deb brooks: Reflections of Real Estate in Black and White
- 07/06/10 02:05 PM
I was reflecting on past comments from my favorite people on Active Rain. I came across this one and decided to re-post. In the last year we have lost several of our favorite Rainers. Reflecting on their memories gives me joy. Have you ever thought about just how powerful the word REFLECTION is?
"I do wish I could have done many things differently but at least today is the day I can REFLECT ON in the future...."...Deb
We can look into a mirror and see exactly how the world sees us. But, there's so much more to the … (34 comments)
deb brooks: INDEPENDENCE DAY! Realtors: We are the lucky ones!
- 07/03/10 05:49 PM
Happy 4th of July all! As we all know our Holiday is to celebrate the Declaration of Independence our Nation declared from Great Britain in 1776, on the 4th of July. As Realtors, Brokers, Mortgage Brokers, Inspection Specialists, and Surveyors and pretty much everyone else that helps make our clients' dreams come true WE SHOULD REALLY CELEBRATE. We are blessed to be INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS!!! No, there are no bosses that will dock our pay if we show up late... Yes, we have to be self-starters and be King or Queen of our schedules... No, we don't have to get up … (12 comments)
deb brooks: Top 10 Reasons to Post on Active Rain
- 06/22/10 02:07 PM
Active Rain and its staff have provided us with a resource equal to "Guaranteed Success". Now, of course this means that for it to work you have to work it. That's the down and dirty truth about just about everything we do. We can talk the talk but to become successful we must walk the walk. If you are sitting at your desk in your office waiting for the phone to ring or for someone to walk in off the street to "give" you business then WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE! You may just starve doing that! Buyers AND Sellers … (82 comments)
deb brooks: Lake Livingston's Beauty Took My Breath Again Today!
- 06/17/10 05:20 AM
I showed seven homes around Lake Livingston today to a new set of Clients. They also love the lake as I do but have never lived there. They spend almost every weekend boating on our lake and in the creeks and the Trinity River and are simply in love. We had a ball together exploring the homes along the water that fit into their price range. They own a very large speed boat so a boat lift with a pier is very important to them. The water level is also important so they can come and go even if the Lake … (14 comments)
deb brooks: Handle The Appraisal With Kid Gloves...
- 06/13/10 04:43 PM
Our game is Real Estate and it is up and down and all around right now. How do we handle this? With kid gloves. Let's talk appraisals. They have an incredible effect on our pricing in different neighborhoods don't they? If you are like me I have several neighborhoods that I regularly work. Some are economically stronger than others and what about the weaker ones? Why are the prices dropping?
The combination I can see is too many foreclosures in one neighborhood. Foreclosures for comps = lower price per square foot for the other homes for sale. Retail or … (11 comments)
deb brooks: The Con Man Plays His Cards
- 06/13/10 05:26 AM
Quick funny... My husband showed homes in Austin the other day and they were right by the water. He met with a man and his young son named Conner. I spoke to them a time or two during the showings and the men were laughing about Conner being a real Con Man! He was sneaky and pulling their legs about what he thought was funny all day long. They came to the last showing and it happened to be the one that Conner's mom had picked out as her favorite. The men just loved it. The house had everything they wanted … (13 comments)
deb brooks: Who Determines the "BEST?" YOUR PEEPS OF COURSE~
- 05/24/10 07:39 AM
Let me say right up front that this is a humbling experience. Really. Walker County covers most of the North end of Lake Livingston, the Trinity River and Huntsville, Texas. This area has been truly blessed with much beauty and a passel of FANTASTIC REALTORS! The Agencies and the Agents are all PROUD to be selling what we call "The Undiscovered Secret of Texas". What makes a great Realtor? Certainly not perfection. There is no such thing. My feeling on this is that if you actually try, try, try and do your best for your clients that even if you are … (50 comments)
deb brooks: Listing Agents are You Getting the Full Impact of Your MULTIPLE LISTING ADVERTISING? Write with your Heart!
- 05/20/10 05:10 PM
Listing Agents are You Getting the Full Impact of Your MULTIPLE LISTING ADVERTISING? I haven't always. If one of my houses is just sitting there and not getting any interest for some time it's usually my fault! I may have been in a big hurry the day I was writing that description! If your MLS is like ours it gives two categories to write in. One that is strictly for the Agents view and one for the public. I have read agents remarks where they simply copied and pasted the same paragraph into both categories! BIG NO NO! If writing blogs … (6 comments)
deb brooks: How Handling a Real Estate Transaction is Like Getting Married~HOUSE OR SPOUSE! Getting to the Altar is only the First Step!
- 05/19/10 06:57 AM
Does this seem like a strange analogy? It isn't. It follows human nature and the LAW of Nature. What do we love and cherish the most in this life? 1. Our Higher Power. 2. Our Spouse. 3. Our Families. 4. Our Home that we house our Spouse, our families and pray to our Higher Power in. Right? Have you ever compared just how close a Real Estate Transaction is to the planning of a marriage? It's amazingly parallel. It's amazingly "fitting like a glove" and if we stray, "IT" could be lost. "IT" IS A HOST OF FEELINGS, EFFORTS, COMPROMISES, UNDERSTANDINGS, … (37 comments)
deb brooks: What Makes Lake Livingston Texas Very Different?
- 05/13/10 04:37 PM
It is you know. It is very, very different. I have visited and I do sell other lake areas. But, Lake Livingston is so very unique. It is still one of the undiscovered gems in Texas' diamond ring. Sure, Texas has many a large body of water spackled throughout our Giant state. But, what makes Lake Livingston different? So many aspects are unique. Our tall towering Pine trees are fantastic but if you don't care for the Pine...what do you have if you cut down the Pines? Gorgeous hardwood trees with a spackling of flowering trees that even the hardest of … (7 comments)
deb brooks: A Tribute To Active Rain. Dear GOOGLE, "Pick me, Choose me, Love me."
- 04/27/10 07:43 AM
We all want to say to GOOGLE, "Pick me, Choose me, Love me." WHEN I began selling Real Estate back in 2002 I was feeling very discouraged. Oh, not for lack of sales. In fact I was top producer at the firm the very year I began. I just wasn't thrilled with what I had to sell! I learned quickly that selling an $8,000 piece of land was as complicated or even more work than selling a $200,000 home! And, the problem was that my potential clients would walk in the door right off the street and demand so much of … (7 comments)
deb brooks: Don't Forget what "REAL ESTATE" Is...and How YOU Contribute.
- 04/23/10 05:11 PM
Sure our economy is depressed. If we delve into the challenges of the economic downfall of the US we would all be depressed. My question to you is, "how do you portray your personal view of Real Estate to the general public?" I am hit with the question, "how is the Real Estate business?" every single day. When I respond, "terrific" the person looks surprised and amazed. They are really surprised! They proceed to tell me that anyone else they ask will tell them that they are struggling and that the down economy has totally affected their businesses. I say, "hummm...". … (83 comments)
deb brooks: Living the good life on Lake Livingston!
- 04/23/10 07:24 AM
Do you wake up in a concrete city? When you drive to work is the traffic heavy and the air thick with fumes of fuel? Do you feel the tension growing? Have you begun feeling that a quick drive to a getaway is really what you need? Lake Livingston's Carolina Cove is only a hop and a skip away from Houston and the surrounding areas.
A quick drive in will deliver you to your own paradise. Cool, clear blue waters provide you with an 88 thousand surface acre Lake Livingston playground.
You will awake smelling the fresh … (10 comments)
deb brooks: Stand Out In A Crowd
- 04/13/10 05:13 AM
We are all aware that we are only one of many. Whether we are are Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Inspectors or Buyers or Sellers we must find our way of STANDING OUT IN A CROWD! If we just do what everyone else is doing then we are simply just one of the masses! Even though your competition looks as good as these Bluebonnets we must each find a way to show our true colors and learn how to outshine the rest!
I am not going to give a list of what I think we should do. These discoveries and changes must … (22 comments)
deb brooks: The Gift of Butterflies in My Garden~~~wow~~~A Halloween Treat From Huntsville, Texas
- 10/28/09 07:37 PM
I was blessed with the lovely gift of Butterflies in my garden today. The sun came out and my yard became alive with butterflies in the very colors of our season! I just wanted to share these lovely creatures with you in the spirit of they were received. They brought me a great deal of joy and I hope they will for you too. Huntsville Texas has its charms and this is one of the best! Oh yes, and Happy Halloween!!!!!! … (17 comments)
My living room looked like a hay field shortly after harvest since my dog Dallas enjoys chewing the decorative balls on my coffee table. As I looked around at the mess and his smiling face all I could think of was Real Estate. After the coffee was poured and I began to think a bit more clearly, the assessment of who I am as a Realtor and WHAT ALL REALTORS MUST BE, … (48 comments)
deb brooks: How to rescue a squirrel...
- 10/18/09 07:11 AM
One of my favorite things on Sunday is having the time to surf Active Rain and say hello to my friends. I love reading all the diverse topics and being able to view the world from others' perspectives! I learn, I laugh and I love getting to know so many different people and personalities. Just opening the dashboard is a wealth of information and so much better than the Houston Chronicle even though you don't give out coupons! Ha! I just read Michael Thornton's Feature "FIREPLACES-HIDDEN DANGER" and it now brings me to the topic of this post.... SQUIRRELS.
… (9 comments)
deb brooks: Do You Speak Real Estate "SIGN" Language?
- 10/17/09 10:30 AM
Do You Speak Real Estate "SIGN" Language? And, no I don't mean like this... No, no. I mean really... Do you speak Real Estate sign language?? I find this to be one of my weaknesses in this busy crazy business we are in. I was thinking about it today though and I am personally committing to better myself for my business and my client's sake. The kind of sign language I'm talking about is of course our Real Estate signs. I really believe that we can increase our business just by becoming more diligent with our signage. When you place your … (118 comments)
deb brooks: WHY RAISE THE CEILING IN A NEGOTIATION?
- 10/16/09 11:10 AM
When assisting "potential clients" or "clients" do you qualify "CEILING PRICE"? If they tell you their top dollar is $400,000 Shouldn't you GO ONE STEP FURTHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE CLIENT? What is that one step??? Think about it. LIFE IS A NEGOTIATION ANY DIRECTION WE TURN. Not just with our clients but in everyday structure. PERIOD. IT JUST IS. In this day of the current economy...we MUST KNOW THERE IS ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION!!! If they qualify for $400,000 then why not try $401,000 to $425,000? One of our main purposes of being a Realtor is to handle the … (11 comments)
deb brooks: How "NOT" to sell Real Estate~
- 10/13/09 12:33 PM
It's been a long and hot summer. I am pleased with the production and the happy homeowners I have placed and moved. Although, I do remember one day's showings in particular though and now have to "giggle" just a bit. With a shrug and a sigh and an "oh, well...I'll try again" attitude. Lake Livingston is a huge MARKET area. My lake is 88.000 surface acres of water in 4 (four) counties. It's big. Like Texas....it's big. Huge that is. An average showing will log over 100 miles with no problem. Even though I am a seasoned Realtor and have driven … (73 comments)
Wichita Falls Texas Real Estate, Homes, Properties and Rentals by Deb "Alayne" Brooks and RE/MAX Elite Group. Learn about local, State wide and National Real Estate trends and predictions.
Search listings in the Wichita Falls area including Sheppard Air Force Base, Burkburnett, Iowa Park, Archer City, Lakeside City, Holliday, and Dean.
Contact Alayne for all your Real Estate Needs at 940-500-4010.
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