Mortgage Delinquencies - The Coming Storm - 09/30/09 02:55 PM
This is an excellent read:
Via Jeff Geoghan MBA - Lancaster PA Real Estate Expert (The Jeff Geoghan Realty Group, Coldwell Banker Lancaster PA):
This is one of those posts where I wish I didn't have to write it, but felt it was so important to my readers that I would be remiss not to at least talk about it.
Everyone out there probably knows somebody who is behind on their mortgage payments, looking for alternatives and likely also just finding out that their home's value has dipped below what their loan amount is. I know some within my own personal circles. It's … (0 comments)
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HOME MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES STILL LOW - IT'S A GOOD TIME TO MAKE THE DECISION TO BUY A HOME! - 09/30/09 09:34 AM
Take a look at the graph, by Lenn on interest rates, it's very interesting and now is a fantastic time to buy!
Via Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate:
INTEREST RATES STILL LOW - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT - IT'S A GOOD TIME TO MAKE THE DECISION TO BUY A HOME!
WANTED: Home buyers who are ready, willing and able to purchase a home.
FACT: It's a good time to buy a home because:
Home mortgage interest rates are low. There are many homes offered for sale. There's no place like home.
2009 has been a … (0 comments)
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Rumors are eroding the foundation of the real estate industry. Move your business forward on facts and not innuendo! - 09/30/09 09:28 AM
Rumors can be harmful ~ read this post from Richard:
Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty:
There is an undercurrent awash in the already choppy waters of the real estate industry. And while one can adequately defend against that which is overtly posing an immediate threat, it can be very difficult to address that unseen hazards that lie beneath the surface.
Unsubstantiated rumors are one of the most destructive forces eroding the foundation of the real estate industry. In these tumultuous times, those that work in the industry seek rationalization for the unprecedented shift in real estate evaluations and … (0 comments)
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Do You Want In God We Trust Taken off of Our Money? - 09/30/09 08:56 AM
MSNBC is taking a vote right now on whether or not "In God We Trust" should remain on our American currency. It seems that a batch was made and circulated without the phrase. The link is below, you will have to turn off your pop-up blocker to view the voting site on their webpage. You can also read the entire story. Click over and vote before they take the site down.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/
… (6 comments)
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This is too funny! - 09/30/09 12:04 AM
The weather in the upstate of Spartanburg, South Carolina has been absolutely beautiful for the last few days. We are starting to feel that little tinge of fall in the air. Whenever possible, I work at home. My system is wireless and I can work out on the patio and watch the humming birds. Tonight, as my laptop has gotten warm, there are ants crawling out of it. They must have found it outside today. It has been an experience to have the little boogers crawling out of my laptop. Do any of you have any ideas on how I can … (22 comments)
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Is The FDIC Killing Short Sales? - 09/29/09 11:22 PM
What's Happening??!
Via Bob Hertzog (Summit Home Consultants):
Is The FDIC Killing Short Sales?
As some of you already know, I blogged recently about being interviewed recently by our local NBC news affiliate. To read the blog, click here. Basically, IndyMac Bank (now OneWest Bank), is holding one of my clients hostage, demanding a $75k promissory note, or they will proceed to foreclosure. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why they were doing this. The BPO came in at the contract price of $275k, with a net to IndyMac of $241k. What advantage could there possibly be for them to … (6 comments)
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What Does The Graphic Say? - 09/29/09 10:58 PM
Have you ever wondered who comes up with all of those crazy word on the "what does the graphic say?" Have you ever typed it in wrong and your post or comment would not go through. I know that there are good reasons why this procedure is needed, but some of these words are just really out there. The other ones that get me are the ones that are distorted and you can barely make out the letters. What do you guys think about the graphics? … (26 comments)
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Is The FDIC Broke? How Could That Be? - 09/29/09 10:35 PM
This is scary and you need to read it:
Via Bob Hertzog (Summit Home Consultants):
IS THE FDIC BROKE? HOW COULD THAT BE?
All of the networks are "buzzing" today, saying that the FDIC is going to ask banks to pre-pay their FDIC Insurance Premiums for the next three years. This will bring in roughly $15 Billion for each year that is "pre-paid". Why are they taking such a drastic action? They say that they need to "shore up" their FDIC Fund, due to the large amount of bank failures this year, and they don't want to borrow from the Treasury, as this … (4 comments)
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Add $50,000 to your bottom line: Hit your target with your links! - 09/26/09 10:54 PM
This is really a thought provoking blog ~ worth reading.
Via Bob Stewart - ActiveRain (ActiveRain):
Linking from your posts to your IDX home search site should be one of the primary strategies you employ as you create content for your blog. How you create these links and where you send the person clicking on them could make the difference in how your readers interact with you. The proper implementation of this strategy could be the difference between converting your blog readers into clients and ultimately business and simply being someone providing information out of the goodness of your heart.
Remember, you should … (1 comments)
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Add $50,000 to your bottom line: Hit your target with your links! - 09/26/09 10:54 PM
This is really a thought provoking blog ~ worth reading.
Via Bob Stewart - ActiveRain (ActiveRain):
Linking from your posts to your IDX home search site should be one of the primary strategies you employ as you create content for your blog. How you create these links and where you send the person clicking on them could make the difference in how your readers interact with you. The proper implementation of this strategy could be the difference between converting your blog readers into clients and ultimately business and simply being someone providing information out of the goodness of your heart.
Remember, you should … (0 comments)
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Is Social Media a fad or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial revolution? - 09/26/09 10:49 PM
Great post about social media:
Via Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection:
By 2010 Generation Y will outnumber baby boomers. 96% of them have joined a social network. Social Media has overtaken porn as the Number One activity on the Web. Years to reach 50 million users: Radio: 38 years TV: 13 years Internet: 4 years If Facebook were a country it would be the worlds 4th largest. 80% of companies are using LinkedIn as their primary tool to find employees. 80% of Twitter usage is on mobile devices. People update … (3 comments)
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How to tell "real" buyers from tire-kickers (one question) - 09/26/09 10:45 PM
This is a grat blog ~ please read it.
Via Dean Jackson helps Realtors make more money! (MarketingMonday.com - Weekly Real Estate Marketing Podast ):
Generating lots of leads is pretty easy.
What most people seem to struggle with is "converting" those leads into clients.
The prevailing attitude seems to be that leads are somehow dirty...and need to be scrubbed.
Someone asked me just yesterday how to tell the "real" buyers from the tire-kickers - so it inspired me to write this post.
The truth about lead "conversion" is that you can't actually convert anybody to do anything. They either ARE or … (1 comments)
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Beautifully Decorated home with beautiful gardens and outbuildings - 09/26/09 08:28 PM
… (4 comments)
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What do you mean you want to know how much longer the roof will last? - 09/26/09 08:01 PM
What kind of shape is your roof in ~ take a look at this!
Via Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com):
One of the most common things a buyer wants to know about the house is, “How old is the roof.” This is code for, “How much longer will the roof last.”
These questions are not all that easy to answer---especially the later one.
While I do my best to give some “general” guidance regarding these questions, I make it very clear that whatever I say should be considered a “guesstimate” at best. There are … (5 comments)
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Seller's Want You to Show Them The Money - 09/26/09 07:46 PM
Have you ever been to closing and represented the Buyer and realized that the Seller's had not been prepared to attend closing? I was in a closing about ten years ago where the Seller's had no idea they had to bring funds to the table to close their house. Are there still agents out there who are not preparing a Seller's Net Sheet for their Sellers? I hope that all of you are preparing a seller's net sheet for your sellers. We prepare on and make it a part of our listing presentation. We also have the seller to sign it … (6 comments)
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Singing The Obama Song - 09/26/09 07:35 PM
I am sure that most of you have hear on the news by now about the school children singing the Obama song. How do you feel about that? How do you feel about your children and grand children singing the Obama song? Personally, I was somewhat shocked. Some people have a problem with their children saying the pledge of allegiance, but it's ok to sing this song? What do you guys think about this? … (30 comments)
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New ActiveRain and Localism embed code is available for your RealBird listings - SEO benefits - 09/26/09 07:25 PM
How About Real Bird?
Via Real Bird (RealBird Inc.):
We extended the available options for embedding your listings that are published via RealBird. The new ActiveRain, Localism and blog post widget is an HTML embed code and designed for maximizing the SEO benefits of reposting your RealBird listings to your blogs. As opposed to the other RealBird listing widgets, this new version generates an embeddable flyer as a HTML code, that you can copy and paste into your blog post and it has many deep links to your RealBird single property website, to your social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, MyBlogLog, AR) to your … (3 comments)
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Your Brochure Should Show You're a Problem Solver - 09/24/09 10:53 AM
Here is some great information for your personal brochure:
Via Bob Corcoran (Corcoran Consulting & Coaching):
When you think about spreading the word about your business, a brochure automatically come to mind. Even though customers may find out about you and your services on the Internet, when people meet you, they like to come away with something more substantial than a business card.
Brochures can give a good "snapshot" of your business. Aside from presenting your logo and your contact information (address, phone/fax number, website, email address) - business card content- the brochure gives you a chance to tell the client what to … (0 comments)
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HOW ARE ECONOMIC STATISTICS REPORTED? I BELIEVE THERE IS A NEW ECONOMIC PARADIGM. - 09/24/09 10:29 AM
This blog post is right on top if it by Lenn:
Via Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate:
* * * * HARD CORE REAL ESTATE TALK * * * *
I seem to recall reading somewhere about 3 months ago that the administration was forecasting growth in of the U.S. economy of 4%. Since that time, I've read the same predictions from several "authoritive sources". Whenever I see such a prediction, I can merely say to myself. . how???
BE PREPARED! I also believe that a lot of folks simply believe that if we expect good things … (0 comments)
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The Numbers Can't Lie - 09/24/09 12:13 AM
One of the hardest things in this profession is getting seller's to understand the true market value of their home. Every seller thinks that their house is worth more than it actually is. I know that all of you deal with this mentality on a dialy basis. Sellers go off and make improvements and additions that they think are wonderful and that they like and hopefully that they will enjoy ~ because so many times they have made bad choices, used bad colors and are not going to get any return on the money they have spent. The market numbers … (14 comments)
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Traditional Elegance in Spartanburg South Carolina - 09/23/09 11:59 PM
… (0 comments)
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Changes in the 100-year flood plain can affect your real estate dramatically! What the recent Coweta County floods could mean to property owners. - 09/23/09 11:53 PM
Can the changes in the flood plain affect your listing?
Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty:
Coweta County Georgia was rather fortunate during the devastating Atlanta area flooding that occurred over the last few days. We did not experience the record rainfalls that pummeled the metro area with deluge after deluge of precipitation.
However, Coweta County is downstream from Atlanta and the Chattahoochee River serves as the western boundary. The Chattahoochee is the principle watercourse that stretches from north Georgia through Atlanta on to the Gulf of Mexico. The water crested yesterday at record levels setting a new 100-year … (0 comments)
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When Will Seller's Understand? - 09/23/09 12:04 AM
You are going on a listing appointment. You are hoping that this house will have a good WOW Factor. The WOW Factor is what makes the house stand out, what makes potential buyers want to see the house, the best feature about the house ~ the focal point for your advertising. Does it have a beautifully landscaped front yard or a nice flat, wood fenced private backyard, with a spacious multi-tiered deck or large patio for entertaining, a beautiful inground pool, or it it on a golf course? Is it tastefully decorated without too much of the sellers imprint on it? … (11 comments)
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Short Sale Strategies- When The Lender Blames The Investor- Case In Point - 09/22/09 02:27 PM
Listen Up on Short Sales!
Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):
There were a lot of questions and comments on the featured post- Is Your Loan Modification Or Short Sale Being Turned Down? - that I wrote last week. That post was reblogged 36 times and it keeps on going. Important information needs to be spread- education is key. The more that we get important information out to agents and consumers, the more empowered we will all be during these next few years of doing short sales.
When the lender who is the servicer; … (0 comments)
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SeaWorld - 09/21/09 10:54 AM
The day was perfect. The weather was warm with a slight breeze blowing. Just enough to keep you cool. The crowd was not bad, considering it was spring break. The SeaWorld park is jam packed with sights sounds and all kinds of wonderful food smells.
I wanted to share more of the Shamu, the killer whale pictures with you. This show was really impressive.
These whales are really impressive with how they are able to perform. We were really impressed. You have to remember that these are killer whales.
Although they do feed them quite often.
… (6 comments)
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Are Blogs a Thing of The Past? Some Interesting Statistics - 09/20/09 11:43 PM
Blogs are still driving the traffic:
Via Jeremy Blanton (ActiveRain Corp.):
It seems that everywhere you turn lately you are hearing buzz words like Social Media, Web 2.0, and the latest buzz word, "New Media." You hear experts debate the best way to use twitter and facebook to increase your business. Tweets from celebrities like Oprah & Shaq are posted all over the news and discussed by millions. All of this buzz and hype have people seeking more information on how to use these two services to generate business.
But, one of the other types of social media and in my opinion the … (2 comments)
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Wish I Were At Sea World! - 09/20/09 08:11 PM
The day was perfect. The weather was warm with a slight breeze blowing. Just enough to keep you cool. The crowd was not bad, considering it was spring break. The SeaWorld park is jam packed with sights sounds and all kinds of wonderful food smells.
I wanted to share more of the Shamu, the killer whale pictures with you. This show was really impressive. These whales are really impressive with how they are able to perform. We were really impressed. You have to remember that these are killer whales. Although they do feed them quite often. … (6 comments)
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Smokey Mountain Blues - 09/20/09 05:40 PM
It has been several weeks since we have been to our mountain house in the Smokey mountains. We are not on Fontana Lake but are very close and our house is very close to Panter Creek, which feeds directly into the lake. This is a beautiful section of North Carolina. Some times these mountain just call your name.
… (4 comments)
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A Recipe For Disaster - 09/20/09 05:30 PM
In Spartanburg, South Carolina, we are definitely in a buyer's market. We have a lot of inventory on the market. We have builder's, who cannot get loans to finish their construction and have unfinished houses just sitting. We are seeing many builder's take drastic price cuts just to move their inventory. This has hurt the resale market by lowering the price per square foot. Then we have the seller's, who just cannot believe that their house is worth less than it was this time last year. I recently went on a listing appointment and was showing the seller their numbers. … (7 comments)
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Not hearing the phrase “I wish I was a real estate agent” anymore - 09/20/09 04:58 PM
I don't want to be a real estate agent anymore! This is good!
Via Todd Clark (Broker/Sales Coach), GRI (Beaverton, Oregon Real Estate Expert) (Palazzo Realty Group):
Three years ago, I heard the phrase, “I wish I was a real estate agent” at almost every close. Clients thought real estate agents lived the charmed life. They didn’t see what went on behind the scenes.
But, more and more of my present and past clients are now saying, “I don’t know how you can stand being an agent, sales are so tough now.” I’m not going to argue with them, they … (0 comments)
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Over Pricing Hurts The Seller - 09/20/09 04:53 PM
Over Priced Listings!
Via David Painter (Keller Williams Realty):
How many times have you been to see the sellers of an expired listing, just to find that it did not sell because it was over priced? Did you find it hard to tell the sellers that their house was not worth what they had been asking? Did you have the market statistics to back up what you said? The market may very well get worse and we may be called upon to tell sellers the hard and cold truth about the worth of their homes. Many will have to enter into a short … (4 comments)
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Just A Little Caulking and a Little Time Can Save Your Money - 09/20/09 04:51 PM
Good Home Maintenance Tip!
Via Morris Childs (PEP source):
Now is a great time to check all of your windows to make sure that the caulking is in good shape. It is amazing how much cool air you can lose around your windows. A lot of people are not aware that caulking is not a permanent product. It should be checked at least every two years. It will break down due to the weather. Also check the flashing around your chimney. Another good thing to check is the weather stripping around your doors. Air Conditioning is too expensive to let it slip out the door or … (0 comments)
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A Family Camping Trip to Greenwood, SC State Park - 09/20/09 04:41 PM
Last weekend, our family went on a camping trip to the State Park in Greenwood, SC. The weather was good and we avoided the rain for the entire trip. We went down on Friday afternoon after work. It was after dark when we arrived, so we were literally pitching our tents by lantern light. This was a Boys Scouts camping trip, so we went on a hike and had hobo stew for dinner on Saturday night. We had a great time. … (2 comments)
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It's Opportunity Time! - 09/20/09 03:53 PM
Here are some good statistics!
Via Yvette & Dennis Gardner (Keller Williams Realty, Spartanburg, SC):
There has been a lot of "Buzz" about foreclosures and short sales. It is estimated that as many as 40% of home sales will fall into one of these categories in the next 12 months. As many agents change the focus of their business to take advantage of these opportunities others stick to the core business.
Either way, it's Opportunity Time for all who strive to have a successful real estate business, both now and in the future. We believe those who survive this downturn will be stronger … (2 comments)
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Cheap Home Improvements - 09/20/09 03:49 PM
This is a great and cheap home tip!
Via Morris Childs (PEP source):
One of the many houses that we have lived in and remodeled over the years needed more cabinet space. We decided to move the refrigerator and added additional lower cabinets. We were able to match the cabinet doors on the bottom cabinets by using the doors from the laundry room that just happened to match and were the right size. Since we moved the refrigerator the upper cabinets were too short. We went to Lowe's and looked at the cabinet displays and there was the answer. We bought a … (0 comments)
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Plasma TV Wars Have A "Bigger Picture" - 09/20/09 03:43 PM
Is it a fixture of not? Read this blog post:
Via SarahGray Lamm~REALTOR Broker~ 60K Hours of NC Real Estate Experience~ (Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC):
The recent debate over on Norma Toering’s post about whether or not a plasma tv attached to the wall is a fixture or not reminds me of a sale I had earlier this year. It all ended well and never degenerated into a “war” but it did bring up some issues that will very likely need clarification in our contracts sooner rather than later!
My seller and I had discussed at time of listing that his … (0 comments)
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During times of stress, we must learn how to find the peace from within! There's a simple saying that keeps me going. - 09/20/09 03:20 PM
This is a soul calming blog:
Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty:
The real estate profession is stressful even in the best of times, but even more so these days. The constant struggle to make deals happen can gnaw away at even the hardiest soul.
There are many sleepless nights spent wondering if "I should have dome this or I should have done that." It's life on the edge, and it can take it's toll on the psyche over time.
But there's a popular saying these days that brings inner peace to me during these times of intense pressure. … (4 comments)
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Ask A 10 Year Old - 09/20/09 03:06 PM
My family recently went camping for the weekend. I asked my 10 years old nephew if he would like to help me write a blog about our weekend camping trip. He said sure. Then he looked at me and with a very serious tone said: "Aunt Sandy, you should be very careful about what you write in your blogs, because it goes on the internet and everyone can read it." We talked on about how everything that goes on the internet is there forever. An interesting observation from a 10 year old. … (13 comments)
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Do You Carry A Golf Club? - 09/18/09 09:38 PM
I am not a golfer, however I have carried a golf club in the trunk of my car for many years. It is a great tool for a real estate agent. What can you do with it? There are many uses. It comes in handy if you are walking property, you can use it to push away brush and tall grass. It is also handy to have if you are showing a house and the neighbors have an aggressive dog. Do any of you have any interesting gadgets that you carry with you?
… (12 comments)
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Collecting Clip Art - 09/16/09 10:41 PM
Since I started blogging on Active Rain last November, clip art has become one of my favorite things to collect. I can remember wondering how to insert pictures into my blogs. Mirela Monte, taught me over the phone. She also introduced me to Photobucket.
Now, when I feel like I need a special treat, instead of going out and buying shoes or eating chocolate, I take a trip over to Photobucket and scoop up some free eye candy! … (25 comments)
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Hummingbirds in Spartanburg South Carolina - 09/16/09 10:13 PM
One of my favorite hobbies is watching the humming birds in my backyard. This is the second year that the sweet little hummers have decided to visit with me in groups. Most of the birds that visit are ruby throat, although we do have a few more during their migration. It is so relaxing to watch these little birds flutter by as they fly from feeder to feeder. They chase each other and then like to sit on the tips of the trees in the yard.
Do any of you love to watch these little birds? … (15 comments)
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Do You Know How to be a Real Estate Agent? - 09/16/09 09:26 PM
While studying for the broker's exam I read the following, written by Charles D. Wyatt, Jr., DREI, in his AWARE in South Carolina workbook: "It is essential that the real estate agents' knowledge of the law of contracts be more than superficial." (By the way, I called & got his permission to post this in my blog) Wow! This statement really got my attention. How many agents are practicing real estate, on a daily basis, with only superficial knowledge. How many times have we all heard agents comment on our continuing education classes on ethics and law as being boring … (4 comments)
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Wordless Wednesday: God Smiled Today - 09/16/09 09:10 PM
This is really cool!
Via Heather Chavez, Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 412-4469 (Second Self Virtual Assistance):
Need I say more?
**These photos were taken by my very own camera and are my property. However, if you like what you see and want to use them for yourself, feel free to do so. Simply mention where you got them. I'd appreciate it. **
Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!
… (5 comments)
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Beautiful Spartanburg Home with acreage - 09/14/09 09:49 PM
… (3 comments)
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Inexpensive & Indispensable Tool - A Realtor's Best Friend - 09/07/09 10:11 PM
Check this out!
Via Palmetto Bay | Redland Real Estate | Maggie Dokic (Prudential Florida Realty):
I like to share when I find something extraordinary.
I purchased a pdf editor a few months back that has made my work so much easier.
Do you work selling REO's that want their own forms to be used? Want to avoid having to hand write them? Especially the all-important legal description which is easier to copy & paste using a computer. This software I found creates fields so you can fill in previously non-fillable pdf files.
Do you wish you had an MLS input form … (0 comments)
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Short Sales......LEARN, KNOW AND GROW!! - 09/07/09 10:01 PM
Short Sale ~ The SCOOP!
Via Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc:
Hi folks. I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day. Today I want to talk about Short Sales. Big surprise right? More specifically I want to talk about the tools available to help you if you choose to handle Short Sales.Whether you are on the listing side or the selling side you need to understand how Short Sales work. You need to have “insider“ information and support from your peers if you want to weed through the jungle that is Short Sales.I’ve been debating with Richard Weisser on his recent … (0 comments)
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Senate Bill 773, The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 Gives the President Control of Your Internet......without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access; - 09/07/09 01:08 PM
This is really scary stuff ~ PLEASE read it and read the bill too!!!!!!
Via Mike Saunders (Keller Williams Realty - Greater Athens):
Senate Bill S.773, the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 grants virtually unlimited power to the executive branch to control our exchange of information. On the surface, cyber security sounds like something the federal government should be doing, but this bill goes way beyond simple cyber security.
It allows the administration unlimited control and access to, not just federal government networks, but those of state and local governments and well as private corporations that the administration designates as critical infrastructure.
It empowers … (0 comments)
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Add your listings as a "Homes for Sale" tab on your Facebook Page - 09/07/09 12:42 AM
Look at what real bird is offering.
Via Real Bird (RealBird Inc.):
Facebook Pages are publicly accessible minisites on Facebook that you can update - just like your personal Facebook profile - with status updates, news, links, photos, discussions and now: with your RealBird listings and home search services. If you don't have one, you can create it here in less than a minute
As opposed to your personal profile, people can fan your business page on Facebook and you can have a two-way communication with them without actually adding them as a friend (your inner circle).
For RealBird Pro customers we offer a service … (4 comments)
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You Gotta Know Those Numbers - 09/07/09 12:34 AM
Know those numbers!
Via David Painter (Keller Williams Realty):
This real estate market is changing almost daily. We need to stay on top of our numbers. Both buyers and sellers want information from us now more than ever. Not everyone likes numbers or likes to study market trends, but it is important to the buying and selling public. If you are looking to buy or sell in the Spartanburg, South Carolina market, give us a call. We are on top of the numbers and will be glad to supply you with all the market information available. You have a need - We … (6 comments)
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The Price is Right? - 09/07/09 12:30 AM
Price it Right!
Via David Painter (Keller Williams Realty):
Buyers are more aware now more than ever of just how much house their dollars will buy. More information is available than ever on the web. Gone are the days when the agents held all of the information. As professionals we should do our best to inform our seller clients to price their homes correctly and to advise them regularly of shifts in their market and adjust their price accordingly. We should also advise our buyers of market shifts. Our buyers are too busy to waste their time showing then houses that are … (0 comments)
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Common Mistakes A Blogger Makes - 09/06/09 10:40 PM
Here are some excellent tips for becoming a better blogger:
Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain):
Common Mistakes A Blogger Makes
These are some areas that can have an impact on you and your Blogging experience. No matter who you are and what you do for a living, if you decide to start Blogging, here's a few suggestions that might help make your Blogging experience more enjoyable and successful. These following suggestions are NOT intended to isolate any one individual, network, or community. In fact, these suggestions come from an entirely different perspective which you'll discover at the end of this post.
… (0 comments)
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Who is a lender really helping by agreeing to a short sale? Here's a hint: it's not the buyer or the seller. - 09/06/09 10:54 AM
Here's the scoop on short sales taking soooo long to close!
Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty:
There is a lot of talk about lenders and short sales, and about how the process of negotiating a short sale can be a long and tenuous undertaking. It is a stressful time for everyone that is involved in the transaction.
I hear agents complain all of the time about frustrated buyers backing out of their contracts after months of negotiations. They blame the buyers for not appreciating the complexities of getting a lender to agree to possibly lose money on a … (0 comments)
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This too will pass, but I wonder how things will be different on the "other side?" What happens when the current recession ends? - 09/06/09 12:04 AM
This market is changing ~ are you keeping up ~ here is what one smart agent has to say ~ please read:
Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty:
It seems that the three year ebb in the real estate market may be bottoming out, and that by the spring of 2010, the economy may enjoy some substantial growth.
And while it's always true that business is cyclical, there has to be a realization at some point that the way we conduct it will never be the same.
Because during these down times, people learn about the things … (0 comments)
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Gotta Love Your Peeps At Active Rain - 09/05/09 11:43 PM
Today has been a very bad day. I wrote a blog post about it here is the link to that post: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226439/i-am-so-glad-this-day-is-over-
Then Heather Chavez wrote a comment on that post and told me to hop over and check out her blog post on the Walmart pictures. I laughed until I cried. That is one funny sight! Here is the link:
Herhttp://activerain.com/blogsview/1226403/the-absolute-funniest-website-ever-e is the link to that post:
Then I wrote a blog post about the bmp picture format not being acceptable for uploading pictures on Active Rain. Here is the link to that post:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226453/what-s-wrong-with-bmp-picture-files-
Immediately, the comments … (9 comments)
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Picture file formats and web browsers, which to choose. - 09/05/09 09:17 PM
Here is the answer to why bmp is not the format of choice for Active Rain!
Via Brian Brumpton, Boise Idaho Real Estate (Keller Williams Boise):
Sandy Childs recently did a blog post asking why Active Rain did not allow users to upload BMP files that are commonly associated with clip art files. I gave here the quick answer in the comments and thought it would be a great one to expand on for anyone wondering about the types what file types to use when uploading images and why.
As far as BMP files go Active Rain is doing you a favor … (4 comments)
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The Absolute FUNNIEST WEBSITE...EVER! - 09/05/09 08:50 PM
This will really make you laugh ~ you have got to see this!
Via Heather Chavez, Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 412-4469 (Second Self Virtual Assistance):
I have found the absolute funniest website EVER! If you want a good laugh, a laugh so hard it makes you cry kind of laugh, you absolutely HAVE to go to the following website:
I now know that I simply MUST bring my iPhone with me, fully charged, every time I go into WalMart. If you can't find anything to laugh at on this site, you have absolutely NO SENSE OF HUMOR! Each page is a … (10 comments)
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The Thrill of the Deal - 09/05/09 02:12 AM
I just read and commented on a blog post by Broker Bryant on negotiating. He loves to negotiate and so do I and we follow alot of the same procedures. Real Estate for me has always been the thrill of the deal. Don't get me wrong I really love to show houses and will show you anything you want to see, take you to lunch and spend the whole day with you, if you ARE going to buy a house from me. But I still get excited when I put my pen to the paper and write the offer, then … (8 comments)
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Real Estate Eye Candy - 09/05/09 12:42 AM
When you have a Buyer and they are shopping on the internet for a house, I have noticed that they do not even stop and look at the listings without pictures. When they do stop and email for more information, one of the first questions they have is: do you have more pictures? (This is why I like the virtual tour ~ gives them tons of eye candy). Do we tend not to stop, read and comment on blogs that lack pictures? What are your thoughts? … (15 comments)
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When Will Your Laptop Be Your Business? - 09/05/09 12:29 AM
I was reading a very interesting blog post by Rob Haywood. He made some very interesting points about how our business is changing and how if you cannot or will not change then you are not going to be in business. I have younger clients now that only text. You can call them ~ you get voice mail ~ send a text ~ instant reply. I think the day is fast approaching when we will completely conduct the entire buying and selling transactions from out laptops, maybe even sitting at Starbucks. … (14 comments)
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Should Friends Be This Honest? - 09/04/09 12:45 AM
This is one of the funnest pieces of clip art that I have seen out there and I love to look at clip art. What would happen if we were all this brutally honest with each other? Do you think we might actually be thinner as a society? Really, think about it today, the next time someone asks you a question ~ are you going to tell the whole truth or just skirting it not to hurt their feelings? Then the next time you walk into a possible listing and it is just really ugly and dirty ~ what … (6 comments)
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Every Agent Should Carry This - 09/03/09 10:38 PM
The eleven o'clock news is on and they are talking about putting together a flu kit. One of the items is something that I have carried in my cars and purses forever. Hand Sanitizer. There have been so many times, especially, after showing dirty foreclosures, that my clients and I have wanted to take a bath in the hand sanitizer. I keep it in all the pockets of my car and encourage my clients to use it. … (20 comments)
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Free Open House Advertising - 09/02/09 12:29 AM
I am trying this on my next open house!
Via Sara Bonert {Real Estate Internet Marketing} (Zillow):
Have an open house coming up? You can enter the event information on Zillow, it is free and easy to do.
When you enter the information, your listing will receive special treatment on the site to alert people to the open house. The information will show up the week prior to the open house, and will automatically come down when it is over. Watch this short video to see exactly how to enter this information:
If you would like to bring even more … (2 comments)
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