Today's the Day to sign up for a Localism Neighborhood (FINALLY), Are you ready? - 07/31/08 07:43 AM
I have watched this for several weeks and am looking forward to (hopefully) signing up for a small segment or two in areas that I have worked here in Austin, Texas for more than fifteen years. My greatest concern is that as much as I have read and researched, I still do not know how the Austin, Texas area will be divided. I have always maintained that it is inefficient to try and market too large of a segment on the greater Austin area because frankly, I specialize in only a small amount of the overall market. My main focus since … (21 comments)

America Sorts its Mail over the Trash Can! - 07/31/08 12:08 AM
I do not know where I first heard that statement but caught myself doing it ten years ago (and I still do...don't you?). It was at that point that I wondered if my direct mail was ever seen before it went into the trash.
I decided years ago that I would not send any more mail to my clients in envelopes. I set began sending monthly marketing cards and yes I still do. Even with all the wonderful ways of communicating through the internet and all of the new technology, it still works for me. I keep it simple and usually … (39 comments)

What’s all the fuss about Localism-Response - 07/29/08 07:02 AM
I recently posted some comments, observations and questions about the new Localism.
What's all the fuss about buying a Localism neighborhood?
In my spare time (that is certainly an oxymoron in my life!) I have been reading a number of the disparaging remarks and complaints about paying for a neighborhood in the new Localism. At the same time I also read a number of interesting views and facts from folks who have been around for awhile and helped build Active Rain and Localism into what it is today. There were nearly 1000 views and numerous comments but surprisingly a very … (12 comments)

WHY I OUGHTA!!! Courtesy when commenting on blogs - 07/28/08 09:16 AM

As a relative newcomer to Active Rain, I am learning at a fast clip that there are many wide and varied opinions and that a lot of people can get very upset and speak out rather vociferously at times. Sometimes it's to express anger or hurt and at other times it's intended to insult or intimidate. I think this is odd but then again it's not surprising. It's easy to comment from the safety of your computer without being nose to nose with others and often I think that folks would never make some of the remarks they do in … (28 comments)

What’s all the fuss about buying a Localism neighborhood? - 07/26/08 01:03 AM
I have been reading with growing interest a number of posts and comments concerning the upcoming localism neighborhood sale/ land rush:
http://localism.com/sponsor
There appears to be a number of different opinions about the subject and I would like to add my two cents worth. Please bear with me because I want to comment on each of the issues and do the best I can to articulate my responses to each.
A number of people have indicated that they feel they have been working and marketing themselves in a region and do not want someone else to have that particular area. The … (76 comments)

Four Texas Cities listed in Forbes Magazine-Best Cities to Buy a Home! - 07/25/08 06:57 PM
I have recently been posting positive news about Austin in my Blog and in order to deflect comments from skeptics who often claim that realtors are just being "mindlessly positive" because it is our "bread and butter"
I offer the newest data from a Forbes Magazine article as confirmation that, in spite of the current economic downturn things are still relatively good here in Texas. A great new article has announced that four of the top ten cities in America to buy a home are located in Texas. Stating that there is "Lots to Like In the Lone-Star State" the magazine noted … (14 comments)

What sellers want to know about a potential listing agent! - 07/22/08 09:12 AM
I answer questions for buyers and sellers in several on line forums and recently had a number of requests for what a home seller should look for in a listing agent and what questions to ask. 
 
•1.  Start by doing a few hours of research on line and with friends who live in your area. Ask around... get to know who has the most signs, ads and marketing material in your neighborhood. Compile a list of agent names and use these questions to help you determine which agent is right for you.
•2.     Who are the most active agents? Not … (20 comments)

Has Texas managed to dodge the bullet (and avoid most of the current economic downturn)? Part II - 07/21/08 02:29 PM

To follow up on my most recent post I came across some interesting information from the Texas State Comptrollers Office.
Susan Combs has been quoted at several functions across the state. She has cited economic growth 60% above the national average and the creation of more than a quarter-million jobs statewide between April 2007 and 2008.
Comptroller Combs has forecasted a 3.2% growth in the GSP for FY 2008 versus the national projection of just 2% economic growth, due in large part to the state's ability to avoid the widespread sub-prime mortgage crisis and housing crunch. She has also noted that "Our state does not have grossly overpriced … (3 comments)

Has Texas managed to dodge the bullet (and avoid most of the current economic downturn)? - 07/21/08 02:14 PM
I wanted to continue my posts about how well Austin and Texas is doing and recently came across the following comment posted by a buyer:
"Of course all the realtors are optimistic about buying in Austin, it is their job and their bread and butter."
It is a shame that much of the general public has such a low opinion of our industry but that is just how it is these days. I offer the following information as reassurance that the current state of affairs in Texas is not just some realtor "pie in the sky" optimism. In reviewing 2007 and … (9 comments)

What's so Great about Austin and Texas at Large? Part 2 - 07/19/08 03:46 PM
In my last post I talked about the real estate market in Austin and Texas. We apparently have managed to dodge a bullet as far as suffering the same catastrophic losses and mortgage meltdown that has enveloped many parts of the country. Again, I am not adopting some sort of "Pollyanna" attitude but laid out convincing facts and figures supporting the idea that we still have a healthy and actually growing economy. Yes we are feeling the effects of problems in the rest of the country but have managed to avoid the extremity of the troubles.
 Market aside, we have some … (1 comments)

What's so Great About Austin and Texas at Large? - 07/18/08 01:08 PM
As a fifth generation native Texan I know the old adage "you can always tell a Texan, you just cannot tell him anything..." I do think the Texas market has escaped suffering many of the dilemmas currently taking place in other parts of the country. I am cautiously confident that we will continue to prosper and grow in spite of the current economic downturn and problems throughout the real estate industry and other parts of the business environment. I do not want to sound overly optimistic or unrealistic but there are several factors that lead to the conclusion.
•1)      Texas went … (6 comments)

 

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