Mineral Wells is the Place to Be

My Daughter Does Not Like You...

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:09:59 -0700

This was the statement I was greeted with when I got over to my seller's home yesterday to deliver a copy of the executed contract on her home. I thought to myself, have I met her daughter...have I somehow said or done something that could upset her that she wouldn't like me? All I did was sell her mom's house in about a week...and that was the problem! Because we went under contract so quickly, she wasn't going to be able to go visit and do her laundry and spend as much time with her mother.

In reality, she likes me just fine. They were laughing about it a few minutes later, after the seller introduced me to her. They really couldn't believe that the house went into contract so fast. But, as I explained to them both...the home was in a very desirable location, in immaculate and excellent condition and priced right! These three things assured a fast sale.

This is when I really love real estate. When my sellers are excited to sell, motivated and willing to take suggestions about what can help sell the house quicker to heart. I hope they enjoy the new place they are going to, but I am glad they gave me the opportunity to sell their home.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Mineral Wells TX Snapshot Residential Market Report for Week of 9/12/2011

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:37:28 -0700

This week I am providing a snapshot of residential real estate activity for our entire Palo Pinto County. This will give you an idea of what has happened in our market for the week beginning 9/12/2011 and ending 9/19/2011.

Currently at $84,900

Palo Pinto County has 378 active residential listings. Prices range as low as $4900.00 for a time share condominium to as high as $32,900,000.00 for a 3,290 acre ranch with four residences. The average days on market is 232 for these properties. The lowest day being 1 and the highest days being 1,525.

During the week we had 2 properties sell. One being in Possum Kingdom Lake and another in Mineral Wells. Prices were $14,200.00 and $165,000.00 respectively, with the average days on market at 100.

Currently we have 5 properties pending. These range from $33,500.00 up to $369,900.00. Only one of the propertes is a foreclosure at $48,900.00. The average days on market: 180

Total foreclosures for the county: 18
Prices range from: $22,500.00 to $695,000.00
Average Days on Market: 221

For properties with a contract that has some type of condition before it can go pending, we have 7. Prices range from $84,900 $135,000.00
up to $230,000.00. There are no foreclosures in this category.
The average day a home spent on the market: 218

As you can see, our rural county has had a busy week in real estate. If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Right Around the Corner...the annual Crazy Water Festival in Mineral Wells

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:33:19 -0700

It's hard to believe that almost a year has passed and it's time for the Crazy Water Festival already! This year we have changed things a little so that we will be having activities on Friday and Saturday. If you are looking for a fun and lively event, then this will definitely be a great time for you, your family and friends!

Early morning, children's area

Friday evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. we will have the car-cruise and car show. Live Music, wine and art will be available and on display. Evening winds up about 8:30 p.m.

Saturday the festival itself begins!

Main Stage Area - Live Music All Day Featuring:

Steve Poltz
Salim Nourallah
Carrie Elkin
Stan Crawford
CrazyWater
Joshua Ingram & American Combo
Jimmy Baldwin and Vaqueros Electronicos
Coe Boys
Adam Hull
Doug and Jill Bryan
Christa Russell

Throughout the day we will have the Crazy Water Dunking Booth, a 5k trail run, Crazy Beer, Rahr's Crazy Beer, the Crazy Cyclocross and much more! Come taste some of the Crazy Beer in the Crazy Beer Garden behind the Famous Water Company, visit more that 75 vendors and just have a wild and crazy day!

Also note that if you would like to become involved with the festival, we would love to have you as a volunteer. It's a great way to get know your community and neighbors. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me via e-mail or phone and I'll let you know what areas we still have available. (You can e-mail me through ActiveRain.)

Chalk art from last year

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT....GREAT FOOD....GREAT FUN!!!!!!

October 7th - 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Little Rock Schoolhouse

October 8th - 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Famous Water Pavillion Area.

You can also visit www.crazywaterfestival.org for more information.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Residential Real Estate Market Snapshot for Mineral Wells, TX

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:54:20 -0700

Real Estate in Mineral Wells is a little unpredictable right now, as it is in many places. This is only a snapshot report for our residential properties in Mineral Wells only. It does not include outlying county areas.

Lowest priced active listing at: $22,000

Currently, we have 126 active listings ranging in price from $22,000 to $32,900,000.00. The highest priced being 3,290 acres of land.

116 active lisings - currently for sale (10 of these are foreclosures) $22,000 to $32,900,000

6 active contingent - which means that there is a contract, but there is some type of condition that has to be met in order for the buyer to purchase the home (such as getting financing.) $84,900 to $159,900

4 pending - waiting to go to closing (2 of these are foreclosures) $34,900 to $175,000

The average days on the market have been 174, with the shortest period of time being 6 days and the longest 922 days.

Lowest price sold for past 30 days

Within the past 30 days, we have had 11 residential properties sell, ranging in price from $33,500 to $385,000.

6 were sold for under $100,000
4 were sold for under $200,000
1 sold for under $400,000

The average days on market for a sold listing were 120. The shortest being 3 days and the longest at 286 days.

Two of these sold properties were foreclosures.

As you can see, we have a very diverse selection of homes and property for sale in Mineral Wells. If you would like more information on our area, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

For Sale in Mineral Wells TX Single Family Detached Brick Home

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:11:18 -0700

2811 Michael Lane

When I got to the house for our listing appointment, the owner was outside picking up around the house. As I walked up to the front door, he greeted me and said that we could go in and see if we could find Mrs. Clean...(his wife) and that he knew she was in there somewhere cleaning. He said that she is always cleaning!

As you know, people have different views of what clean means. I have been in homes where clean means that things are picked up off the floor, but not necessarily put away. I have seen homes where clean means you can find a place to sit down. I have seen a few homes where clean means CLEAN. This is one of those homes; immaculate would be the word.

Freshly painted on the inside and outside. Carpet looks brand new, although it was installed in 2001. If he had asked me to guess the age of the carpet, I would have said less than a year. Boy was I way off! This home has 2 living areas, 2 dining areas, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, separate laundry room and a two car garage. The bonus is the enclosed sunroom off of the family room and a place to park your RV.

If you are interested in looking at this gracious and CLEAN home, please contact me and we will set up an appointment. It's not very often you can find such a great home and I am so happy that I have the opportunity to sell it!

Listed with United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

To Have an Open House or Not to Have an Open House....I Have the Answer

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:16:27 -0700

and it is pretty simple. Know your market, your area and experiment! As we all know, real estate is local. What works well in one area does not work as well in another. Some people love open houses, others not so much. There have seen so many mixed reviews and articles and thoughts about open houses, I decided to determine the answer for myself (which is what I would suggest anyone do.)

I have a nice property located on the main street that is the North/South route into and out of Mineral Wells. The home has been renovated, has updated appliances, updated wiring, plumbing, everything and is zone commercial and residential. The location is excellent for a small office but has parking for residential off the main road and a side road. Perfect opportunity for me to have an open house as countless people will be driving by day in and day out and will be able to see the banner announcing when it will be and at what time. Truly, I expected to see several couples or interested parties come through based on this fact alone. But, we advertised and let people know.

The day of the open house arrives, I get there a little early and pop my cookies in the oven to cook, turn on all the lights and turn up the heat a bit since it had been very cold the previous night and there was quite a chill in the home. As I walked through opening blinds and closet doors for people to peek into, I made sure there wasn't anything that needed to be picked up or straightened. The home looked ready to go and I went into the dining room to decorate the table for refreshments. A Spring platter was put out with a bright and happy tablecloth and I was all ready! The place looked great and I couldn't wait to show people the built in cabinets and huge kitchen, the crown moldings, etc.

An hour into the open house and my broker pops by to see if I need anything or need any help. Nope, I said, all is quiet. I haven't had anyone come by yet. She stayed for a little bit, but then had errands to run and left. I had brought some work with me, so I had things to do while I waited...and waited...and waited. A couple of hours go by...still no one...funny thing runs through my mind...I remember my sellers telling me that when they had had the home for sale as FSBO, they had open houses quite often and didn't even advertise and would get "tons" of people in and out during their open house...hmmmm.

It's the last hour and still no one. I had a couple of clients to contact, so I made some phone calls, worked on my newsletter for next month some more and low and behold, saw some people walking up to the front door. The two ladies pop their head in and ask if they could just walk through and look. They lived next door and knew the owners and wanted to see if the house looked the same. Sure I said, take a few cookies as well!

In the end, it wasn't a waste of my time as I was able to get some work done, but it also confirmed what I had felt in the beginning...Mineral Wells typically does not have a high success rate for showings at open houses. I try to go to any open house I see, whether it be for one of our listings or another real estate office. Most often, the response that I receive when I go is that I've been the only one to show up or maybe one or two others have come by. But, in the best interest of my sellers, they really thought it would be a good idea.

So, if the question is in your head...Should I have an open house? Visit a few open houses in your area first. Try to determine if you feel it has been a success or if you think that people really don't have an interest and talk it over with your sellers. Some care, some don't. But, the true test is experiment. If it works out and you have a good turnout, all the better. If it turns out that it wasn't the best use of your time, well you now know and will be able to educate your sellers the next time one mentions that he/she would think it would be an excellent idea. Your experimentation and expertise is what is going to help get the house sold and the better you know your market and what people like and don't like, the more success you should have in selling your properties.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Have You Ever Thought About Living on Top of Hog Mountain?

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:47:51 -0800

Are you looking for a home with tons of storage space? Built in the mid 80's, this large 2 bedroom, brick home has what you need. Concrete slab gives you a good solid foundation. As you walk around the home, you will notice that you do not see any cracks. Inside storage areas abound. Both bedrooms have wall to wall closets and there are three closets in the 2nd living room that have so much room available that you will run out of things to store before you run out of space. With 2 living areas and an eat-in kitchen you have plenty of living space. Outside is a large patio, partially covered, for entertaining. Recently built garage and workshop adds even more room for storage. If you have animals, there is a large dog pen next to the workshop. Trees and wildlife are in abundance.

If you are interested in seeing this property, please call today and let's set up an appointment...I know you won't be disappointed.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

2.37 Acres in Mineral Wells, Texas Includes a 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Home

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:19:40 -0800

This 2.37 acre heavily treed lot has a lovely gazebo ready for relaxing and enjoying the birds and wildlife. There is a second mobile home on the property that is currently used as a storage building and does have electricity but no plumbing.

The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with each bedroom having a walk-in closet. The mobile home was manufactured in 1999 and has 1344 square feet. Take a tour of the home and if you are interested in seeing the property, give me a call and we will set up an appointment.

Carolyn Shipp, Realtor

United Country Cason Real Estate http://www.carolynshippsellsrealestate.com

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Escape and Build Your Dream in Runaway Bay, Texas

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:55:27 -0800

Life occasionally gets rather hectic and there are times when we all just want to take a moment and escape. We want fresh air, playgrounds, pools, golfing and more. We want to wake up relaxed and feel energized for the day! Take a chance and find it when you move to Runaway Bay.

This property is Lot 6 on Port O'Call Drive in Runaway Bay, Texas. The lot is approximately 1.8+ acres and has an abundance of trees. Located in a resort/recreational community, you have access to an 18 hole PGA golfcourse and are in walking distance to a public pool and playground.

Priced below the assessed tax value at $21,500.00, the land is located in Wise County, just minutes from the city of Bridgeport and about 45 minutes northwest of Ft. Worth, Texas.

Runaway Bay offers its' residents many activities to choose from: fishing, boating and golfing to name a few. If you own a boat, there are 8 marinas with 148 slips and if you own an RV, there is a facility to store your "mobile" home.

With an 18 hole PGA golfcourse, walking trails, playgrounds and more, this property is your chance to acquire a great lot to build and begin your life of fun and leisure.

To see this property, have your agent contact me or our office to set up an appointment.

**City sewer and water are available

Listing Agent: Carolyn D. Shipp, Realtor
United Country Cason Real Estate
Price: $21,500.00
(940) 445-0006
http://www.carolynshippsellsrealestate.com

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Last Week in Real Estate: Palo Pinto County

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:44:24 -0800

There was a fair amount of activity last week in Palo Pinto County real estate. We had a few sales, put some properties into pending status and have many that are active.

Currently we have 834 active listings in our county. These listings include land, commercial, residential and multi-family properties. Prices range from $5,000 all the way up and through the $1,000,000.00 price point.

3 properties sold during the past week (11/9/09 - 11/15/09).

(1)   2 bedroom, 1 bath brick home that sold for $65,000.00. (Mineral Wells)
(1)   21 1/2 acre tract of land that sold for $75,900.00 (Graford)
(1)   3 bedroom, 1 bath home that sold for $159,000.00 (Possum Kingdom Lake)

5 properties were pending through 11/15/09.

(1)   3 bedroom, 1 bath bank owned home listed for $19,900.00, (Gordon)
(1)   3/4 acre lot listed for $54,000.00. (Possum Kingdom Lake)
(1)   2 bedroom, 2 bath home listed for $59,500.00. (Mineral Wells)
(1)   3 bedroom, 1 bath home listed for $65,000.00. (Mineral Wells)
(1)   1 10 acre tract of land listed for $100,000.00. (Mineral Wells)

Unfortunately, 18 properties expired. These people may renew with their agents, go with another agent or opt to keep their properties off the market for a period of time.

Normally, November through February are fairly slow for the real estate market in Palo Pinto County. We will be keeping an eye on things to find out if the home-buyers credit will make a difference here.

**All information was obtained through our local multiple listing service.**

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Mineral Wells, Texas Market Update Through 10/30/2009

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:02:07 -0700

Below is a market update for Mineral Wells, Texas through 10/30/2009. The numbers provided were obtained using the North Texas Real Estate Information System. This update is for the Mineral Wells area only, no other cities in Palo Pinto County are included.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

My Sellers are Amazing!

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:16:19 -0700

Every once in a while you run across people who are truly kind. I have been lucky enough to be a listing agent for a couple who fit this description.

This weekend an agent in my office explained that she had some clients that were in need of a home, but she hadn't been able to find them anything that would be acceptable except for one of my listings, but it was priced much higher than her clients could afford. They had been pre-approved for a home of $65,000 and would my seller accept an offer on the home for that amount.

I wasn't sure they would go for it, but I talked with my sellers. At first they didn't know if they could accept it because the mortgage is higher than the offer amount. I explained that the buyers had been looking for some time and that the wife was having to buy the house herself and $65,000 was all she could qualify for. I also told him that the husband is a disabled veteran getting ready to be discharged from the VA hospital. That information made all of the difference. It went from let us think about it to let's see if we can make it happen.

After a couple of days of phone calls and re-arranging some financing, my sellers called me and said that everything was in place and they would sell the house for the $65,000.00. This was amazing to me. They are going to have to bring quite a bit of cash to closing. I've never had a seller who was willing to take a loss to help someone (a complete stranger no less) out. The contract has been signed and we are scheduled to close in a couple of weeks.

The buyers are very, very happy and feel so lucky. The house they are getting has been remodeled and could have sold for a much higher sales price, but my sellers felt that it would be best to help a fellow veteran get into a home. It's not very often that I run into people who are so generous and giving and I believe that they will be rewarded greatly in the future for what they are doing now for these buyers.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

I was Determined to Find Her Home Today!

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:15:18 -0700

I had seen her running down my street Monday and tried to coax her over to me. When I called out to her, she stopped a moment, looked at me and then took off running again. That moment when she stopped I could see that she had a collar on, but she left and I really didn't think anything more for the rest of the day.

Tuesday I looked for her when I was out and about working and running errands, but I didn't see her. I hoped she was all right.

Today, I was on my way home and saw her run across the street. This time I was bound and determined that I was going to get her to come to me so that I could at least check her collar and see if there was a phone number or name of contact.

I pulled the car off the side of the road and got out. I leaned against the side of the car and just started talking to her. She stopped running and looked at me. It looked like she was trying to decide whether or not to trust me. While I talked to her and she decided if I was trustworthy, she ran in circles around me. I continued to talk to her and eventually she came over and sniffed my hand. Then she ran again...I called out to her again and she came back.

I moved away from the car and knelt down on the grass and kept talking. She came over close enough for me to see her rabies tag. I was at least able to get the vet's name...it was my vet, so I called and explained that I was trying to find this pretty little dog's home. Luckily they had her information and called the owner's to let them know I had found their dog. As it turned out, they had given this dog to another person, but realized that this new person was not taking care of the dog. (While waiting for a phone call from the owner, I had called a friend to bring me a leash, and she had let me put the leash on her.) When the previous owner contacted me, she told me that when she called the new owner, he did not even know the dog was missing and did not seem to care. Anyway, she said she would come out and get the dog because she did not want her picked up and taken to the pound. She said that she was going to just keep the dog and not let the new owner have her back.

It was good to know that this woman was going to keep the dog. I found out that the dog's name was Kimber and so we walked to my house to wait for her old owner to come pick her up. While we were walking down the street, I kept talking to her. She was scared and looked thirsty and hungry and I thought that while we waited for her ride, I could give her some water and maybe a little to eat. But, when we got to my house, she was still to scared and nervous. She sniffed at everything, but really wasn't interested. Kimber was quiet and very sweet and I thought to myself, how sad that the new owner didn't seem to want her anymore.

Kimber's new (old) owner came and got her. I could tell that Kimber was very excited to see her previous owner. Her whole demeanor changed. Her tail started to wag and she looked happy (or as happy as a dog can look.) I helped get Kimber into the car and as I walked onto my porch I watched a happy owner and her dog celebrate. The owner hugged Kimber and pet her for several minutes before they left. It was a relief knowing that Kimber would be safe and sound tonight with food and water and a loving home.

I walked back to my car and headed for the office. I was happy and hoped that Kimber would be happy forever back at her old home.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Market Update for Strawn, Texas, Week Ending 10/10/2009

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:45:22 -0700

Here is the market update for Strawn, Texas for the week ending 10/10/2009. This information was collected using the Greater Metro West Association of Realtors MLS.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Market Update for Mineral Wells Homes for Sale for Week Ending 10/10/2009

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:21:05 -0700

Here is the market update for week ending 10/10/2009 for the city of Mineral Wells. The information provided does not include commercial data or any other cities within Palo Pinto County. All data was collected via the Greater Metro West Association of Realtors MLS.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Finally back to "Profit from Real Estate Right Now!"

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:45:39 -0700

After having some busy weeks of listing properties, I've had a bit of a slow down and have started back to the book. Chapter 8 deals with getting a deal finalized and making some money. He basically wants to give his readers a recipe for making deals and making money. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and because of the market and everything that is happening with the government and the economy a lot of what is discussed in this book can't be done by an "average" person. And I have not read one success story that supports the proposition of buying a home with no money down.

Ok, on with the information from the chapter. Basically, what he is stating here is once you have found a great deal, it is now time to decide on whether you are going to purchase and keep the home as an investment property or assign the contract over to someone to buy. Which means that you would need to have a buyer who can qualify for a loan or has enough cash to purchase outright. He believes he can teach you how to find buyers and have them knocking your door down to have you find them the best deals in town. Then you can assign the contract over to the buyer for the equity in the home.

What he is saying here is that you find a home that you would like to purchase. Then you approach the seller and work out a deal to purchase it, giving the seller a 30 day or longer contract. This would allow you time to market and sell the home via assignment of contract. So, in essence you are acting like a real estate agent without a license. You are going to be marketing the home to find someone who wants to buy it from you essentially. What you are trying to do is sell the equity in the home. You offer to purchase the home for x amount of dollars. You find a buyer willing to pay that and when the home closes the buyer pays you the equity out of the deal. How is this good for the buyer? Not sure about that yet. What good is it for him/her if he is paying for the home but not getting any equity out of it?

Again you are using an automated system to drive buyers and sellers to you. He gives you lists of the paperwork that is going to be needed in order to get the contract to closing. He also gives you information about purchase agreements, seller's disclosures and more. He tells you step by step what you will need to do to get this deal to closing. My advice on all of this...see an attorney and find out if all of this would be legal where you live. I will say in this chapter it appears that both success stories were able to purchase homes with no money down. Both women found buyers or a seller willing to owner finance with nothing down. It is quite rare to find a seller who is willing to finance with nothing down though. Every seller I deal with would like a minimum of 10% or more to finance and they want to check credit. Again, some of these stories seem a little incredulous.

The next chapter deals with driving buyers to you in order to make your deal work. I've got to get to writing a description for one of my listings, so I'll read that chapter later and be back to let you know what it is about.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

You Don't Do Anything So Why Couldn't You Get it Done?

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:07:08 -0700

Have you ever had someone say this to you in the course of the day, week, etc.? It amazes me when people say that to me because they say this without even being around me during the day. Because I don't have a "normal" 9 to 5 job, I don't "work." I can schedule my own day, so I should be able to get any and everything done in the course of the hours I am awake. No, I'm not a top producing agent, but I am on schedule for my goal of having one new listing per month for the year and my broker sees that my efforts are paying off. Several of my goals have been met this year and although they aren't tangible, they've been obtained.

Granted, I may not be the busiest person in the world making millions of dollars, but I care about the people who are around me and I do my very best to make sure that family, friends and clients are well taken care of.

Take the last couple of days. I've been really working hard on trying to get some marketing materials together for a home I listed and would like to sell quickly for my sellers. I've put together flyers, a book and door bags to pass out for my 10-5-5 advertising of the home. I've also worked on sending out information to people who have expired listings as I mainly work with sellers and a majority of my listings come from the contact I have from expireds. I also send a newsletter out about things that are happening around Mineral Wells and our market. I walked around the neighborhood of one of my listings today passing out information about the home in case anyone wished to pass along the information or knew of anyone who might be interested in purchasing the home.

But, I also have gone and had lunch with my kids at school. They are in 4th and 6th grades and I really believe it is important that they feel my presence and know that I am interested in what is going on in their lives. I want them to know how much I care and want good things for them. It's great to see the smiles on their faces when they are walking down the hall to lunch and they see me waiting to go in and eat with them (I always try and do this as a surprise!) I think it is wonderful when their teachers call me and say how pleased they are that the kids are in their class. When I was eating lunch with my daughter today, her teacher saw me and came over to let me know how much she enjoyed having her in class. This made both of us feel good, but I could tell it really made my daughter feel pleased that her teacher liked her so much.

I also try to volunteer a couple of times a month for deliveries for Meals on Wheels and try and get to events that the Chamber of Commerce has for businesses around town. Tonight we had one for a mortgage company that we recommend to many of our clients. It was fun and although I couldn't stay for the whole event, I was able to visit and let them know that I value them as people I work with.

Once I get home, I'm there working on my real estate still as my cell phone keeps me in touch with my sellers and my office. But, I'm also helping with homework and as I've been gone for the day it is time to work on the house. Laundry, getting things picked up, cleaning, paying bills, taking care of the kids and animals. Sometimes I don't get things done. There are times when I am very tired and decide that I need to take a moment and rest. But, many times I know I need to just keep going. Oh, and did I mention that I'm a single mom doing this on my own?

So, although it may appear to others that "you don't do anything all day" just remember that there are those of us out there that know you are very busy and are doing things that are important to you as a person, mother, wife and friend.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

"Identifying a Killer Deal", Chapter 7

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:44:26 -0700

I am further along in the book Profit from Real Estate Right Now! than Chapter 7, but I haven't been able to blog about it for a little while as I've been having fun selling and listing real estate! But, as I have some time this afternoon, it's raining here so no one is out and about looking today, I thought I would try and get back up to speed on this.

Chapter 7: "Identifying a Killer Deal" is a long chapter. Basically he talks about the different types of sellers that are out in the real estate world, such as Divorced Couples, Foreclosure, Disability, Job Losses, For Sale by Owners and more. In summary, sellers who are in dire need of getting rid of property and who are very motivated to make it happen. As with his other scripts for finding the right people, he has a pre-screening script for a recorded voice mail that will answer a lot of peoples questions regarding what you can or cannot do for them. It is also a way to find out if someone is a motivated seller because of the type of information he provides. At the end of the recording a seller is invited to leave information so that you can get in contact with him or her.

He also talks about how to determine the fair market value of a property, like using sites such as Zillow which will give a preliminary value of a property based on it's address. The problem is that sites that do this are general in information and can give either an increased or decreased value because it cannot give you particulars with regard to neighborhoods and how different they can be regarding sales activity. He also gives advice about looking at the property, possibly getting an inspection of the property and how to make your offer. It's not bad advice, but again, you have to be careful because if you are doing this on your own, without any type of representation, whether it be through an agent or attorney, you could run into trouble down the road. As with anything, make sure you do your due diligence.

Again, he has supplied you with a success story, again with Matt, his favorite student it appears. But as with all the other success stories, I still feel that this isn't truly about what the bottom line is...how to do all of this without using any money down. Based on what I have read so far, the people who have told their success stories have been able to get small bank loans. In this economy, there are a lot of people who can no longer do this and these are people with excellent credit scores. Banks and mortgage companies are tightening up so much right now.

The success story in this chapter also deals with someone who was able to take out a loan to purchase a duplex to get started. I'm still waiting on reading about the miracle of doing all of this with no money down, not needing good credit, etc...and pulling yourself up from destitution to wealth in a matter of just weeks as this book keep reiterating, but not showing.

Chapter 8 deals with getting a deal finalized and how to make some money, so I will follow up shortly with that. As far as I have gotten, I'm not seeing the success here. He doesn't have bad information, but he keeps telling people to get enrolled with his Real Estate Success Academy. Overall, I am halfway through the book, but not seeing anything to overly impress me yet.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Another Day Over 100 and "The Perfect Real Estate Agent = Huge Profits

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:14:47 -0700

It's another day over 100 here and that makes everyone want to stay inside. No one wanting to venture out and see any properties, so I am reading Chapter 6 of Profit from Real Estate Right Now by Dean Graziosi.

I am on Chapter 6 and we are following a step by step plan to get people to become successful real estate investors. He keeps on telling you in the book that you will be able to do this with no money down. So far I have not read anything that will support this claim, but as I'm only to chapter 6, we have a way to go yet.

He basically states in this chapter that in slow markets real estate agents are usually struggling and that having you as the real estate investor will be eager to help you out in order to get some deals done...and possibly at a cut in commission, just to get some income...hmmmm. He goes on to talk about the best way to find the real estate agent that will be right for you and how you will benefit by working with him or her. Using an agent, so to speak, in order to gain the most profit with the least amount of work on your side as the investor.

It seems that the best way to obtain a good agent is to ask around. Websites and phone books are a waste as you are as likely to get an agent that is an idiot as an agent that is the best in the area. He also recommends real estate investment clubs for referrals. Once you have located a couple that you feel might help you out, interview them and make sure they will be willing to do the work you will need performed. You want an agent who will not be afraid of making tons of low offers and one that will be willing to offend other agents by your low offers. But, even with this strategy, the book still states that you and your agent will make a lot of money over the course of the next year, including purchasing up to 100 properties with this method...closing deals every month. Just remember that the only way an agent makes any money is when the closing takes place. If you are going to be investing, you will need to have your plan in place with an agent who will agree to help you with your plan. If after a certain amount of time, no deals have taken place or the agent feels that you are not serious (you have not written any contracts, or the ones you have written never are accepted), you have a greater chance of the agent moving on. And of course, you could not blame him or her as this is their income and they have to feed their families and pay their bills, which can't be done if no deals are closing.

At the end of the chapter, it's very short, he stresses that you will be able to do this without putting any money down...I'm still waiting to see how that will be done. This chapter is not one that makes me feel like there is substantial information to be provided. The success story at the end of this chapter does not sound right either. There is a lot to the story that has been left out. Supposedly the gentleman was able to purchase a $410,000 home with nothing down, even though he was in debt to $80,000 and considering bankruptcy. It never states how he was able to get the loan to purchase the home from the bank. Only that he got a loan for $460,000, bought the house and then another right after that...too many questions for me that are left unanswered. Especially about how he got his financing. Well, we'll see how the next chapter goes.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Tax Liens, Foreclosure, Divorce, Probate Properties

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:56:39 -0700

As I said in my last blog, I haven't been able to get on and write a post in a few days, so I'm a little behind. It's a good reason...I've been having to write up contracts...but as you are probably aware, that doesn't hurt my feelings at all! I'm very happy that we are seeing real estate start to move again. Our area has been lucky that we haven't had the horrible hit that many other parts of the country have gotten, but we have been slow. So, below is a summary of Chapter 5:

"Finding Profitable Deals the Old Fashioned Way"

This chapter is mainly detailing the different ways to find out if people are in a position that they "must" sell. He touches base on foreclosure, short sale, REO, Probate properties, seized properties, tax sales and more. He talks about visiting the courthouse, reading newspaper classifieds, searching the Internet, calling banks and using real estate agents.

As he goes through all of this information, he does provide links to visit particular websites in order to obtain knowledge about various sales and auctions. Everything is detailed as to explanations, definitions of what particular words mean and how things work. If you know nothing about real estate terminology, this chapter will give you some very good definitions and you should come away with a clear understanding of how to find your sellers.

He gives you a summary at the end of the chapter along with his "action steps" for you. The requisite success story is included. I'm not quite halfway through the book. So far, I haven't found anything that would deter me from continuing on. I'm still quite interested in how he is going to tie all of this up with "no money down" because as we all know, things are not as easy as they used to be in purchasing a home, especially if it is an investment property. There are so many rules now in how long you have to keep a property to be able to get a certain profit and FHA is discouraging "flipping." Therefore, I am reading on.

Look for a post for Chapter 6 - "The Perfect Real Estate Agent = Huge Profits" shortly.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

No, I haven't forgotten...Here is Chapter 4

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:32:28 -0700

"Using Automation to Cash Big Checks"

Okay, I am really on Chapter 6, but I haven't been able to get onto ActiveRain to let you know how chapters 4 and 5 were. So, here it goes:

Chapter 4 started to get into the step by step basics of what Mr. Graziosi feels is the best way to get into the marketing and advertising of how to get people to start contacting you as the investor. Obviously, the best way is through word of mouth, but everyone needs more than that when he/she is first getting started. He explains in detail how to set up a recorded message that will weed out people who are not serious about selling their property.

He calls it the "24-Hour Sift, Sort and Screen, 'No Money Down' Deal-Finding Machine." By recording a very detailed message about what it is that you do and how you are going to be able to help the family or individual calling, he feels that you will get clients that are truly motivated to sell. He provides the reader with one specific message about foreclosure, but also states that he has many more that you can access and use verbatim for your success. You can find these scripts throughout the book and he has them available online.

He does strive for "out of the box" marketing strategies and ways to get the message out to people in the least expensive way possible. As with the other chapters, he does give you a couple of success stories and examples of how this has been successful for people who have become "students" of his.

So far, I am still reading...I do think that some of the information he is giving is good, although there are some things that I know don't always work just from seeing it happen to others. But as always, what works for one person does not always work for another. One of the keys to success is always pursuing your goals and that is something that he stresses as well.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Today is Chapter 3....Good Beginning First Steps

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:30:14 -0700

Chapter 3 of Profit from Real Estate Right Now! is about how to get the great deals to come to you. Meaning that people will seek you out to buy their homes at severely discounted prices, possibly up to 60% less than the fair market value.

Your action is to advertise to people that you want to purchase their properties. You will be placing compelling ads to get people to contact you through whatever method you prefer. Phone calls, e-mails, etc. Mr. Graziosi puts together some basic instructions on what is important in an ad as well as trigger words that will make someone want to call you and ask for more information. He is quite detailed as to different avenues to take in order to get your advertising out to the public.

Basically the concept is that you will put out the advertising (direct response marketing) that you want to purchase homes, quickly, and people will respond by calling a number with a pre-recorded message. There are many examples of different types of advertising to use, such as signs, flyers, classified ads, the Internet and much more.

As with each previous chapter, you are given some action steps to take in order to start things rolling and there are a couple of success stories to read. He is specific about the things you need to do and so far the information given is not unheard of or even difficult. Although there are a few things that are free, there are a couple of avenues that he provides that will cost you money. So you will need to determine for yourself what type of budget you have and what will be best for you.

This chapter was more informative about what you need to do in order to get started. Not bad information and nothing that hasn't been promoted before by other real estate investors looking to purchase properties. This is promising as we seem to be moving away from the motivational speaking and on to the "how to take action and start" process.

If you are wondering why I am reading this book, being a real estate agent and all, I love to know what other people do in order to purchase and sell real estate outside of the box. It never hurts to see what is happening and sometimes you stumble on to some great information that otherwise you never would have had. It's about education and learning what happens in all aspects of real estate...some things I will agree with and others I will stay far, far away from, but I will put that knowledge to work!

Chapter 4 is titled: Using Automation to Cash Big Checks

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

I Couldn't Wait to Get Started!

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:13:40 -0700

In my last blog, I stated that I had finally received the book Profit From Real Estate Right Now! by Dean Graziosi. I've been waiting for a while for the book, so I thought I'd dive right in this morning and see how the first couple of chapters would read. Unfortunately, I'm not so impressed right now. I've read the Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2. So far it is reading as I thought. A lot of motivational speaking about how he is going to help you get out of debt or create more wealth just by reading and following his guidelines. Each chapter has a success story from one of his "students." He promises that even if you have no money, no job and no credit, you will still be able to become a real estate millionaire. By following his "simple steps" you will be able to buy and sell real estate with ease, if you are willing to put forth the effort to start.

He has made a lot of promises about what you will get out of his book, but so far that is all. The first chapter is called "Yes, You Can Cash In On Real Estate Now", but again I just read a lot of motivational talk and a "success" story about one of his students who is now a millionaire from real estate...but nothing really concrete about how this student got there...just that he did.

Chapter 2 is called "How to Profit from a Down Market." A bit of an explanation of how the real estate market ended up in the situation that it is in now and how real estate is cyclical. But, I read a lot of redundancy from the Introduction and Chapter 1 in this chapter. At the end was another success story shared by another student of Mr. Graziosi's.

I'm going to take a peek at Chapter 3 and see if it is a must read right now or if it much of the same, I'll wait. The name of the upcoming chapter is: "Make the Great Deals Come to You."

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Ahhh....Another Infomercial on How to Buy or Sell Real Estate

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:09:41 -0700

It's late at night and I wake up to another informercial on how to profit in today's real estate market. I had fallen asleep with the t.v. on and I guess the noise woke me up or maybe it was the guy talking about how everyone can be a real estate millionaire if we just follow his recipe. As I lay there listening to this guy talk, I thought about how I see all these books, programs and seminars and think do these people really make the money from real estate or just from preaching their product? So, I decided to do a little research about this particular person and see what I could find.

I found quite a few reviews about the books this gentleman has written and for the most part positive information about his products. So, I thought, why not buy the book and see what it says and if there is any value in the words...you never know until you investigate. On one of the reviews I was reading, the reviewer had posted a link that if you ordered the book right away, you would get a refund of the book less shipping and handling. So, why not...only pay shipping and handling for the book. Sounds good to me.

So, I order the book, fill out the form for the refund and wait....

In a week the money has been refunded to me. This is looking pretty good so far. Now, I wonder how fast I will get the book since I received the refund so fast. I wait again. A couple of weeks go by...no book. Another couple of weeks, no book. It's been over a month and still no book. I'm wondering if the book is ever really going to come. I received an e-mail when I ordered the book stating that it was being processed and would ship quickly. Hmmmm, what is their meaning to quickly? Another couple of weeks and still nothing. It's been almost two months now. I wonder if it got lost in the mail. I send an e-mail inquiring as to where the book may have been delivered too. I didn't get a response to my e-mail. Not a good thing. No book, no response. I'm starting to wonder if this guy just makes his money on shipping and handling nothing.

Well, lo and behold, another two weeks passes and the book finally hits my doorstep. So, now I am going to finally get to read this masterpiece recipe to real estate success. I'll let you know how it reads. Will it be a lot of hype and motivational stories or will there be good information and substance. I hope for the latter. As a real estate agent it always amazes me as to how much misinformation is provided to the public. I'll read a few chapters and hope to be able to report good reviews for this book. By the way, it is called Profit From Real Estate Right Now! by Dean Graziosi.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006

Two Excellent Places for Outdoor Fun in Mineral Wells

Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate (Source 1 Real Estate) — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:05:25 -0700

What do you like to do when you have time for fun? Mineral Wells offers two excellent places to go for adults, children and families. Dallas and Fort Worth aren't very far away, so there are a lot of cultural events to attend, but if you are looking for some fun in the sun or things to do where you will not need to travel, stay in Mineral Wells.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park: If you like nature and outdoor activities and events, this is the place for you! Lake Mineral Wells State Park offers family as well as individual things to do. Whether you would like to take a hike or ride your horse or rock climb, you'll be able to do it at our park. Lake Mineral Wells is budget friendly. Children under 12 are free and 13 or older the entry fee is only $5.00.

Camping
Swimming
Fishing
Boating
Rock Climbing
Mountain Biking
Equestrian Camping
Horseback Riding
Hiking

The park also has it's own store which offers grocery items, boat rentals (canoes & Kayaks), ice, deli items, firewood, souvenirs as well as fishing/camping supplies.

If you like interpretive programs, take advantage of the Lone Star Amphitheater which has the Cowboy History Through Music and Poetry, astronomy, storytelling and ranger talks. The Lake Mineral Wells website has a calendar of events that will let you know when these events take place.

A few of the other activities that can be attended are the Kid's Wilderness Survival program, Guided Trail Walks, Wildflower walks and assorted nature programs. So if you are looking for something inexpensive, yet fun and healthy for you or your family, come visit Lake Mineral Wells State Park. You definitely won't run out of things to do here! The park is open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Clark Gardens Botanical Park: Just on the outskirts of Mineral Wells, this park has 50 gardens over 35 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Clark began constructing their garden oasis in 1972 and opened it to the public in 2000. You will find trails lined with boxwoods, irises, tulips, daylilies as well as other varied plants. You will also find a Historic Tree Trail that has trees that are direct descendents from the Civil War, a Lewis and Clark Cottonwood from Montana and a Harry S. Truman ginkgo as well. An All-American Rose Selection Test Garden is located within the park as well to test whether or not various rose plants will survive here.

There is a beautiful chapel to have weddings in and one of the best features of the park is "Clark Station." This is an area that is a replica of a rail depot. There are four model trains that ride the tracks inside the station as well as outside. This is a spot in the park that cannot be missed. Whenever I have been over there, Mr. Clark has been in attendance running his trains. He has always been happy to talk about his train station and the park.

If you like nature, gardens and beautiful paths to walk along, this is a wonderful activity for all. The park is open from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sundays. You can call the park at (940) 682-4856.

Carolyn Shipp
United Country Cason Real Estate
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
(940) 445-0006