Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com in Maryland and Virginia

Canyon Lake to local Businesses - Tax You!

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:14:53 -0600

When does a $20 bill turn into a $10,000 slush fund???

Answer: When it gets into the hands of a Two Bit ($0.25) politician's grubby hands.

How may real estate licensees are in Gene's area?? I don't know but a simply hypothetical 500 licensees will give these local politicians a real $10,000 to play with and that's just the real estate licensees.

With brokerages closing throughout the country, assessing a tax/fee/tax/fee/tax on them is simply nonsensical.

Gene's post, while local, can easily be extrapolated to any local taxing authority in the country.

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Via Gene Wunderlich - Realtor®, Government Affairs Director (Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors):

Irony abounds. On the same day Los Angeles appointed a blue ribbon panel to study ways to reduce taxes and encourage business, the Canyon Lake City Council decided it was time to raise taxes, errr, FEES and singled out 'Professional Employees and Professional Licensees' for an additional tax, errr, FEE. (They went to great pains to point out in their ordinance that this is a FEE and shall not be construed as a TAX.) Whatever - the net result is if you're a professional licensee it'll now cost you more for the privilege of doing business in Canyon Lake.

Exactly why they singled out 'Professional Licensees' to hit up for more taxes, sorry - FEES, is anybodies guess. Maybe the city leaders just figured that's where the money's at since it apparently isn't in the city coffers and they need more. So they determined that in addition to the customary 'Business License Tax' that owners of every business pay every year, they were going to break that down even further to "protect the public health, safety and welfare as well as provide for efficient administration of the program". That's clever - invent an unnecessary program and then tax people to run it. These people may have bright futures in state politics.

Ryan Smith, IVAR GAD, board Counsel John Giardinelli and I have been working with the City to address the madness of this ordinance since July. We have held numerous meetings with city staff and counsel and, as of a month ago, had actually reached what we felt was an equitable compromise. Unfortunately the CL Mayor visited her hairdresser a few days before the most recent council meeting and the current Ordinance 121 revision was the result of that high level conference. (No, I am not lying).

From here on out, any 'Professional Associate or licensee' including, but not limited to, realtors, attorneys,beauticians, barbers, manicurists, dentists, dental hygienists, veterinarians, doctors, podiatrists and chiropractors get to pay extra to operate in Canyon Lake. It applies to 'businesses which have a fixed location within the city as well as those which do not'.

So if you're a Broker, attorney, doctor, etc. with an office in Canyon Lake, you will owe this extra fee for every licensee under you. If you are a Realtor from elsewhere and you list a property in Canyon Lake, they will send you a bill. They are unclear on whether they can bill your Broker for every agent in your office whether or not they do business in Canyon Lake but for sure you'll get a bill because of your sign. If you represent a buyer on a property in CL, they have no way of figuring that out so you can either just pony up the tax, errrr FEE because you are a fool, or you get a free pass.

I'm sure all the agents from San Diego and Los Angeles (& Murrieta and Riverside) listing bank-owned homes in Canyon Lake will just be falling over themselves to send in that extra payment.Their code enforcement person is going to have a full time job tracking down these signs, sending bills, stopping by offices to count noses and ensure compliance etc.

What? You say they don't have and can't afford to devote a full time code enforcement officer to this effort? Jeez, maybe it's gonna be a challenge collecting those payments from Ventura and the OC then. If they're lucky a few businesses in Canyon Lake might comply - everybody else will just give this program the respect it so richly deserves - doo-dah.

The City claims this is necessary for 'disaster preparedness and in the event of an emergency'. So by their logic, if your building is on fire, instead of calling the owner of record they could just call some random Realtor or hairdresser. If your business is being burgled, don't call the manager, just call somebody that does nails in the back stall or a random podiatrist. Yeah, that makes sense.

In summary, under Ordinance 121, the City of Canyon Lake has singled out 'licensed professionals' working in or thinking about working in the City for an additional tax, errr, FEE. They claim they need to do this for 'disaster preparedness and emergency contact', and they're counting, in large degree, on voluntary compliance because they don't have the manpower necessary to enforce it. They have invented an unnecessary program and want to charge you an additional fee to implement it.

At this point you may be wondering what the additional tax, errrr FEE is? $20. That's right, $20. One lonely Andrew Jackson. As a representative from their Chamber asked, why is the City willing to piss off some 300+ business' still hanging on in Canyon Lake over $20? If they're lucky, they might generate a few grand. Probably not. He told them straight out "You aren't listening!". He was right.

If there's any good news to be gleaned from this ludicrosity, they started out demanding $90 a head, they ended up at $20. Of course since the amount of annual increase is unspecified, they could decide to jack it to $90 next year now that it's in place.

Anyway, if you're thinking about dong business in Canyon Lake, you might want to check out the City's record on business friendly ordinances before you jump. Menifee, Lake Elsinore & Wildomar are right next door and they would love to have your business. And it won't cost you an extra $20 a head to do it.

You can read the full text of this ordinance if they every figure out how to post it to their website.

I'm more excited about the extension of unemployment benefits than the tax credit extension

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:46:56 -0600

A SMALL HELPING HAND FOR THE UNEMPLOYED IN MICHIGAN. Of course, the question is, "what happens in 20 weeks?"

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Via Kris Wales - Macomb County MI real estate blog & homes for sale search site (Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center):

Unless you live in Michigan, or one of the other hard hit by unemployment states, the signing of H.R. 3548 by President Obama yesterday probably was good news to you because of the extension to the first time home buyers tax credit. Here, in my local area, I'm cheering because there will be thousands and thousands of out of work people who will continue to receive an unemployment check, for at least 20 more weeks.

How hard hit is my area by unemployment?   (Look at these numbers and try to remember that the numbers reflect real people and their lives, and isn't just data.)

Michigans overall unemployment rate at the end of September was reported to be 15.3 percent.    In Wayne County alone it was 18.3 percent.   The city of Detroit?   A staggering 28%.

Many of those people who were laid off at the beginning of this year, or late last year, have not found replacement jobs.   It has been reported that approximately 44,000 people in Michigan cashed their last unemployment checks in October.

Coming in to the winter months and having their unemployment benefits cease would be cruel. Thank you to all of our government officials for taking care of this and giving an extended lifeline to those who so desperately need it.

When I read the news yesterday about the President signing this bill I was excited, and relieved, more so for those who cashed their last unemployment checks then I was for future home buyers.   Needs first - wants later.

Contact Kris Wales - A partner for your real estate needs in Macomb County MI

Search Macomb County MI homes for Sale with MLS provided data updated daily.

Want to chat about local real estate? Visit A Macomb County MI real estate blog

DOES NEGATIVE ADVERTISING WORK IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY?

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:36:02 -0600

NEGATIVE ADVERTISING WORKS IN POLITICS. DOES IT WORK FOR REAL ESTATE PRACTITIONERS AND/OR HOME STAGERS???

This post inspired by an article on ActiveRain last evening seeking opinions as to whether a listing agent could be sued for damages for publishing poor photographs in an MLS listing. I saw the article as an example of negative advertising. The question for real estate practitioners is does negative advertising work?

That public post was written from the perspective of a home staging entity for whom the visual is everything. Experienced real estate practitioners know that there are many important factors in the MLS listing information report other than or in addition to photos. The post is silent as to the skill or experience of the home staging company.

EXAMPLE.

The photo on the left in a listing may not meet the photographic standards for a stager. However, the purpose of this photo is to show the "split staircase", something the importance of which I suspect may not be understood by the average stager.

The purpose is to appeal to moms and dads who don't want a floorplan with a long staircase and prefer the split staircase so that, if a child falls, they will not go down a complete level of steps.

Listing photos are for buyers, not stagers.

NEGATIVE ADVERTISING?? If only Home Staging companies would stick to their core business, that of improving the appearance a property for sale, for a fee. Do they really get business by denigrating real estate practitioners???? Must they so often attempt to enhance their own value by impugning the value and the practices of listing agents. One thing is clear.

IF THE PROPERTY SOLD, IT WAS DUE TO THE CLEVER STAGING.
IF THE PROPERTY DIDN'T SELL, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPETENCE OF THE LISTING AGENT.

Neither, of course, is true. There are nuances in selling a property that aren't addressed by staging.

That post is a classic example of stretching. Not only does the home staging entity criticize the photo in a listing, they imply that the listing agent is violating their duty of fiduciary to their seller client. Contacting attorneys for legal opinions simply leads one to ask, WHY??? Do they really expect an attorney to act in a such an unprofessional manner as to give a legal opinion on damages "off the top of their head", as does the home staging entity???

Did it occur to the staging company that the seller may have asked the listing agent to include the photo of the recessed lighting because they were a point of interest in a room??? What does the staging company know about the dynamics of photo selection for this property listing???? Were they present when the listing agreement was done??

DAMAGES ANYONE? One more question. What does the staging company know about copyright infringement??? This Wordless Wednesday photo appears to be pulled from a listing and published in the post criticizing a real estate agent. Would that be a violation of the copyright of the listing agent and the MLS who owns the right to publish that photo???

I venture to say that damages for the use of a copyright protected photo by another would be easier to establish than failure of fiduciary of an agent who publishes photos in their listing.

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT EXTENDED AND EXPANDED TO MOVE-UP BUYERS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:35 -0600

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT EXTENDED AND EXPANDED TO MOVE-UP BUYERS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

ALERT! First Time Home Buyers $8,000 Tax Credit EXTENDED and MOVE-UP buyers included.

The FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TAX CREDIT is still available.

$8,000 TAX CREDIT or REFUND is available for home buyers of Northern Virginia real estate who purchase a home through April 30, 2010.

NEW PROVISION NOT LIMITED FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS.

$6,500 TAX CREDIT or REFUND is available for home buyers of Northern Virginia real estate who have a signed Contract of Sale for a home before April 30, 2010 and close on the purchase prior to June 30, 2010.

For more information and help finding a home to buy, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

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Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

"NEVER A FEE TO BUYERS

Northern Virginia Real Estate homes for sale HERE - Search Homes for Sale.

Contact us to tour homes, 800-711-7988.

For your copy of the Homefinders.com home buyers relocation package, just give me a call. No matter where you're buying a home in Northern Virginia, Homefinders.com can help.

Homefinders.com real estate market area in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT EXTENDED AND EXPANDED TO MOVE-UP BUYERS in MARYLAND.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:51:12 -0600

ALERT! First Time Home Buyers $8,000 Tax Credit EXTENDED and MOVE-UP buyers included.

The FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TAX CREDIT is still available.

$8,000 TAX CREDIT or REFUND is available for home buyers of Maryland real estate who purchase a home through April 30, 2010.

NEW PROVISION NOT LIMITED FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS.

$6,500 TAX CREDIT or REFUND is available for home buyers of Maryland real estate who have a signed Contract of Sale for a home before April 30, 2010 and close on the purchase prior to June 30, 2010.

For more information and help finding a home to buy, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

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Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

"NEVER A FEE TO BUYERS"

Maryland Real Estate homes for sale HERE - Search Homes for Sale.

Contact us to tour homes, 800-711-7988.

For your copy of the Homefinders.com home buyers relocation package, just give me a call. No matter where you're buying a home in Maryland, Homefinders.com can help.

Homefinders.com real estate market area in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

NEWS FLASH ! ! ! ! UNEMPLOYMENT AND JUMBO LOANS STATS BODE ILL FOR THE FUTURE OF HOUSING!

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:43:10 -0600

NEWS FLASH ! ! ! !

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES FOR OCTOBER JUST ANNOUNCED. . . . . . drum roll please. . . . . . .

10.2%

'Nuff said.

What's the nexus between the just announced unemployment rate for October of 10.2% and Jumbo Loan Defaults?

Why do Jumbo loans default?

BECAUSE THE HOME OWNER LOST THEIR JOB!

1 in 10 Americans are unemployed. So says the Department of Labor. Dollars to donuts it's more. They don't count a lot of folks, like real estate agents with no business.

1 in 5 families has a family member who is unemployed.

Bummer.

Courtesy of "Hard Core Real Estate Talk".

WE'RE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP - - ALL WE WANT IS YOUR MONEY AND YOUR HOME . . . . A RANT!!

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:52:08 -0600

WE'RE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP. . .

ALL WE WANT IS YOUR MONEY AND YOUR HOME!!

* * * * HARD CORE REAL ESTATE TALK * * * *

The new Fannie Mae program to "help" home owners in trouble is, IMO, the biggest fraud to come from the government in recent memory and there have been, IMO, a serial bombardment of government perpetrated frauds on the American home owner in the past year.

Trademarked the Deed For Lease, or D4L, a reading of the guidelines for this program along with the concomitant Deed In Lieu of foreclosure guidelines, the bottom line of the result of these programs, whether intended or not is: THE HOME OWNER LOSES THE HOME.

"Honey, did the government agree to help us keep our home?"

"Not exactly Dear, but the government says that they might agree to take our home and let us rent it for a year. They'll let us know after a credit review, but there are a few things. . . . . "

NOT ALL BORROWERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE. The guidelines require that the borrowers (home owner) agree to certain occupancy rules, not unreasonable on first reading. However, some of the details will limit elegibility, such as:

Marketable title is able to be conveyed (a title insurance policy is required).
If there are subordinate liens secured against the subject, lien releases can be obtained.

1. Everyone has title insurance, don't they?? Sounds simple enough, right? Perhaps, perhaps not. Title insurance policies are always a condition of a mortgage loan. However, they are optional for a borrower. Over the years, I have spoken with many home owners who did not obtain title insurance for their property, often at the advice of their agent. Go figure.

2. What might that subordinate lien be?

Subordinate Lien: Subordinate-loan. mortgage whose priority is below that of another mortgage, like a second or third mortgage or a home-equity loan.

Could it be a HELOC or simple Second Trust? During the years that FannieMae pushed, yes pushed and purchased the Alt-A loan and the numerous Sub-Prime loans, a plethora of subordinate liens were created and used. Often created at the time of purchase or later through subsequent borrowing against equity or refinance. The funding sources, often private investors, made these loans and recorded a proper lien in good faith based on the qualifications of the borrower at the time. Second Trust Notes are a commodity. They are traded, discounted, bundled and traded again and again. Sooner or later, someone is going to want to collect on that note. What's the incentive for the second trust holder to release? Recent experiences with Short Sales would indicate that second trust holders are becoming quite recalcitrant when asked to release a second trust note.

Second mortgage: A mortgage obtained by a home owner for a loan against equity or in excess of market value (often up to 125% of market value). The second, or third mortgage is subordinate to the first or primary mortgage.

WHY DID FANNIE MAE MAKE RELEASE OF ANY SUBORDINATE LIENS A CONDITION OF THE D4L (Deed For Lease)? Is this condition of the D4L the usual "government guideline glitch" tossed in to decrease the numbers of borrowers who would qualify? Or, is it simply a reflection of the "guideline stew" that can usualy be used to describe any of the government program to help home owners in trouble that have been promulgated in the past two years?

WHY ARE HOME OWNERS IN TROUBLE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO LOSS OF THEIR HOME? The American home owner isn't looking for a handout ala TARP, created to help banks in trouble to the tune of about a $Trillion Dollars, give or take a few $Billion Dollars.

TARP: Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Information. The operative word to describe TARP is "Relief". Where is the "relief" for the troubled American Home Owner??? The banks qualifying for TARP got into trouble by trading in securities that were primarily backed by sub-prime mortgages, often mortgages that should not have been written. The mortgage instruments were then bundled, converted to marketable securities, MBS,and sold to investors in the USA and around the world. Investors clamored for more, more, more of these wonderful securities. Fannie Mae and mortgage investors created more and more and more such instruments secured by the primary residences of American Home Owners.

O.K. SO WE GET IT. The government was there to help the Wall Street and Main Street banks that invested in and sold the MBSs to the tune of multi-Billions of Dollars of tax payer money.

FAST FORWARD TO 2009 and THE FANNIE MAE, HUD and any government program to help distressed American Home Owners. The one theme that is pervasive is that THE HOME OWNER LOSES THEIR HOME.

MORTGAGE MODIFICATION IS A JOKE. The programs designed by HUD and Fannie Mae may do one of several things.

They may REFINANCE your loan to a lower interest rate. The home owner still owes far more than the market value of the home and will probably not be able to sell for many, many years.
They may MODIFY your loan to a lower monthly payment. The home owner still owes far more than the market value of the home and will probably not be able to sell for many, many years.

Is it any wonder that, to date, the government programs to "help"the American Home Owners have failed?

THE INSIDIOUS NEGATIVE EQUITY. The only true mortgage modification that would help the American Home Owner would be a REDUCTION OF THE PRINCIPLE BALANCE of THE MORTGAGE. Is there any government backed, financed, promulgated or regulated program to reduce the principle balance of mortgage loans secured by home owned by distressed home owners?? NO.

The government now says, through Fannie Mae, that if you own a home that is not FHA, VA, etc. financed or insured, the government may take your home and rent it back to you for 12 months. No doubt the government will find some way of spending more tax money to create a new program to market these "assets" that were formally HOMES.

For folks who hold the opinion that the American Home Owner doesn't deserve any help to keep their home, after all, they signed a contract, didn't they, it's an opinion that has my respect. However, what was the opinion of the same folks when the government gave Wall Street and the Big Banks a $Trillion Dollars or more??? Oh, I forgot. The government didn't ask for our opinion. That was the biggest "cram down" in history. I propose that a "cram down" for American Home Owners is long overdue.

One thing for sure. I believe that the American Home Owner would be a better partner in saving the American economy than the average Wall Street Investment Bank or Big Bank. The American Home Owners will again become a consumer. They will buy and sell real estate. They will go to the mall. They will take vacation. They will help the national economy. What did the Wall Street Gangs do with the $Trillions of tax money handed to them through TARP?

Later.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

REALTORS, LENDERS and OTHER ACTIVERAIN MEMBERS. . . WHO ARE WE AND WHY ARE WE HERE? PROFILE OF A CROSS SECTION OF FOLKS IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:35:41 -0600

REALTORS, LENDERS and OTHER ACTIVERAIN MEMBERS. . . WHO ARE WE AND WHY ARE WE HERE? PROFILE OF A CROSS SECTION OF FOLKS IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

THINGS THAT ARE PRICELESS ON ACTIVERAIN. Inspired by Mike Jones and the photos posted by ActiveRain members by request of Mike Jones in his article, 1980 Business Card Photo Challenge... Who's Brave Enough?

"Who am I and what am I doing here?" Admiral James Stockdale, 1992.

THINGS THAT ARE PRICELESS. That quote is one of the more enjoyable memories of the Ross Perot presidential campaign. For folks too young to remember, or care, Admiral Stockdale was Ross Perot's running mate in 1992. That statement, the opening statement by Stockdate in the Vice Presidential debate, was absolutely priceless. Fact was, folks didn't know who he was and didn't know how or why he was selected for the awesome post of Vice Presidential running mate. However, after that "ice breaker", folks knew Stockdale as a thoughtful, articulate and experienced Naval officer, political observer and friend of the Presidential candidate, who had a delicious sense of humor (both of them).

THINGS THAT ARE PRICELESS ON ACTIVERAIN. The photos posted by ActiveRain members by request of Mike Jones at Mike's request in his article, 1980 Business Card Photo Challenge... Who's Brave Enough?

WHO ARE WE and WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY?

We are the people that make the real estate industry work on a daily basis.

Real estate agents representing sellers. We are the drudge real estate agents who represent home sellers who bring homes for sale to market, perform the many necessary duties of a listing agent broadcasting the availability of properties through various venues, managing contracts of sale through the transfer of title from the seller to the buyer.

Real estate agents representing buyers. We are the drudge real estate agents who represent home buyers through the process from search to settlement managing the home tours, financing, inspections, title work and settlement/transfer of title from the seller to the buyer.

Loan Officers representing lenders that lend huge amounts of money. Managing the loan applications, qualifying, documentation, appraisal, approval of home buyers and loan huge amounts of money to enable successful transfer of title from sellers to buyers.

Home Inspectors. Examining properties from top to bottom, identifying defects, advising home buyers of the function of systems, useful life of systems and features of a property. Home inspectors provide services that give home buyers peace of mind and help buyers, sellers and agents avoid future problems.

Home Builders. Where would we be without them in the first place? Over the years, builders have transformed land into communities with homes for folks.

Home Stagers. Offering services to home owners to prepare and present their property for sale in the best light to appeal to home buyers.

WHO WERE WE THEN and WHAT DID WE DO IN THE PAST?

READ THE COMMENTS ON MIKE JONES' POST. They are priceless and speak volumes to the variety of backgrounds of agents, loan officers, home inspectors, stagers

WERE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO POST A PHOTO FROM THE 1980s? Mike asks, 1980 Business Card Photo Challenge... Who's Brave Enough? It doesn't have to be a business card photo. In fact, I doubt that many of us were in the real estate business in 1980, although I know many on ActiveRain who were. No matter, many posted photos anyway and they are not only fun and fascinating to view, they speak volumes to who makes the real estate industry run on a day to day basis. The photos also speak to what folks save. 1980 is a long time ago.

Kathryn Gorham - Just out of college.
Russel Ray - High school photo.
Sally Cheeseman - Family photo
Rita Burke - Baby photo
Kent Simpson - Teen age photo
Margaret Woda - Lovely then and lovely now.
Larry Hultberg - High School Track photo.
Jesse Clifton - Smiling then and smiling now.
Lenn - The more things change, the more things stay the same, except the hair color.
Bryant Tutas - Dancing and talking then. . . . .
Bo Kociuba - A competitor then and probably today too.
Mitchell Hall - Always the professional gentleman.
Jeannie Kontis - An important day for Jeannie.
Karen Hunt - A good sport.
Kat DeLong - Voices my sentiments exactly.
Patrick Randals - Teen ager cross country outfit and eating. Typical teen.
Mike Handren - My lips are sealed.
Brad Andersohn - Rock on.
Jennifer Monroe - Revealing the real Jason Sardi.
Robert Hammerstein - Rockin' and Rollin'.
Karen Cooper - High School Senior.
Paddy Pizappi - Pets and graduation.
Terri Ellis - Best drivers license photo I've ever seen.
Sharon Tara - Family photo.
Sandy Noll - High School photo.
William Johnson - Handsome then, handsome now.
Barbara Duncan - Professional then, professional now.
Julie Chapman - Hasn't changed since 1970. Agent then, agent now.
Jason Sardi - Appearance greatly improved through surgery.
Donn Bigda - Family photo and adventure photo.
Tracy Santrock - Big hair then, little hair now and still lovely.
Monica McGillicuddy - Hasn't changed a bit.
Jay McGillicuddy - Hasn't changed much. Still young at heart.
Bo Kociuba - Ah! A soul mate. An outdoors woman.
Robert Sweetz - Same hair. Hasn't aged a bit. How do they do that?
Mirela Monte - Gorgeous then, gorgeous now.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN? That folks in the real estate industry that keep the economy of the United State of America are as different as night and day, but all have a common goal - - use our life experience to serve the home buying and selling consumers.

The real estate industry is a vital component of the economy represented by many wonderful people.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

LEESBURG VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE IS A WONDERFUL BLEND OF HISTORY AND CONVENIENT HOMES.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:21:13 -0600

LEESBURG VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE IS A BLEND OF HISTORY AND CONVENIENT RESIDENTIAL HOMES.

Leesburg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Virginia dating back to the mid 1700s when it was the county seat of Loudoun County and still is. Leesburg was a major location for battles in the War of 1812 where vital documents including the Declaration of Independence and others were brought to Leesburg for safekeeping. The spirit of the 1700-1800s is reflected in the town of Leesburg, a wonderful area to tour, shop for antiques or have a delightful lunch. During the Civil War, many homes and shops in Leesburg served as hospitals and military outposts.

LEESBURG LIVING

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Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

"NEVER A FEE TO BUYERS" Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home REBATE!

Loudoun County Virginia - Search Homes for Sale.
Contact us to tour homes in Leesburg and Ashburn VA. 800-711-7988.

For your copy of the Homefinders.com home buyers relocation package, just give me a call. Whether you're moving to Loudoun County from out of the area or just across county, we can help.

Is it time for more stringent regulation in the real estate industry?

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:27:07 -0600

THE REGULATOR COMING OVER THE HILL.

C Lloyd McKenzie writes: "Considering the fact that we are intricately related to the financial industry, why would they not look at us?"

Why wouldn't they indeed??

C. Lloyd provides a timely warning about things that could happen if the government, in it's zeal to take over an ever larger segment of private enterprise in this country, sets it's sights on the real estate industry.

I find this post utterly fascinating.

Are we going to see a "Real Estate Czar"? If so, will they have any knowledge of the real etate industry?

A Real Estate Czar will naturally go after the money, i.e., commissions. Probably through a tax on all agents and brokers commissions. What an easy target that would be. Forget the schedule C. Just tax the gross commission check. Ouch!!!.

Don't laugh at this suggestion. The government has one guiding goal at this time, take control of as much of the American economy as possible and the easiest way to do that is through taxation of financial transactions.

Only time will tell and I am very apprehensive. The performance of the present government is like a run-away train when it comes to taking control of more and more private enterprise entities.

As C. Lloyd aptly points out, regulation of the financial industry, the focus on foreclosures and lately short sale transactions, one more step and they are right in the middle of the real estate industry.

Am I paranoid. Indeed, but not without cause.

Visit C. Lloyd's blog and leave a comment. This is very interesting.

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Via C Lloyd McKenzie, MBA, e-PRO, CDPE (ALLSTAR REALTY, LLC):

This subject might not appeal to many real estate practitioners because none of us like regulations. However, with the barrage of misleading information out there, I wonder if our lawmakers are paying attention. After all, it was only in the recent past that we almost experience financial collapse. Were there co-conspirators from the real estate industry? Will we be on the radar screen in the foreseeable future?

As a consequence of the aforementioned crisis, the current administration is taking measures to reform the way business is done in the financial industry. Yes, they are re-writing the rules of the game. Considering the fact that we are intricately related to the financial industry, why would they not look at us? One only has to take a look at the latest foreclosure statistics to see that there are some serious problems that need to be addressed.

Besides that however, there are some very reputable Realtors who are addressing problems that exist in the real estate industry. Below, I have cited two very prolific bloggers, Lenn Harley of Rockville, Maryland and Ruthmarie Hicks from White Plains, New York. I have provided an excerpt from their blogs.

Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Rockville, MD in her blog entitled, "LOOKING AT REAL ESTATE TEAMS AND TEAM SPECIALISTS," addressed the following questions: DO REAL ESTATE "TEAMS" EXHIBIT EXPERTISE. The concept of "teams" in real estate practices is popular and often compared to medical "groups". I see little to no resemblance and, in fact, assigning a title of specialty such as "Buyers Agent" to a member of a team is often misleading to the consumer."

Ruthmarie Hicks, Associate Broker, White Plains, NY in her blog entitled "This Brokerage Has 750 Listings.....So they must be the best! (Part 1)"

Here are some of the issues she brought up, "Does size really matter? Does the number of listings or the size of the brokerage have anything to do with the ability of the agent to market and sell a home successfully? Is it the brokerage or the agent that is the determining factor? What Does the Brokerage Bring to the Table?"

What is your opinion?

LOOKING AT REAL ESTATE TEAMS AND TEAM SPECIALISTS.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:21:09 -0500

LOOKING AT REAL ESTATE TEAMS AND TEAM SPECIALISTS.

DO REAL ESTATE "TEAMS" EXHIBIT EXPERTISE. The concept of "teams" in real estate practices is popular and often compared to medical "groups". I see little to no resemblance and, in fact, assigning a title of specialty such as "Buyers Agent" to a member of a team is often misleading to the consumer.

Inspired by Miriam Bernstein writing about real estate teams and the NYTimes article on the same subject.

Has that "Buyers Agent" received any advanced training to represent home buyers?
Has that "Buyers Agent" managed a significant number of contracts representing buyers to have any claim to experience?

Not that it isn't possible. It is, but rarely do the team members meet the test of expertise and experience found with medical specialties. Most "teams" I've seen are groups of licensees who work closely with other members of the team and spread the advertising and marketing costs and work load. Some teams may have members who specialize in listing or selling. So, they have a team title. However, do they have any expertise beyond the basic training for licensing?

REAL ESTATE TEAMS are often a small group within a brokerage or real estate company. In some cases new members will be "mentored" by a more experienced team member for a percentage of their fee for any business they bring to the team/brokerage. Fact is, we are all individually licensed and usually expected to develop buyer or seller business either for our own account or for "the team".

From the MD Real Estate Commission: "There is no provision in Maryland real estate licensing law for teams or groups operating within a brokerage. The only license categories are broker, associate broker, and salesperson. The only recognized entity is a brokerage. Those licensees who choose to operate within a team or group must follow all applicable licensing provision."

THE MATTER OF FEE SPLITS FOR TEAMS will be different from team to team and broker to broker.

THE OPPORTUNISTIC TEAM SPECIALTY. Unlike medical group specialties whereby the physician has committed an additional year or two to training, study and clinical practice to achieve a specialty designation or title, real estate licensees often advertise themselves as "experts" in topical areas such as "short sale experts" or "Buyer's Broker". That short sale "expert" may have completed one transaction representing a buyer or seller, OR NONE. There are courses offered for short sale training but no special license and the claim can be made with or without any actual experience or training.

Buyer Agency Specialist
Short Sale Specialist
Foreclosure Specialist
Luxury Home Specialist
Waterfront Home Specialist
Investment Real Estate Buyer Specialist
Rehabilitation Real Estate Specialist
New Home Specialist

EXPERT BY DESIGNATION OR EXPERIENCE. Many of us, myself included, have advertised some of these "specialties". NAR designations are evidence of training in a specialty and many require certain experience in that specialty. However, there is no special or advanced licensing required or available.

I work with an informal "network" of experienced brokers and agents, but it's largely geographically based. Each broker in my network is licensed but all have the same license and no further training is required for real estate brokers other than the general broker license. I market our services and connect home buyers to brokers and agents serving buyers in a particular geographical area. All of the brokers and agents in my network haveexperience representing home buyers. Many had their license with my company for year and received training to represent home buyers on an ongoing basis in group meetings and individual consultation. Focusing on home buyer needs is a specialty. The real estate industry is about 95% focused on the listing side of real estate brokerage.

EXAMPLE: I recently attended a 3 hour CE class offering training in property valuation. NOT.

The class was 98% "how to get the listing" and about 2% property valuation. Why?? Because the focus of most real estate training is listing oriented. The assumption is that training for property valuation is for listing agents for CMSs and not for buyers agents. IMO, one of the most valuable skills any real estate practitioner can have is that of accurate property valuation. The original listing is no more than an "offer" to prospective home buyers. Buyers agents who can properly value property listings are offering their buyers an important service. As a "buyers agent" member of a team, has that buyers agent received any training to properly value properties offered for sale???

BUYER AGENCY TRAINING? Additional Buyer Agency training is available through the NAR. However, having gone through several "buyer agency" courses, I don't believe they do the job of producing buyer experts, but rather focus on risk reduction for agents selling their own broker's listings. Many will differ with that description, and so be it. Risk reduction is critical, of course, but knowing how to avoid committing fraud through undisclosed dual agency doesn't provide skill in representing home buyers. I realized after committing 4 days to a course specializing in buyer agency that the experience gained by limiting my customers and clients to home buyers, managing many contracts for home buyers, my experience was far more valuable than the course offering.

TEAMS are a good marketing concept. They may share the workload. The question is, does a team member with a "specialty" title offer any more actual expertise for the consumer? Has the broker, the entity with the real responsibility for any team formed by a group of licensees in that brokerage, required that the team members with any speciality where a consumer would be referred actually have expertise in that specialty?

DOES THE BROKER KNOW WHAT THE TEAM IS DOING? Seems to me that the broker must take responsibility to make sure that the consumer is well served and that includes shared responsibility for customer or client service by a team.

"Honey, did you find an agent to help us today?"

"Yes Dear, I called the listing agent for the house we saw on the Internet and they are going to have the Buyers Agent on their team contact us."

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

INVESTIGATING THE LAW MAKERS AND REGULATORS IS LONG OVERDUE - IS THERE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL??

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:48:59 -0500

JIM CRAWFORD posted a timely article this a.m. about alleged collusion and favortism involved with many government bail-out / hand-outs.

Who Says it's Difficult to Get Bailouts of Government Aid?

Who says it's difficult to get government aid? Nonsense! I just read a breaking news story about a house committee investigating California congresswomen Laura Richardson and Maxine Waters . It seems as though Congresswoman Richardson lost her home in Sacramento which was sold in foreclosure and then Washington Mutual - who then foreclosed on the property... gave it back to her. The committee is going to examine if she received preferential treatment! EXCUSE ME??? Question her?? Why not arrest her? . . . . Read More. . . . .

Go to the Article and give this and the links a good read. It's well worth the time. Of course, I've just about given up for any justice at HUD. No doubt Franklin Raines will survive. If he survived this far considering he falsified the Fannie Mae financials to inflate his own bonue, there's little hope for justice following these investigations. Congress gave him cover by exempting FAnnie Mae from Sarbanes Oxley. Don't forget we now have a Sec. of the Theasury that practiced tax evasion and not only got away with it, but got the job to lead the IRS. And the beat goes on.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

LOUDOUN COUNTY VA IN AUTUMN - FALL COLORS and "TAKING THE CHILL OFF"

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:36:36 -0500

LOUDOUN COUNTY VA IN AUTUMN - FALL COLORS and "TAKING THE CHILL OFF"

Signs of Autumn are everywhere in Loudoun County. I'm in Western Loudoun County and hardly a day goes by that I don't drive somewhere.

A must about every other day is a trip to the Post Office to collect mail which, hopefully includes lovely referral checks from the fabulous network of agents and brokers to whom I refer home buyers. Next , of course, would be a stop at the bank to deposit those lovely referral checks.

Where ever I go these days the countryside is spectacular and, although it's a warning that Winter is coming, our Winters are not really that bad with an average daytime high temperature of about 42 Degrees. The Autumn colors have been beautiful this year, probably due to the ample rainfall.

Fall colors in Lovettsville end of October& Lovettsville home built in 1765 is beautiful with the fall colors.

Fall chores for this week include cutting back the Ornamental Grasses and shrubs in my yard. Hopefully, I'll be able to get through next year without investing in more of these lovelies. However, one cannot deny the beauty of blossoming Rhododendron, Azaleas, some recently planted Crepe Myrtle and the many wonderful Tulips and Daffodils. We have all of the trimming schedules for Saturday a.m. after which I'll take the plunge and cut off and drain the outside faucets. For some reason, that always seems so final. Winter is, indeed, coming and things must be done.

FALL BRING CHILLY MORNINGS. Sometimes it's nice to "just take the chill off" with a nice fire.

The bright spot in the Family Room is always a warming fire in the fireplace. Just "take the chill off".

October also brings Halloween and it's always fun to see the imagine used to decorate homes.

Note the "headstones" in this yard and the cobwebs on the shrubs. This home is always fun to watch at holiday times, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Halloween.

For real estate help in Loudoun County Virginia, contact Lenn. We are Loudoun County residents and can help you find the very best home for your money. Want to take a tour of homes? Just call Lenn at, 800-711-7988.

Want to see what's for sale in Loudoun County today, go to:

Loudoun County Homes for Sale. We can help.

MARYLAND REAL ESTATE MARKET . . . HOMES SOLD IN SEPTEMBER 2009.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:36:28 -0500

MARYLAND REAL ESTATE MARKET . . . HOMES SOLD IN SEPTEMBER 2009.

List Prices for Single Family Homes SOLD in Maryland in the Homefinders.com Maryland market areas September 2009.

Anne Arundel County

336 Single Family Homes sold in Anne Arundel County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $1,950,000.
The lowest list price was $89,900.
The average list price sold was $411,682.

Baltimore County

359 Single Family Homes sold in Baltimore County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $1,295,000.
The lowest list price was $63,900.
The average list price sold was $306,444. Waterfront in Calvert County

Calvert County

63 Single Family Homes sold in Calvert County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $750,000.
The lowest list price was $85,900.
The average list price sold was $329,287.

Carroll County

99 Single Family Homes sold in Carroll County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $799,900.
The lowest list price was $47,500.
The average list price sold was $318,546.

Cecil County

55 Single Family Homes sold in Cecil County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $799,000. Typical home in Waldorf
The lowest list price was $57,000.
The average list price sold was $279,673.

Charles County

101 Single Family Homes sold in Charles County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $910,000.
The lowest list price was $121,600.
The average list price sold was $301,791.

Frederick County

141 Single Family Homes sold in Frederick County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $1,970,000.
The lowest list price was $85,000.
The average list price sold was $336,955.

Harford County

121 Single Family Homes sold in Harford County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $799,900.
The lowest list price was $32,000.
The average list price sold was $336,894.

Howard County Luxury Homes in Howard County

131 Single Family Homes sold in Howard County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $1,200,000.
The lowest list price was $209,900.
The average list price sold was $506,660.

Montgomery County

472 Single Family Homes sold in Montgomery County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $2,795,000.
The lowest list price was $69,900.
The average list price sold was $562,377.

Prince George's County

511 Single Family Homes sold in Prince George's County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $1,050,000.
The lowest list price was $19,900.
The average list price sold was $241,039.

St. Mary's County St. Mary's Homes in Lexington Park

71 Single Family Homes sold in St. Mary's County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $566,092
The lowest list price was $75,000.
The average list price sold was $289,551.

Washington County

79 Single Family Homes sold in Washington County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $599,900.
The lowest list price was $64,900.
The average list price sold was $197,320.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

"NEVER A FEE TO BUYERS"

Maryland Real Estate homes for sale HERE - Search Homes for Sale.

Contact us to tour homes, 800-711-7988.

For your copy of the Homefinders.com home buyers relocation package, just give me a call. No matter where you're buying a home in Maryland, Homefinders.com can help.

HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE. . . . .HOMES WITH ACREAGE . . . . A TOWN WITH HISTORY and a fabulous FARMERS MARKET.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:35:15 -0500

HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE. . . . .HOMES WITH ACREAGE . . . .

A TOWN WITH HISTORY and a fabulous FARMERS MARKET.

Western Loudoun County real estate offers so much to folks looking for a rural area in which to live, highly ranked public schools, a beautiful countryside and an easy commute to Dulles, MARC Train, The Dulles Greenway and a variety of shopping alternatives. The photos below are from yesterday in the early afternoon taken along the roads between Hillsboro, a small "hamlet" in Purcellville.

Home built in the 1800s in Hillsboro. Typical of homes built in the 21st Century in Hillsboro.

IT'S ALWAYS LUNCH TIME IN HILLSBORO. I cannot pass the Farmers Market in Hillsboro at the intersection of Charles Town Pike and Hillsboro Road without picking up lunch. This Farmers Market always has delicious breads, fruits and vegetables and pantry goodies like pumpkin butter, jams, preserves, etc.

FRESH BAKED GOODS

Delicious Whole Grain Breads. Whole Wheat and Rye were available yesterday.

Huge cookies, pumpkin cake, Granola that is without doubt the very best I have ever tasted.

Much of the prepared foods that they offer have a base of seasonal fruits and veggies.

Pumpkin is the flavor today with pumpkin bread, pumpkin butter that is the most delicious topping for toast or crackers I can remember.

If you like apple butter, you'll LOVE pumpkin butter.

WINTER VEGETABLES

Squashes of every color and flavor. These delicious morsels carry us through the winter with staples of winter squashes.

Butternuts, Acorns, Spagetti, and others that I can't name but I know them all to be delicious, easy to cook baked or microwaved.

With only 65 calories for a cup of squash, you can enjoy as much as you like.

MORE VEGETABLES

Tomatoes both ripe and green. Peppers of many types, hot and sweet.

Sweet potatoes, white potatoes.

Greens of several flavors, chard, kale and collards.

Calories?? Don't even worry. When we're talking vegetables, we're talking eating enough to fill you up without filling you out.

Sweet and several types of apples. Pumpkins, Mums and other wonderful things that grow in Loudoun County, Virginia.

This is a full time Farmers Market located right on the corner of their organic farm where they grow bounties of vegetables. You can see the farm in operation throughout the year. It's fantastic.

This is the existing Farmers Market. They're building a new facility for next year.

EASY TO FIND AND OPEN ALL DAY FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE,

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

"NEVER A FEE TO BUYERS" Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home REBATE!

Loudoun County Virginia - Search Homes for Sale.
Contact us to tour homes in Leesburg and Ashburn VA. 800-711-7988.

For your copy of the Homefinders.com home buyers relocation package, just give me a call. Whether you're moving to Loudoun County from out of the area or just across county, we can help.

THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TAX CREDIT EXTENSION - IS IT SOUP YET????? OR, IS IT STILL SAUSAGE???

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:15:39 -0500

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

ActiveRain members are posting articles claiming that the "FIRST TIME HOME BUYER CREDIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED".

IS THIS FACT?

OR IS THIS IRRESPONSIBLE RUMOR?????

SHOW ME THE LEGISLATION!

SHOW ME THE LAW!

SHOW ME THE RECONCILIATION!

SHOW ME THE FACTS!

Show me more than rumor. As I understand it, the extension has been proposed and passed by the Senate. THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT LAW.

There are two branches of Congress. One branch can pass and then it goes to the other branch. These are co-equal branches of Congress.

Any extension would, I would think, then have to be signed by the President of the United States.

"Senators agreed to extend the existing tax credit for first-time homebuyers while offering a reduced credit of up to $6,500 to repeat buyers who have owned their current homes for at least five years, said Regan Lachapelle, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev."

"Senators agreed" "Senators agreed" "Senators agreed"

Doesn't make it law.

Be careful out there folks. Your posts are going on Google and, if you are wrong. . . . . . ?

NORTHERN VIRGINIA MARKET REPORT FOR HOMES SOLD IN SEPTEMBER 2009.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:30:50 -0500

NORTHERN VIRGINIA MARKET REPORT FOR HOMES SOLD IN SEPTEMBER 2009.

List Prices for Single Family Homes SOLD in Northern Virginia during September 2009.

Alexandria Old Town Manor Homes in Alexandria

20 Single Family Homes sold in Alexandria in September 2009.

The highest list price was $1,200,000.
The lowest list price was $298,000.
The average list price sold was $713,772.

Arlington County (City)

78 Single Family Homes sold in Arlington County in September 2009.

The highest list price was $2,295,000.
The lowest list price was $275,000.
The average list price sold was $716,490.

Clarke County

11 Single Family Homes sold in Clarke County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $4,900,000.
The lowest list price was $133,900.
The average list price sold was $650,000.

Culpeper County

58 Single Family Homes sold in Culpeper County in September 2009.

The highest list price was $625,000.
The lowest list price was $55,000.
The average list price sold was $211,891.

Fairfax County

639 Single Family Homes sold in Fairfax County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $3,499,999.
The lowest list price was $125,000.
The average list price sold was $566,250.

Fauquier County Homes in Fairfax County VA

59 Single Family Homes sold in Fauquier County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $549,000.
The lowest list price was $61,014.
The average list price sold was $281,793.

King George County

22 Single Family Homes sold in King George County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $799,500.
The lowest list price was $106,700.
The average list price sold was $264,160.

Loudoun County

225 Single Family Homes sold in Loudoun County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $5,650,000. House in Loudoun County VA
The lowest list price was $130,000.
The average list price sold was $515,447.

Prince William County

363 Single Family Homes sold in Prince William County in September 2009.

The highest list price was $1,150,000.
The lowest list price was $66,500.
The average list price sold was $307,755.

Spotsylvania County

131 Single Family Homes sold in Spotsylvania County in September 2009.
The highest list price was $885,000.
The lowest list price was $79,000.
The average list price sold was $227,462.

Stafford County

119 Single Family Homes sold in Stafford County in September 2009.

The highest list price was $579,000
The lowest list price was $64,900.
The average list price sold was $274,571.

Map of Homefinders.com Northern Virginia Market Area.

Courtesy, Lenn Harely, Broker, Homefinders.com. 800-711-7988. Serving home buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia from home search to settlement. Contact us for a home buying adventure. Friendly and experienced Buyer's Agents who know the area are ready to help you.

* * CLICK HERE * *
To Search Listings of Homes for Sale in Maryland and Virginia

The 4 letter word that will send buyers out the door

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:47:19 -0500

Maryland and Virginia is "FLEA FRIENDLY". I don't want buyers to move in a home with a growing family of feas. Make sure that ALL of the former residents are gone and the home is truly VACANT.

GOOD ADVICE! GOOD ADVICE! GOOD ADVICE!

Good post. This is something I haven't tought about for some time since I am usually selling new homes.

However, I learned years ago that, when a seller has a cat(s) or dog(s), include a condition that they have the house fumigated for fleas prior to closing the sale.

If they refuse, I have it done myself. Too often when the moves out, a few fleas will remain and they do, as you say multiply quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Via Kathryn Gorham Emerald Isle NC Crystal Coast (Green Key Properties):

The 4 letter word that will send buyers out the door as fast as they can go and never look back. This is a word that Real Estate educator, Bill Gallagher, spoke about last week in our Mandatory Update class and had everyone laughing. Yesterday when it happened to me I was NOT laughing. That 4 letter word is FLEA. The size of a spec of dust these little creatures have the power to turn me into a gyrating, gasping, goofy lady slapping at her clothes and grasping for seemingly non-existent somethings as they jump out of my way.

The flea was a funny matter last week as Bill Gallagher talked about an agent in her white pantyhose - fleas love the color white - entering a home infested with fleas only to turn and escort her buyers outside and returning to remove her pantyhose and leave them on the floor. He went on making the room laugh again and again as he made his points hit home. Oh his words came to mind again for me yesterday, but I wasn't laughing. I was trying to pinch the little critters between my thumb and forefinger -- mostly unsuccessfully -- before they could jump away.

Facts about fleas:

They can jump as high as 4 feet

They feed on blood

They can live up to 100 days without food in the coccoon stage unfed

Once fed they live 3 to 4 months

Once feed a female can lay up to 2000 eggs during her life

Female lays eggs within 36-48 hours of a meal

Gestation period is 14 days

Only 5% of fleas found in a dwelling will be on the pet

Very tiny up to 1/8 inch in size

They can bite up to 400 times a day

When you treat for fleas you must take into account all 4 stages of a flea from adult, young (hide in a cocoon until food is near), larvae and the egg stage. Most sprays will not penetrate the cocoon. The cocoon is a shell used by the young where they hide inside until a warm meal passes by then they "unzip" and hop on for a bite. Once fed they reproduce and the cycle starts over again. In addition to treating you should vacuum every day and a half to two days for at least two weeks (gestation period) to pull up all the cocoons and eggs. You must either toss the bag after each vacuuming or add moth balls to the bag. Moth balls? Well it has been used for years to kill the larvae of moths in your closet so why not the larvae of fleas in your vacuum cleaner bag. Now your house won't smell like a spring breeze, but if it does the trick you'll be sighing with relief as you inhale that pungent scent.

Now to complete my story of yesterday. I had to measure the inside of a new listing. It is a fixer upper to say the least. The owner resides outside the area and recently had a non-paying tenants that had to be evicted. Bonnie, my dog, was in the car because I don't take her into property, but when I got to the door to unlock it -- it was slightly ajar. With no power on and the bad tenant history I went back to the car and got Bonnie dog out and took her in with me.

Well believe it or not I did NOT notice the fleas until we had measured and returned to the office. Then they were jumping on and off me as I sat at my computer. I had to go into the bathroom take off my top and pick off the fleas. The were on my "white" socks under my jeans. I even picked a couple off Bonnie's face. Figuring I didn't want them infesting the office I went to Ace Hardware and got a couple of bombs and let them off and headed home to brush Bonnie figuring it couldn't be that bad right. Keeping her outside I began brushing, but after finding a half dozen fleas crawling on her we headed for the tub and a flea bath. A shampoo, 30 dead fleas and a final coating of flea dip later she was briskly running around to thank me. Next we washed her bed from the office and just for good measure the one from home too. I have a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of bites myself and would love to douse my body in some flea dip if it would help the itching!

Beware of this four letter word as you enter vacant dwellings! FLEA

See my article on: Bill Gallagher teaches at the Crystal Coast for some Halloween Fun

Kathryn Gorham | Green Key Properties | Emerald Isle North Carolina
2010 President Women's Council of REALTORS® Crystal Coast Chapter
252.646.4656 cell · 252.354.7007 office
Southern Outer Banks NC | Crystal Coast NC | Coastal Carolina
ActiveRain an Online Referral Network
Women's Council of REALTORS® a National Referral Network

The 4 letter word that will send buyers out the door - FLEA - was fist published on Emerald Isle Carolina
Copyright © 2009 by Kathryn Gorham, All Rights Reserved. Permission granted to re-blog or re-print with the stipulations that you do not alter the original content and that you provide a link back to this article in the re-blog or re-print. *The 4 letter word that will send buyers out the door - FLEA*

SET YOUR OWN COURSE AND STEER YOUR OWN BOAT. BUILD YOUR OWN UNIQUE INTERNET PRESENCE!

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:42:57 -0500

SET YOUR OWN COURSE AND STEER YOUR OWN BOAT. BUILD YOUR OWN UNIQUE INTERNET PRESENCE!

Just because it's there doesn't mean it's beneficial to you.

How many contacts have you received in your e-mail box or by telephone from a company who said that they could "put you on page one of Google"?
How many "social media" sites have you joined only to forget your login/password or can't figure out how to navigate?
How many lead generation sites have you previewed that are full of non-real estate related ads?
How many real estate related web sites/blogs have you reviewed that are so convoluted that you couldn't load a blog post??
How many so called real estate related web sites have you joined only to be quickly bombarded by SPAM?
How many real estate "Guru"s have you read about who promised to triple your business if you just attend this "FREE" seminar. BTW, the books and tapes on the table in the back of the room are not "FREE"!!

How many? Fess up! How many??

DON'T FEEL GUILTY. Just because it's there doesn't mean it's beneficial to you.

Time has value for real estate practitioners and we need to learn what has been and is profitable for our own businesses.

Look at the "social media" sites and determine which of them that appear to be beneficial to your business. If a web site includes a preponderance of non-real estate related pages, posts, etc., it may not be a good use of your time.

Fact is, our real estate practices are all different and a reflection of our own needs and personalities. If you are "on the Internet" to generate business only for yourself, one or two networks/blogs/social platforms or web sites may be sufficient to generate more buyer/seller business than you can handle.

My business is generating home buyers for my network of Agents/Brokers. So, I spend a lot more time on the telephone with prospective home buyers, getting relocation packages out (yes, buyers still like to get packages by mail), tweaking web sites, etc. than most agents/brokers. Years ago when I generated business just for myself, I was on the road most days previewing, showing, managing inspections and settlements. Today, I'm at my computer most days working hard developing and updating web sites and blogs, speaking with prospective home buyers and making referrals to real estate agents in my network. Big difference.

If you're working full time and generating a good income, don't worry about what others do.

Success is not always doing what others expect or claim to do.

Success is earning a decent living doing what you do for your own unique business.

ACTIVERAIN IS A TREASURE CHEST. It's probably no secret that I believe ActiveRain to be, in terms of $$$ and time invested, the most cost effective online web site/blog platforms available to real estate practitioners today.

The ease of use is critical for new members. The camaraderie, transparancy and personal outreach to all members is unique to ActiveRain. If you have a question about blogging for your business, just ask. You'll get answers.

ACTIVERAIN SPEAKS GOOGLE! The creators of ActiveRain speak Google so you don't have to! The benefits of the synergy between ActiveRain blog posts and member profiles and Google are unique. ActiveRain makes Google rank so easy, members benefit just by being here. How good is that for your business?

I learned this from my server logs and posted about it back on September 26, 2006.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, Serving Maryland and Northern Virginia Home Buyers.

This post inspired by Martha Brown's post about searching for the perfect social media site.

PAEONIAN SPRINGS, VA 20129 HOME ON 15 ACRES with SPECTACULAR VIEWS

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:09:49 -0500

PAEONIAN SPRINGS, VA 20129 HOME ON 15 ACRES with SPECTACULAR VIEWS

Western Loudoun County offers many advantages for home buyers seeking acreage and a beautiful home. This lovely home for sale in Paeonian Springs is situated on 15 beautiful acres.

$1,250,000.

Main Entrance Office/Den Entrance

This lovely Colonial style home offers 3,700 square feet of spacious living.

Main Level: Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Foyer, Office/Den, Family Room, Powder Room.
Upper Level: Master Bedroom and Garden Bath with Whirlpool; 2 additional Bedrooms, Full Bath.
In-Law Apt. over 2 Car Garage: Large Bedroom and Full Bath.
Exterior: Hardie Board:
Interior main level - Wide Plank Hardwood and 2 Fireplaces, Updated Kitchen.

The beauty of this property is shared by the lovely and very comfortable home and the surrounding land. Privacy is assured by land and beautiful trees and landscaping. The view from every window offers a warm and inviting view of the panorama of the patio overlooking the tree farm in the back and the patio with a pond overlooking a beautiful open space with the W & OD Trail adjoining for horse riding/walking.

HOME IS IN PAEONIAN SPRINGS BACKING TO THE W & OD TRAIL, PERFECT FOR RIDING/WALKING.

This property has been lovingly cared for by one family for 30 years. With an abiding interest in landscaping, this property is landscaped to perfection including the fish pond.

For more information and photos, see the Homesdatabase listing description HERE.

To tour this lovely home, contact Lenn Harley, Broker Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Cash REBATE from Homefinders.com to buyer for this home, $10,000.

Listing broker: David LeRoy and Associates.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

"NEVER A FEE TO BUYERS" Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home REBATE!

Loudoun County Virginia - Search Homes for Sale.
Contact us to tour homes in Leesburg and Ashburn VA. 800-711-7988.

For your copy of the Homefinders.com home buyers relocation package, just give me a call. Whether you're moving to Loudoun County from out of the area or just across county, we can help.

Shouldn't Realtors be fighting this bill?

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:55:26 -0500

PAY ATTENTION FOLKS!!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!!

HA! I'm sure my representatives have a special e-mail box for mail from me.

I've objected to this bill since first reading it.

The government is on a mission to break the backs of the American citizenry and is succeeding one miserable budget busting bill after another.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Via Norm Werner (Real Estate One):

I have been seeing alarmist ads of TV about the American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009 for some time now, but it took an email from one of my past customers to get me to look into it a bit further. I certainly had no idea that it may have such a dramatic impact on housing and the ability for owners to sell their homes as it appears that it may. A part of the problem is that very few people anywhere, including the Congress, have any real idea of what is hidden in this bill and what impact it might have on everyday life.

The name of the bill is innocuous enough. I mean who can argue that we don't need cleaner energy and that saving on energy use and costs wouldn't somehow make us all more secure. But in this nice sounding bill, as in many things in life, the devil is in the details. The bill, as it was passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate, is 1427 pages long. It has 835 Sections dealing with all sorts of rules regulations and programs. The bill was sponsored primarily by Representative Henry Waxman of California, which in itself explains a lot.

When I received the email from my past client, he passed on some comments that he had received from someone who apparently took the time to read through the bill and highlight the areas that should be of concern to homeowners. Below, in parentheses are a few of his comments. The author has obviously reached his own strong opinions about the bill, so take these with a grain of salt. Since this Arthur has interspersed so much of his personal opinion into the content below, you may wish to go read the bill yourself, which you can do at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2454 . I have also put a complete PDF version on my Web site at http://www.themilfordteam.com/PDF/HR2454_Bill.PDF

Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act.

    H.R. 2454, the "Cap & Trade" bill passed by the House of Representatives, if also passed by the Senate, will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced. The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, these voters may get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus you, Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class America, will have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else.

    But wait. This awful bill (that very few or no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won't be able to sell your house.

    Yes, you read that right. The caveat is (there always is a caveat) that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes ("mobile homes") are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.

    To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured. Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is and you will be forced to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements. Then you will have to get your home measured again and get a license (called a "label" in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is; sort of like the Energy Star efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner If you don't get a high enough rating, you can't sell. And, the EPA administrator is authorized to raise the standards every year, even above the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act.

Sect. 202:
    Building Retrofit Program mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America .

    Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (i.e., ex$pen$ive) to meet in a few years. The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit program requirements if you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But, wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants. You should expect requirements such as "can't have an income of more than $50K per year", "home selling price can't be more than $125K,.

Sect. 204:
    Building Energy Performance Labeling Program establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy efficiency performance for "at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act." This means that within five years, 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled. The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help enforce the labeling program.

Sect. 304:
    Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates at 304(d) that 1 year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the National Building Code energy efficiency standards.

I'm generally not a fan of alarmist rants by people with a particular ax to grind and the author of the comments above may have misinterpreted some things however, this bill appears to have lots and lots and lots of things buried in it that will cost everyone lots of money to comply with in the future. It deserves to be exposed too much more scrutiny than it has received and hopefully the Senate in its deliberate style will find and remove or modify some of the more onerous provisions that the House bill contains. I'm generally in favor of doing things to decrease our use of energy in all aspects of life; however, having the government come into my home and tell me that I must do this or that to improve it's energy efficiency before I can sell it feels more like a home invasion than a helpful program.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act appears to be another misguided attempt by our so-called leaders to save us from ourselves. I think they should stick to passing legislation that lawn mowers need labels that say that one shouldn't stick their hand under the mower while it running. That's still stupid, but at least it didn't cost us much.

I checked to see if this topic has been posted here before and it has, but with surprisingly little follow-up comment. It would seem to me that anyone not already living in California would be at least a little alarmed by the provisions of this bill as they apply to homeowners, especially the need to meet some ill-defined set of energy standards before one is allowed to sell. It will be too late to get up-in-arms after the fact, if this bill passes as it is currently written.

ABOUT LEAD BASED PAINT and WHAT HOME BUYERS NEED TO KNOW.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:41:51 -0500

ABOUT LEAD BASED PAINT.
What home buyers need to know.

Lead based paint matters are important to home buyers considering buying a home constructed in 1978 or earlier. GET THE LEAD BASED PAINT DISCLOSURE

THE KEY WORD THERE IS DISCLOSURE.  The law requires that any owner attempting to sell a home constructed in 1978 or before disclose their knowledge of the existence of lead based paint existing in the property. That means that the seller should provide the disclosure when prospective buyers are considering buying the house. Too often the buyer doesn't receive the lead based paint disclosure until they get the Contract of Sale package of documents and addenda. Buyers should receive the SELLER LEAD BASED PAINT DISCLOSURE AND EPA PAMPHLET when evaluating the merits of a house.

HOME BUYERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF LEAD PAINT INGESTION TO YOUNG CHILDREN. Because of the extreme risk to young children from lead exposure and ingestion from picking up chips of paint or inhaling aerosol from paint scrapings in doorways or window frames, we need to be very, very careful to not gloss over this important disclosure.  ASK YOUR AGENT FOR THE EPA LEAD BASED PAINT BOOKLET.

1.  Make sure your agent provides you with the lead based paint disclosure BEFORE you made a decision about buying a property.

2. Buyers must assume, in the absence of testing, that any home build 1978 or earlier could have lead based paint. Buyers must be prepared to maintain the painted surfaces and keep chipping and peeling paint encapsulated with fresh paint. Make sure windows and doorways are well maintained and are not scraping painted surfaces causing dust with lead based paint into the atmosphere in the house or on the surfaces where children could get it in their mouths and ingest the dust.

There are hundreds of thousands of homes in this area, Maryland and Northern Virginia that were constructed prior to 1979. In lower price ranges, it should be expected to see homes with lead based paint. The important matter for buyers and their agents to understand is that the disclosure isn't going to change whether or not the house contains lead based paint. It is a requirement of the law that disclosure be made and the buyers understand what they are buying.

http://www.epa.gov/lead/index.html

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MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE INFORMATION FOR HOME BUYERS.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:37:15 -0500

MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE INFORMATION FOR HOME BUYERS.

Buying real estate in Maryland and Northern Virginia and getting a mortgage loan is complicated. The Contract of Sale is about 10-15 pages on Northern Virginia and in Maryland may be up to 30+ pages with the Contract and necessary locality, inspection, loan addenda. Your Buyer's Agent will review the Contract of Sale and all addenda when you prepare your offer to the seller.

Real estate in Maryland and Virginia is expensive compared with many other areas in the United States. Buying a home and getting a mortgage loan, in Maryland or Virginia is even more complicated when home buyers don't understand the home loan process. We'll try to make is as easy as possible. However, borrowing $$Thousands or Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars is not a minor matter. Borrowing money is a very serious matter and we treat it as such. With some education and guidance from an experienced real estate agent, mortgages can be made easy to understand. We can help. We sell many homes every year and we help our real estate buyers with the mortgage process from pre-qualification through settlement.

We will describe the mortgage process further down this page, but first, you should understand what a mortgage is and how it works. The procedure will vary little from lender to lender, but since the procedure is basically simple, you just need to understand that:

Lenders lend large amount of money.
Lenders want to lend to folks who will repay the loan.
Lenders secure their loan to you with a lien against your property.
If you pay your monthly mortgage payment, every thing is fine.
If you default, the lender may foreclose the property.

Sounds simple and it can be simple with an agent who will explain the loan process to you step by step. Unless you've obtained a mortgage loan in the past, most buyers do not understand why lenders need particular information.

The first thing a loan officer will do is review your credit report. This is important because it will determine your qualifying ratio and the loan officer will discuss they different types of loans available to you. Your Homefinders.com agent will also discuss types of loans with you since it may help determine the price range and type of home listings where you can get the type of home you desire.

WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTATION WILL I NEED FOR MORTGAGE APPLICATION?
Generally, the documents needed will verify your income and debt. The list below is the minimum for VA, FHA and conventional loans.

Past two years W-2 Forms
Current address
Employment addresses
Recent bank statements
Name and address of current creditors
Social Security number(s)
Certificate of Eligibility for VA buyers
For self employed, 2 years tax returns

Your lender will have a copy of the Contract of Sale for the home you are purchasing. Your lender will process the loan and have the mortgage approved prior to the date of settlement date in the Contract. The lender will send the proceeds of your home loan to the settlement company along with instructions to the title company about what charges are and the title company will conduct the settlement meeting. You sign the documents accepting the loan, the sellers signs the deed over to you, you get the keys to your newly purchased home. Now, wasn't that easy??

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Why are there no uniform standards for PRE-approval letters?

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:24:02 -0500

WHAT'S IN A WORD???

PRE-APPROVAL is not in my lexicon. Call it what you will, it's only a pre-qualifying or credit review letter.

IMO, there is no such thing as a "pre-approval".

The loan is either approved, with or without conditions, or it is a "pre-qualifying" letter.

As a listing agent, I wouldn't take that title, pre-approval, seriously.

As a selling agent, I use them.

As a buyer's agent, I want a MORTGAGE LOAN COMMITMENT, with or without conditions. That way I know that the loan officer has received documentation and the underwriter has reviewed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Via Jay Beckingham (Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corp.):

Why? Why? Why? are there no uniform standards for pre-approval letters?

Let's start with do we all agree and/or understand what it is, the old preapproval letter that is. If I have this right, a buyer and their agent are trying to represent to a seller and their agent that the buyer should be able to acquire the mortgage that is necessary for them to purchase the property that they are submitting an offer on.

Preapproval; pre means before, therefore it would follow that preapproval means before the approval. Let's not lose sight of that!

What documentation is needed, or what documentation does the loan officer, the usual grantor of the preapproval letter, have in his/her possession, to issue this letter?

When the buyers Realtor receives the preapproval letter do they know the answer to the above question, or do they inquire about this? I cannot remember any Realtor asking me what I had for documentation, ie: what I based the letter on.

Credit;

If the lender doesn't have a tri-merged credit report in their possession, shred the letter. Approvals are based on middle scores or lower middle scores in the case of joint applicants. Only a tri-merged report will give you 3 scores. A single or double in file doesn't do this and in my opinion has little to no value. It certainly wouldn't justify spending Sunday afternoon showing the buyer 5 properties, just one man's opinion.

What is the middle score? Do you ask? It not only effects approvals, but also pricing in today's world.

Income;

To fill out an application I'm asking the applicant for the last two years of tax returns, all schedules, the last two years of w2's, and 30 days of recent paystubs, with year to date income. Wouldn't you think a requirement for a preapproval should be at least a w2 from last year and recent paystub with year to date income? I mean we've got fax machines, some people still use those, don't they. We've got scanners and email. How hard is it to get this info. Not hard at all.

The self employed need the last 2 years of tax returns (all schedules), period. There's just no other way. That is still actually a problem, in that we are now into October, and will need some sort of year to date profit and loss.

Assets;

Even cash deals require a bank/asset statement showing sufficient funds to close to submit an offer. Why shouldn't a buyer acquiring a mortgage be required to provide the same documentation.

Okay, if I give you a preapproval letter based on the documentation stated above, you may actually have something there. Certainly more than what you've gotten in the past.

Realtors; insist on it! Require preapproval letters with some strength.

Require that every preapproval letter, from every loan officer, has at least the minimum documentation, or send it back.

So why do we not have to meet any uniform standards for preapproval letters.

Simple.

It's not required!

MULTIPLE OFFERS - WHY WE MAKE THEM - WHEN WE MAKE THEM.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:44:17 -0500

MULTIPLE OFFERS - WHY WE MAKE THEM - WHEN WE MAKE THEM.

An interesting post by Ann Allen about making multiple offers inspired this article which is based on my experience. I've made multiple offers for home buyers for many years. However, they are not made without complete research and only for properties that the home buyers are satisfied that they will buy and complete the contract to settlement.

MULTIPLE OFFERS MAY HELP SERIOUS HOME BUYERS. When I help buyers make multiple offers they are not making comical low-ball offers. I don't spend my time working with those buyers. Buyers I represent are serious, well qualified and ready. They are either relocating and have a short time in the area to preview, select a few homes and we make multiple offers to narrow the choices.

I don't represent "bottom fishing" buyers. I represent serious residential buyers looking for a home. The reason to make multiple offers is to give these buyers an opportunity to buy "now" what they are seeing "now". Without multiple offers, we'd be limited to considering one property at a time and that's not what we need when we have just previewed, researched and considered 2-3-6 properties in a small amount of time.

FROM 6 OFFERS TO 4 OFFERS TO . . . . . When we make the offers, all at the same time, we can quickly eliminate the sellers whose agents do not respond timely. Relocating home buyers can be disappointed by listing agents who ignore phone/fax/e-mail messages. When time is of the essence for relocating or local buyers with a need to move quickly (tax credit???), waiting for listing agent responses is a luxury we don't have.

SELECTING A HOME TO BUY IS A TIME CONSUMING PROCESS. I spend a lot of time researching properties for home buyers. The purchasers are very cooperative, responsive and serious. They want and usually need to buy NOW. The home buying process from preview, research, comparitive analysis, second or third preview for valuation/condition, loan pre-approval, preparation of contract and numerous addenda, presentment, and then wait for acceptance/counter is going to take time. Relocating home buyers don't always have the luxury of time.

MULTIPLE OFFERS MUST BE MADE RESPONSIBLY. Serious buyers are ready to buy now. Making one offer at a time, considering the time involved in getting the offer complete and going through the contact/negotiation process can often result in one or more homes for sale going under contract while we are negotiating on the buyer's first choice.

SUPPOSE ONE PROPERTY STANDS OUT ABOVE THE OTHERS? Go for it. However, make sure that the offer is complete. Leave no stone unturned to get the offer presented and if the listing agent or seller is not cooperative with timely communication, hope that the buyers will be ready to move on to another property.

MULTIPLE OFFERS - WHY WE MAKE THEM. We make them to give home buyers an opportunity to successfully complete a purchase and make good use of their home search time.

MULTIPLE OFFERS - WHEN WE MAKE THEM. We make them for serious home buyers who have a limited amount of time to reach a "ratified" status after considering several properties offered for sale.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

"Honey, this is one of my favorites of all the homes we saw. When do you think we'll hear?"

"No idea Dear, seems to me that 4 days is long enough. Let's hope the other one doesn't sell before we hear about this one."