Tracy's Blog

I think I may be planning a funeral soon

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:08:16 -0600

Not for a family member or friend. Well, he has become my friend over the past year that we've been together. But right now I think his life is coming to an end.

Who you might ask?

Toshiba. My laptop.

Apparently my husband and I are too mobile with him. Those days and nights of frolicking on the couch and in the bed with him are coming to an end I'm afraid. A few nights ago while he was sharing YouTube videos with me I noticed a paleness on his face. He wasn't as bright as normal. He began to pant and felt warm, so I sent him to bed, warning my husband to let him rest for awhile as he must have had a long day.

Then the following night, as we cuddled on the couch after searching the MLS, he grew pale and warm again.

A checkup by Dr. Norton resulted in a clean bill of health. But a mother knows better. I'm afraid that months of moving him to and fro have made him weak. It seems like only yesterday we brought him home from Best Buy and introduced him to his cousins, Linksys the Router and HP the Printer.

With each shallow breath he took on my desk last night it became clearer to me that the contract he was helping me write may very well be his last.

Unfortunately this will be our fourth lost in about five years. His older brothers, Compaq, HP, and Gateway died of similar complications before him. But HP was a fighter! We took him to a specialist who helped him live a few extra months. But we don't want to put Toshiba through weeks in a hospital just to prolong the inevitable.

So I'm looking to you, my Active Rain family, to help us in our time of need. Although we don't want to "replace" him, we know that Toshiba would want us to move on. And Linksys the Router and HP the Printer would be lonely without another companion.

If anyone can recommend a good, sturdy laptop that enjoys quite evenings at home, an occasional day at the park, doesn't mind being passed around, and is under $1000 I'd be much appreciative.

Here's a tip: Know my name and don't be rude if you're trying to sell something to me!!!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:02:34 -0600

So I'm pecking away at my keyboard this morning when an unfamiliar area code pops up on my cell phone. I've gotten a couple of calls from out-of-staters interested in moving to the area lately, so I answer.

"Hi Tracy Wilson this is [some dude] from [some company]." Blah, blah, blah...

Wait. Did you just call me Tracy "Wilson"? I'm used to "Williams". Or "Pender". Or "Pender Williams". But "Wilson"? Could be an honest mistake. Besides, he just told me his name and I've already forgotten it. I'm in a good mood today, so let's see where this goes.

"I've been studying your profile and think you're a great agent."

Apparently you didn't study it enough because I've never been Tracy "Wilson". Besides, what profile are you talking about? And not meaning to toot my own horn, but exactly what makes you think I'm so great?

So he goes on and on about how wonderful his referral company is (aren't they all?), gives the typical spill about how they're looking for agents to service my area, then asks for some local zip codes that I work in. You know the drill. Of course the first one is taken and the other two are available. But they're showing a lot of activity, so I need to act on them now!!!

He then asks me for the average selling prices of homes in these areas.

Wait, if you know that so many people are looking in this area and that we have a lot of activity, shouldn't you know that?

Like I said, I'm in a good mood. Sometimes I like toying with telemarkets. So I make up figures for both areas. I know the figures I give him are both about $100K too much, but he says they are right.

Oh really? Well I'm looking at those zip codes in the MLS right now and it says...

Nevermind. Let's see what else he has to say.

Mr. Dude then tells me he can cut me a "deal" on these two zip codes for only $225 per month - each. But don't worry, we're not like those other companies. There's no annual committment. Try it for two months then let us know how you like it.

Can someone stop the turnip truck this dude thinks I just fell from?

So I'm sitting there, amazed at how quickly he flew through the $500 per month and 10% referral fee for each closing when my office phone rings. The caller ID indicates it's my husband, but Mr. Dude doesn't know that. So I try to excuse myself by saying his price is outside of my budget and a client is calling on the other line. Thank you for your interest, but I have to go.

But this fool continues talking.

Umm, excuse me but I have a real live "client" on the other line that needs my attention. Thanks but no thanks!

Then he has the nerve - no audacity - to say:

"So what, you're just going to give me six minutes of your time then hang up!?!"

First of all, you're lucky I didn't just hang up when you mentioned leads or said anything related to me giving you any amount ending in "hundred" every month. In those six minutes you've given me inaccurate information, asked me to fork over $1,000, then got ticked off when I said no. Besides, you're wasting my daytime minutes! Plus, if you really want to work with "great agents" who would like to to help you with all of these people looking for homes, wouldn't you want an agent that - I don't know - wants to talk to people looking for homes? How would you feel if one of these referrals called me and I blew them off because some dude was blabbing to me about the great leads he could sell me? And how can I trust you to research these "leads" if you don't even have the ability to research my name or confirm the numbers I just made up?

Apparently he needs to read my blog about customer service.

Leads are important, but paying attention to the needs of the people who have trusted me to help them with what may be the biggest purchase of their lives is moreso. Well, that and answering the phone when the Hubby calls, but again, our secret...

Besides a referal, rather personal or via a professional network such as Active Rain, is more important to me than a cold call from a rude guy that doesn't even know my name!!!

Where's the common sense in customer service?

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:03:57 -0600

I was just reading an article regarding travel issues at airports (long delays, ticketing issues, fees, etc.) when I started to think about one of my own travel runarounds.

Back in the summer of 2001 I booked a flight from RDU to ATL for a long weekend of theme park fun for me, my younger brother, and two of our friends. We were to depart on September 12th and return about three days later.

Well, we all know what tragedy happened the day prior to our scheduled departure. And as you might recall commercial airline travel was non-existent for the days following the event. One of those days was September 12.

As soon as I learned that all flights were off I called the airline to cancel my round trip tickets and get refunds.

"Sure ma'am, " I remember the agent saying. After hearing the tap-taps of a computer keyboard in the background she said "I've processed a refund for your September 12th tickets from RDU to ATL."

"Ok, so what about the return tickets from ATL to RDU on September 15th?"

"I cannot refund that portion of your trip."

"Why?"

"Because air traffic for that day will be open and your tickets are non-refundable."

"Huh? How am I supposed to get back from Atlanta if I can't get there?"

"I don't know ma'am, but I can't refund that portion of your trip."

Now, I've been known to bluntly say what's on my mind and point out a person's - shall I say - lack of reasoning.

"Do you realize how dumb that sounds??? I'm not cancelling the trip because I don't want to go. I can't get there because you can't take me there!"

"Well ma'am I can reschedule your RDU to ATL leg on the next flight with openings after air traffic reopens. That will be on September 15th."

"But that's the day I was supposed to return."

"Yes."

"Why would I fly somewhere two days late only turn around and come right back a few hours later?"

"I understand if that doesn't meet your schedule, but the ATL to RDU portion of your flight is not refundable. Now, have I provided excellent customer service today by answering all of your questions..." Yada, yada, yada.

Are you serious!?!?

After several days of phone calls and arguments I was finally able to get all of my money back. In fact that was my first experience with this particular airline and I've never used them again. Whenever someone tells me they're booking a flight and mentions that airline I share my story and they quickly change their minds. I can't help but wonder how many of those people have told others, and those have told others, and so on. Additionally, I wonder how many other people were treated the same way when their plans were affected that week. Is that the right way to treat a customer, especially when the cause of disruption is out of either party's control?

Sometimes we have to use some common sense to make our customers happy. No, I'm not saying we should break the law or anything, but do something to make your customer realize how much you appreciate their business and want them to keep coming back (or refer others to you). Call their lender for them if they've been too tied up at work to do so. Stop by to lend a hand on moving day, or come by with a houseplant to say hello when the move is over. Offer to help another agents clients or hold their open house for them if they're sick. Even if you are on the verge of going over your cell phone minutes answer the phone when a familiar name shows on the caller ID - even if it's long after the closing.

Treat them like you'd want to be treated. Always go above and beyond. People always remember their best and worse experiences. As which would you rather be associated?

My new Blackberry. Have I been defeated?

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:55:14 -0600

I consider myself pretty technologically savvy. I text. I email. I blog (not as much as I want, but I do it when I can). I remember teaching myself how to write simple computer programs on my Tandy Computer when I was about six years old. I created a wireless network in my house before the idea was pretty common. I often help people around the office when they have computer hardware or software issues. However, throughtout all of my of my experiences there is one thing I refuse to do unless absolutely necessary...

...read the instruction manual.

I don't know. It seems to take away the challenge. I'm a competitive person, and there's something about opening that little booklet that roars defeat. And I refuse to be defeated - especially by a pink, 4oz piece of plastic!!!

It is kinda cute though.

I spent a few hours playing with my new toy yesterday morning. I must admit, I had to thumb through the manual to figure out the email setup. I've had a Blackberry before - one of the older, black box, 7xxx devices that I kept for all of two weeks because I could never get the email to work correctly. Then I moved to a Treo 650, which I used until I couldn't use it any more (see my blog My Treo - Should I Put Her Down or Let Her Die with Dignity?). Next was an HTC6700.

God how I hate Windows Mobile!!

After the HTC and I agreed that a divorce was inevitable I went back and forth between the Palm Centro and the Blackberry Curve. Remembering my God-awful experience with my old Blackberry I was pretty much sold on the Centro until I went to the store to compare them side by side. The Blackberry looks and feels so much like my beloved Treo. It's like it's been reincarnated in a smaller, lighter body without that stupid stump-like antenna thing. And no more stylus to lose, although I will miss the touch screen. Nonetheless, I was sold.

But now I need to figure out how to make the best of my new friend - without reading the manual of course. How are you Blackberry conosours making the most of your investment? I already see the versatility in this little gizmo, so I've upgraded to an unlimited data package and am ready to go!

Early Voting Hours Extended in Wake County

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:01:30 -0500

For those who've yet to vote there is still time to do so before this Tuesday. In an emergency meeting today, the Wake County Board of Elections unanimously voted to keep one-stop voting sites open an extra four hours on Saturday, November 1. Polls will now be open from 10am until 5 p.m.

As of Wednesday, nearly 1.7 million people have voted at early voting sites accross the state. That's nearly twice the total of early ballots cast in 2004.

So while you're out enjoying the 73 degree weather tomorrow, take a few moments to cast your vote.

Early voting - Ain't nothing to it but to do it!

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:33:19 -0500

For the first time ever I used early voting this year. I must tell everyone that it was a breeze! Maybe it was the time I chose to visit my local polling place, but there was virtually no line. I was in an out in less than ten minutes.

If you've already made your decisions for this election I highly recommend visiting the NC State Board of Elections to find your nearest early voting location. If you have not yet registered you can do that as well. Visit this site for requirements and qualifications.

North Carolina is considered a battleground state this election. Join the 1.2M+ who have already cast ballots. But don't wait too long. Early voting ends this Friday, November 1!

Who said it's hard to buy a house with cash? Even I have $1.75

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:24:06 -0500

Has anyone seen the story in today's news about a house in Saginaw, MI that was sold on eBay for $1.75? Apparently there's a pending foreclosure and back taxes due on the property. The buyer has no intentions of moving into the property and hopes to sale it for a profit. To each it's own - I guess.

I personally think that money would have been better invested at the McDonald's drive thru.

http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/news/index.ssf/2008/09/abandoned_saginaw_home_sells_f.html
(Be sure to check out the sales history via the link in the second comment)

Early voting in NC

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:24:44 -0500

North Carolinians,

The upcoming election will no doubt be an important one. Don't forget these important dates:

October 10 - Last day to register to vote in NC (Click here for requirements and qualifications)

October 16 - November 1 - One Stop Voting (includes early voting. Click here for times and locations)

November 4 - Election Day

Be heard!!!

Wow! A great compliment and AR lead in one day - all before lunch!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:38:04 -0500

My weekend is officially off to a WONDERFUL start!

I got a call this morning from a longtime friend. She's been offered a promotion and may be relocating to another state. She's currently debating if she should rent her current home or sell it.

We chatted for almost an hour about her new position, her dilemna, and just catching us as friends do. Then near the end of the coversation she gave me the greatest compliment:

"Yesterday I called the agent I worked with when I bought this house. She basically told me to rent, but you've really explained all options, different scenarios, and the pros and cons involved with each. You've given me a lot to think about. I knew I should have called you first!"

The fact that she valued my opinion so much felt WONDERFUL!!! She explained that her initial intent for calling me was to see if I could refer a property manager (not sure why the other agent didn't), but now she's thinking that she might just let me help her sell it. She will think about it more next week while traveling on business and would like to talk further when she gets back.

It's feels great to have a person that values your opinion as a friend and professional. To hear her say she valued my advice over the person she'd worked with before - and person with years of experience - is amazing! I wonder if the other agent truly listened to my friend's situation. If so she may have realized that renting may not be in her best interest since she wants to buy a new home after relocating. Instead of making the decision for her I gave her every possible scenario and left it her to think about what's best for her in the long run.

A few hours later I got a call from someone relocating to the area. How did they find me? Active Rain!

Does this have the potential of being a very good weekend? Am I glad I've been taking the time to learn from other AR members, blog, and comment?

YEAH BABY!!! YEAH!

Email addresses & websites - KISS (Keep It Simple...Sweetie)

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:59:09 -0500

While cruising the MLS this afternoon I ran across a property that looked like a good match for a potential client I've been helping. When I clicked the listing to get details on the agent, I noticed that his email address was the most unforgettable thing I've ever seen - something like 8zdsjr@att.com. But the guy's initials weren't Z.D.S and he wasn't a Junior. Huh? When I switched over to launch my email client I had to go back into the MLS to get the address again because I'd forgotten it.

Email addresses should be simple, rememberable, and a reflection of you. If I saw abc123@hotmail.com scribbled on a piece of paper I wouldn't be able to connect the address with a lender I met at a seminar a few weeks ago. And I wouldn't be able to remember the guy's name. But MoneyMan@hotmail.com would tweak my memory a bit. JohnSmith@hotmail.com would be even better. However if I can only remember the JohnSmith part, I'm infamous for forgetting which domain the email address is with. Was it Yahoo? Gmail? No MSN. Uh oh...

The same goes for websites. I personally have a hard time remembering company initials. If I see something like MMInc.com (not sure if that's a real site) I'm instantly thinking about stopping at the store to get a bag of M&Ms. Or I'm trying to think of companies with the initials MMI in North Carolina to figure out why I wrote down that address. MoneyManInc.com would instantly remind me of who I was looking for. Plus I'd be able to easily recall the web address later.

Combining the right email address with the right website domain is like a happy marriage. JohnSmith@MoneyManInc.com reminds me of the gentleman's name and that he does something with money. I don't have to put much effort into remembering the email domain. Plus if I ever need to go to his website I likely have it right in front of me in the email address.

I have two email addresses. My primary is tracy@tracywpender.com and secondary is tracypender@realtyexecutives.com. The secondary identifies me and what I do. The primary establishes my identity outside of my firm (if I'm no longer with Realty Executives two years from now I want any past contacts to still have the ability to reach me) and identifies my personal website, www.tracywpender.com. I'm sure I could have done something simpler, but tracypender.com wasn't available and tracywilliamspender.com is way too much. The idea is to start somewhere. In the future I hope to buy variations of my name (traceywpender.com for example) and point them to my page. But so far there haven't been any issues.

The point is to keep it simple. If people can't get your email address or website right they'll start searching the web or reach out to someone else. You wouldn't want to miss out on anything because you got too creative, would you?

So you make $2100 a month? Sure, you can afford a $4100 mortgage payment.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:24:36 -0500

Earlier this week I stumbled across a story on CNN Money about a New York woman and her family. (Read the full story) She made $25K a year, but with good credit and a $20K downpayment managed to receive a no-doc loan to purchase a $489K home. With a $4100 monthly mortgage payment, her real estate agent told her she could refinance her ARM within two years to lower her payment. Her two adult daughters, who lived with her, paid a combined $3K towards the mortgage while Mom paid the rest. About a year later when the ARM adjusted the payments increased by $300. Because the family was already stuggling the increase proved to be too much to handle.

I have several issues with this. Why was the mother able to buy such a home in the first place? Since there was a discussion about refinancing early on there were obvious concerns about affordability. So why was she able to proceed with the transaction? Did her real estate agent truly work in her best interest?

The story goes on to say that the lender wouldn't work with her to modify the terms of her loan. Because of interest and late fees she owes over $130K more than the house is worth. Therefore a short sale would be difficult. From the bank's perspective this is just plain ridiculous to me. They would rather receive nothing every month as the house stands empty than get something from a family that truly wants to stay in the home? Sounds greedy.

There was a news story somewhere else, and I can't recall the source, that talked about a woman who was late paying her mortgage after having to return to her home in the UK for a family emergency. When she returned to the US and tried to pay over $8K to catch up the bank refused the payment and began foreclosure preceedings. Now, the story didn't say how late the lady was, but I got the impression that it wasn't by much - maybe a month. Regardless, would you turn down an $8K check? Again, sounds greedy.

I'm tired of seeing stories like this day after day. It saddens my heart to see people lose what they've worked so hard to achieve. Sometimes the lost is due to poor choices. Sometimes the lost is due to corporate greed. But who are we to judge?

What are your thoughts?

Now's the time to buy a home in Wake County, NC

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:35:15 -0500

As of this morning, there are 8,924 active residential listings in Wake County, NC.

No, that's not a typo. There are nearly 9,000 homes available right now in Wake County. This includes the city of Raleigh and neighboring towns Wake Forest, Knightdale, Zebulon, Wendell, Garner, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, and Morrisville.

The average days on market is 105, up from 80 days in May and 86 days in June. What does this mean for you, the buyer?

You can be the hypotheical kid in a candy store. Townhomes. Single family homes. Large homes. Small homes. New homes. Old homes. The choice is yours!

When days on market increase along with the number of available homes there is a buyers market. And with homes typically selling for less than list price right now buyers have the upper hand.

So if you're thinking about buying a home, now is the time - especially if you're a first time homebuyer or not planning to sell your current home.

Tracy Williams Pender, Broker/REALTOR
(919) 815-7505
www.TracyWPender.com
tracy@tracywpender.com

I left a message after the beep, so CALL ME BACK!!

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:13:20 -0500

Imagine this. You meet someone at a conference, open house, Starbucks, or whatever. Small talk ensues. Through the conversation you discover that you have a common business interest, but for whatever reason the conversation has to end. The other person says:

"You know, I really want to talk with you further about this. Give me a call at 'so-and-so time' on 'whatever' day. Here's my card."

So you wait until 'so-and-so' time on 'whatever' day per his request only to get:

"Hello you've reached 'what's his name'. I'm not available to take your call at the moment, so please leave your name, number, and a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible."

BEEEEEEP

OK. We're all busy. Maybe a meeting ran over. Things happen. No sweat. So you leave a message, and wait.

...and wait
...and wait
...and wait.

Before you know it, days have gone by and 'what's his name' still hasn't called you back, even though HE suggested that you talk further and HE was very specific in the day and time to call. AND even if he somehow forgot, his outgoing message promised to "return your call as soon as possible."

Does this sound familiar?
Are you a 'what's his name'? If so...

STOP IT!!!!

Patience is a virtue, but you can't sleep on the job! We're living in a time where everyone wants everything now!!! You can only expect a potential client to wait so long. With the Internet it only takes a few moments to Google someone else to do the job. Just this morning I called my mortgage holder to discuss a possible refinance. There were problems in the line and she promised to call me back in a few minutes. That was 3 hours ago. There is no way that it takes 3 hours to dial 10 numbers! And because the company is my current mortgage lender they have every possible way in the world to contact me. Not only has she very likely lost the potential of my business, but she's lost any future business that I may have brought her as a REALTOR.

As a rule of thumb, if you call me at a reasonable hour I'll try to return your call within an hour. Even emails are responded to within the same timeframe because they are all forwarded to my mobile. I don't like waiting forever and a day, so why should I expect anyone who might want to work with me to do so? Is that a good first impression?

Helping people and providing the best service possible means being there when they need us. Additionally, we never know who the person waiting for our call knows. A bad decision could have a domino effect.

So please, if you say "I'll return your call as soon as possible", DO IT!! Otherwise, save your callers frustration by lowering their expectations of you and changing your outgoing message to "if I think you're important enough, I'll give you a call when I'm good and ready".

Don't play games!!!

Text Messaging - Yea or Nay?

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:19:18 -0500

Because I like working with first time homebuyers I realize that I have to target younger demographics. Therefore in an effort to be more accessible I have been thinking about adding a "text me now" widget to my website. Are those of you using this feature getting much out of it? Where did you find your widget? And to those who aren't using this feature, why? I'd be especially interested in hearing from those who used it in the past but decided it wasn't worth it for whatever reason (i.e. increase in spam, didn't work properly, etc.)

Have you completed your mid-year checkup?

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:30:46 -0500

As we approach the end of the sixth month of 2008 it's time to complete your mid-year checkup.

What do I mean? Ask yourself a few questions:

How are you progressing on those goals you made for yourself for this year?
- Have you continuously educated yourself on your market and the industry?
- Have you written as many sucessful contracts as you'd hoped?
- Are you saving money for a rainy day?
- Are you networking ---- effectively?
Are you adjusting those plans that aren't going as you expected?
- So you've closed three homes instead of six. What are you doing about it?
- Are you getting useable traffic to your website?
- Are you successfully promoting yourself?
Have you touched your database at least once?
- Did you send Happy New Year cards or emails to anyone?
- If you're an entertainer, have you hosted a cookout or pool party?
Are you keeping in touch with those leads that weren't quite ready to purchase or sell their home?
- Do you send occasional emails or just call to say hi?
Have you updated your database of professionals?
- Does Joe Smith still write loans for Countywide, or has he moved somewhere else?

Is your housekeeping in order?
- Do you have a decent supply of business cards, personalized pens, etc?
- Many annualized membership dues are due on June 30. Have you paid yours?
- Have you completed your Continuing Education requirements?

2008 is moving fast. Don't procrastinate until it's too late!

Saving money when prices and temperatures increase

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:25:45 -0500

As I type this at 10:25am it is already 88 degrees here in Raleigh. And that's an improvement over the triple digits we've seen over the past few days. Instead of drving to lunch most days I walk to nearby restaurants. But now, it's too dog gone hot!!! Plus, it costs too much to eat out every single day.

So what's a girl to do? Most people say "bring your lunch", but I can stand only so many turkey sandwiches. Leftovers? But I ate that last night. It wasn't *that* good!

So what are a few realistic things you can do to stretch your dollar without feeling the pain?

1 - Consolidate trips. My motto is, "when I'm home, I'm home". There's no more running out to grab something I forgot earlier. Unless it's life or death, it can wait until I have to go out to do something else.

2 - Park the thirsty vehicles. I LOVE my 4Runner. And compared to many SUVs it's great on gas. But when it's just me, my little old Camry will do. On $45 I can ride for almost two weeks. I save the truck for when it's absolutely necessary, and going to a doctor's appointment and getting a loaf of bread doesn't quite qualify.

3 - Lower your thermostat. It really works. At home we've bumped our thermostats to 77 and started using the ceiling fans. We also keep the blinds closed and only run the clothes dryer at night. The only difference we've noticed is a decrease in the electric bill.

4 - Fire up the grill. It keeps your home cooler, and there's nothing like the smell of charcoal in the air.

5 - Shop in bulk. The best purchase I've made in recent months is a chest freezer. Whenever I find things on sale that my family enjoys, I stock up! It's perfect this time of year when crab legs, steaks, ribs, chicken, pork chops, etc. are often on sale. Depending on the size of your family it might be worth it to get a membership to Sam's Club, BJ's, etc. If you have kids it's a good place for diapers, wipes, formula, juice boxes, chips, etc. And while we're talking about grocery shopping...

6 - Use coupons. My friends initially laughed my 3-ring binder filled with coupons and organized by aisle. Now they ask me for tips! Those are little pieces of paper are gold if used correctly. Here in the triangle, Lowe's Foods and Harris Teeter double, and sometimes triple, the face value of coupons. When used wisely with those frequent shopper cards you can save a ton and sometimes get things free!

Most importantly...

7 - Spend quality time with the family. Now that school's ending your kids will quickly become bored, especially if summer camp was one thing you had to eliminate from your budget this summer. You can do lots of things for free, or nearly free, to keep your kids entertained. Game night. Movie night. An ocassional trip to Chuck E Cheese (have pizza while you're there to kill two birds with one stone). Play dates. Sleep overs. Trips to the museum. Crafts. Making dinner together (my three year old enjoyed helping me make burgers last night). Look into programs at the Y or through your local Parks and Recreation program too.

There are lots you can do with with an open mind and a little creativity to beat the heat and rising costs!

Thanks for reading!
Tracy

THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE NC MAY PRIMARIES IS TODAY - APR 11!!!

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:13:39 -0500

Don't forget that today is the last day to register to vote for the NC primary election!! Also mark these other important dates on your calendars:

Absentee Mail-In Voting: Mar. 17 - Apr. 29
One Stop Registration and Voting: Apr. 17 - May 3

Visit the NC State Board of Elections for more information.

See you at the polls on May 6th!

Open House - 8113 Rolling Glenn - Saturday April 12 from 2-5pm

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:37:23 -0500

Tracy Williams Pender | Realty Executives | tracy@tracywpender.com | 919.815.7505

8113 Rolling Glenn, Raleigh, NC

Open House Sat. April 12 from 2-5!! This dynamtic two-story home boasts hardwood floors, a formal living and dining room, three generous sized bedroom

3 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $204,900

Year Built	2004
Sq Footage	1,980
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	0.13 acres
HOA/Maint	$27 per month

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Living room
Bonus/Rec room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Stainless steel appliances	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Tracy Williams Pender

Realty Executives

tracy@tracywpender.com

919.815.7505

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Apr 10, 2008, 6:33am PDT

Important NC Primary Election Dates to Remember

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:58:17 -0500

Although it's always important to vote, this year's primaries are especially important to the presidential election. Don't let these important dates pass you by:

Last day to register to vote:    Apr. 11
Absentee Mail-In Voting:  Mar. 17 - Apr. 29
One Stop Registration and Voting:   Apr. 17 - May 3

Visit www.sboe.state.nc.us for more information.

See you at the polls on May 6th!

Where's the Reality in Reality TV?

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:52:21 -0500

It was a dreary, lazy Sunday here in Raleigh yesterday. My plans for juicy burgers, pork chops, and hotdogs grilled to perfection were abandoned after a "chance" of showers turned into an all day event. But with the lingering drought, I can't complain.

While procrastinating on the dozens of things I need to do around the house, I decided to flip on the TV. To my joy there was a marathon of a certain homebuying show. Great. I guess watching it is kinda like work. I mean, I do like helping buyers, and the show is about helping people buy homes. This can be used as an educational tool. Oh the excuses we make for ourselves...

However, while eating too much junk food and watching hour after hour of this show I did educate myself on one
thing...reality TV can be very misleading. Now granted, we are subject to a limited amount of what actually happened during the taping of the show. Editors can cut and paste things to their liking. But in the course of my"educational" afternoon I couldn't help but wonder how realistic people think these shows are. I mean, how often did you hear about house flipping before these shows?

So I settle down under a nice warm blanket and start watching. They feature one young lady, grinning ear to ear as she signs her loan documents. Then a brief description of her final package flashes on the screen.

Wait a minute. Did that say "2 15-year ARMs and a 10-year fixed?" As in three mortgages?! Did I read that
correctly? Maybe I need a fresh pair of contacts. I wish I was watching it on TIVO so I could press rewind, but I could have sworn that said three loans.

I have a degree in Accounting and MBA, and have spent several years of my career as a financial analyst. So maybe I study numbers too hard.

Then I saw an ARM bundled with a 15-year fixed loan that included a balloon payment. Everyone around the table assured the young buyer that there was nothing to worry about because she wouldn't be in the house for 15 years. Plus she could always refinance.

Famous last words...

Unfortunately those weren't the only segments that had me concerned.

There was the extended family who had little savings, a previous bankruptcy, and poor credit. Now I know miracles can happen, but I don't understand how they managed to pay off $5200 in debt to raise their credit scores about 150 points and qualify for a loan in three months. If they had "little savings" where did the $5K come from? And if they had that much cash laying around why were they paying bills late to get that poor credit score? While I do think credit repair and debt elimination are vital, I personally don't think it's wise to deplete all of ones savings, especially when the reason why the family was in dire straits was because of past medical problems.

There was the couple that used $10K from an IRA for a portion of the downpayment on a house that appeared to be smaller than the rental they were leaving. The kitchen didn't have space for stove. There was just a hot-plate on a piece of plywood in a corner. I'm sorry, but I have to have a place to cook. Or at least somewhere to make it look like I cook. And speaking of which, I may be wrong but they looked like they were in their mid-50s. Is that really the best time to pull from an IRA when you already have downpayment monies from other sources?

Now there were some situations that, in my opinion, were a little more realistic. There was the young lady that learned her pre-qualification amount had been reduced because a program she was depending on had been eliminated. Her agent was able to find a new construction home that offered discounted pricing with the use of a preferred lender. As a result she was able to get more bang for her buck and instantly have equity. There was the guy that did the right thing by getting pre-qualified for a loan, but learned his internet lender had disappeared once he found a home. Fortunately his agent was able to quickly direct him to a local lender that was able to save the day - and the deal.

These shows need to have follow ups. I would like to know what happened with that family. I'd be willing to bet they got a subprime loan. Have they been able to afford the home? The property they bought needed some adjustments to be handicap accessible. Exactly how did they pay for the improvements now that they have no savings? Are they back in credit card debt? Does that couple enjoy cooking dinners on the hot-plate in their tight new quarters? Do they ever invite friends over for dinner at their new home?

Although I'm a Broker and REALTOR I can't neglect my financial roots. Part of providing the best service to my clients means helping them remember that buying a home is a huge responsibility. Sure travertine and granite countertops look great, but so did wood paneling and shag carpeting in the 60's and 70's. Do you realize that if you used a 30-year, no money down loan to buy a new construction home you'd be paying for that travertine and granite over the next 30 years? Yes, it adds value to the home, but because you're starting with little to no equity it might be best to save your dollars and do it yourself later. Besides, in a few years you'll be ready to remodel anyway. That is if you haven't moved to another home.

And by the way, qualifying for a $400K loan doesn't mean you have to spend every dime of it! I've noticed that most people on these shows end up spending very close to their pre-qualification maximum. I always ask clients to analyze their spending habits first to come up with their own maximum. Things may be fine now, but would you be able to handle the payment that comes with that $400K mortgage if your spouse loses his/her your job, the engine blows on the car, Junior needs braces that come with a $2000 deductible, and you have another child on the way?

Now that's reality...

Wisconsin Realtor Found Dead; Suspect Held

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:40:14 -0500

Ran across this story this morning. Let's be careful!!!

JEFFERSON, Wis. — A 71-year-old real estate agent was found dead inside a home she had been showing, and authorities said Thursday that the man she had met there was arrested.

Ann B. Nelson, of Cambridge, was found dead Tuesday night next to a smoldering mattress at the smoke-filled rural home in the town of Oakland, authorities said.

The man she had seen there was arrested after he was brought in for questioning Wednesday night, said Jefferson County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Lawrence Lee.

The man, James Hole of Brookfield, Illinois, was being held on a tentative charge of first-degree intentional homicide, Sheriff Paul Milbrath said in a news release.

Investigators say an autopsy concluded Nelson died of smoke inhalation, but she also had head injuries. A weapon was recovered, Lee said, but he declined to be more specific.

Nelson's family contacted authorities after she didn't return home Tuesday evening. Deputies tracked her down to the vacant home in Jefferson County and noticed smoke coming from it when they arrived about 9:20 p.m.

Nelson had three sons, three daughters and 16 grandchildren and was active at church and in the community, said a son, Doug Nelson. "She was always willing to help. No task was ever too difficult," he said.

News of the incident prompted the Wisconsin Realtors Association to send a note to its members informing them that one of their fellow members was found dead at a vacant listing.

It urged them: "Please do not let your guard down - your safety is primary!"

Oakland is about 25 miles east of Madison.

What questions do you ask potential clients?

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:00:47 -0600

Time is short. And time is money. Everyone's busy and no one wants to waste time...or money. What questions do you ask potential clients before determining if you can (or want) to help them? I'm trying to develop my own personal check list and want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything.

Thanks!

Tracy

My Treo - Should I put her down, or let her die with dignity?

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:33:47 -0600

My poor, raggedy little Treo 650. The antenna-like thingy is loose and can be popped out. I lose my stylus at *least* once a day. I recently had to replace the SD card because I lost my old one after it became disengaged from the slot (I still haven't figured that one out). It constantly loses the connection during hot syncs, so it usually takes two or three tries to get all of my info over. The phone restarts at random moments, but never while I'm on a call. Occasionally it doesn't bother to let me know someone's calling and will go straight to voicemail or do a quick half-ring and go to VM. Sometimes the touch screen doesn't work and I have to pop the battery out to restart it in order for it to work again. And speaking of the battery, just this morning it died after a ten minute conversation even though it was fully charged. Even my back-up battery has lost it's juice, and I'm not one to overcharge. And you can forget using the bluetooth for more than twenty minutes if you're plugged into a charger. It kills all of the phone's juice too.

Imagine if I were rough with the thing and dropped it often?

Although my phone sounds really sad now that I'm seeing it in black and white, I love it. The fact that it's in dire straits now proves that I'm definitely getting use of it. I don't have a lot of bells and whistles downloaded to it, but I live by the calendar, calculator, Documents to Go, and email functions. Since I have so many accessories for it (car charger, international adapters, cradles, etc) I really don't want to switch to a Blackberry and have to start all over.

Now my dilemna is whether I should put her down now or allow her to die peacefully and with dignity. My service provider, Verzion, currently has online discounts and mail-in rebates for the Treo 700p and 755p. I've been reading and don't want to hassle with the windows based ones. Aside from the 700p having the useless antenna-like thingy and the 755p taking min-SD cards, is there really any difference between them that will justify the 755p costing $100 more? Sure, one is about an ounce lighter, but with all of the junk inside of my purse/briefcase/diaper bag who'll know the difference? Does anyone know if Palm plans to release a new model soon? Of course that will decrease the cost of these two models even more.

Decisions, decisions...

New Beginnings

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:26:58 -0600

2008. A new year. Two weeks ago I celebrated my birthday; the big 3-0. So now I'm in a new decade of my life. I got my real estate license in March 2007, but a few weeks afterwards I was offered a job that I couldn't turn down. The salary, benefits, and responsibilities we too appealing. I took it and decided to put real estate on hold. But only for a minute. Now I think I'm ready. But ready for what? Juggling my already busy life with being a wife, a mother to a busy toddler, a friend, an employee, AND an agent? Being the problem solver in yet another portion of my life? Am I crazy?!

I decided to enter real estate because it addresses the passions in my life. I love problem solving. Give me a book of logic problems, crosswords, and sudoku and you won't hear a peep for hours. I like helping others. It seems that my friends are always coming to me for advice. In my other life I'm an Accountant, Financial Analyst, and MBA. So I love analyzing numbers making things work. I love houses and everything related to them. Look at my Tivo and you can see that. Most of all I love any kind of challenge and defeating the odds. But apparently what I don't love is too much free time.

Nevertheless, with 2008 and turning 30 I'm opening a new chapter of my life. I've been in my job for about seven months, so I guess I'm still kinda new. I've created a new website to try to market myself and plan to send mailers in a few weeks. And I'm going to try blogging. Yep, once I hit that "post" button below I'll be new to that to.

What's the point? Other than typing this so people walking by my office won't think "why is that idiot talking to herself" is to say that I'm ready for new beginnings in my life. And I'm taking my first steps. Will it be a challenge? Heck yeah! But remember I said that I love challenges. And I'm going to hang in there. If anyone out there is reading this and can relate, just know you're not alone. It's going to be a long race, but we'll finish.