4th and last day of Mike Ferry - 01/28/11 05:16 PM
4th Day of Mike Ferry~
This was an excellent course and I learned things that I will use.  I have not committed yet but will hold all options open. 
Have you had a coach and did it put you into another league.
I am pumped up and ready to go.
 
Ginger Of Southport
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Mike Ferry Workshop~ Day 3 - 01/27/11 01:54 PM
Wow...
We are getting some powerful information.  I am loving it. The Mike Ferry organization has so much to offer.  They have the tools of the trade.
Today...Listing presentations.  Easy...scripted....just follow the script.
Also did some GOAL SETTINGS.  I have learned that you have to have a plan
and to work tht plan.
 
Great Day today,
Ginger Harper
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Mike Ferry Course continues - 01/26/11 10:03 PM
I am still in the 4 day workshop with Mike Ferry Trainer, David Long.  He is doing an excellent job and I feel motivated to take this real estate business as a real job.  I have been an agent and top producer since 1983 but know and realize that we must change with the times.  
The times of the day are not what they were 20 years ago...so...here I go once more.
The knowledge that we learn can never be taken from us.
 
Thanks Mike,
 
Ginger of Southport
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What is your job as a real estate agent? - 01/25/11 04:25 PM
We all know the answer to that. 
To list and sell property as often as possible.
How we go about doing that is what makes us all different.
If you have the chance to take the Mike Ferry "Action Workshop"....do it.
I have listed and sold real estate since 1983 and each time I go to a workshop like this, I learn something new or remember that something that I used to do...works...
Try it.    No one can take your education from you.
 
Ginger Of Southport
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Mike Ferry Class in Wilmington NC - 01/25/11 03:58 PM
I am having a great time with the trainer, David Long, who is our instructor for the next 4 days.  He is giving us ideas and tips of how to do business.  Not to think about it..but to listen to what he says for us to do and to just do it.
Guess what,  It works. 
You do not have to be a rocket scientist to sell real estate.  We have to ask questions and put the buyer and seller together.  Why re-invent the wheel when its working.  "If it ain't broken don't fix it.."  We have heard this time and … (0 comments)

American National Parks by Ken Burns - 01/24/11 02:33 PM

Tonight we are watching a documentary of American  National  Parks by Ken  Burns.  What a great program
If you are interested in National Parks of our Country...join us on PSB tonight.
I am excited with the photography and history of them.
It looks very interesting right now.
Treasure trove of our Natural Resourses..
 
Ginger of Southport
 
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American Greeting Card~Create a card 3 - 01/24/11 02:26 PM
 
I use this American Greeting Card program to keep up with Clients, friends and family...
Just got a new computer with Windows 7 on it and I can't make the program work.
Are there any experts out there that can give me an idea of what to do and how to do it that
will work for me continuing making the cards for other.
 
Please help if you can or direct me in a direction that can help.
 
With warm regards,
 
Ginger of Southport
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Your Salary Calculator - 01/24/11 02:06 PM

Your Salary Calculator-
 
I have a friend that shared this with me.  I think you will find it interesting.  To measure your job compensation to the closest match in the database, just click on the link below.  Sometimes I wonder if I make any money at all.
You will be asked to give your job title and loction.
Try it.  I was amazed..
New Report page
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How do you become a Mae or Freddie Mac listing agent? - 01/24/11 01:13 PM
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Is it Getting Harder to Please BPO Personnel? - 01/22/11 11:39 AM
I don't know about you all, but I am having a harder time pleasing the BPO  folks.  I am giving them  factual information based on our local MLS and the figures tell the truth.  They are wanting us to go back and get closer comparable properties  When nothing has sold in that area you must go outside that community to find comparable to do the analysis.  
I am also finding, after I have done the work...they order has been canceled.
 
Then, we have spent our time and energy to do the work and will not be compensated for it.
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Activerain Points Grow - 01/22/11 11:29 AM
Active rain Points
It is so much fun to see our points grow...from the beginning to what we have now.
You can learn so much from your active rain associates. Many have really neat information that can give you a link or idea that you can then explore.  I feel that I am not alone and that there are other Active rain folks just like me, needing new ideas or remembering the old tried and true systems that have worked for along time.  Every day I learn something new from our AR Friends..
WE can learn from each other.
Share..and I … (4 comments)

God Bless American - 01/22/11 11:26 AM
 
Who is "We"?      It was said in Turkey : "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish  nation or a Muslim nation. We  consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values." I found this very interesting.Do you know the Preamble for your state?Be sure to read the message at the bottom! Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of   Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..
Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of   Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation … (0 comments)

Hottest Thing on the Internet - 01/22/11 11:16 AM
Hottest thing on the Internet

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Heart of Southport - 01/22/11 11:12 AM

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American National Parks by Ken Burns - 01/22/11 11:08 AM
American National Parks by Ken Burns Recently we  watched a documentary of American  National  Parks by Ken  Burns.  What a great program.
If you are interested in National Parks of our Country...many of the Public Broadcasting  Stations are re-running this series by Ken Burns
I am excited with the photography and history of them.
It looks very interesting right now.  If you get a chance to enjoy this program, it is well worth it.
Treasure trove of our Natural Resourses..
 
Ginger of Southport

… (1 comments)

Southport, the place I call home - 01/22/11 10:59 AM

 
Southport is one of the most beautiful & charming small towns in North Carolina.
Visitors flock to Southport's picturesque tree-lined streets to explore its many restaurants, shops, marina, yacht basin & historic attractions. Hundreds of years ago, pirates & explorers visited the area.
Today, it's convenient location, where the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, & Cape Fear River meet, is still very popular with mariners.
Ginger Harper with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been a Southport resident for 27 years & shares some of her favorite things to do there.
 
Photos courtesy of Jim Harper.

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#1 Golf Course on North Carolina Coast - 01/22/11 10:48 AM
 
St. James - The newest incorporated community in Brunswick County rose out of the explosion of growth in our area. Located along the Intracoastal Waterway just outside the commercial district of Long Beach Road, St. James enjoys the peacefulness of the country within the close proximity of shops and restaurants. The Town of St. James includes three golf courses, a marina, restaurant, and its own fire station.
For additional information call me at 910-470-6713
gingerharper@seacoastrealty.com
 
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Skies are Gray...but I am looking to the Sun - 01/19/11 11:27 AM
It is a gray day today but I feel Sunny.  We are doing a BOOST Class and had a good group of
Agents there to share information with us.  It is good to know that we are still learning and that
will make us more productive in the future.
Hope you have a great Sunny Day today...
 
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker SeaCoast Realty.
800-346-7671
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Friends from the past - 01/19/11 11:22 AM

I would like to touch base with the school chums from the 1960's. 
It has been a long time since we touched base and I would like to renew these old
acquaintances.
I think continuing to have class reunions is important.  These were the friends of our youth.

Much has happened in Tar Heel since I left in 1966.  I suppose that everything does change, including
us.

 
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Short Sale Problems - 01/19/11 11:17 AM
Have you ever had short sale nightmares...
Think of al the things that can go wrong.
1.  Seller declaring Bankruptcy with out telling you.
2.  Sellers seperated and getting a divorce
3.  A 2nd of the property that you did not know about
4.  Sellers with no money at all.
5.  Utilites cut off
6.  Furniture and Food left in house (no electricity)
7.  Bankruptcy Attorney working with one of the sellers....Closing Attorney with the other seller.
8.  Closing Secretary..out sick with the flu
9.  Buyer having to bring money to the table for the seller..
 
The list goes on … (1 comments)

Home Warranty or Not - 01/19/11 11:06 AM
I have been pondering this question for a while.
We have offered Home Warranties in the past to sellers and to buyers.  I have been wondering about this importance of this.
In thinking it through, I have decided that it is in my best interest to offer it to the seller, but not to push in any way.  Let them make the decision on their own.
We used to get a fee for offering them but in North Carolina, that can not be any more.
Still think it is a good idea, to protect yourself.
 
Ginger of Southport
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Two New Tools - 01/19/11 11:01 AM
Today was our regular sales meeting day.  We had 2 guest speakers telling us about their products. The Newspapers are hurting for lack of advertising and they are now trying to make it more affordable for individual agents to use the papers services. 
Next we had a home warranty company that came in to entice us to use their warranty company with our sales.
Both are valid tools that we can use and I plan to do just that.
Ginger of Southport
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SeaNotes - 01/17/11 10:23 PM
Today was my first practice for SeaNotes.  Our choral singing group in Brunswick County. We have a great director who is bringing to us music of my youth. It is such fun to sing these songs and when I can remember them I will let you know.
Singing brings a new dimension to my life.  I need that sometime.  Being a Realtor for 28 years has added a few white hairs to my head.
 
LIfe is good and I am so Thankful for God's Gifts to me
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Jewels for Marissa - 01/16/11 06:39 PM
Marissa, our 2 year old granddaughter, loves Jewelery.  I decided to collect jewelery from the flee markets and put in a box for her to enjoy.  Many of my friends, learned what I was doing and started bringing me bracelets,  necklaces, rings and earrings for her to enjoy.  WE put these treasures in a Caboodle Box that the arranges carefully.  When I bring new thing home, I will put them in her box.  She then goes through the box and pulls out the new things that have been added...and makes much other them.
It is a fun thing to do with … (4 comments)

Sunny Sunday - 01/16/11 06:31 PM
And it is about time.
For the past 3 weeks, we have had either snow, sleet, ice or rain.  Today has been a glorious Sunday with a warm temperature.  It was a Day to go to Church, come home and have a delicious dinner and then to just visit with each other in the afternoon.
It is what memories are built with.  I do hope that our grandchildren will look back on their childhood, remembering family days on Sunday with others in the family and friends.
Hope you had a Sunny Day too...
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Great Saturday - 01/15/11 06:42 PM
Today has been a wonderful day today.  Jimmy and I worked hard at the beginning of the day...but after then, we decided to do some of the things that we our selves wanted to do.
It ended up that we cleaned out the garage, put the jars away, checked out the cedar tree that the grandchildren planted New Years Day. This was such a delightful day.
No pressure...Just fun..
 
Ginger of Southport 
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New Printer today.. - 01/14/11 04:55 PM
I have a delightful HP printer that was an All-In-One.  It did everything that I needed to have done.  It was great.  Well, last week, it decided that it was going to jam every time I tried to print something.  Do you realize how annoying that can be. 
Therefore, I bit the bullet and got a new HP Office jet Pro 8400A Plus.  Wireless.  All there of our computers can print on this One computer...wireless.
I am so excited and and tickled pink.
Ginger
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Grandma...That's me! - 01/13/11 10:25 PM
Well, I am the grandma and many times I feel like the Ma.   Today, I was able to enjoy three of my Grandchildren.  AngaElla, age 9 months, Marissa age 2 years 8 months and Joshua just turned 5.  They are the most delightful children of all times.  We take pictures of them and post them on facebook.  They are the apple of our eyes...
But that is not all.  We have an 8 year old that is the wreasler of the family and then a fourteen year old that is our Ti Won Chi...expert and also very handsome and then our … (4 comments)

Sagewood Path - 01/12/11 11:31 PM
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1501 Oak Island Beach Villas~Caswell Beach NC - 01/12/11 02:50 PM
 
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Oak Island Beach Villas - 01/11/11 10:07 PM
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Snowed out for 2 days - 01/11/11 09:50 PM
Well....today is 1-11-11 and we were snowed out again in the office.  Well not really.  Our temperatures have hovered around the 32 degree mark and it was drizzling.  Guess what we have to understand it that when it drizzles and the temperature is 32 degrees....the bridges freeze over and driving can be treacherous.  So many did not venture out into the snow.  I did...because I find that I work better in an empty office.
Hope that you have been safe and had a good couple of days.
Ginger
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The Market in Brunswick County - 01/10/11 11:59 AM
We've all heard it. We've all read it. We've all definitely seen it. People keep saying how Bad the Market is. But where is, and what exactly is "the Market"?

Real Estate Market's are so individualized and so local that your Friend in the next town over could have a decreasing home value when you actually saw your home value increase! When you go to see how much your home is worth, you want to know how the homes in your Specific neighborhood/area are doing, not the ones in your entire City and County area, mainly because you are competing … (2 comments)

How do you get to have a featured post? - 01/09/11 07:02 PM
I am stilll trying to be successful with AR and try new things a lot.
I see where some of our folks get to have a featured post.  Is that measured from the content of the post, or the number of hits or what?
I read them and think that they had written an exceptional post and enjoy them.
Any hints or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Just wondering.
Ginger
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How does one get Linking points in the system? - 01/09/11 06:53 PM
Hi All!
I am still a newbie and wondering how to get Linking points in the system.  I have worked on this for an
hour or so with no success.  I do not understan what a tag is either.  Tags are not key words.
I know that some of you are laughing at this old dog learning new tricks.  But at least I am
willing to learn.
 
With warm regards,
 
Ginger Willis Harper
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Shooting of Gabby Giffords. - 01/08/11 10:42 PM
This was such a tragic event that happened in our Country today.  I do not know much of Gabby Giffords but I do know that she did not need to be shot down with a gun for her beliefs.  I do not know her platform, I do not know of her beliefs, I do not know what she has accomplished,but I do know that this was the wrong way to express ones feelings about our social well-being.
Hope that she does survive and doing well
 
 
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Do YOU like to sell Condos? - 01/07/11 10:32 PM
I have been in this business for 27 years and condos are an area that I enjoy the most.  I am challenged by the different communities and in finding the details that are needed to be successful in giving the buyer all the information requires to be an owner.
There are about nine condo developments in our area of Oak Island.
Would love to learn any ideas that work for you.
With warm regards,
 
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Sea Coast Realty
800-346-7671
gingerharper@seacoastrealty.com
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Who is Doing CONDO Loans Now? - 01/07/11 10:27 PM
 
Every Monday, we have a Boost Class that helps us to stay up to date with our market in Brunswick County, and what is selling and in which community. Out of an office on 50 folks, about ten of us show up each week. WE run through the stats from MLS. This is very helpful informatin that we need to know when dealing with real estate.
Today we had a special program with a local lender, who discussed the financing of condos in the area. There are many guidelines that we must follow in order to get financing.
Wondered if … (4 comments)

Stats for Brunswick County - 01/07/11 09:56 PM
Today, I did my monthly update for my sellers that are currently listed for sale.  Our local MLS did an end of the year Stat report based on Houses and Lands that had sold over the past 12 months.  I found this information very interesting and decided that it was best used to give my sellers actual data base on actual sales in Brunswick County.
This has been most helpful in getting a reality check for us all.
If you have it..use it..
Ginger
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Handbook 2011 - 01/06/11 08:12 PM
 This is so good and I wanted you to have this Guide also.
Ginger of Southport
 
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Duty Time today...Wow! - 01/06/11 05:59 PM
Well, I had my first duty day today and it was awesome.  I was only on duty from 2:30 till 5:00 and I have 4 sales calls.   Can I tell you how many calls I usually get during the "Opportunity Time Slot"?  Zilch.. So if this is any kind of an indicator..we will have a good year in 2011.
Since January 1, 2011, I have listed one lot, re-listed 4 properties and show property to buyers 2 days in a row.
Let me know if you are feeling this also.
Ginger of Southport
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Opportunity Time - 01/05/11 08:57 PM
Opportunity Time
Well, I find myself having Opportunity Day today.  (A better way to sayDuty Time).  Actually I have been enjoying it.  It is the first exposure that your company makes when some one calls on the phone or walks through the door. We need to ponder that a minute.  What you say or do...the minute someone walks in or calls in is the first impression that those folks have of your company.
We need to remember that.
Hope you have a good Opportunity today,  Smile!
And a Happy New Year
Ginger of Sea Coast Realty
 
 
 
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It is the first Monday of 2011 - 01/03/11 08:34 PM

Winter is here.  Temperatures have been in the 50 to 60's along the coast.  On New Years Day...some of our family did the POLAR DIP in cold water.  Although the air temperature was in the mid 60's....the water temperature was in the high 30's.
I do know that the fishing is good.  WE have Drum, Flounder, Trout in the creek and they sure do taste mighty good when fresh caught and prepared for the frying pan.  Fix a bit of cole slaw and cut your own french fries and fry...a few hushpuppies and you have a meal fit for a … (2 comments)

Our First Annual Polar Plunge on Oak Island NC - 01/02/11 09:29 PM
What a hoot...
After we had our traditional New Years Day Dinner at 1:00...we decided to go to the Ocean and Do a Polar Dip in the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Oak Island.
WE put on our bathing suits and armed with Blankets and Towels...we headed to the Sea.  After deciding how we were going to do this...we grabbed each others hands..(tight....no backing out) and ran into the water.  The air temperature was about 65 degrees....The water temperature was about 39 degrees.. After the initial shock...we could not feel our legs.. I was really a weird sensation.
But.....the feeling … (6 comments)

Polar Dip on Oak Island today - 01/02/11 12:09 AM
Our family decided to have the first Annual Polar Dip on Oak Island.  Granted that the air temperature was 69 degrees...but the water temperature was ranging around 38 degrees.  WE have had some cold weather for the last half of December of 2010...
Anyway...5 of our family member decided to forge thru and do the dip.  it was wonderful to watch this.  Legs went numb...but they stay in the water.  Legs looked like they were sunburned when the got out of the water.  Changed clothes and came back to a warm fire int he fireplace at  home.
Great day for the … (5 comments)