FSBO – For Sale By Owner Homes – Mistake #1 - 03/21/07 07:39 PM
As we approach the prime spring market many people will undoubtedly consider selling their home without using a real estate agent.  Most underestimate the task and simply think they can plant a sign, place an ad and pocket the commission themselves.
The reality is most FSBO's fail and eventually list the property.  The reason their home does not sell is fairly easy to spot for a professional. 
Earlier today I mailed out a letter to many of the homeowners along my 5-Mile running route.  The neighborhood is approaching 30 years old with many Ranch, Raised Ranch and Split Level homes.  A realistic … (4 comments)

Memories of an Ireland Trip. - 03/17/07 02:28 PM
Strange the things you remember as the years pass. We visited Ireland almost a decade ago and I still recall the vivid colors, the lack of people, the food and accommodations.
Green was certainly given a new meaning as we toured the countryside. Every color seemed exaggerated from the lush fields right down to the deep blue sea.  Looking back at the old photos they don't seem to capture the scenes as colorfully.
 
 
The over thing that stands out was the cleanliness and lack of clutter. We rarely saw locals on the streets or in their yards.  Since we are in the Real Estate Business paying … (7 comments)

Junk Mail and Vigilantie Justice - 03/16/07 10:33 AM
 
I say if we cannot banish the bastards develop a way to fight back!  Every day we all have to deal with jerks that waste our time sending commercial spam or their latest half ass scam.  Normally I just hit delete and move on but since this was in my Email and also my ActiveRain Message section I wondered if there was an easy way to fight back.
Since I am no techno-genius I have no clue how much trouble the Spam'er goes through to accomplish their goal.  Did they pick my name individually, select send me an email, paste in the message and type "Tomato"....? 
Certainly … (60 comments)

Home Sales Rise in New Haven County - 03/14/07 03:56 PM
This morning our local newspaper, The New Haven Register, had a story entitled Home sales in state rise 4.6% over 2006.   Being in the real estate business my eye catches stories of this nature.
The media always seems to waffle with their message to the general public.  How long have we heard the gloom and doom of The Real Estate Bubble?  The message implied you should get out the parachute and jump before the prices crash or sit on the sidelines waiting to scoop up a bargain.
When the big price drop failed to materialize they decided to go after the volume.  Claims of vast numbers … (7 comments)

Fun & Fists in the Streets of New Haven! - 03/12/07 12:30 PM
Each year as the Saint Patrick's Day Parade comes and goes I think to myself I should swing into the city and watch the parade, time slips by and the years turn into decades.  My son called Saturday afternoon to see if I wanted to tag along but I wasn't quite sure of my schedule so I said I might meet them there - yesterday I made the trip.  
Brian told me the intersection where he and his fiancé would be positioned so I thought it would be fairly easy to meet up with them.  I parked a few blocks away, … (14 comments)

Climb up East Rock - 03/08/07 04:55 PM
The other day I was in New Haven to watch the Guilford vs Madison Girls Hockey playoff and after the game I had a little free time.   It must be 20 years since I ventured to the Top of East Rock so with my camera in hand I set out on my adventure.
Guess my memory has faded, thought I'd just drive up to the top and take a few pictures.  Unfortunately there was a gate so I had to set off on foot.
My intension was to get some nice city skyline photos but it was late afternoon and my view looking west was into … (1 comments)

The ShamRock & Roll 5k Results - 03/04/07 12:16 PM
Getting ready to leave for a little ski trip and just checked in to see if the results were posted from this morning's run.  My running buddy, far more experienced than me, is a fair weather runner - quits in November and restarts in April but he remains quicker than me. 
Once before a race he gave me his tip, focus in on a nice ass and run.  Told him I'm always back with the retirees, guess I am improving!  Managed to finish with the 27 year olds...
ps.... He was joking when he said it and today was purely coincidental...   ;-))
 
… (7 comments)

This is REALLY Active Rain...! - 03/02/07 12:43 PM
Welcome to March Madness......
We are having a bit of weather in my piece of the world today.  Had a clue that there may be trouble in paradise as I was driving home for lunch and noticed several roads with barricades.   My river frontage is looking a little murky and creeping closer as we speak.
 At least there is a positive twist. Received an email from a friend this morning, we're heading to Vermont this weekend for a ski day and there was a fresh foot by 9:00am. 
Pardon the pun but ... I gotta RUN.
Just stopped in to collect 200 points before I go.
 
 
 
 
… (2 comments)