One Day trip, Lots of answers - 11/26/07 11:44 AM
It is so hard to double post blogs. I have a blog and I have active rain. I try to put the same on both. Last May, I forgot to post here what I posted there.....www.jmacsays.com
From May 7, 2007....but relevent to today.
I finally reached my limit yesterday. I have been spending weekends attending to the needs of buyers and assisting my growing group of clients attempting to sell their home. It may sound impossible, but I think it is likely, we can not see the forest for the trees.
Let's face it, the market is still sluggish. (note: sluggish is fancy … (8 comments)

And Now....the rest of the story - 11/18/07 07:23 AM
UPDATE: The continuing saga of a fat hand in a cookie jar. Now, from the highest point of Mount Wife, echoes of "Hmph, I told you so" will ring down on me.
I spent a couple more hours going back and forth with the couples lender. He had sent a letter over that included the terms  :purchase price $499,000. combined loan amount $419,500, CLTV 80%, qualifying rate up to 8%. Those terms were inside the typical "You have a pulse and if I can verify anything you told me during our phone call, you might get a loan" letter. The buyer's … (12 comments)

Yep, my hand was caught in the cookie jar - 11/17/07 04:15 PM
 
I wrote what I thought was a heart warming post regarding balance and the upcoming holiday. My room mate read it and told me that she was looking forward to driving down and preparing a Thanksgiving meal for her dad. 
I packed the car Friday night before she got home from her job and last minute errands. We spent the early evening packing the last suitcase (I am a guy and thought that two pairs of pants would be plenty for five day trip.) While my dearly beloved was laying out all the things I had forgotten to pack, she had me … (27 comments)

Sitting on the fence...don't get caught by interest rate increases! - 11/15/07 04:54 PM
So, you are sitting back waiting on those prices to fall even further. I understand. After all, it is rather safe on the fence.
The problem you have while sitting there, watching prices, is that the cold wind of interest rate increases is on the horizon. Just like "the hawk" that brings the chill to the frozen tundra of Lambeau field; the chill of rate increases will freeze you out of potential homes faster than you can say "jimmy crack corn and I don't care."
We have ridden the roller coaster of low rates to the bottom and watched them creep up … (7 comments)

Just another day in Paradise - 11/14/07 05:38 PM
Winter is coming. This year, there are more empty houses on the market than in years past.It is time to Winterize! I went through my list of homes that are empty and contacted Mike. Mike works for Tri-Con USA and can be reached at 301-668-4868. He handles all the winterizing for most of the agents in my office. He took my list and headed off to take care of business.All went well. Then Mike called and said "John, this house has a sprinkler system." I replied, "OK, winterize it." Mike said, "Well, if I do and there is a fire, the house will … (7 comments)

Balancing My World and Yours - Holiday Balance - 11/12/07 12:44 PM
 The fact that I am a real estate agent does not ban me from pausing every November to be thankful. You see, I hear about agents that jumped up from a holiday meal to go show a house. I have heard the old wives tales about the biggest deals being done on a holiday.I don't believe it!I think that I have the right to sit down with my family and enjoy a feast celebrating all that has happened in the last year. I think those that are buying and selling have that same right. "Black Friday" will come soon enough. My … (16 comments)

Membership has it's priviledges? Health care is missing? - 11/09/07 11:30 AM
Whether it was last month, last year or several years ago, you got your real estate license. Many of you then went out into the world to find an office. You might have talked with one, two or several brokers before deciding where you would hang your license. Then came the paperwork.
Depending on how long ago that was, you may have forgotten that your head was filled with many pieces of information and it was difficult to see how it would all fit together. You may have forgotten that your heart was filled with hope and promise that you would succeed. … (54 comments)

Asleep at the wheel....and you're just along for the ride. - 11/09/07 08:50 AM
Much has been written about the current lawsuit that the Department of Justice filed against the NAR. A search on a multitude of blogs will reveal that agents across the country are outraged. The lawsuit has agents on both sides of the issues flaming each other. Business models are being scrutinized with most people claiming their way is the high road.
Bitter acromony has caused friends to become foes.
The lawsuit was announced with a press release that impart read, "WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division today filed a lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR), challenging a policy … (4 comments)

I am mad as hell.....Hey there NAR.What about us? - 11/07/07 07:15 PM
A visit to your website, reveals that you have 1.3 million members. I am just one of them. Maybe, I don't see the big picture. It could be that I am too involved in the day to day activities performing my job to understand the world as you see it.
I am concerned.
You see, you have various associations across the country and many of our membership become involved in local issues. They work on fine tuning the forms we use. The keep abreast of local legislatures and research every piece of legislation that is introduced to weigh it's impact on the real … (10 comments)

There is no room for anarchy in this profession....... - 11/05/07 11:36 PM
Shakespeare offered "Much Ado About Nothing". I was perusing this morning's Washington Post and came across an article regarding an email sent by the owner of Long and Foster exhorting his agents to use the in-house lender. I was surprised to see that his note caused enough of a stir to reach the level of prominence that the Post gave it. Then, I stopped and realized this is the same instrument that has been extolling the death of the real estate market for months.
Later today, doing my usual reading of blog entries, I came across one from an AR member. … (4 comments)

It could be, I am just too damn dumb... - 11/03/07 12:02 AM
I was going through ad slicks at a local advertising agency the other day. One of the graphic artists is a client of mine looking for a house and asked if I could come by and go over her updated search criteria.
I know the general public is not used to dealing with artists. Time is an abstract thought to many of them. There are times when they ask to meet you at a certain place and they are no where to be found. I was an artist long before I became a Realtor. I still reflexively answer the question "What do … (12 comments)

Somewhere on a cool Autumn evening.... - 11/02/07 09:46 AM
Some events remain forever moments ago in your mind. I won the luck of the draw and was borne into the grey area that lives on the fringe of live entertainment. From earliest childhood, performers were dinner guests in my families home. As the tag-along-middle-child, I found myself wandering through the homes of many of the high powered promoters that lived in the DC area, while my parents attended parties and functions. To the rest of the world, these "red carpet" types moved through life in aura of mystery and intrigue. To me, Booke Johns was just the cranky guy that … (12 comments)

Aren't you just a little bit ashamed? - 11/01/07 12:37 PM
Hi. This is directed to any of the 55,708 members of Active Rain that have not voiced an objection to HR 3915. I am not mortgage broker. I am not currently seeking a mortgage. I am just one little voice trying to be heard above the din.
There is much debate over YSP. If you do not truly understand what it is, look it up. Ask any one of the mortgage brokers that are members here to explain it to you. It is not evil. It is not a dark secret. It is not the reason that the housing markets across the … (8 comments)

 
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John MacArthur Licensed Maryland/DC Realtor

Metro DC Homes

Washington, DC

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Frankly Real Estate

Address: 6304 Crosswoods Circle #102, Falls Church, VA

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