Breakfast with Tiffany

In Mulitple Offer World, does it have to be this hard?

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:06:29 -0700

I want to re-blog this for a few different reasons but mostly to clear up mis-conceptions of "WHAT" kind of market we are actually in today! Some buyers are still mistakenly waiting for prices to hit bottom. While prices are still low, lets clear this up...we are in what looks A LOT like .... A SELLERS MARKET! Yes, It appear to be true. Gone are the days of not to long ago where inventory is sitting and sitting while sellers are waiting with bated breath for any offer a buyer is willing to throw at them. Today it is a much more level playing field and I for one am ecstatic to see this happening. Sellers have had a hard go at it for a while.

The second reason I found this worthy of a re-blog is the fact that in the past month I have had this happen three times...YEP, you heard me correctly. Three times, it made my one client, in particular feel very much at UN-ease. This is a pretty new system we are working in as I cannot say I have seen the days with so many multi-offers on properties since way back in...say circa 2005. :)

I AGREE 100% we need to get a standard practice for this, there doesn't appear to be one in the zipforms but I'd like to see listing agents take a little time and do the courteous thing and just type one up to keep on hand. Some of our buyers are already somewhat on edge and they appreciate structure, I think some kind of standard form is just a great idea that makes since. :)

Via Ashley Cox, Dallas City Center Realtors (972.978.3109 www.DFWHeroes.com):

Yes, bidding wars are back. Nothing is universal, but nearly every crevice of Dallas is filled with homebuyers finding themselves competing for houses due to lack of inventory.

Recently, it's been incredibly frustrating for me, as an Agent, to keep the positivity flowing. You see, more and more often, etiquette and professional courtesy seem to be tossed aside in the hunger and drive to get the deal done. What am I speaking about specifically? Back to the basics of playing fair!

Back in the day, when I worked for a boutique REO brokerage, we had a very strict procedure that was followed, when dealing with multiple offers. If the property was hot, and offers began streaming in, the Seller would usually instruct us to advertise a cut-off date and ensure that all parties were notified that multiple offers had been received. I even had a pdf form that very cordially put everyone on notice, with the added verbiage, "Please discuss this with your client and submit your Highest and Best offer by (XX/XX/XXXX) at XX:xX pm."

Simple enough, right?

Well, the three couples that I am currently working with haven't had that luck. With EACH, I have run into a handful of situations where we find interest, place an offer and play the waiting game. Since the market is moving quicker than the normal 24-hours, I will place a follow up call in the evening or morning to ensure that the Agent has had a chance to review the offer with their Seller client. The conversation usually goes a little something like this:

"Hi, this is Ashley Cox with Dallas City Center Realtors. I sent an email with an offer yesterday evening that you and I spoke about and was hoping to see if the Seller has had a chance to review and provide a response just yet..."
"Oh, yeah. Well, I told them about it and they received three other offers in the meantime. They're negotiating one of those offers..."
"Oh, you have multiple offers then. Will the Seller be negotiating each individually, or conducting a Highest and Best with deadline."
"Well, we're taking highest and best offers, so if you want to submit a revised contract, do so as quickly as possible..."

We run through comps again, talk about comfort levels and payments and if the value allows, modify the offer and resubmit.

"Just making sure you had received our modified offer for th--"
"Yes, we received it. The Seller wants to go with another offer that just came in about an hour ago, though. You know, we're on offer number 5 now..."

This is usually when my blood begins to boil. My clients have become highly interested, somewhat emotionally attached, and signed on the dotted line for the umpteenth time.

The most recent instance was after an offer, justified, at $15,000 OVER list.

And while it doesn't necessarily reflect poorly on my ability to know a neighborhood, run a CMA, draw up a contract, point out property condition issues, successfully walk hand in hand, yadda, yadda, yaddda... it DOES give my client a feeling of disenchantment and understood frustration.

So, what's the harm in putting a little bit of standard into the process and making it a fair playing field for everyone?

If you're going to play like it's an auction, shouldn't we all be in the same room?

Maybe it's not a practice that an Agent should take up on their own, but it would certainly go a long way to suggest this practice to your Seller client. It's a great way to make sure that you aren't snubbing other parties and putting bad ju-ju in the world... not to mention, it gives your Seller to review all of the Highest and Best offers at one sit-down, instead of a constant trickle of offers and modifications coming through.

We have multiples. We will be accepting offers until _____. We will then notify all parties, and request Highest and Best by _____.

Seems simple enough to me...

Search Homes Here!

Ashley Cox is a Realtor® with Dallas City Center Realtors and strives to provide excellent service and assistance to Buyers and Sellers in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. If you are in the market to buy or sell and need the assistance, guidance and support of a professional, call (972) 978-3109 today.

Are you a teacher, firefighter, public safety officer, health care worker or military personnel? See what having the representation of a Homes for Heroes Affiliate can save YOU!

Only ONE Photo Used In This MLS Listing....And, It's Not Of The House

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:01:42 -0700

Don't be THAT agent....Not what you want your colleages to think of you when they see your listing in MLS. Also, while I'm on the subject; it takes only a few seconds to type in the lot sq.ft. at top of listing so when other agents need it they do not have to run to tax records etc..etc..ect :-)

Via Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations):

I recently noticed a new FOR SALE sign in the area. A beautiful house has come on the market and in addition to being a Home Stager, I'm also a curious neighbor... I couldn't wait to check out the MLS pictures. Imagine my surprise.....my complete disbelief ....when I saw only one photo. As if having only one photo isn't bad enough, the only photo for this listing isn't even of the whole house.

The single photo for this listing is of the front door....not even the whole entryway (which is very nice)....just a cropped shot of the door.

For illustration purposes here is a picture of a door which is very similar in style and finish, cropped similar to the mls picture.

After I got over my initial shock, I tried giving the agent the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they were so quick to get the house listed that they put only one photo with the intention of adding others as soon as they could. Maybe there was a scheduling issue with a photographer....something. I checked the listing history. Nope, the house has been on the market for over a week.

Aren't the first couple of weeks on the market the most important as far as exposure? Isn't this when interest and viewing of the listing will be the highest?

How can such a beautiful home be represented by this photo? Is this someone's idea of strategic marketing?   I'm so confused by this.

Only ONE Photo Used In This MLS Listing....And, It's Not Of The House

______________________________________________________________________________



New Hampshire Home Staging FAQ

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth   Rye   Greenland North Hampton Dover Rochester Somersworth

603.661.8524

How 'Full' Is the Full Service Real Estate Agent?

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:34:40 -0700

This is such a great blog post that I could not resist the re post. so very true and i believe most full time agents can most certainly identify with this.

Via Tre Pryor, Louisville Realtor® e-PRO (Rick Shaw Realtors):

There are a myriad of ways to approach a career selling real estate. Many have the perception that it's a sales job. It is not. It's a service job. Some don't understand the different or are bound by different motivations but in either case, the best Louisville Realtors serve their clients.

I've told this to clients, "Think of me as your real estate butler."

The reason I bring this up because I was wondering the other day if it's possible to be too service oriented? Is every request (or command) made by my clients one that I should automatically merely jump to and perform?

Real estate can be a demanding tyrant. There are no posted hours, only what you deem to be appropriate. I work about 55-60 hours most weeks, some even more. My phone rings after 7pm regularly and after 9pm from time to time. Weekends are the primary playing field for scheduling showings and Open Houses. I don't even have a day off! That's certainly full service, in my book.

So with all those demands, along with faith, family and friends, how do you keep your life in balance? It's not an easy question nor one with a clear answer but I do believe there must be lines designed at the outset to maintain clear demarcation between "work" and your personal life.

If you don't and the client pool runs you ragged, you'll soon start to see them as the enemy... and that doesn't help them, or you.

________________________________________________________________

Tre Pryor, Realtor e-PRO | TrePryor.com | LouisvilleHomesBlog.com

Lowballing An REO Property

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:21:18 -0700

This is certainly a very educational post. It is hard for buyers to understand this because of media and ads they are reading about how "OTHERS" are buying houses for almost nothing...this blog holds even more truth in Texas. Thanks!

Via Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village):

Let's get one thing straight. In most instances, the days of being able to lowball a bank owned property are over. There, I said it and I mean it. You used to be able to attempt it a few years back when there was a glut of properties and no buyers. Things have changed. Inventory is down by 50% and sales are up by 35%. This means there are much fewer houses to choose from and a much larger number of buyers to compete for what is available.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen buyers lose a property because they refuse to understand this fundamental change in our market. If you see a house that you think is a great deal, I guarantee there are at least one or two other people who feel the same way. These people are also going to be putting in bids on the home in question. If you put in a low bid, you just took yourself out of the equation. In many cases, the bank will only respond to the offers they feel are the best. Odds are, you will not be given a chance to up your bid. In many instances, your first offer is your best offer. Many listing agents don't even want to get into all the drama of dealing with multiple offers. If a clean, all cash offer comes in, they will just advise the bank to take it as it is a " sure thing ."

In many cases, banks are pricing REO's below value to start a " price war." This strategy is very successful. The bank puts a home on the market substantially below value and watches the offers roll in. They then issue a best and final counter to all parties and take the highest offer. Recently, I had an opportunity to see this first hand. A nice home next to open acreage came on the market at $204,000. My clients loved the house, but I knew it was going to garner a large amount of attention. I advised them not to write an offer unless they were willing to go up to at least $230,000 or so. Since they did not want to spend that much on a vacation home, we didn't write an offer. I saw it closed last week at $255,000. That is just one example of how this system works.

There are a few instances where a lowball strategy can be successful. The most obvious case is where a home is overpriced and sitting on the market. These sellers may be getting tired of waiting and be willing to bend on price. However, you must take into account the fact that the house is overpriced to begin with. Even if you do manage to get a significant price decrease, you are probably only doing a little better than market value. If a home is in really bad shape, and you are handy, you may have a good opportunity to get a deal. Most people are not interested in a home that needs a ton of work and that may present a good chance for you to get a deal.

Keep in mind the fact that these homes are good deals to start with. In most cases, even if you have to go over list price, you are getting a great buy. When you are buying a house for 50% of what was paid for it a few years ago, you have no cause to complain. If you take the time to really put things into perspective, only then can really go about getting a good buy on a bank owned home.

Hud time restrictions and deployed military purchases..Any suggestions?

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:35:23 -0700

Hi I have a quick question concerning submiting a HUD bid. Now the issue is not the offer itself but the severe time restrictions of getting it signed and overnighted within 48 hours. My clients, a military man currently deployed and his wife. For normal offers it would be easy to get a specific POA signed but with the 48 hour timetable and also the fact that HUD only wants to work with original documents...it seems a pretty slim chance although my clients really want to purchase this HUD

The Texas gulf coast, it's a vacation all year around here!

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:54:20 -0800

If you have ever wished you were retired but know it will be many years away for you or If you are retired and are looking for a place to spend time during a warm winter...

Don't look to much further than Corpus Christi and/or Rockport, Texas and surrounding areas... Which one's for me? Well, That's what I'm here to help you decide.

The surrounding areas are all water/beach centered...however;if you like the party scene, chain restaurants and want to be involved in many different community groups, I would suggest Corpus Christi. Although not a HUGE city, there is most definitely not a lack of things to do and with a little search I am sure you will find something of interest to get involved with.

The Corpus Christi calender is usually full year roundand alot of the activities are free (which is best of all if your on a budget). These range from a "movie in the park" which is usually in the summer months at Cole Park, located on Ocean drive, right on the bay. You bring your own popcorn, a blanket or lounge chair, and park yourself right there on the ground and enjoy the movie by yourself or with a special friend.

There are also many cultural celebrations in Corpus Christi throughout the year. In fact, this past weekend we celebrated the Greek fest. Unfortunately; I missed it this year but have attended in the past and had a blast! It gives different cultures a time to showcase their signature foods, dances and music. It is a great place to mix, mingle and have a great time. Also; it is very family friendly for those with children.

If you have time stop in at the Texas State aquarium...

If you are more a home body, like a quieter small town that even on the most stressful of days people seem slow and easy....

Rockport, Texas is the place to be. There is not a lack of things to do. The city park and rec center offers miles of walk/bike trails, tennis courts, basketball court and a softball field.

There is also a very nice beach park that has many amenities including a bird watching tower, for you bird watchers out there. There are many species (as it is also a sanctuary and nesting area) throughout the year.

For the kiddos there is a safe beach, almost like a shallow swimming pool with sand! This is my pretend retirement get away. LOL. Always feel very re-newed even after a one day visit.

Please feel free to contact me for additional information on Real Estate in any of the Corpus Christi and surrounding areas. I would be glad to help or put you in touch with someone who can! Mention this blog post to receive a free One year home warranty should you decide to sell or purchase in the area!

This is the ferry landing in Port Aransas.....

How To Use Your Smartphone as a Safety Device

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:26:13 -0700

More safety tips, can never have to many!

Better & Better,

Tiffany

Via Moby (Moby):

If our previous post taught us anything, it is that Active Rainers are definitely passionate about their Smartphones! Smartphones, no matter what platform you are on, are great because of their apps; whether they allow you to upload a video, check in your location or e-mail a client. Considering there are over 200,000 apps in the Apple AppStore alone, it is no wonder many of us spend endless hours searching for the right apps.

But how about safety apps? Having safety apps downloaded on your Smartphone can create great peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. As we mentioned in our previous blog “Amber Alerts on ActiveRain & Tips on How to Stay Safe”, being a Realtor can sometimes mean putting yourself in vulnerable situations. That is why it is important to have the right tools and attitude to empower your safety!

To continue promoting safety within the Active Rain community we created a customized infographic that lists essential safety apps for Realtors. Rather than talk about the uses of Moby as a personal safety app, we decided it would be useful to take a look at other Smartphone apps that can come in handy during emergencies. Please feel free to share, reblog or print this however you would like to.

We created this list as a reference for our fellow ActiveRain members, and in no way are we associated with any of the apps that we have listed.

If you use any other app for your safety please share them with us in the comment section bellow.

Take care and be safe everyone!

Moby Team

YOUR personal safety service

First time homebuyers information....How to start your homebuying process

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:05:00 -0700

I've Never Bought A Home...What do I do first?

So! You're a first-time homebuyer. That might seem to be a bit scary...but there is help for the First Time Buyer.

Are there special programs that will help First Time Buyers become homeowners? The answer "possibly, yes".

There are county and state "bond" programs available to assist qualified individuals and families in purchasing a first home.

Your lender and I will consult with you and assist you to determine which program you may be able to qualify for and might work best for your particular circumstances. There are maximum income eligibility requirements as well as property requirements for each of the first-time buyer programs.

CCCIC Down Payment Assistance Program offers a deferred, forgivable loan up to $3,000 at 0% interest for use as downpayment and/or closing costs and has an income limit based on 80% of median income as established by HUD and adjusted for family size. EXAMPLE: a family of 4 would have an annual income limit of $37,600 based on 2004 income. (Note: income limits are established by HUD and are subject to change without notice.)

Mortgage Credit Certificate Program affords a higher income limit of $52,670 for a family of 3 or more. This program provides a 25% tax credit based on interest paid and taxes owed to IRS. ($2,000.00 maximum tax credit).

Other programs are available and require Seller financial assistance.

I also encourage you to call or e-mail me with any specific or special interest question that pertains to your personal situation. I am here to assist you in buying your first home...and every one thereafter!

Happy home buying and selling!!!

Better and Better,

Tiffany :)

If I were a Realtor which Smartphone would I buy?

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:54:27 -0700

Would Love to know what smartphone everyone is using and why? Great post!

Via Moby (Moby):

Phones have become an inseparable part of our personal and professional lives, and it seems that this is especially true for Realtors. In just a few years cellular technology has experienced tremendous momentum; it has transformed from a simple calling device into the Swiss army knife of the 21st century.

Considering how often we change/upgrade our phones, we thought it was a good idea to create a post about the current Smartphone battles that are taking place on the web. To spice up the battle we thought it would be great to see which Smartphone brands the ActiveRain community prefers.

Let’s say we wanted to start a forming a decision on the best Smartphone by searching the Internet. If we were to type “the best Smartphone” in a search engine we would face these three scenarios;

1) 38,500,000 results for Web pages that compare Smartphones.

2) Opinions from die-hard fans, whose sole aim is to convert everyone to their own brand.

3) Read hundreds of results that compare features that are not really relevant to Realtors.

So how do you find out which brands Realtors prefer? To help you out with this process, we created an all-in-one infographic for our fellow ActiveRain members. A Realtors Guide to the Smartphone Marketplace is a compilation of different Smartphone survey results, designed specifically for our ActiveRain Realtors. Feel free to copy, reblog, or link this infographic however you would like:

Now the exciting part: “Do these statistics apply to our ActiveRain community?”. We thought creating our own poll would be especially useful for those of you who are thinking of upgrading or changing your phones. Feel free to share your thoughts on which brand/application is best in the comment section.

Results from the survey will be reposted later this week in our Smartphones for Realtors Blog-Part 2: How to use your Smartphones as a safety device.

Take care and stay safe everyone!

Moby Team

Donations Needed for Wildlife Rescue and Recovery on Gulf Coast

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:44:31 -0700

For anyone who wants to help out in my home town and surround please read below and contribute some of these items~ Thanks Lisa...and thanks for all of the help from you wonderful activerain peeps :)

Via Lisa Heindel, New Orleans West Bank Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty Crescent City West Bank Partners):

The Jefferson Chamber is collecting items to assist the Terrebonne-Barataria National Estuary Program in the rescue and recovery of oiled wildlife.

Photo credit: Greenpeace USA 2010 on flickr

There is an immediate need for some items and two convenient drop off points for all donations. If you can help, please bring your items to:

East Bank Location

Jefferson Chamber Office
3421 N Causeway Blvd
Suite 203
Metairie LA

West Bank Location

Gretna Economic Development Assocation
711 Second Street
Gretna LA

The Gulf Response Involvement Team needs:

Clorox Wipes

Plastic Measuring Tapes (like ones used for measuring fabrics/sewing)

Knee-high Rubber Boots

Duct Tape

Clear Plastic Storage Bins with LATCHABLE lids

White Terrycloth Towels

Solid Foam Camping Mats (for cutting to line turtle cages)

Yellow Kitchen Cleaning Gloves

Safety goggles/glasses

Bug Spray

Aveeno face sunscreen

Coppertone spray sunscreen

Zip Ties/Cable Ties

Heavy Mil Lawn Trash Bags

Hand Saws

Blue Tarps

Ratchet Straps

Bungee Cords

Nets (all shapes and sizes for catching wildlife)

Ziploc Bags (gallon and quart-double zipper seal for preserving samples)

GPS Units

Baby wipes

Orange soap hand cleaner soap

Binoculars

Dry Bags

Grease Pens

Mechanical Pencils

Clickable Sharpies

Waterproof Paper

All-in-one Printer & Copiers

1" & 2" 3-ring Binders

Printer mailing labels

Scissors

Large Ice Chests

DC to AC Power Inverters

Paper Towels

Disposable Blue Shop Towels

Bolt Cutters

Box Cutters

3 gallon Lawn Sprayers

Plastic Folding Tables

Heavy Mil Visqueen Plastic Roles

Rope

Dawn soap

Large Trash Cans with Lids

Garden hoses

Leatherman Multi-tools

Waterproof Digital Cameras

2 GB SD memory cards

Video cameras

Pliers

Mustang Lifejackets

Rain gear

Chest Waders

Nitrile gloves

Gauze pads

Forceps

Mini hand-held propane torches

8" x 10" dry erase boards and markers

Disposable sterilized scalpels

Clipboards with internal storage

Letter Sized File folders

Backpacks for making field kits

Mini pelican cases

Aluminum foil

Small ice chests

Small hard-plastic swimming pools

300 gal Rubbermade Tanks

I know we have some of the most generous people in our community and I hope that everyone can make some type of donation, no matter how small.

The good folks at GEDA have agreed to transport all donations to the East Bank location, so you don’t even have to cross the river to help out!

We’ve all seen the heartbreaking photos and news footage of the affected wildlife. Please give.

Originally published at West Bank Living

Foreclosure Vs. Short Sale ~ What happens to your credit in San Antonio, Texas

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:40:52 -0700

Great post! I just needed to change San Antonio to Corpus Christ...Wonderful information~thanks K.

Via Kristin Moran, San Antonio,TX~Real Estate 210-313-7397 (Owner - RE/MAX Access - KristinMoran@Remax.net):

Foreclosure Vs. Short Sale ~ What happens to your credit in San Antonio, Texas

I originally wrote this post in March of 2009 & found it relevant today so I thought I would bring it back to life!

Homeowners looking to stop foreclosure have opportunities. One of these opportunities is a short sale. One of the primary reasons to explore a short sale is to save your credit. In most cases if this is possible, it is something one certainly should pursue. Let's look at the facts:

Credit History-

Foreclosure: Stays on your credit report for 10 years or more & remains a part of public record forever.

Short Sale: Is NOT reported on your credit history. There actually isn't a specific reporting item for 'short sale'. The loan is typically reported 'paid in full, settled'. Your may or may not see the late payments on your report though but you won't see "short sale"

Credit Score-

Foreclosure: A credit score can be lowered 250 to 300 points in the event of a foreclosure. You can expect your score to be affected for over 3 years.

Short Sale: If a short sale is successfully orchestrated on your home only late payments on your mortgage will show (as it is now). After the sale the mortgage will be recorded on your credit score as "paid or negotiated". You can expect your score to be lowered by 50 points. A short sale's affect can be as brief as 12 to 18 months. (Information from www.cdpenow.com)

Choosing to get a Realtor involved and letting them assist you sell your home in a short sale vs. letting it go into foreclosure can save you points on your credit report & years of bad credit.

***********************************************************************

Kristin Moran is a Realtor in San Antonio, Texas & assists homeowners in finding alternative means to foreclosure. 210-313-7397.

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Peek at the Corpus Christi (Nueces County) market for June 2010

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:27:55 -0700

I wanted to give you all a quick peek at the current market in the Nueces county and Corpus Christi, TX. area.

There are currently 2,565 homes on the market as of June 23, 2010, 1,786 of those listed properties are detached single family homes. There are 765 townhome/condos for sale and 14 mobile/manufactured homes.

In the past 30 days there have been 274 properties SOLD and 416 homes are pending sales. The Nueces county market has homes available for every price range from $14,000 to $1.9 million.

The median list price is $232,000(all Nueces county areas included) at the present time. This is not what I would call a bad market although these numbers may be contrary to the media and popular belief.

Stay tuned for my new monthly market reports, also if you are looking at a certain area or neighborhood I would be happy to provide the statistics for a specific area.

May the rest of your life be the best of your life!

Better and Better,

Tiffany :)

Safety Steps for Women Realtors - Don't Make Yourself a Target!

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:46:08 -0700

VERY GOOD INFO...all REALTORS need to read!

Via Tami Vroma-Realtor Grand Rapids Rapids Homes for Sale (West Michigan Real Estate Specialist-Five Star Real Estate):

Safety Steps for Women Realtors - Don't Make Yourself a Target!

I have not been in the Rain for a while. After being gone for a while I have to tell you, what I really want to do is write about how my daughter just took the honors of top student web designer in the nation. But I felt this was more important. Oddly enough, there have been many times I started writing this but it just seemed there was always something else more important. Then it became to close for comfort . . . .

Whether we want to admit it or not, women are sometimes at a serious disadvantage. It has nothing to do with knowledge about the intricacies of real estate. It has nothing to do with the fact that we have to take time off to have babies. Women, I believe, are pretty much equals with men in real estate with one huge exception. It was the way God created us, but we are smaller and for the most part will never have the power that a man has. Unfortunately, there are men out there in the world who will exploit that weakness to their advantage. I let my guard down last week but ,by the Grace of God, a mistake kept me safe when I believe it could have been horrible. This is my story.

I have been really busy and I took a call and made an appointment to show one of my listings and continued on with what I was doing without missing a beat. But I should have slowed down to think about what I was doing. I AM smarter than this and I have always been really careful, but it didn't even sink in that it was a man by himself. It didn't even dawn on me to be worried about--it is Hudsonville/Jenison for crying out loud. Paul Harvey has even reported our area to have the highest number of churches per capita than any other area in the nation. I am still usually much safer but I was on warp speed mode.

The next day rolled around and I was suppose to meet him at noon. As I went to walk out the door, I told my son if he wanted a ride to work then he better hurry up and come with me and I would drop him on the way. We were halfway to his work when I realized I had done it again, thought he had to be at work at noon when he is actually suppose to be there at 1 pm--he missed it to. So I told him to come with me on my appointment which wasn't that far away. Now normally he would be driving as he needs drive time, but this time he was sitting in the passenger seat.

We got there at about 5 minutes before noon and pulled into the parking spot in front of the house which was parellel to the road but kind of at an angel. . . .and we waited . . .and waited . . and waited. At around 12:15 a guy went by the house slowly and was really rubber necking it--leaning across the seat and looking really hard at the house--or so I thought! Truthfully, I just thought wow he is really interested in this house. The house sits about 200 feet off the road so with the angel and everything, he didn't see me watching him. He could only see my son. I didn't really think that much about it. We waited until 12:30 and left--I haven't had a no show in years. Still oblivious to what had just happened.

When I got back to my desk I called the seller to apologize that she and her family had to leave for no reason. She asked me when I had taken the call to show the property and I said, "I don't know, sometime yesterday am". She said there was a vehicle that was stopped in the front of the house talking on the phone at right around 10. I said, "oh, what color was the truck". There was a long pause and she said, "Tami I didn't tell you it was a truck". Serious chills ran down my spine. "Oh dear Lord ," I said, "please don't tell me it was a red truck". She confirmed that it was. I felt sick to my stomach. "Did it have a red matching topper?" Long silence . . . ."yeah it did".

I hung up the phone and with dread, pulled up the phone number he had given me and called it and listened to the computer voice tell me how this phone was no longer in service. Dear God in Heaven . . .he had driven by and seen a man with me and had kept going . . . .he had planned on me being alone. I knew it and my seller knew it. I called the police and told them what happened and they asked me if I had taken the plate number. I hadn't because it hadn't dawned on me what was going on until long after I had left.

I let my guard down and I shouldn't have. Let's face it, most Realtors can't afford to give up a client and that includes women. But, I have had a plan that I have adhered to for years. . . and I slipped. I would not have been prepared if I had been in a bad position. My first plan is to have someone come with me. When I can't find someone, I have a plan in place that is pretty thorough and I would like to share it with you.

#1. Find out what you can about him before you meet him. Where does he work, where is he staying. Call and verify that what he tells you is true. Believe me, when you call businesses and explain you are a women and wanted to verify who this man is, they commend you for not being . . .well . . . .stupid. Even better, ask who he is pre-qualified with and get their phone and information and call and verify that he is working with them. I know many of you will say they should be pre-qualified before you even meet them. On this I disagree, but I don't want to debate that right now with this post. I have called several companies when people say they just moved here for a new job--not once have I had anyone refuse to let me know that he did work there or he did have an appointment.

#2. Before the appointment, call him and ask him for his drivers license number, plate number and the make, model and year of his car. I have only had it one time that they refused and I had a creepy feeling anyway about him. Most men are impressed that I am on my toes and thinking. Tell him you will verify it when you meet.

#3. Plan ahead and have someone who is keeping track of where you are and what homes you are showing and the addresses of all of them.

#4. Do not ever meet your male clients in a secluded place. If you don't know that exact area, pull it up on Google maps and look at the aerial picture. It will tell you a lot about if the home is secluded or in a subdivision. If it is in a secluded area, meet them in a busy parking lot first.

#5. Carry pepper spray. Keep it in a pocket but don't put it on key chain so they see it--it takes away the surprise advantage. You can buy it anywhere on line.

#6. Keep your keys in your hand. Hold one key through your fingers so if you punched, it would stab. You should also make sure you have a panic button for your car that will make the alarm go off by pushing a button.

#7. Have a secret text you can use with your point person to let them know if you are in trouble and a different text if you are ok. My text that someone sends me 15 minutes after I am suppose to meet him is, "what did you do with the key". If I text back, "I left it under the flower pot" they know I am ok. If I don't text back within five minutes, they call the police. If I know I am in trouble, I text back, "it is under the garbage can". From there I have to text every 15 minutes. The next text that my point person sends is, "the key isn't there". If I am ok then I text back, "check both flower pots". You get the idea.

#8. When you arrive at the appointment. Verify his info, then take his picture and a picture of the vehicle and text it to your point person. They should be waiting for this. If they don't get your info, they immediately send the secret text. If you don't respond or respond the wrong way, they immediately call the police.

Is this fool proof? I am sure it isn't-- nothing really is. But, this sure puts us in a better position!

Pass this around, print it, reblog it, copy it in any way you want. You never know what women you might save!

THIS IS AN ADDITION AS I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD INFORMATION

Dawn Maloney had some good advice:

Check out their name on www.pipl.com, google.com or 123people.com - she actually kept herself from showing a serial rapist a home by doing this. Thank you Dawn!!

Brian Block said:

I'd highly suggest to you, and all women (and men) to read the book "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker. I can't recommend it enough. This book will change your perspective on the world and make you more aware of your surroundings and how you can prevent dangerous situations.

#139,700 ... 3/2/2 GREAT HOME, GREAT PRICE on the Island! AGENT BONUS... MLS#143227

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:39:07 -0700

#139,700 ... 3/2/2 GREAT HOME, GREAT PRICE on the Island! AGENT BONUS... MLS#143227

Posted by Tiffany Burke on 06/22/2010 11:40 AM

Comments (2)

13940 lighthouse dr, padre island living, south texas coast

Drug companies spamming on activerain...

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:12:08 -0700

Are we being spammed here on Active rain??? (Members Only)

Hi I have been gettting spammed (I think) the strange this is that it is only on one of my blogs! I just kept deleating at first but now I wonder if it is just me or is this happening to everyone?

They all look something like this and do not make much sence at all...

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claritin d

This one is From Claritin....I have some from Advil, nexium and the list goes on and on....what is this about and how can I stop it. I report all of them now. It is annoying.

Search the entire Corpus Christi MLS...hassle free home search on your time!

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:03:07 -0700

Shop for properties in Corpus Christi and surround...hassle free...Check out homes for sale and/or lease

Corpus Christi Multiple Listing Service (MLS) at your service (edit/delete)

If you are interested in browsing the Corpus Christi area housing market but are not quite ready to call and agent, I am introducing a hassle free MLS search. By clicking on the link below, you will be able to search all properties for sale in the Corpus Christi (and surrounding areas) by yourself, without any phone calls or hassles until your ready. You can select very specific or a very broad criteria and even search for rental properties.

Most people start their home search on the Internet before they ever pick up the phone to call a Realtor. I wanted to make it a more accessable task so that you can see everything that's available on the market and not only mine or my office listings. Also, another hassle free service I offer is a personalized web page. The simple process is that I enter the specific criteria that you provide me and you receive all properties matching that criteria as soon as they hit the market. You will receive all "New" listings plus any listing that has a status change such as re-priced etc...that way you can follow your properies of interest.

I do hope when you are ready to begin your actual home search and/or sale you will give me a call, but for now all you have to do is click the link below and begin your search! It's that easy.

Please feel free to email me at tburke_realtor@yahoo.com or call me direct at (361)739-5208 with any questions.

Click Here to begin: http://trbrealtor.cor.mlxchange.com/?Page=102640

Happy home hunting!

May the rest of your life be the best of your life,

Tiffany R. Burke
Realtor
Group One Real Estate
5302 Everhart Corpus Christi, TX. 78411

(361) 739-5208

#139,700 ... 3/2/2 GREAT HOME, GREAT PRICE on the Island! AGENT BONUS... MLS#143227

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:40:46 -0700

Oh wow ! I didn' t realize that blog post (listings or not) must be at minimum 50 words or more....I guess I should add more comments to my listings..lol. Right??? Lets see if this will do it...lol.

UPDATE: Tax Credit Extension

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:29:17 -0700

Via Akos Straub (The Straub Group at Jameson Real Estate):

“Amendment to extend tax credit closing deadline to Sept. 30 advances. The U.S. Senate adopted an amendment last week that, if ultimately approved, would extend the closing deadline, giving homebuyers who qualified for the federal tax credit, more time to close because of a backlog in pending mortgage applications. The amendment has been added to H.R. 4213, a tax extension bill that hasn't yet been able to secure enough Senate votes for passage. It's important to note that the proposed amendment does not extend the deadline to qualify for the tax credit, it would only extend the deadline for closing the transaction from June 30 to Sept. 30.”

Bye Bye Fannie and Freddie!

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:32:31 -0700

Via Will Handley (Progressive Inspection Service):

NEW YORK -- Government-sponsored mortgage purchasers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plan to delist their shares from the New York Stock Exchange after their stocks had trouble meeting listing requirements.

Shares of both companies tumbled.

Fannie Mae shares dropped 42 cents, or 46 percent to 50 cents, while Freddie Mac slid 58 cents, or 48 percent, to 64 cents in afternoon trading.

The companies' regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, said Wednesday that Fannie's shares have been below the $1 average price level for 30 trading days. NYSE rules require a company to take action to boost its shares or delist. Freddie's shares have hovered close to the $1 mark.

The move to delist "simply makes sense and fits with the goal of a conservatorship to preserve and conserve assets," said FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco in a statement.

The agency expects Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shares to trade, starting next month, on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, an electronic quotation service.

"It's logical," said Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. analyst Bose George. "The pretense that they were public companies didn't make sense. They were kept around so the government could pursue its housing goals."

The government took over the pair in September 2008 after they suffered heavy loan losses following the housing crash. So far, it's cost $145 billion so far and is likely to be the most expensive of all the financial bailouts.

Late last year, the Obama administration pledged to cover unlimited losses through 2012 for the companies, lifting an earlier cap of $400 billion. And with the housing market still on shaky ground, Obama administration officials say it is still too early to draft any proposals to reform them, or the broader housing finance system.

The pair along with the Federal Housing Administration and the Veterans Administration backed nearly 97 percent of home mortgages in the first quarter of this year, according to trade publication Inside Mortgage Finance.

"This is long overdue. The NYSE has been exceptionally kind to Fannie and Freddie to allow their stock to continue trading for as long as it has," said banking analyst Bert Ely.

In 2007, shares of both companies traded above $60. As the housing crisis deepened the stocks lost almost all of their value, plummeting below $1 by September 2008. Since then, the shares have bounced above and below the $1 mark as traders speculated that government may one day be able to sell its stakes in the companies.

Fannie, based in Washington, and Freddie, based in McClean, Va., expect OTC trading to start July 8, or 10 days after they each file a Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both companies said they expect to file that form on June 28.

Fannie and Freddie were created by Congress to buy mortgages from lenders and package them into bonds that are resold to investors. Together they own or guarantee almost 31 million home loans worth about $5.5 trillion. That's about half of all mortgages.

During the housing boom, the two loosened their lending standards for borrowers and are now reeling from the housing bust.

---

AP Real Estate Writer Alan Zibel in Washington, D.C.,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/16/AR2010061601931.html

The Latest from the Gulf Oil Spill Front:

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:21:13 -0700

Via Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection:

The Latest from the Gulf Oil Spill Front:

For several days we’ve had reports about the well pipes below the sea floor being broken and leaking.

Is the BP Gusher Unstoppable?

B.P, Halliburton and Transocean have unleashed Armageddon and now there is no stopping it.

Oil Confirmed to Be Leaking from Cracks in Sea Floor

Meanwhile, BP has doused the Gulf area with over 1.3 Million Gallons of the toxic dispersant Corexit. This toxin was banned by the UK in 1998 but was somehow approved by the EPA and used by BP. Recently, the EPA has demanded BP to stop using the dispersant. BP flat out refused.

How BP Swept Dispersants Under the Rug

Join Facebook's BP=Biological Predator Community Page

Shop for properties in Corpus Christi and surround...hassle free...Check out homes for sale and/or lease

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:30:11 -0700

Corpus Christi Multiple Listing Service (MLS) at your service (edit/delete)

I do hope when you are ready to begin your actual home search and/or sale you will give me a call, but for now all you have to do is click the link below and begin your search! It's that easy.

Please feel free to email me at tburke_realtor@yahoo.com or call me direct at (361)739-5208 with any questions.

Click Here to begin: http://trbrealtor.cor.mlxchange.com/?Page=102640

Happy home hunting!

May the rest of your life be the best of your life,

Tiffany R. Burke
Realtor
Group One Real Estate
5302 Everhart Corpus Christi, TX. 78411

(361) 739-5208

Corpus Christi Multiple Listing Service (MLS) at your service

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:42:20 -0800

I do hope when you are ready to begin your actual home search and/or sale you will give me a call, but for now all you have to do is click the link below and begin your search! It's that easy.

Please feel free to email me at tburke_realtor@yahoo.com or call me direct at (361)739-5208 with any questions.

Click Here to begin: http://trbrealtor.cor.mlxchange.com/?Page=102640

Happy home hunting!

May the rest of your life be the best of your life,

Tiffany R. Burke
Realtor
Group One Real Estate
5302 Everhart Corpus Christi, TX. 78411

(361) 739-5208

HUD foreclosures in Corpus Christi TX....Great deals with repair escrows

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:13:29 -0800

May be eligible for $100 down payment if FHA insured financing. All HUD homes are sold AS-IS. Seller will not allow any type of repairs prior to closing. $660 repair escrow if FHA insured financing. lmost 1300 sq.Ft. popular south Cullen middle school, king high school districts. All for $85,000. Just listed 1/26/2010. Call me today for recent inspection (Property condition report) and/or additional photos!

Tiffany R. Burke
Realtor
Group One Real Estate
5302 Everhart
Corpus Christi, TX. 78411
(361) 739-5208 Search The Corpus Christi MLS Click on the link below
http://trbrealtor.cor.mlxchange.com/?Page=102640

Is it a sellers, buyers market?

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:37:45 -0800

How often do you hear those two statements together? We, as Realtors (and consumers alike) tend to operate from the standpoint of; A buyers market or a seller's market, right? However; right now I predict it is both. If you think about the Corpus Christi market over the past several years I think you can certainly agree that we have been "VERY" blessed compared to many places in the country. In fact; Texas as a whole has been spared a large portion of the chaos that most of the country has seen in this housing crisis. Sure, we have seen our share of foreclosures mostly from those 2000 - 2005 sub-prime lenders that didn't really give a rats behind about what a homeowner could actually afford, because they were to busy padding their pockets with loan after loan right up until the bubble busted. (That's a whole other subject though) Anyway; I'm genuinely compassionate towards those taken advantage of, but for the most part I'm grateful for our continued bounce back that seems to be happening, especially right now in our own back yard.

Sellers who are putting properties on the market here are getting lots of interest. Interest rates are at a low not seen in several decades. Buyers are swarming to find and close on a property in order to not lose their second chance at the $8000 extended tax credit. Move-up buyers are also joining this parade in order to buy a bigger home and be eligible for their $6000 tax credit, Which means more properties on the market (from move-up buyers) which are very motivated to sell.

This is all a very exciting mixing pot.Motivated buyers and motivated sellers! Definitely not what I would call a bad market. So don't let the media get you down. Heed my advice, if you are thinking of buying or selling, GET OFF THE FENCE NOW; there is no better time than the present to do either one (or both). :)Happy buying and selling!

May the rest of your life be the best of your life!

Have a very blessed day~

Tiffany R. Burke
Realtor
Group One Real Estate
5302 Everhart
Corpus Christi, TX. 78411
(361) 739-5208

Search The Corpus Christi MLS. Click on the link below
http://trbrealtor.cor.mlxchange.com/?Page=102640

Short sale success...OR....Christmas Miracle???

Tiffany Burke (Group one real estate) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:53:04 -0800

I wanted to sharethis with all of you due to my in-ability to control my excitement! After many years and many failed attempts I have successfully closed a short sale.

I know this may not seem like a BIG thing but let me tell you I have done my best for several years to avoid short sales. I don't show them, I have avoided creating interest in them by my clients, if only to save them from all the hassle and the almost (I thought) inevitable dis-appointment in the end after the 60-120 waiting game.

The funny thing is that these particular clients have been looking for a very specific home for several months. Of course, like anyone; they wanted to get the best house for their money. They specifically told me NO SHORT SALE properties. This request was fine and dandy with me since I didn't want to deal with the hassle anyway. I had them on an automatic search and they were receiving all the properties meeting their criteria. We had finally narrowed it down to one specific neighborhood that they really liked. In fact; we had even put an offer in on a property that didn't work out, so they were getting a little anxious.

So, on a Friday before Thanksgiving they received this particular property. It was a short sale but the listing agent didn't have it disclosed as a short sale. I thought it was priced a little low but went ahead and scheduled the appointment for a showing. Low and behold they fell in love with this house, we put in a strong offer and then I got the news that this was indeed a short sale. The seller was upside down on his mortgage, several payments behind and it was almost about to go into foreclosure.

YIKES!!! That was my first thought. I let them know what we may be in for. The listing agent assured me that the bank had already approved the short sale and that closing could be quick. I took those words with a grain of salt because I had never heard of this before. I was always under the impression (through my short sale failures in the past) that the bank wouldn't consider a short sale until there was an offer on the table. So, I put on my big girl undies and braced for a fight.

To mine and my clients surprise, this deal closed on Christmas eve. I thought it was a miracle. How do you get approval for short sales before you have an offer. I'd like some feedback on this b/c there are many people I'd like to give more advice on regarding short sales as an alternative to foreclosure but have backed away from it since short sales have always seemed like such an extra burden that rarely falls into place before they have to go through the heartbreak of a foreclosure anyway. I've always viewed it as extra stress for all involved.

What do you think? Was this a very rare Christmas miracle are is there really a way to have an approval first so that all goes smoothly until closing. Is it really possible for buyers to walk away with a GREAT deal and seller's to avoid foreclosure?

Happy NEW year!!!

Breakfast with Tiffany

In Mulitple Offer World, does it have to be this hard?

Only ONE Photo Used In This MLS Listing....And, It's Not Of The House

How 'Full' Is the Full Service Real Estate Agent?

Lowballing An REO Property

Hud time restrictions and deployed military purchases..Any suggestions?

The Texas gulf coast, it's a vacation all year around here!

How To Use Your Smartphone as a Safety Device

First time homebuyers information....How to start your homebuying process

If I were a Realtor which Smartphone would I buy?

Donations Needed for Wildlife Rescue and Recovery on Gulf Coast

East Bank Location

West Bank Location

Foreclosure Vs. Short Sale ~ What happens to your credit in San Antonio, Texas

Peek at the Corpus Christi (Nueces County) market for June 2010

Safety Steps for Women Realtors - Don't Make Yourself a Target!

#139,700 ... 3/2/2 GREAT HOME, GREAT PRICE on the Island! AGENT BONUS... MLS#143227

Drug companies spamming on activerain...

Search the entire Corpus Christi MLS...hassle free home search on your time!

#139,700 ... 3/2/2 GREAT HOME, GREAT PRICE on the Island! AGENT BONUS... MLS#143227

UPDATE: Tax Credit Extension

Bye Bye Fannie and Freddie!

The Latest from the Gulf Oil Spill Front:

The Latest from the Gulf Oil Spill Front:

For several days we’ve had reports about the well pipes below the sea floor being broken and leaking.

Is the BP Gusher Unstoppable?

B.P, Halliburton and Transocean have unleashed Armageddon and now there is no stopping it.

Oil Confirmed to Be Leaking from Cracks in Sea Floor

Meanwhile, BP has doused the Gulf area with over 1.3 Million Gallons of the toxic dispersant Corexit. This toxin was banned by the UK in 1998 but was somehow approved by the EPA and used by BP. Recently, the EPA has demanded BP to stop using the dispersant. BP flat out refused.

How BP Swept Dispersants Under the Rug

Join Facebook's BP=Biological Predator Community Page

Shop for properties in Corpus Christi and surround...hassle free...Check out homes for sale and/or lease

Corpus Christi Multiple Listing Service (MLS) at your service

HUD foreclosures in Corpus Christi TX....Great deals with repair escrows

Is it a sellers, buyers market?

Short sale success...OR....Christmas Miracle???