I'm Back.... Pics From Thailand Vacation - 03/28/08 04:46 PM
I'll try to keep this post some what relevant to real estate, but also just wanted to say that we had a great vacation.  Thanks to everyone who reached out before hand to offer tips and advice.  Below are links to the pictures I promised to post.  Being armed with so much knowledge definitely helped us spend more time enjoying our trip and less time sweating the details. 
We spent a couple of days in Bangkok and a week in Phuket.  The area is booming!  There was new construction everywhere.  So of course on guided tours when everyone was asking about … (16 comments)

Thailand here I come! - 03/12/08 08:23 AM
Tomorrow I am off on vacation for 2 weeks to visit Thailand!  I can't wait.  We are spending a few days in Bangkok and then heading to Phuket for a week.  Thank you to all the AR's who have sent me pictures and tips to help prepare for the trip. 
Here are 10 things I don't want to think about while I am gone:
- Shoveling snow.
- The crappy winter weather we have had in Chicago this year. (On track to be the 4th snowiest ever)
- Blogging (Sorry, but I need a break).
- The Transfer Tax Situation going on in Chicago right … (17 comments)

Chicago Tax Update - Closing By March 31 Doesn't Guarantee You'll Avoid The Tax Increase! - 03/10/08 03:40 PM
Recently Chicago home buyers got hit with a 40% increase in Transfer Stamp Tax.  After April 1, instead of paying $7.50 per $1000 when you close on a property, it will now cost you $10.50 per $1000 of the purchase price.  This new tax rate is to go into effect April 1, 2008. 
The news of this tax increase spurred some buyers to hurry up, get an offer in and close by this magic date.  Seems logical that if one were to close before April 1, one would avoid the additional $3 per $1000, right?  Not so fast, I just learned. 
I … (9 comments)

Zillow Product For Lenders - It's Almost here! - 03/10/08 01:52 PM
Zillow has been hinting that a product for Mortgage professionals is in the works for a few months now.  Well, we are almost ready to release it to the public.  But we are going to begin by offering to let select Mortgage professionals begin using the new tool few weeks before interfacing with customers and what better place to get that start then on AR! 
If you would like to be among the first to have free, instant, and unlimited access to Zillow consumers who are shopping for a loan, here is how you can get started. To participate in this new product offering, … (1 comments)

Transparency Creeping Into Our Lives As Well As Into Real Estate - 03/06/08 03:32 PM
I often write about transparency on the Internet, and am usually all for it.  But tonight I just watched the show Moment Of Truth, where people are asked very personal questions and they get money for answering them honestly- whew, tough (don't waste your tivo space on it).  But the fact that this show exists, and that people watch it, further reinforces the type of transparency and access to information that people desire and expect in this day and age. 
When I think of other examples of total transparency two immediate examples come to mind:
1) Inman News Conference - Twice a … (8 comments)

 
Rainmaker_large

Sara Bonert {Real Estate Internet Marketing}

Atlanta, GA

More about me…

Zillow

Email Me






Get great free widgets at Widgetbox!

Mortgage Rates on Zillow


sara bonert on Zillow



Most Expensive Homes in Atlanta




Price Assurance (120x90)

Quality Printing For Less

4imprint Inc.


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find GA real estate agents and Atlanta real estate on ActiveRain.