Put your mug on a Christmas card! - 11/30/08 12:46 AM
Over the years, I have received many holiday cards with friends or family member's pictures on them. I have always thought that it was always a great idea. It was refreshing to see something different than the typical cards that you get during the holiday season. It definitely adds a very unique element to the cards. It can be a great conversation piece also. Today, I came across a website that allows you to customize your own Photo Christmas Cards. You have the ability to upload any picture that you want or just add the pictures to the cards once they … (4 comments)

Invest in your future; Buy a Home - 11/28/08 05:11 PM
Earlier today, I wrote a post on PREP concerning Buying investment properties in today's economy. It is really easier for you to read it than me to sit here and explain what it is all about. Looking to Invest in Real Estate is just what it says it is. There are a ton of investors out there that have money to spend. The problem is, there are not just investors out there. the more and more that I hear the news, the more and more that I hear them telling people that we, the lenders, do not have the money to … (5 comments)

Medical Tourism: World-Class Hospitals, Doctors and Dentists Safe, Affordable HealthCare Worldwide - 11/26/08 03:58 PM
Yesterday, I was talking to James Downing through the IM chat on facebook. I had noticed that he was getting ready to go on vacation again. I had told him that I think that he actually travels more than I use to. It got me to thinking about what would happen if I were traveling and got sick in another country, what would I do. That is when I got to looking into medical tourism. I specifically was looking at Medical Tourism Mexico since it is one of the closest countries. I was surprised to find out how far advanced they … (4 comments)

Thanksgiving Specials For Active Rainers Only! - 11/26/08 03:47 PM
 
For those of you that have not met Brande, she is one of the most awesome people that I have met since joining ActiveRain. I have told the story of how we met so many times, thatI am sure it is getting old.
Brande has started a new phase in her life and career. She is spreading all her goodness around here in the rain, so I thought that I would help her out by reblogging this article.
As usual, comments are block so that you can comment on Brande's post.
 
Via Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist:
… (0 comments)

Which Way Did He Go, George? (Wordless Wednesday) - 11/26/08 01:56 PM

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Time to get a Paint Ball Gun? - 11/26/08 12:53 PM
Just the other day, I got to take part in a sport that I have never been able to in the past. It is Paint Ball. This might be one of the fastest growing recreational and sporting events that I have seen in many years. To be able to get out and participate in Paint Ball was exhilarating to say the least. The thrill was almost more than I could take.
I was so excited in participating that I have actually considered purchasing my own paint ball gun. I am still considering it as I live out in the country and … (3 comments)

I Really Wish - 11/26/08 12:19 PM
Lately, this is about all I ever hear. From the Realtors, it is "I really wish they would lower rates so my clients will get off the fence". For lenders and loan officers, it is "I really wish they would lower home prices so my clients would get off the fence". For consumers it is "I really wish they would sweeten the pot even more so that the deal would be better so I can get off the fence".
The problem with this type of thinking is the fact that it is passive in nature. Instead of taking control of the … (3 comments)

The Great Golf Bailout - 11/25/08 10:56 PM
A lot of the people that I surround myself with are avid golfers. The problem with being an avid golfer is, it really is not cheap. A ton of my friends normally take in a few rounds at the Las Vegas golf courses each and every year. With the economic issues and the cost of flights these days, they have decided to not take that challenge in 2009. This might not seem like a big deal to a lot of people, but honestly, it is not just the companies that are feeling the pinch this year. There are many things that … (6 comments)

Treasury drops $600 Billion into Mortgage Backed Securities, Mortgage Rates Fall - 11/25/08 04:48 PM
 
Fred makes some great points in the post featured below. What I would like to recommend to customers that are seeking loans in today's world, make sure that when quoted a rate, find out how long that rate quote is good for. For most lenders, they have no idea when the rates are going to change since the MBS drives the rates.
As always, I have closed comments on this post so that you can respond to the original author.
 
Via Fred Chamberlin - Eugene/Springfield's #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant:
RATES! WHAT ARE THE RATES? MORTGAGE RATES! THE FED IS … (0 comments)

Property Searching on the Internet - 11/25/08 12:36 PM
I have a friend that is currently in the market to buy a home in Austin, Texas. Prior to telling me that they were in the market, they went scouring the internet to see if they could find some austin tx mls listings. Well, it seems that they actually came across a pretty good page that can show them some good Austin Real Estate. HomeCity.com allows for the user to set up their own account. In doing this, you can customize what you are looking for and not have to go back in to change it over and over. Another thing … (4 comments)

Acceptance? (A reblog from the blogosphere) - 11/23/08 10:28 AM
Today, while I was surfing the internet through EntreCard, I found this amazing article. It is quite refreshing, but at the same time leaves me greatly concerned. The original author mentions in this article that "It is interesting to see such openness and hopefully acceptance" and this concerns me. It is not the openness that concerns me. It is more the portion of the "acceptance" that is concerning to me.
In a country that claims to be about freedom, it seems that we persecute people daily for their beliefs, religion, sexual orientation, and race. Most people do this without thinking. Some … (2 comments)

Cleaning Up Water Damage - 11/21/08 09:03 PM
When I lived in Atlanta, I had a good friend of mine call me late one night with a huge issue. He lived right up the street, so I jumped in the car to see if I could help out with the issue. When I got there, it was way worst than what he had told me that it was. It was winter and apparently he did not keep his heat on in the basement. With that said, you have probably guessed by now that he had a pipe bust. Well, we got the water department out there quickly enough and … (9 comments)

2008 Springfield Board of Realtors Affiliate of the Year - 11/21/08 08:42 PM
 
Ladies and Gentleman, if you have not taken the time to meet Fred Chamberlin, then here is your chance. He is a little shy to toot his own horn, like he says below. However, get to know him like I have and he is not the quiet and shy person.
Actually, Fred is a great guy. In the short time that I have met him, he is one of the few that I would walk over hot coals for. Fred, take it away.
* As usual, I have disabled the comments here so that you can comment on Fred.
 
… (0 comments)

The Perfect Gift - 11/21/08 07:20 PM
With the holiday season fast approaching, gift giving is running rampant in our minds. Being able to give that one gift that will bring that everlasting smile to his or her face is the ultimate challenge that is before us. The first and foremost thing that has to be conquer is deciding what time of gift it is that will leave them picking their jaw off the floor. Knowing that this task is not so easily achieve by the regular gifts that one might find at an everyday store, I took my search to the world wide web. That is when … (0 comments)

A Time To Reflect - 11/21/08 07:04 PM
I was sitting here today and looking at the accomplishments that ActiveRain has made over the last 14+ months that I have been a member here. I look back to the first post that I ever wrote here and I think of how I have grown and evolved in the blogging world. I look back at all the subscribers, followers, readers, acquaintances, and friends that I have made. I look at all the accomplishments that I have either had a hand in and got to witness with the people that I call "FREIND".
And, as much as all of this makes … (4 comments)

Holiday Gifts - 11/20/08 07:25 PM
With the holidays fast approaching, Thanksgiving is a week away, it is important to start thinking about how you will use this opportunity to get your name back at the front of your client and business partners' mind. This time of year provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce the excellent service you provided your past clients and business partners. Sometimes clients need a little reminder of who you are and the service you offer.
The use of traditional Christmas cards is definitely one way to get in front of your clients. If however you want something that will make a bigger … (0 comments)

The Real Victims of this Mess - 11/20/08 03:46 PM
 
If you have not met Eric McGowan from Alabama yet, you need to click on his link and read more about this extraordinary guy. I have to tell you that I found him through reciprocal commenting and I am glad that I did. It is not that I do not love the original bloggers that I have grown close to already, but it is the need to expand my SOI.
Well, enough of that. Here is an article that Eric wrote. I have disabled the comments because I think that the original author is the one that you should comment … (0 comments)

Clicksmart - 11/20/08 02:39 PM
Clicksmart prescreens professionals from around the country and in various fields. Whether you are looking for a florist or a Realtor, clicksmart has done much of the legwork for you. For example  lets say you are looking for Saint Louis Realtors. What are the criteria you would use to find a qualified professional if you don't happen to live in that area.
Clicksmart has very specific criteria they use. A clicksmart certified Realtor must be licensed by their state and cannot have been disciplined by any state real estate commission or department. A clicksmart Realtor has to have completed a minimum … (2 comments)

Can I Have a Get Out of Debt Free Card? - 11/20/08 02:05 PM
Can I Have a Get Out of Debt Free Card? This is basically what all the companies that are asking for a "Bailout" are essentially asking for. In essence they want the money to help keep them afloat. They need this money because they can not manage the amount of money that they intake at this point in time. Why can they not manage the current intake of cash if the amount that they are banking is thought to be sizable enough to help them stay afloat with the bailout money.
Now, first off, let me address my take on bailouts. … (4 comments)

Disney For The Holidays! - 11/19/08 09:34 PM
When I was a kid living in south Georgia, one of the really fun things was living so close to Florida. On several different occasions, the family vacation was all of us kids loaded into the station wagon heading for Disney World. Of course in those days Disney was a lot different than it is today. In the mid 1970's the only theme park was the Magic Kingdom; don't get me wrong, this was the cat's meow to a kid!
One of the most memorable trips to the Magic Kingdom was during the Christmas holiday. While most of my classmates were … (6 comments)

College Football Game of the Week - 11/19/08 08:55 PM
If you have yet to see Rich Dansereau's newest blog, Rich Talks Sports, then you are missing out on a great read. His articles are indepth and thorough. Having said that, his last articles was on what he calls Game of the week - College Football. Now, I will not give the jest of the article away, but I really have to say this is a great read. So, get over and check it out if you are a football lover. … (5 comments)

Heated Jackets for Winter Cold - 11/19/08 02:19 PM
Whether you like it or not, the cold weather is here to stay. It has settled in and boy is it cold. I awoke this morning to 23 degrees and a sky that was spitting out some snow. Fortunately it was sputtering like a boat that had not been ran for some years. Still, the dogs required to be walked and firewood needed to be brought in. I would have loved to have some battery powered heated jackets and vests so that I could put them on when I went outside. If you have waited this long to get ready for … (1 comments)

In The Spirit Of The Voting Season - 11/19/08 01:12 PM
A very good friend of mine for Raleigh, North Carolina is up for the prestigious 2009 Event Solutions Spotlight Award for Rising Star Male in the special events industry. The Spotlight Award is one of the biggest honors in this industry. James Auerbach and his company are very honored to even to be in the running for this award much less be a finalist. It is not often that I call on friends to lend a hand, but I know James and I know the type of work that Showtime Events does. If you would like, you can go to Showtime Events … (6 comments)

Ham Hock (Wordless Wednesday) - 11/19/08 11:11 AM

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The Right School For You - 11/18/08 08:54 PM

When living in Atlanta, Home America Mortgage began offering insurance classes. They brought in an excellent instructor from Kaplan to teach the week long series of classes at no out of pocket expense to employees. Of course, I could not pass up this opportunity. I figured that with all the volatility in the market, it would be nice to be able to have a full range of insurance offerings in addition to mortgages. The classes were interesting and I really did learn quite a lot. After the class was over, home America even paid for all the participants to take … (3 comments)

Bookworm MeMe - A Different Twist - 11/18/08 09:58 AM
I have never been much for writing the MeMe Post due to the fact that everyone in the word seems to tag you. However, this morning I ran across this neat new concept for a MeMe from outside of ActiveRain. I was reading a post from MY FUNNY DAD, HARRY. Karen, the author, frequents several of my other blogs and when she responded to a post that I wrote 2 days ago, CommentLuv actually listed this MeMe as her last article. So, off I went to check it out. The concept is quite simple. Here is how it works. 1. Grab … (19 comments)

Cartier Ladies Watches Make Great Gifts - 11/17/08 08:28 PM
Are you looking for the perfect present for that just perfect gal in your life? Maybe it is a girl friend, a wife, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, or even a niece. Whoever it is for, you want it to be a gift that they will remember you by for some time to come. Well, let me direct you to the cartier ladies watches, The Watchery.com has these great time pieces on sale just in time for the holidays. Cartier makes elegant time piece for ladies or gentlemen. Currently, these great time pieces are on sale at an unbelievable price … (9 comments)

Bailout for Dummies - 11/17/08 10:27 AM
When I look at all the talk that concerns bailouts and failing companies, it really makes my stomach turn. For me to sit back and accept that the tax payers are going to be footing the bill for all these companies that can not stay afloat does more than makes me sick; it pisses me off. Now, if you are not ready to hear this point of view, then you might want to stop reading now. I am not going to hold back this morning as it is time that someone speaks up. Here it is in a nutshell.
The first … (23 comments)

Sunday Football to rest the mind? - 11/15/08 09:30 PM
For years and years I have been a huge football fan. I have evolved over the years in the fan that I have become. I am currently playing in two fantazt leagues; one not doing well, but still actively participating, the second, I am in the top four and actively participating. I have the Sunday SuperFan Ticket through DirecTV so that I can watch every game that I want to see. I love the Red Zone channel that they have. And, what I love the most about it would be the fact that I have the ability to watch 8 games … (13 comments)

How Bad Will The Current Crisis Get? - 11/14/08 08:08 PM
It seems that every where that I turn people are asking the same question. "How bad will the current crisis get?" Well, I thought that everyone would like to hear the answer to that very important question. The answer is quite simple when you really think about it. But, I have to say, the answer came to me today when I was watching the 6 o'clock news tonight. Yes, can you imagine that, I actually sat down and watched the news to listen to the doom and gloom. Well, not really. I wanted to see if there was one glimpse of … (60 comments)

What Hangs On Your Walls? - 11/13/08 11:33 AM
I took a trip to the Smoky Mountains a few days ago to both relax and get some great snaphots of the last of the fall color before it was gone. After downloading the 100+ images I went through the editing process, which as we all know can take some time. During the editing process you really take a closer, more critical look at the photos. It was during this process that I got to thinking about the photos and art that I surround myself with.

In a post I wrote several months ago, I talked about my love for … (12 comments)

More Blogging Success - 11/12/08 10:19 PM
It seems that everywhere that I turn, I have been getting some unforeseen attention. With the post that have been publicized on Reuter's, I thought that I had reached an all time high. Then, today, I wrote an article about a high school football team here in Tennessee. Later that afternoon, I received an email from a web site administrator asking permission to post a link to my article. I was floored whrn I found out that the site that wanted to post the article was actually a site for the very same high school. I was truly honored. This is … (14 comments)

On the State Line (Wordless Wednesday) - 11/12/08 10:56 AM

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Across an Ocean and Out of the Past - 11/11/08 12:49 PM
In honor of veterans day, I thought that I would resurrect this blog that was written by Rich Dansereau some time ago. I truly believe that it holds a lot of meaning on any day out of the year, but especially on a day like today. For all the service men that have served their country with honor and digity, I truly appreciate all that you do. Please enjoy this song as you read the post below. This is a touching story about a person that is looking for her godfather. The picture that is listed in the blog written by … (2 comments)

Gettin' Some Link Luv - 11/10/08 05:36 PM
Before we get started here, I want to state that I am a huge fan of REBLOGGING. I use it religiously. With that said, what I love more than that is people that link to an article that I have written. To me, it is one of the greatest honors that one can receive. It really does not mean to much if they are praising you or trashing you, in my book, simply because they are giving you the ultimate gift; free exposure.
I will reference back to a few articles that I have written. For all you college fans, you … (9 comments)

Fear - Power Quotes Series - 11/10/08 07:44 AM
Yesterday, I wrote a post on PREP about the fear factor that is going on in the USA today. If you did not get a chance to read the article, I hope that you can swing by and check it out. I have to say that it is truly something that has a stronghold on our nation.
With that being said, we have 3 choices when it comes to fear. The first is for us to allow it to consume us and run our lives. The second is for us to ignore it all together, which is not a smart move … (9 comments)

Financing Improvements on REO/Foreclosed Properties - 11/10/08 07:07 AM
Ladies and gentlemen, with the state of the current market, financing for a home that needs minor repair can happen. Eric McGowan of Supreme Mortgage in Alabama, share the below post back a few days ago and I thought it would be appropriate if I shared it again with all of you.
One of the first things that you need to do to qualify for a mortgage like the 203k is to find a lender that is FHA licensed. The 203 series through FHA is a great alternative when you are wanting to buy a fix-me-up property.
Well, I really do … (1 comments)

Fear Factor: What Role do you take on? - 11/09/08 02:12 PM
Over the last year, I have read a ton of media that fuels the fire in this economic crisis. The fear factor is at one of it’s highest points since I can remember. It is being driven higher and higher daily by media as they continually drive home to customers that the markets are failing. The big question that I have for you is a simple one really. “What role do you take on” in this media frenzy. Are you a person that is always spreading the doom and gloom, or are you someone that realizes that for America to come … (7 comments)

Tennessee Vols Falls again - 11/08/08 04:32 PM
I am so baffled at what has transpired with this team. I leaves me utterly perplexed when I think about it. Out of 17 years, Phillip Fulmer has only missed one bowl appearance. Well, this year, with today's loss, they now make it 2 times. What is worse is they lost their homecoming game today. Talk about going from bad to worse. About the Author
If you are in the market to purchase a home or even refinance an existing loan and you want a loan officer that will walk with you every step of the way, then contact Danny or … (7 comments)

Honesty is a two way street - 11/07/08 05:37 PM
Recently, I wrote a post on Positive Real Estate Professionals that discusses this very topic. The post was titled The Truth To It All. In this article, I discussed the issues between potential applicants and loan officers. Now, before you jump, I am not one to blame either side when it comes to this issue. Instead, I blame both sides. There are loan officers that are not fully truthful and there are applicanta that are not all truthful. With that said, the way to make a loan work is for both parties to be truthful. If you like, please click on … (5 comments)

BCS is a mess - 11/07/08 09:01 AM
I have voiced my opinion so much on the BCS, I finally thought that it was time to do more than write about it. So, this morning, on SportsFanatic, I did just that. This morning, my newest article, BCS is for Chimps, has a poll on it to cast your vote. I figured that people still have that voting frenzy built up from the election and they need to be able to get it out. What better way to do that than cast your vote for or against the BCS. About the Author
If you are in the market to purchase … (12 comments)

Birth of a New Blog - 11/06/08 02:20 PM
Today, I have agreed to write another blog for Today.com and I think that it will be a great one. It is formed after a group here in ActiveRain called Totally Tennessee. The site can be found here and will be about all things in Tennessee. I thought that it would be great to be able to hit the local market from 2 very different sides as well as 2 different audiences. If you have the time, swing by an check out the articles. I am sure that you will find some interesting facts about Tennessee.
… (9 comments)

Winterizing & Protecting Your Real Estate Investment - 11/06/08 09:45 AM
With the fast approaching winter weather approaching and Jack Frost nipping at you nose, I thought that it would be a great idea to bring this post back into the limelight. Sandy did such a great job of stating how to take care of your Real Estate investment during the winter months.
Here in Tennessee, we have already seen below freezing tempatures. As I speak, we are getting ready to be drill by a cold front that will leave a lot of residents burning wood. One of the big things that you will want to do before piling a ton of … (3 comments)

Google is all that it's cracked up to be - 11/05/08 01:20 PM
Google is the best click source that one can truly hope to have. The reason that I think this is simple. The reader is looking for a particular something and they want to read about that. If your page comes up in their narrowed or expanded search, then they have potentially found what they are looking for. With that said, they typically will click through to go read the article.
For those bloggers that do not believe that what you say in a blog is what attracts readers, let me share this set of stats with you from SportsFanatic. I want … (7 comments)

Swimming with the Rays (Wordless Wednesday) - 11/05/08 07:17 AM

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Something has been eating at me - 11/03/08 05:33 PM
And I just have to know what the answer is. This entire election campaign I have heard that our country is doomed. From the right wing they are screaming that Obama can not run this country and doom and gloom is inevitable if elected. From the left side, people are screaming that MCCain is not fit to run this country and is too much like George. Frankly, I could care less what you think either way because I can not be influenced by either party. But that is not the question that is eating at me. If you think that one … (11 comments)

Faith - Power Quotes Series - 11/03/08 04:49 PM
So many times when the word faith is mentioned, most people assume that it has to be attached to religion. The problem with that if FAITH is so much more than that. For some, it refers to their religion. However, faith is what we put into the company that we work for, in the clients that we work with, in the underwrites that we work with, in all things that flow in our job. Our faith is that all things will work out smoothly.
Faith does not stop there. We put faith into our families as well. We put faith in … (4 comments)

Help Out the Little Guy - 11/03/08 11:43 AM
For all of you that do not know me, I am an animal lover. Give me any animal out there and I can show you the beauty in them. For birds, that is an easy task. I can remember sitting out on the patio in Florida watching them for hours at a time. In Georgia, it was an every day occurrence to see them come up to the deck and eat. Now, in Tennessee, it is still the same way. The one thing that has been a constant is the squirrel-proof bird feeders that we have taken with us in every … (7 comments)

I need a Loan. - 11/01/08 08:09 PM
So many times I have heard people talking about not being able to qualify for a home loan. When I ask them where they got their information, I am shocked to find out that it did not come from a mortgage professional. Too many times we listen to the wrong people about making the right choices. In today's market, listening is the key for both the customer and the service profider. Click the picture to the left for an interesting article and to read more on this very subject. About the Author
If you are in the market to purchase a … (7 comments)