I am a student (maybe an addict) of Social Media (SM). I really don't know a thing about how it works or even what I intend to do with it.  Perhaps the goal started as a way to expand my business and let others on the internet know about the services I offer, or just to stay on top of my 13yr old as she begins to surf the net (yes I know all about her "secret" MySpace acct.), but along the way it's changed. 

In the beginning there was Active Rain (AR) where I learned the art of blogging and continue to dabble in SEO while writing more blogs and continuing the process of finding my voice and expressing my thoughts on  real estate and my locality as well as my view of the world. 

On FaceBook I am reconnecting withold friends, from college and high school, as well as expanding my relationship with some of my AR and SM friends. It has also given me a vehicle to reroute my blogs to and post articles I find to amplify a thought or open discussion among my friends.

LinkedIn provides me with a professional platform for my resume allowing me to show my expertise in business and post recommendations from former clients and colleagues.

Lately I've been trying to figure out Twitter, and I think perhaps I've become addicted!  I'm lost in the cyber babble of voices from th UK, Greece, South Africa and Canada as well as those I know locally here in the states. But this amazing group of SM users is truly just that AMAZING! 

3 Examples of the power of tweets:

1.) On Monday I had an email from a friend, who was having a problem with Priceline, which I thought was unfair. I posted a blog on Google and than blasted it on Twitter. I won't say I personally caused the reversal of Priceline's attitude with a well placed "tweet", but quite a few people called on my friends behalf.  Thank you @CoachKatrina, @JasonCrouch, @Armano and the many others who came to my aide and therefore that of my friend.  I even got a few seconds of internet fame from Dave Armano, which was just a nice bonus!

2.) Yesterday there was the US Airways crash into the Hudson and this is how groundbreaking and fast Tweets can be: http://twitpic.com/135xa

Which resulted in this type of press for JKrum unsuspecting twitterer.

    3.) Today it's an experiment in SM and the power of $1.00 By David Gandrud

So while I've not managed to create an actual business use for Twitter for myself, I've managed to learn a lot about the power of Social Media done right, and I have had my faith in humanity restored!

Tweeton! 

Cat Zwicker-Grant is the Principal Broker of Desert Sky Real Estate, LLC in Central Oregon. All Opinions and comments expressed herein are her sole property and do not reflect the opinions and thoughts of her co-brokers, family etc...

I have to apologize to Fred Chamberlain who tagged me with this task over a week ago. I've been trying to finish up some personal business and had basically taken time off from my addiction of "bloggin' in the rain", so his request was filed in my inbox! Fred I am sorry to have not addressed this sooner!  (To my Facebook friends, well maybe this is old news to you, but a "Me-Me" is generally a topic related method to learn about people in your social network, e.g., you say 5 things on topic and tag 5 friends to do the same, etc...)

 First the rules of the game....

•1.      Create a blog post with a link to the person who so happily tagged you.  See above!  List all of these rules in the post. Feel free to cut and paste this.

•2.      Share seven things that others may not know about you.  Do I or have I HAD a life outside of real estate? 

•3.       Identify seven friends, contacts or near enemies in which to adorn this MEME

•4.      Tag them at the end of the post and give a link to their blog. 

•5.      Contact each of the tagged members and let them know that you were indeed fast enough to catch them and that you did indeed tag them...no matter how much they say you missed them!  No schoolyard rules in this MEME, nope you gotta do it if you are tagged.  Sorry guys!

And now, since I won't shirk on a request from a friend, here at last because Fred asked is the latest and greatest seven things you didn't know about me...

 I hope you find out something new from this and if not perhaps it can help you sleep at night:

1.  I have a degree in Political Science with a background in International Economic Theory and a minor in Russian. (Guess I was going to be a spy when I grew up, yeah like I'd blend, I'm 6' tall!)

3. In college I worked at the University's local radio station WUOG 90.5 fm and did the morning and evening drive time news. In that capacity I actually interviewed Georg Bush before he was ever President and Al Haig. (What a political geek, yes?)

4.  As the wall came down after I graduated, my dgree was worthless, so I worked as an assistant buyer for Macy's when they had a southeastern division and spent eight years in retail. (Great bargains, long hours,YUK)

5. I would rather work in the yard than do house work. I designed and built a water feature and only contracted the electrician for the pump. Oh, and I dug it all by hand myself, which I guess makes me one determined woman when it comes to projects.   

6. I have lived in 10 different states but have moved interstate 15 different times and am extremely tired of reinventing my life so the last 8 years in Oregon have been heaven. 

7.   I seriously think I should have been a librarian, less stress and lots of books!

So here is where I break the rules. I'm not going to tag anyone. I am so late in responding this Me-Me has made it's rounds and I am fairly sure I'd have enemies and not friends if I hit them up now.  So if you read this and want to share something about yourself with me and the AR or FB crowd, post away and send me a link!

Happy 2009,

Cat Zwicker-Grant is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the state of Oregon. All content and photographs are her exclusive property and may not be reused without her express consent.

 I want a White Christmas, I love snow at Christmas....

"Give me strength oh Lord I pray, so I can shovel snow yet again today!"

I arrived early and shoveled my share,

there was no snow falling I was free from care...

But here it is only 11:00 am

and the snow is falling once again.  

The forecasters are saying 3-4 inches today,

with more snow overnight... oooh flipping hooray.

This stuff just keeps falling and it's getting piled high! 

I'm sitting in the office doing paperwork why?

I should be out tubing, or skiing I think.

At the very least a walk in the snow and a nice hot drink! 

But the City will fine me if I let the walks go, so I just will sit here and wait to shovel more snow.

If you are in Redmond, and looking for a property to buy or just some small town fun... stop on by... the comic relief is worth it and then some!

I shouldn't have to say it, but I will... the subject matter (as corny as it is) and photos are the property of the author.  Cat Zwicker-Grant. "Borrow them at your own peril."

For those of you who have been following my blog about the first "On Site" Auction in Redmond, Oregon.... here's the scoop!

After holding the home open for the two previous Saturday's from 12-4PM, Terri and I once again opened the home to prospective bidders at 2:30 on December 5th, the day of the auction. 

    Ads had been running in the local and regional papers as well as on line.  Both Terri and I had contacted our client base and invited area agents to sign up and participate.  By 4PM there were roughly 20 people at the house; by 4:30 there were 31 total with just about 20 actually bidders actually registered to participate in the process. 

    Willing bidders had to have proof of identity, a cashier's check for $2500 and the ability to show proof of funds and write a personal check for the balance of the earnest money (5%). The $2500 was redcuded from the original $5000 we had been instructed to ask for at first, but as we learned the rules of the game changed online almost daily. The winning bidder would then need to write a personal check for 5% of the accepted bid + a 5% buyer's premium. Therefore if the winning bid was $200,000 then the final sales price would be $210,000 and the bidders 5% would equal $10,500. Closing needs to occur within 30 days if this is a cash deal and 45 days for financing.

   The auctioneers and staff arrived at 4:25PM, a tad late due to problems at the previous auction.  After rushing to confirm on line registers and then register any last minute bidders they assigned bid numbers.  At 4:40PM they reviewed the auction and bid process and held a "mock auction" to show how the process would move along.  The Auctioneer again read a mile long disclaimer how houses are sold strictly as is, that there was no real estate representation on the part of the seller and that any agents involved were simply there to facilitate the access to the property, etrc.., and the hidden little gem that there was an "undisclosed reserve" for each home that the bank has authorized the auctioneer to reach for a successful offer.  Therefore, even if at final bid the bank has a 15 day right to review the bid/offer and decline it if it is not within an acceptable margin of their reserve.

    Off and running at 4:45PM and wham the first house sold (we hope) for a fraction of it's original value and only $95,000 over the opening bid price. The second home followed suit moving just as quickly and it had an accepted bid of $165,000 for a home initially on the market at $300,000. Both homes went in less than 15 minutes total! Now let's just get them to close by january 10th!

So if you're looking for help with purchasing forecolsed or auction homes in Central Oregon feel free to call!

Kat Delong....   Bless her heart as tagged me with a Christmas MeMe, if she was on Face Book I'd be throwing snowballs at her! So here are the rules:

  The Christmas MeMe Rules:                                                  

1. You have to name a gift you would like to have for Christmas.     
2. It HAS to be an object. We ALL want happiness for Christmas.
3. If you could pick one single gift out for yourself, what would it be?
4. Remember, it HAS to be something you can touch and hold.
5. THEN, name 5 people or more and send this to them to do the same.

   And here is my Christmas MeME:

Of course, I never know what I want for Christmas, you can ask my husband it frustrates the ever living bejeebers out of him. So thankfully with the shortage of funds this year he's off the hook from thinking outside the box, I'm thrilled with copier paper and ink cartridges for the office at this moment!

If I was into stuff I'd go for the 2009 911 Carrera Cabriolet, I have this cute little model on my desk to motivate me to keep up in the fast lane!

As an avid bookworm I'm sure I could list innumerable books that I couldn't live without but where is the fun in that? I think this Me-me calls for a touch of whimsy and nostalgia....

So I'd have to say given the times and the stress, I choose unconditional love and a touch of trouble in the package of a wiggly little puppy!  (Oooh drat that Cat she got the happiness thing in afterall!) 

I'd really love a puppy.  Now I can't have one mind you as I'm never home and it would die of boredom after it gnawed through my house. But my favorite Christmas memories have had dogs. I got my first dog for my birthday, I was 13 and as a December baby this was also part of my Christmas. Brandy and I spent the entire break inseparable, we even slept in the basement together that way I'd either wake up to let her out of her box when she had to go or if she she piddled it be on vinyl.  We just ended up sleeping together on a camp cot in a sleeping bag and that dog never once had an accident in the house.  I had that dog all through Jr. High and she even went to college with me! We had 15 great Christmases together!

Then there was the Christmas "Golden" I got my Dad just before he retired. Talk about man's best friend. I'd never managed to find a gift that my Dad wanted to take everywhere he went until he got K.C.

Yep, puppy kisses & nips, and tail wags! Totally impractical but it would be well loved!

Now I am tagging:

Terri Visser     Karl Peidl   Elizabeth Nieves    Jason Crouch  and   Richard Weisser

So if you just want me to explain a MeMe or you want information on property in Central Oregon here's how you find me... and Happy Holidays!

Savvy Investors this is an unbelievable opportunity at Redmond's first On Site Auction!

4156 SW Salmon Pl., in the Majestic Ridge Addition of SW Redmond, Oregon.

This 2844 square foot Custom built Home is being offered for auction through REDC (Real Estate Disposition Company) and has an opening bid of $119,000! Projected Retail value of this home is over $369,000!

Also being offered for auction at the 4156 Salmon Location is 2505  NW 12th St,  Redmond, OR  97756  

Opening bid is $69,000 and approximate value is $300,000.

HOW IT WORKS:

• To bid you must be preregistered through their website at www.ushomeauction.com.

• You may use an Oregon licensed Realtor to represent you, but that Realtor will need to register you as their client at the same site; this must occur at least 48 hours prior to the actual auction!

• Bring a $5000 certified check/funds made out to yourself

• Be prepared to write a personal check for 5% of the accepted bid price as earnest money should your bid be accepted and

• Pay a 5% "buyer's premium over the accepted bid for the costs associated with the Auction.

  JUST THE FACTS for 4156 Sw Salmon Plc.

•  3 Bedrooms
•  2 Baths
•  Open Great Room
•  HUGE Bonus/Rec. Room 
• Concrete Composite Counter Tops in Kitchen
• Walk-in Tile Shower in Master Suite
• Tandem Three Car Garage
• Covered patio
• Cascade Mountain Views

 OPEN Saturday November 29th and from 2PM until the auction is over on December 5th!

So much detail you need to come and see it to believe it!

*This property is not listed or marketed through  Desert Sky Real Estate LLC. We are gladly facilitating access to the property as a service to REDC and respective bidders.  We are of course happy to assit with any questions about how to register for the auction or to assist with representing prospective bidders throughout the auction process.

UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL

January 15th, 2009 at 6pm!

For those of us in Sunny Central Oregon there is usually more to do outside than in, and once the skies get dark earlier our play time is limited.  Here with something fun and classy to do...Club Carrera. In this second concert of their series they are offering jazz/blues guitars from local group "Smudge". Don't miss out on this great venue and if you love high end cars this is your chance to see them up close and personal.

A Club Carrera Concert Event November 13 6 pm ·   Please Join Us on Thursday, November 13 as we continue our Cars & Guitars concert series. Artists Smudge will perform light jazz amid the collector cars on the second story of the Club. $20 per person ($25 non-club member/guest) includes concert, dinner appetizers and two drink vouchers. Cash bar as well. Concert - Thursday, November 13, 6 pm @ Club Carrera RSVP to Michelle by November 11

...One Small Bite at a Time!

Got Bail....I need your help to keep me out of the SLAMMER!

UPDATE - I go to jail tomorrow....unless you want endless tweets and cyber pleas send bail now...PLEASE! 

 I am trying to Raise $1,600 for MDA

In our little community of 26,000 people this is a lot of cash to try to raise especially in these tight times.  My goal is to get at least 320 Individual $5.00 contributions. Versus the larger $50-$85 MDA suggests. Please give up the Grande Latte or Chai for one day and help me out!  

Now if you feel generous and want to give more than $5.00, please don't hold back! But together we can ensure that at  least two of Jerry's kids can get to summer camp if I meet my goal!

 So I'm being Shameless and I'm asking .....my AR friends, social network buddies, real estate peers and associates, as well as my personal friends and family members, "If you can help me out please do!"  The MDA website link below offers secure online payment options so please help me help Jerry's kids this year! I need to have my contributions in by November 19th!

REDUCE TO $770,000

Whether you feel like horsing around or just want a little extra room to roam this 16 acre hobby farm with 12 acres of irrigation may be just the place for you!

Conveniently located between Bend and Redmond and outside the Redmond Urban Growth boundary.  This parcel contains two legally permitted dwellings, with the potential to tear down one and site your dream home to take in the Cascade Mountain View!

The 1940's farm house has been refurbished and offers  

•   2 master bedrooms

• large country kitchen and dining area

•  Cozy living area with wood stove

•  Small den or 3rd bedroom  

For more information on this property go to 7463 SW Canal Blvd., Redmond, Oregon. 

WHY We Post on Active Rain...

Before some of you get angry or pull out the soap box.... I LOVE MY POINTS!  I've just noticed that there are some people who have a real addiction to them.  I guess it's part of the competitive spirit.  There will always be those of us who need to be #1, and then there will be those of us happy to just contribute and have recognition over a creative or quality post.

Active Rain has opened windows and doors to the world of Real Estate that I thought I knew. I've been able to expand my mind and learn new things as well as utilize it as another avenue to market myself and my listings through Localism and my outside blogs and alternate social network posts.  I have made friends.  I am able to post random questions and rants with a good number of responses to set me on the right path or offer up confirmation of where I was heading in a thought process. For me AR is A CYBER THINK TANK with the added benefits of friendship, peer counseling and oversight! Who knew?

What I want to know is why do you post? I am seeing a diversity of character and content (all of which I am learning a lot from); so maybe it's just my inner anthropologist, but what has Active Rain brought to you and what do you get from posting your thoughts and information on it?

Maybe I can blame this on Sally "Woo Hoo" Cheesman,  who made us stop and think about "Why We Love Our Profession" over the last few weeks...Partially because many of us spoke about the friendships and information here on AR that added to our love of our profession and maybe I'm just nosy....

So, now I want to know, what it is about Active Rain that keeps you coming back for more?