San Antonio's Rockstar Real Estate Agent

Are Your Clients "Thinking" And "Hoping"? - Seeing Two Words In A New Light

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:57:55 -0600

photo courtesy of mollypop

Finally...a connection.

I had a call today from Stacy Jones of The Jones Team in Katy, Texas, we've been trying to connect for awhile now, but today we finally spoke. It was a conversation about real estate and technology (mostly websites) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's always great connecting with other agents and just sort of bouncing ideas and thoughts back and forth. The call went on for about an hour and I think we both took away a few things while chatting. Sometimes in the middle of a conversation about something, a light goes off in my head and I hear something so pure, so true, so right that I jot it down as soon as I can (in this case, it was during the conversation - sorry if I seemed distracted for a moment, Stacy).

Thinking and Hoping - never saw the two so clearly.

I'm not great with quotes, so you'll have to excuse me for paraphrasing (and I hope Stacy won't mind), but the quote went a little something like this:

Your client already thinks you're competent. They hope you're honest.

It's a pretty simple quote, but when I heard it the bells went off in my head. I had to think this one through some more (and of course, blog about it).

Thinking you're competent.

When Stacy said "thinking" there was no implied "maybe" or any kind of doubt that you (the agent) might not be competent. Think about it for a second. The consumer hires an agent for a reason - they believe, no...they think that we are competent at our jobs. They may have found out someone wasn't, but they are placed their trust in the fact that you know what you're doing. They assume you know how to do your job. They are sure you know the neighborhoods. They hired you because you're the expert...a professional that does this job day in and day out. Even if you're new, they know that you know (or will find out) what is needed in order to successfully complete their transaction.

That consumer just placed a lot of faith in you...don't mess with that. Know your industry and know your job.

Hoping you're honest.

The second half of the quote struck me a bit. We're all honest right? That's all a big part of ethics and just being a good agent. But step out of your shoes and put on the consumers...is the agent honest? How do you know? You have no prior proof of their honesty. You don't know if they lie, cheat, and steal. You know very little about them, except what they've told you. What if they lied about all of that? Although, I sure hope that's not a rampant problem, there's no real way for the consumer to know that right off the bat. They have to build that trust-relationship with you. They need to grow into the belief that you are the most honest person they've ever met. Until then, until you've proven your honesty, they can only hope.

The consumer must hope that you will be absolutely honest with them...don't stand in the way of that. Demonstrate your honesty through your actions.

I'll probably never hear those two words in the same light ever again. Stacy's point went on to discuss how we're not selling houses (the house, price, location, etc.) do that. We are selling our service. We are selling us. We want them to pick us over all the other agents. But that's a post for another day...

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

FHA Loans To Become More Expensive For Home Buyers?

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:19:27 -0600

FHA Loan Changes - Good Idea?

Yesterday, I re-blogged a post about FHA loans, originally written by Ken Cook, one of the lenders I really trust when it comes to FHA information and advice. I had read his article with great interest, as any change in any lender's rules, regulations, or requirements - directly affects me and my clients.

I'm not a mortgage wizard, which is why I surround myself with the best lenders I can find - so that when I do have questions or my clients need more explanation of a mortgage issue, I can get them the answers or at least have them chat with the lenders I know. I do try and stay up to speed on all the issues though and the new ideas about what to do with FHA loans in order to refill the coffers of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's FHA funds were the subject of Ken's post.

The problem is simple; with foreclosure rates skyrocketing, the FHA has had to pay out more and more insurance claims to the mortgage companies. Part of every FHA loan is the mortgage insurance premium (both upfront and monthly). The upfront mortgage insurance premium is paid (who would have guessed?) upfront at closing. However, it is possible to roll that premium into your financing (so many people don't actually bring that cash to the closing table). The monthly mortgage insurance premium is a monthly fee tacked onto your your mortgage payment. Like other insurances, you're paying today, in case something goes wrong tomorrow. In the event a home buyer defaults on their loan and the house is foreclosed on, the lender gets paid out of the FHA funds that are built up through the collected of these mortgage insurance premiums.

Now that we have that FHA primer out of the way (there's a lot more to it, but I didn't want to write a full post on how FHA works - we have other issues to discuss today). On December 3, 2009, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan appeared before the House Committee on Financial Services and announced that FHA's funds were getting uncomfortably low (they had dropped to 0.53% of outstanding loans, well below the 2% required by federal law). After looking at some of the ideas that have been tossed around to cure the problem, I spent some time thinking about what's good and bad about those suggestions.

I would write it all out here, but the fact is, it's a rather long post (something you should be used to by now). I think it might be one of my top 5 posts of all time. I hope you'll take the time to read it and weigh in with your opinions. I just spoke with a friend of mine who disagrees with me completely, so this could be interesting. So, here you go...enjoy:

"An Open Letter To HUD About FHA Loans" at RErockstar.com

photo courtesy of Caitlinator

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Foreseeably Harder Approvals: FHA gets tough

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:01:29 -0600

Thanks Ken!

As usual, Ken Cook, does a great job breaking down some of the latest expected changes to FHA loans. I find it shocking that everyone ran around saying we need to help clear the inventory by extending and expanding the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and now they're thinking about making it tougher to buy a home. So which is it? I thought it was odd when they raised FHA down payment requirements from 3% to 3.5% while saying they needed to get the housing market moving again. A jump from 3.5% to 5% will most certainly eliminate a larger pool of ready, willing, and able buyers.

Although the theory of "having some skin in the game" is a commonly accepted idea, this reeks of an attempt by Secretary Donovan to save himself at the expense of home buyers and possibly the housing market recovery. When the federally mandated reserves started to slip, we should have been talking about solutions, not when they are 1.47% below where they should (the law requires the FHA insurance pool to be maintained at 2%, Secretary Donovan reported it was at 0.53%). Maybe we should have learned a lesson from the banks that didn't notice how low their reserves were getting before then announced (seemingly overnight in many cases) that they were broke.

How does someone not notice these things? Ugh.

Thanks again Ken!

Via Ken Cook, FHA Home Loans 678-439-8683:

For many years home mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) have made home ownership possible for millions of home owners. During the "boom" FHA loans lost a lot of ground in the marketplace because non-conforming loans were often easier to get and cost the borrower less scrutiny and often less out of pocket. (More on Examiner.com from my article this morning.)

Welcome the day when Housing and Urban Development Secretary (HUD) Shaun Donovan stood in front of Congress and reported the reserves of the FHA insurance pool to be only .53% - far below the federally mandated, by law, 2% reserves. As you may imagine Mr. Donovan, in an effort to save his job, is now scrambling for good ideas to get those reserves back to the minimum legal level. Let us all observe as the fireman tries to put out a big fire while his own pants are on fire.

Here are some of the recommendations thus far:

Raise the required minimum down payment from 3.5% to 5%

Lower the maximum seller contribution from 6% to 3%

Establish a required minimum credit score

Eliminate the ability to finance the Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) into the loan

Raise the cost of FHA mortgage insurance (higher premiums)

Currently it is much more difficult to be approved for a home loan, purchase or refinance, than it was two years ago or even six months ago. Mortgage brokers are not dropping like flies they have already dropped like flies and the remaining small percentage are having great difficulty getting loans underwritten and closed when they involve lower credit, lower income borrowers. Mid-level lenders are now the ones who are disappearing as they still lose warehouse lines of credit at an astonishing rate. This week saw the demise of LendAmerica.

Judging from the applications I have accepted and closed over the last few months these changes will absolutely impact at least 25% of the borrowers who have successfully purchased or refinanced their homes in the last few months. In fact I have two borrowers today who easily qualify who will likely not qualify if these changes are made. Considering I'm one out of tens of thousands go ahead and do the math.

Just wait ... it's not only FHA - it's Fannie, then Freddie and Ginnie. We predicted it a few months ago that it would not be long until buyers would need a minimum of 5% down, a minimum of a 640 credit score and rates would start to rise.

Are you ready to pay attention even if you don't get CEs for participating in the conference calls? If I were an agent I would be - I would want to be ahead of the curve!

Ken Cook - Georgia - FHA, USDA, VA and Conventional Home Loans (678) 439-8683

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Why Twitter's One-Click ReTweet Feature Is Absolute Garbage.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:13:39 -0600

photo courtesy of BenedictFrancis

I'm unhappy with Twitter.

Twitter recently introduced a new feature - a one click retweet feature. For those that have been using programs like TweetDeck and Seesmic Desktop, this is nothing new. I've long hoped Twitter would create a one-click feature for retweeting, as I do quite a bit of it on my RErockstar Twitter account. I use retweets to pass on interesting information, follow up on someone's comment, and share real estate news with my fellow agents and San Antonio locals.

A few days ago, I tried the retweet feature. I clicked the button and expected to see a message box appear with the familiar "RT @so-and-so blah blah blah" which I would then add a bit of thought to. Instead, it just sent out the retweet. It shared the information I thought was interesting, but didn't give me a chance to add my own thoughts. Although it is sometimes hard to add in comments (usually placed between [ and ] to make it know that you're saying that) because of the 140 character limit, I do try to make comments as often as possible. I want people to know why I choose to share this with them. Otherwise I might as well just be broadcasting anything and everything. That's not social in my view and the point of Twitter is to draw in a social element to the internet.

Imagine if I stood on a busy street corner and everytime someone walked by I told them something someone else had said to me. "I'm free after 3:30." " Agreeing with me is probably more reason to see a shrink." "Is it new or is it the one from the '80s?" "That's my usual spot on Wednesdays. I heard they might build one out in Helotes!" (All of these were actual things said to me today.) Would anyone walking down that street care? Would any of my friends that passed by care? I doubt it.

That's what the one-click retweet feature is like to me. Senseless noise with no social interaction. If you wish to retweet something I said, please add something to the conversation. I'll appreciate it so much more.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Fugazi And Real Estate? New Post At AgentGenius.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:39:47 -0600

photo courtesy of intangibleArts

Welcome to my iPod.

My latest article at AgentGenius covers some musical ground for me. As a huge fan of Fugazi growing up, I learned a few things from watching them play live. In a recent situation, I was reminded of how Fugazi reacted to situations in the turbulent late 80s post-hardcore scene. While they were a rather PC band, the late 80s scene was rather messy and violent at clubs and venues up and down the East Coast. Being a witness to much of it, I enjoyed Fugazi's fresh take on dealing with differing opinions and resolving the conflicts in the crowd.

Read the full article, "Blogging, Comments, Dischord, And Fugazi." and drop me a comment or two. I promise I won't mind if we disagree.

Special thanks to ActiveRain member Daniel J. Hunter for catching a glaring spelling error and emailing me about it.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

ActiveRain Brings The Press To My Door - Keep Blogging And They Will Find You

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:55:11 -0600

image courtesy of my Twitter account and @LaniAR's tweets

ActiveRain helps me get quoted.

Late last week I received a call from California. I had no idea what was waiting for me on the other end of the phone. It was Jenna V. Loceff. She explained she was a reporter for the North Bay Business Journal and wanted to speak with me a bit about social media and real estate. In researching her article, Jenna, had a few mentions of Flickr and while googling away, she came across my article, "A stern warning (or lack thereof) - Flickr is watching you." She asked me quite a few questions and I explained the whole story of what happened between myself and Flickr. We then spent a few minutes talking about real estate and social media in general and parted ways.

On Monday morning, my tweet stream lit up with congratulations and links. I wasn't even 100% sure what everyone was talking about and then, once the sleep cleared from my head, I remembered that Jenna had told me the article would be published on Monday. I found the link in my Twitter stream and clicked on it. There I was. Quoted. The best part is that the article focuses on California, but here I am, all the way in San Antonio being quoted. The article is an interesting find, regardless of my appearance as well. Just look at the chart within the article to see what I mean.

You can read the entire article, "Residential Real Estate: Agents, brokers venture into social networking" online. Stop by and leave some comments. Who knows, Jenna might find you next.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Trulia Voices - As A Real Estate Agent Do You Ever Consider How Late You Are?

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:31:24 -0600

An unpopular thought.

I've never been know as one to shy away from speaking my mind and this time I wonder what the reaction will be. I'm not here to tell you how to run your business, but I still feel the need to speak up. At Trulia Voices there is constant controversy over what is the "best" or "right" way to respond to questions. I have plenty of opinions about that, but you'd probably be shocked to hear some of them. I'm not as single minded as you may think.

When you join, what do you do?

When you first joined Trulia (much as I did), you probably clicked around the site and began to see what was out there. I saw a lot of interesting things that I thought I could use to help build my business. One of the things I enjoyed the thought of was Trulia Voices. A way for end users to get some ideas or help. An opportunity for agents to get in front of buyers and sellers and begin building relationships - social media 101.

Most agents seem to gravitate towards Trulia Voices much like I did. And when you first get there, you wonder - who can I help? You're eager, you're excited, and ready to take on the world of Trulia's visitors hungry for your knowledge.

So you start answering questions. You reply to 3 or 4 in your first sitting. You hope to see a reply from the visitor who asked the question or better yet, receive a phone call as you're still typing. You pour your heart and soul into an answer and you know you've written a masterpiece.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

You're late. You've been waiting for a reply or a phone call and nothing has arrived. It's quiet. Know why? That question was asked a month ago, two months ago, a year ago. It's old news. A dead topic. A lost cause. But you just brought it back to life and to the top of the list...so another agent jumps on it and answers it. They give their pitch for business (a whole other topic that is hotly debated on Trulia) and...guess what? Rinse and repeat.

I did it too when I first started. But I've learned that to use Trulia to it's fullest, you need to be talking to people who are here. Internet users tend to move quickly, from site to site. Sure they might come back, sure another person might read the question and find your answer interesting, but you're late to the party and it shows.

That's not to say you can't participate and some questions deserve follow up years after they were written (after all, the laws change from time to time, so updating those questions is a great idea). I think if we work harder to provide pertinent content in the "here and now" instead of building our answer counts, we can actually make Trulia a better place. Yes, I'm idealistic. Nothing wrong with that in my book. When you do answer an old question, think about writing an answer, not a sales pitch...that answer will sit there forever (and be linked back to your profile where users can learn more about you without the "call me" answer).

If we work to bring more timely info to Trulia users, we can bring more users to Trulia who come to rely on agent expertise, not your advertisement.

That's my two cents.

This post was inspired by a recent rash of answers to an older question here in San Antonio and an agent's comment asking if this was indeed an old topic. Just got me thinking.

photo courtesy of imagesbyk2 Photography

** This post was originally written on August 6, 2009 over at my Trulia blog (which I don't use very often), but I thought it beared repeating as I am beginning to see many of the same things happening. I know I'll never stop them, but if I can change one agent's mind about how they're going about using Trulia Voices, I'll be a happy man. **

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Looking For Homes In San Antonio? Real Estate Search With No Registration Required.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:47:48 -0600

San Antonio home buyers can search without registration.

I made the decision awhile ago to remove all registration from my San Antonio real estate search page on RErockstar.com. Real estate agents have varying opinions on these sorts of decisions, but I thought this was the best way to provide a service to San Antonio residents looking for homes.

Many real estate search sites have some form of registration, whether forced or what me often call "nagging" (where the site reminds you to register every so often, but allows you to continue even if you don't).

Why not require registration for a real estate search site?

For me, the question came up in a discussion with some fellow agents. I had tried full registration and even the nag option, but always was slightly uncomfortable with both. When I've been looking for homes in the past for myself, I was always quick to click off a site that was asking for registration. When I moved to San Antonio, I searched on sites without registration, but when I was ready to commit, I then performed a search for real estate agents.

When I found a Realtor® I liked and felt I was comfortable with, then I moved over to his website's real estate search as well as received emails from them about houses I might not have seen. Through that combination of efforts, the three of us (my wife included) were able to well define what we were looking for in a home and we were able to purchase one over the course of a weekend of looking.

So go ahead, search to your heart's delight.

My San Antonio real estate search page is free for all to use with no required registration. I think you'll find it very easy to use and a great tool to help you find your next home in San Antonio. If you have questions, feel free to contact me and I can help you set up your searches. Take it for a test drive and come back again and again. When you're ready to get serious about your search, give me a call and let's sit down and discuss your needs...then the fun begins.

photo courtesy of JohnHallAssociates

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

I Wish I Could Tell You What Your Agent ISN'T Doing to Sell Your Home...

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:44:51 -0600

Donna Galinsky isn't the only one.

Donna's post about homes that are under marketed or poorly listed is something I've spoken about before with clients, agents, and brokers. I see it happen too. Seems we all see them from time to time. What many non-Realtors® don't know is that the Realtor® Code Of Ethics prevents us from telling that homeowner what we think or violating the client-agent relationship in any way (this is why no agents knock on your door when the sign goes up in your front yard and why all those postcards you get in the mail mention that they are not a solicitation of business if you are currently working with an agent).

I encourage you to visit Donna's original post and read through the comments, but I thought I'd leave mine here for you to read as part of the re-blog:

Donna - This has to be my biggest gripe with the Code Of Ethics. I know the theory of the Code Of Ethics and why it exists and agree with most of its tenets, but I often feel that it winds up protecting Realtors® who aren't really taking great care of their clients. Now of course, without the code, we'd have a flurry of people who use it to destroy their competition, right or wrong, with tactics that that would be more than questionable, so I see a need for it. But I can't help but wonder what would happen if we were allowed to step in and tell a homeowner how they're not getting what they could be.

Based on some of the things I've seen, I can imagine my business would certainly grow if I could show those sellers the difference between me and their agent. It's frustrating to say the least. I often want to tell them and then tell them of 4 or 5 agents I would trust to do better - since I wouldn't want to be seen as just doing it to generate business for myself. I'd rather someone else had the business and did it right, than someone do it poorly.

Perhaps I should give up my license and build a business around this fact. Without a license (and membership in NAR) the Code Of Ethics would no longer apply to me. Of course, then I wouldn't be doing what I love, so that wouldn't work out well. Perhaps we need an independent third party business to do this for us...a listing auditor basically. That idea fails as well though, because in an attempt to monetize that business one of two things would happen - a) the game of favorites or b) an exorbitant referral fee or sale of leads back to us.

Oh well, for now the status quo will remain.

Via Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp - Your Five Towns Real Estate Agent):

Have you ever wanted to contact a homeseller and say "Do you really know what your Agent is (or isn't) doing to market your home?"

I so want to do that right now. Just a shory anonymous note (don't want to get fined or anything).

Just want to say...

Dear Homeowner..

I just saw that you listed your house for sale. You have a lovely sign on your front lawn. A customer of mine saw your home on ListingBook the other day and had some questions.

She wanted to know the condition - Your agent only has 5 old photos of the outside of the house.
She asked about the kitchen and baths - I don't know, no pictures.
She asked when she could see it - Again, no idea says no showings until after open house.
She asked when the Open House was - I said, No idea, it is not on the listing.

I did call your agent, left her 2 voice mails, maybe when you speak with her you can ask her to return her phone calls.

Or maybe she is just keeping it quiet so she can sell it herself.

Want to wish you luck with your sale, and when you expire and are ready to really sell it - I'll be in touch!!

Signed
Anonymous

Agents who do things like this frustrate me. She is not a new agent, but she does this on ALL her listings. Guess she just wants to get both sides of everything. She has incomplete/incorrect listings, and if you do want to show one of her properties she makes you jump through hoops to do it.

She is the opposite of everything that I try to be and it just gets me angry when people list with people like her.

I put up the maximum number of pictures on MLS
I make sure to have complete ACCURATE information
Homes are displayed throughout the internet
Brokers and public Open Houses are scheduled and advertising.
I tend to get my listings written up in the local newspapers.

My job is to SELL your home I SELL houses, I don't collect them. If you have a customer, please show my homes.

Thanks for letting me vent, now maybe my head won't explode.

________________________________________________________
Donna Galinsky
FindYourHomeLI.com
Licensed Salesperson, Pugatch Realty Corp.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Southwest Nassau County ( Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, The Five Towns, Gibson, Hewlett, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Neck, Inwood, Lawrence, Lynbrook, North Woodmere, Oceanside, Valley Stream, Woodmere or Woodsburgh. Please visit my website for more information on buying and selling . You can also search the entire MLSLI . Let us tell you what makes us different from the rest.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

What If Real Estate Had A Black Friday?

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:27:03 -0600

photo courtesy of crd!

Let the madness ensue.

I'm not much of a fan of Black Friday, I can't remember the last time I actually went out for it. My wife braved a few crowds today and actually wound up buying a few things we needed, but I stayed home. What I did do was work on my real estate business plan for the coming month and into 2010. One of my goals is to get more listings. I like listings and want to build up a constant flow of them. Not just because I've heard the "you have to list to last" style quotes, but mainly because I love the process of listing, marketing, negotiating, and selling a home. There's a certain excitement with that aspect of real estate for me.

Of course, I was a bit distracted today, because I still feel like I'm in holiday mode. So although I did a lot on my plans for the future, my mind did wander some. Since today is Black Friday, my thoughts crossed over each other and melded into one. What if real estate had a Black Friday?

I know, I know - it's a pretty ridiculous thought as we're comparing apples to skyscrapers here, but it would be interesting to see what happened if it became a staple of life much like our retail world's Black Friday. Would home buyers wait until the magic date to buy? Or would we continue on a semi-normal real estate pace only to have one day of sheer madness? Would sellers refuse to list their homes, knowing they had to sell for discounted rates or would they opt to take the easy almost-guaranteed sale on the infamous day? All questions I'm sure I'll never find an answer to, but something fun to ponder.

If you went out today, I hope you picked up the items you needed and wanted at great prices. If like me, you stayed at home, I hope you didn't have too many crazy thoughts like I did about real estate and Black Friday.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Asset Managers - Do You Know The Whole Truth About Your Assets?

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:45:13 -0600

This has been troubling quite a few people based on the comments.

We all complain about foreclosures and short sales and the way they are handled. There's quite a few aspects of the system that many agents believe are broken. Some simple fixes could go a long way in getting some of this inventory cleared from the shelves, get people back into neighborhoods that have been devastated by foreclosure (especially in places like California, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida).

The bank CEOs and asset managers really need to listen up to those of us on the ground. We see these homes everyday. People want them, as they view them as bargains, but when they can't find them because of a lack of marketing or agents who don't work these listings as hard as they would a traditional re-sale home.

We can fix these problems. I personally would love to take on some of these REO listing. Just give me a few and let me show you how it can be done.

Rebecca's blog reflects the frustration and anger that many agents feel over these listings. There are good REO agents out there, I'm not calling them out as a whole, but the fact is there are a lot getting away with sleep-walking their way through these listings and I find it unacceptable.

Asset Managers - read this post, scroll through ActiveRain, google "foreclosure nightmare" and re-think your strategy in choosing your agents and what you demand from them.

Via New Team Realty:

Asset Managers - Are You Getting The Whole Truth on Your Assets?

At risk of potential Realtor backlash I'm putting this blog out there to Asset Managers. I can only imagine the job you have of trying to stay on top of your Assets; having to understand each individual market is next to impossible on your own so you have to rely on the help of team, data, appraisers, bpo agents, and most importantly your REO agents.

To help you, here are a couple of interesting developments I see regularly that are costing you money and my buyers opportunities:

The out of area Listing Agent.

Many of you assign assets based on office proximity. You want to make sure that, if the agent you assign is in a different county, they have local MLS access. One of my favorite tricks for helping my Buyers get below market assets is to log into the MLS for the next County north of me. Lots of local listings and no one near your asset knows it. And that means lower price for my clients and more loss for you. I am in San Diego County and many of my Buyers are looking for homes in Oceanside (San Diego's northern most city). Orange County is within 20 miles so many of you are assigning these listings to Orange County agents who don't have San Diego MLS memberships. You are missing out on all the Realtor business in San Diego.

Looking at 2009 to now, Oceanside REO's listed only in the Orange County MLS sold for an average of $36,614 less than if listed on the San Diego MLS equaling a 17% added loss just for choosing the wrong agent.

Solution: Select an agent who has access to the local MLS as well as any Real Estate Boards that may assist in selling your asset.

The impossible house to show.

Even more frustrating and frankly fraudulent is the house that just can't be seen. A great example yesterday was an amazing home high on a hill in La Mesa. Partially rehabbed and surrounded my homes in the 800,000, several of my clients were clammering to see it. And rightfully so as it was listed at 399,000. Incredible 5 mile views, great curb appeal, we couldn't wait to see inside. Two lockboxes, two keys, two doors, no way in. Obviously the locks had either been changed or the wrong keys were in the boxes. Why? Someone wanted to be sure no one else offered on this home.

I've heard all the stories of unscrupulous REO agents purposely hiding your inventory and investors changing the locks while their offer is submitted. Regardless, that house is underpriced by at least $100,000 and that Asset Manger will never know. What will be confirmed is the date the home was put on the MLS, and how many times that Sentrilock key box was opened.

Did we try to contact the listing agent? Of course we did. No answer, no response. Even if we did, how could I ever confirm my clients offer would ever be presented?

Solution: You can't teach an unethical person how to be ethical. You can only put a priority on selecting team that you can trust. Trust your instincts; if they seem like their priorities are in the wrong place, or if they seem desperate to you, they probably are. Talk to your agents and ask questions.

If you want to take trust totally out of the realm of risk consider a monitoring system that records all activity in your assets. We are testing a new monitoring device that is activated by any door opening or movement. It takes photos of everything and it also monitors for smoke and carbon monoxide.

There are many more ways to hide your assets and with inventory so tight, its critical you stay on top of your assignments.

Rebecca Austin is the Broker/President of New Team Realty in Carlsbad California. With 11 years experience, her team specializes in Short Sale and REO transactions. Rebecca@NewTeamRealty.com.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

What Do You Get When 166,213 People Take The Day Off?

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:31:00 -0600

Thanksgiving - a day of rest for most of us.

Not many people write loans, shows houses, or close transactions on Thanksgiving Day here in America. I bet there's a few transactions occurring, but overall the real estate world is dead today. There's plenty of us checking our Twitter streams, sending emails, and blogging about Thanksgiving...but overall, the American real estate industry is silent.

So what happens when so many people stop going about their normal routines? I'll let this screen shot explain it all:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ACTIVERAIN!

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Foursquare: Thoughts On Possible Real Estate Uses At AgentGenius

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:16:28 -0600

photo courtesy of roomjosh

It's just a stupid game.

Fans of Foursquare probably can tell you that it's a bit addictive. The thrill of unlocking a badge or ousting someone as Mayor of your favorite restaurant can make you want to pull your cell phone and drain your batteries more than many of the social media products and sites. If you're not familiar with Foursquare, head on over to their site and get an idea of what it's all about. Then head over to my profile on Foursquare and become my friend.

Once you've checked it out for a bit and started to check in here and there, perhaps it's time to "think outside the square" and read some of the less obvious reasons Foursquare is more than just a stupid game. My most recent article at AgentGenius, goes over some of the thoughts I've been having about it. Do you have more ideas to contribute?

Read "Why Wasting Your Time With Foursquare Is Good" part of The Stigliano Chronicles at AgentGenius

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Excited about Our Upcoming Conversation with Chris Brogan on Social Media Edge!

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:57:55 -0600

Now this is something you don't want to miss.

JCKC Radio is having a big show this week. A radio show by our very own Jason Crouch and Ken Cook (and featuring regulars like Jeremy Blanton and Mike Mueller), I usually try and catch the show each week to see what they're up to. This week, though, I can't make it and I will have to listen to it on the archived recording.

I say "have to" as their guest this week is Chris Brogan. If you don't know who he is, you're missing out. I had a chance to have a brief chat with Chris at BlogWorld Expo and he will blow your mind. The best part? He's as down to earth as could be and loves to talk.

Tune in this week, even if you never return as a regular listener. A chance to have a bit of interaction (make sure you join the chat room, the hosts read from it during the show and often will ask your questions to their guests) with Chris Brogan is well worth the hour of your time. Even if you don't interact with him, just hearing what he has to say will make you think.

Via Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC):

Ken Cook and I are very pleased to announce that Chris Brogan will be joining us for our next show. We've had a string of terrific guests, but Chris is arguably our most well-known guest to date. I have a feeling that this show will probably break our previous listener records, but time will tell. I would like to publicly thank our friend, Cathy Browne, PR pro, for booking Chris. Cathy has been in charge of booking talent for a few months now.

Chris' blog at ChrisBrogan.com has over 30,000 subscribers, and he's the co-author of "Trust Agents", which became a New York Times best seller earlier this year. He is a highly-sought-after speaker these days, and I highly recommend both his book and subscribing to his blog.

Here's a quick review of "Trust Agents" that I wrote previously:

"Trust Agents" - Chris Brogan & Julien Smith - Quick Book Review

Clearly, the guy knows a bit about social media.

Join us on Tuesday, November 24th at noon Eastern (11am Central, 10am Mountain, 9am Pacific) right here LIVE to hear Chris (and us, too!):

http://blogtalkradio.com/jckc

I think the segment with Chris will start around 25-30 minutes into the show. It promises to be an hour of fun and learning.

On another note, if you have any questions that you would like for me to ask Chris during our time together, feel free to leave them in the comments below and I'll do my best to work them in, depending on how many I get.

If, for some odd reason, you are simply unable to listen live, you can always listen via the archive recording. All of our previous shows can be found on our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/socialmediaedge thanks to Mike Mueller!

So, here's the list again in case you missed anything above:

1. Tune in to listen to us and Chris LIVE Tuesday morning.

2. Post any questions you might have for Chris below.

3. If you miss it, listen to the archive recording.

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me in these other communities?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

San Antonio Videos - People, Places, Neighborhoods, And Homes

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:08:08 -0600

Want to see more of San Antonio?

Whether you're looking for something to do in San Antonio, to learn a bit about real estate, a new local neighborhood to explore, or a home to buy; the RErockstar YouTube Channel has something for everyone. As we move into 2010, I plan on using more and more local San Antonio video to provide my readers with more information. Everyone loves to be able to see what they're reading about and although a picture is still worth a thousand words, video can often give you an even better look.

So take a moment and subscribe to the RErockstar Channel at YouTube and keep up with all that San Antonio has to offer. If you have anything you'd like to see covered in video, just contact me and I'll do my best to get it included.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Enter The "Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate" Episode X Contest! - Now Extended!

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:22:19 -0600

The "Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate" Episode X Contest Has Been Extended!

I just received a call from Sally and with all that is going on with her (she's picked up three new clients this week) and the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, she's asked that we change the deadline for the Episode X contest. The new deadline is Monday, December 7th, 2009 at midnight (Pacific Standard Time).

Official Contest Rules

Write a two person script about real estate to be turned into a short movie. You may use any of the characters already used in the "Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate" series: Frank, Sally, Bob, or Tina. You may also introduce a new character.

Use the script to explain a real estate concept, question, or answer. Please make sure it's not state specific (ie, don't quote Paragraph I.A.(2)(b)(d) in your script as these differ from state to state based on that state's real estate laws).

Post your script as a blog entry on your ActiveRain blog. Put a link to it in the comments of the original contest post.

See original post for more details on what you can do with your script.

The Prizes

First place winner will receive 3,000 points and have their movie filmed and directed by me. This movie will be yours to use and will be featured on my ActiveRain blog as well as my RErockstar.com site with links back to your site.

Five runner-ups will receive 500 points and will have their scripts retained as possible future development deals.

As this is my first contest here on ActiveRain, I'm bound to have forgotten to mention something. If you notice something that isn't explained fully, don't be afraid to ask. Because of this situation Frank, Sally, and I reserve the rights to add to the rules. You will not be disqualified for breaking new rules, but you should be aware of the changes as the contest progresses - check back often.

Good luck everyone, we can't wait to read your scripts!

Please note, comments have been disabled on this post, if you wish to comment, please comment on the original post.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

The Joys of Texas: BBQ in November

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:14:33 -0600

This is my grill.

I love to grill. One of my favorite family stories is about a cold winter snowstorm in Pennsylvania. A friend of my sister's lived nearby and had gone to the store, braving the icy conditions. When she returned home, she called my sister to say hello and tell her about the "idiot in the parka out on his balcony grilling in this weather." That idiot was my Dad.

Both my brother and I received the grilling torch from my father and both of us have become quite skilled over the years. If I could, I would grill every day for dinner. I never grow tired of the smoky taste and tenderness you get from grilling, whether through smoking with woods like Mesquite and Hickory or just the good old taste of charcoal. I don't use a gas grill much (I currently don't own one), but they are great if you're in a hurry.

Since moving to Texas, I really got into the smoking side of BBQ. I do live in the land of brisket after all. Smoking takes forever, but when you cut into the meat and see the smoke rings on the outside - that's a reward I love to have.

You can have your snowstorms and below freezing temperatures.

I'm not interested in the cold. Yes, it does get cold in San Antonio, but not nearly as much and not nearly as severe. Today, the high is expected to be around 75. It's November 22nd. I'll be out there all day; checking my fire, making sure the meat is moist, and enjoying time with my friends.

This is why I live in Texas. The long hot summer, the short cool winter. The ability to BBQ anytime I want (not that a little rain or snow has ever stopped me). Give me a meat or vegetable and I'll slap it on the grill: hamburgers, turkey burgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, Kielbasa, smoked sausages, Bratwurst, Knockwust, brisket, steak, chicken, fish, shrimp, mussels, lobster, Boston Butt roasts, turkey, beef ribs, pork ribs, baby back ribs, riblets, pork chops, lamb chops, leg of lamb, fajitas, corn on the cob, zucchini, mushrooms, peppers, onions, squash, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes...are you starting to get the picture yet?

Today's menu will be brisket, Boston Butt (pulled pork), and beef and pork riblets. My wife will make her famous potato salad, our friend who is a pastry chef at a local Inn will make her out of this world deserts, we'll drink some beer and enjoy the day. That's what BBQ is all about. Good friends and a whole lot of doing nothing.

I may not be a true Texan, but I will always be a member of the Texas BBQ lovers.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate Does App Better.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:26:34 -0600

Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate builds an app for everyone.

I'm a RE/MAX agent, so it might seem surprising to hear me extol the virtues of another real estate franchise, but this is one I can't ignore. The Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate App for iPhone is simply one of the best real estate apps out there. Sure, there are plenty of useful ones, but nothing that personalizes the experience quite like this.

So, you're out looking at homes and you want to remember the details of each one? As they say, "There's an app for that."

Just whip out your iPhone and click on this app and you'll be prepared to make great use of your time. You can take snapshots of the home you're viewing, make an album out of it, rate it, take notes, categorize it, and even share the photos as you take them (to Facebook or send them as email). So far it just sounds like a fancy photo organizer, right?

Location, location, location services.

By utilizing the iPhone's GPS-based location services, this app tags the photos based on your location and then allows you to view neighborhood data in reference to this particular home. Check out home values (sales activity and price trends), community information (demographics, crime, housing stability, housing inventory, and work force data), school information (broken down by elementary, middle, high, adult, private, and Catholic), and find points of interest (eating and drinking, shopping, recreation, and banks). I toyed around with my zip code and found most of the information to be excellent (sometimes sources of data for apps seem shaky at best, but not with this app).

Consumer education and resources.

The two buttons at the bottom probably weren't going to be too exciting I thought. Just some bland basic info about remodeling and a few brief bits about some real estate education topics. I actually found them to be a well written resource of information that consumers want to know.

Excellent.

Well done Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate. Best part of it all, the app is absolutely free and available to anyone with an iPhone. I'll be recommending it to all my clients to use. Anything that helps make sense of all the data you're bombarded with while searching for a home is an excellent idea and I applaud them for creating this app. My assumption is that the other brokers are scrambling to get similar branded apps out to the market place. Until then, thanks Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Virtual REbarcamp Is Today - An Interesting New Way To Hold REbarcamp.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:22:51 -0600

image courtesy of Virtual REbarcamp site and Jim Cronin

Today is the day!

Virtual REbarcamp has arrived. If you're not even sure what REbarcamp is all about, I suggest you read Mike Mueller's post, "What the heck is an RE Beer Camp?" to get an idea of what's about to happen. This REbarcamp is a little bit different though. Instead of having to travel miles to the location, the location is anywhere you want it to be. It's, dare I say...virtual.

At 9AM Pacific Standard Time, the first ever Virtual REbarcamp will kick off with Jim Cronin's (RealEstateTomato) welcome and then the learning begins. With sessions ranging from "The Real Estate Office Of The Future" to "YouTube For Real Estate" to "LinkedIn - The Red Headed Step Child Of Social Media" to "Mortgage Blogging Success" - there is a topic for just about everyone. You can check the Virtual REbarcamp schedule to see what interests you. Registration is FREE.

I'll be attending today and look forward to seeing a) how the overall experience is, b) what I can learn, c) how this virtual experiment goes, and d) prepare myself for future REbarcamps (I'd like to do some presentations in the future to share some of the things I've learned).

What are you waiting for? Come and join in on the first ever Virtual REbarcamp!

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Ever Wanted To Write A Movie? Enter The "Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate" Episode X Contest!

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:41:33 -0600

Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate: Episode 3

THE CONTEST HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 7TH...PLEASE POST YOUR ENTRIES THIS WEEK!

Wow, did you hear what Tina said?

That's right folks, this is a contest. I've enjoyed working with the cast for the last few weeks. Unfortunately (or fortunately as we would say as agents), Sally is a bit busy lately (showing Bob houses and getting Frank ready to find a new home), so she requested some help from me. We discussed it and thought it would be a lot more fun to let all the ActiveRain members have a crack at it.

P.S. I apologize that Tina seems to think that she's real and you're living in a virtual world - just let them keep thinking it, it doesn't hurt anyone.

The "Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate" Episode X Contest:

The idea - We want you to write a script explaining some basics of real estate. You can talk about contracts, buying, selling, inspections, staging...you name it. All we ask is that you keep the information non-state specific (ie, if you talk contracts, don't talk about Paragraph A.2.(b)(c).1.Q.) and that you don't continue any of the story-lines already begun in Episodes 1-3 (we are currently shooting several episodes so I don't want any story inconsistencies). The more it applies to overall real estate the better.

You can use two characters - So far, we've introduced Frank (first time home buyer), Sally (real estate agent), Bob (home buyer), and Tina (Sally's assistant). You may introduce a new character, but please include a brief description of who they are and what role they will play, so that we can locate an actor that fits the part. (Hint: There are many great roles still available. Lenders, sellers, escrow agents, inspectors...you get the idea.)

There is no limit on length - However, if you write a 50,000 word epic, I probably won't be able to finish the movie until 2057.

Write your script - Have a conversation. Don't just do a question and answer session. These are real people with real lives. Show that in your script. Your script should come in the form of a blog post. Please use the following format to write your script:

Ralph: Hello Sally, what are you working on today?

Sally: Not too much Ralph, just showing people how to format their scripts.

Post your entry on your ActiveRain blog by Midnight Pacific Time, December 7th, 2009. Title your post "Episode X: Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate Contest" (you may add more after that, but it must contain that phrase first).

Place a link to your blog post in the comments of this post. Your link must be a clickable link to your blog post (I don't feel like playing cut and paste all day). If you need help, visit Jeff Turner's Tutorial on Adding Links To Your Blog Post.

That's all there is to it.

The Prizes.

One (1) Grand Prize - Winner will be whisked away to Frank and Sally's home town for an all expense paid working vacation. There, you'll be on set as the latest episode is filmed and treated like a Hollywood mogul. Who knows, you might ever get to rub elbows with some of the town's elite. Once your episode has been filmed and edited, you will have full rights to the video (as will myself, Frank and Sally) to use as you please. Your video will be featured on my ActiveRain blog as well as RErockstar.com. This prize package is valued at 3,000 points.

Five (5) Runner-up Prizes - Five entrants will be selected as possible future scripts and considered for development deals. We will retain the right to shoot these films, but you will still maintain rights to your intellectual property. As compensation for our buying your scripts, you will be each be given 500 points. If your scripts do make it to the big screen, you will retain the same rights as the Grand Prize Winner, and be allowed to use the movies for your own use.

Judging.

The entries will be judged for creativity, factual real estate knowledge, ability of characters to interact with each other as well as the movie-viewing audience, and overall interest as a film. Judging will begin on December 8th, 2009, and the winner will be announced sometime within the following week by blog post and email. We have not formed a panel of judges just yet, but they will be announced in the next few days (if you're interested in judging, feel free to comment below).

Good luck everyone, we can't wait to read your scripts!

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Sally returns to help new home buyer Bob.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:27:16 -0600

Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate: Episode 2

Sally is one busy Realtor®.

Thanks to her talk with Frank about the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit last week, Sally has picked up a new client, Frank's brother Bob. Bob is looking to purchase a home soon, so he and Sally sit down to chat as Bob has a few questions about home buying. Sally explains some of the basics in the home buying process and soon they will be off looking at homes for Bob.

Bob has been generous enough to allow us to sit in on his interactions with Sally during the home buying process. Although all information passed between client and agent is covered by confidentiality, Bob doesn't mind us all listening in.

If you'd like to use this video, just click on the video and locate the "Embed" text box on that page. Select all of the text in this box (it is not automatic like many video sites), copy, and paste it into the HTML editor...that's all there is to it. All I ask is that you attribute it back to me and RErockstar.com.

Bob, Frank, and Sally are fictional characters who do not represent any persons living, dead, or animated. Sally is not technically licensed in any state other than the virtual world, but her real estate knowledge is based on Texas real estate (I taught her everything she knows).

Bob wears track suits a little too often, but he's just trying to be comfortable and ready for a quick jog whenever the mood strikes him. Sally wears the same color suit everyday, but we promise you they're clean.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

You Probably All Think I'm Crazy - NARDiego And Me.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:02:40 -0600

photo courtesy of peasap

National Association of Realtors® Convention - San Diego - November 13-16

The National Association of Realtors@ Convention (NARDiego) is upon us. I had no intention of going this year, but a few recent conversations with agents whose opinions I truly value, really got me thinking about it. Of course, there was a few huge issues in the way. First, you need to get a pass and they're not cheap. Second, there's travel involved (sometimes living in San Antonio makes me feel really far away from just about everything). And third, there's the incidental costs of hotels, food, and things like cabs to and from events.

It all adds up rather quickly. Because of that fact, I hadn't made plans to go. I'm doing well lately, but not well enough to throw down a pile of cash like that. I'm spending my money re-investing in myself and my business as well as doing the usual - paying the bills.

So, after a conversation on Twitter with Kelley Koehler (@housechick), I really started to think I was going to miss out. I think this year's convention will be an interesting one to say the least - just read my most recent post on AgentGenius to understand what I think we're preparing for in the coming years. So now I had the desire to go...but not the plans.

A pass.

After some thought, Kelley gave me a few ideas about how to acquire a pass. I didn't think it would work, but I've learned to trust Kelley (she's freaking smart that one!), and so I followed her plan. It worked. I've acquired a pass thanks to a good Samaritan I know via Twitter.

An idea.

If you happen to know Mariana Wagner (@mizzle), you might know of her strange fascination with the idea of arm-wrestling me. I don't know when it started, but we often joke about it on Twitter. Well, the idea popped up and I sent Mariana a message - "How much do you think people will pay to see us arm-wrestle?" It was half-joke and half-serious question. Mariana even offered to put up $50 of her own money for a different accomplishment if I can pull it off (more details on that if I make it).

So the idea grew in my head through the night. What if I could figure out a way to make it there? I thought about driving (which isn't easy considering my wife and I only have one car and she has a job and all that good stuff) - it will only take me 19 hours and 24 minutes according to Google. Not exactly the best idea.

And then there's flying, but that's expensive. So perhaps, the RE.net Arm-Wrestle Of The Second Century could bring in enough to pay for it. So here's the idea...

Can this really happen?

I'm taking donations. From agents and companies - whoever wants to contribute. By my estimation, my flights and hotel should run me about $1,200. That's a lot, but let's break it down - $10 from 120 people. Doesn't seem so bad now. The donations will be used to cover those costs and will allow the RE.net Arm-Wrestle Of The Second Century (Mizzle vs. RErockstar) to occur. If you're going to San Diego, you will get the invite to watch it take place live. If you're not going, you will be able to watch the video after we get back (of course it's going to be videotaped - and probably from a million angles).

All it takes is reaching the goal of $1,200.

But wait, there's more.

In the interest of incentives and feeling like I'm doing my part for good in the world, I've decided to once again involve Mothers Fighting For Others. If you've ever met Rocky Turner (@headmutha) you'll understand why her organization is my charity of choice. For every cent over my goal of $1,200, I'll donate it to Mothers Fighting For Others. And if for some reason, we don't reach my goal, the entire amount will be donated to Mothers Fighting For Others. It's a very short time (2 days maximum) to reach the goal, so no matter what happens it's a win-win situation.

So how about it, send me to NARDiego and help support Mothers Fighting For Others. And as an added bonus, I will be giving the top contributor (dollar-wise) a special gift from my collection of band memorabilia from my days as a rockstar. I have a few things in mind and they're all much better than just a CD or a poster (or something like that) - these are actual artifacts from my personal collection.

So what do you say? Am I going or not?

Think of all the things you'll gain: front row seats (or at least some video) to RE.net Arm-Wrestle Of The Second Century (Mizzle vs. RErockstar), potential contributions to Mothers Fighting For Others, more posts and reporting from me, and if you donate big time - a serious piece of rock and roll memorabilia. Just click the "Donate" link below and PayPal will take care of it from there.

Because of the nature of how I'm doing this, I don't think you'll be able to claim any tax deductions for this, but that's for you and your accountant to figure out.

Donate to RErockstar's NARDiego Fund/Mothers Fighting For Others

And remember - there is only two days to pull this off!

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Frank And Sally Explain The First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:01:03 -0600

Frank And Sally Explain Real Estate: Episode 1

Meet Frank and his agent, Sally.

In trying to come up with a simple breakdown of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, I thought that video would be the answer. Since I've done a few for the previous tax credit, I wanted to find a new way to use video to explain it all. Enter Frank and Sally. In this video, Frank's agent Sally, helps him understand the basics of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. In the future, Frank and Sally will be providing some much needed help to me, so that I might take some time off from blogging when they're able to pick up the slack.

If you'd like to use this video, just click on the video and locate the "Embed" text box on that page. Copy and paste...that's all there is to it. All I ask is that you attribute it back to me and RErockstar.com.

Frank and Sally are fictional characters who do not represent any persons living, dead, or animated. Sally is not technically licensed in any state other than the virtual world, but her real estate knowledge is based on Texas real estate (I taught her everything I know). Frank likes Metallica, but Sally is more of an easy-listening kind of gal.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Realtors® Property Resource (RPR) Webinar now available to everyone.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:11:47 -0600

photo courtesy of whiteafrican

Big news for some becomes big news for all.

You may remember me discussing some thoughts about the Realtors® Property Resource (RPR) the other day in "Will the Realtors® Property Resource (RPR) drive up the costs of referrals?" I was lucky enough to have been invited to attend the webinar in advance and didn't think it would be available until sometime after NARDiego, but it appears the Association has decided to let the cat out of the bag. Watch as Dale Stinton, CEO of the National Association of Realtors® lays out some of the basics of the Realtors® Property Resource (RPR) and explains just what you'll be able to do with it when it launches.

The RPR has generated a lot of talk in Realtor® blogging circles (although not much here at ActiveRain, which I thought was a bit disappointing) and whether it is a boom or a bust for the Association remains to be seen. It does look like powerful stuff based on the presentation and I can't wait to get my hands on it to take it for a tour.

Now that the webinar is available to all via realtor.org, I'm hoping to see some more comments and discussion about the implications of what NAR is doing with such a behemoth of a site. It will be interesting to watch to say the least.

Watch the Realtors® Property Resource (RPR) Webinar now.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

The Wurst Night Of My Life - Wurstfest 2009.

Matt Stigliano (RE/MAX Access - San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:20:52 -0600

My friend Luke hanging out with "Das Schnitzel" at Wurstfest 2009.

No, I didn't fly to Germany this weekend.

I've spent a lot of time in Germany in the course of my life. I was there before the Wall came down and have spent months at a time roaming from town to town while I was still a musician. I actually had designs on being a German teacher at one point in my life. I still speak and understand some of the language - enough to get me where I need to go.

I have a certain love for all things German. I guess it just rubbed off on me during my time over there. Some cities are so familiar to me I can point you in the right direction of my favorite restaurants, hotels, and venues. My love for all things German especially extends to two things: beer and sausage (or Wurst as they are called in German).

Wurstfest 2009 - New Braunfels, Texas

I didn't realize how much German influence there was in this part of the country until I moved here. New Braunfels, Texas is the home of Wurstfest, "A Salute To Sausage," billed as Oktoberfest - Texas Style. With tons of different vendors selling all sorts of different sausage, beers from Späten to Warsteiner (as well as local German-inspired favorite, Shiner), gifts (steins, lederhosen, hats, and more), and a typical round up of small town festival foods. Music continues throughout the day and night in several locations throughout the Landa Park grounds. No matter what, you'll have a good time.

This year seemed very packed compared to previous years I've gone and I wonder if the festival isn't growing too much for the size of it's location. Located along the banks of the Comal River in Landa Park, the Wustfest grounds may need expanding once again if attendance continues to climb. Started in 1961 (1967 was the first year it was held in Landa Park at the Wursthalle), the festival continues to attract people from around the world as well as locals and nearby residents. You can see the pride on people's faces as they walk through the festival grounds. It's a Texas thing that's deeply rooted in the beer halls of München (Munich).

Next year, come on down. Trink ein bisschen Bier and viel Spass machen. (Drink a little beer and have a lot of fun.) Wilkommen. We're glad you came.

Matt Stigliano, Realtor® | RE/MAX Access | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com

"Your all access pass to San Antonio real estate."

Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.