schertz: 2912 Lotus Park, Schertz, TX 78154 * Great listing * Close to Randolph AFB! - 03/27/11 08:04 AM
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schertz: The good Irish Take Tomorrow off!!!! But we have a Free class "GET YOUR BLOG ON!" - 03/17/10 06:01 AM
But, because March 18th is the 3rd Thursday, I will have to work this year year on the 18th of March.
Another one of RE/MAX Access's Cold Drinks and Hot Topics!  We put these classes on primarily for the Real Estate Community and have had agents from as far as Northern Virginia attend.  We like an RSVP, which you can do with a comment here, but even if you find that you are free, come join us with a charged laptop!
Kristin Moran was written up in the Express-News and has done training for the Broker/Owners with RE/MAX of Texas.  Why … (1 comments)

schertz: Huge price reduction... - 07/22/09 04:05 AM
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schertz: Perspective, what really matters... - 07/02/09 06:39 AM
Anyone that knows me at all, or follows my tweets, blogs or facebook knows that 11 days ago my AC went out.  I blogged that it was nice to have a warranty company and knowing that it wouldn't cost me too much.  Well, I still don't have AC and we have yet to have a day less than 100 degrees.
Last night I went to my bedroom, my new office,  where I have a window AC unit that makes the room bearable.  I don't recommend your bed as a desk, way to easy to take a nap!  I walk in and … (3 comments)

schertz: Lessons of my Family and their GPS... - 06/24/09 07:28 AM
I will not use names since my family gave me the idea for this blog, but I am sort of a geek and love technology.  Having a basic no frills GPS that was on my TREO for years, I learned a few things that I try and pass on especially to family members...(they would have spent less time cussing at the voice in box if they had done these few simple things)
1. GPS maps like any maps are not perfect.  You should use your GPS for a few months, every time you get a new one, to take you to … (3 comments)

schertz: 91.5 degrees in my house - 104 outside... - 06/24/09 07:06 AM
Many times you use a company because of a relationship.  I have been selling real estate for 15 years and had a first last night.  I got home at 10:30 after doing a presentation for the Lonestar Chapter of the National MS Society (my yearly personal Charity, CMN is my work Charity) and found a very toasty house and a panting little Schnauzer.
Long story short after checking all the knuckle head things, my compressor is DEAD.  3 or more years ago Glenda Shulz, with First American, explained why I not only needed to sell her Home Protection Plans, but get … (0 comments)

schertz: Very Frustrated with Gov. Rick Perry - 06/21/09 05:06 PM
As the Chair of the local chamber I write an article in our weekly paper.  This is my draft for my Monday deadline.  I usually am positive and try to find the good news about our area, so this will be a departure.  Thought I would put it here too.  Although not real estate related this type of gubernatorial veto doesn't put us into a great light with the rest of the world.  In Texas the veto is final because only the Governor can call a special session to overturn his veto.  Don't see that happening.
Draft of this weeks article...
I … (0 comments)

schertz: Great News for San Antonio and Texas! - 06/17/09 05:05 AM
What great news to send you mid-week:
Study: San Antonio is America's top recession-resistant city
At the midpoint in a busy week, after moving the Chamber, having company in town and all the rest, I have loved how busy real estate has been, too.  Offers are coming in, and our inventory of homes is dropping. While we never were as bad as the rest of the country, we still had a much different market this year than we had experienced in eight or more years.
I think the challenge now will be dealing with the mortgage industry.  Things just seem … (2 comments)

schertz: Relisted...Priced for quick sale, great back yard with pool! - 06/06/09 02:02 PM
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schertz: Welcome to a GREAT NEW AGENT - 06/04/09 02:41 PM
Just wanted to add my welcome to:
Active Rain Blogger and...
Featured Real Estate Agent: Jeanna Martinez (RE/MAX Access) Score: 16223 Schertz
 
She caught my eye when I logged in here and found myself as #2 in Schertz!  It is great to have the number 1 and 2 bloggers in the same office.
 
Jeanna...that doesn't mean that I am not going to still try to get my first place back!
 
WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING THE TEAM!
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schertz: Customer Service AGAIN...A tail of 2 Airlines - 06/04/09 03:29 AM
I found it funny that I called a chamber member at Frontier Airlines to help with an issue at American.  It was a reminder to me that I need to make sure that as business people, we remember that good service is essential.  If we say we are going to call, we need to call.  We need to return calls and emails.  With the mortgage industry changing daily, I find myself without the answers that I used to have, so I have had to learn to set the right expectations for my clients.  I need to tell them that we need to have … (3 comments)

schertz: Valero Open - 05/16/09 05:51 PM
I got invited to be on the 18th hole of the Valero Open today.  Our chamber Tourney was yesterday and some chamber members invited me to observe a night tourney last night.  That is more time on a golf course then I have spent in over a year.  One of the parts of golf that amazes me is the fact that it still is a "gentleman's game".  The cooperation and the team work and the players genuinely seem happy for those that have great shots or recover well from bad shots.
When I first started in Real Estate Steve O'Leary my … (2 comments)

schertz: Why experience counts...Find a Realtor you can trust, all the way! - 03/30/09 03:08 AM
I have a closing that was scheduled for March 6, 2009.  We just got a clear to close after 5:00 p.m. on March 27, 2009.  My clients want to know when we will actually close and I can only tell them that I hope by April 1. 
Part of the problem has been that I have no relationship with the lender and the buyer's agent has no relationship with the lender and we keep getting pushed to the bottom of the stack, or so it feels.  After about three weeks in underwriting for what I was told was a "clean" file, the … (7 comments)

schertz: Some of my Dad's best advice - 03/30/09 01:34 AM
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is...
I heard this a million times growing up (Dad also warned me a million times not to exaggerate) and as I get older and think about what dad's gifts to me were over the almost 47 years that I spent with him, this advice was about the best.
While in the Northern Virginia area during the real estate boom, there were signs everywhere for 1.5% real estate loans.  I looked into it back in San Antonio and actually had to bring out my 1993 edition of Principles of Real Estate to … (0 comments)

schertz: JLUS...when developement and the military meet.... - 03/12/09 02:15 PM
At the monthly lunch for the Randolph Metrocom Chamber, Norm Dugas, a major force in San Antonio's development community, talked about many factors affecting our current market and focused on the JLUS (Joint Land Use Study).  (A JLUS is the tool that is used when civilian and military needs for land start to overlap.)  In San Antonio, that is critical when we are known as Military City USA and have three major installations.  The current proposal draws a five mile radius around every military facility and could drive up development and redevelopment costs significantly.  We are all pro-military, but some government entities are going above … (1 comments)

schertz: Proud of Real Estate Community in San Antonio - 02/21/09 08:48 AM
I volunteer at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.  There are many volunteers at many of the events that are in the real estate industry.  Many Realtors that I know are here, title, loan, inspectors and appraisers are here in force and not doing it for any other reasons other than to help raise money for scholarships.  Even in a tough economy, when people really need to be working, they are here helping raise money for the kids.
It is great to see everyone here and realize the community involvement!
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schertz: 2009 Forecast - 01/09/09 01:36 AM
The first Monday morning of the year was the annual housing forecast as I have done for many years.  I spent the morning hearing that we didn't end the year as well as we expected and that we had many more months before we are through this tough part of our economy.  The amazing part was how well the San Antonio MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) is doing in comparison to the rest of the country.  We are in the top ten of almost all of the good lists and the bottom ten of the bad lists.  We are still showing market growth.  … (1 comments)

schertz: Goals - 12/31/08 02:23 AM
I spend a bunch of time on my bicycle.  Every year I set a goal for miles that I want to ride.  The last two years that goal has been 4,000 miles.  This year I had many distractions.  I started the year with pneumonia that got me off the bike for weeks and limited my return. Then later in the year, my dad died and I spent almost a month away from my bike and had many added tasks to help my mom as well as run my business.  Because I track my cycling goal, I knew that I would reach … (2 comments)

schertz: Bad Customers or Clients - 12/23/08 12:31 PM
Been thinking about this since yesterday's experience with American Airlines.
When we have a client that takes too much time and leaves of needing time off before we deal with our great customers and clients, what can we do?  I have referred these people to other agents that might have a more compatible personality.  I think this saves our mental state, saves at least a percentage of our commission and may leave us with a past Client that respects our ability to meet their needs and not just our own.  No matter what we will live longer not dealing with that … (7 comments)

schertz: Bad Customer Service Snowballing... - 12/22/08 12:56 AM
This morning American Airlines reminded me the importance of customer service, especially when I could be at fault as the service provider.  I had a choice of two lines at 4:20 a.m.  One line was labeled PAPER TICKETS ONLY and the other Domestic and International Check In.  I didn't have a paper ticket, so guess which line I got in???  Of course, I didn't get in the PAPER TICKETS ONLY line.  Well I learned today that a carry-on pet is the same as having a paper ticket and that there was a smaller sign that was behind the line when I walked in … (0 comments)