Frisky Friday Funnies - 02/27/09 12:01 AM
Okay Active Rainers. It's Friday, and for some of us Realtors, it's the beginning of another workweek. Before running around busily showing your houses to your buyers or hosting open houses for your sellers, take a moment to amuse yourself. Smile improves your attitude and positive vibe is what we want our clients to feel.
You know you'll have a problem selling this house: SINK-FAIL
I think this is bound to happen when building is done assembly style...one crew plumbs the place, another crew puts in the sink, so on and so forth.
NAME FAIL
Perhaps the owners … (16 comments)
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Thursday Funnies on FAIL - 02/26/09 11:54 AM
Hey Active Rainers, I thought we can use some amusement for Thursday. Feel free to come up with your own quips if an image strikes your fancy.
Let me just squeez in there! CAR SQUEEZ FAILI'm thinking some of us Realtors feel like this red car when we're dealing with unreasonable buyers and sellers.
Don't hire this Realtor (I doubt she is a Realtor, but you never know...) Picture Taking. FAIL
Either they have really homely people or they're species confused. Species FAIL
I know that in some countries kids … (11 comments)
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Wednesday Parenting FAIL - 02/25/09 12:35 PM
I'm sure y'all have seen some crazy parents during or real estate dealings. Hopefully you never ran into anything like the following:
I'm sure she's got everything under her control...NOT!Parenting FAIL
Dance That Parents Should Hide in Shame
Yeah! That's your 'Pumkin' that's up there! FAIL!
Thin ice? What thin ice
BUT they're so much lighter than me! Parental concern-FAIL!
… (5 comments)
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BLOGLISH IN BLOGOSPHERE II...AS PROMISED - 02/25/09 11:27 AM
BLOGLISH IN BLOGOSPHERE I: A CASE OF BLOGOLOGY.
Hey All Active Rainers,
I've got curious of the Bloglish/words when I was reading Kevin & Ray Missoula's post: Top 10 Ways You Know You're a Blogger If... http://activerain.com/blogsview/950142/Top-10-Ways-You-Know-Youre-a-Blogger-If and came up on some bloglish (blog & English...get it?) that I found amusing.
I have put some of them for your enjoyment as well as created an image to go with each (Yeah, Yeah...I know, I've got too much time on my hands-I am working at changing that to more business time spent on real estate.) Meanwhile, indulge me.
Bloglish-language used in … (4 comments)
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BLOGLISH IN BLOGOSPHERE I: A CASE OF BLOGOLOGY. - 02/24/09 11:14 PM
Hey All Active Rainers,
I've got curious of the Bloglish/words when I was reading Kevin & Ray Missoula's post: Top 10 Ways You Know You're a Blogger If... http://activerain.com/blogsview/950142/Top-10-Ways-You-Know-Youre-a-Blogger-Ifand came up on some bloglish (blog & English...get it?) that I found amusing. I have put some of them for your enjoyment as well as created an image to go with each (Yeah, Yeah...I know, I've got too much time on my hands-I am working at changing that to more business time spent on real estate.) Meanwhile, indulge me.
Bloglish-language used in blogosphere*Blogology-study of or science of blogs and blogosphere*(*Above two words … (5 comments)
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More Tuesday Funnies - 02/24/09 10:51 AM
Once again I was surfing the web for funny stuff and came across several from www.failblog.org. All are self-explanatory, but I'm commenting on them anyway. There are some that I came across that were lol funny, but I don't think they're appropriate to post here. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did ;)
Now the Realtor understood why the property wasn't selling!
Hell and Heal. So close, yet so far...Haters-FAIL
Probably the above graffiti artist graduated from this reading class.
Ultimate auto security system...FAIL!
… (6 comments)
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Tuesday Funny Pix - 02/24/09 01:45 AM
I came across some funny photos while surfing the web, and I thought I'd share them with you for a chuckle or even a smirk. The photos are courtesy of www.pullingnosehairs.com/ but the captions are my own.
Boy. They start early!
Probably the baby in the above picture grew up and got hired as a road crew. Genius!
That's how we say it, right?
No drowning allowed here. If you drown, we will arrest you, but there is a drowning area 50 feet to the right.
… (12 comments)
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Freefalling Stock Market Today - 02/23/09 05:48 PM
I am sure most of you playing in the rain have heard today's Stock Market free-fall. It really shouts "No Consumer Confidence." There is NO confidence in our Federal Government, NO confidence that anything is going to help housing market, and NO confidence in economic recovery. I think media is certainly fanning the flame. I do not know how far down it will go, but it seems to me the stimulus package purported to begin economic recovery failed big time.
At this rate of economic recovery, Nancy Pelosi maybe right saying "500 Million Americans will be without jobs" All … (2 comments)
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TO SUIT OR NOT TO SUIT: FASHION POLL - 02/23/09 01:19 PM
I know yall were riveted to your TV last year's Presidential campaign. Among the silliest issues that mass media had were with Hillary and her ubiquitous pantsuits and Sarah Palin's wardrobe. Now the campaign is over, we can pose this 'dress for success' thing in a light hearted debate.
Let me pose 2 fashion questions mainly to professional real estate women of Active Rain. Men are welcome to comment or express your opinion on the matter. Actually I'd like to hear the general public's opinion on the matter too, so everyone is welcome to comment.
Do you think … (4 comments)
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Gray Fox in Volente - 02/22/09 11:54 AM
For America's Southwest Real Estate Professionals, especially, Volente and Austin area:
Last night as we were coming up on our driveway, a gray fox (common to central TX) trotted into our yard. It wasn't in a hurry, so it must be use to us. So far it hasn't caused any problems what so ever.
We have not encountered a fox around our home before, so I don't know if there are any problems it poses, such as diseases it could transmit that we should be aware.
I believe it's too small to be any threat to our pets … (1 comments)
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Nancy Pelosi Pledges No Pork in Stimulus Package - 02/20/09 01:00 PM
I'm surprised that there was enough room for both Pelosi and Wolf Blitzer after her nose stopped growing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaDtkG6afBc
With her hand solemnly raised, she looked straight into the Blitzers'/camera's eyes and said that "...No pork. I pledge that no pork will be on the stimulus bill."
Indeed her pants should be on fire. The 700Billion Stimulus Package is stuffed with pork along with dozens of "tax-extenders" which are same thing:http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/03/1489413.aspx
I am just so sick and tired of our Federal Govt/Congress telling us lies after lies...and mass media swallowing … (5 comments)
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Austin's 2009 SXSW Music + Film + Interactive - 02/19/09 04:49 PM
For those of you familiar with the annual SXSW Festival in Austin, TX, SXSW 2009 is coming: http://sxsw.com March SXSWeek 2009: March 13-22 Interactive: March 13-17Film: March 13-21 Music: March 18-22
Once again this solid 9 day weekend-to-weekend venue will fill already busy downtown Austin...mainly 4th, 5th, and 6th Street. There will be throngs of people, young and old, to revel cutting edge music, film, and interactive media.
For those who aren't familiar, it's music and event filled festival where musicians, from local areas to all over U.S. and other countries, converge to showcase their music. … (2 comments)
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Valentine's Day Look at the Word Love - 02/14/09 01:36 AM
LOVE covers, romantic, familial, altruistic feelings and connections we have for others. Greeks define3 types of love as described in the New Testament:
Eros: Romantic love that involves passion and desire one feels for another. The intensity of the feelings are affected by conditions such as how ones affection is reciprocated.
Philia: Love for friends, relatives, and community. Philia is affected by conditions and circumstances that are involved in the relationship. Harsh words may diminish once strong relationship.
Agape: Love characterized by total commitment and selfless devotion. It is an unconditional love that transcends possessiveness, jealousy, and competitiveness. It is the … (2 comments)
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Hello Again from Volente, TX - 02/10/09 01:45 PM
I am Lydia Lamoreux, a Realtor in Austin, TX and a Newbie to AR Newbies Group. I joined about 2 weeks ago and since then just blogging away. After the initial welcome comments for my first blog (big "Thank You" to those who commented), I wasn't getting too many other responses (mostly 0 comments...every once in a while 1 or two trickle in.) Just too new to AR to realize that just because one writes blogs, doesn't mean they are seen.
I guess you could tell that I'm new to Blogosphere as well. I'm learning new stuff everyday like joining blog groups … (2 comments)
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Feeling Squeezed in Today's Real Estate Market? - 02/10/09 10:44 AM
OMG...can't help myself but laugh. Wonder who invented it? I know we Realtors sometimes feel like this chicken...squeezed mercilessly from unrealistic buyers to demanding sellers.
From collegehumor.com: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1794722
… (0 comments)
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Wiley Cayote Roaming Volente - 02/09/09 10:09 AM
For Austin, Cedar Park, Volente Realtors with clients interested in Volente properties, be aware that cayotes can be a problem for home owners. Besides being nuisance, they are danger to small children and small pets. Visit: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/nuisance/coyote/;and/or http://www.volente.org/docs/coyotes.html for tips on keeping them out of your own backyard. The tips are especially helpful, since Volente does not have nuisance removal services.
Also residents along FM 2769 have seen common grey foxes foraging for food (there is one that patrols our house regularly.) To keep them from becoming pests, follow similar preventive measures as listed on above websites.
… (3 comments)
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More Things That Make Austin TX Great Place to Call Home - 02/08/09 02:20 PM
I think I mentioned this before, but Austin TX is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World". Austin's Stevie Ray Vaughn...need I say more?
Salt Lick Restaurant in Driftwood, TX was featured on both Travel and Food Network channels. It's famous open pit BBQ is second to none.
UT Longhorns is premier college football team. It has 4 national championship trophies. It is the second most winningest team bypassing Notre Dame: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Longhorns_football#National_championships_.284.29
AUSTIN is also home to Lady Bird Johnson Wildfower Center: http://www.wildflower.org/?homepage=true where visitors and natives can both enjoy absolutely beautiful … (1 comments)
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Dashed Hope of Seeing Tulips Coming Spring in Volente (Austin) TX - 02/08/09 12:48 PM
For those of you who didn't see this post, I thought I'd share my recent little experience with flower gardening. Last Oct-Nov. I decided that I'd love to see tulips bloom in front of my house in Volente come next Spring. So I diligently prepped the bulbs (50 multi-colored) by refrigerating them for six weeks then planting them per instruction on the package. I thought it's not so hard...especially come spring when I'd be rewarded with beautiful blooms.
The next day, my hubby informed me that I wasn't going to like what I find in our garden...where I've planted all those bulbs. … (0 comments)
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Tex Mex Food and Real Estate Marketing - 02/08/09 11:57 AM
I'm visiting my sister in Fayetteville, NC right now. She has taken me to a couple of local restaurants (Thai and Vietnamese) and I really enjoyed the food, especially hot foods laced with Thai pepper (extremely hot, so use very sparingly.)
I noticed that these restaurants use jalapeno in both fresh and pickled way.
Now jalapeno is a staple in central TX. Tex Mex is what we call unique blend of Texan and Mexican food. Generally, Tex Mex is alot hotter than regular Mexican food, especially compared to central Mexico region. Also Tex Mex is more protein rich (beef, chicken, pork)
Tex … (0 comments)
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Texas Realtors Take Heart - 02/08/09 10:39 AM
I think this good news deserves another post. I know that I feel encouraged.
Nowadays, it is hard to decipher what nationally reported stats are pertinent to a Realtor's market area. While CA, AZ, FL, NV have seen dramatic swings in their real estate market, TX is remaining stable. Lately we have been hearing about how there's a housing bust all throughout U.S. This is a chance to reassure TX real estate clients, that TX RE market is steady and well. For details see: http://texasrealtors.com/web/1/12/members/ask/QuickFacts.doc
While CA has seen 41% drop in median sales prices in 2007-2008, TX median sales … (0 comments)
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Is Reverse Mortgage a Godsend for the "Baby Boomers" in Housing Crunch? - 02/07/09 01:38 PM
Would the Reverse Mortgage option be a saving grace for the "Baby Boomers?" I went to a REO/Foreclosure workshop and one of the themes stressed is that Realtors should encourage elderly home owners to get Reverse Mortgage...I don't know. Perhaps it's a godsend notion for some, but leaving your kids with absolutely nothing except debts seems kinda unsavory to me. True sense of "Came in to this world with nothing, leaving this world with nothing."
… (2 comments)
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Fed's. $15,000 Tax Break for Home Buyers? - 02/07/09 01:12 PM
So the Senate approves $15,000 tax break for new home buyers...what types of strings are attached? What I get mostly is that the plan doubles the tax break amount from $7500 to $15,000 and it applies to all new home buyers not just the first time home buyers (though if one hasn't owned a home for 2 years or more, then he/she would be eligible as the first time home buyer).
I've heard some AR members commenting that more than likely the amount saved now needs to be repaid to the government? Is that for the time of sale of the particular … (0 comments)
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Power AR Bloggers I'd Love Some Help - 02/05/09 01:52 PM
AR Bloggers,
A couple of days ago, I wrote 4 blogs and had a pretty good jump in my AR points (1500 points) advanced well in ranking among TX AR members. Yesterday though was a different story. I wrote about 4 blogs (along with commenting on various other blogs)-pretty nice ones with pix and links, but barely jumped 500 points.
My question is do points gained differ from one day to the next? What should I do to increase points given for my blogs? Would having the content heavily peppered with real estate terms help?
… (4 comments)
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TX Realtors Take Heart - 02/04/09 09:05 PM
Nowadays, it is hard to decipher what nationally reported stats are pertinent to a Realtor's market area. While CA, AZ, FL, NV have seen dramatic swings in their real estate market, TX is remaining stable. Lately we have been hearing about how there's a housing bust all throughout U.S. This is a chance to reassure TX real estate clients, that TX RE market is steady and well. For details see: http://texasrealtors.com/web/1/12/members/ask/QuickFacts.doc
While CA has seen 41% drop in median sales prices in 2007-2008, TX median sales prices stayed flat 2007-2008
Average home sales prices dropped $115,000 in a year is true … (2 comments)
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New X-Files? - 02/04/09 12:03 PM
Did anyone watch Fox's "Fringe" last night: http://www.fox.com/fringe/ ? I thought the show resembled X-Files albeit much more glitzy. Even though the main characters were pretty to look at, the show's plot was formulaic and belongs in 'I've already seen that somewhere' category.
Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is fresh faced, but her character is rather tired and cynical. Maybe I'll give it another try next Tues night...or maybe not...since blogging on AR is more gratifying even if no one's viewing/commenting on my blogs. Or I could be creating real estate marketing materials...though since I'm away from my office (visiting my sister … (0 comments)
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Planting Tulips in Austin (Volente) TX - 02/03/09 06:17 PM
Last Oct-Nov. I decided that I'd love to see tulips bloom in front of my house in Volente come next Spring. So I diligently prepped the bulbs (50 multi-colored) by refrigerating them for six weeks then planting them per instruction on the package. I thought it's not so hard...especially come spring when I'd be rewarded with beautiful blooms.
The next day, my hubby informed me that I wasn't going to like what I find in our garden...where I've planted all those bulbs. I went out to the scene of the crime. Sure enough, something had pricisely dug out the bulbs and ate … (0 comments)
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Best Color Laser Printer for Realtors - 02/03/09 04:07 PM
Has anyone had any experience using Brother MFC-9840CDW Multifunction Printer: NEW Brother MFC-9840CDW Multifunction Printer? I'd welcome all thoughts on this or similar laser printers. I'm trying to decide if I need to spend some money to get a decent laser printer for my RE marketing flyers and post cards. This marketing campaign would be for me to become listing agent in NW Austin, Volente, Cedar Park, and Leander, TX.
I asked AR members to comment on Ricoh AficioTMSP C220S All-In-One Laser Printer a couple of days ago, but didn't get any back (newbie+post=nada comments) Maybe I get lucky with this post...though somehow … (0 comments)
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Important Safety Tips for Women and Girls - 02/03/09 02:50 PM
As we begin another home selling season, I just want to remind fellow women Realtors to practice safety first in dealing with clients/customers especially if you've never met before. I received an email from a friend Realtor in Austin, TX that I thought I'd share. It is safety tips for all girls and women:
Info that could save your life
Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. It never hurts to be careful in … (0 comments)
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When AR Rains, It Pours! However, It Hasn't Poured on Me Yet. - 02/03/09 09:38 AM
I just read a featured blog on AR how one Realtor didn't get any response to her initial blogging since she joined 6 weeks ago. Now she is rather overwhelmed with informational overload in AR and asking people's advise. That post alone got 68+ comments. That's a fantastic response when you consider for most of us newbies, AR doesn't necessarily pour comments/feed backs on us.
Experiencing drought here! Lake Travis, TX, What Used to be an Inlet!
I will continue to blog though...I'll continue to rain dance until there's a downpour...Hopefully I won't get completely flooded like Lake Travis in … (0 comments)
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Ideal Printer for Home Office for Realtors - 02/02/09 10:58 PM
I'm shopping for an ideal color laser printer for my home office. I plan on printing out minimum of 300 to 600 real estate post cards and flyers per month. I'm thinking of getting either Ricoh Aficio SPC210SF or Ricoh AficioTMSP C220S All-In-One Laser Printer. Has any Realtor in AR had used these particular printers? If so, I'd really appreciate your opinion.
Ricoh AficioTMSP C220S
Or, if you believe another brand color laser printer is superior, I'd love to hear about it.
Or, should I get just the color laser printer without other functions (print quality any better?)
… (0 comments)
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Addition to What Makes Austin Great Place to Live - 02/02/09 03:32 PM
I believe we (Austinites) are named the most wired, techiest city folks in the U.S. I guess that also means that we are geekiest? I think most of us don't mind being geeky.
University of Texas in Austin is ranked 5th in the nation for public education institution and among top 10 in overall U.S. universities.
Most connected and having one of the highest ranking U.S. universities...two more reasons that make Austin a great place to live call it home.
… (1 comments)
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Woohoo! Jumped Ahead to 624 Rather Than 666 - 02/02/09 03:08 PM
I know probably I'm just blogging to myself, but still something to celebrate. My last blog ranked me 624th AR member in TX rather than 666th. I'm happy about it even if noone shares my joy ;) I hope my real estate business really takes off in 2009 home selling season. I want to take numerous RE courses, add a host of designations and/or certifications starting with "Green Realtor" designation.
In case you weren't aware, Yes. I'm still Volente, TX number 1 ranking member in AR community (actually the only member from Volente ;) ! I', proud to represent Volente, TX. … (0 comments)
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A Post to Go Past 666 Ranking in Texas - 02/02/09 02:36 PM
Hey, call me superstitious, but I've got to get my ranking better than the 666th AR member in TX. I've been watching some of the History International doomsday programs. Although I've a healthy dose of skepticism for those doomsday prophecies, I don't particularly like the number 666...perhaps all those Sunday school's conditioning? Let me know your thoughts on 2012 (Dec. 21) End of the World as we know it programs. Hmmmmm, I wonder if my website: www.idealtxhomes.com is being spidered as I blog...
… (0 comments)
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Great Tips for Sprucing up a Listing - 02/02/09 01:18 PM
For listing Realtors who are looking for ways to save their clients money during these tough economic times, I thought I would share great, practical, no-cost/low cost tips I got from Realtor Online along with my own observations:http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/articles/2009/0902_househome_lowcostideas.
Give your sellers these pointers to have their own homes be most attractive to today's picky buyers.
Move it- rearranging furniture can open up space and change entire look of the room. Most often people have too much stuff, which clutter and make a room small and cramped. Sell/store seldom used furniture and leave each room minimally furnished.
Plant it-bring some greenery or topiary to liven … (0 comments)
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Pop Quiz for Realtors: What Do the Clients Want from You? - 02/01/09 11:57 AM
Well, I just took a little quiz on Realtor Online: http://www.realtor.org/RMOQuiz2.nsf/HomebuyerQuiz?OpenForm asking what real estate clients want from their realtors and the reasons for buying/selling their homes. Needless to say that I didn't know my market as well as I thought. For instance, the reason most often given for hiring a realtor for buyers wasn't our ability to get the best deal or bigger bang for buck...We're buyer's agents most often because we help them understand the home buying process. I guess I assume that average consumers are already aware of the process and just need to get most out of a … (0 comments)
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