The Shot Heard Around The World!!! - 11/30/07 06:16 PM
The Shot Heard Around The World!!!
Have you ever heard that expression used in our history classes. It originated from the opening stanza of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Concord Hymn (1837), and describes the impact of the battle at Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775. It essentially was the opening shot that signalled the official start of The American War Of Independence...The entire stanza is:
"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world."
According to wikipedia, "Emerson wrote Concord Hymn … (8 comments)

No Man, Woman, Or Child Left Behind...A Christmas Wish!!! - 11/29/07 10:53 AM
Do you know how certain posts are conceived when information that's rolling around inside your head starts to solidify within your brain in the form of coincidental occurrences!
Well, this week I had such an occasion. It all started when Tom Braatz wrote a post on leaving people behind who have no access to computers, email, and even fax machines, perhaps. These people are sometimes inadvertantly 'left behind' in our attempt to implement state of the art techniques for contact management of our clients. They kind of 'slip through the cracks' and we lose some valuable resources.
This led me to think of … (20 comments)

The American Dream...Part 5...Cutting To The Chase!!! - 11/28/07 10:09 PM
According to 2005 figures, nationwide averages of households who own their own homes, versus those that lease, range from around 45% in some areas and rises to around 75% in other areas.
So this leaves 25% to 55% of households in the category of renters who are not experiencing 'The American Dream' of homeownership! Now some numbers of these households for whatever reasons will choose to remain renters...they will always remain 'rental hoseholds'. Say for the sake of conversation, 15%...that leaves 10% to 40% of new households that can be entering the homebuyers market if President Bush's call to extend homeownership to … (12 comments)

1970's: Third In A Series Of Memory Lane Recollections!!! - 11/27/07 11:37 AM
By popular request I am posting this third in the series of Memory Lane Recollections! I am also looking for a serious Active Rainer who would like to 'pick up the torch' for the succeeding decades inasmuch as I feel one must have a 'nostalgic bent' in order to make these posts interesting. You see, my 'good old days' became story fodder for my children beginning in 1968. I then began devoting my efforts to creating 'good old days' for them...So here goes...The 1970's.
FACTS about this decade.  Population: 204,879,000 Unemployed in 1970: 4,088,000  National Debt: $382 billion  Average salary: $7,564  Food … (17 comments)

Retreat!...Retreat!...Retreat! - 11/26/07 11:50 AM
Every year for the last 27 or so I have spent a weekend in December at The Malvern Retreat House...Saint Joseph's in the Hills as it is called! In a couple of weeks I will renew this tradition and as usual I am beginning to feel the excitement mount as the time draws closer!
Although this facility is owned by 'laymen', not any church or denomination, it houses about 350 retreatants each weekend throughout the year! There are also retreats held during the week and special one day or evening retreats.
Rather than elaborate on the events and spiritual exercises that are available, … (11 comments)

What's The Solution To The Stagnant Market...The Pent House Sweet!!! - 11/25/07 01:16 AM
What's the 'hot topic' on AR these days? Well Lenn Harley and Ed Rybczynski have kindled the flames of a great discussion on mortgage foreclosure and abuse in general in our real estate industry.
Both posts and comment threads contain a wealth of good information and knowledge...for everyone in the real estate industry...new, old, and everyone in between!
My focus is on solutions rather than blame. We all know solutions to our present problems in real estate are hard to come by. History can help us, but this present day dilemma poses its own unique challenges. I have been through a few of … (55 comments)

Active Strains, Trains, And Rains...A Sunday Reflection! - 11/25/07 12:13 AM
While reading a post of Tom Braatz...the idea for this post surfaced! Tom talked about the internet leaving behind a lot of people in our network, some of which did not have either internet access or even email.
Those of us who use the internet profusely, take for granted that everyone exists the same way we do...by thinking this way we can exclude many of our network...we all operate at different paces...not that one way is right and another is wrong...it's just that we all have differing lifestyles and interests.
I have always been fascinated with trains...big ones and little ones...real ones and … (12 comments)

Active Rain For Dummies...An Instruction Manual! - 11/24/07 02:49 PM
Active Rain For Dummies...An Destruction Instruction Manual!
You Newbies out there, listen up! I will let you in on many 'inside' tips that will enhance your AR experience and your entry into the 'blogging world'!
Do I have your attention??? Thank you!!!
First of all you measure your 'prowess' here on AR by 'points' not time or experience.Virtually every question you have has already been answered here by an AR member...I defy you to find it.When you do read something informative, 'bookmark' the post...then you'll be able to refer to it later and with ease!Do not plagiarize...use your own ideas and content in your posts...if … (28 comments)

The Baskin Robbins Slippery Slope Flavor Of The Month! - 11/23/07 09:11 PM
All over Active Rain right now members are discussing mortgage abuses, impending avalanches of mortgage foreclosures, predatory lending practices, excessive pressure on appraisers to 'make transactions work'! See Lenn Harley's Blog and Ed Rybczynski's Blog!
Many of the lenders who participated in these abuses are no longer operating. The vast menu of mortgage products has already been whittled down to the programs of the eighties. Property values are declining in most places, housing sales are stagnant, in the greatest 'buyer's market' in many years there are virtually no buyers, consumer confidence is almost non existent, the dollar is falling fast worldwide, the … (18 comments)

Impulse Buyers In Real Estate???...Or A Black Friday Mirage! - 11/23/07 02:30 AM
The dictionary defines an 'impulse buyer' as one who makes a sudden spontaneous inclination or incitement to some usually unpremeditated purchase...one who has a propensity or tendency to purchase, usually other than rational.
You know what an impulse buyer is...one who goes out to buy a bag of groceries and comes home with 3 or 4 bags...one who goes out to buy a low priced Chevy that gets great gas mileage and drives home in a gas guzzling SUV...one who goes out to 'browse' Sunday open houses, and returns with an offer to purchase in their hands!!! Get it?
Look, to keep it … (23 comments)

The American Dream...Part 4...A Maze In Thinking...Or Thinking Amazingly...! - 11/22/07 09:39 PM
Did you ever walk through a 'field maze' or even solve a 'puzzle maze'? Well, a perfect maze is designed to be difficult and challenging, but will always get you back to your starting point somehow!
Even though the homebuying process seems more like a 'web' than a 'maze' to many prospective homebuyers, there are some simple aspects to consider.
I have written on this subject before...and as I recall it wasn't a tremendously popular post...judging by the number of comments! But the premise keeps popping into my mind. So here I go again!
I'm somewhat prejudiced, but I feel of all the service … (0 comments)

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!! - 11/22/07 06:58 AM
                             
                                                           
  
                                                    
… (14 comments)

A Friend And A Thanksgiving Day Reflection! - 11/21/07 06:09 PM
There is a thanksgiving day blog in my head, but I just can't seem to 'shake it loose'. Ever have those moments when many thoughts and ideas are rushing through the brain's 'tickertape', but no 'headlines' jump out or surface?
That's what I'm experiencing right now...I want to post something meaningful, appropriate, entertaining, inspirational, educational, 'thankful' in keeping with the season, you get what I mean...I know you've been there, done that.
My Faith plays a big role in who I am and how I act and think. When I celebrate Mass I am partaking in an act of 'Thanksgiving'...A unique act...inasmuch … (23 comments)

Thanksgiving Recipe For A Good Closing...Why Settle For Less!!! - 11/20/07 10:41 AM
It's Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and the home is beginning to bustle with children off from school and preparation activities commencing!
I've been deep in thought as to what to post and I'm coming up empty...The Holiday, I guess has taken its toll and has me in its grasp!
For thirty five years I have tried to make this Thanksgiving event a 'four day' Holiday by scheduling no settlements for 'Black Friday'! It never fails, at the last minute someone needs to squeeze in a closing on Friday...this year is somewhat different...we have a settlement scheduled for Saturday morning!
Now we are a very 'service … (34 comments)

Are There Two Sides To Every Story...A Sunday Reflection!!! - 11/18/07 12:35 AM
Are There Two Sides To Every Story?
'Dualism' is a doctrine that the universe is under the dominion of two opposing principles, one of which is good and the other evil...This belief was a heresy in the early church and continues to raise its ugly head from time to time causing great grief and turmoil!
The Judeo-Christian belief in One God Who created everything from nothing refutes this misplaced belief.
Since God created everything, then even evil is subject to him.
In the Star Wars movies there was represented 'The Force' and 'the dark side of the Force'. This wasn't a bad analogy in that … (12 comments)

Tag...You're IT! - 11/17/07 05:40 PM
When I was a kid we played the game 'tag, you're it' for hours on end...the only thing that changed as we got older was the area which the game covered...it kept expanding with each year.
Little did I know that we were prophets...pointing to a 21st century phenomenon... The 'IT' specialist.
I am anything but an 'IT' guy...I barely know how to write and enter a post. I still type with one finger...yes my left finger is used for 'the shift key only'!!! My right finger does all the work, with lightning fast abandon and surprising accuracy I might add!!
In a humble … (30 comments)

Turtle Talk To Those That Try To Tackle Tough Terrain! - 11/17/07 10:17 AM
I have always loved turtles. Turtles have been one of my favorite animals!
From the time my parents first read me 'The Hare and The Tortoise' I have always admired the turtle.
Now what does the turtle have to do with real estate?
Let's first examine some qualities and traits of a turtle. First of all the turtle is an ancient species that's been around our earth for a long long time. It must have some unique qualities of preservation to have survived so long. Tortoises are turtles that live on land. Some are large and can weigh up to 600 pounds. … (17 comments)

An All Points Bulletin On Active Rain! - 11/16/07 05:29 PM

An APB on Active Rain!!! What's that all about? 
I'll be right up front...this post is all about recruiting new subscribers!
I thought it would be a good idea to have an 'annual subscription campaign', and so I decided to write a post doing just that...asking readers to 'subscribe' to my blog!
Now I know I could have added one of those 'fancy subscribe buttons' at the bottom like I've seen popping up all around AR... I kinda like them and think they're cool, but for me it seemed too much like 'tin cupping'...you know---'begging'!
Not that I think there is anything wrong with 'begging'...I … (27 comments)

The American Dream...Part 3...Why Do I Need A Professional? - 11/15/07 08:42 AM
Why Do I Need A Professional when involved in the homebuying process?
In the first two 'American Dream' posts we discussed some financing considerations, budgeting aspects, when to buy, affordability, and the need for a real estate professional to guide you through the whole process of homebuying!
Let's start this post by defining some terms:
Realtor: A Realtor is an agent licensed by a particular state to assist in the buying and selling of real estate 'who is a member of the NAR, The National Association of Realtors'. One can be a real estate agent or broker and not be a Realtor. Membership in … (8 comments)

It Is Our Economy...Wise Guy...Or Is It Oil! - 11/14/07 10:09 AM
I have been reflecting a lot on what is causing the present problem in our real estate market and have come up with one relatively easily fixable problem!
The reasons given by the media and even others here on Active Rain range from blaming the media itself for excessive hype and exaggerated reporting, to lack of consumer confidence in the economy, to a multitude of issues in between.
Many of my friends on AR know that I have written before and have a high regard for conservation and protecting our environment...I am however, also a Christian whose beliefs are that our Loving God … (21 comments)

Birds Of A Feather Flock Together...Or Do They In Truth!!! - 11/13/07 02:12 PM
We've all heard that old adage, 'Birds of a feather flock together', but what is it when 3 people relatively unknown to each other and operating in three distinctive parts of the country, in three very different real estate market areas, without consulting one another...come up with the very same identical 'mind sets' on how to process a real estate transaction.
I call that the ultimate victory in the search of truth!!!
Without mentioning names, all the large 'one stop shop' realty offices, though sharing many similarities, have distinctive 'business models'! This is what differentiates one from another!!! But like GM, Chrysler and … (7 comments)

The American Dream...Part 2...How To Stay Afloat! - 11/12/07 03:17 PM
OK, So you've read my first post on how easy it is to 'Jump Into The American Dream', now what.
You first time homebuyers or present time renters...Have you gone over the financing considerations in my first post. Are you ready to start your exciting but 'scary' property search? Homebuying is a big step...but it shouldn't be frightening...learn to enjoy the process...see it as a 'journey' from rent receipts to 'buying bricks'!
Remember they taught us in school the three major components essential to every family...food, shelter, and clothing...'homebuying' is the biggest ticket item in that triad.
Another thing, is the present market worrying … (7 comments)

1960's: Second In A Series Of Memory Lane Recollections!!! - 11/12/07 09:41 AM
1960's...I graduated, had my first full time job, bought a brand new Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, married, had my first home, my first mortgage, and my first child!
The 60's in the USA looked like this:
Population 177,830,000 Unemployment 3,852,000 National Debt 286.3 Billion Average Salary $4,743 Teacher's Salary $5,174 Minimum Wage $1.00 Life Expectancy:  Males 66.6 years, Females 73.1 years Auto deaths 21.3 per 100,000 An estimated 850,000 "war baby" freshmen enter college; emergency living quarters are set up in dorm lounges, hotels and trailer camps.
A 'church key' was a can or bottle opener..............................................
WE started using 'hip' talk, We 'chopped', 'nosed … (16 comments)

A RESPA History For Non-Ostrich Types!!! - 11/11/07 07:28 PM
RESPA...The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act was enacted by Congress in 1974...and according to its own language was enacted:
1) to help consumers become better shoppers for settlement services, and  
2) to eliminate kickbacks and referral fees that unnecessarily increase the costs of certain settlement services.  
I was around in 1974 and I was a title officer before and after the law went into force. That Act, RESPA, unwelcome at the time by many if not most in the real estate industry, was the best medicine the federal government could have provided to the then 'rife with corruption' real estate industry.
Before 1974, there were 'legal' but unethical kickbacks being paid … (13 comments)

Holiday Balance...Or The Art Of Juggling!!! - 11/11/07 12:39 PM
How can anyone write about 'holiday balance' without reference to 'family'!Family is at the core of everything we do!
The word 'holiday' is a derivation of 'Holy Day', and for purposes of this post, holiday is defined by Webster as a 'period of relaxation'! So how do we balance relaxation, family, and work?
One of the fantasies of my life was to learn how to juggle...I've never mastered the art...yes I have tried desperately to acquire this talent, but to no avail...I just simply cannot juggle!!!
Over the years I have learned that if I plan things too carefully that more often than not … (27 comments)

Saturday Morning Resolutions, Revolutions, And Retributions!!! - 11/10/07 10:15 AM
It's a Saturday Morning in November, no midget football games this weekend, basketball hasn't started yet, my AR site is functioning again on all cylinders...Life is Good!
I've been focusing on the present condition of our real estate market and have come up with this analogy...Picture a 'Salt Shaker' pretty full of salt...this represents the entire real estate market, properties, agents, lenders, title people, appraisers, stagers, home inspectors, etc...in other words all of us and all of the inventory of houses as the market existed in 2002, 2003 & 2004...great years for most of us.
Along comes 2005, around October as I reckon … (5 comments)

The American Dream...How To Jump In!!! - 11/09/07 07:55 PM
I am addressing this post directly to those who have not as yet acquired their own home...and have the desire! One of the most important aspects in the home buying process is the DESIRE to achieve the American Dream of home ownership! If you have this goal then let's discuss some ideas!
Perhaps you're renting presently...do you have a good rental history...do you make your rental payments on time or early...that's good...because lenders consider your creditworthiness when deciding whether to approve your mortgage. Have you saved any money to be used for a down payment and reserves...do you operate within a budget...if … (10 comments)

I Love My Blogging.......Subscribers!!! - 11/09/07 06:56 AM
I do love my blogging subscribers!!! When I first started blogging just a few short months ago, I set very high expectations for myself and my new self styled writing endeavor! Little did I know how much my outlook on blogging would change...along with those premature expectations.
Four months ago it was important for me to make a statement...to use my new 'bully pulpit' to express myself and my views to the world...at least the cyber world. And what better place to debut my talents than Active Rain! I owed nothing to anyone, so let the chips fall where they may. I … (13 comments)

Is The Internet Helping The Consumer??? - 11/08/07 04:10 PM
 I am right out front going to give you my answer to that question...of course it's only my opinion, you see...YES, BUT...does that sound like 'hedging' or worse yet 'political doubletalk'.
There is no doubt that the internet is the source of plenty of good information...and it is available instantly...but we're talking about real estate and we're talking about the 'average Joe consumer' who has been burnt, taken advantage of, and monetarily manipulated...that's polite talk for 'conned'!
Now some consumers have had 'bad experiences' when involved in real estate transacions. Some consumers have taken it upon themselves to learn about the transaction process … (43 comments)

I First Learned 'Wisdom From' A Wrinkled Old Lady!!! - 11/06/07 08:55 PM
I had a very fortunate childhood...I was 'family raised'...you see I was raised in a very loving household with three mothers and two fathers...my only regret was that I remember only one grandfather and only very vaguely, as he passed away while I was very young!
Of course there was my own mother (mother #1) who my sister and I referred to as Mommy, who just celebrated her 89th birthday...my own father (father #1)...my paternal grandmother (mother #2) who we affectionately called Ma...my Aunt Molly (my father's older sister, and mother #3)...and my aunt's son, who we all called 'Uncle Johnny' (father … (35 comments)

My Mail Is Going To The Birds!!! - 11/06/07 02:04 PM
Here at the office we try to maintain a 'homey' environment to encourage people attending closings to be relaxed and feel at home rather than surrounded by officious looking equipment and people, i.e. agents, lenders, title people, copiers, faxes, printers, scanners, networking equipment, etc...we have all these wonderful and useful things, but we try to keep them isolated from people interacting at a closing!
One of the little things we've managed to preserve is our old fashioned, rustic, and hand crafted mailbox. We have an easily accessible and easy to locate office, but since we're still somewhat rural our mail is delivered … (16 comments)

1950's: First In A Series Of Memory Lane Recollections!!! - 11/05/07 10:12 AM
The first 100 blogs were a relative breeze to compose, to present, to ponder, to design, to come up with. Now the pressure is really on...I have subscribers to satisfy, to please, to encourage, to impress, to entertain...wow, this is too much pressure!!!
Will the 'fun' go out of blogging...not if I can help it...I keep telling you I'm a fun guy with a sense of humor...and at the same time I can be quite serious, even a skeptic at times.
I had this thought...see what you think!
In order to keep the interest of my readers and digress from the strains and … (32 comments)

Don't Know, Don't Show Or...A Caution About Client Lists! - 11/04/07 06:35 PM
I was reflecting back to 1989 & 1990 when I was involved with the sale of my former 'title agency'. It was the first time I had ever been involved in the sale of 'my own business'.
It is customary to allocate a portion of the sale of a business to 'good will', a portion to  equipment and/or inventory, possibly a portion to receivables, etc., but the most important asset a business has is its 'Client List'!!!
Owners of businesses and employees as well have a vested interest in guarding this precious asset. Even within the office itself your client list should be … (6 comments)

Pennsylvania Title Insurance Agent About Accuracy On The Internet! - 11/04/07 12:46 AM
Pennsylvania Title Insurance Agent About Accuracy On The Internet! What does that title mean...what is this post about? What have we found about the accuracy of information on the internet!
Ever since I joined Active Rain almost 4 months ago I have wondered about what information I could really trust on the internet.
As a company dealing primarily with the handling and reporting of information, important information especially for the real estate owner and lender, the internet itself promises many new and interesting ideas and ways to cut costs and speed up service.
As title insurers, however, there is much that we have found … (9 comments)

An Ode For A Saturday Afternoon! - 11/03/07 10:44 AM
An Ode For A Saturday Afternoon!
Fifty years was always celebrated as a time of Jubilee!Fifty of practically anything is somewhat special...so to my friends at Active Rain I commemorate this poem to you.......to celebrate with me 50,000 points!
Active Rain will always fall
upon the heads of one and all.
Should any find themselves too wet
then to a blog you quickly get.
And when the day is almost done,
and when the time has all been fun,
tis time to add the points and say
O well tomorrow is another day!
Try hard you must to get that feature,
you best have had a real good teacher,
For elusive is that … (28 comments)

A Paper Saved Is A Paper Earned...Or Trees Company! - 11/02/07 08:41 PM
How many years has it been since the computer era has been promising to save us paper? Well whenever it began was when we really started to consume paper at an unbelievable clip! Who were they kidding...paper saving...why we generate more paper today for one simple real estate transaction than could have ever been imagined twenty years ago. That was when our average file thickness was around a quarter of an inch!
Today our average transaction file is pushing two inches...even digital storage, as good and efficient as it is, hasn't seemed to make much of a dent in our paper usage.
Well, … (25 comments)

A Mind Under Construction...Or At Least Renovation!!! - 11/01/07 10:14 AM
A couple of days ago my site on Active Rain went berserk. The 'statistics' page for one got all scrambled...it was a little difficult to find my latest post...and life for a little while 'at least here on AR' became somewhat challenging.
As one grows older they seem to acquire a special virtue...of sorting out what is really important from what we should let 'roll off our backs'!
Worrying certainly doesn't accomplish much if anything at all! So I contacted the AR 'spooks', (it was halloween season when this all occurred), and they assured me that in a couple days this would … (6 comments)

 
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Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ

Limerick, PA

More about me…

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.

Address: 408 W. Linfield-Trappe Road, Limerick, PA , 19468

Office Phone: (610) 495-9855

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