deb brooks: Gary Woltal...You say it's your Birthday?????
- 10/11/09 06:29 AM
Gary, You say it's your Birthday? You have spent countless hours making us smile, cry, giggle, and reflect. All of us at Diary of a Realtor and ACTIVE RAIN INCLUSIVE want you to know how much you mean to us. So, come on baby, Let's Boogie down!!!!!!!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU GARY!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for being YOU. ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST FANS, Deb … (12 comments)
deb brooks: Corporate Owned Real Estate Taking a Fall~
- 10/11/09 05:51 AM
Corporate housing in foreclosure is a sign of our times! Corporations that were flourishing once found it to be the standard to own a home within the targeted area of their relocation needs. These CORPORATE OWNED HOMES would be utilized for the incoming new hires. Executives that are transferred would have a home to reside in without "stress" as they learn the area and acclimate into their own homes. Or, possibly it would be for a shorter term stint with the company. The Corporate owned home is usually very large with several bedrooms and is located within an "Elite" community with … (3 comments)
deb brooks: Quick "Dallas" update! Losing my new friend...
- 10/09/09 07:30 AM
Well my friends, This has been a week of challenges. On top of everything life throws at us I showed you a clip of "Dallas" my newly acquired family member. We are getting along famously. Including Jill although she still gets a little perturbed that her quiet world of "Old dog rest" is being disrupted. Dallas came home with me on Tuesday afternoon after a semi-traumatic neuter session and was still groggy from his anesthesia. He recognized "home" after having to stay at the animal shelter for three days while all was being prepared at home....or so I thought. I am … (16 comments)
deb brooks: "Characters" of Huntsville Texas. Ben and Ben~
- 10/04/09 10:22 AM
Shortly after a closing this week, (yea!), I was heading back to the house. Now, living in Huntsville Texas is never dull. We have a combination of fabulous shows given by the students of Sam Houston University bringing culture to our area all the way to REAL COWBOYS. I found my cars tires screeching to a halt when I saw this on the side of the road. Riding horses in Huntsville is truly a normal thing to see but this....this is a bit different than the norm. MEET "BEN" AND "BEN" Yes, Ben named his horse Ben too. Ben is Ben's … (10 comments)
deb brooks: Meet "Dallas" ... "My New Significant Other!"
- 10/04/09 09:22 AM
Yes, all my "others" are significant to me! One of the facts I have learned is that anything worth having is worth working for... This little (huge) guy is going to be a handful for a couple of years! High energy is what he should be named. I began calling him "Buff" but he needed a stronger name to match his personality. So, let me introduce you to the newest member of my family, formerly Buff. Say Hello to Dallas Brooks!
All advice is welcomed. As a new parent I know I have a lot to learn! Real Estate? Oh my, … (17 comments)
deb brooks: Are You Walking A Tight Rope?
- 06/20/09 06:42 AM
The Real Estate business is definitely changing. When you're searching your MLS have you noticed that the compensation split is being lowered too many times? Obviously there can be no price fixing...so we're all free to sell homes at whatever rate we choose. Right? My question is... "Why are we lowering the rates?" For heavens sake it's more difficult to sell a house today than we've ever known it to be! It's more difficult to find qualified buyers. It's more difficult to attain financing. It's more difficult to remain within the guidelines of our FNMA/FHA/VA sources and here we are LOWERING THE … (6 comments)
deb brooks: Lake Livingston WATERFRONT ~
- 06/18/09 08:23 AM
Introducing the greatest getaway on Lake Livingston! This beautiful estate is on 3+acres of gorgeous lushly landscaped WATERFRONT LAND.
WOO~HOO WONDERLAND! Walls of windows give you the perfect view of Lake Livingston's Bethy Cove.
Water, water and more water is your view from the main house livingroom. What a beauty!
Mature, professional landscaping surrounds the property intermingling with the natural hardwoods and Pine. Think you could maybe relax here? Me too.
Boathouse with electric lift will accomodate the largest and best! Waterfront is completely bulkheaded with custom walkways, extra decking and lots of room to play.
… (8 comments)
deb brooks: GREAT SHOWING? Beware of the neighbors!
- 06/18/09 06:04 AM
You know, I'm certain each one of us Realtors has a bag full of stories about GREAT SHOWINGS GOING BAD BECAUSE OF THE NEIGHBORS...don't we? Most of us have neighbors. How many times have you had a next door neighbor approach you during a showing to give you their two cents? How many times have they actually helped? In the beginning of the summer I had a very interested party in a Waterfront listing and a strong second showing. Sitting right on the water was a second lot that was included with the sale of the home. We were walking the … (8 comments)
deb brooks: What's Water Got To Do With It?
- 06/18/09 05:18 AM
EVERYTHING...that's what. Real Estate has been built by the water from the beginning of time. Water is our life blood and has many magical powers. It feeds our bodies with the very substance that supports us. Water cleanses us after a long day. Water supports life that feeds us. Water calms us by its very nature. WE ALL WANT TO LIVE BY THE WATER! In this new and tangled economy we are working with there are only a few guarantees. We must have a home. And, if we purchase by the water it will continue to hold a strong value in ANY ECONOMY. … (5 comments)
deb brooks: The Tortoise and The Hare~
- 06/17/09 03:47 PM
Sure we all have a race to run each day we arise into the world of Real Estate. But, what is it that is really going to make us stand apart from the rest? Our persistence. We don't have to run faster than anyone else... Our sincerity. We need to PROVE we mean what we say. And, stick to it. Our ability to look out for the other person first...not our pocketbooks. Our need to abide by our National Ethics that give us Pride in our Profession. We MUST be able to step aside and allow another to take the paycheck … (4 comments)
deb brooks: Our fish are dying....it's the heat.
- 06/17/09 03:21 PM
Our fish are dying! Yep, they really are. In the smaller bodies of Texas the fish are dying because of the heat. From what I understand, the waters in the smaller bodies turn over when there is not enough oxygen to support the life on the bottom. This in turn kills the fish in the main body of water by suffocating them. If you have a smaller pond or lake or body of water that is temporarily drying up ... take heed. You should feed the waters with fresh water and a means of circulation to save the fish. If you … (1 comments)
deb brooks: 3-6-9 A Goose Drank Wine, A Monkey Chewed Tobacco...
- 06/17/09 03:04 PM
Remember the old song that made absolutely NO sense? 3-6-9, A Goose Drank Wine, A Monkey Chewed Tobacco On A Street Car Line, The Line Broke, The Monkey Got Choked, They All Rowed To Heaven In A Little Row Boat, "Clap-Clap?" Yeah, I do too...why did we do that? What does this mean? Deb? … (3 comments)
deb brooks: More Lake Livingston Listings!
- 06/17/09 02:39 PM
Here we go! Another great listing on Lake Livingston Texas by Deb Brooks! Located in a wonderful private resort with a 24/7 manned gate, recreation room with workout area, four star restaurant, tennis courts, pool and private boat ramps! Don't miss this beautiful getaway with a beautiful water view and the abllity to dock your boat at your back door! Heaven Can Wait...but, don't wait or you'll miss this one!
Beautiful property recently built in gorgeous Resort on Lake Livingston. Freshly landscaped to a T! Lots of parking in front and to the side with the covered parking area. Beautiful … (2 comments)
deb brooks: Words of the Wildflowers...
- 06/13/09 04:30 PM
The wildflowers give hope... They are blowing in the wind and dropping the seed of the future. They provide beauty and substance to our landscapes and are the sign of spring and a new beginning. Our wildflowers are an inspiration that we should follow. They are a constant and show us that even adversity, lack of nourishment and storms cannot stop them from blooming and becoming the best they can be. They give us strength, hope and a promise of more to come. Let's have the outlook of the flowers. Be strong, positive, a fighter and guarantee that you will survive! … (4 comments)
What if............ you didn't have to work? What if........... you had all the money you needed or wanted? what if........... you didn't have to worry about paying your bills?... would you still be working Real Estate? Do you love it? Do you love the people? Do you love the satisfaction of helping a person find their home? If you can honestly answer these questions with..."I would want to sell Real Estate....", you are in the right business my friends...ask yourself this. If the answer is no, then go look for another job or profession. This is serious business. Be … (8 comments)
deb brooks: The Love of a Home.
- 06/13/09 03:16 PM
There is no way to dispute that we actually "love" with passion and feelings and commitment and devotedness and need and desire and comfort and "being" the very structure we call........our homes. Yes, we love our homes. Why not? We have a structure that reveals our personalities and preferences... It's a place to rest and feel comfort and security. A place to run naked if we choose. It's our place to close our eyes and re~build for another day. It's a place to extend our arms and emotion to another person or persons. It's a place to rest and repair … (5 comments)
deb brooks: Greed vs. Common Sense! FSBO'S? Whatchya gonna do?
- 06/13/09 02:35 PM
I passed by a beautiful home on the water of Lake Livingston yesterday. It is a home whose homeowners have been discussing "selling" for a couple of years. Now, she told me up front..."I want to sell it myself and I believe I can." Well, I said, I believe you can too. It may take you longer... Are you ready to spend money to advertise?.............................................. Do you know where to advertise?.............................................................. Do you know what the most effective way to reach your buyers is?................. You must be prepared to answer the phone many times a day...................... You must be prepared … (16 comments)
deb brooks: WHERE WILL YOU PLACE YOUR EFFORTS?
- 06/13/09 01:10 PM
WHERE WILL YOU PLACE YOUR EFFORTS? The top 5% of the nations Realtors make up 80% of the nations Real Estate Business. Scary, huh? Will you hang in there? Are you in the top 5% I'm not sure about you but I'm seeing a strengthing of our economy. Or, possibly it's just because the cream is rising to the top. People with money are still wanting to spend their money on A SOLID REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT. And, there are plenty out there. There are less Realtors now. Yes, it's true. The sheer number of us Realtors that fall by the wayside … (2 comments)
deb brooks: A Rose By Any Other Name...
- 06/13/09 12:44 PM
I'm so glad I have my Active Rain friends and co-workers surrounding me. These times they are a hurtin'. I believe that a rose displays as much beauty on a cloudy day as it does on a sunny day. It is all in how you look at the rose. Of course, there's the famous saying, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" and Shakespeare knew his writing. That's about all he knew but hey...we are not all good at everything. I flashed back to one of the stories that meant so many giggles when my mom use … (3 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.
Gary, You say it's your Birthday? You have spent countless hours making us smile, cry, giggle, and reflect. All of us at Diary of a Realtor and ACTIVE RAIN INCLUSIVE want you to know how much you mean to us. So, come on baby, Let's Boogie down!!!!!!!!!!! 
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