What exactly is social networking and how important is it in what we do as Realtors. I would like to go on record and say that it is BIG TIME and no matter who you are....new blogger, ActiveRain Addict or Celebrity blogger.....social networking IS the future.
I have gotten over 50% of my business from blogging and my Internet presence. It is complex in what I do. I've followed the lead from ActiveRain and I provide video (Mixpo) and Virtual Tours for all my listings. I use VFlyers.com for all my listings to distribute them out to the mature real estate websites. I use Vflyers to publishes to Craigslist in my local area (for free). I develop dedicated websites for all my listings. I produce beautiful signage for my listings, promote and showcase the dedicated websites that use Dynamic Range Photography to fully promote the property. When needed, we use HD Video for a walk through home tour. Technology rocks and we are so dedicated to the latest features that we can offer the consumer. We build websites that promote our listings and our local listings. We market to the world at large and have many out of town buyers call daily.
We recently have had a professional move in location. We moved our offices from a remote Westside location to a central Westside location in the Downtown Area. We experienced a few communication issues. These issues are being resolved as soon as AT&T will allow.
I also recently moved my primary residence. It is a larger home and allows us to have two separate offices as my husband's business seems to be more promising than my real estate business.
I've missed everyone to pieces and I apologize for not being present and respondent. It has been a very hard year with the death of my son on March. We moved out of our home due to the bills from my son's illness. It depleted our financial estate. I have to say that I don't know if it was wise to spend our last dime to try and save our son, however we have never looked back. No one can deny the help needed for a child.
We left our home because we no longer had faith that we could honor the commitment. We moved into a much smaller home and during that time my son passed away. It was very hard. The bank never allowed us to proceed with a short sale and even though we had three buyers, we were never allowed any communication about the short sale.
We finally gave up and decided that based on the state law, we would be better off on original purchase money to allow it to go to foreclosure. We waited and and waited. They never even filed a Notice or Default. I called diligently month after month asking why they did not foreclose.
In March, we received a workout proposition from Wells Fargo (Wacovia--after a year and half) saying that they would forgive 20% of the loan value and the back payments that amounted $41,000). They would provide us with a 3.5 interest loan for one year with it increasing each year by .5% up to 5 years. We had hoped for 10....however five is certainly resonable.
We had an A paper loan for $391,000. They basically reduced the loan amount and added attorney fees and impound account fees to the backend of our loan to re-adjust our loan to $330.000. We are still out of WHACH by about $50,000....be we decided the gain outweighed the risk and accepted the workout.
We are scared...no doubt. However, the future always lumes bright and we feel that this new opportunity could not be denied. We are eager for the future and it feel very good to be back in our home. I wish for all people who have undergone these hardships this opportunity. I pledge my heart and soul to helping everyone I can, realize this opportunity that has become available.......HOPE! I help sellers with short sales and now I will help sellers with loan modifications. It is the best hope we have for our real estate market to stabliize. I personally believe that at this time the TARP money is extremely limited. We can only hope that more will be allocated to keep people in their homes.
I've missed everyone tremendously....and I have to say that during our ORDEAL that lasted over a year....it is ActiveRain that gave me hope and the power to PREVAIL! I needed more than real estate. I needed realtionship and connections and I SO got it. Thank you all!
Thank you AR and family of friends!
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