5 Reasons Why A Loan Modification May Not Be the Answer for You - 12/28/10 04:42 PM
Thinking a Loan Modification may help your situation?  Maybe not.  It helps to know the right questions to ask - and where to go for the right information. 
Via Tni LeBlanc REALTOR® Santa Maria Homes Central Coast:
5 Reasons Why A Loan Modification May Not Be the Answer for You
When considering whether you should pursue a short sale or a loan modification, homeowners should consider and discuss the following issues with their legal counsel and tax advisor.  
•1)      Not every loan modification solves an equity problem.  If your house is worth half of what you paid for it, a loan modification … (6 comments)

The Top 3 Projects To Get Your Home Sold - 12/28/10 04:38 PM
This is terrific -- and very sound -- advice from Kristen.   And I'm sure it is music to many homeowners' ears, who fret they must spend thousands of dollars getting their home ready to sell.  Here are 3 great ideas on improving the appearance of your home without breaking the bank.
Via Kristen Wheatley | South Central Maine Real Estate Agent (Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine-Lewiston/Auburn Maine):

I have spoken with many home owners who want to sell their home, but feel they must complete those long overdue renovations before they put their home on the market in order to get … (4 comments)

Real Estate Jargon - What are We Really Talking About? - 12/19/10 01:51 PM
To this list I must add one I just saw on Friday..."needs carpet, appliances and finishing touches."  Little did I know at first glance this was a foreclosure property that was still under construction when the owners defaulted on it. It LITERALLY needed finishing touches!  Like electric.  Well and septic.  And an occupancy permit.
Next!
Via Claudette Millette - Metrowest Mass Buyer Broker (The Buyers' Counsel):
Real Estate Jargon - What are We Really Talking About? 
As real estate agents we are often so entrenched in acronyms and the language of the business that we can sometimes forget that not everyone knows exactly what … (4 comments)

What types of Hardwood Flooring are best for pets - Westchester NY and Stamford CT - 12/17/10 10:55 PM
Anyone who has pets and is considering hardwoods will benefit from this information,  There is a lot to consider and Debbie answers all the questions.
Via Debbie Gartner, Westchester Flooring (Floor Coverings International :Westchester NY & Fairfield CT):
I get this question often from my customers.  It's a hard question to answer because truthfully all hardwood will dent and scratch over time - it's just a matter of how much and how much you can see it.  But I do not think this is a reason to avoid getting hardwood for your home.  Tons of consumers have hardwood and pets and they can … (7 comments)

ALEXANDRIA VA 22314 HOW DO FORECLOSURES FIGURE IN? - 12/14/10 07:41 PM
ALEXANDRIA VA 22314 REAL ESTATE MARKET ACTIVITY
The following chart illustrates the closed home sales in the city of ALEXANDRIA VA over the past 3 years.  Pretty consistently, foreclosures and short sales just have never figured in as a major % of homes sold.  (Tip: hover your cursor over the bars for specific numbers).
While this market, like many others, has had its share of ups and downs over the past 3 years, the percentage of short sales and foreclosures sold in the past 3 years has remained pretty consistent.
So despite what the talking heads and media mavens like … (4 comments)

FORECLOSURE SALES IN ALEXANDRIA, VA - 12/14/10 07:13 PM
FORECLOSURE SALES IN ALEXANDRIA, VA
On a regular basis, my phone rings and it is someone who is looking for a "deal."  A steal.  A great buy. A foreclosure.
When I explain we just haven't seen a lot of foreclosures here in the city of Alexandria, well, let's just say, that statement is often met with skepticism. 
Don't let what you hear on the national news lead you astray.  Not all markets are created equally - and if you would like to know more about the one in Alexandria, VA, well, just give me a call. 
In the meantime, don't take … (0 comments)

What's Happening in the ALEXANDRIA 22303 REAL ESTATE MARKET FOR CONDOS? - 12/14/10 06:27 PM
What's Happening in the ALEXANDRIA 22303 REAL ESTATE MARKET FOR CONDOS?
After a slow October in terms of condo sales in 22303, November settlements were higher, with 10 units sold in the zip code.  November sales were on par with sales in February;  the best month in terms of number of settlements was June, with 15 sales, which was more than likely a direct effect of the Federal Tax Credit.  Once the eligibility period for the credit ended, however, sales took a dip until last month, when they picked back up. Tip: Hover your cursor over the bars for specific figures.
… (0 comments)

31 Days of December Challenge - Days 13 & 14 Getting Techie With It - 12/14/10 04:10 PM

Hey, did you hear???
For one full week, five very cool tech savvy guys are sharing the tools and strategies we all need to get more leads. The event, Web5Live, is free, but you have to register.
For the uninitiated, this event is also known as the "Greatest Week Long Virtual Training Event EVER" (hey, I didn't name it, but it just may be close to the truth.  These guys rock). 
Yesterday I logged in for Web5 Live Training Session #1:  "Building Facebook Pages with Passion," which was presented by Chris Smith.
Today I logged in for the Web5 Live … (5 comments)

24 Hour Notice and You Can Only See It At Night - With the Owner - 12/11/10 08:27 PM
I called Centralized Showing Service today to make an appointment to show a house tomorrow my client is interested in seeing. 
Imagine my surprise when the phone rep told me the owner preferred evening showings and no, we could not see it tomorrow; now, if this were a condo and weekends were just out for some legitimate reason, okay, I get that.
I don't like it, but I get it.
However, this is an 80 acre farmette. 
The owner expects prospective buyers to do WHAT exactly?  Bring battery powered spotlights to see the property? 
Or just skip looking at the … (26 comments)

Top 5 Reasons to Commit to Your Real Estate Agent Now - 12/03/10 04:29 PM
I am a big proponent in not reinventing the wheel when someone already has a wheel I like.  Well, this is one of those wheels...I could have written every single word.  I didn't, of course, but I coulda, shoulda, woulda...heaven knows I have thought these words enough!  Tni hits it right on the head. 
Via Tni LeBlanc REALTOR® Santa Maria Homes Central Coast:
Top 5 Reasons to Commit to Your Real Estate Agent Now
1)      They can do a better job for you.  With commitment and loyalty comes trust.  I can do ten times more for a client if they are committed and … (2 comments)

I'm Pickled-Tink! - 12/01/10 10:09 PM
I am reblogging this before I have even finished reading it because even in the first few paragraphs, I learned something new.  And, if Alan May can teach this old dog new tricks, imagine what he can teach some of the pups.
Via Alan May, Coldwell Banker Evanston Realtor®, Evanston Real Estate (Evanston Condos, Evanston Homes, North Shore Homes):
allright.  Cynthia Larsen, blogger extraordinaire, asked me to show y'all how to use Firefox and ScribeFire to put Coloured text into your blogging.
this post presumes  that you're using Firefox as your browser.  (If you're not, why not?).  If you're not, you can download … (6 comments)