Day Five of a Five-Part Series: Greenlining hits the road, targets private foundations - 04/21/10 10:42 AM
When 10 of California’s largest private foundations announced their agreement in 2008 to put $30 million in new grant money into minority communities, Greenlining Institute Executive Director Orson Aguilar wasn’t all that impressed.
“That’s a start,” said Aguilar, who led a campaign for AB 624, a bill in the state legislature to force the Golden State’s private foundations with assets of $250 million or more to make public extensive data about the demographics of their officers, managers and grant recipients.
The bill was withdrawn when the foundations caved in to demands by Aguilar and other left-wing activists that they … (1 comments)
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Get the Right Image With Text to Flickr & Twitter With One Cell Phone Message - 04/17/10 08:42 PM
Get the Right Image With Text to Flickr & Twitter With One Cell Phone Message Send an image to Flickr and have it post to Twitter automatically. By James Kimmons, About.com Guide
See More About: twitter flickr real estate marketing real estate blogging real estate technology Sponsored Links Free Email TemplatesWant Engaging Email Ad Campaigns? Download the Top 10 Email TemplatesLyris.com/Email_Advertising
$19.00 Cell Phone RentalInternational Cell Phone Rental. Low Rates, 220 Countries, Open 24/7www.acetelecom.com
Cell Phone Plan DealsSimple plans start at $10/month. Free Phone & No Contract to Sign.www.ConsumerCellular.com
I've written about how valuable Flickr has become in my image management, and my ability to … (0 comments)
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Using Technology for Real Estate Brokerage Growth & Agent Retention - 04/17/10 08:39 PM
Using Technology for Real Estate Brokerage Growth & Agent Retention Using Technology Development to Change The Way You Do Business By James Kimmons, About.com Guide
See More About: brokerage office management real estate technology real estate websites There is certainly a great deal of pressure on our industry. It's not just the changes brought on by the Internet. Consumers are becoming more demanding, and there is continual pressure to lower real estate commissions. Of course, the Internet is spurring many changes in how we deliver our core services as well. One argument for lower commissions is the efficiency added by new technology. Rather than … (1 comments)
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Which Is Better For You - A Netbook or a SmartPhone for Real Estate? - 04/17/10 08:33 PM
Which Is Better For You - A Netbook or a SmartPhone for Real Estate? As netbooks get smaller and cheaper, it's not a tough call to make. By James Kimmons, About.com Guide
See More About: real estate technology netbooks intranets mobile office Netbook for Intranet Access
®Jim Kimmo In the last two to three years, cellular phones have become mini-computers. The emphasis, though, is on the "mini." Though they browse the web, and check email, there's that tiny little screen and the need to use two thumbs to type an email message. Some have become quite adept at it, while some have also … (0 comments)
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Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your iPad for Real Estate Business - 04/17/10 08:30 PM
Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your iPad for Real Estate Business By James Kimmons, About.com Guide
See More About: real estate technology ipad for real estate I had my iPad the first day possible, and have been working ever since to find the best, easiest and least expensive solutions to do as much with it in my real estate business as possible. Why reinvent the wheel when you can take advantage of my research and testing, as well as the large number if apps I bought but found not to be what I needed. You'll find some great solutions … (12 comments)
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Do you have a private Septic system...Now is the time to service it. - 04/17/10 08:27 PM
Via William Feela Realtor 651-674-5999 No. Branch,MN (WHISPERING PINES REALTY):
Many people don't realize that if you have a private septic, that you need to pump the tank every2-3 years. In fact, many counties here in Minnesota now require proof that you did.
Spring is one of the best times to do this maintenance. One of the big reasons is because, Private Septic systems can freeze in the winter if there isn't enough snow during a really harsh cold spell. The reason for pumping in the spring, is that this gives your system a chance to get the micro bacteria growing again. … (0 comments)
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Charges Of Fraud And Strategic Default At Goldman Sachs - 04/17/10 08:24 PM
Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):
An article in the Wall Street Journal has reported that Goldman Sachs Group and one of its vice presidents, Fabrice Tourre, have been charged with fraud in a civil complaint filed by the SEC. The complaint alleges that Goldman failed to disclose to purchasers of CDOs, collateralized-debt obligations, that the selection of the underlying mortgage backed securities had been influenced by Paulson & Company. With the bursting of the housing market bubble, the CDO investors lost $1 billion, Paulson raked in profits of $1 billion, and Goldman earned $15 million for handling the transactions.
And … (0 comments)
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Home for Sale. - 04/14/10 08:05 PM
Johnny Fort MonroeView more presentations from Johnny Sarkis. … (0 comments)
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12 Terrific Moving Tips When You're Moving Your Home - 04/12/10 10:22 PM
12 Terrific Moving Tips When You're Moving Your Home Great Moving Tips to Make Moving Your Home Easier From Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide
See More About: decorate to sell moving tips planning for a move home moving Sponsored Links Low Cost Moving BoxesDirect from the Factory! Save Money Fast Free Shipping. 877-UBOXES-1www.Uboxes.com
Moving Boxes - ManhattanLow cost moving boxes. Order online or at 17 Manhattan locationswww.ManhattanMiniStorage.com/Boxes
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Decorating Ads Moving PricesMoving ChecklistsTop Moving CompaniesMoving BoxesMoving Tips Who can't use some moving tips when they're packing up their whole life for a new … (0 comments)
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Top 5 Home Improvements That Help You Sell - 04/12/10 10:20 PM
Top 5 Home Improvements That Help You Sell From Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide
Filed In: Organize, Clean and Move > Moving Tips and Advice > Moving Tips Are you selling your home soon? To get the best price, take some time right now to get it ready to sell. While you may need to tackle some basic repair issues first, these simpler cosmetic improvements can help polish up your home and set the tone for a quicker sale.
Remember to put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer before your house is listed for sale.
Start with these 5 tips, then go a … (0 comments)
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Decorating in the French Country Style - 04/12/10 10:17 PM
Decorating in the French Country Style Bring This Charming Style to Your Own Home From Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide
See More About: french country style home decorating styles style guides This gold and red toile is a classic adapted for today.
More Images (3) Colors used to decorate in the French Country style come from the full spectrum of the color wheel. Sunny yellow and soft gold, firey red and burnt rust, bright grass green and dark hunter green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones -- all these are found in this wonderful decorating style.
Bright black and dull grays punctuate the bright colors … (0 comments)
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Basics of French Country Decorating - 04/12/10 10:15 PM
Basics of French Country Decorating From Pamela Cole Harris, former About.com Guide
See More About: style basics french country decorating styles Originating in the sunny vineyards and fields of France, French Country decor is popular worldwide. Why? Because of it's casual elegance, sunny splashes of color, and emphasis on natural and rustic accessories. "Sounds wonderful," you say, "But I have not an extra sou!" Trust me, Dear Reader. you can get this wonderful style and even have enough left for French fries.
Basics: French Country style has a warm, comfortable feeling. The color? It's best to stay on the warm side of the color … (1 comments)
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The Basics of Budget Home Decorating and Design - 04/12/10 10:13 PM
The Basics of Budget Home Decorating and Design From About.com
Take it from me. You are going to have a gorgeous room on a budget and you are going to decorate and design it yourself!
Think there is no way that's going to happen? All that's standing between you and that gorgeous room is some simple decorating and design basics. When you understand those, you can decorate any room.
We actually know more about design than we realize. Have you walked into a room that just "feels" off? Violation of one of these principles just may be the reason. Learning … (0 comments)
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The Four Worst Ideas from Home Decorating Shows - 04/12/10 10:10 PM
The Four Worst Ideas from Home Decorating Shows Wednesday December 9, 2009 The end of the last century and the beginning of this one has seen a rise in the interest in remodeling, flipping, and diy decorating. The popularity of home and garden and diy television networks has led viewers to embrace the notion that anyone could remodel and decorate their own house. Well, most can, but there are some in every group who's individual style is just this side of tacky. - not that tacky is bad. it's just . . . tacky.
Today I shudder to remember some regrettable … (0 comments)
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Best places to live 2009. - 04/12/10 10:03 PM
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/top100/
CNNMoney's Best Places database of 1,800-plus U.S. cities includes towns with populations 8,500 to 50,000 with satisfactory education and crime scores, where income is below 200% of the state median, and that are no more than 95% white � as well as cities with populations 90,000 and up.
Ckeckout Arlington,VA.
… (0 comments)
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Best places to live 2009. - 04/12/10 10:01 PM
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/top100/
CNNMoney's Best Places database of 1,800-plus U.S. cities includes towns with populations 8,500 to 50,000 with satisfactory education and crime scores, where income is below 200% of the state median, and that are no more than 95% white � as well as cities with populations 90,000 and up.
Ckeckout Arlington,VA.
… (0 comments)
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How to avoid bad investment - 04/11/10 04:51 PM
Top 10 Ways to Lose Your Home 10 Home Buying Mistakes By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: home buying mistakes real estate agents mortgages home inspections Few home buyers stop to think that they could lose their home. But mistakes happen. The reasons sellers decide to sell are based on the mistakes they made when they purchased. Me: Why do you want to sell?
Seller: Because too many cars drive by.
Me: Why did you buy a house along the freeway?
Seller: It was cheap.
Many homes buyers study the market, ask questions, hire pros, yet even so, some are headed into foreclosure before the ink is dry … (2 comments)
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Lease Options - Lease Purchase Sales - 04/11/10 04:47 PM
Lease Options - Lease Purchase Sales How To Do a Lease Option / Lease Purchase Sale By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: buying a home credit reports buy vs. rent mortgages home inspections Ask Your Lawyer to Draw the Lease Option
Big Stock Photo alienation clauses in mortgages. Proponents claimed the sale was not really a sale because it was a lease; however, courts argued otherwise. Today, options to purchase, lease options and lease purchase agreements are three different financing documents. The variances are state specific and not all states have identical laws. Before entering into an agreement with a seller, … (0 comments)
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Owner Financing in Real Estate - 04/11/10 04:42 PM
Owner Financing in Real Estate Buying a Home With Owner Financing By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
Owner Financing
Big Stock Photo Asking a seller to give you owner financing to buy a home can be a tricky proposition. That's partly because if you ask the listing agent if the owner will carry some or all of the financing, the agent probably doesn't know. Why? The agent never asked. If you ask the seller directly, the seller is likely to say no. Sellers often reject the suggestion of owner financing because nobody has explained the benefits or proposed owner financing as a way to sell the home. Most … (0 comments)
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Foreclosed? Here comes the tax man - 04/08/10 11:26 PM
Foreclosed? Here comes the tax man By Les Christie, staff writerApril 8, 2010: 1:30 PM ET NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Did you lose your house to foreclosure this year? Did your lender forgive some of your mortgage debt because you sold it for less than it was worth? If so, you could be facing a big tax hit.
It is IRS policy to tax forgiven debt you are personally responsible for as if it is income. Say, for example, your credit card company settled a $10,000 debt for 50 cents on the dollar. You'd have a debt forgiveness of $5,000, which … (5 comments)
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What Are Interest Rates? - 04/08/10 03:29 PM
What Are Interest Rates? From Mike Moffatt, former About.com Guide
See More About: interest rates economics for beginners Sponsored Links Today's Interest RatesSearch 100s of Bank Rates, CDs, Mortgages, More! Articles, Calcswww.Bankrate.com
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Question: What Are Interest Rates? Answer: Like anything else in economics, there's a few competing definitions of the term interest rate. The Economics Glossary defines interest rate as:"The interest rate is the yearly price charged by a lender to a borrower in order for the borrower to … (0 comments)
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Loan Locks - When is the Best Time to Lock a Loan? - 04/08/10 03:26 PM
Loan Locks - When is the Best Time to Lock a Loan? What Does it Mean to Lock a Loan? By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: loan locks mortgages first-time home buyers credit reports finding a lender Locking a Loan Guarantees Your Interest Rate
© Big Stock Photo Sponsored Links 4.4% 30 Yr Mortgage RatesDirect Lender. Close in 10 days. PreApproved In Minutes. 4.9%APRwww.Amerisave.com
Fha mortgage rates 4.125Lowest Rates Now Available Qualify Today. 4.34% APRwww.FHA.com
5.00% Fixed RateRates are at Their Lows Again. Do Not Miss Your Opportunity.www.bestrateloans.com
When it comes to locking the interest rate on a mortgage loan, everybody wants … (0 comments)
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When is the Best Time to Buy a Home? - 04/08/10 03:25 PM
When is the Best Time to Buy a Home? Which Days of the Year Are Buyers More Likely to Get Low-Ball Offers Accepted? By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: best day to buy a home short sales finding a home real estate agents mortgages To grab a good deal, you've got one day out of the year that is better than all the others.
©Big Stock Photo Sponsored Links How Much Is My Home WorthThe Spring Market Is Here. Consid- ering selling? Inventory is low.www.fairfaxliving.com
BPO's & REO ListingsGet REO Listings from Banks & Lending Institutions. Find it How!www.USHUD.com
What's My House … (2 comments)
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Gregg's Landing in Vernon Hills is a Wonderful Place to Live - 04/05/10 11:44 PM
Via Sharron Kelley, CRS, ABR,CDPE (Coldwell Banker-Buffalo Grove-Long Grove-Vernon Hills):
If you have been through Gregg's Landing in Vernon Hills, you know it is a very unique area which has a lot to offer. There are 23 different communities within this subdivision, ranging from Townhouses to High End Custom Homes. When the Subdivision was originally built, the communities were called pods, and many different builders were involved in creating this Luxurious area that we know today.
Gregg's Landing features a golf course and a club house that attracts many of the local residents, as well as people from the surrounding Lake County Illinois … (0 comments)
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Top 10 Tips for Writing Purchase Offers - 04/03/10 11:31 PM
Top 10 Tips for Writing Purchase Offers By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: Sometimes buyers get so excited over finding that perfect home to buy that less attention is paid to how they write the purchase offer; however, the quality of your offer is almost as important as the price you offer to buy that home. Listings agents should not be placed in the position of having to educate selling agents on how to write an offer. Poorly written offers reflect badly on everybody and lessen your chances as a buyer to get your offer accepted. Here are 10 basic tips … (3 comments)
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Is your Garden Better than Mine? - 04/03/10 08:16 AM
Are gardeners an elitist bunch? According to cultural anthropologist Jane Nadel-Klein as quoted in the Houston Chronicle online, garden snobbery is on the rise as more and more gardeners set their sights on the unusual and the trendy. Nadel-Klein points out the class bias against filling your garden with common annuals, like pansies and petunias, including the tee shirt you've probably all seen that reads, "Friends don't let friends buy annuals." I am guilty of many gardening 'Don'ts' and my Latin is often corrected. I like to think that's how I learn. So I try not to judge other gardeners too … (2 comments)
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Maintenance of Perennials - 04/03/10 08:01 AM
Easy Care, Low Maintenance Perennials By Marie Iannotti, About.com Guide
There is such a thing as a low maintenance, easy care perennial plant. It may vary from climate to climate and season to season, but there are many wonderful perennial plants that can be labeled low maintenance. The two basic tricks are: 1) Pick plants suited to your site and 2) allow them time to become established. If you do this, you will have at least a few low maintenance, undemanding plants providing interest and bloom in the perennial border. This is not to say your garden will be no maintenance. Where's … (7 comments)
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Why Was Your Offer Rejected? - 04/03/10 07:43 AM
Why Was Your Offer Rejected? Why Did the Seller Refuse to Accept Your Offer? By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: Rejected offers cause buyers disappointment and heartache. A seller doesn't have to rip the buyer's offer in half for buyers to feel like their hearts have been ripped out. All a seller has to say is "NO," and your offer is rejected. Here are the top four reasons purchase offers are rejected:
Offer Rejection Reason #1: Objection to Lower-Than-Listed-Price Offer
Sellers can easily feel insulted. If a buyer offers too little, the seller might believe the buyer is not … (6 comments)
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Multiple Offers - Competing Home Offers - 04/03/10 01:54 AM
Multiple Offers - Competing Home Offers Competing With Other Home Buyers in Multiple Offer Situations By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: purchase offers offer negotiation home selling home buying mortgages Winning a Multiple Offer Home Feels Like Winning the Lottery
Big Stock Photo Sponsored Links Pre-Sale Home InspectionComprehensive and Accurate Reports With Repair and Replacement Costswww.TechconInspect.com/Reports
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What's My House Worth?HouseValues' free service helps you determine the value of your home.www.HouseValues.com
A seldom discussed phenomenon often occurs when home buyers decide to write a purchase offer. This is how it goes: Say you've … (0 comments)
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Before Selling Your Home - 5 Important Steps Before Selling - 04/03/10 01:52 AM
Before Selling Your Home - 5 Important Steps Before Selling Getting Ready to Sell Your Home By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: preparing home for sale home staging home pricing listings agents real estate commissions Before Selling Your Home, Check Out These 5 Steps
© Big Stock Photo Motivation for Selling Explore your reasons for selling. Everybody has a reason to sell. If you aren't truly motivated or committed to selling -- if it just struck you one morning that you should move to the other side of town and you haven't completely thought through the process -- you could be … (0 comments)
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Buying a Home Guide to Getting Started - 04/03/10 01:46 AM
Buying a Home Guide to Getting Started Guide to Home Buying a Home Step-by-Step By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: buying vs renting real estate agents mortgages home inspections title policies Home buying knowledge before you start shopping is powerful
© Big Stock Photo
Let's say one morning you wake up and realize that, yes, buying a home is the right thing to do for yourself. You're tired of throwing away money on rent and figure that it's time to get into a home of your own. But you have reservations. After all, if it's your first time, you've got … (0 comments)
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Short Sale/Foreclosures - 04/03/10 01:44 AM
Short Sales The fundamentals behind a short sale, why lenders accept short sale purchase offers, tax consequences to short sale sellers and benefits to sellers and buyers to negotiate short sales. How short sales affect seller's credit.
Distressed Homes in Default Short Sale Basics Before Buying a Short Sale Short Sales vs. Foreclosures / REOs Seller Short Sale Benefits Short Sale Tax Consequences How Short Sales Affect Credit Buying For Sale By Owner Short Sales Buy a Short Sale or Wait for Foreclosure to Happen? Reason to Sell on a Short Sale Qualifying for Short Sales How to Find Short Sales … (0 comments)
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Repairs Before Selling Return Rewards - 04/03/10 01:42 AM
Repairs Before Selling Return Rewards Home Repairs Boost Your Selling Profits By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: resale repairs preparing home for sale home staging listing agents Installing Bamboo Floors
©2006 Elizabeth Weintraub Licensed to About.com Quick fixes before selling a home always pay off, but which repairs bring the biggest return? Specific answers to this often-asked question largely depend on a variety of factors such as: Time of year Location of the home Market temperature Competing inventory There is no hard and fast rule. But there are general guidelines that apply to most homes. For example, the National Association of Realtors … (0 comments)
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The Worst Home Selling Mistake - 04/03/10 01:34 AM
The Worst Home Selling Mistake How Sellers Can Maximize Profit By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: home pricing real estate agents home price reductions There's a great saying in the real estate business. To succeed in life, you want to be: The First Child The Second Spouse The Third Realtor And like with most sayings, there is some truth in that statement, as agents who pick up listings after sellers have made major mistakes will attest.But We Want More MoneyWhen the average seller sits down to interview real estate agents, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement over choosing a sales price. … (0 comments)
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Who Pays the Real Estate Commission? - 04/03/10 01:28 AM
Who Pays the Real Estate Commission? How Does an Agent Get Paid? By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: real estate commissions real estate careers home buying home selling firing agents To understand who pays real estate commissions -- whether it's sellers or buyers or both -- first take a look at how real estate agents are paid and how they share cooperating commissions. Don't be embarrassed if you don't know how commissions work because I've had clients who didn't know, even though I had sold their home, represented them to buy a new home and then later listed that home for … (0 comments)
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Who Pays the Real Estate Commission? - 04/03/10 01:25 AM
Who Pays the Real Estate Commission? How Does an Agent Get Paid? By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
See More About: real estate commissions real estate careers home buying home selling firing agents To understand who pays real estate commissions -- whether it's sellers or buyers or both -- first take a look at how real estate agents are paid and how they share cooperating commissions. Don't be embarrassed if you don't know how commissions work because I've had clients who didn't know, even though I had sold their home, represented them to buy a new home and then later listed that home for sale. … (0 comments)
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Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent - 04/03/10 01:08 AM
Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
With so much information readily available online, clients sometimes ask me, "Why should we hire a real estate agent?" They wonder, and rightfully so, if they couldn't buy or sell a home through the Internet or through regular marketing and advertising channels without representation, without a a real estate agent. Some do OK, many don't. So if you've wondered the same thing, here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider hiring a professional real estate agent. 1. Education & Experience You don't need to know everything … (3 comments)
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Best Places to Find Budget Furniture - 04/02/10 11:22 PM
Best Places to Find Budget Furniture Know What You Want and Have Your Cash Ready From Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide
Filed In: Decorating Challenges > Decorating on a Budget Sponsored Links Bedroom FurnitureSave On Bedroom Furniture Sets In Many Different Styles at JCPenney.JCPenney.com/BedroomFurniture
Cheap Furniture 90% offCrazy low price on sofas, recliners & more w/ our unique auction systemwww.SwipeBids.com/Furniture
Living Room FurnitureVisit the New York City DirectBuy Showroom & Start Buying Wholesale!www.DirectHomeDiscount.com
Decorating Ads FurnitureFurniture Stores InFurniture and ChairsEco Living FurnitureHouse of Furniture It's not just first-time homeowners who have to find budget furniture. In fact almost everyone, at one time or another, had … (2 comments)
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Understanding Your Space - 04/02/10 11:19 PM
Design Basics - Understanding Your Space From Pamela Cole Harris, former About.com Guide
See More About: designing basics scale proportion line balance Vertical lines give a dignified, sedate look
Photo: Pearlie Ng
Do you want to design your own room, but you don't know your asymmetrical from your equilibrium? Believe me, design is simpler than you think! Designing your room is just a matter of understanding relationships in space - between objects, colors and light. Let me explain:
The first relationship is scale and proportion. Scale is the size of an object compared to everything else - like, for … (3 comments)
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Market trend for Woodbridge,VA - 04/02/10 07:25 PM
Woodbridge Recently Sold Homes … (0 comments)
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Market trend for Woodbridge,VA - 04/02/10 07:23 PM
Woodbridge Recently Sold Homes … (0 comments)
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Market trend for Woodbridge,VA - 04/02/10 07:22 PM
Woodbridge Recently Sold Homes … (0 comments)
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Market trend for Woodbridge,VA - 04/02/10 07:17 PM
Woodbridge Homes For Sale … (0 comments)
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Search for Homes - 04/02/10 04:10 PM
… (0 comments)
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HAPPY EASTER!! - 04/02/10 12:15 PM
Sarkis Real Estate on Facebook … (4 comments)
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