Goodbye March - 03/30/08 11:25 AM
That was the month that was! I know we still have tomorrow but where did March go? Regardless of the current situation in the real estate market, weather it is on fire like it was in the early 2000's or suffering like it has been now for almost 3-years the seasonality of it remains predictable. There is always a flurry of activity as cold winter days change into sunny spring ones. This year has been no exception.
See the rest of this post on my website blog, "Keep it Real in Sacramento."
… (12 comments)
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The start of something new? - 03/25/08 10:30 AM
The news and commentary from our National Association of Realtors has not always been something to be proud of. More often than not they have, in my opinion, been guilty of delivering propaganda than telling readers the truth. That may be a bit harsh, but clearly they can find a way to put a positive "spin" about some very negative trends in our National real estate market.
I naturally read their news releases and carry the requisite salt so after reading a story this morning, "Existing-Home Sales Rise in February," I did some quick looking at our Sacramento market to see if … (0 comments)
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Have you seen my ad? - 03/21/08 10:49 AM
Last week I wrote about my success with ActiveRain's referral network. I posted a referral looking for an agent to take sign calls and web leads on a small listing I have that is located about 30 minutes drive from my office. Within 10 minutes I had passed on the first buyer to an agent who lives and works close to my listing.
With that success in mind, I am trying an ActiveRain advertising campaign with the help of Bob Stewart, who is in charge of ActiveRain community support. He is the link between the members and ActiveRain and he guided … (3 comments)
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Sacramento Real Estate - 03/19/08 12:20 PM
The wonderful weather we have been enjoying the past few weeks appears to have coaxed some buyers out of the darkness. There has clearly been an increase in activity. We have seen our listing getting more showings in a week than we were seeing in January and February. One of our MagnumOne agents recently submitted an offer on a house for her clients and received a counter offer stating the home was in a multiple offer situation and to submit their "highest and best" offer. According to the seller's agent the offer that was accepted was $13,000 above asking price.
While this … (0 comments)
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Easter is this Sunday? - 03/19/08 08:31 AM
As you know this year, Easter is this Sunday. Why is it so early this year? Easter always comes on the Sunday after the first, or Paschal, full moon following the first day of spring.
Spring arrives on Thursday and the moon will be full on Friday, the earliest Paschal moon since 1913. And that means Easter, the Christian holiday marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is this Sunday. It won't come this early again for another 220 or so years.
By the way, it turns out my "Irish Luck" story I posted on St. Patrick's Day is not true, at least according … (6 comments)
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Irish Luck - 03/17/08 01:21 PM
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There mired to his waist in muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy … (8 comments)
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Positive Sacramento Real Estate Story - 03/14/08 12:24 PM
From my other blog: Keep it Real in Sacramento
March 14th, 2008 From the Sacramento Bee - March 14, 2008
The Sacramento-area housing market is still declining, but a surge of buying by investors in February helped spark the first major slowdown in Sacramento County's long slide since 2005, DataQuick Information Systems reported Thursday.
Some highlights:
• Sacramento County showed a February median sales price of $257,000. That was down 27.7 percent from a year ago. But it was up from $253,000 in January. The median price is the point at which half sell for more and half sell for less.
• … (4 comments)
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Six Steps to a Successful Short Sale - 03/12/08 07:46 PM
That is the name of my most recent article on short sales. Seems like just a few weeks ago I was writing about the lack of media and even internet resources that had much information about short sales and I was worried that some troubled homeowners were missing out on an option to stop a foreclosure.
During the past few weeks I have been seeing more and more blogs and other internet articles about short sales and I am amazed at the variety of information being published. Many of them are just plain wrong and even misleading. Most have very specific requirements … (6 comments)
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Challenged! - 03/12/08 11:21 AM
I received the below message from Krista Bolf an agent in Medford/Ashland Oregon:
Subject: you are my point hero
I will be catching you soon
I tell myself that I am not here for the points but I find myself monitoring my rankings in California (203), Placer County (5) and Roseville (3) so I have to admit I enjoy seeing my rankings getting higher.
On the other hand I have enjoyed having a forum to let off some steam, ask a question, or just to write about what I am thinking about and knowing I will get some positive feedback. That really is pretty … (8 comments)
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Spring Fever - 03/11/08 07:29 PM
From my other Blog: Keep it Real in Sacramento
March 11th, 2008
Well, if I didn't have it before, the extra daylight at the end of the day has certainly brought on a bit of Spring Fever in me as well as the Sacramento real estate market. At MagnumOne Realty we have all been busy which reminds me we really need to find another agent who believes in building relationships with service and exceeding client expectations.
Based on our antidotal information the activity level in real estate market all over the Sacramento area has dramatically increased in the past few weeks. I have … (0 comments)
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Mad Cow Disease - 03/11/08 08:49 AM
Here is a lovely comment I read this morning on a local bubble blog. Even with two plus years of depreciation in our local home values some of these jerks who live in apartments are still mad they missed the train.
TheObserver said...
An interesting development. I recently spent 3 weeks in Southern California. Each weekend I ordered a massage from adds I found on craigslist. Each female that gave me a massage was in or formerly in the realestate industry. Additionally, all 3 of them propositioned me for sex for a higher price. I guess when some people they called the … (0 comments)
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Foreclosure Landslide - 03/08/08 02:23 PM
I just read an email from a credit repair specialist and he claims 1 in 200 homes will be foreclosed on. That is a lot of foreclosures especially when it means a much higher ratio for areas like mine around Sacramento.
Has anyone heard about lenders canceling their home equity lines of credit. I know of two people who got theirs pulled last week. Without some of the tools we have had in the past the slightest financial shock could send homeowners into foreclosure.
… (3 comments)
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Spring forward, Fall back - 03/07/08 05:37 PM
Don't forget, Daylight Saving Time officially begins this year on Sunday, March 9th at 2:00 AM but for most of us it means we set the clocks forward when we go to bed on Saturday night. This year DST will run through November 2nd.
Some interesting notes about Daylight Saving Time:
We don't actually save any daylight. Turning the clock forward an hour, effectively moves an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
The official spelling is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight Savings Time although it is the more common term and is found in dictionaries.
Can bars serve alcohol for an extra hour … (2 comments)
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Buyers! - 03/06/08 06:05 PM
I have spent the better part of a month showing homes to a nice young couple with a baby. It has been difficult because he wants to stay on a strict budget and she doesn't want to live where the homes with the features they MUST have are located. During our last trip out, just as conversation, I mentioned this cute little house I have listed as a short sale and said it was too bad it didn't meet any of their requirements. They were looking at newer homes; my listing was built in 1948. They had to have three bedrooms; … (4 comments)
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Pet Foreclosure - Amber needs help - 03/06/08 11:14 AM
Yesterday, I received the below email from a student asking if I had any experience with dogs losing their homes and families due to foreclosure.
-----Original Message-----
From: Amber Wertman
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 6:22 PM
To: julie@jalone.com
Subject: Sacramento State University-Amber Wertman
Hi Julie,
My name is Amber and I am a journalism major at Sacramento State.
The reason why I am contacting you is that I am writing a story about the
rapid increase in people losing their homes due to foreclosures and
consequently having to surrender their dogs as well.
Is there any way you can help?
Statistics would be great, really just any information at all … (4 comments)
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We Sold it! - 03/05/08 09:01 PM
We Sold it! After nearly 9 months on the market our little completely remodeled doll house in Anchorage was sold today! Our Realtor, Laura Halverson, hung in there and did a nice job for us. A Realtor hiring a Realtor is an interesting proposition. There were times when I wanted to second guess her but we didn't and I am glad.
If anyone needs a Realtor in Anchorage I know one and will be sending her an invite to active rain soon. Right now it feels good to just be out from under that place.
Another glass of champagne please!
… (1 comments)
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Sacramento Short Sale - 03/05/08 06:42 PM
From my Keep it Real in Sacramento Blog - March 5, 2008
Check this one out! Located in Fruitridge area on 53rd Street, this property has two homes on a large lot! Although both structures are small they are very cute and have a tremendous amount of potential. The main house is a 2 bedroom, one bathroom, 683 square feet with lots of hidden charm while the studio cottage is 240 square feet. Yes, as with many short sales in Sacramento, this one needs some work to bring it up to the neighborhood which is in the process of a very positive … (0 comments)
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Web Tip from Julie - 03/05/08 08:51 AM
I am not as technically savvy as I would like to be but I have a real estate business to run so I do what I can. One of the things I am always looking for is back links to my website to drive traffic and improve search engine results. I found a new beta site that appears to be an easy way to achieve those objectives. It is called Qassia and right now requires and invitation from a member to join.
Here is your invitation: http://juliej.qassia.com/ … (11 comments)
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Nothing Good - Sacramento Report - 03/04/08 12:54 PM
If you have been a long time reader of my blog you may well remember I used to spend a fair amount of print writing about the monthly statistical reports. I can't remember when was the last time I posted something to my blog or wrote an article on the monthly results. I suspect there are several reasons, including the media spotlight on real estate and the "downturn," "crisis" or "meltdown" stories in the Sac Bee and other outlets almost daily. Other blogs, especially the bubble blogs like Sacramento Land(ing) focus almost every post on the market and do a good … (2 comments)
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You Suck! - 03/04/08 10:04 AM
The other day, in a flash, I ranted about another agent who pissed me off and the active rain community responded within hours with almost 100 views, high clicks, and 12 very supportive comments. Yesterday, I wanted to help someone who is working very hard in to make it in the entertainment industry and because I thought the community would like to get some behind the scenes look at Hollywood. I only had 24 views and just a dozen clicks.
Are we so focused on real estate we can't look up occasionally? Come on active rain'ers, show my friend, Karmyn Tyler, … (2 comments)
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Karmyn Tyler sings and acts! - 03/03/08 03:17 PM
Sometimes as Realtors almost all we do is focused on our business or industry. About a year ago I was fortunate to meet a Karmyn Tyler, who is as focused on her industry as we are ours. She is a singer actress who is attempting to "make-it" in the entertainment industry. I should really say she is making it because she is working and supporting herself with her craft. I have been promoting her on my website and did a giveaway of one of her CD's to my newsletter readers. Below is a post from my website blog, "Keep it Real … (2 comments)
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Don't waste my time. - 03/02/08 06:53 PM
Please don't waste my time! Why do some agents show their clients homes priced above their clients price range? I mean close to $100,000 above the price the client wants to pay. No there is nothing wrong to looking at more expensive houses but please don't call me and say, "My clients love your listing, would your sellers be willing to come down?"
I want to represent my sellers to the best of my ability and won't discourage any offers but, when you see I have just made a significant price reduction, don't waste my time by discounting the price another … (12 comments)
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That was fun and makes me think... - 03/02/08 03:08 PM
We just got back from an overnight trip up to Amador County where we helped our good friends bottle the barrel of wine they made. It was all done at Amador Cellars and I will tell you those people and their wine are wonderful. They made us all feel at home and although it was work we had a blast bottling, corking, capping and labeling the wine. Best of all the wine, a 2006 Zinfandel, is excellent and has the potential to get even better.
I am thinking about doing the same thing for some of my clients and referral sources. … (1 comments)
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Wine Tasting in Amador County - 03/01/08 01:17 PM
Going to Amador County to taste wine reminds my husband Michael what it was like in Napa 20 years ago....I am not that old and was still in Alaska then! He says in those days you didn't pay for tastings and more than likely it was the owner or one of the winemaker pouring the wine. Now it is pretty commercial with waiting areas and lots of college age employees. Amador is still vastly undiscovered as a wine tasting destination although that seems to change with each visit we make.
Today, we are headed up to help friends bottle the barrel of … (4 comments)
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