real estate: Don’t Talk Stink About Real Estate Professionals - 04/15/12 01:32 AM
Our Code of Ethics had a few changes for 2012. In the past it was a violation of the Code of Ethics for a Realtor to make false or misleading statements against a competitor. The word competitor was changed to real estate professional in the Code of Ethics.
Here are a couple of questions that come to mind.
1) Who are considered real estate professionals?
2) Shouldn’t we use that standard for everyone?
The first question is a good one. Are the real estate professionals only those with a license? Home inspectors in Hawaii for examples do not have licenses. … (43 comments)
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real estate: Are Real Estate Agents Really Suckers? - 03/17/12 01:56 AM
We get so many calls and e-mails, trying to sell pie in the sky. For them to be so active, telemarketers must believe real estate agents are easy picking.
There are two groups that pester us the most.
SEO Services (Search Engine Optimization): Wouldn’t it be worth $3100 if we can get you on page 1 of Google? I’ve asked a few of them to stop calling, but they just keep calling. The funniest thing is that not one of those companies is on page #1 of Google for SEO or Search Engine Optimization. If they can’t get themselves on … (8 comments)
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real estate: A Home Inspection and a Boat Sinking - 07/04/11 07:27 AM
In the real estate business you never know what to expect. Every transaction has unique challenges and twists. The other day, I added another new experience to the list.
My buyers' home inspection included the fire department coming out to assist the tenant whose boat sunk at the dock.
B - Bring
O - Out
A - Another
T - Thousand
I arrived at the home to see a boat coming down the canal that was listing really bad to one side. The occupants were leaning out trying to balance the boat. They came up to the boat dock at the … (5 comments)
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real estate: Selling a Home in Hawaii - 05/31/11 12:34 PM
My Marketing Programs are Designed to Sell Homes Better.
My Marketing Programs Include:
A website for each home, with its own web address. A virtual tour including wide angle shots of your home. A consultation with a professional home stager/ interior designer. A complete valuation report of your home. Copies of public records for your home. Your listing posted on more websites than I can count. Also Facebook, the real estate blogs and Craig's List. Regular open houses, including special broker's open for Realtors® Featured at regional Realtor® meetings. E-mail marketing to top agents in the area. Color Flyers For sale … (4 comments)
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real estate: Purchasing a Home in Hawaii - 05/22/11 03:31 PM
I will make purchasing your home a pleasant experience.
Here are a few facts about using me as your Realtor®
My services for normally free to buyers. My most important job is to protect your interests. You are getting the top agent in our company for the last several years and the regional chairman for the Board of Realtors®. I am a full time Realtor®. Real estate is all I do. I will guide you through the process, remove most of the stress and keep you informed at all times. I will help you find the home of your dreams. I … (2 comments)
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real estate: Honolulu County (Oahu) Residential Real Estate Sales Activity - August 2010 - 09/08/10 02:04 AM
Below are sales activity for the month of August 2010 compared to the previous month and the same month last year. This covers resale home for Honolulu County (Oahu). Single Family home median prices are up while sales volume is slightly down from the same time last year. Condos and townhouses are seeing a similar pattern, with a smaller median price increase.
*Median price means half the prices were above and half below the given price.
Data was taken from the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. It is deemed to be accurate, but not guaranteed.
… (6 comments)
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real estate: July 2010 - Oahu Residential Real Estate Sales Activity - 08/11/10 05:26 PM
Below are sales activity for the month of July 2010 compared to the previous month and the same month last year. This covers resale home for Honolulu County (Oahu). The effects of the homebuyer tax credits have worn off. Single Family homes median prices and sales volume have shown a slight increase over last year, while condos and townhouses have shown a slight decline in both price and volume.
*Median price means half the prices were above and half below the given price.
Data was taken from the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. It is deemed to be accurate, but not guaranteed.
… (6 comments)
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real estate: Mililani, Hawaii Affordable Condo - 07/17/10 10:44 PM
$179,000
Valleyview - Melemanu E/605
2 bed/ 2 bath/ 2 covered parking
This unit is has a large covered lanai with a view. It is ready to move and and can be easily shown.
Valleyview has an on-site property manager and security guards. There is also a community pool and volleyball area.
Contact Randy for showings or open house schedule: 808-384-5645
… (5 comments)
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real estate: Which REALTORS® Will Remain in 2010? - 12/28/09 12:56 AM
2009 was a tough year for many real estate agents. We will soon find out how many stay and how many leave the business.
I and many of the area full time professionals seemed to have had a pretty good 2009, considering the challenges we faced with lenders and government tinkering. Many others agents did not make enough money to cover their costs. We will soon find out how many of those agents will to go back to flipping burgers or whatever they used to do before joining our profession in the search of easy money.
Being a real estate agent … (20 comments)
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real estate: Will The Holidays See the Normal Real Estate Slow Down on Oahu? - 11/27/09 12:24 AM
In Hawaii we do not see the extreme winter slow down as in parts of the mainland. The weather is nice year round here. But even with that said the holiday season usually sees a lull in real estate activity.
This year may see the trend bucked a bit. The last couple of months, inventory in some of the communities I service have dropped considerably. Interest rates with discount points at local lenders, are bouncing between 4.5% and 4.75% on a 30 year fixed. Add to the mix federal tax credits of $8000 for first time buyers and $6500 for repeat … (12 comments)
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real estate: Mililani, Hawaii - Real Estate Sales Activity for October 2009 - 11/19/09 01:05 PM
This Mililani sales report covers zip code 96789 which covers both Mililani Mauka and Mililani Area (which includes Mililani Town, Launani Valley and Waipio Acres).
Mililani real estate is beginning to pick up again. We are still seeing good real estate activity in the Mililani area. The market is beginning to shift back to a seller's market for the first time in awhile. Inventory levels are a fraction of what they were even a few months ago.
A few dynamics in the area: Castle and Cooke has finished selling new homes in Mililani Mauka. We are continuing to see troop … (5 comments)
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real estate: 2009 Hawaii Real Estate Tax Rates - 08/01/09 06:53 PM
Hawaii has some of the lowest real estate taxes in the country.
Beside being in paradise and having limited amounts of land, which put pressures on the real estate values, we do have very reasonable real estate taxes.
The reason for this is that we do not fund our school system through real estate taxes. Schools are funded by our state general fund. Real estate taxes pay for county government services.
In parts of the country folks will let their land go for back taxes. That is unheard of here. When the economy took a big tank on the mainland, we … (10 comments)
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real estate: 2009 Military Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) for Honolulu County - 12/25/08 11:53 AM
As we get to the end of another year a few things will change. One of them is the Basic Housing Allowance for our active duty troops stationed in Honolulu County (Island of Oahu). The rates had a slight decrease from the 2008 levels. Those who are already stationed here will be grandfathered in at the previous rate. BAH in Honolulu County is much higher than most parts of the country. Coupled with VA Mortgages, buying a home is a viable option for our troops in Hawaii.
2009 Military Housing Allowance Monthly BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) for Honolulu County.
The VA mortgage … (10 comments)
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real estate: E-Mail 101 - 11/29/08 01:29 AM
In a recent blog post I discussed the volume of spam I receive every day: An Internet Thanksgiving Gift
When responding to a comment it hit me. Too many folks out there do not seem to know basic etiquette when it comes to sending e-mail.
Here are some basics that everyone should know if they plan to send out messages for their business or group. If you want to win friends and influence people, you will not do it by irritating or harming folks.
Keep the message quick and simple. No one wants to read the encyclopedia. Avoid sending attachments … (90 comments)
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real estate: Oahu (Honolulu County) - Residential Real Estate Sales for September 2008 - 10/02/08 10:02 PM
The September 2008 numbers are in.
Single Family Home Sales saw a major dip in the median price and sales volume from August and the same period last year. While prices had been fairly stable until September the challenges in the lending industry and tourism industry may have finally hit us in a more substantive way.
Condominium Sales had a larger drop in volume and median price.
With interest rates still holding on the low side and inventory level up a little; buyers should see it a good time to take advantage of the market conditions in most areas.
Sellers … (3 comments)
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real estate: If I Had a $Million Laying Around - 08/11/08 01:39 PM
There once was a president's mother who said if she had a $Million she would hire a hit man. I am sure most of you are too young or maybe not even born yet. The idea has a certain appeal in some cases.
If I had a $million I would love to hire an electronic hit man to target all of these spammers who keep filling my e-mail box. Doesn't the thought of targeting telemarketers who refuse to take no for an answer sound like fun?
It would be so cool to be able to pay someone to cause the spammers … (24 comments)
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real estate: Too Harsh or Speaking the Truth? - 07/29/08 02:34 PM
In the past I have written many posts on what I believe the public should expect from a licensed professional REALTOR®.
Here are a few of the items that in the past have gotten me negative comments. Many from those who believe it is OK because of their needs, while considering the needs of the public second.
Being a full time agent. Getting education. Earning designations. Answering your phone. Marketing listings Only selling one service to your client. Networking with other professionals in your area. Working with local funding lenders as much as possible. Improving your services. Attending REALTOR® conferences … (25 comments)
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real estate: Aloha to a Great Guy and a Terrific Home Inspector - 07/17/08 10:18 PM
Roger Wilf is the home instructor I have used and trusted on majority of the transactions that I represented buyers. Roger is extremely good at what he does. A few of us call him inspector gadget. His brief case has meters and probes that can check things most inspectors would miss or not know how to check.
Roger is a retired Army Warrant Officer. After getting out of the Military he had a construction company servicing our area and built a nice business. He built relationships with several area real estate companies. The last few years he re-focused his business to just doing home inspections. … (8 comments)
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real estate: Real Estate Consumers Have Changed in a Positive Way - 06/30/08 12:16 PM
As the real estate market has changed from the insanely hot market of a few years ago; I have seen a big change in the consumers and their habits.
When the market was hot, homes would sell in a matter of days with multiple offers. If a home owner priced their home too high, I would tell them they are not overpriced they are just ahead of their time. The market would catch up to them shortly. Today they are just overpriced.
A few years ago consumers would shop for the cheapest agent they could find. They figured any idiot could … (26 comments)
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real estate: Mortgage Fraud Class Notes - 06/27/08 01:33 PM
Here are a fdew notes I took the other day while attending a class on mortgage fraud.
Here is the statement that sums it all up:
If the real entire deal that is on the contract that goes to the lender, is on the HUD-1 you will probably have no problem.
Red Flags for possible mortgage fraud:
The loan officer says he does not want to know something. Some part of the transaction did not appear on the contract or the HUD-1 statement. It was handled separately. Two types of loan fraud:
Loan for house. (designed to get someone in a … (6 comments)
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