How To Find Information Online and Then Find The Right Agent - 04/30/09 11:18 AM
The Internet is a wonderful place. Information that was once only available to licensed Realtors is now on-line. One great use for the Internet is to research Realtors! Real Estate websites should be seen as a valuable resource to educate yourself prior to calling an agent...much like a medical website. (ok....please don't think I'm comparing Realtors to doctors)
I have spent quite a bit of time on-line answering questions for potential buyers and sellers. Some are simply asking questions about a particular property....but some are asking specific, serious questions about procedures and market conditions. These range from how to negotiate home repairs to what to expect when buying a short … (0 comments)
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Real Estate Peacocks? or Sparrows - 04/29/09 10:22 AM
In the era of economic contraction......do you still see the Realtors driving the $80,000 BMWs? Now hold on....if you drive one of those cars, that's not the point of this post :). It's the attitude! I wandered into an open house with one of my new clients....and in strutted a Peacock Agent. He wandered around spouting information and asking questions without really listening to the answers and "educating" poor little us on the neighborhood and market. Cute!
As I walked out with my buyers, they commented on how many of those agents they had met in the past. That the arrogant..."I know better … (6 comments)
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Anti-Realtors.....They Blame Us, But What About The Pool Guy? - 04/27/09 09:46 AM
Anti-Realtors! We've all seen them! They lurk in the shadows of Zillow and local newspaper real estate blogs waiting for a new post or article by a Realtor so they can pounce on the comments section. The intent is normally to scare potential buyers and sellers from using a Realtor. They do this through intimidation...they position the potential client as an "idiot" if they don't handle their own real estate transaction and are "duped" into using a Realtor.
It's too bad...since those of us who are professionals in the Real Estate Industry know how much work and expertise goes into navigating … (132 comments)
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Silly Sunday: 25 Things about ME - 04/26/09 10:31 AM
My children have been bugging me to do this for Facebook....so I've started my own little Silly Sunday ideas (this is the only one, and might be the only one :)). To give you more insight about me....because I KNOW you were interested.
1. I love road trips...especially with Cindy!2.I'm about to become a mother-in-law...how did that happen?3.I'm still a natural brunette...every 3 weeks like clockwork!4. "of course these are my nails..I paid for them this morning"5.Everything else IS real.6.I aways plan to stay at my cabin longer than I tell my husband.7.My favorite color is still purple.8. My kids each … (14 comments)
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Remembering "Care" is Part of Fiduciary Duty - 04/25/09 05:38 PM
Real Estate Agents have a fiduciary duty to our clients....but that definition includes the word "care." Sure we know that that is meant in relationship to the financial and professional duties, but take it beyond that point.
I'm working with a family who now NEEDS to buy, they are a corporate relocation and they are out of time on the terms of the relocation bonus. We first went looking last December and there were many great homes on the market and nothing was moving. They believed that if they waited a little longer they would find the home prices come down … (3 comments)
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Do You Pre-judge Leads? - 04/24/09 09:42 AM
How far do you go with an unsolicited lead in qualifying? Do you make snap decisions? Here's an interesting story...
I was answering questions on Zillow a week or so ago and answered a question for an international investor. In beginning the email conversation....I've never spoken to him...his original ideas for prices seemed very unrealistic and he was only here for a short time. But I don't prejudge clients and I tried to answer questions and send listings as he requested.
Did I spend all day or night on this....no....I responded on MY time.
But the long and short? He turns … (6 comments)
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Why Blogging To Show Personality Is Valuable - 04/23/09 12:55 PM
I read many blogs which are about personal issues or situations. I have also heard that the purpose of a blog is to showcase our expertise in our fields. True..... In fact, I've even said this myself. I'm rethinking this!
This week I found a new client from my Travels With Karen blog. This is loaded with my Route 66 Trip and I haven't updated it since. I've mentioned it a few times and have a link to it from my main website, and this week a new buyer called be because they read it. They were googling Route 66 and it … (14 comments)
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Multiple Offer Market...What This Means To The Buyer - 04/22/09 10:17 AM
I'm a Southern California Native! I'm biased....but I do think that Southern California has a unique quality of life and that is appealing. I'm not trying to detract from all the other wonderful places to live in this country.....I enjoy the sharp mountains of Wyoming, the red rocks of Sedona, the wide open fields of the Midwest, the lush green of Virginia...but you really can't beat our weather and the ocean. (I know that's going to draw comments). As a result of this, we are in a Multiple Offer Market.
The fact that there is only so much real estate in … (3 comments)
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Realtors Were NOT Part of the Real Estate Problem - 04/21/09 08:56 AM
I recently guest-blogged for the "Lanser on Real Estate" blog of the Orange County Register. I was asked to discuss the current market in Brea, California. Although I did quite a bit of research, I used selected data to make my point....this was a blog and not a term paper. My conclusion looking at many months of trends and sales, was that Brea home values had stayed fairly constant over the past year.
Ooh....the Anti-Realtors came out of the woodwork! You've all seen them. They are on Zillow and in our local newspapers. They are angry and sniping. Very Anti-Realtor!
When … (24 comments)
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Agents Take Flight: Active Rain a Great Resource - 04/20/09 09:16 AM
Real estate can be a mysterious business. New or struggling agents often see the successful agents in the office most almost effortlessly through the day getting deal after deal. But is that really true? There are so many helpful blog posts on Active Rain about how to generate business and how to navigate transactions. But we have to take advantage of all the help and make it ours, watching won't create business for us.
One summer two little birds built their nest on our back porch. It was fascinating to watch the nest come together and then, eventually, to see the baby birds … (3 comments)
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E-Signatures Save Time, Money and Make Things Easy for your Client - 04/18/09 09:38 PM
I use an e-signature company when writing offers. I found it by accident once when I was in my WINFORMS program creating and offer. WINFORMS is the program we use in California from our California Association of Realtors and e-signatures are legal for Real Estate in California. That might be different for your state.
The link to the website of Docusign is at the bottom of this post...and the service is only $19.95. I can get offers written, signed and delivered all in one step from my computer.
After creating the documents necessary for the offer, I push a tab straight … (15 comments)
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Writing Offers Without Working - 04/18/09 11:55 AM
Quick funny story! I have been working with a couple for a few months. Not constantly...but have had them in the car at least 6 times. Friday, they drove by the "perfect" house. They wanted to see it today. I'm not going to be available, I'm going to the San Diego Air and Space Museum with my family today.
It's tempting to rearrange the day and take them....but these are very cooperative clients! There is an open house today, so they are going to go. I called the listing agent who very kindly offered to show them the house. This morning … (12 comments)
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Facebook Quizzes? Are you kidding me? - 04/18/09 01:11 AM
I admit it....long night, not bored exactly, but spare time? I'd like to say I have been busy writing offers and needed a break....truth? I've had a good week....but frankly I'm just goofing around..and yes, I've shared a bottle of wine with a couple of friends! :) Interested in the results?...too bad, here they are!
Personality Quiz: I'm the Class Clown....don't see THAT at all!
What Hair Style Are You: I'm an Afro....free and easy is the definition...with a little of rebellious spirit, hmmmm, could be.
What Tatoo am I:It's a bull dog with the statement "Only the Stong Survive"...enough said.
… (10 comments)
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5 New Clients This Week.....FREE from Zillow/Trulia - 04/17/09 09:58 AM
I know this has been a theme of mine...and this is a quick post. I have lots of other posts on how to get these clients yourself. I have my daily routine. I always start the day on Active Rain, blog a bit, post a few comments...then move to Trulia and finally to Zillow.
I have my accounts set up to notify me when new questions are posted....immediately. This is the very moment that a buyer or seller is thinking about real estate. How much better can it get than that? Throughout the day, I stop what I'm doing and address … (8 comments)
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What Happened to 9-11? - 04/17/09 12:24 AM
I'm thinking tonight..dangerous, I know! What has happened to the memories of 9-11? Just have to ask....remember how we felt? Remember? We loved each other....we cared about America...we were united!!! We were a nation!
We have common goals and interests! We are a people! We were attacked by terrorists who want to extinguish us as a nation....it's not a conflict or a man-made disaster...what is that? I just hope we all can remember....for always...what that day felt like. How we felt and what's at stake!!!
All Americans love this country....even if our vision of perfection is different....we know that perfection is … (7 comments)
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Pictures From Our Tea Party - 04/16/09 10:01 AM
Nothing particularly grand in the Tea Party in Mission Viejo. We didn't have 10s of 1000s of people and celebrities. But we did have our citizens...moms and dads and children and teens and grandparents and homeowners and store owners. While Ted Nugent was at the Alamo, we did get our local "Diamond Tom" who sang combinations of patriotic songs and Jimmy Buffet....what? :)
My son is on the right!
My son and his friend...
This couple has tea bags all over!
This tea is from the same company who provided the tea to those early … (18 comments)
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Get The Listing And The Price Reductions The First Day - 04/15/09 09:56 AM
I just read a blog post by Felix Krynicky about the sellers who "know it all" and want to price their home much higher than the market will support. I have a plan of attack for this situation which works very well for me. None of us want to walk away from business, but there are real costs in a listing....financial and time...so we also need to be smart about this and not take "drainers."
I call listings "drainers" when they are priced too high and the sellers have no intention of lowering the price. We all know these....they are "testing … (1 comments)
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Why We Drink Coffee - 04/14/09 09:31 AM
The news is filled with updates on the 2009 Tea Parties happening all over the country tomorrow. I find it amazing that Americans feel such a connection to our history that 236 years after the tea went into Boston Harbor, that act of defiance still evokes such a powerful image.
The Boston Tea Party was as much about our rights to be a part of the British Empire as our desire to get away from it. We were not treated with respect. We were taxed without our consent and without our input. Americans don't respond well to that....Like that first Tea … (10 comments)
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Brave Americans! Here's To Our Military Who Saved Captain Phillips!!! - 04/12/09 03:15 PM
I just have to comment on how proud I am of our Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard...not to mention all the reserves and National Guard. The intelligence, bravery and power of our military. In our home we are watching the amazing rescue of Captain Phillips...what an incredible example of bravery!
He's a true American Hero....he saved his ship and crew and ultimately, himself. And how about our Navy SEALS and other Special Forces...if this doesn't make you proud...well, I'm proud. And Grateful this Easter!
That's all I have to say.....wonderful triumph for all involved!
… (56 comments)
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Missing an Easter Egg? Uh oh! - 04/12/09 11:17 AM
This happens every year! We count the eggs and hide them. Most are fairly easy to find, and then....yep, one is missing at the end. My husband is in charge of hiding the eggs and has earned the title of "Captain Obvious" over the years. So we are always surprised when we are one short.
This morning was no exception! We always go through the same routine. We start by looking harder. We look in places we know he would never reach or stoop to hide them. The next step is to discuss the horrible smell waiting for us if we … (9 comments)
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I Just Passed My Broker's Test - 04/11/09 10:40 AM
Last week I asked you all for luck.....well it worked! I PASSED!!!!!
It was a long day. We have 100 questions in the morning and 100 in the afternoon. When I got to the afternoon session, everyone was doing the post-mortum about the morning questions. At one point I thought...."uh oh, am I this far off on all these items"? Seem my answers didn't match with theirs. That's a bad feeliing going into the second half.
Now...I only had to get 75% right to pass, so it could be I bombed the morning and aced the afternoon....and I was the first … (24 comments)
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Disgusting New Internet Scam....Watch Out! Using Our Military - 04/11/09 10:02 AM
We all get them....the Indian princesses or Arab Sheiks who desperately need our help for them to get several million dollars out of the country. Today I got a new one....with a twist that is really horrible. It's from a Sgt Eric Preston who is trying to help a service man in Iraq. The story went that this young man is in grave condition and he has money in Saudi Arabia which his family has sent to help him. But they can't get it out of Saudi Arabia due to the military problems.
So....this is where we come in. For helping … (8 comments)
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Be Grateful!!! You Control Your Own Destiny - 04/07/09 09:18 AM
Isn't that great news??? Your success depends on you! We are hearing of the great activity of the real estate market in most places across the country. So it's up to you to go find your business. You can do this on the internet, knocking on doors, making phone calls....If you are reading this, then blogging might be your thing.
Write articles, walk neighborhoods....Tweet!
I have 3 open escrows with 3 buyers and a seller all leads I got from direct contact through Zillow or Trulia. I have 2 offers out there waiting for answers with 2 more buyers who contacted … (13 comments)
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A Seller's Poem - 04/04/09 08:02 PM
What does this mean? A Realtor
Is that who's out front, at my door?
We asked they call first,
This one is the worst,
What are showing instructions for?
My house is the best on the block.
But the comps have left me in shock.
I know mine's worth more
Travertine on the floor
Buyer's don't like the price and they walk.
My agent is lowering the price.
She says that my house is so nice,
But the market is bad
And this makes me so sad,
But I am listening to her advice.
We just got an … (2 comments)
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California Association of Realtors Mortgage Protection Program: CAR Will Pay the Mortgage - 04/04/09 02:43 PM
Just announced this week by the California Association of REALTORSis a new Mortgage Protection Program. This program will be administered by the California Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability Fund (CARHAF) and will pay the mortgage payment up to $1500/month if a home buyer loses their job or accidental disability or death. There is also a one-time accidental death benefit of $10,000.
This is offered at no cost to the home buyer and the application is handled by the REALTOR as part of the transaction. To be eligible you must:
1) Be a first-time home buyer who hasn't owned a home in … (2 comments)
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Why Do Realtors Reduce Their Commission? - 04/04/09 11:47 AM
There seems to be a misunderstanding about what a real estate agent does to earn their money...because both clients and agents seem to be willing to reduce the commission.
Just this week....I received an email regarding one of my listings via Zillow. I called the buyer, arranged a visit to my listing, sent him to my lender, worked with both the buyer and lender over a period of 5 days to piece together a financing package that would work. The home is on leased land and the buyer needs a 20-year loan.
I answered numerous phone calls and emails from this … (17 comments)
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Remembering - 04/03/09 07:59 PM
I have had such a busy week! I'm so fortunate to be working in a field I love.I've been a real estate junkie most of my life. I grew up in Mission Viejo and moved there in 1966 (when I was 5). I have watched all the neighborhoods develop around us. When I moved in, Mission Viejo had a sign with the population...it was 1320. I have the picture..somewhere.
As the new homes were built, my mother and I took Sunday afternoons and went through the model homes. I remember as they built ones with sunken living rooms, with wood paneling, … (3 comments)
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