Several months ago, I started posting local "things to do" on a budget.  Highlighting free events, or at least very affordable ones.  I must say, with a toddler, it's been hard to even find the time to get out and take advantage of all of the wonderful, cost effective things to do in Baltimore City....but here we go!  Back to business.

WARNING...this post contains a little bit of shameless self promotion, but it is in an effort to open some eyes to a cultural gem in Little Italy, so I'll forgive myself!

Tomorrow evening, my Concert Opera company will be performing a fundraiser at the fabulous GERMANOS TRATTORIA in Baltimore's Little Italy.  For $10, and a $15 food/bev minimum, you get to hear two amazing sets of operatic music, performed by our board of directors, and incredible guest artists. 

Please make reservations at www.germanostrattoria.com, and be sure to tell them that you are coming for the Baltimore Concert Opera Company!

Jamie Smith Hopkins of the Baltimore Sun had this to say about the details of the extended FTHB credit.  Expect a vote in the house today....

I am still unsure as to how I feel about all this, but it is important to be "in the know."  Any Active Rainer's out there that have a local reporter that covers things as eloquently as our friend here at the Sun, please comment....I'd love to follow them as well.

I know that I have been writing a good deal about the first time homebuyer tax credit as of late, and what can I say...it is on my mind.  A big segment of our client population happens to be first time buyers, so I am obviously wanting to stay in the loop.

At the surface, this seems like a really good idea.  Most realtors that I speak to seem to be really hoping for the extension/expansion, as I am.  Anything that can stimulate this housing market is obviously something that I stand to gain from personally.  Or do I?

First, let's start with the positives:

• Obviously, my first time buyers are inclined (in theory) to "get off the fence" and take advantage of some great deals out there.
• If the expansion is approved for existing homeowners, my business could really benefit.  People that are already living in a housing stock that is appealing to a first-time buyer, would presumably have an easier time selling, and potentially trading up into a part of the market where there are outstanding values, while collecting a tax credit.

Now, some questions and reservations:

• What if, in the long term, this credit is just continuing to prevent the market from making a necessary correction?  Home prices were rather inflated, and a lot of us certainly enjoyed the ride, but is this credit just going to prolong the inevitable and ultimately make the fall even harder? 

• Why is it that the credit is the same regardless of the market?  Why is there the same incentive in healthy markets as in those that are hardest hit?  That doesn't seem to make sense, and the taxpayer is left paying the bill.
• Where on earth does the FIVE YEAR qualification come from for existing home-owners?  What about those that have been in their homes for three years, and are under-water?  
• As it looks to me, the credit is available to those buying a principle residence, but it doesn't REQUIRE that you sell your current home...there are some scary implications here.

We all know how rewarding it feels to cross something off of our TO-DO list.  I know that I am guilty occasionally of adding things to the list that I've already accomplished, just so that I may have the pleasure of crossing them off!  If there is anyone out there that doesn't know about GOOGLE TASKS then let this be the day you figure it out!  Google's free web based programs are very easy to use, and I find that the TASKS program is one of the most valuable.

Since it is web based "cloud" computing, no longer do you need to carry around a big TO DO LIST with you!  On Monday mornings, I set my tasks for the week, in multiple different categories.  I currently have a Buyers category, a Listings category, a Prospects category, then a personal TO DO list, a Shopping list, and a list of tasks for volunteer organizations that I am involved with.  I can access this list wherever I have an internet connection, and even on my phone while I am at the grocery store.  As I cross things off the list, it is updated everywhere.  I am able to take advantage of those fifteen minute windows between appointments in ways I never have before!

Once a task is "checked off" you have the ability to leave it visible, with a line through it, and UNCHECK it the following week.  This is terrific if you like to keep track of contacting that prospect once a week, writing a blog post a few times a week, remembering to make updates to your website weekly, etc.  Dates can be assigned to tasks, and they can show up in your Google Calendar...

Gone are the days of freaking out because you've misplaced your To-Do list.

Set up a Google Task list today, and chime in at the end of the day to let me know how many things you've accomplished.  Blog post was number seven for me today!  Good luck!

So, my blog posts have been lackluster as of late.  Partially from feeling a little beaten down about the market, partially from getting used to having our first child, and partly due to my latest project.

Many of you that follow this blog know that my primary career was as an opera singer for many years.  Last year, we were devastated to lose our beloved Baltimore Opera company.  In the "making lemonade out of lemons" department, we decided to take matters into our own hands in order to keep opera in Baltimore.  I'm thrilled to announce that not only is our company, Baltimore Concert Opera a great success, but there is also a flurry of activity out there surrounding the future of opera in Baltimore.  In fact, Baltimore Opera's old domain name was purchased at the auction (sad, I know) and has been turned into a resource for opera lovers in Baltimore.  Please visit baltimoreopera.com if you have any doubt that there are plenty of chances to hear live operatic music in Baltimore~

Now, although this takes a good bit of time, I try very hard to not let it take time away from my business.  Occasionally, it is a big challenge, as there is so much energy surrounding this project, the excitement is reminiscent of the real estate boom.  I realized very recently that there is a lot to be learned from this experience that can be translated into my business.  Rather than whine about the loss of our beloved Baltimore Opera company, we got to work...created something wonderful, and felt great along the way.  Our tumultuous environment in the real estate world certainly presents opportunities for us to re-tool, examine the way we do business, the way we ask for referrals, what we are thankful for, what used to be easy that is now hard work.  

With every performance that we present, I marvel at the work...from our volunteers, our singers, our pianist, the employees at our incredible venue.  There is a reason, after all, that opera is latin for WORK!  However, that work is appreciated by our audience, and at the end of the day, we take great satisfaction in that.

Running a business in a tricky business climate is work indeed, almost an art.  The next time that I get to the settlement table, I promise to reflect a little bit on the amount of work that went into the deal on behalf of my client.  I'll realize that I have a unique skill set that allowed this transaction to happen smoothly, or God forbid if something went wrong, I had the skills to "right the ship."  With that attitude, I don't see why my "audience" won't grow to standing room only!

If you are in the Baltimore area, and have interest in seeing opera in a very unique way, please stop by and see us. Those of you on Twitter can follow us @concertopera  We'll be melting the two worlds together next month when the Baltimore Concert Opera sponsors a networking happy hour at the Engineers Club (our phenomenal venue!).  Drop in for a drink and a song!  Here's looking forward to a great season of singing and selling!

As I mentioned in a post last week, it looks like we are getting close to getting some news on the homebuyer tax credit:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125678511901015147.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_realestate

I wonder, if this is extended only until April, as proposed, if it will really have the desired effect.  The upside is, perhaps it will help alleviate the pain of the slower winter months, if buyers have that deadline looming.

In any case, write your congressment...get this thing passed!

Good Morning All,

There is little doubt in my mind that Social Media Marketing has already become a huge part of our business, in fact most businesses.  In addition to my career in real estate, I also run a small non-profit opera company called Baltimore Concert Opera.  We rely, as we do in real estate, heavily on "word of mouth" marketing, and Twitter and Facebook have been a huge boon to building a fan base, as they have in real estate.

I find myself, however, going through vicious cycles where I become overwhelmed with all of the updating that is necessary.  Emails to our client list, updating our websites opera-houses.com, MtVernon-houses.com, as well as all of our single property sites, craigslist, Zillow, Active Rain, blogging, the list goes on...

Occasionally, I let things slip for a couple of days, or a couple of weeks, then I am overwhelmed with TOO MUCH information to blog about.

Anyone out there have advice for scheduling this sort of work, without letting it become all-consuming?  After all, I do prefer to work with real live clients, rather than cyber ones!  Any thoughts would be appreciated!

According to this report just out on CNN, it looks like we are getting pretty close to at least an extension of the First time homebuyer credit:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/33493223/

I have a lot of buyers that have scurried to get in under the November 30 deadline, and although THEY might be slightly annoyed, I personally think that extension and expansion is necessary.  There is some talk that the credit could be expanded to include all buyers, as long as it is a primary residence.  Although I think that is a long shot, it would come a whole lot closer to accomplishing the goals that the tax credit was designed to do.  It would certainly get our industry a little more active!  It would make for a pretty great time to "trade up."  Those who are in "first time homebuyer" type houses, could more easily attract buyers if the credit were extended, and they could use the credit to help with some expenses involved in "trading up."  

Compelling idea...I wish it were more likely!

For years, my business partner and I have specialized in marketing listings.  Buyers, we'd work with as a "favor" to a friend!  We prided ourselves on our "ahead of the curve" marketing techniques that would make our listings stand out.  Today, although we certainly haven't given up, it seems that the only thing that will get a house to move is the right price....fancy websites and videos can only do so much.

The silver lining to all this, is a chance to reconnect with why I got in this business to begin with.  It is quite rewarding to work with a first-time homebuyer, to guide them through the steps of buying a home, to go to bat for them in negotiations, and to help them stretch every dollar.  This is the best opportunity that we've had to make "clients for life" as long as I have been in the business.  Sellers (some!) are starting to be reasonable about pricing, and repairs, the government is rewarding first time homebuyers with $8k, there is a TON of inventory to look at (increasing the chances of really finding that dream home).  It's almost too easy!

Yes, there are some pitfalls, financing can be a little more challenging...helping buyers make a decision when there is so much inventory can be challenging, we certainly put more miles on the car...but...I wish that two years ago, I wasn't offering (even jokingly) to trade you five buyers for one seller.  This is where the personal connection is...this is what gets me out from behind the video-camera and the computer...and incidentally, in five to seven years...these are our listings!

It has been entirely too long since my last blog post.  Am I burying my head in the sand during this slow market?  It sure doesn't seem that way.  We've actually been rather busy over the last year, but I have woefully neglected this blog, and many other on-line activities.  I know too well that waiting until the phone stops ringing to devote time to my on-line marketing is a big mistake...so, here comes my new year's resolution, in OCTOBER!  I will check in on my blog once a week, if not more, and I will get back to the marketing tools that have made my business successful!