buyer: Living in the past... - 07/18/08 04:50 PM
As I sit here on a Friday morning, watching my son ice skate with his friend, Zachary, I am stricken with a point.
Some things from the past are best left there...
In this particular situation, it is the music. I think that we are running through the K-tel Worst … (0 comments)
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buyer: Real Estate and Restaurants... - 07/05/08 05:10 PM
Does it seem odd to compare the disparate industries?
Real Estate and Restaurants...
It is actually more of a contrast... There is something that the real estate industry, from the giant franchises all of the way down to hyper-local "Mom and Pop" shops, could learn. And it comes from all sorts … (12 comments)
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buyer: Mission Impossible? - 07/04/08 11:43 PM
Mr. Bailey, you did a pretty fair job creating a listing blog for a listing that was almost $1m.
So now we have a challenge for you...
Your mission, should you decide to accepti it is to take a more normal priced property... priced under $200k, and create a … (10 comments)
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buyer: Disassemble, rebuild, test, repeat... - 06/21/08 11:35 PM
Auto restoration, real estate, diet... whatever.
It's all about building the system, examining the system, testing the system...
and doing it all over again...
and again... and again.
I am building a Jeepster/Commando from the ground up. Currently I am building a frame. I know that in order to … (6 comments)
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buyer: Gwinnett County, GA crossed a line... - 06/21/08 10:51 PM
10,000 listings in FMLS. Actually 10,043 Single Family Residences listed for sale in Gwinnett County. These include Active Listings, Pending Sale (with a Contingency) and Pending Sale (with a Kick-Out Contingency). That is a LOT of properties.
But I would hesitate to say that all of them are equally for sale...
… (2 comments)
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buyer: Automatic Valuation Tools... I just picked one up... - 06/14/08 09:59 AM
I just added one to GarageHomesUSA.com the other day. They are great for what they are... as long as the limitations are kept in mind. Here is the direct link. Feel free to wander over in a moment...
AVTs have become all of the rage in the last couple of years. … (5 comments)
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buyer: SpaceDesigner... Is that the guy that paints the DeathStar? - 05/29/08 11:59 PM
No.
Actually, it is a cool tool that we have started deploying on some listings. It allows a viewer to take furniture, re-size it and insert it into a virtual floor plan. Spin it around, drag it from room to room... check stuff to see what hits and what fits.
It … (5 comments)
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buyer: Cool Tool for Buyers! - 05/28/08 09:47 PM
On our newest listing, we have really rolled out the tech. Of course the seller gave us a great canvas, but here are a few of the cool tools we are employing:
Single Property Blog. Instead of a couple of pages, or worse yet, a page, we decided to go whole … (7 comments)
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buyer: Anatomy of a CMA, Part II - 05/24/08 08:18 PM
In Part I, I detailed just what a CMA was and how how to look at it.
In this episode, I am going to talk about how is is put together.
Very carefully.
This is not a science, although there is a bit of science involved. And any appraiser or agent … (4 comments)
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buyer: Anatomy of a CMA, Part I - 05/24/08 07:55 PM
Pretty much ANY real estate agent you use... with the exception of some of the limited service brokers that just put your listing on the MLS when your credit card payment clears... perform some sort of CMA on your property prior to listing.
But what IS a CMA?
That is a … (0 comments)
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buyer: What Technology do I think consumers want? - 05/16/08 09:44 PM
And if you are a consumer, I'd LOVE for you to post up with your desires here...
Generally, there are three classes of technology I am going to talk about:
Stuff I am currently working into the mix.
Stuff I will be looking closely at working into future listings.
Things that … (6 comments)
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buyer: Newsletter #3 is on the way... - 05/07/08 11:29 PM
If you are one of my subscribers, the newsletter is sending as I write. If you aren't a subscriber, you should be... I have a few great posts from LaneBailey.com, and as always, the best of them make it over to GarageHomesUSA.com as well.
Of course, I will never sell, rent, … (0 comments)
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buyer: What sort of 4+ car garages are in Gwinnett County right now? - 04/25/08 07:51 PM
That is one of the most frequent questions I get. Lots of folks want a big garage, and they wonder what is available.
I did my last update a couple of weeks ago on LaneBailey.com. At that time, I highlighted a couple of the properties. Of course there is a little … (0 comments)
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buyer: So, just how many 4+ car garage homes are in Gwinnett County, GA - 04/10/08 10:56 PM
The quick answer is 148. They range in price from $129,900 to $8.5m. Right smack in the middle is $749k.
Of course, there are some pretty interesting homes in there, and I profiled a few of them on LaneBailey.com today.
Here are a couple of the highlights:
If you are looking for a … (7 comments)
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buyer: Newsletter #2 has mailed!!! - 04/10/08 02:44 PM
I have found a better newsletter solution, and sent out Issue #2 of the GarageHomesUSA & LaneBailey.com newsletter. This is by subscription only, and sign-up is available on LaneBailey.com (top of the page, right side). It is what is referred to as a "double opt-in", meaning that you sign up, and … (5 comments)
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buyer: I'm almost there... - 04/03/08 10:04 PM
but not quite.
I've been working on my video contest entry. I still think I need some work. I'd love to hear some impressions. Don't worry, I can take it. I already am not loving appearing on camera... and I know that I need better actors... but hey, fast and cheap. … (16 comments)
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buyer: I had a marketing thought... - 03/22/08 08:34 PM
Scary, I know.
Ok, a couple of caveats.
Atlanta area agents, don't steal this from me yet... I'm kicking it around in my head. I haven't talked to anyone about this yet, so if it is stupid... give me the opportunity to find someone to blame.I don't know if it would fly … (5 comments)
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buyer: Gwinnett County numbers for 4+ car garage homes interesting - 03/19/08 09:55 PM
I needed to run some numbers today from just 4+ car garage homes. The numbers were pretty interesting.
So, if you are paying attention, you might notice a lot of mixed signals. But, what I am seeing is that while the Single Family Residential numbers overall are currently pointing to about 104 … (5 comments)
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buyer: Land of the Gladiators and Home of the Braves - 03/18/08 07:51 PM
Gwinnett County, GA is growing some more.
Gwinnett is already a vibrant and active suburb of Atlanta, GA... and it is getting better all of the time. Gwinnett will be welcoming the AAA affiate of the Atlanta Braves to the new stadium that is being built near Lawrenceville. Formerly of Richmond, … (0 comments)
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buyer: Want to destroy the economy and dreams of home ownership? - 03/05/08 01:47 PM
It's pretty easy...
House of Representatives Democrat John Conyers of Michigan knows how to do it. He has outlined a simple plan.
Allow bankruptcy judges to set aside mortgage balances in favor of "good faith attempt" to pay off mortgages... and the borrower gets to keep the house. While the plan … (9 comments)
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buyer: Gwinnett County Sales Figure for January/February 2008 - 03/03/08 09:33 PM
I just got the new report posted to Garage Homes USA, my website. Here is a link to the report.
Aside from the regular Average Days on Market, Average Sales Price, and numbers for new listings, I have added Absorption Rates and New/Sold ratios.
The market report is kind of dry, but … (5 comments)
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buyer: Timing is everything... maybe - 02/29/08 02:44 PM
We all know about the stock market crash of 1929. Bubble heads have tried to compare the run up in housing prices to the stock market crash for the last several years. Maybe they have a point... maybe not. This isn't about that. This is about what people DON'T know as … (2 comments)
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buyer: Dear Mr. & Mrs. Unrealistic Buyer - 02/28/08 12:12 PM
{Back in the day, I wrote a post called Dear Mr. & Mrs. Unrealistic Seller. It was my first feature, and still sits as my busiest post with over 1500 views and around a 100 comments. Ever since October, I've wanted to write the balancing post...}
I just wanted to drop … (18 comments)
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buyer: Into the mailbag III... New home inducements - 02/28/08 11:18 AM
Back to the mailbox. These are the types of questions I am getting. Here is what I have to say:
We are thinking about buying a new construction home. In the Sunday Paper the builders seem to be giving away the world. What is the deal?
New home communities that have been around … (0 comments)
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buyer: Into the mailbag II... When should we start to look? - 02/28/08 10:49 AM
I decided to hit my inbox and see what sort of questions consumers may have...
Lane, we are thinking about buying a house in 6 or 8 months. When should we start looking?
A lot depends on the remainder of your situation. There are a few things we need to look at first:
How … (0 comments)
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buyer: Into the mailbag I... Buyer's price range - 02/28/08 10:31 AM
I decided to hit a few of the questions that I see regularly in my inbox...
Lane, we are looking for a house between $300,000 and $325,000. When you sent us listings, you sent them a little outside the range. I see houses here for $273,000 to $336,000. Why?
There are a few … (0 comments)
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buyer: I've heard voices... - 02/23/08 11:06 AM
And they were smart voices.
Wandering around in the Rain, there have been scores of bloggers pointing out that the federal government trying to "fix" the foreclosure crisis. Now, Inman News is saying the same thing. (the link will only be good until it goes behind the curtain)
Most families facing … (10 comments)
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buyer: Looking for a 4+ car garage home in Gwinnett County, GA? - 02/09/08 04:04 PM
Well, there are 154 of them on the market today. They range in price from $139,900 up to $8,500,000. The median price is about $700,000. The meat of the market seems to be around $375,000 and $2.5m. The properties range from incredible estates to modest homes, and from 2 car attached/2 … (6 comments)
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buyer: Obeo... Looks like a great service - 02/08/08 09:15 PM
So, I was reading Bloodhound Blog a few days ago, and Greg Swann mentioned that he has started using Obeo for their virtual tour solutions. The virtual tours aren't the star of the show, though. The stars of the show are the interactive floor plans and the virtual decorator.
Virtual tours … (6 comments)
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buyer: Gwinnett County Market Report for December/January 2007/2008 - 02/06/08 09:32 PM
I just posted the latest market report on my website. Here is the direct link.
Here are the highlights...
December is kind of a funky month. Comparing it to January or November is difficult, because of the Christmas holiday. January is a more typical month, but the numbers are only preliminary and … (0 comments)
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buyer: Legends at Parkview - 02/05/08 11:53 PM
There is a new subdivision coming up in Lilburn... and it looks great.
The Legends at Parkview
I stopped in tonight when the developer hosted a round table discussion for agents and mortgage bankers. We talked about the philosophy of the builder, Mayfield Homes, as well as some of the finance options … (4 comments)
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buyer: Lessons from NHL transport... - 01/26/08 01:34 PM
For anyone paying attention to my other blog, you already know that I am driving NHL VIPs around during the All-Star festivities here in Atlanta. I'm picking up players, owners, celebrities and Hall of Fame players. It's a blast...
But I am learning a few things.
Here are the links for details … (3 comments)
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buyer: 151 4+ car garage homes in Gwinnett County today - 01/23/08 10:55 AM
I just ran my search to see how many homes were currently active in Gwinnett County that had 4 car or larger garages.
151
The top of the range hasn't changed, the $10.5M home is still there, but there are a couple more below the previous $154,900... there is a property at … (2 comments)
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buyer: Duluth Ice Forum - 01/23/08 09:57 AM
Would you believe that in the Heart of Dixie one can join a Hockey League? What about Ice Skating lessons or practice Figure Skating?
The Duluth Ice Forum is Gwinnett County's hottest place to get cold. From beginner Ice Skating to Figure Skating competitions and kids or adult Hockey Leagues, the … (6 comments)
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buyer: Let's link to seemingly unrelated stories - 01/18/08 01:07 PM
While glancing through today's REALTOR(R) Magazine Daily News Brief, there were two stories that jumped out at me. One was a call to action, and the other looked like the groundwork for a call to action later...
The first was: Withholding Mortgage Help Could Hurt Everybody. Among other things, it said:
The Center … (11 comments)
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buyer: Aftershock... or not so much - 01/17/08 03:36 PM
A friend of mine forwarded a Moody's study that was called "Aftershock - A study of the post Mortgage Meltdown." I went through it, and most of it is pretty dark... but then I started to notice something. The maps didn't look that bad. Ok, they didn't look that bad for … (3 comments)
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buyer: My own magazine? - 01/17/08 11:20 AM
Yep.
In (what I hope to to be) the last incarnation of my website for a while, I will be making it an online magazine. I am building the February issue, which will be the debut on the site right now. Each day it changes just a little, but come the … (2 comments)
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buyer: How is the view from the sidelines? - 01/17/08 10:35 AM
Through a search a few weeks ago I ran across Real Estate Radio's blog. I have been enjoying the read for quite a while, and even listening to some of the podcasts (they are full radio show recordings, and are two hours long). I don't listen to as much of the … (0 comments)
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buyer: New home construction drops 25% in 2007... It's about time! - 01/17/08 10:06 AM
When I logged on to the computer this morning, I ran across this story from Yahoo News. It is from the Ap, and basically says that in 2007, new home construction dropped 24.8% from 2006 levels. That is the highest drop since 1980... when interest rates on mortgages were worse than … (11 comments)
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buyer: Gwinnett Market Report for November/December 2007 - 01/07/08 11:57 AM
I just put the new market report for Gwinnett County, GA on my other blog. Here are a few of the highlights. The complete report is available here...
The Absorbtion Rate for Gwinnett County is still slowing, but shows improvement compared to November. The twelve month rate is 10.4 months of supply. … (0 comments)
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buyer: How many 4+ car garage homes are available in Gwinnett County? - 01/03/08 09:34 PM
137… Currently on the market.
I am asked that question periodically. There are 137 homes on the market as of the time I am writing this that have 4 car garages in Gwinnett County, GA. They range in price from $10.5M down to $154,900. They are all over the county. One … (0 comments)
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buyer: Lane's 2008 Prognostications... - 12/29/07 10:11 PM
Earlier I ran across a post on the official A/R blog wondering about our predictions for the next year. Well, I had already been in a prognosticating mood, since I was actually grading some of my predictions from earlier this year.
I also ran across a post by Jim Crawford looking … (9 comments)
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buyer: I think it's high time I answer for my predictions... - 12/29/07 08:03 PM
Is It Time to Buy? Revisited...
Back in June I reprinted an article that I actually wrote just over a year ago. I originally wrote it in November 2006, and republished it here and on my blog in June 2007.
Here is a link to Is It Time To Buy?
Well, if you … (2 comments)
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buyer: US Property on sale!!! 17% off... - 12/29/07 05:32 PM
Of course there is one little hitch… You have to be from outside the United States.
I just ran some numbers, and the US Dollar is at it’s lowest level in at least the last five years against both the Euro and the Pound.
For the Euro:
In January of 2003, … (0 comments)
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buyer: A better way to look at everything... - 12/27/07 03:55 PM
Part of my daily reading ritual includes Seth Godin’s blog. He is often described as a marketing genius. I think that well might be true. But, his blog isn’t just about marketing, but also often touches on greater issues. This one certainly did. Although, he actually wrote it four years ago… … (5 comments)
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buyer: Say it until it's true!!!... NOT - 12/26/07 10:11 PM
While researching yesterday’s blog entry, I ran across this little tidbit. Frankly, it p***es me off. I am proud to be a member of the NAR. I think that there is a place for a strong voice both for real estate professionals, and to champion the issues for increasing home ownership … (48 comments)
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buyer: Housing apocolypse revisited - 12/25/07 09:37 PM
I ran across a post on Active Rain that pointed me to an outside article that talks about the need for at least a 20% reduction in home prices in order for families to be able to afford to buy. Well, I love it when there are specific claims and statistics. … (3 comments)
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buyer: Sometimes doing the right thing hurts - 12/21/07 01:12 PM
I started by explaining in Everybody put your heads down on your desk... how we got to this ugly spot in the road where we see the paths of:
Government intervention in loansorA rush of foreclosuresIn this installment, I'm going to outline the case for why it is the wrong thing for … (8 comments)
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buyer: Everybody put your heads down on your desk... - 12/20/07 02:41 PM
Do you remember those words from grade school? The big kid from the back of the class shot a spitball at the teacher, and so everyone got the same punishment. There were 29 kids in the class that didn’t do anything, but they still got the same treatment. What’s worse is … (0 comments)
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buyer: Hockey... and real estate - 12/18/07 11:56 PM
Back to the stretches…
We just got back from the Thrashers/Lightning game. The Thrashers were on fire (for a change) and Tampa Bay 6-2. Everything worked. Passes connected. Bounces went the right way. The calls were pretty good. For the Thrashers, anyway…
Here are the highlights from last night's game. We … (4 comments)
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buyer: Blog anthology, Posts 138 - 150 - 12/13/07 04:39 PM
Once again, I have a little discrepancy in the numbers. This time, it’s because of the platform change and now there are actually numbers next to the list on the back end… I must have mis-counted previously. Hopefully that jazz is behind me.
The next post in the series was about … (0 comments)
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buyer: MLS? Zillow? Trulia? - 12/13/07 12:46 PM
I ran across a blog post by Jay Thompson regarding a story in the Wall Street Journal about on-line home searches. He noted that in his area the WSJ had it wrong. He researched the numbers for the local MLS, Trulia and Zillow. His findings were that Zillow only showed about … (4 comments)
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buyer: Rock Crawling and realty... - 12/08/07 12:37 AM
I am about to perform a feat of magic... I am going to combine two such different things, that you won't believe I was able to actually pull it off...
In the first corner, we have a real estate transaction. Just about every time a home changes hands, there are obstacles and … (5 comments)
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buyer: Market update for Gwinnett County, October/November 2007 - 12/07/07 04:09 PM
As I announced back in the middle of November, there is going to be a format change beginning this month. I will be including Absorbtion Rates in the market reports now. This will give a clearer picture of the direction of the market, as well as help bring a bit … (0 comments)
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buyer: Dingell... YOU ARE AN IDIOT! - 12/06/07 11:51 PM
If you haven't been paying attention, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) has floated an idea to eliminate the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction for homes over 3000 square feet.
His points are:
The HMID "costs" US taxpayers $100,000,000/year. McMansions are wasteful and contribute to global warming.It would reduce sprawl, and save energy in multiple … (8 comments)
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buyer: Boy, I'd almost consider running to answer this one... - 11/28/07 09:56 PM
So, it's like this...
First, the video is only 27 seconds long, so feel free to watch.
Now, let me tackle the answer.
Jamie, there isn't a quick and easy answer to the question, but it looks like you think there should be from your video. But, let's look at the causes, … (10 comments)
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buyer: House Values Up!!! - 11/28/07 03:50 PM
What? Is this guy crazy? Take a look...
S&P Index Reveals Price Changes in 20 Markets Prices of single-family homes in the third quarter fell 4.5 percent nationwide compared with a year ago. It was the largest drop since the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index was begun in 1988. “We … (2 comments)
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buyer: Free Milk. Get your Free Milk!! - 11/28/07 09:54 AM
I had an interesting conversation. it was interesting for many and varied reasons.
There were three people gathered in place that were familiar with my blog... and I was only one of them.Only one of them was familiar with Active Rain... me again.One of them was an honest to goodness consumer. … (11 comments)
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buyer: Housing Starts down slightly, but Multi-Family are up... - 11/25/07 09:09 PM
So, what does that mean? First, let me toss out the original story.
Daily Real Estate News | November 21, 2007 Home Starts Up, Mostly Due to Multi-FamilyU.S. home builders broke ground on more apartment buildings in October, driving housing starts up 3 percent to an unexpected seasonally adjusted rate of 1.229 … (5 comments)
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buyer: But it's a Tradition... - 11/23/07 10:20 AM
Thanksgiving is a time that we look back over the year and think of all of the wonderful things that we have to be thankful for. It is also a time for us to enjoy being with our families. And, being with family always gets the wayback machine firing on all … (0 comments)
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buyer: Another step to paperlessness!! - 11/22/07 07:52 PM
And a big step it is.
I picked up a tablet computer a few years ago. Seduced by the cool marketing and all of the smurfy cool junk I would be able to do, I plunked down enough money to buy a decent parts car for a little silver swiveling box. … (27 comments)
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buyer: Get 10% off at Lowe's! - 11/21/07 08:10 PM
Are you looking to buy or sell a home in Gwinnett and surrounding areas of Georgia? If so, I have a deal for you.
Sign up for my email list, and I'll send you a 10% discount coupon for Lowe's.
It's that easy. Seriously. Ok, it does mean that you have … (2 comments)
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buyer: Open property search - 11/20/07 03:39 PM
I've gone and done it now... I opened up the search capability on my website. Search the MLS without having to register or give up your private information.
As long as there have been real estate agents, we have been gatekeepers of information. In the early days, agents and brokers held … (6 comments)
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buyer: Gwinnett Schools looking at a major redistricting - 11/20/07 09:29 AM
I'm a little late to the party on this, but I would bet that there are a lot of people that were even further out of the loop than me...
The Gwinnett County (GA) Schools are looking at a major redistricting. I have put them in the list based on the High … (0 comments)
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buyer: So, he's hit the "But that's the way I want it to be" Stage - 11/18/07 11:40 PM
Many of you might know that I have a three (and a half) year old son. He has graced a variety of my posts, and is one of the primary inspirations for me being in real estate... but I digress... Often.
So, while it isn't the first time, I wanted to … (9 comments)
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buyer: Today is THE DAY!!! One Day Sale for 2324 at Tuscany in Midtown - 11/11/07 09:25 AM
This is it. If you are in the area of the Tuscany condos in Midtown Atlanta (between Juniper and Piedmont and 8th and 10th streets) drop in. We have 6 units open today from 6 different agents. The unit I represent, #2324 in the Bocce building, is marked down $10,000 for … (4 comments)
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buyer: Client Gateway for Buyers... a cool bonus - 11/05/07 08:09 PM
One of the great features I offer to buyers is the Client Gateway. If you aren't familiar, it is a custom private webpage that lists all of the properties that meet the criteria we decide on. As new listings are entered into the MLS, they show up in the Client … (2 comments)
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buyer: One Day Sale... For a condo in Midtown Atlanta... and a SUPER open house at the Tuscany - 11/04/07 09:44 AM
I'm sure I'll post up about it again later in the week, but mark your calendar for November 11th.The Tuscany is a condo development in Midtown Atlanta between 8th and 10th streets (there isn't a 9th street there) and between Juniper and Piedmont. It has a decided Mediterranean style (ya … (2 comments)
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buyer: Market update for Gwinnett County, September 2007 - 11/01/07 11:04 AM
Below are the numbers for September 07. Before getting into the numbers, I would just like to mention again that I will now be working to post numbers right at the beginning of each month for the month that ended 30-35 day prior. I would love to be able to … (0 comments)
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buyer: The Bachelor and the real estate market - 10/23/07 12:33 PM
Once again, I am going to zip off on a tangent, and then bring it back to real estate and allow something that is seemingly unrelated teach me a lesson about real estate.
The other night, after watching Christina Applegate in Samantha Who?, The Bachelor came on. I didn't watch all … (7 comments)
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buyer: Wandering through the DoJ website... - 10/19/07 03:02 PM
What is it going to take to make them happy? Did someone at the DoJ have an unsatisfactory experience with a real estate agent? Or is it simply that they know our approval ratings are down there with our Democrat led Congress (which would love to have even the dismal ratings … (2 comments)
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buyer: The New (real estate business) World Order - 10/17/07 03:18 PM
Real Estate as a business is changing all of the time and on multiple fronts. Whether one is an agent, buyer, seller, investor, or support person there have been many changes over the last several years, and there will be many more changes. For buyers, the biggest change is the greater … (0 comments)
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buyer: Market update for Gwinnett County, August 2007 (revised with notes) - 10/17/07 01:03 PM
I need to change the format on these numbers just a bit. I have been trying to put out the market report around the 15th of the month for the previous month (10/15 for Sept., for example). However, the numbers have been changing so dramatically that I am seeing changes … (0 comments)
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buyer: What is a better investment? - 10/17/07 11:48 AM
I was up late, and caught a little bit of the Nightline episode where they featured a "bubble blogger" in California. One of the statements he made was that housing was not a good investment compared to the stock market over the last 30 years. That line was screaming at me. … (5 comments)
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buyer: Buyers are Liars... or not so much - 10/14/07 03:15 AM
I know, I know. It is one of those pervasive statements in real estate. Everyone in the business says it.
Buyers are liars.
But, are they really? I don't think so. My buyers tell me exactly what they want, and then they buy it. When they don't, I eventually figure out I'm … (42 comments)
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buyer: Multiple unit open houses? - 10/13/07 03:37 PM
Have any of you set up open houses so that a bunch of different units are held open at the same time? The listing that I have in Midtown Atlanta is one of nine units for sale in the complex. I'm thinking that if all of us with listing have an … (4 comments)
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buyer: Where does this guy get his data? - 10/12/07 12:44 PM
I just can't help myself...
I just ran across this little release from the NAR. Basically, the CEO of Countrywide says that the subprime mortgage mess could widen the home ownership gap between whites and minorities. However, in the same daily brief, the NAR sent out this piece as well. it states … (6 comments)
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buyer: Calling one developer... you don't know who you are yet... - 10/11/07 03:43 PM
I must admit that I was a bit amazed at the reaction to my last post. On Active Rain, it received a Feature within an hour of being posted. It was also one of my most viewed and commented blog entires. I was shocked that the comments weren't closer to the … (4 comments)
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buyer: If you lived here you'd be drag racing... or rock crawling... or road racing! - 10/09/07 10:12 PM
I just answered a question on another board about marketing a drag racing track that is for sale. I just couldn't help but hit a flight of fancy over it. I started to think of some of the unique, but also fairly popular concepts that I have run across over the … (19 comments)
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buyer: It's about the Garage! - 10/02/07 01:20 PM
I just had the opportunity to wander through the October issue of REALTOR(R) magazine. Cars and Cable caught my eye (pg. 14). As I had previously mentioned in a blog post in July, oversized garages made a pretty good showing. Second place.
Now, before you go gloating about second place, keep … (13 comments)
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buyer: Tuscany condo in Mid-town Atlanta - 09/28/07 01:29 PM
Soon to hit the MLS, you saw it here first...
This is a great 1 bedroom/1 bathroom condo that also features a den/office. With 966 square feet (tax records) of interior room, and a 103 square foot patio (builder's plan), there is more space than in other 1bd/1ba floorplans.
This is a … (4 comments)
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buyer: Vision - 09/27/07 09:01 PM
This is a left-over from my alphabet series. I decided to write a stand alone post rather than to play the alphabet game again (BTW, I already have another X and another Q... so that's not a problem).
There are so many different ways to look at vision... was that a … (0 comments)
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buyer: The sky is falling... and the bubble is coming... - 09/25/07 09:46 AM
Sorry to disappoint.
I picked up a story today about a "Bubble Blogger" in San Fransisco. I actually enjoyed the article. Here is the link. I have read a few of these bubble blogs in the last couple of years. Some are quite educated, and others are just rants. I actually … (8 comments)
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buyer: What are we doing here? Looking at the housing landscape... - 09/21/07 01:15 PM
This morning, the NAR kindly sent me this little update through the Real Estate Insights eNewsletter. It explains, quite well, the steps that we will need to move through before the market stabilizes, both locally and nationally. And then, this afternoon, in my REALTOR(R) Magazine Daily Online, I got this story. … (2 comments)
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buyer: What is a Seller's Market - 09/21/07 10:53 AM
I previously covered Buyer's Markets and what they meant for both buyers and sellers. Feel free to look over that blog entry in conjunction with this one.
Before I dive into talking about a Seller's Market, I want to cover a neutral market very quickly. When there isn't a Buyer's Market … (4 comments)
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buyer: What is a Buyer's Market? - 09/20/07 08:50 PM
In real estate, as with other sales markets, there are three phases to the market. There is a Seller's Market, Neutral Market, and the subject for this post, the Buyer's Market.
For most markets, and most price ranges right now, we are in a Buyer's Market, but what does that mean? You've … (2 comments)
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buyer: Market update for Gwinnett County, August 2007 - 09/18/07 11:12 AM
It time for me to make my prognostications for the coming market, while recapping that which has happened. Please keep in mind that even on the 18th of September, the numbers for August WILL change. I will come back and correct them before posting the October results. I originally posted … (2 comments)
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buyer: Z is for... - 09/17/07 10:20 PM
Z06 Corvette, Nissan 240Z, Z28 (1LE!), Zamboni, Zagato, Zonda, some other fabulous car beginning with Z....
No.
Zillow. I mean really, this is a real estate blog. How could I go through the alphabet and not hit Zillow for Z? If you don't know what Zillow is, go ahead and Google it... … (12 comments)
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buyer: X is for Xenophobia - 09/13/07 10:04 PM
I think I was at E when I figured out what the subject of this post would be. As I was writing about ethics, I knew that I would just have to do this post. However, I'm going to stretch the definition to fit my needs.
Simply put, xenophobia is the … (0 comments)
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buyer: W is for Win... and Win - 09/13/07 09:14 PM
One of my favorite things about residential real estate is that everyone can win. Think about it. We have a seller. The house is generally no longer serving their needs. Maybe they are leaving the area because of a new ob, a transfer or retirement. They might be having a new … (6 comments)
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buyer: V is for Virtual - 09/13/07 08:36 PM
I think that this might be the most over-used word in our lexicon. We live in a world of Virtuals.
Virtual AssistantsVirtual ToursVirtual StoresVirtual MeetingsVirtual OfficesAnd my very favorite...
Virtual Real EstateYes kids, there is "virtual" "real" estate. Second Life offers people the opportunity to "own" real estate in a virtual world. … (6 comments)
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buyer: U is for Ultimate - 09/12/07 09:21 AM
Ultimate. There is a loaded word. For me, it brings to mind a 3,000 square foot garage with high performance floor coatings, a pair of lifts, a dedicated welding bay, loads of tool storage, a kicking HVAC system, and compressed air available in each work space. Of course, there would be … (9 comments)
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buyer: T is for Technology - 09/11/07 12:20 PM
Talk about a can of worms...
As an agent, there are so many types of technology, and so many options within those types that it can be overwhelming. Every day, I get dozens of emails offering me the exact new technology that is going to make buyers and sellers step all over … (3 comments)
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buyer: R is for REALTOR(R) - 09/09/07 10:25 PM
I know I'm being picky, but this needs to be said.
All REALTORS(R) are real estate agents, but all real estate agents aren't REALTORS(R).
One becomes a real estate agent by passing a test. One becomes a REALTOR(R) by joining the National Association of REALTORS(R). In order to join the NAR, a … (0 comments)
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buyer: Q is for Quit Claim - 09/07/07 01:08 PM
Let me preface this by stating I am NOT a lawyer, I don't play one on TV, and I don't dispense legal advice. If you need specific legal advice, you need to talk to a lawyer, not a real estate agent.
A Quit Claim Deed is kind of an anomaly in … (9 comments)
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buyer: M is for Maintenance - 09/05/07 10:02 PM
Here is a loaded term for a car guy. Maintenance. We do it for our rides, and just about nothing can stand in the way. I've known guys that bordered on religious about changing their own oil. I've seen them pull into a rest area along the interstate, slide under the … (0 comments)
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buyer: J is for Jelly Beans & Jeanette - 09/02/07 04:03 PM
Bear with me. This will be a little different than the other ABC posts, but if you follow along, I promise to tie it up nicely.
Twenty years ago (oh my God, it really was 20 years ago!) I worked at a restaurant called the HeartThrob Cafe & Philadelphia Bandstand. I was … (5 comments)
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buyer: I is for Inspection - 09/01/07 12:25 PM
This is going to be about the shortest post I've ever written...
Get a home inspection. Don't bring over Dad, or Uncle Buck, or even Cousin Vinny thinking that they can do just as good of a job. Even if they have the skills, if they aren't a certified home inspector, … (0 comments)
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buyer: H is for Homestead - 09/01/07 12:07 PM
Simply put, a homestead is someone's primary residence. The byproduct, for most places is the Homestead Exemption.
One of the more important functions of the homestead is that it may shield a primary residence from loss due to bankruptcy or lawsuit. We often forget about that aspect of the Homestead status, but … (0 comments)
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buyer: G is for Garage - 08/31/07 11:00 AM
Could it really be about anything else? I am a garage specialist, so of course not.
First, let's get this out of the way. Single car garages are made to store lawn tools and maybe a motorcycle. Two car garages are the minimum an auto enthusiast would consider. Three car garages … (3 comments)
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