I was reading Lori Cofer's Post Pay It Forward this morning and was inspired to encourage you to get Interactive in the Rain.  Too often we hear of people who don't want to "Give Anything Away"  Keep your successful ideas to yourself.  Don't encourage others in the same field.  They are after all COMPETITION!  

Well the truth is that while we are all working in some aspect of the same industry we must understand that we can't service everyone.  Our personalities and styles won't click with all the potential people needing our services. Our physical location limits the pool of people we can work with.  Our finite amount of time available to work limits us further. In a class I attended years ago the wise instructor who's name escapes me now stated that most of those present will not implement anything that was shared in the class so she did not mind telling us what she does to be successful. To share what works for us, to encourage others, to teach and learn, these are the ties that bind our community together.

I love to have people ask me how I did something.  When I share a tip with someone and they come back to me all excited about the success they had with it there is only one result...It makes me happy.  I have given someone else joy and helped them to be better.  I don't think wow now they are going to take over my business.  Now there won't be work for me.  Come on I will keep doing what I do and I will have plenty of people who will call on me.  

I love to compliment other writers here at ActiveRain and ask them questions too.  I know it makes their day when they hear that someone else likes what they are doing.




So if you are not interactive you are missing the Greatest Treasure of the Rain ... start asking questions, giving information and advice, and encouraging others today.  You will find your world is a better place because of it.

The Greater Hudson Valley is a great place to live or to have a weekend place.  If you would like to start a search for a permanent residence or vacation home in the area I would love to help you.  Working with an experienced buyer's agent can help you to choose what is best for you.  I work in Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan County NY and I would love to be your Buyer's Agent. If you are looking elsewhere I would love to find someone in your chosen location to help you.  Give me a call  or send an email today.

WOO HOO.  Look what's coming our way!!!!!

Those of you who are Friends with me on Facebook will know that I have taken on a commitment to post something that I am thankful for every day until Thanksgiving.  I do find it has made me reflect on my life and made me realize how much I truly have.  Oh I have posted thankfulness for my family, my friends, and many other things so far but this morning I put up the following:

I am thankful for the opportunity that each new day represents. We can seize the day and live it to the fullest or we can let it slip away. Here's hoping that all of you take advantage of the possibilities this day represents and live it as if it were your last. Part of my commitment to post something I am thankful for every day until Thanksgiving. Carpe Diem!

We all need to try to make each day the best it can be.  I try to work through disappointments and turn them into lessons.  I make every effort to let those I love know that I love them each time we have contact (in fact if I forget to tell someone that I love them I feel uncomfortable until I can rectify it by talking to them again.)    

Join me in this challenge for the next week.  If you are not my Facebook Friend please send me a request.  If you are already my friend there and plan to participate let me know so I can stop by and visit.  Be thankful and positive and your life will be so much better.  Have a great weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving Week next week.

There are days that you just wish you had thought to take a picture because you can't believe something you have seen really was there.  I was showing houses to a first time home buying couple yesterday and we went to an older village home in the area.  I am not sure if this home is an estate sale or what but the seller should have reviewed the contents of this vacant house prior to listing to avoid turning off potential buyers. Yes, you see in the bookcase in the living room on the third shelf down both my buyer and I spied a book prominently displaying on it's black spine this ugly symbol.

Now it may have been something left behind by some former occupant.  It might not be something that the seller believes in. It most certainly makes the point that preparing a home for sale should include not only some cleaning and painting but a review of contents that may turn potential buyers away.  

As a new to the area couple these home buyers started to question if this was the place for them to be.  I assured them that there are people everywhere that have twisted views of life and that it is certainly not the norm for the area or I would not live here.  

So sellers and agents take a look around.  Make sure that the house you are offering for sale is not saying negative things through it's contents.  Everyone has a right to their own opinions in this country but some opinions are better kept out of sight if you are trying to sell a house!

Congratulations for a job well done by the students of Pine Bush High School and their director, Mr Flint, in the Fall production of "Little Shop Of Horrors".  After the weeks of rehearsals, opening performance Friday night, two shows on Saturday, the cast party with DJ E Rock, and striking the set on Sunday they were all exhausted but it was all so worth it.  

Here are a few photos for those of you who could not make it.  Enjoy!

What was true a year and a half ago is still true today.  Foreclosures can be a good investment for some but it is buyer beware.  Make sure you know what you are getting into before you sign on the dotted line.

I have had a lot of requests lately for "foreclosure listings".  I know that there is a lot of news about how many people are in trouble with mortgages that are adjusting up to amounts they can't afford.  Many of my buyer clients feel that they can get a real deal from a foreclosure.  There are a few things to consider prior to buying a house that has been in foreclosure.

First, more often than not, the bank has bought back the foreclosure and has it listed at the going rate for houses that are comparable.  They are not going to give away a home because it is worth more than the loan that was defaulted on.  Another thing to think about is that many of these homes currently reaching the foreclosure market are worth less than the borrower owed to the bank due to the borrower having taking $ for closing costs and financing as much as 106% of the homes value at the time of purchase.

You must also consider that the people who owned this house and went into foreclosure have been in a very depressed state for a long time before the bank finally got them out of the house.  Some of them are going through other personal and financial difficulties and none of them is taking care of the house the way it should be taken care of.  Unless you are ready to work on a "fixer upper" you may not be the right buyer for such a property.  

Another issue that I have seen a lot of in making offers on bank owned properties is that the process is slow, often someone at a distant location is handling the file and it can take a long time to get a response on an offer.  Bidding wars also abound on these properties.  Buying a home is stressful enough without adding to the stress by dealing with a corporate nightmare.

These properties are sold in "as is" condition and, in New York at least, there is no requirement for a property condition disclosure.  It is difficult to know what lurks behind the walls or what is missing in some cases. Many defaulting owners will strip what they can from the house before they are evicted. 

So yes you can sometimes get somewhat of a bargain on some foreclosures but more often than not you are just opening yourself up to a headache.   

If you are looking for a home and want an agent who will look out for your best interests just let me know.

A big Thanks you to Lenn Harley for this one.  She has a wonderful grasp on many aspects of the real estate market.  She provides a great explanation of the differences and usefulness of two often misunderstood terms that are used in real estate analysis - Median and Average Prices.

The Average selling price in an area will give you a glimpse of affordability but should not be used when preparing an offer.  Don't be fooled by numbers that don't apply directly to the property you are looking at.  Each property is unique.  A Buyer's Representative Agent will provide you with a specific Market Analysis of the property you are interested in.

For Further Information 845-786-2701