Lisa's Real Estate Blog

Gorgeous Ranch Home with Detached Oversized 2 Car Garage and Unfinished Bonus!

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:48:48 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Southland II | 919-815-1356

273 Parrish Farm Lane, Benson, NC

Gorgeous Home with Over-sized 2 Car Garage and Unfinished Bonus

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $144,900

Year Built	2001
Sq Footage	1,270
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	.70 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Gorgeous Split Bedroom Home with Large Rocking Chair Front Porch. Family Rm with Cathedral Ceiling and Corner Gas Log Fireplace. Bright Sunny Kitchen with 2 Pantries! Master Bedroom has Cathedral Ceiling, Spacious Walk In Closet. Double Vanities, Shower Door in the Master Bath. Ceiling Fans in all Bedrooms. Unfinished Bonus Room above the Detached Oversized Garage. You Must See!!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Bonus/Rec room	- Dining room
- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Welcome Home	Sunny Kitchen
Family Room	Master Bedroom
Back View of Home	Rocking Chair Front Porch

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Southland II

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 28, 2009, 12:52pm PDT

Wading Through a Frustrating Week

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:22:12 -0700

The sellers are ready. The buyers are ready. Everything is done, and yet we all wait. Waiting for someone at USDA to look at the file and approve it. Nothing more, nothing less. One closing was supposed to be last Friday! The other one was to be today, and still we wait. I am thankful we still have a 100% financing option available to our buyers, albeit a sometimes frustrating process. So, this week has felt unproductive, as mostly my mind has been focused on getting my buyers to their closing table. And now, a phone call to the lender for another update....

Lovely, Recently Remodeled Ranch Home for $97,900!!!!!!

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:59:59 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Southland II | info@lisakuyath.com | 919-815-1356

714 E. Sanders St., Four Oaks, NC

Beautifully Remodeled Home in Four Oaks

3BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $97,900

Year Built	1977
Sq Footage	1,026
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	1
Parking	1 Covered spaces
Lot Size	.59 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Fantastic Remodeled Home has been Newly Painted, Sheetrocked, and landscaped. Has New Fixtures and New Carpet, New w/d. HVAC is New and comes with a warranty and service agreement. Whole house fan in the hall, Bathroom has New shower door, Built in Bookshelf in Family Room. This Home is a Must See.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Fireplace	• Tile floor
• Family room	• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven
• Washer	• Dryer	• Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

• Covered parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 2	Photo 3
Photo 4	Photo 6

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Southland II

info@lisakuyath.com

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 1, 2009, 11:44am PDT

Do Your Buyer a Favor, Take Them to See This Home!

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:05:51 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Southland II | info@lisakuyath.com | 919-815-1356

84 Sodan Drive, Willow Spring, NC

Relax on the Rocking Chair Front Porch. Large Lot with Fenced Backyard. Convenient to I-40.

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $134,000

Year Built	2001
Sq Footage	1,442
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	.69 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Enjoy your time outside on the Wraparound Porch or on the Deck in the Fenced Backyard. Crown Molding, Chairrail, and Wainscoting in the Dining Room. Bright Kitchen with Pantry. Spacious Family Room has corner Gas Log Fireplace, Cathedral Ceiling, and Door to the Deck. Master Suite has Walk In Closet, Double Vanity and Garden Tub.2" Blinds throughout this immaculate home.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	Walk-in closet
Family room	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Southland II

info@lisakuyath.com

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 12, 2009, 1:56pm PDT

Just Reduced!! Fabulous Split Level Home in Smithfield, NC ...on a Lake

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:12:52 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Southland II | 919-815-1356

210 Barbour Road, Smithfield, NC

Great Wooded 1.66 Acre Lot * Hard to Find Split Level Design * Lots
of Living Space

3BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $144,500

Year Built	1964
Sq Footage	2,020
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	1.66 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Looking for a place to relax when you are done with your day? Come home to a peaceful lake in the backyard. Wooded lot is 1.66 acres! Family room has brick gas log FP w/ stone mantle. Tile thoughout lower level, hardwood in formal dining. Fenced area in Backyard w Patio. Living RM built-in bookcase hardwoods under carpet. Master features a built-in vanity dresser and a cedar closet

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	Walk-in closet
Hardwood floor	Family room	Living room
Dining room	Dishwasher	Stove/Oven
Attic	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Huge Patio
Family Room	Living Room
Dining Room	Lake View

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Southland II

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 6, 2009, 12:30pm PDT

RE/MAX or Keller Williams

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:55:22 -0700

If you were going to change companies, would you go to RE/MAX or Keller Williams? i have been with RE/MAX for almost 2 years. The firm I am at is disolving and I have to make a choice to go to one of theother RE/MAX offices in the area, or somewhere else. I have narrowed it down considerably and my only other choice at the moment is a Keller Williams office. So, give me some advice, my fellow Realtors! Thanks!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!!!!!

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:23:14 -0700

Happy Earth Day!!

Do something "Green" today that you didn't do yesterday. Pick up some litter, recycle, unsubscribe to the paper and read it online, turn off the lights, but some florecent bulbs to replace the incandecents, plant a tree, find other ways to decrease your carbon footprint...

Enjoy the Earth, Enjoy the Day!

I am quickly getting addicted to Twitter....

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:02:27 -0700

I have been using twitter for a while now, and really have not seen any point to. But today, I dove a little deeper. I mean, so many people talk about it, rave about it. It must have some worth? The worth is still something i am awaiting to discover, hopefully in the not too distant future. But today, I discovered tweetdeck. Now, at least it makes using twitter so much easier, and something I can keep up with. Also, yes folks, there is more.... You can post facebook status updates from tweetdeck!!! two birds, one stone!!

OK, that was my slow Friday afternoon. But if you have not done so yet, do these two things:

1. Follow me on twitter @LisaKuyath

2. download tweetdeck

That's it for today, my Real Estate Friends!! Have a FANTASTIC weekend!!!

Country Living, Fabulous Floorplan, 1+ Acres

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:34:27 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Connected | 919-815-1356

3124 HWY 222, Kenly, NC

Great Country Living - Fantastic Floorplan

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $139,900

Year Built	1994
Sq Footage	1,705
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	1.11 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Fantastic floorplan on a 1+ acre lot. First floor Master bedroom with Spacious Master Bath, tub w/ sep. shower. Large Kitchen with breakfast area. Bay window in the Dining. Huge Covered Front Porch. Deck in Backyard. Family Room has beautiful built in shelves and masonry fireplace. Needs to be on your list to see!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	Family room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Stove/Oven

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Welcome Home	Rocking Chair Front Porch
Breakfast Nook	Master Bath
Kitchen	Family Room

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Connected

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Apr 13, 2009, 11:19am PDT

Just a Little Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:47:28 -0700

What is there to say? Not much. It's a cloudy, dreary day. I started it off by waking up to one of my dogs vomiting (what a lovely sound to wake up to) followed by my nephew missing the bus (his mother was at a doctor's appointment), and then the vast realization that the sun was NOT going to show it's face today.

No appointments today, so I sit at my desk staring at some of the tedious work that I really must get to, and then I think, "why do that? i can write a blog about nothing instead". :)

OK, so now for the little ray of sunshine. My listings are showing. More and more buyers are getting off their couch, getting on their phone with a Realtor, and looking for their new home. YAY! I am so pleased to see the increased traffic through my seller's homes.

So, that's my sunshine for a cloudy day. Nothing more, nothing less.

All Brick Townhouse in South Smithfield

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:51:26 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Connected | 919-815-1356

217-A Caroline Ave, Smithfield, NC

All Brick Townhouse in South Smithfield

2BR/1.5BA Townhouse

offered at $73,900

Year Built	1985
Sq Footage	1,160
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	.11 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Excellent Townhome in a convenient location off of HWY 301. Sunny KitchenFamily Room with Masonry Fireplace. Sliding Glass door opens to deck, great for entertaining. TH has outside storage. Two bedrooms and Full bath Upstairs. Half bath on First Floor. This Home is Being Sold As-Is. Great Opportunity for First Time Home Buyer or Investment.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Family room	Dining room	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front of Home	Family Room
Kitchen	Dining Room
Master Bedroom	View of Home

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Connected

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 30, 2009, 12:32pm PDT

Just Listed! Immaculate Home w/ Fenced Backyard on 1.52 Acres

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:04:20 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Connected | info@lisakuyath.com | 919-815-1356

103 Brandon Lane, Coats, NC

Country Living, Immaculate Home, Fenced Backyard

3BR/2BA Manufactured

offered at $99,900

Year Built	1993
Sq Footage	1,822
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Covered spaces
Lot Size	1.52 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Absolutely immaculate home on 1.52 acres has a fenced backyard, a wired storage shed and another shed, carport with concrete pad, rocking chair front porch. The interior of this home has a living room and family room with built ins, formal dining room with buit ins, spacious island kitchen, sunny breakfast room, large master suite with garden tub and sep. shower and dual vanity,

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Family room
Living room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Covered parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Welcome Home	2 Sheds, 1 is Wired
Family Room	Master Bath
Kitchen	Living Room

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Connected

info@lisakuyath.com

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 20, 2009, 9:40am PDT

Just Listed! Beautifully Remodeled Home in Four Oaks, NC

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:18:18 -0700

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Connected | info@lisakuyath.com | 919-815-1356

714 E. Sanders St., Four Oaks, NC

Beautifully Remodeled Home in Four Oaks

3BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $99,000

Year Built	1977
Sq Footage	1,026
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	1
Parking	1 Covered spaces
Lot Size	.59 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	Tile floor
Family room	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Washer	Dryer	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Covered parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Connected

info@lisakuyath.com

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 20, 2009, 8:48am PDT

Happy Holidays!

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:34:19 -0800

Make a Smilebox greeting

A Sincere Thank You to One of My Home Inspectors

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:01:27 -0800

Today I had a home inspection on a house one of my buyers will be closing on next month. The house is a well maintained property, and I did not expect much to show up on the inspection. This part is true. But, that is not the point of my story...

At this particular home inspection, Trenton Seagroves of Southeastern Home Services did his thorough job as always. What warmed my heart so very much, and really just reminded me what being a good person is all about was the unexpected thing he did right before we left the home.

Being right after the Thanksgiving holiday, the seller's mother was there having visited from out of state. I sat and talked with her while Trenton performed the inspection. She gave me some details on how the seller's wife had passed away from leukemia last December, shortly before Christmas. The seller has 3 daughters ranging from 6 to 11 years old. It saddened me to think of those three girls and how they must really miss their Mom during the holidays and what a difficult time it must be for the family.

Trenton heard the story while he was going room to room. As we were thanking the woman for her time and saying goodbye, Trenton said to the grandmother that he noticed they did not have a Christmas tree. She said the father had just been so busy, but the girls had been saying how much they wanted one.

Trenton asked if it would be ok if he left one on their front porch, so the girls would see it when they came home from school. (He also sells Christmas trees with his family during the holidays and had some with him). She thanked him and he promptly picked out a tree and carried it to the porch.

It was a routine home inspection on an average day. But, sometimes out of the clear blue, we find moments that we can reach out to a stranger. We are reminded that no matter how bad things seem to be going in our lives, someone else is dealing with something much worse. I wanted to thank Trenton for his act of kindness.

This blog may seem scattered, not well written. I just wanted others to know about a very sweet man, and an excellent home inspector, Trenton Seagroves. As I drove off with a tear in my eye, my heart was full. Thank you, Trenton.

Split Level Home on 1.66 Acres, Convenient Location, Lake in Backyard

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:33:20 -0800

You have got to check out this home. The sellers have just made a MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION. They have just reduced the price f this home by $20,000!! This is a motivated seller. What a great property. 1.66 wooded acre lot, lake in the backyard, split level home, lots of built ins. If you like some nature surrounding you but need a house convenient to everything, you must go check out this home.

LisaKuyath.com LisaKuyath.com

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Connected | 919-815-1356

210 Barbour Road, Smithfield, NC

Great Wooded 1.66 Acre Lot * Hard to Find Split Level Design * Lots
of Living Space

3BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $149,900

Year Built	1964
Sq Footage	2,020
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	1.66 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Looking for a place to relax when you are done with your day? Come home to a peaceful lake in the backyard. Wooded lot is 1.66 acres! Family room has brick gas log FP w/ stone mantle. Tile thoughout lower level, hardwood in formal dining room. Fenced area in Backyard w Patio. Living room has built-in bookcase and master bedroom features a built-in vanity dresser and a cedar closet!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	Walk-in closet
Hardwood floor	Family room	Living room
Dining room	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Attic	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Connected

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 25, 2008, 1:41pm PST

Just Reduced! Seller Very Motivated, Short Sale Opportunity in Garner, NC

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:04:26 -0800

This is a short sale opportunity. Seller is obviously very motivated. This is a fantastic home with some great built-in features like the built in wall unit in the master bedroom, wall of bookshelves in the keeping room, desk in the kitchen, and huge window seat in the front bedroom. For anyone that likes some character in a home, this property is a must see.

Please contact me for more information.

Lisa Kuyath | RE/MAX Connected | 919-815-1356

1300 Brucemont Drive, Garner, NC

Keeping Room with Masonry Fireplace * Convenient Garner Location *
Huge Deck

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $144,900

Year Built	1971
Sq Footage	1,511
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	.31 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This home is waiting for it's new owners to enjoy the summer months on the large back deck and entertain in the winter by the masonry fireplace in the keeping room. Pantry in the Utility Rm, Kitchen w/ Built In Desk, Smooth Top Range, and Breakfast Bar, Front Bedroom w/ Window Seat, Double Vanity in Hall Bath, WIC and Built in Wall Unit in Master Bedroom. Outside Storage. Must See. Short sale opportunity. Sellers Lender must approve offer.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	Walk-in closet
Tile floor	Family room	Dishwasher
Stove/Oven	Attic

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Lisa Kuyath

RE/MAX Connected

919-815-1356

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 25, 2008, 12:25pm PST

A New Short Sale Opportunity

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:29:06 -0800

1300 Brucemeont Drive ~ Heather Hills ~ Garner, NC

You must consider this home if you are looking for a home in a great location, very close to Raleigh; one story living; and a home with character.

This home is waiting for it's new owners to entertain in the winter by the masonry fireplace in the keeping room and enjoy the summer months on the large back deck . Pantry in the Utility Rm, Kitchen w/ Built In Desk, Smooth Top Range, and Breakfast Bar, Front Bedroom w/ Window Seat, Double Vanity in Hall Bath, WIC and Built in Wall Unit in Master Bedroom. Outside Storage. Must See!

For More Details: www.lisakuyath.com/mls1620548

Local News - Johnston County, NC

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:15:51 -0800

I just came across this bit of local news. i thought this is a great accomplishment, and thought I would share. Conratulations!

Selma Middle School Student Awarded Victor Bell Jr. Scholarship
Carlas Morataya, a student at Selma Middle School, is one of just ten students across the state to receive the prestigious 2008 Victor E. Bell, Jr. Scholarship. Individual awards are $2000 per year, from middle school through the fourth year of college, up to a maximum of $20,000 per participant. College Foundation, Inc. announced the 10 winners on November 13th. This is the second year the scholarships have been awarded to encourage high-potential North Carolina seventh grade students to aspire to a college education. The scholarship is named in honor of the visionary former chairman of the CFI Board of Trustees who served for 30 years and left a strong legacy of service to North Carolina. To receive the maximum total of $20,000 per recipient, the recipient must continue to meet annual renewal criteria. Awards are contributed to an account in the North Carolina 529 plan with the individual recipient named as the beneficiary of the account. Nominations are by invitation only to middle school counselors and principals, as well as selected college readiness/access groups across the state. CFI held a random drawing to choose six recipients from nominations submitted by counselors and principals, with a selection made from each of six regions of North Carolina, currently defined by telephone area code. Three additional recipients were drawn from the nominations received from college readiness/access groups, and another recipient was drawn from the combination of remaining nominees. College Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers a portfolio of $3.5 billion in low-interest education loans, the state's college grant programs and the tax-free "529" college savings program on behalf of the State Education Assistance Authority.

Taking Time for the Family (of dogs)

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:11:02 -0800

I sometimes (most of the time) find myself feeling guilty when I don't work all day during the weekends. I feel like I might be missing out on the next great lead, or I will just push myself farther behind. I was feeling like that today, even though I spent a few hours thinning out my Inbox and an hour at the office picking up a counter-offer and trying to get it negotiated (my buyers want to sleep on it). Then, I came back home to my family. The noise level was high as all my little darlings rushed to the door to greet me, their excitement was almost contagious. Then I think, is that possible lead more important than quality time spent with these wonderful beings that love me so much? Maybe there are days that work should take priority, but I decided that today was not one of those days. Let me introduce you to my happy little cockapoo family...

First, we adopted Tanner and Tucker, brothers from Bluffton, Indiana.

Then, along came Milly Grace. She is what I call "the troublemaker". as she is the Momma of our 3 littlest pups.

Then we fell in love with "our 2 Doodles", Boomer and Bopper. They are our little toy size brothers from a litter of two.

Then, one Friday night last November, Tanner and Milly Grace proclaimed their love, got together and made the rest of the family, Samson, Sunny, and Stella Blue. Milly Grace had two other puppies in her litter that were adopted by a couple of friends of mine. One is named Tanner Jr. and the other is Haleigh.

Why am I sharing this on AR? I am consumed by real estate most of the time, the rest is about my crazy Cockapoo Platoon. My day was about them.

* I did want to post pictures of everyone, but for some reason the picture upload was not working. I guess i'll have to share them some other time.

How was Your Friday?

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:07:01 -0800

Am I an eternal optimist, or has business been picking up over the past week? Today was a busy day. I had multiple, very productive appointments. I got a ton of stuff done at the office this morning, had a really good listing appointment in the afternoon, and wrote an offer tonight.

I am not writing this to be boastful, but merely to share an example of how business has picked up for me lately. I am truly grateful.

How about you? I am very curious what agents across the country have experienced since the election.

Happy to Help My Fellow Agents

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:39:48 -0800

Today was our monthly office meeting. It was a dreary, rainy day, so it was a smaller meeting than usual. I am so happy to hear the other agents in the office talking so enthusiastically about using the internet to further their business.

Our discussion began with the company website, then turned to blogging and social networking sites. My real estate career would never had taken off from the beginning if it was not for the internet. I was not a new agent in my hometown. I did not have a lot of family in the area. I hardly knew my neighbors! But buyers began to find me anyway, through my time consuming but free, internet marketing.

So, I am no expert on the new online marketing, but I do it, I enjoy it, and I see results. If you are new to this, if you didn't know what a blog was earlier today; don't worry. Just dive in, have fun, enjoy your work. We are lucky enough to do something we love for a living! Happy Blogging!

Are YOU a part of the revolution? If not, be prepared to be left behind by those who are.

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:27:32 -0800

I couldn't agree more with what Jason is saying.

Via Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate:

I realized recently that we are now in the midst of a revolution and a dramatic paradigm shift in the way that marketing is conducted. This may seem like a strong term for those who don't "get it" yet, but believe me when I say that it is nothing short of phenomenal.

In early 1998, about a year after I got my real estate license, my business partner and I decided to launch our own real estate website (www.austintexashomes.com). Despite the fact that we got a lot of funny looks and reactions from other agents in our office, we felt that this was something that we could actually afford to do that might also bring real results. We were among a very small handful of agents back then who had websites.

Since there was no IDX system, we crafted one out of the listings from the MLS to the best of our abilities. It was earth-shattering stuff. I am kidding, of course, but over the years, we have managed to garner the majority of our new clients and tens of millions of dollars in real estate sales from our websites.

Does any of that pattern sound familiar to you?

If not, you may need to give the following some thought:

Today, ten years later, I have immersed myself pretty heavily in the world of online social media sites, including ActiveRain, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others in order to gain a foothold before everyone and their dog does. Why? It's simple really. I see the boom in online social networking as something that has the potential to utterly and irreversibly change the landscape of real estate marketing in the years to come.

Five years from now (and more), those who choose not to "grab the brass ring" and embrace blogging and social media marketing are likely to be left behind. Presently, I don't know the percentage of agents who are blogging actively, but my guess is that it is under 5% based on my own research. Either way, Pareto's Principle (better known to us all as "the 80/20 rule") wouldn't even apply in this case, since the numbers are clearly even further skewed at present.

I finished reading Seth Godin's book "Tribes" this week (highly recommend grabbing a copy - I am going to give mine away to someone who will act on it). One thing I grasped while reading this book is that a big hurdle for most people who want to achieve something is fear of failure. I think the stigma attached to not succeding at something keeps many folks on the sidelines. To be frank, I felt that way myself when I started blogging. I saw huge point totals and some great posts, and I was a bit intimidated. However, I slowly began to gain some momentum and readership (and confidence in my abilities), and now I have my own "tribe", to use Seth's term.

Almost daily, I get multiple emails and/or phone calls from other AR members with specific site questions, or from other agents in Austin who are thinking of starting their own blog. In fact, I have someone in another state who may soon become my first official paying student in blogging and online marketing. I didn't advertise my services - this just sort of came to me. However, it does make me think about the opportunity which presents itself now, and the likelihood of helping other people, too.

The proliferation of sites and technology in recent years is astounding, and it's likely to continue for awhile. As such, it has also created a niche for those who are in the know. Why not use the knowledge gained to help others?

If you happen across this post as a new member of ActiveRain, or if you find it via a search on Google or another search engine, and you are not currently involved in social media marketing, or if you're not quite sure what that term means, NOW is the time to learn.

As a quick illustration (on an even larger scale), I heard an escrow officer tell us a story at a closing years ago about helping Michael Dell when he purchased his very first home. He was so young that his mother was with him when he went to sign papers. While the closer was explaining things, Dell started talking excitedly about the new company that he was starting. "Would you like to invest in it?", he asked. "No, I don't think so. I don't have a lot of money right now. Thanks anyway." was her reply.

Let that story sink in for just a minute.

Aside from the fact that I would probably be too embarrassed to tell that story publicly if it had happened to me, there is a strong lesson. Really big rewards require some measure of risk! Whether you are risking time or money, it is risk nonetheless.

Before he died three years ago, my dad shared a couple of stories with me about my grandfather's reluctance to invest in land on Lake Austin back in the 1950's for $1,000/acre, and about the fact that he passed up a chance to invest in Holiday Inn BEFORE it went public. Needless to say, those were both some amazing opportunities. The land that he could have purchased for $10,000 would likely be worth in excess of $3 million today.

I don't say this to disparage my grandfather's memory in any way, since he was an amazing provider and left a sizeable estate when he passed away in 1973. Instead, I just want to point out that there are opportunities around you, too, if you are observant and willing to take a chance. The good news is that almost all of the new stuff worth doing online is FREE!

After all, you don't want to be the one to tell your kids that you didn't think blogging would work, do you?

By the way, I was inspired to write this post after commenting on this post from Chris Elizabeth Griffith's entertaining post earlier tonight - read it, too!: Not Social Networking 2.0

Thanks for reading!

Photos are both courtesy of www.stockvault.com.

My RSS feed is http://activerain.com/jasoncrouch/rss

Public To Weigh In On Future Commuter Train in the Triangle

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:17:17 -0800

My ears perked up when I heard this, and I wanted to spread the news. A commuter train in this area would be a wonderful thing! I look forward to hearning more.

By Yvette Yeon, NBC17, 11 hours, 29 minutes ago NORTH CAROLINA

Commuting across the Triangle could one day be a lot less hectic. The state railroad has released plans to build a commuter rail system from Greensboro to Goldsboro using existing freight lines.

Today, people in Johnston County will have their chance to review the project. A public meeting on the commuter rail will be held at 4 p.m. at the Selma Railroad Depot, which would be a key stop on the line.

For international student, Emiliano Suarez from Argentina, getting to school in Durham could be a lot easier, with a better rail service.

"I think it's a good opportunity to try a new way of traveling," he said.

North Carolina railroad officials, say commuter trains would take away some of the heavy traffic we see during rush hour. And they point to cities like Charlotte and Chicago as examples.

"We're getting questions about why can't you do something, and it's becoming clear that railroads are solving problems in many urban areas," said Bill Kincheoloe of the North Carolina Railroad Company.

But the cost comes in at a staggering one billion dollars for the total infrastructure. And in this economic crunch, Durham's mayor says we have to take things slow.

"I'm convinced that this economy is going to turn around, and what I'm talking about is planning for the future," said Mayor Bill Bell.

Another Beautiful Fall Weekend

Lisa Kuyath (Re/Max Southland II) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:52:09 -0800

The election is over, our consumer confidence is on the rise, the weather is beautiful, and there are still amazing deals to be had in today's market. If you have been thinking about buying a home, today is a great day to call up a Realtor. Have you been searching online for awhile and dreaming about home ownership? Make a call, get pre-qualified, go out and see some of these homes you have been dreaming about. Next week, call your accountant and find out the tax benefits you can receive when you own a home. Now is the time. Are you ready? Give me a call! From House Hunting to the Closing, I am Here to Work for You!!