Eileen's Flagstaff Real Estate Blog

Eileen Schreiber shares why you should beware of Market Leader

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:07:26 -0700

My True Story - Market Leader was THE WORST. Beware!!!
(Please see comment section below for most recent update)

My name is Eileen Schreiber. I am a real estate agent in Flagstaff, Arizona. I am the creator and owner of a customized website that has made me a top 5 Buyers Agent in Flagstaff for the past 3 years. (http://www.TheFlagstaffWebsite.com). I am very adept at internet marketing.

Last year (2011) I decided to try to break into the Sedona, Arizona market. After doing a bit of research, I thought I would try Market Leader.

As a savvy web-based agent, I read through the lines of the sales pitch. Market Leader offers "leads" - that means that people need to register on my site with valid email addresses and phone numbers in order for me, the agent, to contact them.

I was told that for the Sedona Market, Market Leader GUARANTEES 10 QUALIFIED LEADS PER MONTH FOR $479.00. That is a a lot of money!! And I had to commit to a six month contract. There are no trial periods.

They also offered me a trial period for the Market Leader Follow Up (call) Service. As soon as someone registers on my site, a professional from Market Leader calls them to follow up. This is how to convert leads, they said.

With an "I know better than this" feeling in my stomach, I committed.

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE

I immediately registered on my own site as a client to check the level of service.
A day later, I received a call from a bored sounding flatline female voice: "Hi, this is xxxxx, You were on my site yesterday I'm following up".

I almost had a heart attack. THAT is how they follow up??? With a bored, flatlined female phonemonkey call who didn't even identify the name of my website, my market, or sound like an interested human being?

I immediately contacted Market Leader and demanded that NOBODY, EVER follow up with any potential client again. I would do that, thank you.

Almost every lead had either no phone number or an invalid phone number. I swear.
Almost every "lead" said they were "just looking". Any contact I initiated with the leads resulted in the following: ZERO. And remember, I am a web-based agent. I know how to follow up and I know how to convert.

All my leads were delivered on, or around the same day. It was like they let them pool, then parceled them out to agents. I don't know that for a fact, but it was VERY wierd.

After three months of NOTHING but FRUSTRATION, zero true buyers, and lots of wasted time, I realized that I was wasting a lot of money on nothing.

Be advised!!! Market Leader does not let you cancel for dissatisfaction!!!!!! I expressed my extreme and utmost dissatisfaction in emails and phonecalls. I was told I could reduce my services to the $150/month "search function" for the duration of my contract. I did that.

Beware!!!! Market Leader does not stop services at the time you originally contracted to end your services!!!!!! I believed that my contract would simply end at 6 months. NO. They charged me for two additional months.When I called and emailed to protest this with all of the vigor I could muster, my account exec told me:

"Jack Markham, the Sales Manager received your emails and passed them to me. He said specifically not to issue you a credit."

BEWARE!!!! DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Call other agents who have used Market Leader in areas just like yours. Do not use a big city agent as an example if you are in a small town. Ask important questions to people who use the service! Make sure you are aware that your "leads" are just that - email addresses.

BEWARE!! No matter how dissatisfied you are, you can not cancel. Be prepared to spend money for six months.

BEWARE!! Even if you have a six month contract, make sure you cancel. Otherwise they will continue to charge you.

Based on this experience, I would never recommend Market Leader as a viable service.

Also see this at http://bewaremarketleader.wordpress.com

Eileen Schreiber offers property searches for homes, condos and land in the Sedona real estate and Flagstaff Arizona housing market. With custom searches in school districts, by design or style of homes and specific community searches, Eileen offers the most detailed real estate website for both Sedona and Flagstaff Arizona. Contact Eileen anytime: realestateflagstaff@gmail.com or homesinsedona@gmail.com or
simply call: 928-607-6910

Flagstaff Arizona 2011 Market Data

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:11:46 -0800

This is a very simple post. Rather than speculate on what the Flagstaff market may do this year, I am publishing the data on what the market did in 2011. As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2012, this data gives us a solid benchmark against which we can compare current stats.

So!

According to data published by the Northern Arizona Multiple Listing Service (all disclaimers apply), average prices, median prices and the average price/sf of Flagstaff single family homes rose in 2011. That's it!

2011 Flagstaff Single Family Home Sales

Number Sold

Median Price

Average Price

Average Price/Sf



Jan - March	172	$239,500.00	$261,533.00	$127.94

April - June	204	$259,000.00	$298,000.00	$134.00

July - Sept	272	$232,000.00	$259,000.00	$138.00

Oct - Dec	219	$244,000.00	$282,000.00	$129.00

According to date published by the Northern Arizona Multiple Listing Service (all disclaimers apply), except for the Fourth Quarter of 2011, average prices, median prices and the average price/sf of condominiums and townhomes showed a slight decline.

See the Flagstaff Condominium Report Here

To easily search all Flagstaff Homes, Flagstaff Condominiums and Flagstaff Golf Properties, including bank owned and short sales, click on these links, or visit my site: TheFlagstaff Website.

Or, feel free to call me or email me for information! I respect your privacy, do not enter you into a database, and will not email and call you weekly after your first call. Promise!

Flagstaff Second Homes

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:25:37 -0800

Flagstaff Arizona is a popular second home destination for two very important reasons:

Flagstaff sits at 7000 feet amidst ponderosa pines, temperate seasons and gorgeous natural beauty while every summer, Phoenix, which is two hours south, reaches temperatures of 115 for months on end.

As residents of Phoenix begin to anticipate another sweltering summer, fingers begin to click on Flagstaff's best website for second home buyers: Flagstaff Second Homes.

Choices for second homes in Flagstaff range from condominiums and townhomes to high end custom retreats.

Flagstaff is also a golfers paradise. Flagstaff has three gated golf communities, Forest Highlands, Pine Canyon and Flagstaff Ranch, as well as a relatively public golf resort, Continental Country Club, and a private, non-gated golf course, Aspen Valley.

Directly south of Flagstaff, Munds Park is a popular Second Home destination that also offers a beautiful golf course and many homes with a cabiny, woodsy feel.

With natural beauty, temperate seasons and a wide range of home choices, and with home prices lower now than they have been in the last 5 years, Flagstaff remains the number one choice for Arizona's Second Home buyers!

For more information, feel free to contact Eileen, a top producer with many Second Home Clients, who answers her phone and responds to emails!

(928) 607-9610

realestateflagstaff@gmail.com

Forest Highlands - Flagstaff's Premiere Golf Community

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:08:53 -0800

Forest Highlands is Flagstaff's most established gated golf community. With pine forests, temperate summers and the San Francisco Peaks creating almost magical backdrops to two top rated golf courses designed by Tom Weiskopf - The Canyon Course and the Meadow Course - Forest Highlands stands apart as possibly the most beautiful golf community in Arizona.

Homes in Forest Highlands range from cottages to sprawling customs on acreage. The first time homebuyer in Forest Highlands pays a one-time capital contribution fee (currently $37,000). HOA fees include memebership to both courses, access to two clubhouses, two swimming pools, tennis courts, and diverse and extensive activities programs for children of all ages.

Adults in Forest Highlands have it all: two golf courses - The Canyon Course being consistently rated in the top 5 of Arizona - a rich tapestry of social groups, golf tournaments, tennis tournaments, hiking clubs, happy hours, book and gourmet cooking clubs, themed dinners, charities and let's not forget parties.

Forest Highlands is also financially healthy, standing out as the Flagstaff's sole golf community to avoid bankruptcy and maintain positive balances throughout our economic downturns.

To find out more about homes in Forest Highlands, contact Eileen, Flagstaff's premiere Golf Property Real Estate agent!

realestateflagstaff@gmail.com or (928) 607-9610

Flagstaff Short Sales - The Complete Resource

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:52:27 -0800

Would you like to see all Flagstaff Short Sales, listed by price, without having to register or send me your email address?

Visit my Flagstaff Short Sale Site! It's right there!

Sellers, are you considering selling your home and wonder if you need to sell it "short"? Are you looking for an experienced, aggressive team to guide you through the Short Sale Process and successfully sell your home?

Visit my Flagstaff Short Sale Site! I partner with Arizona's most aggressive Short Sale teams to guarantee you success!

Yes, it's that easy.

Eileen

Flagstaff Bank Owned Homes - The Complete Resource

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:58:40 -0800

Although our inventory of Flagstaff Bank Owned Homes is thinning out, each month, new foreclosed homes are offered for sale.

If you would like to see only Flagstaff Foreclosures or Flagstaff Bank Owned Homes, offered by price and by neighborhood, feel free to visit my site: Flagstaff Bank Owned.

If you don't see what you like today, feel free to sign up for automatic notifications, browse Flagstaff Short Sales, or search all Flagstaff homes by price or neighborhood!

Don't worry. I won't call you or contact you unless you ask me first. I respect your privacy. When you are ready with questions or to see any properties, call! I answer my phone, or if I cannot, I call you back as soon as I can.

Flagstaff Real Estate. Neighborhood Reports: Ponderosa Trails

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:43:30 -0800

Based on data from the Northern Arizona MLS (insert appropriate disclaimers), the average sale price and median sale price of single family homes in Flagstaff Arizona show an upward trend in 2011!

However, buyers do not purchase homes in a city or a town. They purchase homes in a specific neighborhood whose location and amenities fit their needs.

That is why it is important for Sellers and Buyers alike to know the statistics for their immediate neighborhood.

Ponderosa Trails in Flagstaff, AZ is one of our newest subdivisions. Located in the Southwest of Flagstaff, directly adjacent to I-17, it is a very popular area for both full time Flagstaff residents and Second Home owners. Ponderosa Trails offers our largest selection of newer homes (built after 2000), walking trails, an elementary school, and a location that easily accesses all of Flagstaff.

In 2011, the average price of homes in Ponderosa Trails as well as the median price has risen!

In the first quarter of 2011, the average sale price of a single family home was $306,000.
In the fourth quarter, the average sale price is $322,000.

In the first quarter of 2011, the median price of single family homes in Ponderosa Trails was $300,000.
In the fourth quarter, the median price is $330,000.

Easily search all Flagstaff Homes, Condos, Bank Owned Homes and Short Sales.

For outstanding service you demand and deserve from a Top Producer, feel free to call
Eileen Schreiber at (928) 607 9610 or email at realestateflagstaff@gmail.com

Flagstaff Real Estate Neighborhood Reports: University Heights

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:20:40 -0800

Flagstaff Arizona Neighborhood Report: 2011 Sales of Single Family Homes in University Heights

While the trend in home sale prices in Flagstaff as a whole is UPWARD this year, it is important to look at home prices in specific neighborhoods.

Home Buyers do not simply buy a home, they buy a particular neighborhood.

According to information from the Northern Arizona MLS (insert appropriate disclaimers) University Heights in Flagstaff shows a downward trend in both average sales prices and median sale prices for Single Family Homes.

While the average sale price of a home in University Heights was $289,000 in the first Quarter of 2011, it has lowered to $254,000 in October.

Median prices show a similar downward cycle. While the first quarter median price of a single family home in University Heights was $305, 000, in the fourth quarter it is $254,000.

The fourth quarter is not over yet! We have to wait until January to see how University Heights fares in comparison to the rest of Flagstaff.

Questions about University Heights or Flagstaff? Call Eileen at (928) 607 9610 or email realestateflagstaff@gmail.com.

Easily search all homes for sale in University Heights!

Flagstaff Real Estate - Flagstaff 2011 Market Report. The trend is upward!

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:28:37 -0800

The question is posed daily. How is the market in Flagstaff?

The only way to answer that question is to look at the numbers. What are the average sale prices and median prices of single family homes, townhomes and condos in Flagstaff? What were they in January, and what are they now?

The trend for single family homes is UPWARD! Based on data taken from the Northern Arizona MLS (insert appropriate disclaimers):

The Average Sale Price of all single family homes in Flagstaff in January 2011 was $292,000.
The Average Sale Price of all single family homes in Flagstaff in October 2011 was $341,000.

The Median Price of all single family home sales in Flagstaff in January 2011 was $276,000.
The Median Price of all single family home sales in Flagstaff in October 2011 was $282,000.

The numbers for condominiums and townhome sales in Flagstaff show a slightly downward trend.

In January 2011, the average sale price for condos and townhomes was $212,000.
In October 2011, the average sale price for condos and townhomes was $192,000.

In January 2011, the median price of condo and townhome sales was $225,000.
In October 2011, the median price of condo and townhome sales was $193,000.

Welcome to Flagstaff's Best Real Esate Site where you can easily search all homes, condos and townhomes
by price and neighborhood!

7 Easy Breezy Ways to Get In the Swing of Push Marketing Your Blog

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:44:52 -0700

Fantastic Blog by Rebecca Levin. She always posts informative and useful, and fun! posts. Thanks Rebecca!

Via Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision):

Results come with effort.

No matter what platform you choose to blog on ActiveRain, an Active Rain Outside Blog, Wordpress, or Typepad, activity, research, and prospects come with effort. Once you push clients to you than your pull efforts will finish the marketing job.

Don't overlook the momentum of push marketing just because we are a socially enabled and 2.0 savvy community online.

Here are 5 Easy Ways to Get In The Swing of Push Marketing Your Blog

1. Register your blog with blog directories. There are a sea of blog directories to help you get exposure. Start with Technorati, Google, Dmoz, and Yahoo. Then commit to registering your blog to other blog directories, tasking yourself at 2 a day.

2. Advertise Your blog offline. Advertise your blog's URL on your business cards, newsletters, car decals, print advertising, home buying seminars, sign posts.

3. Advertise your blog online. Podcasts, online radioshows, market conditions reports, email signature line, online flyers, and social networks.

4. Network with Local Bloggers. Get involved in your local online community. Seek out local bloggers on microblogging and blogging platforms and read and comment on their blogs. Making an investment of your time locally with bring awareness and readership to your blog on a local level. You might even get a little link love to your blog in the process.

5. Mobilize Your Blog. Mobile search is increasing at a fast pace. According to a recent study by the Kelsey Group,

"... local searches make up about 28 percent of mobile searches....That figure will grow to about 35 percent by 2013."

Regardless of the platform you blog on, in or outside of a network, mobilizing your blog is pretty simple. Research your platform and get mobilized.

6. Utilize your whitespace. You have got great real estate Internet property right on your website so make the most of it. If your blog isn't built into your website platform you can still add links advertising your posts or get a simple feed from feedburner added to your website to feed your blog posts. There's also a whitespace on Twitter, Facebook and Linked In called a business profile. Add a link on your business profile to your blog

7. Become Keyword savvy. Savvy? Put in the time to check your keywords on Google before creating your headline and writing on a topic. Write the keywords down that you want to write your post about and then check them on a keyword search tool. If your keywords aren't searched by consumers on the search engines you can't expect the traffic to flood to your posts.

Use your keywords throughout your post. Use your keywords more than once and use variations to increase your keyword density. Do not worry about keyword density after you you have written your post or you will sound robotic and lose your blogging voice in your post which will be a big turnoff for blog readers.

Add keyword friendly footers to your posts so they will get picked up in the search engines.

Every great swing into marketing deserves a push and pull effort. Build your momentum with these 7 easy ways to get into the swing of push marketing your blog.

Of all things - FACEBOOK Saves the Day!

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:39:22 -0700

It's been very smooth sailing for my First Time Homebuyer in Flagstaff. He and his wife found a great home they can afford, and from the minute we presented the offer, we have all felt - "ahhh, this is one of those that is meant to be!" Our offer was accepted, he qualified easily for his VA Loan, inspection went well... home free!

When you think you have experienced all the glitches, a new one rears it's head. It's been almost three weeks and the VA could NOT get an appraiser to accept the assignment! Two appraisers down....

The clock is ticking. We are a bit on edge. But oh joy. The third appraiser said yes, we can breathe again.

Day One. Day Two. Day Three. The appraiser does not call to make an appointment. The VA tells the lenders that the property has been assigned.

Day Four.

I used to be an appraiser and I know there are precious few qualified for VA Appraisals. I called the Lender and asked, "In an off-chance, is the Appraiser Jane Doe?" YES! She's the one who apparently has accepted the assignment.

Well hush my puppies, that is my old boss. As a Realtor I know I am not allowed to speak to appraisers about home values, but nothing stops me from asking her WHY SHE ISN'T MAKING THE APPOINTMENT!!!

Hmm. That old phone number doesn't work. Maybe she changed her company name, I can't find anything close to her name and address in the phone book. The phone number on the order form also doesn't work and there is no email address. ????

My Buyers are getting close to panic.

OMG. Isn't she a Friend of mine on Facebook? FACEBOOK? And lo and behold, she is. In one swift little internet move I find her profile which has her email address and contact her. She responds right away and we soon discover there is a problem with the VA Portal. Thirteen telephone conversations and 26 emails later, Problem Solved!

While I use Facebook mostly for fun, this was a happy way that Facebook actually saved a deal and allowed my Buyers to start breathing again. I know they are grateful for that.

Yipppeee!

Click here to find Flagstaff Real Estate

Sometimes Magic Happens, Even During Tough Times.

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:12:33 -0700

My first-time Home Buyer is the type who, within weeks of searching for her home, knew more about the market than I did. Each night after her two boys were in bed, she sat at her computer researching EVERYTHING about Flagstaff, Arizona properties. She made lists of townhomes, single family homes and manufactureds. She had plus and minus columns. She met with her lender and found out about every first time homebuyer program. When that lender didn't give her excellent service, she switched to one who did.

So, I love her.

We have spent months together trying to find the one, affordable home in Flagstaff that made her heart sing. Her husband said - if you like it honey, I love it. We have wanted her to like it. It's been tough and often disappointing.

Then we found it. Just perfect. The one! Great shape, wonderful loving touches.. home.

We offered, they countered, we accepted. What an absolutely happy time! After months of searching, many disappointing moments and exhaustion, THE ONE!

And then, the appraisal. We knew the appraisal was going to be tight, and we all believed we would have to regroup to make it work. But in the end, I could see that the Sellers would not be able to do it. If they sold at appraisal, we would have to go into a short sale. We had no time.

I couldn't bear the thought of my beautiful first timer losing this house. It was one of those nights where you go to sleep with a knot in the pit of your stomach, dreading the inevitable conversation you must have in the morning. There was no way to avoid it. Ugh.

In the early morning I checked the MLS. And there it was. A BIGGER and NEWER home offered at the same price as the one that was about to slip through our fingers. Could this be true?

Rather than call my sweet client with only bad news, I was able to say - Hey, OK, this one isn't going to work but let's see this other one today, what time can you make it? She was so overwhelmed and confused that she just followed my lead. In a rush to make an unexpected home viewing, she didn't truly have time to process that she just lost her dream home.

This truly is a happy ending.

She loved it, we offered, they accepted without a counter, we are in escrow and there will be no problem with the appraisal. This home is 400 sf bigger than the last!

We are all shaking our heads with happy disbelief at the perfect timing of this journey. With so much gloom and doom, hardship and negativity trying to infilitrate our lives (so it seems), it's wonderful to know first hand that there is opportunity for positive, marvellous and seemingly miraculous surprises.

Standing out to be Noticed: A positive story about Web Presence

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:43:16 -0800

I received a call at the end of last week from a woman at Zillow.com. She is in Washington State, nowheres near my hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona. The call began in the manner that more and more phonecalls begin:

"Hi. I got your name from the Web".

This woman was not a buyer. Buyer calls that start like that are my #1 favorite. However, this was as close to #1 favorite as I could wish for. This representative of Zillow.com was looking for their "Golf Home of the Week". Zillow.com and GolfDigest partner up to provide that home for Golf Digest's blog, "Deeds and Weeds".

I was absolutely gobsmacked! The reason I was taken aback is that she found my name while looking for a Realtor in one of our premiere Golf Communities, Forest Highlands. Real Estate representation in Forest Highlands has long been dominated by a different company than mine. I only began to list and sell homes in the Highlands within the past two years.

But. And for those of you reading this I know you understand how enormous this "but" is. But. Within the last year, I have spent countless hours honing and improving a web presence, working furiously to get up there, get out there, appear, blink, flash and link when anybody searches for Flagstaff Golf Properties. I don't know about you, but I'm never sure how much all of this web stuff is working. It's an insanely fun way to spend my time, but what is the ratio between time spent typing and clicking, and actual homes sold?

That call was an unexpected but welcome reminder that being out here on the web works! I didn't make a "web sale", but attracting a free and respectable advertising platform that I can then shamelessly use to promote both the property and myself (of course) is priceless. I now know that all of this clicking and typing does help us do what we really need to do in order to succeed in this business:

Stand Out and be Noticed!

If you would like to see this life-changing advert in Deeds and Weeds, please click here.

For all Flagstaff Homes, please see www.TheFlagstaffWebsite.com.

How to Shine Bright in a stressful world without the stress of Competition.

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:07:11 -0800

The debates about marketing strategies on Active Rain are intriguing. One person's surefire marketing, contact and followup formulas are the "Oh I would NEVERs" for others.

Absorbing the variety of our heartfelt opinions, and experiences, is a daily remindeer of a core belief. This core belief has allowed me to start my real estate business at a difficult time, and honestly, do better than I dreamed.

Core Belief.

We are not competing for listings or buyers. I am not in direct competition with any of you for business.

OK, I can see you now. The eyerolls, the "yeah rights", the chuckling of what on earth is she smoking? Competition is the essence of Real Estate! If you get the listing or the buyer, I don't! It's that simple! ZERO SUM!

My beliefs have a spiritual basis, but can be easily expressed in non-spiritual language. I will try to use all language to make the underpinnings of this belief clear.

1. In life, I am never competing with anyone, simply because there is always enough for all of us.

2. The cacaphony of qualities that make me, me, meld into unique vibrations, frequencies, or better yet, meld into a Me Beam of Light.

3. You, too, have a distinct cacaphony of You qualities that sends out vibrations, frequencies, or a unique YOU beam.

So really, we are each our own distinct lighthouse sending out our own unique beams.

4. The people who feel, see, and respond to your beam don't register mine. Those who see mine don't truly register yours. Oh, they might see or feel or respond to all of ours in an instant, but "my" people are attracted to me and my beam, and "your people" are attracted to you and yours.

And remember, there are enough people for all of us.

5. My job in life, and in Real Estate, is to shine that light, beam that becaon, build and decorate and improve that Lighthouse, or symphony, or melding of my unique vibrations, to the utmost. Shine, exude, beam, send out... ME... to the best of my ability in every minute. Be more of me all the time.

6. Your job is to shine, beam, exude, exalt, send out... YOU.

7. In doing that, we are making ourselves more visible and findable and welcoming to the people who are attracted to us.

This type of belief puts the responsibility of my life and my business on me, and takes out the stress of competition.

8. If I'm not attracting clients, it may not be that I'm doing anything wrong, as much as it may mean I am not tuned in as best as I could be to what makes me, me.

9. Without that level of self-awareness, I can't exude, beam, send out, vibrate my uniqueness in the most clear and noticeable way. Maybe I am listening too hard to you, or listening to nothing in particular, not focused at all, and therefore standing there like an old but beautiful lighthouse lost in the fog, in the periphery of the crowd.

The lighthouse is always there, forever plugged in and ready to go. It's up to me, or you, to make it shine.

10. Shining me is enjoyable. It doesn't have a formula or a right or wrong. I will never do it perfectly. I can tell you what I do, but your formula and special mix of things that work for you will never look just like mine. I can say it "should" be enjoyable for you to shine You, but maybe you like a certain level of misery in your life and do better staying a bit miserable. That's what makes each of our beams attract different people.

My lighthouse is the Eileen Lighthouse and Eileen people fill it and come to it. Yours is the You lighthouse, filled with people who think mine may be nice, but yours feels more like home.

And remember, there is always enough for all of us.

If you are feeling attracted to Flagstaff, Arizona, please visit my website, www.TheFlagstaffWebsite.com, which is always beaming out Flagstaff Homes by neighborhood, price and golf community! If you are a Flagstaff Market Observer, please see the Flagstaff Daily Market Report.

Flagstaff Arizona January Market Stats are in!

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:32:39 -0800

In January of 2009, 38 Single Family Homes, Condos and Townhomes were sold in Flagstaff and surrounding areas. (Data source is the Northern Arizona MLS and does not include For Sale By Owners).

The average price of our sales was $335,000 while the average price per SF was $174.00.

In the final quarter of 2008, the average price per sf of condos and townhomes only was $175.77, while the average price per SF of single family homes was $183.63. If we combine the two, the average price per SF of homes, condos and townhomes in the fourth quarter of 2008 was $179.7. (This does not include manufactured homes!)

In January of 09, the average price per SF of total sales dropped 3.3% from the last quarter of 08 (while the last quarter of 08 does not include manufactured homes)

Interpretation?

Sales in Flagstaff Arizona will be posted daily (or almost daily) on www.TheFlagstaffWebsite.com. We will have to watch this first quarter in order to see whether prices are dropping, or if this is an indication that we have stabilized. January is considered "slow" or "slower" season for Flagstaff. I am starting to receive more calls and inquiries on my website than in November and December, which, I am sure we all hope, is an indication that the 09 Buyers have come out and are starting their search.

For personalized reports reflecting comparables for a particular neigborhood or home, contact me! For a PDF of this report, please see The Flagstaff Daily Market Report

Based on information from the Northern Arizona Association of REALTORSr , Inc. (alternatively, from the Northern Arizona Association of REALTORSr, Inc. MLS) for the period (date) through (date). This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Northern Arizona Association of REALTORSr or its MLS. Neither the Association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

A pregnant Golden Retriever makes a drive from Flagstaff special.

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:04:43 -0800

One of my New Year's Resolutions, or simply desires for this year, was to get involved in activities I enjoy. Building the first year of my business occupied all of my time (with breaks for tennis, of course). I needed to get connected, active, involved in something that fed my passion for life.

Paw Placement of Northern Arizona is a group of committed Flagstaff women (and their husbands!) who foster dogs that would otherwise be euthanized, and find them great homes. I'm not sure how I got involved, but there I was on the email list, getting notified of meetings I could sometimes even attend, requests to walk dogs (I walked Dino), and yesterday, Is anyone driving to Phoenix who can take a pregnant Golden?

Well, I'm driving to Phoenix. And I'm so happy to take her. I haven't met her yet, that will take place in a couple of hours. But an otherwise normal drive now fills my heart with happiness that I can bring this almost-mom to her foster family while they find them all permanent homes.

That kind of happiness, I believe, is what grows more happiness. It's not just about trying to "do good so good comes to me". In my beliefs, the more we stay in positive energy, the more we generate, which attracts more positive energy and events. By the way I have been gifted into feeling right now, I'm radiating for a few of us and will be attracting all kinds of positivity!

By the way, there is also the chance that she will give birth on my drive. If you have read any of my stories, you must be as sure as I am that she will. It's all part of the experience, and of course, great food for a new blog post.

If you are interested in either being a foster or adopting dogs that need homes, please see the Paw Placement website at http://www.pawplacement.org/; or email them at info@PawPlacement.org.

For an animal lovin' Realtor in Flagstaff, Arizona, with a website that lets you search all Flagstaff Homes by Flagstaff neighborhood, price or Flagstaff Golf Community, call or email me!

Flagstaff Arizona Daily Market Report - Now includes Condos and Townhomes

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:37:43 -0800

The Flagstaff Daily Market Report now reflects all sales of Single Family Homes, Condos and Townhomes in Flagstaff and surrounding areas.

For the Market Watchers amongst us!

The Market Report also includes weekly summaries.

For all Flagstaff Properties. For Flagstaff Golf Properties. For Affordable Flagstaff.

And so the Webversation Begins - Becoming an Online Realtor in the "wrong" market. Part I.

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:18:00 -0800

Confession Time.

As a relatively new real estate agent, I don't know how to develop a client base through face-to-face contact.

I mean, of course I know how to talk with real people from previous life experiences. But as a Realtor, most of my client conversations originate and develop right here, sitting in bed or at my desk, special brew of Eileen's tea by my side, typing on the computer.

History.

Realtor was on my “NEVER” list. The idea of scratching and clawing for clients was as appealing as spending the rest of my life in the dentist’s chair. I had been an appraiser and at the time of the Great Decision, was one of a team of two, building high-end custom homes in Flagstaff, Arizona. No doubt, Realtor made excellent business sense. And as things go, the Realtor who had sold a few of our homes was very interested in teaming up with me. Off to school, license in hand, I'm a Realtor!

Just a few months later, my seasoned partner dumped me. The idea of our team was apparently better than the reality.

At Scratch Bottom

I was devastated, scared, overwhelmed and depressed. Truly.

The building business had bottomed, and now I was exactly where I NEVER wanted to be: a new Realtor who had to start from scratch, the word scratch my reality, coupled with the word claw, what I needed to do in order to eek out a living at a time when the market was grinding to a halt.

Hope

In my overwhelming desperation, I turned to my one good friend, the computer. We have always been great companions. I started browsing Real Estate Sites late into the night. Something started to stir. A sense of excitement... purpose... a creative spark. I CAN DO THAT! No, I don't have connections here in Flagstaff, I don't have children whose parents I can meet through our activities, I don't have any real way of building a successful client base in these slow times... but I can build a website! And I can market that!

My New Identity

With a new sense of purpose driving me, I went at it with passion. I found a wonderful web company, Cevado Technologies. I love them deeply to this day. The inspiration and ideas for mysite came from above or beyond (depending on your beliefs), but my ideas and vision were certainly from a deeper source. I had no “realtor” source within. And the ideas kept coming, all hours of the day, waking me up at 4 AM when I grabbed my laptop and clicked, designed and wrote furiously until dawn.

The essence of the site was customized IDX searches linked to pretty pictures. Everything else was built around that. This was my New Identity, one I could market and sell. The result is www.TheFlagstaffWebsite.com.

Google Ads

The site was up. Glorious day. Glorious Week. Glorious Month. And - nothing happened. Of course. Nobody knew my masterpiece existed. When I began to spend money on Google pay- per-click, the world opened up. By refining ads, my site went from 5 unique visitors per month to over 2000 and counting.

Webversations.

So back to the original point of this article. Given that today, at least 84% of Buyers start on the web, almost all of my originating conversations are webversations – faceless, voiceless emails from potential buyers searching my site.

“Could you please send me more information on this listing?” From that piece of black and white, I know the price of the home and sometimes, the originating city of my potential client. But nothing more - no subtle body language clues; no clothes divulging deeper signs of their personality, (crocks or stilettos, baggy pants or a sundress, natural or doctor designed?)… I don’t know if they are casual or formal, serious or just browsing, southern or east coast, down to earth or high falutin.

I just know that they want more information, and the Webversation has begun. Now I have a chance.

Part II – Webversations to Closing – Miracles DO Happen. (coming next!)

Do you experience this? From Sticker Shock to Loving us! in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:42:37 -0800

Saturday was a normal day for me in the life of a Realtor in Flagstaff, Arizona.

I met my new client at 9:00 AM at Little America, one of our Landmark Hotels in Flagstaff. She lives in Alabama and, faced with layoffs and life changes precipitated by the current economy, is interviewing for a job in Flagstaff.

Like many of my clients, she did her homework and research through my website, TheFlagstaffWebsite.com. She and I had emailed for weeks. She presented me a list of about 15 homes she wanted to see, ranked in order of preference.

She was organized, smart and very funny! We clicked.

Her price range was under $300,000, the closer to $200,000 the better. I don't know what you can get in your market for under $300,00, but I do know that almost every one of my out-of-town clients suffer something like sticker shock when they see our Flagstaff homes in this price range.

Flagstaff is a unique and beautiful area in Arizona. We have trees, mountains and gorgeous four seasons. We have an excellent hosptial, Universities and some industry. We are small and surrounded by Forest, meaning we have not, and will not, expand with large developments. Between our geography, land scarcity, our amenities and our services, we truly are special.

And therefore, we aint cheap.

My client showed the common signs. As we drove up to the first home, I could tell she thought I was mistaken. She furrowed her brow, looked a little nervous, and reached for her printouts - the ones with the pictures that pretty much look nothing like the listing.

I reviewed what we were about to see - built in the 70s, partially remodeled, $264,000. And waited. She looked at me, looked, down, looked around, wiped her mouth, then blurted in the way that truthtellers blurt, (in her Southern Accent) - Hell, this would be $80,000 tops where I come from!

I nodded my head, said "I know", and escorted her gingerly to the front porch.

And so it went.

Nurturing my out of town clients through sticker shock is an art. I have to let them see, feel and absorb. I have to let them calculate in their head how much it would be back home. I nod my head, compassionately understand, and slowly and honestly explain that here in Flagstaff, Arizona, we pay for the privilige of being in Flagstaff.

And it is a privilege. Yes, you can find less expensive homes in other areas of Arizona. You can. But then, well, you see.......you have to live in those other areas. It's hotter in the Summer, or smaller, or lacking amenities. There are less trees, no hospital or no universities. If it's a second home, it's a longer drive and not as fun. As the day wears on and the out-of-towner considers these other options, she slowly understands. She relaxes. Starts to smile. She might not get the house she imagined, but yes, living here can be a privilege deeply enjoyed.

At the end of our day we saw two homes she liked. Of course they were about $150,000 more than she thought they were worth, but two possibilites are better than none! I have not yet heard how her interview went and hope she got the job. That would be one VERY important reason to move here, and after she does, I know she and her family will discover why Flagstaff is worth it!

For all Flagstaff Homes for Sale. For Flagstaff Golf Homes. For Affordable Flagstaff.

Introducing the Flagstaff Daily Market Report!

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:25:27 -0800

For those of you who would like to see how our market for Single Family Home Sales is unfolding on a daily basis, please bookmark the Flagstaff Daily Market Report. Every day I will update it with new stats. If I miss a day, I promise I will back date.

The data is taken from the Northern Arizona MLS and is only as reliable as the data input into the service. The regions chosen include Flagstaff and Surrounding Areas. This report follows single family home sales, and includes condos and townhomes.

If you would like to see all Flagstaff Homes for Sale, by price, neighborhood, golf community or by searching the Flagstaff MLS, please see the Flagstaff Website.com.

Happy Sunday!

Looking for suggestions from computer techies

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:07:39 -0800

Hi. I am working on a daily market report that self publishes from excel to a web page. That is the easy part. The hard part, for me, has been copying the code from the report into either my website, my blog or here, and getting it to show graphics.

Do any of you techies have any suggestions? I can print it to a PDF file and upload the file every day, but that's not the real goal.

The prize for helping me is.... hmmm..... umm..... well... depending on where you are..... ummm... will have to figure that out.

Thanks techies!

Eileen

Flagstaff and Sedona - A Day in Arizona Heaven

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:29:51 -0800

One reason Flagstaff is so loveable to me is that we are so close to Sedona. When I've enjoyed the blue skies, sun and white snowy scenery of Flagstaff, but am ready to warm my bones, it's jump in the car and go!

The drive to Sedona is part of the pleasure. Oak Creek Canyon is a world destination. Starting out at 7000 feet in the pines, you enter a twisty turny journey through magical peaks, valleys, streams, and stunning, multicolored rock formations.

You can stop and fill your bottles with the BEST water in the world. It flows endlessly from spouts built into a little rock wall next to the creek. You can stop and hike in the canyon, letting the forest and babbling water from Oak Creek envelop you, forgetting about Sedona below. Or, a half hour to forty five minutes later, you can emerge from this fantasy land into uptown Sedona, a culture so different from Flagstaff it's sometimes hard to remember how close we really are.

On cold Flagstaff days, my favorite things to do in Sedona are hike or play tennis. Brins Mesa is my personal favorite for a short but gorgeous and physical hike. It is an uphill walk starting at a trailhead at the end of Jordan Road that is breathtaking in two ways: the scenery, and if you do it fast enough, it really takes your breath away! Although Brins is my personal fave, there are countless possibilities for hiking, walking, enjoying.

Playing tennis at the Enchantment Resort is so extraordinary, it almost defies description. The Enchantment Resort is also an internationally renowned resort, with the number ONE spa in the world Mi Amo. Built in the heart of some of Sedona's most majestic rock formations at Boynton Canyon, it is an almost secret enclave dominated by natural beauty, and refined by human luxury. The courts are suprisingly open. For a minimal charge, I can stare at the red rocks and blue skies from the courts, allow the positive energy to envelop me, and whack it out with a friend or one of the pros. Even if I lose 6-0 6-0, I've had an incredible day.

So, if you are someone who loves to be spoiled by variety and don't mind the drive (that's a joke), Sedona is Flagstaff's solution to chilled bones or a simple love of adventure.

If you are interested in living in Flagstaff, please visit my site. For Flagstaff Properties, Golf Properties, Affordable Properitesand Luxury Properties, click!

Flagstaff Arizona Market Report - Single Family Homes, Jan 5 - 11 2009

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:04:16 -0800

Yes, it's already mid January.

Happy January to all of you interested in following weekly Flagstaff Arizona Single Family Home Market Stats! While I realize this is neither humorous nor engaging, market-watching is a favorite pastime for those of us with a vested interest.

I hope these reports inspire head nodding (not shaking), eyebrow raising, smiles and eventually, glorious YAHOOOS!

I closed a sale last week. (YAHOO). I was happy to begin my new year with the news that my clients, who struggled along for three months, had loaded up the furniture and were on their way. I was happier still to know later they had water and heat, and the dogs were extremely pleased in the snow.

So, the market stats for Flagstaff Single Family Homes in the week of Jan 5-11!

(please click on the picture)

TheFlagstaffWebsite, For all Flagstaff Properties

Forest Highlands 2008 Market Report for Single Family Homes

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:42:23 -0800

This report provides information for every home that sold in Forest Highlands in 2008, as well as the overall averages that resulted from those sales. The data was taken from the Northern Arizona Multiple Listing Service with all appropriate disclaimers.

This Forest Highlands Market Report is a snapshot of the overall community. Nothing beats a personal report that reflects your homes' size, location, age, amenities, views and lot size. I am happy to create a personal report! Just ask!

The Forest Highlands 2008 Market Report for Single Family Homes.

For all Flagstaff Golf Properties, Please see the Flagstaff Golf Property Website.

OK People. What if WE were the Buyers who are driving us crazy?

Eileen Schreiber, ABR, Flagstaff, AZ (HomeSmart Fine Homes and Land) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:14:05 -0800

I agree. There is a bargain mentality raging through our nation that has not only infiltrated the Real Estate Market, it seems to define it.

Fed by constant news and images of foreclosures and distressed properties, plus a never-ending stream of statistics showing Seller Desperation, any potential Buyer who comes to the table feels it's time to get THE BARGAIN.

THE BARGAIN is no longer measured by carefully laid out statistics on pretty paper of neighborhood sales, price per square foot, list price vs. sell price, or any useful data, for that matter.

THE BARGAIN is simply this. Oh, they are asking 300K. I'll offer 150k! They must be desparate, cool, now I can practically steal this home!

WHAT IF?

To all of us out here, what if we were the buyers of today's world? Maybe some of us are. I can tell you that if I was in the position to buy right now, I, too, would be a lowballer. I would start as low as humanly possible and see where we land.

And if any Buyer came to me right now ready to offer something close to asking price, I would have to believe they just crawled out of a cave.

YES. WE KNOW that the CMAs we present reflect REAL asking/selling prices, and WE KNOW our info is valid. But come on. Rather than bitch and moan about these horrible lowballing ignorant buyers who want to practically steal properties, I think it's time to fess up that it is our own reflection we don't want to see.

For example, people who live in Phoenix have this idea that the Flagstaff Real Estate Market must now be flooded with beautiful little cabins in the woods with some treed land for less than 150k. There MUST be desperate sellers up there?

No. Not Happening. Not.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

We are all in this together. Seller's Agents and Buyers Agents know the deal. It's not about changing THEM, it's about changing how we negotiate.

I believe it's just our job to talk talk talk talk talk to Sellers, and explain that almost any offer we recieve, regardless how ridiculous we think it is, should be met with HAPPINESS. That lowballers rule right now. Give them a rose and a welcome party! They came to the table with SOMETHING...... and if nothing else, it will certainly force the Sellers to get real with their bottom line. It's a great exercise.

If a Buyer wants to make a ridiculous offer, CELEBRATE. It's an OFFER. Yes it eats up our time. Yes it may lead to nothing. Yes to all of the negatives involved.

But for me, the most important YES is.. IT'S AN OFFER. Now I have the possibility to close a sale, when all of the agents with ZERO pain in the ass lowball clients have NO possibility of doing that.

So, here's to the crazy making, blood boiling, teeth grinding lowball client. If you don't want em, send me over to me!

Check out my website, TheFlagstaffWebsite.com, for easy searches of all Flagstaff Real Estate,