This surreal jelly fish picture was taken at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. They have these aquariums that light up on timers and cause the jelly fish to glow. Actually taken through glass and plexiglass with small Nikon point and shoot digital camera. One of the wonderful ways to enjoy real estate is to take a couple of days before of after the conference to look around and be a tourist. But I really posted this because I just love the colors.

Sunrise at Great Island Common in New Castle, New Hampshire. This is an amazing park at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Pavillions, picnic tables, grills, bath house, and large children's playground. Across the river is Fort Foster. Close to Portsmouth Harbor Light. Walter Liff is the artist who created this sculpture. Taken with a phone, hence the blurred edges.

Introducing a new group on ActiveRain - Just Photos

A place to post all those marvelous photos we take of homes, the area and special events. A picture says a thousand words so this will be a place for Just Photos. Please post only your own photos. We frown on copyright infringement. Copied (aka stolen) photos will be deleted. Captions are encouraged to let the viewer in on the story behind the picture and its location. The caption will always qualify it as a blog. You will not see a listing for a 'picture only' posting in your status updates without some words. Just an FYI. However, it is not necessary so its up to you!

Yellow Spider, Berwick Maine

The North Church steeple in Market Square as seen from State Street. The townhouses to the front left are Porter Street and the building to the right is home to Stonewall Kitchens store and Ollie's Bakery. The steeple has recently been completely restored. My home town - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Ever thought about getting your Broker's license? You have been a salesperson for how many years? Why not take the next step and insure your future in the business. What would happen to your license if your broker went out of business? Where would you go - what deal would you have to accept? Who do you really want to work for in the future? Or maybe you want to go into management in the future. Having your broker's license makes you a more desirable commodity. You can't get a job as a Managing Broker without a broker's license.

Or maybe you know of someone interested in getting into the business. There is a lot of opportunity in the industry right now for the right people. This is the licensing class for them. So what are the details?

Classes are starting in Portsmouth on August 31. Monday & Thursday nights from 5:30-9:30pm for 10 sessions. (No class on Labor Day) Cost is $299 with all books and materials included. The least expensive option out there currently. The 40 hour class counts towards the sixty hours you need to take the test in New Hampshire. This is a pre-licensing for salesperson class that will get you up to date on all the concepts you need to pass the simulation portion of the exam.

Need more information call me at 603-502-7660 or email me at saldrich@kw.com

 Sign up at The Real Estate Learning Group's web site

Training is what brings me pure joy. It does not matter if I am teaching pre-licensing class or the Keller Williams Camp 443. (Camp 443 is like a boot camp for new agents and new beginning for seasoned agents). But what I have found is chocolate helps - A LOT! The candy basket is always out in my classes. Sometimes it is a needed distraction during a long involved topic; sometimes it is just an excuse for the student to get up and move around a bit. Either way it is a big plus with my groups.

The basket contains not just chocolate but lifesavers, skittles, mints, gum etc. as choices. The funny thing is that I do not eat out of the basket very often! Keeping the basket full costs about $5-8 dollars a week. Always buy in bulk and on sale to make it a cost effective tool. Check the flyers in the Sunday newspaper.

My motto "Better Learning through Chocolate"!

I would be interested in what other trainer's use to motivate their students.

My nephew just recently deplyed to Iraq. We are looking to put together a care package for him. I thought I would find an easy list - boy was I wrong. So here is my list that I put together after visiting many sites and reading lots of blogs.

If I can give some ideas even for one soldier's family - I am happy....

Personal Care: (Think travel size)

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste Travel Size
• Floss
• Multi Vitamins
• Unscented Baby Wipes Travel Size
• Hand Sanitizer
• Lip Balm
• Disposable Razors
• Bug repellant (like Deep Woods Off) to keep the sand fleas off.
• Waterproof sunscreen
• Aloe Vera lotion
• Deodorant
• Lotion
• Small packages of Kleenex.
• Throat lozenges
• Eye drops
• Pain relievers, like Tylenol, Aspirin, Motrin, etc.
• Jock itch powder
• Feminine Itch Powder
• Tampons
• Feminine Hygiene Pads
• Hair Bands
• Small Mirrors
• Foot powder, packed in a Ziploc bag.
• Moleskin
• Shaving gel in tubes (no shaving cream)
• Toilet Paper
• Boot insoles
• Unscented Baby Powder
• Nail Clippers
• Nail Files
• Ivory Soap
• Medicated Face Wipes
• Eye Drops
• Cotton Balls
• Mouth Wash 

Snacks & Treats:

• Hard Candy
• Mints
• Starburst
• Skittles
• Gum
• Dried Fruit
• Fruit Roll Ups
• Cigars
• Lifesavers
• Pringles
• Doritos
• Cheetos
• Beef Jerky
• Crystal Lite Drink Mix
• Peanut Brittle
• Bubble Gum
• Sardines.
• Small packages of ground coffee
• Instant hot chocolate.
• Nuts
• Sunflower seeds
• Trail mix (no chocolate - it melts)
• Crackers
• Mrs. Dash
• Hot Sauce
• Tabasco Sauce
• Mustard Packets
• Relish Packets
• Quaker instant oatmeal
• Instant espresso powder
• Instant Flavored Coffee
• Tea Bags
• Single Serving Dry Cereal
• Spices (onion powder, red pepper flakes, garlic powder)
• Lollipops
• Ragu Express
• Granola Bars
• MILK Parmalat packs 2% milk
• Powdered Creamer
• Sugar Packets
• Single Serving Mac & Cheese
• Single Serving Hamburger Helper
• Soup packets
• Tuna lunch-to-go packs
• Meal replacement drinks, such as Ensure in lightweight bottles
• Powdered Gatorade
• Ramen Noodles
• Chewing Tobacco
• Salad Dressing
• Canned Chicken
• Salsa
• Snack Cakes

Other Desirables:

• White Athletic Socks
• Dark Green Boot Socks
• Underwear
• Beanie Babies (They are giving them to the kids)
• Brown or Tan T-Shirts L & XL
• Ziploc Bags Gallon Size
• Stationary
• Envelopes (no stamps needed)
• Pens
• Disposable cameras
• Prepaid phone cards. (AT&T is good in Kuwait)
• Cigarettes
• Q Tips
• Pipe Cleaners
• Deck of Cards
• Uno
• Neck Coolers
• Flashlights (ones that clip on and small hand held)
• Battery Powered fans
• Small colorful calendars
• Portable Shower
• Blow Kiddie Pool
• iTunes Gift Cards
• Disposable Hand Warmers
• Stress Ball
• Yo Yo's
• Squirt Guns
• Frisbees
• Hackie Sacks
• Balloons
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Miniature Nerf Footballs
• Miniature Nerf Basketballs
• Slinky
• Bandannas
• Small Board Games on Keychains

Magazines:

• Fitness
• Fishing
• Hunting
• Boating
• Cars/Hot Rods
• Guns/Ammo
• Crosswords
• Word search games
• Anagrams
• Pocket Bible
• Paperback Books
• Soduku
• Rubik's Cube
• Madlibs
• Mail order catalogs, so military personnel can shop for friends/family back home.

Notes from us to the soldiers to let them know we are supporting them. They can hold a letter and read it again and again. They can't hold an email. You can include a self addressed envelope - you might get a pen pal.

 Send small boxes - and check with the post office for the right way to mail them. Lots of mail calls makes a happy soldier.

Hidden risks of defects in the title can cost thousands in legal fees not to mention the stress and frustration. The best way to protect yourself is to purchase owner's title insurance. Notice I am saying owner's title insurance not lender's title insurance. If you have a mortgage on the property the bank will require you to buy the lender's policy. The owner's policy is optional and many buyer's think they can save some money by passing it by. This is not a good plan. Even the most meticulous search of the public records by a title attorney can miss hidden defects. The owner's title insurance policy pays the legal fees to defend your title in case of something missed. It is a one time charge that you see on the HUD at closing. Don't pass it up because it can protect you from the following errors -

1. Forgery
2. Fraud in connection with the execution of documents
3. Undue influence (pressure) on the grantor (seller) or executor of a will
4. False impersonation by those puporting to be the owners of the property (This is why we bring licenses to the closing - are you really who you say you are when signing that deed? Or are you pretending to be the wife/husband and are really the girlfriend/boyfirend)
5. Incorrect representation of marital status of a grantor (Saying you are single when you are married)
6. Undisclosed or missing heirs
7. The will was not properly probated
8. Mistaken interpretaion of wills and/or trusts
9. Mental incompetance of grantors (Not all there in a legal sense)
10. Conveyance by a minor (Under 18)
11. Birth of heirs subsequent to the date of the will (The parent died before the baby was born and the will wasn't updated)
12. Inadequate surveys
13. Incorrect legal description
14. Non-delivery of deeds
15. Unsatisfied claim not shown on the record (A lien that was not discharged)
16. Deeds executed under false poer of attorney
17. Confusion due to similar or identical names (Very common with juniors)
18. Dower or curtesy rights (homestead) of ex-spouse or former owner
19. Incorrect indexing of public records
20. Clerical errors in the recording of legal documents
21. Delivery of deed after the death of a grantor (Death stops everything)

Don't pass up owner's title insurance. Being penny wise and pound foolish could be a costly error when buying a house.

(c) Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty

"After consideration of consumer demand, member sentiment and industry trends including a growing number of popular third party websites which feature sold listings, the NNEREN BOD has approved display of sold listings from the NNEREN compilation on NNEREN member IDX sites and on NNEREN.com.

NNEREN sold listing displays will include a limited set of fields- closed date, closed price, listing firm, selling firm, property type, property address, primary photo, and bedrooms within Residential, Condo, Mobile, Multi-Family and Land property types. For the Land property type, acreage will be displayed.

If you currently display the NNEREN database on your website via framed IDX display, sold listings will be included upon implementation date, which is currently planned for May 1st. If you have an agreement in place to receive a distributed IDX feed (non-framed), and opt to display sold listing content on your website, modifications to accommodate this new listing status will be necessary. Information will be provided shortly to IDX consultants via email, and additional communications to NNEREN IDX Participants and all users will be forthcoming."

So they have completely given away the keys to our business. I think I might just go start a travel agency now.  Notice how there are no more travel agents out there. Well, that's because we made it all doable on the internet. What do they need us for if they can find out all the info on line. What was are our so called leadership thinking when they are now making SOLD data an approved display.

And guess what I will bet you that this "new" information will just lead to more third party groups trying to sell leads back to you and exorbitant rates for the FREE CMA's they will now offer on line.

And the limited set of fields - Not telling you who sold it - just the firm. So you don't even get credit for your hard work. And I will bet you that it will have to be posted in itty bitty type face somewhere obscure at the bottom of the page where no one will see it. Just like it is with the listing feed.

One agency in particular I will bet will stream this data and make it look like they have sold all the listings out there - just as they currently use the data stream to make it look like every house on the market is listed with them.

The only way for us to save ourselves is to stop being willing sheep to the IDX feed. You can opt out and now it is apparent that we should opt out.

Member sentiment - was any member even asked before they decided to do this. I encourage everyone to contact NNEREN and express their sentiment that this is not good for business.

Email NNEREN today at suggestions@nneren.com

Maybe together we can stop this madness and save our businesses.

Ever thought about getting your Broker's license? You have been a salesperson for how many years? Why not take the next step and insure your future in the business. What would happen to your license if your broker went out of business? Where would you go - what deal would you have to accept? Who do you really want to work for in the future? Or maybe you want to go into management in the future. Having your broker's license makes you a more desirable commodity. You can't get a job as a Managing Broker without a broker's license.

Or maybe you know of someone interested in getting into the business. There is a lot of opportunity in the industry right now for the right people. This is the licensing class for them. So what are the details?

Classes are starting in Portsmouth on April 6 and May 18. Monday & Thursday nights from 5:30-9:30pm for 10 sessions. Cost is $299 with all books and materials included. The least expensive option out there currently. The 40 hour class counts towards the sixty hours you need to take the test in New Hampshire. This is a pre-licensing for salesperson class that will get you up to date on all the concepts you need to pass the simulation portion of the exam.

 Sign up at The Real Estate Learning Group's web site