With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cautious. The major concern is that individuals don't become a victim of fraud or identity theft.
The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.
The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:
** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, cre dit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.
Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.
Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit http://www.bbb.org/.
Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region
Illinois FHA Specialist
630-417-7172
An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee
Federal Tax Credit ends if you are not Under Contract before the Clock below Expires
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
Beacon Woods, Bayonet Point, Florida Real Estate Market Report October 2009
Beacon Woods is ahead of the rest of the local market. It only has 8 months inventory. And for such a large subdivision inventory levels are low and dropping. The # of homes sold has dropped a tad, but when there are only ~10 sales per month, a bit of a variance is to be expected that can result in 10-20% swings, while only selling one or two more or less houses.
So it seems interest is pretty constant while inventory is dropping. Good sign for the Community short term anyways. not ready yet to make any long term predictions
Compared with the rest of the Hudson, Beacon Woods Active Properties are split similarly when it comes to distressed properties. But unlike Hudson, the Homes under contract or that have been sold are evenly split.
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Federal Tax Credit ends if you are not Under Contract before the Clock below Expires
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
Active listings nudged up 5 units for a whopping 1% increase in inventory (negligible)
Homes Under Contractdecreased by 10%. (rather sizable)
But the biggest change was Solds from 37 last month to 59, for an over 50% increase in closed sales for October. But more importantly Year over year sales are up ~40% from Oct 08
The distressed market has remained constant for the most part. The only significant change was for Active properties, there we have seen about a 15% increase year over year.
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Federal Tax Credit ends if you are not Under Contract before the Clock below Expires
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
Thanks to Xerox sending out a Thank You card to our soldiers is simple, fast and free.
At this time of the year we can take some time out to teach our children about giving thanks and living in gratitude. The best way of course to teach gratitude is by being a good example of being in a thankful state of mind.
You can gather your children around your computer right now and go to this site:
All you do is click on the card you want to send and then click on what you want the words on the text side of the card to say. You don't even have to think to do this because it is all done for you. You just have to choose the card and the text out of the ones on the site. Then you just click send.
Xerox prints out the postcards and then these cards go into the care packages that Givetothetroops® sends to our soldiers. What a gift Xerox is giving to the troops. I really appreciate a company setting a great example like this. The cards have all been designed by children and are patriotic. There are many patriotic symbols and messages to choose from.
Here are some of the comments sent back by different servicemen and women:
To all who have supported us,
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you from myself and my fellow Marines. Your packages and well wishes have lifted our spirits at a time when we are so far away from our friends and family. I wish you could have seen the bright eyed looks and utter excitement from the Marines when opening the boxes. It was a true blessing that you made happen. It makes us proud to know that our fellow Americans care as much as we do. It makes the sacrifices we and our families make worth every minute we spend here. We Americans can stand shoulder to shoulder in unison on one thing - we're all proud of our country and we're all proud of each other. The effort you make on behalf of the troops is just as important as the work we are doing here and around the world.
- A Gunnery Sergeant
As I was leaving an un-eventful Valentine's Day today, one of the mail clerks yelled "Adams!! You have a package!!" A package, I thought to myself. I'm not expecting anything. What could this be? I took the box into my office and closed the door. As I opened the box, a flood of joy came over me as I looked over the cards from you and the young ones, one of my co-workers walked in to see tears rolling down my eyes. I had never received a gift with this much love, packed into one little place from someone that I've never known.
As I thought about what the cards talked about with soldiers giving their lives and privileges up to ensure the freedom of Americans, it was nice to know that someone out there does not take it for granted. I don't know who you are, but you are truly a gift from God. The gift that gives me the drive to serve my country proudly. As you pray that the Lord keeps the soldiers here safe and brings us home, I pray to the Lord that people like you do not die off from this world. Your contributions are nowhere near inadequate. Please never forget what this means to a soldier. Thank you for your love and thoughts.
Please be kind- take a moment out of your day to send a card for free to a soldier today. Please Reblog!
Federal Tax Credit ends if you are not Under Contract before the Clock below Expires
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
JUST WHAT IS IT THAT REAL ESTATE LICENSEES DO?? Part I.
"YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT . . . " is to manage the orderly transfer of real property from a seller to a buyer. The average consumer doesn't understand a fraction of what we do to help them accomplish their goal.
SELLERS. Home sellers are presented a simple-to-complex marketing plan by listing agents prior to listing the property for sale. The listing agent promises to perform a series of showing, advertising activities geared to receiving contract offers.
BUYERS. Buyers are assisted in their home search by agent(s) who helps to locate, tour properties for sale, write and negotiate the contract and arranging for settlement services.
Sounds easy doesn't it? Actually it is, in the hands of experienced listing and buyers agents and ifnothing unusual occurs.
THE MOST HELPFUL AND LEAST UNDERSTOOD PART OF LISTING AND SELLING REAL PROPERTY is the complex and institutionalized systems which include the brokerages employing the licensed agents and brokers, the Multiple List Systems that make the homes for sale information available to licensees and now to the public, the board approved forms that provide consumer protections,
Achieving the consumer's goal of selling or buying real property requires the services of a variety of service providers in addition to the real estate licensee. Achieving the orderly transfer of real property from a seller to a buyerrequires services of vendors that perform critical tasks to help the consumer achieve their goal. The vendors include but are not limited to: mortgage providers, home inspectors, termite/radon inspectors, appraisers, title services which include or are managed by attorneys.
WOW! How do we keep up with all of these tasks that are necessary to get to the settlement table? I'm going to disclose a secret that will help many consumers understand how things can go so smoothly and the consumer's goal of selling and buying real estate is achieved.
IT'S ALL IN THE CONTRACT!
That's right. IT'S ALL IN THE CONTRACT!
Getting to the settlement table begins with the selection of an experienced listing or buyer's agent who will MANAGE THE CONTRACT OF SALE. To demonstrate the importance of understanding contract management, below are the titles included in a typical Contract of Sale.
Description of Real Property
Price and Financing
Deed of Trust
Deposit
Down Payment
Settlement
Equipment, Maintenance and Condition
Utilities
Personal Property and Fixtures
Financing Terms
Appraisal
Purchasers Representations
Access to Property
Termite Inspection
Repairs
Damage and Loss
Title
Possession Date
Fees
Broker's Fee
Adjustments
Attorney's Fees
Performance
Default
Assignability
Definitions
Void Contract
Warranty
Listing agents and Buyers agents must not only understand the meaning and execution of each of these titles, they should help the seller or buyer understand the meaning of all parts of the contract that apply to their particular transaction.
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
Twitter in a Natural Disaster, terrorist attack or any other Emergency
I am sorry if you feel I am beating Twitter like a dead horse, but I do believe in its power, and here is one more way.
9/11 - It took me weeks, having just moved from Long Island to Florida the month before, how many of my friends died that day. Unfortunately it was 8, but my cousin, a disabled FDNY was going to funerals/wakes EVERY DAY for months on end. Like most of you, it was Surreal, to say the least, but the inability to communicate left you in a state of unknown. I hate that
Hurricane Katrina - trying to re-unite with families after being scattered across the SouthEast or the entire Country.
I could go on, but I think you get the jist of it. Disasters & Emergencies strikes and nobody is able to communicate. Lines are down, Systems are overloaded. Nobody can reassure relatives and friends they are ok.
So how can Twitter help in this case? Not everybody uses it, certainly not my parents/grandparents etc...
I have set up an additional account for myself as an emergency account. I have created accounts for my inner circle of Family and Friends. I made these all Protected Accounts. People can not just follow us. Only we will get each others tweets. Right now there is only 1 tweet in all the accounts - TEST
The key to using Twitter in an Emergency Situation is The accounts are unused, they are protected so only the necessary people can communicate, and all the Accounts are set up to go to Email & Text message.
This email & Text Message is saved. If a relative or friend, who is not actively involved in Twitter, finds themselves in the next Hurricane Katrina they have an entry in their cell phone From Twitter that they can reply to, which will let everybody in the circle automatically know their condition.
1 tweet and everybody you care about knows. WHY, because when the voice networks are overloaded, typically the data networks are still functional. Everybody can check in with one message, that everybody they care about, will receive at the same time. 1 tweet from each person in the group notifies everybody else in the group of their status. 1 message notifies everyone you care about.
I had to set up my brothers, mother and father because they are not online. But they now know how to contact all of us in an emergency. And each person can individualize their list. Obviously each family member will have the same family members, but different friends. So those lists are custom. You may have to do it for each non-Internet Tech Savvy friend/family member, but in the end, you only have to do it once and have it there when the next Natural Disaster, Terrorist Attack or any other Emergency.
How much better will you feel, if with a single tweet your family/friends can tell you they are FINE. Than you can start co-ordinating emergency assistance amongst those in the Natural Disaster, Terrorist Attack or any other Emergency, who have limited services from those outside the area.
Federal Tax Credit ends if you are not Under Contract before the Clock below Expires
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
I've said it like it is. Have I offended anyone yet? If I have, well - I would be lying if I said I didn't mean to hurt your feelings at least one bit, but I mean to say it just the way I think it will bring enough attention to at least forewarn you.
Here's what I learnt about my tenure in real estate:
A large reserve prior to getting into the business
I started in the business part time because I didn't know if I would make it and whether it was for me. So, when I first became a Realtor(R), all my paycheck went into paying off my last consumer debts (my cars) and then, I built a large cash reserve for when I do get into the business full time.
I saved 12-months of monthly expenses and built a 12-month reserve before I felt comfortable to do this full time.
I kept my business expenses low, real LOW
When I first went into the business, I bought a laptop because it was easier to carry my "office" everywhere I went (I still had a full-time job at work but I didn't feel comfortable doing other work on my corporate computer. I worked on my real estate business at my lunch hour). I already had a cell phone and I didn't increase my cell phone minutes. I paid the dues I need to do and that was it. I did business with my friends, family and referrals. My marketing dollars were ZERO for the first 3 years and it kept me fed. All my friends used me to purchase their first home.
My only marketing was my website, designed and hosted by LinkUSystems. It cost me $29.99 per month and $29.95 per month for my IDX solution from 1parkplace. My website has evolved to what it is today because I work on it everyday. It has been a consistent source of business for me.
I hired a coach when I went into the business full-time.
My coach was Ms. Jennifer Allan. I started the business with some bad habits to have to un-learn. Jennifer helped me do that. I paid Jennifer through my transactions. It was not an upfront fee which I truly appreciate. When I got paid, she got paid.
Then I joined Active Rain in November 2006.
Since I have been grandfathered, I do not pay for my Rainmaker membership. I paid for my outside blog though which costs $19 per month. Thus far, it's the only marketing effort that has produce TREMENDOUS Rain POURING Effort for my business.
If you are a new member now, you have to pay $30 for a Rainmaker membership - and you do this because you want the public to be able to find you on Google. Otherwise, your posts are only made public. All your hyper-local posts will be wasted effort if you are not a Rainmaker.
Total $360 per year, paid monthly. Where can you up? Click on this promotion code to start your Rainmaker membership at $5 the first month.
Try it for 6 months. If it doesn't work out after you tried everything about Blogging Active Rain, you only had $180 to lose.
$300. One of the best education dollars I spent. Read how I turned 400K points into $122K by simply tweaking what I already know with what Katerina Gasset taught in her classes.
I hired a NEW COACH
Many coaches constantly talk about Tiger Woods and how he's already an awesome golf player. But he still had a coach. Guess what? I do what EXCELLENT PEOPLE DO AT THEIR JOB. I mimic them. I hired a coach to keep in tact.
I recently signed up with a new coach to push me even further. Kathy Eppley. In just 4 weeks of coaching, it looks like I will end 2009 with a BANG and to raise the bar even higher for 2010.
I do have other expenses that I spend on. But these are the ones that I know made SIGNIFICANT enhancements for my business.
Now, are you convinced that the Real estate business is NOT for BROKE people?
Quote of the Day: We are What we do repeatedly. Therefore EXCELLENCE is NOT an act but a Habit by Aristotle.
What have you done to ensure your longevity for this business?
Super-serving Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area communities and other surrounding areas.
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
Hudson Florida Market update from Trulia.com
Florida Market update from Trulia.com. now it is important to remember that Trulia has some variances in its projections. The model used by Trulia is a very delicate model. while it does attempts to provide valid information, It must be admitted that in some area's the error margin is over 20%. But in other areas is it much less.unfortunately in this age of information, there appears to be more disinformation than quality information.
let this near term example serve as an example of poor number crunching. I hope to improve on the method weekly, but accept the reality that changes may occur more slowly by others that determine things beyond our control. Such is live
Federal Tax Credit ends if you are not Under Contract before the Clock below Expires
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
I realized today I missed a few points. it was time consuming to go through 2800+ (and growing) following to sort the creme de la creme into the lists I started with.
If you have a massive following, far bigger than mine, it will be too overwhelming. I believe I spent between 1 & 2 hours sorting through those I follow, while watching tv. If you are following too many people and have too little time, think up the lists you wish to create, and create them, and than add tweeters as they show up in your stream.
Than you also will see at the top of the picture to the left, that they now track how many lists you are on Twitter.To accommodate this they moved your Tweet count up under your Twitter Name.
But one of the best ways to grow quality content, as a result of the lists, is to follow the list of a Twitterer that you admire / respect. as you will see in the graphic on the left of this blog, there are my first 3 groups of twitter users that I follow.
The last list is @nik_nik's list of Real Estate Rock Stars. I am following a list created by Nicole Nicolay. So far as I can tell, you only see those tweeters when you click on the list. Just because you follow a list, does not mean you are automatically following all those people as I saw no major jump in my following count by following her list.
But as you can see I have 2 lists Real Estate over loaded. I am also proud to say one of the 7 lists I am on is @Nik_Nik's Real Estate Rock Stars. If you do not follow Nicole Nicolay, I highly suggest you at least give her a try. The great YouTube video she sends you (not automated) in a DM to thank you shows you the power of Twitter and how it can be leveraged to. She is a character, and we all need people like her in our lives to put a smile on your face.
The last tip, at least for now, is I can not believe I forgot to include a Friends & Family In Real Life list. The only reason is that I only have 1 friend, from real life, on twitter, and no family *shrugs*. Everybody I know just doesn't get it. But that is ok, because I realize Twitter is not for everyone. From what I have seen, you either Love Twitter or just do not get it.
Federal Tax Credit ends if you are not Under Contract before the Clock below Expires
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
Founded on a bedrock of honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned customer service. Fruits Real Estate Services corporate mission is to provide our customers with the most professional real estate services available. At Fruits we honor our Sales Associates and enhance their professionalism and commitment to excellence through superior training, sophisticated marketing and state-of-the-art technology. The results are unsurpassed service to the consumer and a true feeling of family with the company. We're Successful because our people are. Your Neighborhood Real Estate Specialist!
Roger Fruits (Broker/Owner)
All content on this blog is the copyrighted content (2009-present) of Daniel J. Hunter, REALTOR®, and is believed to be true and factual, but it is not guaranteed or warranted. All information should be verified independently.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
SELLERS. Home sellers are presented a simple-to-complex marketing plan by listing agents prior to listing the property for sale. The listing agent promises to perform a series of showing, advertising activities geared to receiving contract offers.
If you are a new member now, you have to pay $30 for a Rainmaker membership - and you do this because you want the public to be able to find you on Google. Otherwise, your posts are only made public. All your hyper-local posts will be wasted effort if you are not a Rainmaker.
;)
;)
