real estate: Forget Predictions for 2010 - What's it going to look like in 2019? - 12/31/09 11:57 AM
 
Rather than mess around with predictions for next year, I thought I'g really go out on a limb and make some predictions for the next decade.  After all, they're just as likely to come true and with all this nostalgia stuff on the Web and on TV about our first decade in the 21st Century, I thought, "Why not?"
Lending gets tighter. FHA will be "a deal" with a 5% down payment. Most lenders won't touch you for less than 20% and a 640 credit score, minimum.  There will be lots of "skin in the game". Housing prices continue to … (7 comments)

real estate: Heading to my second REBAR Camp - 05/26/09 07:41 AM
Yep.  I had so much fun at my first on in Fredericksburg, VA, I've decided to head up to the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia, PA - for my second REBAR Camp.  This one will be even more exciting since I'll get to meet a lot of people I've gotten to know in the blogging community that I've never laid eyes on...and old friends from the AR community in the DC Metro area.  It's also much bigger so the energy will be a lot different.  I know it'll be filled with good stuff, though.  I got a lot out of … (7 comments)

real estate: Why I Love Being A Real Estate Professional... - 11/04/08 06:27 AM
In the never ending line of chain blogs, I've been "tagged" by fellow CRS Chapter member and Realtor Extraordinaire, Rich Mielke to write about why I'm in this wacky business.  Rich got "tagged" from fellow Rainer/Realtor Sandy Shores from Melbourne, FL (can Sandy Shores be a real name for a Realtor in Florida??  Evidently so.), who was "tagged" by Fred Chamberlin, a mortgage guy, in the Eugene, OR area.
It never ceases to amaze me at the widespread connections we tend to make on Active Rain.  It just shows the awesome power of networking, writing, and experience...from a variety of different … (7 comments)

real estate: Back in action - 09/10/08 07:25 PM
I've made it back from the Maryland Association of Realtors conference all in one piece and ready to go.  The conference was fun, as usual, getting caught up with friends and fellow Realtors and talking to a few exhibitors that had interesting products and services to sell.
Now, it's time to get back to business.  Tomorrow is a listing appointment for a home in College Park, then meeting with a stager to talk about making the house sparkkle and shine.  The weekend is blocked out for showing a nice, young couple around the Edgewater and Annapolis area to see if we … (0 comments)

real estate: Maryland Association of Realtors Conference - Day 1 - 09/08/08 07:56 PM
Long day for me.  Early class for Legislative and Legal Update (3 hours of continuing ed), the annual CRS luncheon with and interesting speaker who talked about real estate auctions (and where I was also surprised to sit by fellow Active Rainer Rich Mielke), then 3 hours of Ethics followed by the Conference's Grand Opening Party.  Lots of food to munch on, free drinks and all the exhibitors -- some of whom were really pretty interesting, some pretty damn boring and some booths with no one there.
Of course, the best part was hooking up with with Realtors I haven't seen … (0 comments)

real estate: Realtors and their cars - 01/05/08 10:12 PM
Way back in October (is that way back?) I posted something called Realtors and their Photos asking the question posed from a great guy at Adaptive Blue about why Realtors have their photos on thier business cards.
This post is about cars and I'll come to the point in a minute.
When I first began my career in real estate I was at a little social gathering - I think it was a cook-out - attended by some friends from my church community.  One guy, in particular was from my parents generation and his first word of advice to me after I announced … (5 comments)

real estate: Thanksgiving Thoughts - 11/21/07 08:29 AM
One of my Realtor colleagues sent this to me the other day and I liked it so much I thought I'd share --- 
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays.  You don’t have to worry about gifts and it’s the one day a year when you have complete permission to eat as much as you can!  The only rule is wear loose-fitting pants.
In thinking about Thanksgiving coming up, I started to look forward to my favorite Thanksgiving pastimes.  Here are some of the things I love about Thanksgiving Day:
·     Smelling the aroma of the turkey wafting through … (4 comments)