strange things happen: Photabulous Friday Fotos - Lewis and Clark Reach The End of The Trail - 09/18/09 02:59 PM
As they finally reached the end of the trail, Lewis and Clark certainly were excited to see the condos and timeshares that lined the beach. Clark commented that it was "Much better than sleeping in tents."
When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a … (6 comments)
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strange things happen: My 15 Minutes of Fame. Oh well, maybe I will get 15 more some day! - 08/29/09 08:05 PM
Janice and I are the official real estate sponsors and listing agents for the 2009 Clark County Parade of Home in Camellia. As such we have been manning an onsite sales booth for the past 16 days. Being onsite each day has given us a great opportunity to meet with guests and to network with the other vendors and builders. Another benefit has been the media opportunities that have been made available to us from time to time. Janice had the opportunity to appear on the morning news last week.(See it here - 2009 Clark County Parade of Homes - … (4 comments)
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strange things happen: Which Of These Homes Would You Choose? - 05/12/09 05:19 PM
Which Of These Homes Would You Choose?
This has turned into a very interesting experiment. I listed both of these homes at the same time. They are on the same street in Washougal Washington. They are just one door apart. (There is one house that sits between them.) They have similar floor plans and have the same square footage. They both have the same panoramic view of the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon. Originally, they were both listed at the same price. Both have been advertised using the same vehicles.One has received considerably more attention than the other. Can you … (11 comments)
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strange things happen: When You Go, Be Sure To "GO" Green! Do it yourself "Casket Kits" and more! - 04/02/09 04:18 PM
So be honest, what were you thinking? Admit it your mind is in the toilet!
I am talking about GOing. The BIG GO.. The Final BIG GO! When you go from this earth and depart to where ever it is that you happen to think you go. When you die.So this is part 2 of a series based on new green ideas that I found at the Better Living Show at the Portland Expo Center last week and I am absolutely fascinated by this noteworthy idea.
The Natural Burial Company sells and promotes biodegradable coffins and natural funeral products, fostering sustainable … (5 comments)
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strange things happen: So you are getting divorced. What are you gonna do, Saw the House in Half?! - 10/11/08 10:29 AM
Janice and I have noticed that home sales forced by divorce here in Vancouver WA have risen at an alarming rate in the past year and a half. It seems that we were handling two or three of these sales a year when suddenly the number jumped to seven or eight a year. It has more than doubled! Of course, today's buyer's market is flooded with short sales and REO's which makes it doubly hard on the troubled ex-lovers. Real estate deals can be stressful enough all by themselves. Adding the turmoil of a divorce can make things get explosive at … (4 comments)
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strange things happen: Why are Real Estate Agents Such Asses?! - 09/16/08 05:51 PM
Although this may come off to some as being a rant, it really isn't. It is more of a comment on the social structure of the real estate business. Although I am a real estate agent here in Vancouver Washington, I am sure that this goes on throughout the nation as well. The concept is simple: Why are there so many agents out there who feel that they need to be so confrontational?
Anyone who has ever read one of my posts knows that my wife Janice and I work together. Early in our real estate career we ran across an … (24 comments)
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strange things happen: Investor Beware! - 08/30/08 09:28 PM
I received a very disturbing call earlier this week and although it resulted in a listing for me, my new clients are in some very tough financial trouble.
A few weeks back an internet lead was forwarded to me through my site that is unfortunately becoming more common in the Vancouver Washington real estate market. An owner of a Vancouver Home had asked me to contact him in regards to selling his home and he had asked if I was experienced with short sales. I sent him several emails and tried to get him on the phone at least a dozen … (2 comments)
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strange things happen: The Power of Being Nice - A Vancouver Washington Real Estate Story - 08/30/08 08:21 PM
The Power of Being Nice - A Vancouver Washington Real Estate StoryAs a real estate agent here in Vancouver Washington, it is very easy to get caught up in yourself. Your own listings. Your own buyers. Your own life. It is a tough business and there usually isn't time to worry about everyone else, right? Maybe kinda right, but let me tell you this story of how being nice has paid off in spades for me.
A phone call that I took yesterday is what prompted me to write this post. The call was from an agent who was calling to … (3 comments)
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strange things happen: I'll Show You Mine IF You'll Show Me Yours - The Secret Life of Garden Gnomes - 08/26/08 06:20 PM
O.K. Time to Fess up. I know you have one. I bet you don't talk about him. Why gnot? Now is the time to come clean. I want to see it. Todd Clark wrote me and told me that he has one and that it pees on rocks!
Let's see it. Your best gnome shot. There are gno rules. There are gno prizes. Let's just make this a collection of ActiveRain Gnome shots.
I'll start.
This is Gary. He is a Garden Gnome. When we first got him he was placed in our master bath right on the edge of our … (2 comments)
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strange things happen: My Very First Clients! - 08/25/08 04:43 PM
I just read a post by Tina Allen out of Florida where she was talking about touring homes with a client and her 4 year old son. That got me to thinking about my very first set of clients as a real estate agent here in Vancouver, Washington, the "Buyers." (Names have been changed to protect the realtor!)
They were a very young couple at the time with a 2 year old, a four year old, and one due in about 3 months. They qualified for a USDA loan and in our neck of Clark County Washington that means a lot … (0 comments)
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strange things happen: Life at Ashley Manor - Why I Love Open Houses - 08/25/08 11:03 AM
Life at Ashley Manor, Vancouver WashingtonOur new subdivision, Ashley Manor, is located in Vancouver Washington just 3 ½ blocks away from the 2008 Clark County Parade of Homes. The Clark County Parade of Homes will be open from 8/22 thru 9/7/2008. In an effort to capitalize on Vancouver Washington's biggest real estate event of the year, we have been holding the model home at Ashley Manor open the same days as the Parade.
During yesterday's shift at Ashley Manor I received two visitors, Bette and Bill. Both in their mid 80's (of course Bette is quick to point out that she … (2 comments)
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strange things happen: Jake - Son of Mark, a Real Estate in Vancouver Washington - 08/20/08 08:24 PM
Since we are invited to post and talk about our kids in this forum, I would like to introduce you to my son Jake. This is a photo of him at the OMSI in Portland Oregon.
As a general rule, he is a pretty good kid. He hasn't lit anything on fire yet although he does like to experiment with things. He is planning on being an engineer when he grows up. His ultimate goal would be to design cars for one of the major car companies.
We have introduced him to the world of Vancouver Washington real estate through a … (2 comments)
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strange things happen: How I Spent My Summer by Mark Hall Real Estate Agent in Vancouver Washington - 08/17/08 06:59 PM
Hello All!
I have been getting a number of messages asking what Janice and I do during our time off.
This has been a crazy summer. We decided to go to China for the Olympics. Well, one thing turned to another and it got a little out of control. Here are a few pics from my album:
Thank you so much for asking about us. Although I am so busy in China, I still have time to help you or any of your friends and family with any real estate realated needs. Feel free to call any … (3 comments)
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strange things happen: Hidden Dangers of Investing in Real Estate - Vancouver, Wa. - 07/31/08 10:58 AM
The Dangers of Investing in Real Estate - Vancouver, Wa.
Real estate investing can be a dangerous game. Real estate markets rise and real estate markets fall. Any of the professional real estate investors will tell you that it is impossible to "Time" any market. Interest rates climb quickly and drop slowly. Deals close and deals fall apart. Real estate investing is like a real life puzzle in which you are constantly over coming roadblocks and dodging pitfalls.
Janice and I have been active investors for several years now. It started out as a weekend method of reinforcing our retirement and … (2 comments)
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strange things happen: Mark VS. The Deer - AKA The WAR of the Roses in Vancouver, Washington - 07/27/08 07:01 PM
Mark VS. The Deer - AKA The WAR of the Roses in Vancouver, Washington
As a real estate agent here in Vancouver, Washington writing a Real Estate Blog, most people would expect me to blab on and on exclusively about real estate, real estate trends, and real estate related topics here in Vancouver, Washington. Of course, if you were to talk to my family and friends, they would be happy to tell you that I would never be able to stay focused that long and before too long I would wander off in search of shiny objects that have caught my … (7 comments)
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strange things happen: Foreclosure Rather Than Short Sale? - 07/27/08 12:50 PM
Janice and I went on a listing appointment last week with a past client of ours who is needing to sell her home. She has been there for about 2 years and the ARM on her Vancouver, Washington home is adjusting soon. The new rate will be out of range for her and she is thinking about selling the home before she gets in too deep.
Of course, our first priority was to see if there was a way to help her keep her home. We put her in touch with our preferred Vancouver, Washington lender, but with the current rates, … (7 comments)
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strange things happen: I WAS Going To Rant. But Now I'm Not! - 07/16/08 05:57 PM
Let me tell you! I was ready to rant today. I needed gas in the car and I was driving down a street in Vancouver, Washington, that has a Chevron on one side of the street and an Arco on the other. At a glance, I could see that Arco was 2 cents cheaper so I pulled up to the pump. I know that Arco cuts costs by not accepting credit cards so I pulled out my trusty ATM card in inserted it. Guess what? They now charge a $.50 surcharge to use an ATM card! My gas now cost me … (8 comments)
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strange things happen: Read The Fine Print! Gov. Loan Re Evaluates Qualifications Every Two Years! - 07/16/08 05:08 PM
I just hung up the phone with a past client of ours who called me in a very panicked state of mind. She had just received a letter from her lender telling her that she no longer qualifies for the loan program that they put her in two years ago? Her rate is adjusting, her payments are going to increase by a little less than $500 per month, and the payment with the first increase is due in 9 days!
She was a first time buyer and we helped her buy her first home about two years ago. At the time, … (3 comments)
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strange things happen: Owners Survive Haunted House Experience! - 07/13/08 07:01 PM
A week or so back, I wrote about some clients who purchased a haunted house. http://www.activerain.com/blogsview/577956/Should-I-Charge-a At the prompting of some of our ActiveRain members, I followed up with them this morning. I am happy to report that they are still alive.
When asked about any paranormal activity, Mr.s Buyer shared that the kids have made claims of hearing voices but nothing has been confirmed by an adult. At least not a "living" adult.
However, she did tell me about a questionable experience that happened the second night in the house: The family was airing out the house as it had … (6 comments)
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strange things happen: Do You Take Technology for Granted? - 07/09/08 02:51 PM
Isn't it strange how much we take technology for granted? Today we had a black out in my neighborhood. (Vancouver, Washington) I was surprised when it happened but then I gathered my thoughts and figured that I would push on through. I mean man has lived on the earth for many centuries without electricity. Right?
Right! But those men weren't realtors. And those men didn't have cordless phones or computers with email, or air conditioners, or fax machines, or... I am sure that you get it by now.
I am a big baby! Even babies can learn and here are a … (5 comments)
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