great idea, but the wind coming across Lake Erie feels more like March or maybe even February. Then my older grandson suggest … (0 comments)
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Green mis-understood - 04/12/09 03:07 PM
Have you noticed all the 'Green' ads, slogans, articles, billboards there are today? Go green, get green $$$$$$. I Go Green, aka I use e-mail not snail mail, etc.
Recently I mis-understood Erie decorator/stager and ARblogger, Gretchen Wheeler's, comment to help a client, "Go Green." I thought Gretchen was about to embark on an environmentally friendly decorating venture and I wanted to learn more. I quickly asked her for details on the project. I am scheduled to teach a course next month on green issues as they relate to the real estate market. Well, much to my embarassment Gretchen's client wanted her assistance in choosing the right shade of … (6 comments)
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Real Estate Recovery Starts in Erie, PA - 04/12/09 02:19 PM
Like the rest of the country the real estate market was slower in January & February than past January and Februarys, but the activity exploded in March. Almost every company, office and agent I have spoken with lately has been busy and some are setting production records unmatched in their careers.
The bad publicity about the real estate market took its toll for months on end causing sellers and buyers to hold back. Finally the economy and the stock market are showing signs of life--just like nature, I guess. Low interest rates and the $8,000 first-time buyer tax incentive have encouraged … (2 comments)
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Easter Treat for Erie, PA (See--Green Roof) - 04/12/09 09:04 AM
Don't know what to do after the Easter Bunny has left and church services are over? Visit Asbury Woods Nature Center in Erie, PA.
Check new nature displays, walk along the boardwalk or take a hike in the woods. Don't miss the Green Roof on the nature center's building. Enjoy the beautiful sunshine in Erie. Dress warm as the temperature is still rather cool for this time of year. What a great way to spend a day with family and/or friends. I have gone by myself with I just to reconnect with nature. It is a great place at any time of year … (0 comments)
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Who's the Client? Who's the Professional? - 04/11/09 03:14 PM
Dress to Impress was my post yesterday but there were so many great comments I need to write a sequel.
First and foremost everyone agreed that we are the professionals therefore we need to present ourselves as such. Most relationships including client/agent are formed by first impressions. Not matter what we say or how much we know it is hard to overcome a poor first impression.
In today's economy most real estate agents are scambling and scurrying for any sign of life in their local markets. Here is a quote from Erie Times News (4-11-09): "The Easter Bunny is buying a new hutch … (7 comments)
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Real Estate--Dress to Impress - 04/10/09 08:39 PM
Dress for Success Do you remember Dress for Success articles, books and seminars in the 70's and 80's? Have you noticed how business, and that includes real estate, has gone to business casual as the norm rather than just on Casual Friday? No matter what area of the country you live in & practice real estate the weather and culture plays a role in how we dress. Humidity and 80-90+ temps or blowing wind and near zero temps dictate how we dress. During my first winter as a residential agent I purchased high boots and a hooded winter coat. Walking a plank across a muddy new … (17 comments)
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Real Estate--My AHA Moment--Spring Fresh Contest - 04/09/09 05:42 PM
My entry in the Spring Fresh Contest is a continuation of the series I have been writing about my real estate career. Here are links to earlier posts.
Why Real Estate?
Real Estate--Type A
Real Estate--A Day Off???Who Has Time?
Work, work, work and more work. I enjoyed working and enjoyed working with people. A great combination for success in real estate. Yes, but what did Mary like to do when she wasn't working or taking care of family responsibilities? Physical activities such as walking and cross country skiing were activities I enjoyed for myself, but they would take a back … (18 comments)
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Real Estate--A Day Off??? Who has time? - 04/09/09 09:52 AM
Real Estate--A Day Off??? Who has time to take time off?
Today's post is part of a series on why I chose real estate? Here are links to those posts.
Why Real Estate?
Real Estate--Type A
Yes, I made everything fit or so I thought. I could attend Sunday church service, get to my open house, followed by buyer appointments, maybe write & negotiate contracts and still get home for Sunday dinner with the family. I course I prepared dinner early Sunday morning or late Saturday night. Early in my career my manager suggested I take a day off. My response, "I … (3 comments)
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Real Estate--Type A - 04/08/09 07:59 PM
Why Real Estate?
After making the decision to follow my dream and get a real estate license I forged full speed ahead 24/7. Fortunately I didn't burn out as many others I met along the way. Training sessions, sales meetings, prospecting, phone time, open houses, showings, negotiating contracts, farming, technology and more. My neighbor commented about my late night hours when we walked at 6:00 am each week day morning. Her comments bothered me as I knew I wanted to succeed in real estate at any cost. I didn't want to miss a beat with my previous activities like walking and keeping … (4 comments)
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Why Real Estate? - 04/07/09 07:55 PM
My mother asked me that question 20+ years ago. "You only need a real estate agent once in your life!" she stated when I made the decision to change careers.
I first thought about real estate as a career more than 10 years before I finally took the plunge into real estate. Throughout grade school & high school I planned to be a teacher and graduated with a degree in education from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. However after sixteen years as a middle school teacher I knew I was getting burned out and needed a change. I spent two years investigating … (8 comments)
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Kids Ask: "When are you coming back?" - 04/03/09 03:45 PM
Local Erie, PA businesses team up with Junior Achievement (JA) to bring financial & business topics, current issues and career options to grades K-12. Volunteers from local businesses visit the schools presenting age-appropriate lessons in workshops over a five-week period or a one-day event known as "JA In a Day." The format is fun and dynamic for the students as well as teaching them valuable lessons about personal finances and what it takes to be successful in the business world.
The volunteers willing share their personal reflections on career opportunties, the traits & skills needed in both the business & financial sectors. Sandi Carangi, Erie Federal Credit … (5 comments)
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AHA!!! New Construction Starts Are Up and Foreclosures Are Down in Erie, PA - 04/01/09 05:23 PM
Maybe we need new economists. They predicted further declines but across the nation, construction of new homes and apartments were up 22.2 % compared to January 2009. Yes, January was not a good month. In fact it was another record low, but any news amist the glut of bad news is good news. In Erie, PA several new apartment complexes, currently under construction, are pre-leasing units and with 100% occupancy expected at time of completion. Other complexes have a waiting list for future buildings not yet started. Interest in new condo developments is steadily increasing along with the warmer weather. Traffic at open … (2 comments)
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