ActiveRain Blogs

Existing Home Sales Blow Past Expectations

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:22:01 -0600

Like the lady says below...another piece of evidence.....

Via Chris Brown | Florida's #1 FHA Mortgage Broker:

Another month, another piece of evidence that the housing market is in recovery.

Existing Home Sales surged in October as the nation's homebuyers took advantage of low mortgage rates, low list prices, and, for some, a generous tax credit.

Home resales are 23 percent higher versus a year ago and home supply is down to 7 months nationwide.

Inventory hasn't been this low since February 2007.

The news shouldn't be surprising, however. The same real estate trade group that produces the Existing Home Sales report also publishes a monthly report meant to predict future home sales called the Pending Home Sales Index.

Pending Home Sales have been throug......

Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE:

Existing Home Sales Blow Past Expectations

---------------------------------------------------

Chris is Florida's #1 FHA Mortgage Broker and a syndicated mortgage blogger. He is regular contributor to the three leading industry blog-fronts including The Mortgage Chili Blog, My FHA Mortgage Blog, Top of Mind Networks, the newest contributor to Lenderama and recently featured on Fox35 News.

Chris can be found at
Orlando FHA Loans,
Chris[at]OrlandoMortgagePro[dot]com,
or by calling 407.377.0500 x 210
The FHA Mortgage Pro

that FHA Mortgage Pros go to

when they need an FHA Mortgage Pro.

Orlando FHA Loans | MortgageChiliBlog.com.

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Katie Oganesova (PACIFIC INTER CAPITAL INVESTMENTS SOLUTIONS) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:00:33 -0600

Check out http://www.greatworkplan.com/ FOR MORE INFO. LIMITED TIME. ONLY $72 TO START YOUR BUSINESS. OFFER EXPIRES AT 12PM NOVEMBER 30TH. HURRY UP.

Contact me for more details.

Procrastination Strikes Again!

Marte Cliff (Marte Cliff Copywriting) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:50:55 -0600

Darn but I hate it when I put things off just a little too long.

I knew when my computer went haywire a few weeks ago that I needed to find some way to back up emails - but I was so busy trying to deal with getting programs re-installed, and then with trying to make the "repaired" computer work - I didn't do it.

Now I think it's too late. My "real" computer is back at the "fix-it place" and this time I hope they get it right. But it appears that getting it right will mean wiping out everything I had saved. And I had lots of things saved that I did want to keep.

This time, I'm going to make the time to find out how to back up e-mail. There has to be a way. But that's water under the bridge, and I can't do it until I get my computer back.

Now I'm thinking about other things I've been putting off and making a list... I should probably impose some deadlines on myself while I'm at it.

What have you been putting off that you should do now?

Is it something that's going to cost you time and money if you don't tend to it?

Maybe you need to give your website a pick-me-up - or finally install that opt-in box on your short sale page.

Or maybe you need to check your database and make sure you've got all your past clients in there - and check to see that you have new addresses for your sellers.

Perhaps you need to write some letters for your autoresponder, or create your holiday message so you don't end up doing it in a rush at the last minute.

Or maybe you should take an hour or so right now and put together a Thanksgiving message to send to everyone on your list.

We all have a list of tasks that are "important but not urgent." We put them off because, in all likelihood, they're tasks we don't especially like doing. It's easy to replace them with "urgent but not important" or even "not urgent and not important" tasks. Anything to keep ourselves busy so we don't have to get over there and do the things that aren't fun.

If you have a list like that there are only 2 ways to get rid of it. Either jump in and just do it, or delegate.

Either way, you'll feel better when you mark it off the list.

That said, I'll help you mark off one task - writing a letter to first time buyers. I already wrote one that you are welcome to use, and all you have to do to get it is ask. You'll find the box at www.copybymarte.com/firsttimebuyer.html

Here's to lots of year-end sales!

Marte

Marte Cliff, Real Estate Copywriter
www.marte-cliff.com

Lethbridge Real Estate

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:28:05 -0600

I wanted to make a new Lethbridge real estate website that I could use for doing some testing of some fancy geek technology that I have been messing around with lately. Of course, when you are setting up a website primarily for experimentation and it is in total development, you don't want to spend a ton of money on it. I have other Lethbridge real estate websites, but wanted one specifically for syndicating listings out.

I chose to use a point2 real estate template site, bought a godaddy domain, did a redirect, and spend an hour putting up the following website:

http://www.lethbridgerealestateonline.com

Now I will admit the site isnt pretty and sure wont win any awards the way it looks and functions yet, but it does have a few key components in it that I plan to build upon and see what I can achieve with them. It is about 2am on the 5th of November, 2009 and I am curious how long it will take to get that website spidered into google and ranked. I plan to spend about 2 hours this weekend doing some optimization, and then let the site sit for a week. I figure it should take a month to get it ranked, and about 3 months for it to have decent indexing.

The end of November I will tweak the site and add more content to it and see if I cant push it into the top 20 searches for my local real estate market. That will be quite an accomplishment if I can do that within a month, but it is a great goal and I think I have a plan and the tools to achieve it WITHOUT spending a single dime on marketing.

Testing 1 2 3, lets give this a shot.

I would love feedback from anyone who clicks on it. What parts need work, what parts look okay the way they are. I am a bit of a rookie HTML programmer, but can do enough to clean it up if suggested.

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

The Most Reblogged Post EVER - Could this blog be the most reblogged ever?
Lethbridge Real Estate - Popular Lethbridge real estate searches
Lethbridge Basement Suites - Advice for every landlord
MLS Sales Rising - Sales are picking up, don't miss out
WANTED: Single Women: - Single women are a hot mortgage market
Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta . He is also a licensed Lethbridge mortgage broker and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the Lethbridge real estate industry since 1993 and offers full Lethbridge MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as Lethbridge mortgage financing, mortgage refinancing , preapprovals, and Lethbridge loans financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at this link: mortgage broker Lethbridge

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

BLACK FRIDAY MANIA

Micki O'Toole (Seven Gables Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:25:34 -0600

Buyer Beware!

While I love the holiday season, I do NOT like shopping during the holiday season.

There are many reasons for my lack of enthusiasm but my BIGGEST reason is the rampant consumerism that has turned an otherwise joyous time into one of greed, envy and in some instances, an out right disregard for our fellow man. Let me show you what I mean by addressing the annual kick off to the holiday shopping season: BLACK FRIDAY

In recent years, Black Friday has turned into a battle field. What used to be an annual early morning shopping trek the day after Thanksgiving, has morphed into a knock down drag out fight for the "coveted" deals any number of retailers might be offering. Some people truly lose their mind on this day! A case in point: Last year at a Wal-Mart in NY, a worker was trampled to death when the shoppers broke through the doors in a mad rush to get to the best deals. They even got ANGRY, that's right ANGRY, when the store announced it would close due to the death. Is this what our culture has become? One where we care more about the unbelievable deal on the Plasma TV (that is sold out before the second person even enters the store by the way) more than we care about another human beings life??? How pathetic.

While I blame peoples misplaced priorities for these incidents, I don't feel the retailers should get off scott-free because of what I believe are their questionable marketing practices. Let me give a reality check for those of you who enjoy this excursion into utter madness:

Most people will NOT get the best bargains that appear in the advertisements! Why? Because most shoppers don't read the fine print that says "While supplies last" "Only 3 per store" or "Limited quantities".

I find it odd that these behemoth retailers can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising for this day in order to whip people into a frenzy but can't manage to scrape together more than 3 or 4 of said items. So when you have misplaced priorities fueled by a scarcity mentality, a horrible economy, and too little sleep its little wonder those fistfights, stampedes and possibly even a death can occur.

I refuse to participate in this debacle and while I appreciate a good deal like everyone else, no high definition TV or super duper low priced computer is worth a trip to the hospital or, God forbid, my life.

Though I wish more people would stop "buying" into this insanity, I realize that for some folks it's the thrill and excitement and the possibility of snagging the ultimate bargain that keeps them going back year after year. So, to all of you shoppers out there just waiting for Friday, take heed. Read the fine print BEFORE you go so you know what you are up against. Remember those other shoppers are after the same deals you are....and some may do anything to get it.

Think. Be smart and be safe.

But most of all, remember what the holidays are all about. That latest and greatest gadget or the coolest pair of designer shoes is not worth fighting over. After all, I'm sure that your special someone would rather have your "presence" any day than your "presents" that may put you in the hospital.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Holiday Events In Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell and Woodinville You Don't Want To Miss

Sandy Noll (Realtor @ Keller Williams Realty Kirkland) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:25:09 -0600

With the holidays just around the corner there are many events you will want to plan to attend to get into the spirit of the season.

Woodinville's Light Festival at Carol Edwards Center & Molbaks with free shuttle between locations is a wonder to behold. Mark you calendars and plan to attend December 4th from 5:30-9pm.

A must see is Snowflake Lane in Bellevue. Live toy soldiers will dazzle you as snow falls and a spectacular light show will entertain you. Nightly from November 27-December 24 at 7pm. There are other festivities to take in as well including ice skating at the Group Health Arena!

Ever wonder what a display would look like with over 500,000 twinkling lights? Be sure to visit Garden d'Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.

And you'll definitely want to stop by Bothell's Country Village to feed the chickens, have cookies with Mrs. Claus and have your Santa photo's taken. Santa even flys in, in his sleigh!

The City of Bothell is sponsoring Winterfest on December 2nd. Beginning at 5:30pm there are children's hay rides followed by the tree lighting and Santa's arrival at 6:30pm. Join in the fun at Bothell Landing.

Head to Kirkland December 1st for the Argosy Christmas Ship season opener and tree lighting at Marina Park at 6:30pm. Carolers on hand to bring you into the Christmas spirit.

Happy Holidays to All!!

Sandy Noll
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Kirkland
425-890-0878
sandy@sandynoll.com
www.letsachieveyourgoals.com
http://sandynolls.eastsidepowersearch.com/
www.sandynollskirklandupdates.com
Kirkland, Woodinville and the Greater Eastside

Can Short Sales Really Be Automated Like Cookie Cutters- One Size Fits All?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:24:09 -0600

The short sales that I have been exposed to have all required a 'human factor' to get the job done. Case in point--one that I'm working right now with BOA: I was told to fax in the package, then told to upload it into the REO-Trans system. I did so and kept noticing that the information was disappearing. After several very long phone calls to a Bank of America rep, I wound up putting the information into the system a total of three times before one finally was visable to them--why, I don't know, I could see it just fine! Anyway, last week, still under the 'generic negotiator,' we got results--two approvals and one decline! What, what, WHAT? This was the SAME file! Same documentation, same EVERYTHING! Of course, I was frantically trying to delete the decline and keep one of the approvals but, can now find no one who knows the system well enough to assist me!

It's been a crazy mess--and suffice it to say, I personally prefer the lending institutions to keep some form of human factor in this--all hardships are not created equally and automation is not going to be able to evaluate this, or the financials in a 'fair' manner.

My opinion, they should have trained their staff on the new automated system BEFORE rolling it out to the agents!

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):

Can Short Sales Really Be Automated Like Cookie Cutters and become like one size fits all? I don't think so. Real estate agents along with NAR made their voices heard to the powers that be in Congress and in the banking institutions. Of course, it is a pain to not have guidelines and to be negotiating short sales in wild, wild west fashion but on the other hand the cream rises to the top so the agents with the talent of negotiating skills and the gift of listening and communication skills rise above the rest and have come to have very successful short sale businesses, they close their short sales and save many homeowners from foreclosure.

Be careful what you scream for, be careful what you wish for- it may just come back to bite you.

Let's look at what is really behind the automation so widely being sought after by agents and the NAR these days in regards to short sales:

California based Equator who changed their name from REOTRANS- has created and is implementing the very first short sale automation process for a large lender. The company will not come out and say in public who the lender is who they made this process for to begin with but anyone doing any number of short sales can see the obvious connection with Bank of America telling us that they are automating their short sale process and also with us already being given files to place into this automated system.

The company called Equator says the key to a successful short sale are:

accessibility,

responsiveness,

communication,

fulfillment

Equator says that by large lenders using their new automated system that the homeowner will have 24/7 access to their file and will be able to directly upload required documentation. They will also be given real time updates electronically.

They claim their system will comply with all governmental regulations and compliance, quick fulfillment times, faster turnaround times and will automate the decision making process.

Now that all sounds great and dandy but whenever you take out the human factor of emotions, making exceptions and taking the negotiations to another level you are not going to get the same approval ratios.

One size does not fit all. I am seeing the writing on the wall. You have several problems with this system even before they implement it.

First, you have to get all the processors and negotiators trained on the system. We are getting files already in this system but the customer service people at BofA and the negotiators are not even trained yet in using the same system. So chalk that one up to the learning curve.

More importantly when everyone starts to depend on an automated system there is less room for the human decision making process like for exceptions to the rule. We can not even count the number of times that a file did not 'fit' the system but we got the short sale approved anyways. When people depend on an automated system they tend to answer, " that is the way it is," or "sorry, the system says they are not approved," etc.

While real estate agents are screaming to streamline the short sale process homeowners may be pushed into foreclosure rather than doing short sale work outs just because some system says they are not approved for a short sale.

So at the end of the day the result may be faster approval times but a higher rate of rejections.

Can Short Sales Really Be Automated Like Cookie Cutters- One Size Fits All? by Coach Katerina Gasset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

By TwitterButton

Tuesday's Thoughts - Life Isn't Always A Walk In The Park

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:23:08 -0600

But why isn't it? There are lots of reasons, none of which I am going to delve into in this post. This post is just about making the time for that walk in the park. Or a stroll by the lake, or a hike in a forest, or even just a quick jaunt around the block. Get outside into the fresh air. It clears your head and it's great for your heart.

Take the time to really look and listen. You never know what you may encounter.

Jenny Kotulak Broker - RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp. Brokerage, Oakville, Ontario 905-842-7000

www.oakvilleontariorealestate.ca

Oak Bay Pending Home Sales and Homes For Sale!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:16:38 -0600

Oak Bay Pending Home Sales and Homes For Sale!

I thought I would share with you the Current Heart Beat of Oak Bay Pending Home Sales and Active Homes For Sale .This Morning I looked up on our MLS system Oak Bay Map Areas... North Oak Bay, Uplands, Estevan, South Oak Bay,Gonzales and Henderson for Current residential Oak Bay Pending Home Sales..and Active Homes For Sale.

Surprising to see the Amount of Activity in Oak Bay Pending Home Sales...Wow.

So Far In the Month of November there has been 14 Oak Bay Pending Homes Sales

Here are 6 real estate map areas of Oak Bay Homes on MLS

North Oak Bay there are Currently 5 Homes For Sale and 3 Pending Sales.
Uplands there are currently10 Single Family Homes For Sale & 2 Pending Sales..
Estevan there are currently 2 Single Family Homes For Sale with 1 Pending Sale...
Henderson there are currently 7 Single Family homes For Sale with 1 Pending Sale
South Oak Bay there are currently 31 Single Family Homes For Sale with 4 Pending Sales
Gonzales there are currently 4 Single Family homes For Sale with 3 Pending Sales

As you Can See there is an active Real Estate Market in Oak Bay, Low Mortgage Rates are Helping Homes Sales throughout the Oak Bay and Victoria Region.

Google Map To Fred's Oak Bay Office

Cheers

Fred Carver
Re/Max Camosun-Oak Bay

Google Map of Fairfield and Rockland

2239 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria, BC V8R 1G4
Victoria, BC
250-598-2963

Victoria Homes and Properties For Sale

What's Your Oak Bay Single Family Home Worth in To-days Real Estate Market?..Call Fred Carver 250-598-2963 for a Compliamentary Market Evaluation.

Daily Agent Tips got a mini-makeover today. Check it out!

Eric Lowery — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:14:42 -0600

Hey guys, I'm just finishing up my blog post for tomorrow's Daily Agent Tip. Yesterday, I launched the new logo (much better than the one in this activerain blog don't ya think?) See it here.

AND...now that Daily Agent Tips is fully operational and the content is expanding, I would LOVE for some of my friendly active rainers to maybe share some thoughts about those posts in the comments section on that blog. Now that I've generating a fair amount of subscribers I'd like to start some dialogs with my readers!

Thanks!

Kaumana Home Sales for October 2009

John Petrella (Local Hawaii Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:09:10 -0600

Below are the October 2009 Home Sales for Kaumana. You can view and download the past 12 months of Home Sales for Kaumana at: http://www.KaumanaRealEstate.com (Data Source: Big Island MLS)

Stop by, visit and talk story at our office on the Big Island of Hawaii!

John Petrella, REALTOR®
ABR®, GRI, Principal Broker

Direct: 808.640.3953
Local@LocalHawaiiEstates.com

Local Hawaii Real Estate
Honesty • Integrity • Commitment

159 Keawe St., Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Existing Home Sales Blow Past Expectations

Chris Brown | Florida's #1 FHA Mortgage Broker — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:09:00 -0600

Another month, another piece of evidence that the housing market is in recovery.

Existing Home Sales surged in October as the nation's homebuyers took advantage of low mortgage rates, low list prices, and, for some, a generous tax credit.

Home resales are 23 percent higher versus a year ago and home supply is down to 7 months nationwide.

Inventory hasn't been this low since February 2007.

The news shouldn't be surprising, however. The same real estate trade group that produces the Existing Home Sales report also publishes a monthly report meant to predict future home sales called the Pending Home Sales Index.

Pending Home Sales have been throug......

Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE:

Existing Home Sales Blow Past Expectations

---------------------------------------------------

Chris is Florida's #1 FHA Mortgage Broker and a syndicated mortgage blogger. He is regular contributor to the three leading industry blog-fronts including The Mortgage Chili Blog, My FHA Mortgage Blog, Top of Mind Networks, the newest contributor to Lenderama and recently featured on Fox35 News.

Chris can be found at
Orlando FHA Loans,
Chris[at]OrlandoMortgagePro[dot]com,
or by calling 407.377.0500 x 210

The FHA Mortgage Pro

that FHA Mortgage Pros go to

when they need an FHA Mortgage Pro.

Orlando FHA Loans | MortgageChiliBlog.com.

Real estate agents-Who do you choose?

Dawn Jensen - Colorado Springs Realtor (Keller Williams) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:08:05 -0600

Hello fellow agents,

Who do you use for web hosting and design? I am looking for entry level, templates, and a low fee for hosting. I appreciate any ideas and your comments why you are using what you are using. Thanks everyone!!

Kaumana Land Sales for October 2009

John Petrella (Local Hawaii Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:06:34 -0600

Below are the October 2009 Land Sales for Kaumana. You can view and download the past 12 months of Land Sales for Kaumana at: http://www.KaumanaRealEstate.com (Data Source: Big Island MLS)

Stop by, visit and talk story at our office on the Big Island of Hawaii!

John Petrella, REALTOR®
ABR®, GRI, Principal Broker

Direct: 808.640.3953
Local@LocalHawaiiEstates.com

Local Hawaii Real Estate
Honesty • Integrity • Commitment

159 Keawe St., Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

November 22, 2009

Rain Silverhawk Realtor® Sandpoint Idaho (Sandpoint Realty) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:04:25 -0600

Special showing of Anasazi Creations, each piece is created by hand by jewelry artist Susan Shatreau-Janisky. Show featuring a varied selection of earrings, pendants, bracelets and cameos. Hand crafted wire wrapped jewelry using semi-precious gemstones and beads, turquoise, crystal, dichroic glass and cameos set in 14 kt gold fill and sterling silver wire. To see more of Susan Janiskys jewelry please visit http://anasazicreations.com

http://www.lakeandhomes.com
info@lakeandhomes.com
Rain Silverhawk Realtor
Sandpoint Realty
223 North First Ave. | Sandpoint, ID. 83864
Phone (208) 610-0011 FAX 208-265-5641

Nanawale Estates Land Sales for October 2009

John Petrella (Local Hawaii Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:03:03 -0600

Below are the October 2009 Land Sales for Nanawale Estates. You can view and download the past 12 months of Land Sales for Nanawale Estates at: http://www.NanawaleEstates.com (Data Source: Big Island MLS)

Stop by, visit and talk story at our office on the Big Island of Hawaii!

John Petrella, REALTOR®
ABR®, GRI, Principal Broker

Direct: 808.640.3953
Local@LocalHawaiiEstates.com

Local Hawaii Real Estate
Honesty • Integrity • Commitment

159 Keawe St., Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Mortgage Rates this holiday week...

Platinum Funding — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:02:29 -0600

Mortgage loan markets worsened last week on a mixed bag of economic data. Inflation data came in soft, but so did the start of the holiday shopping season.

For the first time in a month, mortgage rates worsened last week, adding roughly 0.125 percent on conforming fixed-rate products, and a little bit more on ARMs.

Despite rates worsening, there was still some good news for home buyers and would-be refinancers. Mortgage rate volatility was markedly lower than in recent weeks. You could shop for mortgage rate last week and actually take your time about it.

This is in stark contrast to the last month or so over which mortgage rates changed every few hours, on average.

This week, though, because a heavy data calendar is combining with a holiday-shortened trading week, rates aren't likely to stay as tame.

Monday: Existing Home Sales
Tuesday: Consumer Confidence, Home Price Index, Fed Minutes
Wednesday: New Home Sales, Personal Income and Outlays

Each of these data points are market-movers by themselves. In tandem, however, they could really shake things up. Then, at the tail end of the week, markets will react to Black Friday.

If stores look full Friday and initial receipts appear high, stock markets should rise at the expense of bonds, leading mortgage rates higher.

Additionally, expect that mortgage rate changes will be amplified because of low trading volume. This could work in your favor, or out of your favor -- depending on the market direction.

With mortgage rates at such low levels and unlikely to fall much further, locking a rate is advisable. If you choose to float, though, keep your loan officer on speed dial because when rates do rise, they're going to rise quickly.

Jesus is watching you.

Linda Mae McCannon (928) 768-3040 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:01:57 -0600

Via Terry Chenier (Homelife Glenayre):

A burglar is in a house one night getting

ready to make off with the VCR, and a voice in the dark says,

"Jesus is watching you".

He almost jumped out of his skin. He turned off his

flashlight and froze. Again, the voice in the darkness

said, "Jesus is watching you". Now he's freaked out. He

shines his light around frantically and spots a parrot in a cage.

"Did you say that?" he hissed.

"Yep," said the parrot. "I'm trying to warn you

that Jesus is watching you"

"Warn me? Who in the world areYOU?"

"I'm Moses" said the parrot.

"What kind of people name a parrot Moses?" he laughed.

"The same kind of people that named the Rottweiler Jesus".

Nanawale Estates Home Sales for October 2009

John Petrella (Local Hawaii Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:59:47 -0600

Below are the October 2009 Home Sales for Nanawale Estates. You can view and download the past 12 months of Home Sales for Nanawale Estates at: http://www.NanawaleEstates.com (Data Source: Big Island MLS)

Stop by, visit and talk story at our office on the Big Island of Hawaii!

John Petrella, REALTOR®
ABR®, GRI, Principal Broker

Direct: 808.640.3953
Local@LocalHawaiiEstates.com

Local Hawaii Real Estate
Honesty • Integrity • Commitment

159 Keawe St., Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Orchidland Estates Home Sales for October 2009

John Petrella (Local Hawaii Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:55:51 -0600

Below are the October 2009 Home Sales for Orchidland Estates. You can view and download the past 12 months of Home Sales for Orchidland Estates at: http://www.OrchidlandEstates.com (Data Source: Big Island MLS)

Stop by, visit and talk story at our office on the Big Island of Hawaii!

John Petrella, REALTOR®
ABR®, GRI, Principal Broker

Direct: 808.640.3953
Local@LocalHawaiiEstates.com

Local Hawaii Real Estate
Honesty • Integrity • Commitment

159 Keawe St., Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Apparently, Dick Cheney is bothered by the "Obama bow".

Terry Chenier (Homelife Glenayre) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:54:35 -0600

When travelling to Japan it is considered respectful to bow to your hosts.

Bowing, or (ojigi), is an important custom in Japan. People commonly bow

to each other instead of shaking hands and it is considered impolite not

to return a bow. Bowing in Japan has many functions; it can mean among

other things, sorry, thank you, hello, good bye, welcome and so on.

Well, the other day President Obama met with the Japanese Emperor

Akihito and respectfully bowed, as is protocol. Perfectly correct.

Dick Cheney didn't see it that way though. He called it a sign of weakness.

I don't agree. There are lots of precidents: Nixon bowed to Hirohito,

Bush held hands with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, (as is their custom),

and years ago I remember the Archbishop of Canterbury kissing the Pope's ring.

In my opinion it's just a sign of respect and President Obama got it right.

Well Dick Cheney ran the whole gamut of emotions from

annoyed to grouchy, in predicable fashion. Who cares?

His 15 minutes are up and it's time to try something new.

And it's his time to BOW OUT and let the current administration operate.

In bowing, as with anything else of course,

timing is everything.

Orchidland Estates Land Sales for October 2009

John Petrella (Local Hawaii Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:52:45 -0600

Below are the October 2009 Land Sales for Orchidland Estates. You can view and download the past 12 months of Land Sales for Orchidland Estates at: http://www.OrchidlandEstates.com (Data Source: Big Island MLS)

Stop by, visit and talk story at our office on the Big Island of Hawaii!

John Petrella, REALTOR®
ABR®, GRI, Principal Broker

Direct: 808.640.3953
Local@LocalHawaiiEstates.com

Local Hawaii Real Estate
Honesty • Integrity • Commitment

159 Keawe St., Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

WE SOUTH DAKOTANS NEAR BEST IN MANAGING OUR CREDIT CARD DEBT

Lee Alley (Prudential Kahler Realtors) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:52:07 -0600

Transunion reports today that South Dakota has one of the lowest credit card delinquincy rates in the country. Nevada was highest at near 2%, while South Dakota was second lowest at about 0.7%.

This probably says something about how we manage debts and pay them off, in general. Which probably also helps expain why our home prices are holding relatively steady while the rest of the U.S. market goes on roller coaster real estate thrill rides.

Posted by Lee Alley, www.BHhomes.INFO, Rapid City, Black Hills, SD at 7:20 AM

Labels: Market Conditions

LinkedIn connections get business, does Active Rain produce business or just sharing of information?

Dagmar Sands www.DagmarSands.com (Real Estate International, Inc.) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:49:00 -0600

I am so happy that you can join so many groups through LinkedIn. I have been
connected now through 41 different groups in LinkedIn and at our monthly MEETUP
I hear testimonials like an architect receiving a huge contract only through his
connection on LinkedIn.

What is great about social networks is connection with others, but what is the best
in them is doing more business as a result. Active rain is great, but how many of
you have actually received direct business from Active Rain? Is information all that
Realtors are looking for to share and to get or is business a bit part of Active Rain?

I'd love to turn my Active Rain into doing more business and would love to hear
what is working for everyone here. I love it here very much but I'm trying to
go after things in 2010 that REALLY WORK.

Dagmar Sands - Real Estate International, Inc.
World Class Real Esstate Broker

Leilani Estates Land Sales for October 2009

John Petrella (Local Hawaii Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:44:54 -0600

Below are the October 2009 Land Sales for Leilani Estates. You can view and download the past 12 months of Land Sales for Leilani Estates at: http://www.LeilaniRealEstate.com (Data Source: Big Island MLS)

Stop by, visit and talk story at our office on the Big Island of Hawaii!

John Petrella, REALTOR®
ABR®, GRI, Principal Broker

Direct: 808.640.3953
Local@LocalHawaiiEstates.com

Local Hawaii Real Estate
Honesty • Integrity • Commitment

159 Keawe St., Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720