Home Sellers - Meet Your New Stumbling Block HVCC - 04/28/09 09:58 PM

Via Novation Mortgage:
In an effort not to beat a dead horse this will be short, sweet (?) and to the point.
The head of the FHFA, James B. Lockhart, also the former Director of OFHEO, initiated the Home Valuation Code of Conduct to (paraphrased) "help curtail fraud between loan officers and appraisers".
How will it hurt the home owner/buyer? Two immediate impacts:
1. It currently costs about $350 for a Fannie Mae appraisal including the new MC1004 form which is a new $50 requirement. (Costs are estimates and I am not an appraiser but these are the average prices in the … (0 comments)

3-2-1- LIFTOFF! Prevent Failure to Launch: Help Your Kid Buy A House This Year - 04/28/09 09:58 PM

Via Janet Guilbault California Mortgage Banker/Broker:
It wasn't THAT long ago that we Baby Boomers worried a lot about our kids.
You know, those irrepressible Generation Y kids who were on the Internet at age 4 and who grew up clicking (my son says I grew up turning dials and that is why his generation is superior different).
Sitting on our own fat bubble- enhanced, low taxed properties, we watched prices spiral out of control here in the San Francisco Bay Area. We believed our children would either:
Never be able to afford a house Move away forever Move back in with … (0 comments)

Auction In Daytona Beach Shores - 04/28/09 09:57 PM

Via Jon Zolsky (FunCoast Realty LLC):
With the market like this, we are used to see the signs "Auction" while driving along A1A. Never went to one, know that there isn't much success, as people are waiting, and the hype is simply not there.
I can only imagine auctions 4 years ago. I actually remember how we all went to Venetian Bay to make reservations for condos for our out-of-state buyers. The rules were strict and there were 5 of us, because you could not reserve more than one condo for your client.
We came at 3 AM, and there were 3 … (0 comments)

Swine Flu Map ~ It's Spreading Fast - 04/28/09 09:57 PM

Via Gail MacMillan - CRS, e-PRO, GRI ~ Titusville FL Real Estate-Brevard County (Home Sweet Home Florida Realty):
By now you are probably aware the WHO (World Health Organization) has raised the alert for this flu to Level 4.  There are 6 levels of alerting, raising the bar to Level 4 is not good news.  Click here if you want to read about the WHO and see and understand their pandemic alert chart     The same precautions you would take for any type of influenza apply here as well.  Most important is covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze combined with lots and lots of hand washing.  There … (1 comments)

Getting The Pollyanna Slapped Right Out Of Me! - 04/28/09 09:57 PM

Via Gabrielle (Kamahele) Rhind (Tucson Arizona Real Estate Tierra Antigua Realty):
Just when I thought everyday is another step toward progress, that people reserve their judgments and treat others as we would like to be treated -  along comes someone who smacked that optimism across the room!
Highlights of a beautiful Sunday:
Four kids - all-day playdate. Softball, bike riding, "mud angels" at the playground and matching "peanut butter, jelly, cheese crackers and grape juice" faces. By days end, we look rugged! Then I hear this, "Oh please, please, please can we go for a swim before dinner?"  I give in. Meantime, my husband's been doing yard work. Convincing him chocolate … (0 comments)

Let's Get Down To The Truth About Short Sales - 04/28/09 09:56 PM

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):
There have been so many posts written about short sales on Active Rain lately. When I first started blogging on Active Rain in June of 2007 there was only us and Dan Forbes that were writing series on how to do a short sale. At that time I would say that 90% of all the comments that we received were that agents were refusing to list or sell short sales. In fact, there were brokers who dissallowed the agents in their offices to participate in Short Sales.
… (1 comments)

10 Things You Can Do With Adwords That You Can't Do Organically - 04/28/09 09:56 PM

Via Joel McDonald -- www.AutomatedHomefinder.com:
I get into discussions with folks all the time about "paid traffic" vs. "free traffic" quite often, and my contention is that free traffic is wonderful when you can get it, but the control you get with paid traffic can far outweigh any amount of free traffic that you might get.  Much like why many people prefer the precise control of a manual transmission over automatic transmission, paid traffic can have the same benefits when you know what you're doing.
Here are 10 things you can do with Adwords, Yahoo, and MSN Pay-Per-Click marketing (PPC) that simply … (0 comments)

Sneak Peek: new Rain wallpaper, REsources, In The News... - 04/28/09 09:56 PM

Via marti garaughty (The Art Of Marketing YOU):
 Hi guys, while I'm busy working in the background putting a whole bunch of new stuff together, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at a new Rain wallpaper that will be available soon.
 One of my favorite things about the web is the ability it gives us to connect and share stuff with more people than we could ever reach in traditional ways such as newspaper ads, direct mail, etc...
 Think about it... now we can easily get our message across to clients & potential clients and totally bypass traditional media.
… (0 comments)

Short Sale Realtor tip #7, Don’t Forget to be Nice, Bloomfield, MI - 04/28/09 09:56 PM

Via Mike Sher (Real Estate One):
Recently I heard another agent yelling on the phone with a loss mitigation rep for a short sale. She was screaming “you better take this offer or your bank will go under and you’ll be out of a job”. Well in a few weeks, the home was foreclosed on and the agent was out of a sale.
It is not their fault that the mortgage terms were unfair, or that borrower can not pay the loan anymore, they are just hired to make the best of the bad hand that was dealt. They do like being … (0 comments)

The Confident Rookie Series - SECRET EIGHT - Get Comfy with Your Commission - 04/15/09 05:40 PM

Via Jennifer Allan, Author of Sell with Soul (Sell with Soul):
Most new agents are terrified about the prospect of discussing their commission with a potential seller. If this is the case for you, you're going to need to be 100% comfortable with the commission fee you're going to propose. If you aren't, you're dead meat. If you have concerns that you're overcharging for your value, it will be crystal clear to the seller prospect. In my first year, almost all of my listings were taken at a very low percentage because that's all I thought I was worth, due to … (0 comments)

OK Now I'm Upset! - 04/15/09 05:40 PM

Via Jeannette Neerpat, e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate (London Realty Corp):
Last week I spent my days with several buyers. Out of the three I was with two put in offers. Both homes had been on the market for awhile with no offers.
Both placed offers and when I was sending them I asked if there were any submitted already. Both said no, perfect. Now both were sent.
I called on one and he tells me that another offer came through and they went with the other offer before my buyers even had a chance to counter. Great, back to the drawing … (0 comments)

An SEO Cage Match between Trulia and Zillow? (or at least a spirited discussion...) - 04/15/09 05:39 PM

Via Jim Marks (Virtual Results):
My guess is that when Teresa Boardman posted this message to Twitter:
“O.K. if an agent could only use one, which should they use? Zillow or Trulia?”
She had very little idea (or did she?) what an inspired discussion would commence. As it is with Twitter, both David Gibbons, Community Director of Zillow and Rudy Bachraty, Social Media Guru of Trulia were listening, and what transpired over the next hour or so was a spirited discussion on SOME of the merits of Zillow and Twitter.
Now, this discussion fell quite short of discussing the ENTIRE difference and … (0 comments)

Big Prize: Win A Trip to Seattle and VIP treatment For A Special ActiveRain Event - 04/15/09 05:39 PM

Via Jeremy Blanton (ActiveRain Corp.):
As many of you saw last night, I shared that I had heard a rumor that ActiveRain was going to be giving stuff away. 
What do we want from you? ActiveRain has a Rainmaker Membership Program. This gives new members an all-access pass to the most popular component of ActiveRain, our 2 million monthly consumer visitors.  
Rainmakers can post content directly to the public on ActiveRain & Localism, have those posts indexed by the search engines, and utilize an Outside ActiveBlog with a unique domain name. So we want our current members thinking about how to engage … (1 comments)

To be or not to be an EXPERT, that is the question - Such as an FHA Expert - 04/15/09 05:37 PM

Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA Loans -- FHA mortgages - USDA loans (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):
I am a FHA Specialist – FHA Expert
I am a Real Estate Expert
 
A question to the general public out there.  When searching for an expert in a specific field in the papers, online, or on tv....  do you look for the word Expert or Specialist?  Does this comfort you? This can be very dangerous and I will explain why.
 

Even though I have been doing this for over 16 years, it seems that this problem is … (0 comments)

Great Closing Gift Idea for Realtors and Brokers - 04/14/09 03:52 PM

Via Dawn Orbeck Send Out Cards Ind. Distributor #33245 (Send Out Cards Midland, MI):
If you struggle at times finding the right closing gift for your client, here is an idea for you - Reflective Address Signs.
At first blush, it may not seem like a very memorable gift, but the Realtor in my local BNI chapter has been raving about the reception she is receiving from her clients.
If you are a SendOutCards user, you can even take a picture of the house with the new sign and send a Thank You card with the picture on the front of the … (0 comments)

Birthday Card Marketing; Remembering Customers on Their Birthdays - 04/14/09 03:52 PM

Via Dawn Orbeck Send Out Cards Ind. Distributor #33245 (Send Out Cards Midland, MI):
Birthdays are a great time to contact customers, friends and referral partners.  In fact, a recent survey conducted by Hallmark showed that:
69% of respondants had received a birthday greeting card from a company Of those, 47% said the card made them more likely to do business with that company 75% said a birthday card with a discount during their birthday month would make them more likely to do business with the company. Customers really do notice and appreciate when a company sends them good wishes around their … (0 comments)

Making a Name For Yourself-Part III - 04/14/09 03:50 PM

Via Julie Escobar (ProspectsPLUS!):
Smart Agent Branding Strategies from Some of Today's Top Agents
By Julie Escobar, Director of Corporate Marketing, ProspectsPLUS!
You may recall, in last month's article we started to dive into some of the unique ways top agents "Make a Name for Themselves." We shared the story of Short Sale Specialist Bob Daniel and his powerful approach to building and owning that niche in his market area. Before that, we learned from one of real estate's Top 50 REALTORS® on the Rise in 2008, Kathy Casarin, who shared her terrific strategies for marketing to FSBOs and Expireds. If you … (0 comments)

An Activerain Secret...Shh, don't let Bob know I am letting the Secret out early! - 04/14/09 11:23 AM

Via Jeremy Blanton (ActiveRain Corp.):

As soon as I get more details on this, I will pass them on to everyone! But, in the meantime, I need everyone to help me spread the word on the underground. Reblog if you like, but please help me spread the word! … (0 comments)

Sorry, I'm Too Busy to Tell You About My Listings - 04/14/09 11:21 AM

Via Ryan Hukill - Edmond Realtor® (Hukill Group - Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate):
WARNING: RANT AHEAD!!
From time to time, I come to the conclusion that I've found the floor of incompetence in our industry, but then - to my amazement - someone comes along that shows me that there's actually a basement below that floor.  It's times like these that I'm ashamed to be considered in the 'same profession' as many of my colleagues.  I'm then left wondering, 'Can I change the title and image associated with what I do?'  The answer is Yes of course, but only a little bit … (0 comments)

ActiveRains On-Line Training Webinars - Welcome To Session One - 04/14/09 11:20 AM

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain):
ActiveRains "First" On-Line Training Webinar - Welcome To Session One
First, I want to thank all of you who have been waiting patiently for these webinars.  I just received a comment on my post from Cathy Tishhouse which reminded me, and made me realize that we need to get these training webinars under way.  We have just setup our very own AR On-line Training room, and we're ready to do our first session.  Our goal in session one is to help AR members get their Outside Blogs created and setup so they can benefit just … (0 comments)

At Home With Diversity Training - 04/14/09 11:20 AM

Via Rebecca Nystrom (Nystrom Realty):
I had never heard of the At Home With Diversity certification until I was taking a multicultural course as part of my GRI classes.  However, I was immediately on board.  Who doesn't want to express their commitment to better understanding buyers in our marketplace?  Whether you like it or not, we live in a rapidly changing multicultural environment.  America's a melting pot.  It's who we are and what makes us a strong nation.  We value each other's difference.  We learn from each other and work together toward a better country. 
I challenge every REALTOR® to take a multicultural … (0 comments)

The art of the deal...or not - 04/13/09 05:22 PM

Via Fairbanks Ak Real Estate Broker Jesse & Kathy Clifton 907-699-6024 (Jesse Clifton & Associates, REALTORS®):
Principles of negotiation.  Books have been written about it.  Speakers travel the world lecturing about it.  Millions have been spent trying to uncover the secret.  For some, it will remain an abstract principle they will sadly never master.
A few weeks ago I had the chance to speak with a fellow for whom negotiations had not been a kind mistress.  This fellow, we'll call him Stanley, set out to buy a home for his family and ended up outmaneuvered by a more skilled negotiator into a … (0 comments)

Should ActiveRain Ban Profanity? - 04/13/09 05:19 PM

Via John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace):
Maybe I've just been catching ActiveRain at the 'right' time lately, but it seems that there is more and more profanity creeping into posts and comments. Initially I thought this would be addressed by AR's Terms of Service or the Guidelines. Seeing no mention there, I reasoned that maybe the AR Team considered this a free speech issue because this site is essentially a public forum.
Exactly how big of an issue is this on ActiveRain? Do a search for any common obscenity and you may … (0 comments)

Larry Kudlow's Spin on Wells Fargo - 04/13/09 05:19 PM

Via Mark MacKenzie Real Estate Planning:
Whomever said the media loves bad economic and housing news has never met CNBC's Larry Kudlow.
Larry Kudlow has been consistently spinning economic data for the past several months and his recent blog post about Wells Fargo's first quarter "profit" is no exception.  In response to Wells Fargo's earnings report, Kudlow writes, "Wells Fargo Bank shocked Wall Street today with an earnings report that was double what the street mavens expected. Stocks shot up 200 points. What's the first message? Banks are turning profitable. They're in better shape than people think."
Larry, if they are in such good shape, … (0 comments)

How ActiveRain introduced me to Seth Godin (the Butterfly Effect) - 04/13/09 05:18 PM

Via marti garaughty (The Art Of Marketing YOU):
 Hi guys... there's not a drop of snow left in Montreal and today I'm enjoying a serious coffee/chocolate buzz. In other words, life is good!
 On top of that, 2 days ago I received the coolest Easter gift ever (no, it's not chocolate) and I wanted to share it with you since the reason this gift was sent to me has a lot to do with ActiveRain, my Rain friends and my ActiveRain blog
 


 If you don't know what The Butterfly Effect is, here's a short definition from Wikipedia...
 "The … (0 comments)

Active Rain Success Story ~ 2 Accepted contracts in 7 days thanks to ActiveRain! - 04/13/09 05:18 PM

Via Kristin Moran, CDPE ~ San Antonio,TX~Real Estate 210-313-7397 (RE/MAX Access ):
I have been blogging since August 2008 after lurking around for quite awhile.  I finally jumped in feet first & haven't stopped since.  It is fair to say that I am addicted.  
I LOVE networking with other Realtors around the world (and in my own town!), sharing ideas, successes and helpful hints. 
As a result of my blogging I have:
Made friends Received Referrals Developed better marketing strategies Gotten ideas on developing our website Found out about & started using twitter & facebook Been interviewed by the San Antonio Express News … (0 comments)

Top Secret Project Brings Dustin Luther and Jim Marks to ActiveRain - 04/13/09 05:17 PM

Via Bob Stewart - ActiveRain (ActiveRain):
We've had the chance since our launch back in 2006 to add some exceptional members to our team here at ActiveRain. I am really excited to announce a new partnership with Dustin Luther and Jim Marks. Dustin and Jim have joined the ActiveRain team to lead one of most exciting projects, ever.
Dustin Luther has long been one of the pioneers in the online real estate space. His entry onto the real estate social networking scene came by way of founding the Rain City Guide, a popular multi-author blog servicing the Seattle Real Estate market. He … (0 comments)

Staging the yard for sale, not only the interior of the house! - 04/13/09 05:17 PM

Via Settles Team with in Bettina Settles Realty, LLC:
Now that it is Spring and you might think of selling, you need to get this home ready for the sale. Sure, everybody has already heard about interior Staring, but have you though of staging your exterior of the home as well?
We all know the obvious things to do; planting flowers, cut the grass, take the kids toys, and make them disappear....
First, you need to lay the ground for a good and nice looking yard. All the flowerbeds and grass should be weed free.
You can find in any local lawn … (0 comments)

1695 Bethel Street - 4BR Completely Updated Home - This One Won't Last Long! - 04/13/09 02:42 PM
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8383 Thomas Avenue - Great Starter Home with Large Yard - 04/13/09 02:36 PM
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Always be Caring and the Closings Will Happen - 04/13/09 01:47 PM

Via Tim Maitski "Video Agent Guy" (HomeAtlanta.com):
I think that the key to getting more business is to care about your clients.  It's pretty basic stuff.  No tricks or techniques to learn.  Just be a human being who really cares about the welfare of your client. 
If you care, the closings will happen.
I studied many sales training techniques and understand their methods.  But if it's just about doing whatever it takes in order to get to the closing table so you can get your check, then I'm probably a big loser.
Many times getting to the closing table is also in the … (0 comments)

Bank Of America Announces "Drive Through" Short Sale Service - 04/13/09 01:47 PM

Via Laraine Shape (Pruitt Real Estate, Inc.):
 
Melbourne, Florida - In an effort to prevent a massive bank run by depositors and improve customer relations, Bank of America is now offering a "drive through" short sale service complete with complimentary Starbucks coffee and baked goods. 
The move came on the heels of a public uproar after Bank of America sent a credit card rate hike letter to millions of their customers. According to undisclosed sources, even bank employees got the unpopular letter. 
So far, the new short sale service has proven to be hugely successful and promises to ease at … (0 comments)

7 Things Every Real Estate Agents Should Love about Facebook's Business Pages? - 04/13/09 01:46 PM

Via Dustin Luther (4Realz.net):
About a week ago, I gave some background on what I've been up to and asked the AR community what type of topics they'd suggest I cover.   The first topic of interest was SEO, so I decided to start with a post that gave the anatomy of blogging SEO.   I'll come back with some more SEO stuff in the near future (including some background on generating quality inbound links), but first I thought I would dive into the 2nd area of interest: Facebook Pages.   (By the way, there was also some interest in affiliate programs so I wrote … (0 comments)

Updates on Activerain Effective 4/13/09 - 04/13/09 01:46 PM

Via Jeremy Blanton (ActiveRain Corp.):
As you begin your day on Activerain today, you will notice two minor changes.  Both have been designed to make things much cleaner looking.  First, you will notice that Groups have been moved into a drop down box.

The second change is there is now a new link added to your my home page that says notifications.  This box has been created for you to keep track of all the different posts that you have signed up to be notified of new comments on.  This will allow faster and easier navigation to these posts.

 
… (0 comments)

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - 7327 Division Avenue - Up to 6 Additional Properties Available - 04/13/09 01:43 PM
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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - 508 Annie Laura Drive - Up to 6 Additional Properties Available - 04/13/09 01:40 PM
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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - 6001 1st Avenue South - Up to 6 Additional Properties Available - 04/13/09 01:27 PM
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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - 8235 Rugby Avenue - Up to 6 Additional Properties Available - 04/13/09 01:13 PM
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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - 5025 2nd Avenue North - Up to 6 Additional Properties Available - 04/13/09 01:07 PM
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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - 6812 5th Court North - Up to 6 Additional Properties Available - 04/13/09 01:02 PM
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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY - 552 68th Place North - Up to 6 Additional Properties Available - 04/13/09 12:59 PM
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Who are some of your favorite AR Bloggers? (A list of famous, infamous and fun to read little known bloggers) - 04/10/09 07:28 PM

Via Brian Brumpton, Boise Idaho Real Estate (Keller Williams Boise):
Okay, we see the big boys and girls on the featured pages all the time.  They're the "MEGA" contributors to AR what they write we all like to read.  They're well known and well respected for their talents. I've been fortuante enough to grace the featured pages twice but these people have been there hundereds of times.
What I wanted to do is compile a list of little known favorites of ours.  The people yet to hit the big time here on AR.  I know it's not proper to post links … (0 comments)

How To Add Google Maps To Your Blog and Posts. - 04/09/09 07:42 PM

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):
One of the questions I get asked is, " How do you add the Google maps to your blog posts?" Here is the tutorial on how to add the Google maps to your articles, website pages, blogs, etc. In just a few steps; you are ready to go. First set up your own Free Google account. Go to Google.com and set up your Free Google Gmail account. This way you can save all your maps on your igoogle page. I wrote this post about a small … (0 comments)

The Unreasonable Expectations Of TwitterHype - 04/09/09 07:29 PM

Via Larry Easto (Real Estate Marketing Link):
Twitter can help increase web visitors...but beware TwitterHype.
More Followers Means More Visitors
I am happy to report that Twitter has now become a useful element of marketing my website.
Since starting to use Twitter to help attract visitors to my website, the average number of daily visitors has doubled.
For the month of March, Twitter was the second highest source of referrals to my website...only Google referred more visitors.
When I got serious about using Twitter, I was following about 30 people and had a similar number of followers.
Out of nowhere...this seems … (0 comments)

FHA / HUD sets standards for Mortgagee Monitoring - 04/09/09 07:29 PM

Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA Loans -- FHA mortgages - USDA loans (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):
For many that don’t know, FHA was created by the National Housing Act of 1934. What people need to understand is that FHA doesn’t make the loans, but that they insure the mortgages for the lenders sake.  The investors/lenders are the entities that make loans to borrowers. HUD, which stands for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a government agency that was started in 1965 to help homeowners achieve that American Dream. They help borrowers with HUD approved programs, approves lenders to … (0 comments)

More Questionable "Green Building" Advertising - 04/09/09 07:28 PM

Via Jeff Geoghan MBA - Lancaster PA Real Estate Expert (The Jeff Geoghan Realty Group, Coldwell Banker Lancaster PA):
I received an email trumpeting "Charter Goes Green!" the other day.  Skeptic that I am, I was doubtful.  I've seen "going green" claims before...
Well, here's my analysis of the latest green claim by a major builder:
Good: They got involved with Energy Star (a federal energy efficiency program)
Not So Good: The marketing looks like generic facts about energy conservation from the government Energy Star materials.
Good:  Having a large builder such as this promoting energy efficiency in homes will (probably) spur … (0 comments)

Would You Pay More To Sell Your House? - 04/09/09 09:29 AM

Via Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Reston (Momentum Realty):
I just read an article on MSN Money, Pay More to Sell a Home Faster,  that says that sellers have begun paying larger commissions to incent their Brokers to work harder and to bring in more buyer's agents.
I am sorry, did I miss something?
When I create a contract with a buyer or with a seller, I create a relationship where I work for their best interest. If I choose to show a house because I would get a higher commission, whose interests am I representing--theirs or mine? It might be theirs, … (0 comments)

Indian Springs Village for UNDER $300k - 04/06/09 04:31 PM
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204 Country Club Drive - Great Location, Home w/ Lots of Space - 04/06/09 01:28 PM
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Best Deal on the Market for 4 BR New Construction - 04/06/09 01:26 PM
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#1 Tip for Successful Blogging??? - 04/05/09 11:54 PM

Via Dustin Luther (4Realz.net):
#1 Do *not* over-think yourself!  
It's been too long since I updated my AR blog, so my initial reaction is to do a massive everything-under-the-sun post that "perfectly" encapsulates everything I've been working in the year+ since I've been active... 
However, I know myself well enough to know that ain't gonna happen...  Whenever I start to write a HUGE post, I end up over-thinking myself, writing piece, saving drafts and never hitting the publish button.   That's gotta be the #1 reason I really like micro-blogging sites is that it forces me to hit "publish" on an … (1 comments)

Do you remember … - 04/05/09 11:52 PM

Do you remember when a trip to your mailbox yielded the possibility of more than just bills and advertisements?
Do you remember what it feels like to get a real greeting card, unexpectedly, in the mail from someone special?
Do you remember what it feels like to send someone an unexpected, heartfelt card?
Do you remember special dates and contact information ahead of time? Before it’s too late?
Do you remember to listen to those special “inner promptings” that tell you to reach out to someone special?
Remember all of those special people in your life? Your friends, family, customers …
They feel the same … (4 comments)

The "Real" Unemployment Rate Jumps To 15.6% - 04/05/09 02:28 PM

Via Mark MacKenzie Real Estate Planning:
While all of the media points to an 8.5% unemployment rate in March according to the U-3 labor report data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number you won't hear anybody talking about is the U-6 unemployment number which jumped from 14.8% to 15.6%.
The U-6 unemployment number includes three types of workers that are overlooked by the U-3 number:
1.)  Marginally attached workers - people that want a full time job, have looked for one in the past, but are no longer looking for work.
2.)  Discouraged workers - those that have given a job market … (0 comments)

The Police are following me on Twitter - 04/05/09 02:27 PM

Via Linda Davis (RE/MAX Realty Group):
An email recently landed in my inbox with the subject line " Ledyard Police is now following you on Twitter."  I admit it was a bit disconcerting.  Actually, I freaked out temporarily when I realized I was one of only 3 people being followed.  I ran into  "Ledyard Police" a few nights later.  I'm a member of the Ledyard Town Council and we were discussing the police budget.  (Honestly, I don't make this stuff up.) As it turns out  "Ledyard Police" was following me for all the right reasons.  It seems that police departments in … (0 comments)

115 Lime Creek Lane - 04/03/09 06:56 PM
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5263 Promenade Drive - 04/03/09 06:50 PM
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2101 Indian Crest Drive - 04/03/09 06:45 PM
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Your Inquisitive Nature Can Be A Viral Business Building Favor - 04/03/09 06:38 PM

Via Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision):
Online Marketing requires an inquisitive nature to make sure you are on target and relevant.  It takes an inquiring mind to make sure that you are having two way conversations and engaging readership, prospects, and customers in a web 2.0 world.
How's your natural tendency for Q and A----do you scamper in the other direction or do you gravitate toward engagement?  Q and A is a great link building, viral market campaign strategy that can bring you prospects, readership, and Google Juice if you are willing … (0 comments)

Realtors® Win! No Banks In Real Estate! - 04/03/09 06:37 PM

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):
Realtors® just won the long fought battle to keep banks out of Real Estate. It certainly has been a no brainer to prove that banks just don't have what it takes to be in the people business after all the short sale fiascoes and foreclosures problems.  
While I have no clue why this bill was placed in the H.R. 1105 Omnibus Appropriations Bill because it really has nothing to do with all the spending and I am totally against the massive spending- at least I can … (0 comments)

Metropolitan Birmingham Area Sales Statistics through March 31st - 04/03/09 02:37 PM

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Think Like A Buyer - And Your Listings Will Sell - 04/03/09 02:28 PM

Via Kristina Pratt, Realtor - JustDuckyHomes.com (St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors):
Back in 2005, anyone with a real estate license could sell a house.  Snap a picture, stick a sign in the yard and put the listing in the MLS with a one sentence description and you were done.  Those days are long, long gone.
The numbers in my market indicate that the chances of selling a home in Edwardsville/Glen Carbon is only 42%.  42%... that's staggering.  The houses that are selling are the ones that are priced right, show well and are marketed effectively.
We've got quite … (0 comments)

Marketing is a lot like exercising...tone and see results - 04/03/09 02:27 PM

Via Anne Marie Malfi, "Marketing" Virtual Assistant/Owner, Bucks County, PA (Malfi Marketing Solutions):
Spring is here and summer is just around the corner, and I don't know about you, but right now I'm dreading seeing my body in a bathing suit.  Yes, the effects of the winter and not closely paying attention to my diet and exercise routine are clearly evident to me.
So why am I sharing that with you?  I strongly believe that marketing and exercise can be very closely related and will show how when you think of your commitment to exercise and all the benefits it provides … (0 comments)

Give your listing a good impression with a great front Photo! - 04/01/09 10:30 AM

Via Ian Haseltine (Haseltine-Photo):
Why is the front photograph so important?
99.9% of real estate listings begin with a photograph of the front/exterior of the property. The first photograph a prospective buyer sees is most often going to encourage them to either view or not view your property's listing. It is important that your opening photograph conveys the home/building in a way that makes it look as large as possible, shows off the unique dimensions of the home/building, captures the best features of the property's curb appeal, and of course is an eye-appealing great overall photograph.

 
Show the home's dimensions and shape -
… (0 comments)

Do You Have Broken Links On Your Website? Want Help Finding Them? - 04/01/09 10:27 AM

Via Lisa Udy (Logan Utah Real Estate Youngblood Real Estate LLC):
When you're on a website, come to a link, click on it, and go to an error page, does it upset you as a viewer? Do you close the website and move on to another? 
When someone is searching the web for information, and they land on your site, you want them to find what they need, give them what they want, and have them leave happy. What happens when you have broken links, and your visitors leave your site because you "lied" to them? They clicked the link that you said would … (0 comments)

It took me hundreds of hours to figure out EXACTLY how to become a Social Media Rockstar. - 04/01/09 10:18 AM

Via Jim Marks (Virtual Results):
It took me years and hundreds of hours before I finally figured out EXACTLY what it takes to be a Social Media Rockstar.

Now, I am NOT speaking of the "I followed 5000 people that I know have auto-follow to get a bigger follow base" type of Rockstar.. That would be too easy. I want to be the "I have 5000 followers that love me, engage me and hang on my every word" type of Social Media Rockstar..." You get it, the "other social media rockstars will fly thousands of miles to attend a conference I … (0 comments)

Do YOU know what Conficker is? You should... - 04/01/09 12:18 AM

Via Christianne Gordon (RE/MAX Realty Affiliates):
The hackers behind the worm have yet to give it any specific orders. "That's the interesting thing. The only thing the worm is being asked to do is to ask for further instructions," Steve Trilling, vice president of security firm Symantec, told the CBS program "60 Minutes" in a story aired on Sunday.
Do YOU know what Conficker is? You Should...
According to Wikipedia, Conficker is a computer worm virus that surfaced in October 2008 and has 4-5 iterations existing in the wild. It is also known as Downup, Kido, and Downadup.
How do I know … (0 comments)

Get 19,530 new twitter followers in 30 days? - 04/01/09 12:07 AM
Hey check this out...
To all of you agents who have embraced new technology like Facebook, Craigslist, and Twitter.  This is a great way to start getting Twitter followers.  Most of you will go "why do I want random followers?"  Well, the more people who follow you, the more popular you are and the more relevant you appear.  The more you talk about real estate or buying or selling homes, the more people are likely to find you in twitter searchs, etc.  It's just another way to get your name out there for people to see.
I just found this site … (9 comments)

 
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Robert Kenmore

Leeds, AL

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RE/MAX Southern Homes

Address: 903 Montgomery Highway, Birmingham, AL, 35216

Office Phone: (205) 776-6771

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