http://activerain.com/blogs/kwestervelt 2008-07-03T23:17:27Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) http://activerain.com/blogsview/578138/I-Guess-You-Can 2008-07-03T23:17:27Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/8/6/3/5/8/ar121514352285368.jpg" height="200" alt="" width="300" /></p> <p>Every wonderful memory I have from my youth happened in this home.</p> <p>Christmas mornings, playing in the snow, playing on the staircase with all of my hotwheels and matchbox cars, playing "kick the can" with the neighbors, flying down the driveway and skidding out in my Big Wheel...all of my most precious memories as a little squirt were had in this home!</p> <p>This home is in one of those well established neighborhoods, where families seemed to live in the same houses forever!</p> <p>So, it was kind of emotional to discover this place going up for sale recently. My father emailed me to inform me that the home I grew up in was on the market!</p> <p>Over the years I've joked around with my siblings that if our old house ever went up for sale....I'd buy it! Well, it's up for sale now but I certainly won't be moving my family from Greenville, SC to Grosse Pointe, MI just to move into my old house!</p> <p>Besides the fact that it's simply not feasible or logical, my wife has informed me that no matter how nice Grosse Pointe, MI is, she won't be spending her winters freezing her butt off there!</p> <p>I guess I still need to grow up and let go of this place. It's hard to do, especially when it's on the market and it says "buy me...come home!"</p> <p>It's funny, but when I was a little squirt, this home seemed so huge to me. From the attic down to the basement...that was a lot of house! Now, being a grown adult with a wife, 4 boys and a dog....I can honestly say that we'd seek out something with just a little bit more room to it versus this 2400 square foot colonial from my youth.</p> <p>Anyway, it has been a nice little tug on my heart strings, but it is time to let go and move on!</p> <p>My greatest responsibility now is to give my children the memories that they'll cherish...regardless of the home we're living in at any given time!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/578114/Rediscover-Your-American-Pride 2008-07-03T22:42:27Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/4/2/1/3/ar121514065031243.jpg" height="413" alt="" width="550" /></p> <p>I don't know about you, but I'm just so overwhelmingly sick of all the doom and gloom being pumped through the mass media today. Housing, cost of oil and cost of a gallon of gas, cost of groceries, unemployment, etc, etc. It's all enough to drive someone nuts!</p> <p>I'm not suggesting we stick our heads in the sand in complete denial.</p> <p>I would like to suggest that as we enjoy eating grilled burgers and dogs and enjoy fireworks this 4th of July, we all take a moment to reflect on what it means to be proud Americans.</p> <p>As proud Americans we will not be beaten down. We will not fail! We will toughen up! We will rise above the challenges we're currently facing!</p> <p>As proud Americans we will reinvent ourselves. We will innovate. We will lead. As proud Americans, we will succeed. As proud Americans, we will achieve greatness!</p> <p>It starts with each and every one of us, as individuals. What great accomplishments will you achieve in your life throughout the rest of this year? How about next year?</p> <p>What steps will you take, starting next week, towards accomplishing your biggest dreams and goals?</p> <p>As proud Americans we all have the opportunity to achieve greatness in our lives and make a positive impact on the lives of those around us.</p> <p>Take a moment this 4th of July to reflect on the many blessings in your life.</p> <p>Please, take a moment this 4th of July to reflect on what it means to be a proud American.</p> <p>Happy 4th of July!</p> <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/0/8/6/0/ar121514260506801.jpg" height="340" alt="" width="510" /></p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/576031/The-Dangers-Of-Selling 2008-07-02T13:29:42Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>I called on a FSBO last week and the elderly homeowner anxiously awaited my arrival so I could preview his home.</p> <p>Apparently, he was quite eager to have me there and sure enough...he had a story to tell!</p> <p>Once we got to talking about things he proceeded to inform me about the mess he had gotten himself into with the person whom he thought he had sold the home to...9 MONTHS AGO!</p> <p>A buyer locked up the home under contract and then said "well, I can't live in it, in its current condition, so I'll need access to the home and I'll begin renovating the home at my expense".</p> <p>As it turned out, he began making such renovations, without ever having completed the actual purchase of the home. He even had the audacity to hit up the homeowner for financial contributions every now and then towards some of the new bathroom fixtures and paint.</p> <p>So, after 9 months of waiting for the sale of the home to finally be completed, this kind-hearted elderly man (the homeowner) was told by the purchaser that he simply couldn't get approved for the funding of the home loan!</p> <p>Now, hold on to your hat for this one...</p> <p>The guy who tied up the home for 9 months under the pretense that he would buy the home came to the homeowner and demanded that he be paid $16,000 for materials and labor that he had put into improving the house!</p> <p>After 9 months of screwing around, and effectively taking the home off the market, this guy not only isn't credit worthy and can't buy the house, but he's got the incredible audacity to demand $16,000 from the homeowner!</p> <p>The elderly homeowner simply put way too much trust in someone who turned out to be nothing but a joker!</p> <p>Obviously, this never would have been allowed to happen if the homeowner had hired a professional Realtor!</p> <p>I immediately advised him to consult with a trusted local real estate attorney.</p> <p>Once he speaks to a real estate attorney and feels comfortable in terms of how to deal with this guy who wants $16,000, he said he'll move forward with me and allow me to list his home!</p> <p>I don't know what else to say except&nbsp; "revert to the title of this blog".</p> <p>...THE DANGERS OF SELLING FSBO!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/563586/-Screaming-Deal-From 2008-06-23T21:18:25Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>GM just announced what they are calling "...an absolute screaming deal" on their large SUVs and large pick up trucks. They're offering 0% financing for a term of 6 years.</p> <p>That's it. No other discounts or incentives. Just the long term financing.</p> <p>They're also only offering this deal for a period of 72 hours!</p> <p>I can tell you from experience that they're full of beans on this 72 hour thing. They'll pretend like the offer is expired and then they'll bring it back "due to huge success and popular demand".</p> <p>Here's the bigger issue and problem for the savvy consumer to swallow:</p> <p>Any such large SUV or large pick up truck purchased brand new off the dealer's lot, at full price, carried over a payment term of 6 years, will more than likely yield an "upside down" scenario whereas the consumer is making payments on a vehicle in the 6th year that is not even worth what they still owe on it!</p> <p>I could be wrong, but let's look at some simple math: GMC Yukon XL, nicely loaded, assume you drive it off the lot for $48,000. Divided by 6 years, you're paying $8000 per year, at 0% interest. At some point in time during the 6th year of ownership, this vehicle will more than likely have a trade-in value of approximately $8,000, which means you would be lucky to sell it private party for around $10,000. Can you imagine trying to sell this thing in the 6th year, and you still owe approximately $8000 on it and you'd be lucky to sell it for $10,000? If you're lucky, you pay off the balance due and walk away with maybe $1000?</p> <p>At the end of the 6th year, assuming you've still got the gas pig and you've paid it off, you will have been paying $666.66 per month in car payments. Gee, do you think you might have been able to lease the same vehicle for a lesser monthly amount and for a shorter time period?</p> <p>Or, you could have owned a Honda or Toyota for the same time period, paid less in monthly payments (even with interest being paid) and still have some equity in the vehicle at the end of the 6th year!</p> <p>Do you have any idea how much house that type of car payment is costing you? Think about it...you could have either upgraded to a nicer home and put that money into your monthly house payment...or...you could have used that money towards some short term monthly holding costs on an investment property that you were either trying to flip or rent out. Now, consider your return on such an investment! Pretty stark difference from the depreciating GMC luxury SUV!</p> <p>The GMC gas pig sounds like a pretty nice deal, huh? Pretty smart investment, right?</p> <p>...I don't think so!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/562572/The-Cost-Of-Gas 2008-06-23T10:35:38Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>It's an interesting topic, filled with endlessly differing opinions, depending on who you talk to. Will the cost of gas go up, down, stabilize, etc.???</p> <p>I realize that all things are relative and those who have relatively fuel efficient vehicles may very well feel the pinch, especially if they were already living on a very tight monthly budget.</p> <p>However, for those that happen to own large SUV's or large pick-up trucks (for whatever reason) are arguably feeling the pinch more than anyone else!</p> <p>Having said that, I'm wondering if people have certain "breaking points" in mind whereas they throw their hands up in the air and say "that's it! I'm done! I'm out!" and they attempt to sell off their large SUV or large pick up.</p> <p>Is that breaking point based on the cost of a gallon of gas? Psychologically, how could it be? I mean...who buys "a gallon of gas"???</p> <p>Is that breaking point based on the cost to fill up your tank from the point of being empty? For me, the answer is definately the cost of filling up from the point of being empty. I recall feeling like such a fool the first time it cost me $100 to fill up my Yukon XL. That was a couple months ago!</p> <p>At what point do you say "enough already!" and get out of the large SUV? At $150 to fill up? At $175 to fill up?</p> <p>I like to have faith that all this is a bad dream and that prices will come back down. Call me crazy, but I like to stay positive and I do take note of historical trends and cycles which support my theory.</p> <p>However, when Ford and General Motors announce plant closures and scaling back of large SUV's and large pick up trucks...that seems to tell me that "maybe they know something that I don't know". These are some powerful corporations with a great degree of inside information and foresight related to their own industry. To ignore their actions seems equivalent to me sticking my head in the sand and crying "no, it isn't true!"</p> <p>The other ugly side of the "breaking point" is whether or not I could even sell my Yukon XL if I wanted to. When I drove that pig off the lot back in 2003, it had a sticker on the window that read something like $44,500. Now, I got a substantial family discount and a significant tax break under the "farm equipment" bill passed for small business owners at the time, and...I paid off the balance on 0% financing. So, I did pretty darned good overall!</p> <p>However, by my research, it appears that I would be lucky to sell it now for between $12k and $15k. Perhaps even between $10k and $12k.</p> <p>One word comes to mind: PATHETIC!</p> <p>I mean, I've owned 4 Honda motorcycles, a Honda Civic sedan, a Honda V6 Accord sedan and I currently own a Honda Odyssey van. Not one of those Hondas "fell like a rock" in terms of depreciation. I'm sorry, but if this is what "buying American" gets me...you can have it!</p> <p>So, what's your breaking point? How much will you have to spend to fill up the gas tank on your large SUV before you throw your hands up in the air and say "that's it! I'm out!"</p> <p>????????????</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/562272/One-Of-The-Most 2008-06-23T00:43:32Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>This week I'll be time blocking for outbound phone calls to first time home buyers.</p> <p>I've got many leads to call, and I simply can't be distracted with the normal, every day interruptions that seem to come my way.</p> <p>When times are tough...pick up the phone! Your sphere of influence is obviously a crucial part of your on-going marketing plan. With unlimited outbound calling from my home office line...it's a no brainer for me to simply "be on the phone all day long".</p> <p>I've got some hot follow ups, but mostly my calls will be to first time home buyers. Having done this before, I can tell you that no matter how many "no thank you" comments you hear, you must stick with it and you will eventually build rapport with someone! The rapport you are able to build with someone could very well be your next big commission check!</p> <p>My telephone is the most cost-effective marketing and new business development tool I use!</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/562259/Comedian-George-Carlin-Dies 2008-06-23T00:24:31Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/7/8/8/7/ar121419845978876.jpg" height="402" alt="" width="385" /></p> <p>Comedian George Carlin has died at the age of 71, due to heart failure while at a Santa Monica, CA hospital.</p> <p>Carlin was very anti-establishment, and edgy, provocative and controversial.</p> <p>He did a comedy bit about the seven dirty words you could not say on television. A regulatory battle over a radio broadcast of his "filthy words" routine ultimately made it to the US Supreme Court.</p> <p>Carlin could make you laugh, but he could also certainly make you think! That much is certain!</p> <p>Carlin was an acquired taste for many fans of stand up comics. Regardless if you liked him or not, he was highly intelligent and he earned a spot as being one of the all time great comedians!</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/562244/Get-Off-The-Fence 2008-06-23T00:04:33Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>With mortgage rates ticking upwards, now is the time to buy a home! In many markets people are just scared. They're thinking if they sit on the fence just a little while longer, then the prices will drop another $50,000.</p> <p>Well, by waiting to buy a home the buyer runs the risk of the rates going even higher. When you compare the higher interest rate over a 30 year loan with a possible price reduction of maybe $25k to $50k...it's just not worth it to wait!</p> <p>Prices are low, there is an inventory glut in the marketplace and interest rates are still at historical lows! This is the time to buy!</p> <p>It is a buyer's market and for anyone interested in buying a new home, especially first time home buyers, this is one of those times in life when you've just got to take advantage of the situation and the timing of it all!</p> <p>Make no mistake about it, now is the time to buy a home!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/560357/Curb-Appeal-The-Little 2008-06-21T11:28:37Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>I previewed a home the other day and I couldn't help but notice how the house was paid attention to, and looked great, but the front yard was just a mess!</p> <p>The front lawn was filled with weeds, bald spots, dry grass, it hadn't been trimmed or edged along the curb...it just screamed of neglect!</p> <p>Guess what I kept thinking about when I would recall that particular house? The awful front yard and lack of curb appeal!</p> <p>I guess curb appeal can mean many different things, but if you've got the worst front lawn in the neighborhood, it might not matter how nice the interior of the house is, if passers-by are turned off from even viewing the home!</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/560293/Keller-Williams-Orientation-Seminar 2008-06-21T10:36:41Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/7/7/0/1/7/ar121406092371077.jpg" height="238" alt="" width="800" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Yesterday I attended a Keller Williams "Orientation" seminar. Somehow I missed out on attending this seminar in the past, due to schedule conflicts.</p> <p>Wow! What an awesome experience it was!</p> <p>The mindset, the structure, the training, the culture and beliefs, the Agent Leadership Council, the supportive environment, the compensation plan, the profit sharing...it's all just so amazing!</p> <p>As an Active Rain member I do not go out of my way telling fellow bloggers how awesome Keller Williams is as I respect that there are many choices for people and many Realtors are very happy with their current broker relationships.</p> <p>Let's face it, it would be incredibly annoying if 9 out of 10 blogs were all about "we're the best! join our company!"</p> <p>I guess I couldn't help but to post at least one blog (indulge me fellow Rainers!) about the fact that I feel like I have found the absolute best real estate company in the world!</p> <p>For me, everything about Keller Williams just seems to make sense. In fact, it goes beyond that. It's not just a place to "hang my license", but rather a place I'm truly excited to be associated with!</p> <p>Keller Williams empowers me with the training, mindset, passion and support to become the best Realtor I can possibly be and to strive towards new accomplishments in my career!</p> <p>I sincerely hope all of my fellow Rainer's feel as good as I do about the real estate company they are associated with.</p> <p>It is a wonderful feeling to believe you are on the right path and to know how much you are enjoying the journey!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/558435/Lower-Back-Pain-Issues 2008-06-19T23:49:30Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>I don't know about you, but for some crazy reason I've suffered increasingly over the years with lower back pain issues.</p> <p>Sometimes when I get up from my desk and walk to the kitchen to get a drink I find myself walking like some old man with a bad back, all "out of whack".</p> <p>I've found the greatest degree of relief and rejuvenation from my Body Relaxer massage lounger. I recline back all the way, for the most intense massage. Then, I'll run the kneading + tapping feature (I like it with medium speed tapping and fast speed kneading). I'll run it in the lower back zone, so it travels up and down about 6 to 8 inches in my lower back region.</p> <p>Well, after about 20 minutes of this...holy cow! I'm feeling like a new man! My back pain is gone, my posture is incredibly improved and I feel relaxed and rejunenated all at once!</p> <p>If anyone out there suffers with similar lower back "issues", I highly recommend the above regimen! You'll be back in the game after a swift 15 to 20 minutes on the massage lounger!</p> <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/5/3/1/2/ar12139372621354.jpg" height="600" alt="" width="800" /></p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/558411/I-Finally-Broke-Down 2008-06-19T23:16:15Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/2/3/9/8/1/ar121393526518932.jpg" height="362" alt="" width="407" /></p> <p>I was certain that my boys would never be glued to one of those hand-held video game systems, mostly because I had no intention of buying one!</p> <p>Well, my oldest boy, Jacob, had a birthday yesterday. He turned 8. He was asking Santa for one of these things last Christmas (Santa said "maybe" later on in the year, but only if he does well in school).</p> <p>Well now, my Jacob knocked it out of the park! He did great in school! And...he's a really good boy overall. So, on his birthday I broke down and took him to Gamestop to buy a Nintendo DS Lite.</p> <p>We got him the game unit and two games that he really wanted. More expensive than my common sense would normally agree to!</p> <p>I got him to agree to only playing it for 1 hour a day. I also got him to agree to share it with his brothers.</p> <p>It's funny, but I must be more old fashioned than I realize as I truly was against having one of these things in my home and in front of my boy's face!</p> <p>The truth is, I enjoyed the first video games when they came out...the original Atari systems and subsequent game systems over the years. So, I have to be fair to my son!</p> <p>Jacob is great at sports and he has played soccer and flag football and he is eager to join the basketball team too. So, it's not like he's some obese kid, sitting on the couch, playing video games for hours at a time. It's not like that at all.</p> <p>I can't describe the feeling yesterday when my boy came to me numerous times and looked me in the eyes and thanked me from the bottom of his heart for buying him the Nintendo DS Lite.</p> <p>I told him "Jacob, I love you, and you EARNED that Nintendo game!"</p> <p>I just had to let down my guard as a parent and reward him for the great work he did in school, and also allow him to be a kid and have one of the pleasures that kids truly enjoy these days!</p> <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/2/0/4/5/ar12139353454026.JPG" height="600" alt="" width="800" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/555331/Keller-Williams-Greenville-Central 2008-06-17T22:02:01Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>As if Keller Williams didn't already have industry-leading training classes throughout any given week...we're now turning things up quite a few notches to a whole new level of "hands-on", experience oriented training sessions.</p> <p>Don't just talk about it....DO IT! That's the simple yet powerful message our operating principal brought to us at our team meeting today, regarding future training sessions.</p> <p>Whenever possible, if the content or subject matter being covered is something that could be practiced or acted out in the classroom....we'll be doing it!</p> <p>Whether it be in writing, or over the phone, or role playing with each other or creating marketing materials on the computer, or anything at all that requires us to go beyond talking about it and actually doing it.....we'll be doing it, or at least practicing it in the classroom environment!</p> <p>In fact, if it requires that we practice doing something outside of the classroom.....we'll be taking the group on a "field trip", outside of the classroom, to actually experience and perfect the subject matter being taught!</p> <p>Sound like a simple concept? Sure! Actually doing it and getting a room full of Realtors all eager to learn to step up to the plate and actually practice in some way what's being taught....that's the new challenge! And I know we're all up for it!</p> <p>I am so blessed to be able to work with a group of world-class fellow Realtors at Keller Williams Greenville Central!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Do what you fear the most repeatedly....and the death of fear is certain!</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/551392/Happy-Father-s-Day 2008-06-15T00:24:51Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there that work to keep it all together, and provide the support, love and knowledge necessary to raise children properly in today's society.</p> <p>I have four young boys named Jacob, Justin, Jared and Jason. We kept trying for a girl, but the good lord had a sense of humor and gave me 4 handsome little wise guys to contend with!</p> <p>My oldest boy, Jacob, is turning 8 on the 18th. I'll never forget the most awesome Father's Day present I ever received was the birth of my first son, Jacob, on June 18th, 2000, which was on Father's Day. You couldn't ask for anything more than that!</p> <p>I love being married to a beautiful wife and mother of my children, and I love being a father to my boys! It all seems to give life the ultimate meaning and sense of being on purpose each and every day.</p> <p>Anyway, I hope you all enjoy your Father's Day and take a little time to soak up the appreciation from your spouse and children!</p> <p>You deserve it!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/551345/Where-Have-All-The 2008-06-14T23:34:15Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>It turns out that sometime over the last couple decades, while I was sleeping, I guess, all of the record stores have been going out of business and shutting their doors!</p> <p>The Virgin Mega-Store in New York's Times Square will be shutting its doors for good. The sister store in Union Square is also shutting its doors.</p> <p>Sam Goody's have shut down and blown away in the dust.</p> <p>Let's not forget Tower Records! I used to shop at Tower Records on the Sunset Strip, just a block or so away from the famous Whiskey A-Go-Go. Tower Records shut their doors a couple years ago.</p> <p>It's sad. When I was growing up I would rush to the Village in the heart of Grosse Pointe, MI and go to Village Records and Tapes. I would go their beautiful wall, plastered with the latest hit singles in the form of a 45 record, with a paper sleeve. Even the "B side" of a 45 was fun as you weren't sure what you were going to get, but it was like a second free song as you were really paying for the hit single on "side A".</p> <p>I would rush home and play that 45 on my turntable on my stereo and "rock out" and sing along like any teenager might do today. I would love taking a bunch of my favorite 45's and playing them while recording a "compilation tape" in the cassette deck built into my stero system. Then, I would listen to that "really, really cool compilation tape" on my Toshiba walkman that was as big as a brick and had bright orange foam headphones that actually went over the top of your head!</p> <p>My goodness how times have changed! Kids today just download a song over the internet and put it into their ipods and stick the tiny earbuds in their ears and that's it!</p> <p>I remember when my older brother, Scott helped me pick out an album to buy a friend because I was invited to his birthday party. We were only in grade school, but thanks to my cool older brother I ended up giving this friend a Deep Purple album! Comedy! He loved the gift and still has it to this day! He still laughs at what a cool gift that was, consider how young we were, being in grade school.</p> <p>I even remember listening to my brother's Thin Lizzy 8-Track tape on our stereo in the basement.</p> <p>You would think that after the death of vinyl albums and cassettes that at least the CD would live on and the record stores would survive. Unfortunately, it appears that this is not the case at all!</p> <p>Do you have a favorite story related to the good old days of buying albums? Buying 45's? Making tapes on your stereo system?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/549710/Spreadin-The-Love-Active 2008-06-13T15:44:01Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/2/5/4/6/8/ar121338969186452.jpg" height="128" alt="" width="170" /></p> <p>I want to thank Bill Kennedy for taking the time to host and train our Keller Williams team yesterday on the fine art of Active Rain blogging.</p> <p>I enjoyed the class and I know many newer agents thoroughly enjoyed their introduction to this wonderful online community and have already signed up and have begun participating and blogging, etc.</p> <p>It's not rocket science, but for many newbies it can often seem either complicated to get started or intimidating to start blogging. Quite a few people got a confident start yesterday, thanks to Bill's efforts.</p> <p>So, thanks for "spreadin' the Active Rain love", Bill!</p> <p>You are greatly appreciated by the entire Keller Williams Greenville, SC team!</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/549658/Tim-Russert-of-NBC 2008-06-13T15:12:31Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/5/3/6/0/ar121338809306351.jpg" height="300" alt="" width="300" /></p> <p>I just saw on the news that Tim Russert of NBC news' Meet The Press died of a heart attack at the young age of 58.</p> <p>I am deeply saddened to have heard this news. Amongst a multitude of "talking heads" and "pretty faces" that call themselves news anchors, Tim Russert was the real deal. He was intelligent, he was natural and down to earth and he asked the direct questions that people really wanted answers to.</p> <p>I truly enjoyed his down to earth style. His voice was great. His delivery was natural, compelling and engaging. He was one of those guys that I couldn't help but stop and listen to if I caught him while channel surfing.</p> <p>He had just returned from a vacation with his family and his son had just graduated from college before he lost his life to a heart attack while at the NBC studios.</p> <p>Very sad. He will be missed!</p> <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/7/7/6/7/6/ar121338811367677.JPG" height="375" alt="" width="288" /></p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/541509/Consumer-Debt-Rose-8 2008-06-07T23:42:05Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>American consumers took on an increase of $8.9 billion in debt in April versus March of 2008. However, only about $300 million of this was revolving debt such as with credit cards.</p> <p>The overall debt of the American consumers is currently at about $2.6 trillion (as of April, 2008).</p> <p>The majority of the debt increase was with fixed payment loans, as with car loans and student loans.</p> <p>The government report that provided this information stated that it excludes mortgages and home equity loans.</p> <p>Some experts are "puzzled" by this jump in non-revolving debt as auto sales typically help to confirm such consumer behavior and the numbers usually add up. However, the recent drop in auto sales due to the high cost of gasoline seems to be in conflict with the huge jump in non-revolving consumer debt.</p> <p>Only time will tell what the American consumers have been doing to have taken on so much debt.</p> <p>I just hope this isn't a time bomb that will result in a huge wave of bankruptcies over the next few years.</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/541489/Are-Current-Oil-Prices 2008-06-07T23:25:49Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>There are some smart people out there speculating that oil will retreat and we'll all enjoy a long period of affordable gas.</p> <p>There are a whole bunch of other people projecting doom and&nbsp; gloom. "Those Chinese and Indian people are enjoying booming economies and are now all trading in their bikes for cars and they need gas!" Supply and demand dictates that Americans will never see an end to the currently high prices for gas.</p> <p>The other school of thought is that more and more profit-driven businesses will seek to produce alternative fuel sources and even seek to produce more oil, and capitalize on the great demand for fuels. With more sources and types of fuels, prices will drop due to competition and strong supplies.</p> <p>Also, as businesses and consumers scale back on their driving habits and as airlines ground planes due to current fuel prices and overall economics...then such a diminished demand will force prices to drop again. In theory.</p> <p>I can't help but point out that Ford announced last week that it is shutting down 4 plants that build trucks and SUVs. When Ford shuts down 4 large plants and announces they're building more small cars and more car-based cross-over utility vehicles that are all fuel efficient...what are we to think? It looks like they might have an idea&nbsp; pr two about the price of fuel over the next few years remaining high enough to kill demand for their trucks and SUVs.</p> <p>Well, what do you think?</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/541438/Downsized-Homes-The-Next 2008-06-07T22:50:42Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>I recently read an interesting article about the downsizing of homes as being the next strategy for some national home builders.</p> <p>KB Homes catered to higher income consumers during the last real estate boom and began offering some ritzy and quite large home designs.</p> <p>Now that the bubble has burst, KB Homes is going back to basics and downsizing their home designs. Their strategy is to attract the first time home buyer and offer a home that would have a payment rival the rents people are paying.</p> <p>I applaud this strategy. I think it is needed by many first time buyers who are currently renting and would love to get into a new home...if only it suited their needs and they could afford it.</p> <p>I also applaud this strategy as I'd like to see more people in this country slow down and be more realistic with their spending habits and live at or below their means...not beyond their means.</p> <p>I think more people would do this if they saw an attractive new development going up with more modest sized homes that had modern considerations and features and were affordable.</p> <p>Only time will tell how this will all work out. I think with the tighter lending standards and the currently struggling economy, people who are renting might jump at attractive, "downsized", affordable new housing. It's good for them and it's great for us, as Realtors!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/539825/Foreclosures-Of-The-Rich 2008-06-06T16:10:48Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>Just today I posted a blog with a few thoughts about Ed McMahon and the fact he is struggling to avoid foreclosure on his home. I was surprised to have stumbled across a report on the very same topic, yet with a rundown of year-to-date foreclosures of the rich and famous.</p> <p>Let's take a look:</p> <ul> <li>Evander Holyfield; $10 million home to be auctioned off in July (Are you kidding me? Didn't he make millions every time he stepped into the ring?)</li> <li>Ed McMahon; his home has been on the market for almost 2 years at $5.75 million</li> <li>Michael Jackson; Neverland Ranch was saved by an investment firm just days before going on the foreclosure auction block</li> <li>Latrell Sprewell; former NBA star had his home go into foreclosure in May in Wisconsin. The home was assessed at $667,980</li> <li>Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul; she almost lost her home to foreclosure this year as she owed $19,193 in back taxes on the $700,000 home</li> <li>Jose Canseco; the former baseball player decided to stop making payments on his $2.5 million home in Encino, California and it went into foreclosure. The home has 7,300 square feet.</li> </ul> <p>What can be said of this?</p> <p>It's nice to make a lot of money.</p> <p>It's even nicer to make a lot of money, stay a little bit grounded and realistic, live a little bit more frugally, invest wisely, live below your means and <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>keep all that money that you made in the first place!</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/539783/Want-To-Be-Inspired 2008-06-06T15:47:29Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/8/8/3/8/ar121278508283884.jpg" height="223" alt="" width="223" /></p> <p>I just realized that my favorite show to watch on television lately is The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. It's on CNBC weeknights at 10pm. Check out: <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838512/site/14081545/" target="_blank">http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838512/site/14081545/</a></p> <p>What is the single most common thread between mega-successful people? They are willing to take risks!</p> <p>I love this show! Donny brings on every day average people who are wildly successful after getting creative, acting on their dreams and then failing and failing and then succeeding after employing courage, integrity, tenacity, perseverance and creativity!</p> <p>"Courage, integrity, tenacity, perseverance and creativity"</p> <p>Hmmmm, do these sound like the attributes of a successful Realtor? I like to think so. Perhaps this is why I get so inspired by these people's stories.</p> <p>If you haven't yet discovered this show, check it out! I'm certain you'll enjoy it and feel that it was educational, insprirational and motivational!</p> <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/0/8/4/1/ar121278509914804.jpg" height="693" alt="" width="693" /></p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/539654/Unemployment-Rate-Soars-to 2008-06-06T14:46:46Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>The unemployment rate made its biggest jump in more than two decades in May.</p> <p>The jump from 5% in April to 5.5% in May was the biggest month-to-month jump in unemployment since February of 1986. A jump of this magnitude is considered a clear warning sign of a recession.</p> <p>This information and this report is no different from the national news reports that come out regarding real estate.</p> <p>Accurate data? Sure! Yet not at all fair or even realistic on a localized, regionalized level. Every region has its own socioeconomic circumstances and realities. While this unemployment number is significant and important to consider, we must also research and consider our localized data in order to provide the best service and information to our real estate clients.</p> <p>I would suggest that we must go a few steps further in educating ourselves about our localized markets.</p> <p>What is the median price of homes in your area? What is the average price of homes in your area? What is the average DOM/days on market? What is the average list price to sold price ratio? I'm certain most of us can either answer these questions or we're smart enough to get the answers quickly from our broker, our local MLS reports or from a trusted colleague.</p> <p>What will you say when your new client who is relocating to the region asks you: "What is the unemployment rate in this area?"</p> <p>Sound silly? Perhaps not important to us as Realtors? Consider that of the 6 states in the nation with the greatest number of homes in foreclosure, two of these states, Michigan and Ohio, have serious problems with high rates of unemployment!</p> <p>They are related. High unemployment rates can have an effect on home values, and subsequently the rate of foreclosures in an area.</p> <p>Let's assume that most people won't ask such as question. OK, so what? What if they suddenly get cold feet from buying a home because they heard that "all homes are in foreclosure, the markets are falling, everyone is unemployed, aspertame will kill you, Iran has nukes and the sky is falling!".</p> <p>Well, it's just nice to have a few answers, a few facts, about your local market to help overcome the national news media and bring some calm to today's nervous buyers!</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/539410/Heeeere-s-Foreclosure-TV 2008-06-06T12:34:32Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>Johnny Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon is currently in discussions with his lender to try and avoid foreclosing on his Beverly Hill, California home.</p> <p>The Wall Street Journal reported that Ed McMahon was $644,000 in arrears on a $4.8 million loan.</p> <p>His house has been on the market for about 2 years at a list price of over $6 million.</p> <p>I also read somewhere that Mr. McMahon has had some recent health challenges which have prevented him from working as a pitchman for various products or services. Perhaps such a recent reduction in his income has led him to the current situation he's struggling with, regarding his home.</p> <p>I guess what I find most interesting about this situation is to realize that many things in life are relative.</p> <p>Even the rich and famous can suffer with the same types of problems that the average American might be dealing with right now.</p> <p>I'm not necessarily saying I feel sorry for the guy. I wish I had his problems! I'd reduce the price on that house, sell it fast and "downsize" to a $1 million home!</p> <p>Come on, Ed, when times are tough, cut your losses, slash your overhead and weather the storm with a few less luxuries!</p> <p>However,&nbsp; like I said, at the end of the day many things in life are relative! Interesting!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://activerain.com/blogsview/537965/Continental-Airlines-and-United 2008-06-05T14:32:54Z Kirk Westervelt - Greenville, SC Realtor (Keller Williams) <p>Continental Airlines announced it is grounding 67 planes and cutting 3000 jobs in response to high fuel prices.</p> <p>United Airlines recently announced it was grounding 100 planes and cutting up to 1,600 jobs.</p> <p>Continental's Chairman/CEO, Larry Kellner, and its President, Jeff Smisek, wrote a letter to their employees, stating that "the airline industry is in a crisis: Its business model doesn't work with the current price of fuel and the existing level of capacity in the marketplace".</p> <p>Both of these men announced that they would decline to accept their salaries for the remainder of 2008. I guess this is symbolic and admirable, and perhaps "the very least they could do", considering the number of people that are losing their jobs throughout this ordeal.</p> <p>So, what does this mean to you and me? There is going to be enormous upward pressure on airline fares.&nbsp; It's really a no-win situation for anyone planning to travel for personal reasons, and vacations. If you fly, it will cost you! If you decide to drive instead...it will still cost you!</p> <p>This fuel crises is very real and it is affecting entire industries and subsequently resulting in thousands of people being laid off from their jobs.</p> <p>I have been trying to drive less recently, and when I do drive I always check to see if my wife's more fuel efficient vehicle is available before I pull out in my large SUV.</p> <p>These are strange times. I hope we all get through this stuff sooner than later and enjoy a broad stabilization throughout the marketplace, the economy and the housing markets.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>