active rain: Active Rain Emails Continue to Come - 08/23/10 11:55 AM
Although I have been absent from Active Rain for several years, I have continued to receive emails from Active Rain members asking questions about how to place their listings on Active Rain as well as thank you emails for all the many articles I wrote back in the day helping Realtors ®. It has been my pleasure to continue to help Realtors ® on the side while spending the majority of my time with Riede Real Estate and writing on my own outside blog, Sacramento REAL Estate Voice.
Those were the days...back in 2006 when
March of the Penguins won Best … (24 comments)

active rain: Are You Watching the Commercials or the Game Today? - 02/01/09 07:31 AM
Not being a huge football fan, I was wondering how many Active Rain members are watching the Super Bowl today.
It would seem that clients are preoccupied with the game today as the phone is silent.
Good day for me to catch up after a busy week with no time to blog.
I heard that the commercials today for Super Bowl are geared more for the rough economy that we are currently experiencing. I'm curious so the TV is on in the background to catch the commercials.
Are you a commercial fend or are you routing for the  or the  ?
Did … (15 comments)

active rain: Real Estate 1, 2, 3 - 01/28/09 04:37 AM
This morning I received a counter in response to an offer for my FHA home buyer. This REO agent crossed off an item I had typed on the Purchase Order.
This is a BIG NO, NO!! Real Estate Agents, if you are not aware, please become aware that you NEVER change or cross off items on a Purchase Contract.
That is why we have Counters!! Please learn to use them. Counters are used to indicate what the Seller will NOT cover nor accept.
I am continually surprised at the lack of knowledge out there in the Real Estate world. We have rules for … (12 comments)

active rain: Long Timer Here on Active Rain is Asked to Speak - 01/26/09 12:34 PM
What a surprise to have been asked by our Sacramento Association of Realtor MLS system, Metrolist to take part in a seminar about social networks. 
Active Rain was obviously one of the major social networks discussed and since I have been a member here on Active Rain since August 2006, I was the likely choice to have been asked to participate on the panel for the seminar. Linkedin, facebook, Trulia and Twitter will also be the focus of this February training seminar in Sacramento at the Sacramento Association of Realtors.
My guess is that due to my Google rank on the Internet … (15 comments)

active rain: A Day of Hope - 01/20/09 01:35 AM
Today, is a day of hope for all of us!
Let's wish the new President the best for his work is just beginning.
Much to be done to give us a renewal and much hope for change.
Getting involved with our communities and giving of ourselves, I believe will be the focus of this renewal and change.
Together, we can make a difference. Divided we will keep the status quo.
What will you do to give back to your community? How will you do your part to make change happen?
As Realtors, Mortgagors, Stagers and Title/Escrow members we all need to … (2 comments)

active rain: A Gentle Reminder - 10/02/08 03:39 AM

Real Estate is a business of communication.
Home Buyers and Sellers need direct and thorough communication in order to understand what the process of buying a house, condo, business opportunity or land.
However, in this day and age of Tweeting, emails, text messages and cell phones sometimes the tackle message is over looked.
Just last week I personally received a beautiful card with a hand written note inside from an Active Rain member I don't even know.
An article that I had written, Sometimes a Realtor Needs to Give A Hug touched her and she wanted me to know how much she appreciated … (35 comments)

active rain: The Media Comes Calling - 09/23/08 06:42 AM
Sacramento Real Estate Voice, my outside blog was recently interviewed by a leading magazine called Sacramento Business Journal.
When called by the Sacramento Business Journal for an interview I thought that was all there was to it but within a few days I was contacted to provide a photo op.
Just to reiterate what our own Active Rain member, Jeff Dowler wrote in a recent article entitled "Engaging the Media..." you need to respond quickly. The media has a dead-line for their article.
So, on this day when I would have preferred wearing a solid color, I quickly ran over to the office … (23 comments)

active rain: A Sunday to Reflect - 09/21/08 03:31 AM
On this Sunday, take a moment and think of those who are having a difficult day...
Someone who is ill and suffering Someone who has to show their home that once was filled with laughter and now is filled with tears Someone that is cleaning up after Ike Someone who has lost their job Someone who will die today in Iraq Fill in number 6 and more with those WHO need our thoughts and prayers.
There are agents who are also loosing their homes in this Real Estate market. The time has no barrier nor does it only select a few. There … (15 comments)

active rain: Sometimes A Realtor Needs to Give A Hug - 09/20/08 05:32 PM
Yesterday started off as a normal day for me in Sacramento, showing one of my home buyers more REO and Short Sale Houses. It seems that I've been doing that for eons, writing offers and still no acceptance from the Banks.
FHA with 3.5% back for recurring/non-recurring closing costs does not appear to be on the radar screen for the Banks.
But, we keep trying!
Lately, we have been zeroing in on the REO houses but this time we had one Short Sale to see with all the Bank-Owned properties.
I had called earlier to make an appointment at the Short Sale … (42 comments)

active rain: A Tip to Hang Your Cell - 09/14/08 06:10 PM
While attending the California State Fair a couple of weeks ago, I came upon a booth that caught my eye and just had to buy this great little device.
It's called a Clip Hanger for cell phones. Women can clip their phones to the outside of a purse making it easier to locate quickly. Or clip it on to a belt loop.
I find that when I'm showing a house, I simply put one of my fingers through the loop to carry it without having to drag my purse in and out of the car.
It also makes talking and using the … (23 comments)

active rain: What Every Computer User Must Have - 09/14/08 07:17 AM
Have you ever lost information on your computer? Has your computer ever crashed? Do you back-up your files?
I have to share something with you that I recently bought that I think is fantastic. I have a back-up external drive that sits on the side of my computer and I hope that it downloads but to be honest, that is only a hope. The Geek Squad from Best Buy set it up for me a couple of years ago but to be honest I have no idea if it is doing the job that I hope it is.
Recently, while watching … (30 comments)

active rain: Do You Practice The Golden Rule? - 08/14/08 02:50 PM
There is nothing better than living by the "golden rule."
Whether it's in business, family, friends or perfect strangers we all need to remember to treat others as we wish to be treated.
Egos in Real Estate sometimes run very high but true professionals never need to put others down in order to lift themselves up. 
So, while the economy stinks, escrows become harder to close and things are just pretty much more difficult...remember to apply the "golden rule."
Common courtesy is also a big part of our business and life. With all the short sales and REO properties, agents seem to … (66 comments)

active rain: The Power of Active Rain - 07/01/08 06:49 PM
As an Active Rain member since August of 2006, I have had the opportunity of getting to know many professionals within our real estate community. Active Rain provides each of us with an experience that continues to assist us, as Realtors.
This past week was no exception. I received a call last month from a former client, Jenni whose house I had sold 3 years ago in Sacramento. Jenni had moved to AZ. She was disappointed that she had not heard back about a job and indicated that she would be moving back to Sacramento.
During that month, Jenni did hear from the … (64 comments)

active rain: Who's Going To Inman In San Francisco? - 06/26/08 04:30 PM
Calling all Active Rain Bloggers...
Are you signed up for Inman Connect in San Francisco? If not, get on the stick and get registered.
This is a great event where you can learn how to take your business to the next level, connect with other bloggers and share a great experience by meeting other Active Rain members face-to-face.
Last year's Inman Conference was a fantastic experience which is why I am thoroughly endorsing it to you, this year. Great speakers are lined up to share the next level of blogging, vendors will be present to show what you might want to … (57 comments)

active rain: Please Give a Warm Welcome to Marian Bennett, Realtor - 06/24/08 09:19 AM
Active Rain has a new member that I would like to formally introduce to the "rain."
Marian Bennett is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in San Mateo County in the Half Moon Bay area in Northern California. She is a Bay Area native, one of the founding members of Coastside Mother's Club which now has over 200 members, a huge animal rescue supporter who started Half Moon Bay Review Pet of the Week and contributes to the Half Moon Bay Recreation Division Scholarship Fund for needy children with each closed real estate transaction.
Marian is happily married with a daughter attending Cal Poly and a son attending Half … (37 comments)

active rain: ATTACKED Bloggers Emerging - Lend a Helping Hand - 04/16/08 05:02 AM
The Tomato Attacked Bloggers are emerging from the depths of the unknown, slowly but surely.
I ask you to support each one with a comment or two to help them gain back their rightful place before this horrendous attack on their blog sites.
They didn’t deserve this attack and I hope you can take time out of your busy schedule to lend your support to all of them.
As you may have read in the recent article, Hacker Shuts Down Selective Tomato Blogs, a very sick hacker penetrated one of the servers that housed several bloggers blogs. The attacker was … (69 comments)

active rain: Will You Light a Candle? - 12/09/07 11:34 AM
No matter what your stance on the war, we all agree that our thoughts and prayers are with the troops especially over the Holiday Season. These brave young men and women are far away from home during a time where families come together... remember the families of the troops and light a candle for them, too.
Won't you light one candle?
 
 

I recently learned that Missy Caulk's son, Jamie will be leaving to serve in the Navy on the 18th.
This is a difficult time for a lot of families and what they are sacrificing. Considering how large Active Rain is, I would … (6 comments)

active rain: What a Friday! - 12/07/07 02:29 PM
What a great day I had, today! I was invited to attend a round table discussion with some of the leading Home Stagers.
Lori Kim Polk, the facilitator of the round table discussion of Home Stagers included me, which was a thrill. I so enjoyed getting to meet Lori in person and the other top notch Home Stagers. For those that don't know, Lori is right here on Active Rain with the Artful Jouney Designs and Staging.
The event took place in Roseville at a wonderful furniture warehouse called Welcome Home and Lori's daughter decorated and provided a lovely lunch for all that … (40 comments)

active rain: Winners of the OKtoberFest Carnival - 10/16/07 05:06 AM
Bloggers were Listing homes and condos while blogging and advertising for their Seller's.
The Realtors had a challenge to add photos, videos and neighborhood information while making sure to describe and title each of their photos.
Not an easy trick while keeping the reader entertained and informed.
It's always important to read the rules and make sure that you follow the instructions as well as to read prior winning Carnivals Contestants.
We have a First Place Winner, Second Place Winner and a tie for Third Place.
I wish to thank all those that participated and took the time to enter. The more you enter, the … (30 comments)

active rain: Do I Know The Writer? - 10/12/07 10:14 AM
First we need to define "Transparency."
According to Wikipedia, transparency is the property of allowing the transmission of light through a material. 
You ask how does this relate:
to my me to my bloggingin my career  Quite simply, this is the age of transparency.
The public wants to know what's behind the scene. They want to know the real YOU, they want to know the SECRETS as they perceive them, they want to know if you are HONEST. The days of keeping the public in the dark are over and now it's time to open the curtain and be seen.
For those who are honest, … (60 comments)