What's Your Speed? - 02/27/09 07:27 PM
Since much of my business is done through the internet I have become keenly aware of the internet speed of potential and actual clients. While the days of dial up are a thing of the past for many Americans, there are still vast segments of this country who rely on the old dial up of the early internet days. When dealing with people in rural areas it would be a mistake to assume that your clients has a high speed internet.
Internet speed is important when you are designing websites, sending e-mails with attachments, and to readers of your blog. This … (9 comments)

Are You Using Your Realtor® For Their Greatest Abilities? - 02/27/09 02:56 PM
 
When I read this article the first time, I knew that I wanted to share it with all of my readers here. Sandy makes some great points in this post.
I have blocked off comments so that you can comment back to Sandy.
 
Via Sandy Noll (Realtor @ Keller Williams Realty Kirkland):
In todays society where nearly everyone has access to the computer, I know that 80% of home buyers begin their quest of home ownership searching the web for homes in the area they desire to live in.  They search many sites, narrowing down their search to a select few … (0 comments)

Finding the right TV service in San Francisco - 02/27/09 02:40 PM
Over the last few years, I have gotten to where I hate the thought of cable television. The biggest reason for this would have to be all the issues that cable had when we would experience hurricanes in Florida. If the power was out, typically the cable would have been as well. With that said, that would have not been the issue with satellite. As long as you had a generator, then you could at least watch TV.
Well, San Francisco might not have the hurricanes to deal with but I am sure that having San Francisco Satellite Television is better … (0 comments)

Chris steps out from behind the computer and interacts with other humans. - 02/27/09 11:46 AM
For those of you that are unaware, Chis Fisher is truly human and proves it now. If you have not been following her updates on the 2009 Expo Series, then here is a great chance to check it out. Not only will you get some great information, you will get to meet a great person.
 
Via Chris Fisher of StagersLIST.com Buy Stage Sell (StagersLIST.com):
Not only am I on the bus & on the road with StagersLIST this year, I'll actually be out in the real world and not hiding behind my computer.  Okay, I'm pretty sure I'll bring my laptop with … (1 comments)

Shoes make it better..... - 02/26/09 04:36 PM
Many of you know me to be a sports enthusiasts. Some of you know me to be a sports fanatic. It is the latter of these statements that is the truth. With that said, sports has been a part of my life since I can remember.With that said, I was shopping around for shoes today and ran across a bunch of retro style shoes. The ones that really caught my eye were the Retro Adidas. I can remember watching my older brother lace his Adidas up before he would play n a tennis match.
The older that I got, the more … (2 comments)

Are you the NEXT American Idol? - 02/26/09 12:09 PM
I am sure that some people will skip right over this post due to the title. With that said, for the ones that read this post, you will understand why I titled it this way. Last night I was sitting in the office working when the television comes on in the living room. Lo' and behold, American Idol was on. Now, I am not a big fan of this show, but I am a big fan of music. Toward the end, I heard them introduce Mishavonna Henson. It was easy to recognize a name like that. Mishavonna was a contestant last … (11 comments)

Photo Blog - 02/25/09 08:22 PM
I have been having a lot of people emailing me asking if we are converting The Wordless Blog to a multi user platform similar to what we did with Neighborhood Expert Online. Well, I figured I would just post it right here. The answer is yes and it will be functioning as a multi user on Tuesday.
So, if you ever dream of being a part of a photography community, then here is your ticket. Check the site out. Heck, check them both out if you like.
… (9 comments)

Preserving Stem Cells - 02/25/09 05:11 PM
This post is not about real estate and if you are the squeamish sort you might want to move on to another post. This post is about stem cells and the potential benefit they represent. Off the bat, let me say that this is not about the controversial embryonic stem cells; I tend to stay as far away as possible from the political posts. The stem cells I am referring to occur naturally in a women's monthly menstrual blood. That is as graphic as this post will get so if you haven't passed out because I mentioned Aunt Flo then it … (2 comments)

Referral Business is Fueling my Fire - 02/24/09 02:44 PM
Today I had the honor of selling to two people at one time. Many of you know that I have been building blogsites for people that want to create an individual blog site. This was the reason that R & D Art was created. Fred Chamberlin has not only been one of my biggest clients, he has also been one of our biggest referral sources.
I had the honor to speak to another of Fred's referrals last Friday. We set up a call today so that she could also bring a referral of her own to the table. I had never … (3 comments)

Internet Presence; What is yours? - 02/23/09 03:29 PM
I was contacted the other day about building a Realtor a new blog site that she had full control over. The statement that she left me with is what inspired this post. It was "I need to see if blogging will work for me. I need to know if I need to build an internet presence." Frankly, if you are not cultivating an internet presence, then you are missing out on something that the rest of us have embraced and ran with. Over the last few months, I have been gathering information on internet presence and how it affects you as … (62 comments)

Austin is a great place to be - 02/23/09 02:04 PM
I consider myself a Texas boy at heart. The real reason is because I was born outside Houston many moons ago, and though I am not a fan of Houston, I am a fan of Texas. Apparently, I am not the only one. I have had some good friends buy Austin real estate over the last couple of years. What blows me away is that I never know it until they have already done the deed.
About a month ago, I ran into a guy that I knew from high school. He found me through Facebook. We got to talking and … (0 comments)

Busier than a bee collecting honey - 02/20/09 09:22 PM
The last two days have been like a whirlwind for me. I have been working on a new project and my boss wanted it out NOW. Well, that just was not happening. But, I am glad to say, that I completed it in a record time and I can happily resuming my blogging duties. I tell you, if I miss a day here, I feel lost.
… (6 comments)

Timely Elegance - 02/19/09 01:22 PM
Lately I have been catching myself checking out the watches that people wear. I am especially fascinated by the watches that celebrities wear. With all of these people that have had to do press conferences to explain their actions, I am getting a lot more glimpses that normal. With that said, I am seeing a lot of the men wearing the Seiko watches. Personally, I think that these are some of the best made time pieces around. With that said, it is just not my style. I would go with the Rado.
I think that watches are also becoming more like … (1 comments)

Miami, Florida is more than a city to live in - 02/18/09 11:49 AM
Miami Florida is so much more than just a city to live in. I like to refer to it as the vacation destination that has something for everyone. Let me give you a small run down of what this awesome city can provide you with. But, before you can visit this great town, just remember that you will need to choose between on of the thousands of hotels in Miami. Without further ado, lets get started.
If the beach is your thing, then there is none better than South Beach. It has to be one of the premier beaches in all … (1 comments)

We are BLOG crazy - 02/17/09 08:22 PM
Well, we must be Blog Crazy. That is the only reason that I can think that I would even consider taking on a new blog. Oh, but wait. This is a different type of blog. This might actually be what the doctor ordered. Well, if you are interested, then take a gander and swing on by to visit the newest production of R & D Management.
By the way, if you like pictures, you will love this blog. Just click on the picture below and it will take you to the new site.

… (17 comments)

Shopping Smart - 02/17/09 10:14 AM
For more than 20 years, I have been the main shopper in my household. In doing this, I look for ways to save money. I have to say that the biggest way in saving has been by using coupons. When it comes to grocery shopping, I also find out when the best time to use those coupons are. I look for the double and triple coupons days and try to schedule my shopping to those particular days.
Since I have started buying bigger ticket items online, I have decided that I would also try to find some online coupons to help … (5 comments)

Happy Valentines Day - 02/14/09 08:04 AM
Today is a day that is suppose to be filled with love and happiness. It is a day to rejoice with the one that you love. It is kind of funny that when I went to make dinner reservations for this very special day, it took me calling 10 restaurants before I found one with some vacancies. I guess love does not know what a recession is. I wanted to add a video and I have to say that this one says it all. Spend time today and everyday with that special loved one and always tell them that you love … (14 comments)

Stablizing my business - 02/12/09 05:19 PM
A will back, I wrote an article on friend of my who took out a few Small Business Loans to help in stablizing his business. Today, I got a call from him telling me that it was the best thing that he did. I asked him why and he was quick to tell me of all the great things that he has done.
The first thing was he had the capital to make it through the tough times that were ahead of him. The bad news was that some of his competitors were not as fortunate as him. However, that actually … (3 comments)

It's Time To Come Home ~ Lighting Part I - 02/12/09 05:05 PM
 
Staging has always interested me when it comes to selling a home. Years and years ago, when I was in the furniture business, I use to watch the "designer" stage the store. In doing this, he would take into account every little detail. Well, this is the same maticulous style that a home stager brings.
Kathy wrote the below article recently shedding some "light" on how lighting can affect the staging of a room. I thought the article was worthy of a reblog, so here it is.
If you would like to comment, you will have to do so on … (0 comments)

Ocean City MD Vacation Rentals - 02/11/09 05:33 PM
Most of you know that I have been looking at vacation spots over the last few. Today I got the opportunity to view some Ocean City Maryland rentals. To say that I was please with what I saw is a major understatement. Ocean City is one of the top beach destinations on the east coast. They have tons to do for all the family including amusement parks and children's museums.
I love the fact that the rentals are spacious and comfortable. On top of that, they have some great prices and with the way the economy is, that is a great … (4 comments)

Realtor Tom Quits the Business - 02/11/09 05:24 PM
I came across this article today and just knew that I had to reblog this. It is disheartening to sit here and read through this, but it is so true that it still happens today. Prior to loading anyone in your car to show a home, you should always get them pre-qualified with their lender of choice.
Via Marc Rasmussen - Sarasota FL Real Estate (Michael Saunders and Company):
Here Is What Happened
Monday January 26th - 9:43 - Tom, a Realtor in Sarasota, Florida, arrives at his office and is anxious to get to work. Afterall, he hasn't sold a home in … (2 comments)

Happiness Awaits in Quechee Lakes! - 02/10/09 10:48 PM
For all you Active Rainers that know me, you know that I love to take vacations. What you might not know is that it has been almost 2 years since I have been able to. With that said, the time is getting really close for me to take a vacation. However, I have been putting off because I have been thinking of buying a vacation home. This trek has actually led me all over the world and my search still continues.
With that search, I run across some very interesting places. Some of these place are exotic and very relaxing and … (4 comments)

Calling All "Armchair Quarterbacks" to action - 02/09/09 01:31 PM
Over the last year I have read a many of post that basically starts off with "This is how I would do it if I were in charge" or "My plan to cure the economy". I have really heard this so much and for so long that I am ready to puke. Frankly, if you think that you know so much about the issue and know how to fix it, then I think that you should get out of your chair and do something about it. It is time for all the Armchair Quarterbacks to get in the game.
What gets … (3 comments)

An End to a Era *Final Update* - 02/09/09 10:12 AM
OK, I got an email from a good friend of mine telling me that I needed to publish this post. Actually, I had to hold off this morning until we had conformation that all went through. Once I got the email, then I knew that all was done. So, here is the long awaited update. (Well, at least part of it)
If you look at my header, you will notice a change. Effective today, Home America Mortgage is no longer. We have merged in with Taylor, Bean, and Whitaker. In doing this, it has given Home America Mortgage more power as … (11 comments)

The Prolific Blogger - 02/08/09 11:41 PM
I used to think that was a phrase that described me. Heck, I have even been told that on Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon, EntreCard, and many other social media networks. I went on thinking that way until I met Fred Chamberlin. If you have yet to meet this guy, you seriously need to take some time and get to know him. He is full of knowledge and will share it if you want to know. But, he does not stop there. He has a down-to-Earth style that just makes you want to befriend him. I met Fred through ActiveRain. We hit … (7 comments)

Finding a Host with the MOST - 02/06/09 03:14 PM
More than 6 months ago I realized that putting all my eggs in one basket in the blogging world would not get me where I needed or wanted to be. My first love is to help people and I do that through the mortgage business, but i also do that through other avenues. My sites http://randdart.com and http://positiverealestateprofessionals.com help people in their own way as well. I knew that when I wanted to create these sites that I would not be able to get the type of service that I needed or wanted on a hosted blog like blogger.com or wordpress.com … (2 comments)

Your Actions Today Affect Your Tomorrow - 02/06/09 01:32 PM
Most people in the spotlight do not think about the consequences of their actions. Michael Phelps is having to deal with that issue today as a person that lives in the spotlight. The pictures that are surfacing showing him hitting a bong have cost him dearly. Before it is all said and done, Michael will lose fans, sponsors, income, and most of all, integrity as a role model.
Things like this transpire all the time and people do not realize it. One company that I worked for in the past had a policy in place that if you got arrested, it … (9 comments)

IDrive Portable for integrated online and local backup - 02/05/09 04:42 PM
Since I have gotten my own server, I have learned that having to back it up daily is a definite requirement. In doing the back-ups, I have found that they can take up a great amount of room if I keep a bunch of them. With that said, I went looking for an external drive that could give me what I wanted and this is what I found.

 
It is called the IDrive Portable and it is a Portable Drive. It has 320 GB of storage space and can run at 5400 RMP. The great thing is it is … (2 comments)

Buying a Home is an Investment - 02/05/09 03:01 PM
I recently received a comment on one of my outside blogs that talks about a home being either a liability or an asset. They stated that a home that is currently being rented out to be an asset and a home that is used as a primary or secondary residence to be a liability. Personally, I agree and disagree.
First, lets take a look at what dictionary.com states for both liability and asset:

OK, now that we all are on the same page as to what is a liability and what is an asset, we can move forward.
Frankly, when … (4 comments)

Don't feed termites your investment - 02/04/09 02:47 PM
I just got off the phone with a very disgruntled friend. The reason that he was so upset was that he did not get a termite inspection on the home that he bought. To make matters worse, he actually did not get any inspections due to the deal being a cash deal. He consulted his Realtor and because money was tight to make the deal work, they thought that they could get by without one.
Well, today, they are now going to be paying the ultimate sacrafice. Instead of being able to renovate this new home, they will be paying to … (8 comments)

All in the Name - 02/04/09 12:56 PM
When I initially started blogging over one and a half years ago, I never knew where it would lead me. Since that day, I have shared over 1500 articles across the world wide web on 10 different blog sites. It has brought me more business than I ever thought that I would have gotten from blogging. The great news is, it never seems to end. I know that I can work from sun up to sun down and know that I still have more that I can do.
With that said, today is a special day for us at R & … (11 comments)

Going the Extra Mile or Committing Fraud? - 02/02/09 01:46 PM
Today, I had to make a choice. For me, it was not that hard of a choice. For the potential customer that I was working with, it seemed to be the wrong choice. All in all, I will not be getting referral business from them or the Realtor that they were working with. Personally, I am fine with that. In this case, I would rather walk away from the deal as oppose to creating what I would consider fraud. Let me run down the scenario for you. I was contacted last week to write a loan for a customer here in … (41 comments)

An End to a Era *Update* - 02/02/09 12:26 PM
I wrote a post entitled An End to a Era on in the middle of January with hopes that we would be able to disclose what those changes are. We have been delayed until February 7th for this to be unveiled. Please bear with us as these changes are coming down the line. I promise that I will divulge all once I can.
Follow me on: , , , , , , , 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 … (4 comments)