Jill Ford's (athomeinpinehurst) Blog

Falling Back, Some pieces of technology will always get the better of me. . .

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:28:45 -0700

You know, I like to think I stay on the leading, if not the bleeding, edge of changes in technology in my industry. I have had a pretty active practice on the internet for 6 or 7 years, doing things that many of my colleagues are just now catching on to. I have used pay-per-click marketing for about 6 years, and trackable e-flyers for marketing to other brokers, and I've of course had my own personal website, and more recently have added a texting "brochure box" to my listings, and I am in the process of rolling out QR code marketing. I use virtual tours and dabble in video, with my own youtube channel. Of course I am on ActiveRain and Facebook and Twitter, although I admit to being a slacker when it comes to consistent blogging. I am skilled in the use of our county's website, for things like tax records, deeds, and GIS mapping. I use an Ipad for my listing presentation and Docusign for fast execution of documents. But today I woke up and realized there is one area where technology trumps me every time. And, I am reminded of it twice a year. Today is the last day for 6 months that I have to mentally adjust the time on my clock radio when I wake up in the night, or before I get out of bed. This morning the radio said it was 5:20, and my foggy waking brain did the calculation, adding an hour to correct the reading to Daylight Savings Time. Ok, I admit, when I do something "technological" ONCE and then don't do it again for 6 months, the odds are I am going to have to relearn the process. And when the manual for that particular piece of technology is long gone, well, it seems the simplest thing to do is not do it. So when I wake up at night, and every morning since last spring I have practiced my daylight savings ritual of adjusting the time in my mind to keep me on schedule with the world. So besides an extra hour of sleep tonight, tomorrow I don't have to start my day with a mental calculation! Of course I have to remind myself to not do the calculation, which is probably just as taxing, but in a few days I will have adjusted to Standard Time. I know they make clocks that do it all for you, and maybe when this one bites the dust, I go that route, but for now, this particular technology can continue to beat me. But this one also is a docking station, charger and speakers for my Ipod, so I'll put up with it, and the mental math for as long as it lasts. (don't tell me the manual is downloadable on-line--I still would have to relearn the process twice a year--not gonna happen!) Fall back everybody! Happy return to Standard Time.

USTA North Carolina Super Seniors State Championships

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:14:19 -0700

Wow, what a gorgeous day for tennis. On this past Friday, I got to fulfill my role as spectator at the USTA North Carolina Super Seniors State Championships in Pinehurst. Over seventy Super Senior teams from around the state gathered in Pinehurst to determine the best of the best in geezer tennis. The event got underway on Friday and matches were scheduled throughout the weekend. I showed up part-way into the eleven o'clock match, the first that my boyfriend was scheduled to play. Temps were hovering at the 60 degree mark, the sun was dazzling, the sky crystal clear and Carolina blue. A breeze kept it fairly interesting and teams representing the best of North Carolina's Super Seniors served up exciting tennis for the scattered on-lookers. Win or lose, it's always fun to watch quality tennis, and it was available everywhere. As it turns out, a gorgeous weekend for chasing fuzzy yellow balls provided excitement, drama, the thrill of victory and the agony of flexing aging joints in 35 degree temperatures. The action continued through the weekend, as Super Senior State Champion teams, who had gathered in Pinehurst from all over the state, played their hearts out through Sunday morning, with winners of the round robin play scheduled to finish up their group play in order to qualify for Sunday's Super Senior finals. Court assignments in hand, they headed out to tennis centers all over town for the first day of Super Senior round-robin play. While matches were happening at five sites around the area, all of the remaining matches for my boyfriend's team were held at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club tennis center, with their gazillion clay courts and buffet barbeque among the pine needles. My boyfriend's regular Raleigh team didn't make the North Carolina Super Senior State Championships, so he claims his waiver status got him picked up by the Pinehurst team. In actual fact, he plays with a group of Pinehurst guys often, as he spends most weekends with me in Whispering Pines, and when his regular Super Senior team finished the season out of the finals, he made a phone call. He ended up playing three matches and the team had a great time! (That's code for "didn't win.") The North Carolina Super Senior State Championships has become a much anticipated event for the Super Senior players across the state and appears to have found a home in Pinehurst, with its abundant clay courts, great restaurants, and as it turns out, near perfect fall weather.

A FORMULA FOR DISASTER IN A FRAGILE MARKET PLACE:

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:33:04 -0800

This really is THAT important today--I know I have been guilty in the past of schmoozing the seller instead of telling him/her like it absolutely MUST BE. OVER PRICING HOMES = HIGH INVENTORY + LESS SALES + DESPERATE SELLERS = CONTINUED HOUSING CRISIS: A FORMULA FOR DISASTER IN A FRAGILE MARKET PLACE!!! We MUST do in-depth research before we price properties!!! ....and we MUST price properties as if our lives depend on it.(...because they do!) If we don't face over-pricing head on, we will see the inventory levels climb like never before! Not only that, the desperation seen and felt by huge numbers of sellers that we witnessed during the downturn in 2008 will likely re-appear! In many markets there are still great numbers of desperate sellers. OVER-PRICED HOMES = HIGH INVENTORY + MORE DAYS ON MARKET + LESS SALES + DESPERATE SELLERS = CONTINUED HOUSING CRISIS. In my last blog post, I mention the above formula to the umpteenth agent who said he would take an over-priced listing but would schedule a reduction in the agreement in 30 days or 60 days. There are still huge numbers of real estate professionals who do not understand the importance of correct pricing---and we direct the whole real estate market; or at least we are supposed to! In my last blog post "HOW DO YOU HANDLE A SELLER WHO WANTS YOU TO OVER-PRICE THEIR HOME ?..." I was amazed at how many agents feel it is ok to over-price a listing "for a short time like 30 days" ...let me remind you all that the best time to sell a listing is in the first 2-3 weeks on the market! Over-price it and you miss the best selling time!!! Even a small amount over the correct price of a home will keep it on the market for too long! We can not afford this in this housing climate; people are desperate now (and more will get there)....but there are buyers out there and they are looking for bargains, even here, where the average income usually very high. As a community of professionals who are looked to, by most homeowners, for our guidance and expertise, we MUST not over price homes. We need to take a stand NOW before we slip again into the abyss. This may seem evangelistic to a lot of you but it is the basic truth: If we all take one listing with even a small of amount of over-market pricing, look at the impact! Guess who is in charge here?...We are and we MUST do what we can do to bring the housing market back to some normalcy. PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS! DO NOT OVERPRICE HOMES IN THIS MARKET OR WE WILL NEVER GET OUT OF THE CRISIS!!!Paula I. Hathaway, LBA, Prudential Douglas Elliman Top Producer, Diamond , Gold and Chairman's Circle Awards

New Phishing Scam--I have never seen this one!

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:08:17 -0700

In my email this morning was an email, ostensibly from one of my clients, from HIS hotmail address asking me to wire him $2500 because he was stranded in London and had lost his wallet. It was obvious his email account been hijacked so I called him immediately and apparently was not the first to call. He cannot get into his hotmail mailbox. Wow, I guess I would get rid of hotmail if that was my email, but I guess it could happen to any provider. I tried to cut and paste the email content here but couldn't make that work. Just a word to the wise, another phishing scam coming to an email box near you.

Forty Years and Fifty Pounds Ago!

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:54:17 -0700

I just couldn't resist changing my picture, and after I searched my newly replaced hard drive for my professional picture, I couldn't find a copy of it large enough for the system to accept. The next best choice was on a CD that my son gave me for Christmas one year. Among the baby pictures and pictures of his college graduation was the one I upload for that great point bonus. It is a picture taken in about July of 1969, when I was a stewardess (before the days of PC and flight attendants). We had a New York layover and my parents came from Cleveland to spend a few days in NY with me. This is my dad and I, and I was leaving for our flight, so am in uniform. My dad is gone now, died at 90, 2 and a half years ago, and was just as handsome the day he died. And I CAN'T BELIEVE I was ever that skinny! Thanks for the opportunity to step back in time for a moment. I think I will leave the picture up for a time--be one of those brokers who uses their college photo in their advertising!

Our new Previsite Camera and virtual tour ~ AWESOME

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:45:33 -0700

A small group of us in our office got together and bought a Previsite camera (with an incredible fisheye lens) and each of have subscribed to the Previsite service. (www.previsite.com, check it out!) These has to be the most remarkably easy virtue tour to create on the web. I took the camera one day and shot some pictures of Pinehurst Resort, a few of the clubhouse, inside and out, the wonderful Payne Stewart statue on the 18th green, the Carolina Hotel etc. Take a look at my little Pinehurst tour at the link below. One of the very cool things about this program and the fisheye pics is you can grab them and move them around, (looking at magnificent coffered ceilings, exquisite hardwood or marble floors for instance.)There is a picture in the tour below of a hedge--be sure and grab that one and move it up and down. The picture was a mistake but I left it in for this little exercise. http://tour.previsite.com/D02C8553-9630-9A4F-84CD-DF90D00778D9

Demonstation of Customer Service--NOT

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:47:08 -0700

You may think this doesn't have anything to do with real estate (but I am sure all you savvy activerainers know that it does) but I witnessed THE MOST BLATANT example of someone needing customer service training I have ever seen yesterday at a Durham Bulls baseball game. I was there as a guest of a big family outing. A group had invited their membership, their significant others, their spouses and their children to come and enjoy an evening at the ball park. They had a buffet cookout at the Miller Lite tent in left field and our seats were "anywhere in two sections", lower and upper, at the extreme left field end of the park. Many members of the group arrived early. Some chose to get their stadium seats first and then get food, others were more interested in eating than in where they sat. One family of four in particular had settled themselves in four seats in the front row and then gone to get food. As we got closer to game time, the sections that we were told were ours exclusively filled up with members of the group. Sometime around maybe the second inning, a couple showed up with actual tickets for two of that family's four seats. They were not part of the group--someone had given them their season tickets and, not unreasonably, they wanted to sit in their seats. And likewise not unreasonably, the family that got there early and was told by Durham Bulls Athletic Park officials that they could sit "anywhere in these two sections" was justifyably annoyed that nobody had said "anywhere but these two seats, which have actually been leased for the season to someone else," (oh, it really is about real estate), in time for them to simply sit in the four front row seats that were available at the time they sat down. A woman, a park official person, was summoned by the couple who wanted their seats and she came and simply told those people, a husband, wife and two kids, who, until moments before happily enjoying a minor league ball game up close and personal (you can reach out and touch the opposing team's pitchers, warming up in what serves as a bull pen from those seats) that they had to move and they could sit anywhere in the (now nearly full) section. I never heard her say anything resembling an apology. She just turned and waved her arm in the direction of the sections and said "you can sit anywhere in these two sections." Bear in mind that by now, there probably weren't 4 seats together in the sections and in order to watch the game, the family was likely going to have to separate. She never said "I am sorry, we screwed up and how can we make it right for you?" She never said to the couple with the tickets, "I am sorry, we screwed up, why don't I find you two better seats?" She simply told the members of our group "you can sit anywhere in these two sections but here." The father was annoyed enough to say they were going home (likely NEVER to return). They were made to feel as you might if you had poached someone's seats, snuck into them illegally, and the owner of the seats showed up. rather than sat in seats your were told were yours at the beginning of the evening. I could think of a thousand ways it could have been handled better, but not one way it could have been handled worse! Time for a little customer service and sensitivity training at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. How's your customer service IQ? I know none of you would ever do something intentionally to make a client or customer feel like they had poached seats in a ball park, but are you paying attention to how the things you do and say make you clients, customers and colleagues feel? Just a demonstration that made me sit up and take notice. Customer service takes constant awareness.

LMAO or LMBO if you prefer

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:00:33 -0700

Ya know, sometimes we just need a good laugh or two in this crazy business. My son, Gen Y that he is, is always finding and sharing great links on the web. More often than not they have nothing to do with real estate, like this one http://www.mathstat.uottawa.ca/~rsmith/Zombies.pdf but every once in a while a real estate nugget shows up. Do you know about LOLCats? www.Icanhascheeseburger.com? well this is sort of a cheeseburger site for real estate listing photos: www.lovelylisting.com I stop by every once in a while, when I have time to waste or really just need a good laugh or two. I blogged about the ad with a picture of alf on the phone a couple of weeks ago--that was from this site. hope you enjoy.

Affordability at historic levels & $8000 tax credit a great opportunity--but act fast!

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:19:43 -0700

Interest rates and declining prices are combining to create among the most affordable opportunities in 30 years. Only 5 months since 1970 have seen affordability levels higher. Combine that near record affordability with the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers and it is time to rock! But with the tax credit expiring at the end of November and new regulations concerning appraisals and good faith estimates making 30 day closings a thing of the past, anyone wishing to take advantage of this great combination of circumstances needs to plan on being under contract by early October, mid-October at the latest.

Beautiful Pine Lake views~Reduced!

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:24:21 -0700

Beautiful lakefront location, adorable, neat as a pin, with absolutely the best views of Pine Lake. Split level ranch with fireplace, hardwoods, ADT securitysystem, many updates, attic fan, master bedroom w/deck. Patio and park-like back yard with dock. Recent price reduction to $300,000 makes this a great lakefront value. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, nearly 2000 square feet, dock and gorgeous lake view

Each Day a New Eye-Opener

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:57:21 -0700

There really can be help for some unlucky homeowners upside down in the mortgages. A recent item on All Things Considered on NPR featured a handful of Cleveland area homeowners who were negotiating with their lenders getting mortgages released for a 10-20% lump sum payment. Here's the link to the story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111899478 Now the first story told includes a title company owner who went to jail for fraud, and I can't help wondering if that had an influence on Ocwen, the ultimate owner of the mortgage, and their willingness to just get this puppy off the books no matter the cost. I guess the message in this may be never underestimate the negotiability of a mortgage lender.

Custom Built Brick Home on Quiet Cul-de-sac

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:09:37 -0700

This gorgeous 3000 square foot custome brick home is loaded with features and upgrades you don't find in a spec-built home. From the moment you walk in, every where you look you see quality. From the beautiful white oak floors featured throughout the living space, to the Luxor high quality kitchen (and bathroom) cabinetry, to the crown moldings, and the two marble fireplaces with custom designed mantles. There are two hot water heaters and my seller promises you will never run out of hot water. The main floor master features a tray ceiling and ceiling fan, french doors to a private patio, and a glorious en suite bath with separate Jacuzzi tub, shower, two sinks and vanity, linen closet and two large his and hers closets. A beautiful "screened porch" is really a Carolina room in waiting--insulated, with hvac duct work in place, all that is required are 8 windows and two register grates to add 200 square feet to your living space. Install the windows, knock out the porcelain tiles that have been cut to fit where the registers go, open a valve in the crawl space and you have added a Carolina room. The HVAC system was sized to accommodate the addition, so no need to upgrade that. A second story offers two bedrooms with en suite baths. A roomy bonus room could easily become a bedroom, with the addition of a closet. The owner/designer added a second door to one bath, so it is accessible to the bonus room. About 3000 square feet of living space, filled with so many thoughtful extras--the garage doors are both 9 feet wide--ready for his and hers SUVs. A gas line is run for your patio gas grill. An alcove in the keeping room provides a computer desk and cabinets for your home office. The kitchen, open to a keeping/family room with its own fireplace is the heart of this home. Ample honey maple cabinets, a beautiful island/breakfast bar and rich granite tops invite. There is a breakfast area, and a formal dining room as well as a soaring ceilinged living room, and gracious foyer. Ceiling fans in everyone room but the kitchen area, the handsome white oak flooring, ceramic tiles in the baths, and the work area of the kitchen, porcelain tile in the soon-to-be Carolina room and quality carpet in each of the bedrooms. Did I mention the floor joists that support the second floor--16" microlam beams act as floor joists in this engineer-designed home. And insulation in the ceiling and exterior walls exceeds code by 50%. In addition, most all of the interior walls are insulated. The quality of construction is reflected in the average monthly electric bill of $122! A Pinehurst Country Club membership is available, transfer fee to be borne by buyer.

OMG Someone Cut Off My Right Arm AND Tied My Other Hand Behind My Back

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:23:19 -0700

In my now 62 years, I am sure I have developed various dependencies on external elements, fields and forces. For the first several years I know I was pretty heavily dependent on my parents for food and clothing and shelter. I wandered through elementary school dependent on friends, teachers, and macaroni and cheese. In high school, I shifted my dependencies to things like my best friend's little blue camaro convertible, Bearden's hamburgers (if you grew up on the west side of Cleveland, especially in the 50s and 60s, you probably know what I am talking about!), summers at the pool, and winters at the ice rink. During my college years I depended on friends and roommates, my first TRUE love, professors and sorority sisters for helping me feel my way along. More recently I have depended on an employer or two along the way for a paycheck, and in various retail endeavors I was dependent on my customers (and my credit-extending suppliers) to keep me afloat. I depended on my children to at least keep life interesting, and in reality to give meaning to it all, but NEVER, EVER do I remember being so dependent, so totally reliant upon, so inescapably addicted to anything as I learned last week that I am to my laptop. I dropped it. The sound of the fall foretold of a week of d.t.'s and cold sweats. Waves of nausea enveloped me when I looked down at a screen gone completey alien, covered with eight-inch horizontal black and white stripes. Only 62 years of observing human decorum kept me from wailing and dissolving into a weeping quivering blob on the spot. Panic attacks, in the form of rationalizing the immediate purchase of a shiny new one, overtook me. "I need to be searching MLS, I have to communicate with my sphere. I'll die if I don't get those brochures designed and my newsletter (finally) done." My brain kept trying to insist. Those stripes telegraphed a vision of the horror of the following days, spent alternating between controlling the impulse for instant gratification and worming my way onto various office machines and friends' notebooks. A quick fix could be had at Staples, or Best Buy, or on EBay, or by a phone call to Dell. Dell, those evil crafty dealers, even offered to allow me 6 months before they wanted to see any cash. "We can take away the pain, you'll feel soooo much better, life can be normal again, just authorize this charge." I perservered against the onslaught of evil pushers, all trying to ply me with processor speed and hard drive capacity. My brain and nerve endings called out for new NOW, but my wallet said repair and wait. Ah and don't you love a story with a happy ending? It's only been a week, a difficult and tedious and traumatic week, but I lived through it, and so much stronger for the experience. At least my laptop is stronger--it has a new hard drive that has four times the capacity of the old one. My wallet is less severely dented, but my dependency--well, I am pretty sure I have to live with that.

How Will Cap and Trade Effect Your Real Estate Business?

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:43:12 -0700

how about administering a comprehensive test to legislators on the content of a bill before a vote is called. This is incredibly short sighted and as so often is the case, not reflective of an understanding of a big picture. The chilling effects of the energy inspector piece below could suck as much equity out of the housing market as the current mortgage crisis. What are they thinking???Real estate is local when it comes to market conditions and market trends. Real estate differs from region to region in styles, architecture and amenities generally speaking. For instance; in Florida fireplaces are not the norm whereas in cold winter areas such as Colorado, fireplaces are a standard addition to a home. In some areas of our country people have wood burning stoves and others have coal burning furnaces. There are areas of our country such as here in Florida where you would not dare live without Air Conditioning but in many homes in Washington for instance, air conditioning is more of a luxury than a necessity. So when we are discussing the effects of cap and trade in your real estate business you will need to take into account the region in which you live as some areas will be more effected than others. Here is a really good interactive map from the New York Times. The map I posted below is the map of the votes in the House for and against the Cap and Tax bill that just passed the House. But if you click on the link of the New York Times map, it is interactive. You can move your mouse over the map and see who voted, what party they belong to and their district. You will be able to see that no matter whether they were democrats or republicans if they are in the farm country of America, high manufacturing areas of America, low energy bills of America and the heartland of America- they voted NO on this bill and for very good reasons. "For a household of four, energy costs go up $436 that year, and they eventually reach $1,241 in 2035 and average $829 annually over that span. Electricity costs go up 90 percent by 2035, gasoline by 58 percent, and natural gas by 55 percent by 2035. The cumulative higher energy costs for a family of four by then will be nearly $20,000. But direct energy costs are only part of the consumer impact. Nearly everything goes up, since higher energy costs raise production costs. If you look at the total cost of Waxman-Markey, it works out to an average of $2,979 annually from 2012-2035 for a household of four. By 2035 alone, the total cost is over $4,600." Heritage Foundation. You will notice that the states where the votes were yes are also the states that already have the highest energy bills. The states that voted no are mostly states with presently low energy bills. Instead of calling this to Cap and Trade- We can really call it the Tax On Electricity Bill. How does this information pertain to real estate agents? If you live in the lower energy pricing states you are going to be seeing huge increases in household energy bills. If you live in states that are coal powered or oil powered you will see the largest increases ever in your energy bills because those energy sources are going to be punished with taxation. How is that going to effect home prices? How is that going to effect movement in and out of your state? How is that going to effect your real estate office utility bills and who is going to pay for this? The House is at it again. This was a 1,300 page bill and again as with so many large bills was not read by most of those that voted yes or no. What is it that they don't get? The American people expect our leaders to read what they vote on. So what else is tucked away neatly into this bill that perhaps no one knows the full implications of yet? How about the Federal imposition and takeover of building codes? Your local planning and building offices will not be qualified for any Federal funding of any kind unless they adopt what the FEDS say is the new energy efficient building standards. This will create higher prices in building new homes which is then passed on the homebuyers and then you as a real estate agent are also effected because less buyers will be able to afford to buy a new home built . Not to mention having to wait for the Feds to come and inspect the builders and the homes. How about the new Federal Energy Nazis Inspectors who will come and rate your home before you can sell your home. So before you can list a home for sale, the seller will have to wait for the Federal inspectors to come out. DMV lines anyone? Once that inspector comes out, he or she will give the home an energy rating. If the home does not meet the guidelines the seller will be required to do the work necessary to bring the home up to energy standards before they can sell the home! Can we say money? Does that mean that there will be homeowners who will become prisoners in their homes because they can not afford to make the energy repairs that the feds require? Is that an invasion of your privacy as well as an attack on your property rights? Hmmm, how is that going to effect short sales where the seller has no money to make the repairs and adjustments? How is that going to effect your ability to get listings in a timely manner? How is that going to effect your seller who is about to lose their home in a foreclosure? How is that going to effect the seller who has to relocate for their job? How is that going to effect the estates with heirs having to do these repairs and such when there won't be any money until the estate is sold? I wonder if our House of Representatives and our Congress men and women EVER thought to actually ask us in the field working this business day in and day out how these bills will effect the housing market? Of course, the US will be living Cap and Tax while the real perpetrators of dirty air like China and India get off scott free. There will be an unfair advantage in pricing products and manufacturing to the point that if a US company even stands a chance of staying in the manufacturing business will have no choice but to move their company oversees which in turn will cause a massive layoff of people increasing the already high unemployment problem we are facing in our country. How will the unemployment effect your real estate business? How will the unemployment effect the REOs and massive foreclosures in your community? How will the unemployment effect home values as you get more and more vacant properties in your area? If you are an agent in America's farmland you will begin to see farms no longer being able to produce a profit. Farms use a lot of energy. Energy use will be punished. This is why nearly every politician from a farm land state no matter what party they are affiliated with voted no to this bill. Their districts will suffer terribly. As this happens we will be buying more and more produce from other countries with far less health standards than our own. I don't trust foods, especially produce from China or other countries except Europe. But we don't import our veggies from Europe! How is this going to effect your real esate business if you live and work in a farm land state? When it comes down to the nitty and the gritty about this bill you must remember that GE is the biggest supporter of this bill. They stand to make billions of dollars from the passage of this bill. The politicians voting yes on this bill, many of them are getting paid to vote yes. And Al Gore will become the very first GREEN billionaire. It is just too bad that he is not a real capitalist. He could not become a billionaire playing fair and square. Instead, he has an unfair advantage, legislation to make him filthy rich. Not exactly the free market way. It is all about the money. Contact your Senators now to vote NO now. Click on this link to find your Senators and contact them by email, phone and fax today. Let them know how this is going to effect your business and your community homeowners and buyers. Pass this on...

Whispering Pines Perfection in a Lakefront Home

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:26:26 -0700

http://idx.imprev.net/9E524886/71/19771/204037/ You'll love this terrifc house! Unquestionably the BEST Whispering Pines Waterfront Home. check out this wonderful home:http://idx.imprev.net/9E524886/71/19771/204037/ 6 Piney Pt Whispering Pines, NC 28327 $489,000 $2,093 per month | Personalize this estimate | Check local mortgage rates 2 Bed, 2.5 Bath | 0.43 Acres (18,730 Sq Ft Lot) MLS ID #133754 Refreshed 6 hours ago Request More Details

5 Property Information for 6 Piney Pt Save Listing

Property Features
Single Family Property Status: ACTIVE Area: WH PINES County: MOORE Subdivision: Whispering Pine Year Built: 1975 2 total bedroom(s) 2.5 total bath(s) 2 total full bath(s) 1 total half bath(s) Style: Ranch	Master bedroom Living room Kitchen Den Basement Laundry room Master bedroom is 18x13 Living room is 18x24 Kitchen is 14x22 Den is 13x13	Laundry room is 7x5.5 Fireplace(s) Garage View Waterview Waterfront property Approximate lot is 90x190x95x222 Located on a cul-de-sac Approximately 0.43 acre(s) Lot size is less than 1/2 acre

Interior FeaturesBasement, Clothes dryer, Dishwasher, Disposal, Fireplace(s), Kitchen isle, Microwave, Refrigerator, Tile flrs, Wood flrs Exterior FeaturesDeck, Public water supply, Septic sewer system, Storage/out-building(s), Waterview Listing InformationRefreshed at 3:44 PM (6 hours ago)Added on May 16, 2009 (2 days ago) To access this page directly, usehttp://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6-Piney-Pt_Whispering-Pines_NC_28327_1109365254

Whispering Pines Perfect and Golf Front to boot

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:18:22 -0700

42 Cardinal Dr Whispering Pines, NC 28327 $350,000 $1,496 per month | Personalize this estimate | Check local mortgage rates 4 Bed, 3 Bath | 0.61 Acres (26,571 Sq Ft Lot) MLS ID #133090

9 Property Information for 42 Cardinal Dr Save Listing

Property Features
Single Family Property Status: ACTIVE Area: WH PINES County: MOORE Subdivision: Whsprng Woods Year Built: 2003 4 total bedroom(s) 3 total bath(s) 3 total full bath(s)	Master bedroom Living room Dining room Kitchen Master bedroom is 14x16 Living room is 17x16 Dining room is 11x11 Kitchen is 11x9	Fireplace(s) Garage Heating features: Central Central air conditioning Golf course lot/frontage Approximate lot is 132x261x140x220 Approximately 0.61 acre(s) Lot size is between 1/2 and 1 acre

Interior FeaturesBreakfast bar, Carpet, Clothes dryer, Clothes washer, Dishwasher, Fireplace(s), Formal dining rm, Microwave, Refrigerator, Tile flrs, Washer/dryer hookups, Wood flrs Exterior FeaturesAuto watering system, Deck, Porch, Septic sewer system

Gorgeous Whispering Pines Golffront

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:15:05 -0700

Spectacular Golf-Front Home Village of Whispering Pines Property Information for 38 Cardinal Dr Save Listing A home designed for entertaining. Indoor and outdoor living at their best here in the Village of Whispering Pines. You will love all that this special home has to offer, and at this unbelievable price it may well be the best buy in the county! Begin your tour of this terrific home in the beautifully updated kitchen, gorgeous granite tops and backsplash set off the ginger glazed maple cabinets. Be sure and notice the under-cabinet lighting, the double undermount stainless steel sink, granite-topped breakfast bar, Hansgrohe HighArch Swing pull-out dual spray faucet; Whirlpool kitchen appliances include dishwasher, Stainless ceramic top Range/Convection Oven, Stainless Stainless microwave, side-by-side refrigerator/freezer with cubed/crushed ice & water in the door: this sunny kitchen is one you have dreamed about, and it shares the sunlight with a spacious dining space with garden window and a vaulted ceiling family room. Enjoy the warmth of the gas logs brick fireplace and the convenience of the granite wet bar. And from here catch a glimpse of the beautiful, private backyard with sparkling in-ground pool, patio and pool surround, and views of Whispering Woods 5th hole beyond the yard. Add the formal dining room, living room and sunny Carolina room and you have a home designed for entertaining. A master bedroom and bath, with twin vanity sinks, jetted tub and separate tiled shower, a second bedroom and a spacious, ‘wired' office round out the main floor of this fabulous home. Laundry room, roomy pantry cupboards, half bath and extra large two car garage are also found on the first floor. The lower walkout basement is full of surprises: additional double door entrance, walkout, covered patio area, mud room, windows, 36" wide doors, Den, Game/Exercise/Media Room, plumbed and wired for future galley Kitchen, pantry, large storage room (phone & electrical outlets), Bedroom(s) have air conditioned large walk-in closets, bathroom has two mirrored medicine cabinets, double sinks, shower, vanity table, large linen closet, and second laundry room. Perfect as a guest suite, your teenagers' rooms, or a mother-in-law suite, this level offers nearly 2000 square feet of living space.

Property Features
Single Family Property Status: ACTIVE Area: WH PINES County: MOORE Subdivision: Whsprng Woods Year Built: 1984 4 total bedroom(s) 3.5 total bath(s)	3 total full bath(s) 1 total half bath(s) Style: Ranch Master bedroom Dining room Kitchen Basement Master bedroom is 16x13	Kitchen is 15x20 Fireplace(s) Swimming pool(s) Garage Golf course lot/frontage Approximate lot is 162x210x156x204 Approximately 0.73 acre(s) Lot size is between 1/2 and 1 acre

Interior FeaturesBasement, Carpet, Clothes dryer, Clothes washer, Dishwasher, Fireplace(s), Formal dining rm, Microwave, Refrigerator, Washer/dryer hookups Exterior FeaturesDeck, Fenced, Patio, Porch, Septic sewer system

Golf views from EVERY window in this lovely home!!

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:20:54 -0700

Golf views from EVERY window in this charming cottage! Beautiful built-ins flank the wood-burning fireplace in great room.Formal Dining Rm with tray ceiling and moldings. Double pocket doors to bright Carolina rm. Overlooks professionally landscaped yard and tee boxes of Whisp Wds par 3. Kitchen, dining rm, Carolina rm, and great room have handsome hardwood floors thru-out. Ceiling fans, vaulted ceilings. Bonus rm is perfect guest suite, w/ full bath and w/i closet. Oversized garage w/ plenty of storage. For a virtual tour of this great home click here:http://idx.imprev.net/9E524886/71/19771/199885

Not to be believed--

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:37:05 -0700

Yesterday a long-awaited closing was set to take place. The contract was written before the end of last year, but the seller needed several months to arrange her relocation, so we put a closing date almost 4 months out. A lovely home, in excellent shape, happy seller, excited buyers, $435,000 price tag and a VA mortgage. The walk-through was done, HUDs were approved, papers were signed, when the lender said "WHOA....we don't like this language on the termite inspection. We are not going to fund the loan until that is fixed." The termite inspection showed no sign of infestation, but the last line, that refers to conditions conducive to termites referenced moisture damage to a piece of brick mold to the left of the main door. You should know the lender had had this very termite report in hand for about 12 days--but apparently no one cared about that reference until yesterday, because it was never mentioned until everyone thought the deal was done. The selling broker's office pulled a bright white bunny out of this ridiculous hat and got the home inspector to go out and fix it, create an invoice and satisfy the lender. The punch line is the "piece of brick mold to the left of the main door" is a piece of wood trim about 4" x 2.5" by .5" deep. The picture below is actually a little bigger than the chunk of wood that some overzealous underwriter was going to stop a sale because of. The damage was about two inches wide, by half an inch high. So glad we have these folks protecting our buyers from getting over their heads in costly repairs.

Now available, Reverse Mortgage for Purchase-Unique Housing Opportunity for Seniors

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:02:29 -0700

The recently passed 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act has created a unique opportunity for seniors: the ability to purchase a home with a reverse mortgage in a single transaction. Reverse mortgages have been around since 1987, when they were originally established by the Housing and Community Development Act as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They have provided a way for many seniors to stay in their homes while tapping the equity of those homes. A reverse mortgage, for those of you who have heard the term but are a little fuzzy on what it means or how it works, provides cash based on the equity in a home, and is not paid back during the time you live in and own the home. Traditional products have provided the equity in a line of credit or monthly payments to the home owner, in exchange for a lien on the property that is paid back when the home is sold. Effective January of this year, thanks to the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, it is now possible to purchase a home with a reverse mortgage in one transaction, with the only FHA guaranteed reverse mortgage, called a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM, in this case and HECM for purchase. Let's consider a scenario: Your parents, both age 70, are ready to downsize and move into a more manageable home. They have equity in the home they are now in and expect to net $300,000. The home they have their eye on is only $250,000, a nice comfortable ranch, with everything they need at this stage of their lives. As they are on a fixed income, they hope to avoid mortgage payments, and so intend to pay cash. In a traditional scenario, they would sell and use the proceeds to purchase and keep the difference as part of their retirement savings. With an HECM they could use as little as $94,641 of their proceeds to purchase their $250,000 retirement cottage and live payment- free. The balance of their proceeds from the first sale can be used to enhance their retirement lifestyle. Instead of $50,000 cash on hand, they have $205,359, and no worries about mortgage payments. The HECM loan is repaid when they sell the home. The loan also becomes due if they permanently move to a new principal residence, or the last borrower fails to live in the home for 12 months in a row. An example of this situation would be if the last borrower were to have a 12-month or longer stay in a nursing home. At the time of sale, the principal, interest (at a fixed rate in this scenario) and the FHA insurance premium are paid. Any equity above that goes to the homeowner, or their estate. In the scenario above, assuming 10 years in the house and 4 percent annual appreciation, they would receive $58,930 at the time of sale. That means they would have lived in the house for about $3,600 a year. (Their $205,359 cash, invested at just 1.75% would pay more than that!) And the FHA insurance guarantees that the total debt can never be greater than the value of the home, so it can never create an economic burden on the heirs. In these crazy economic times I can think of a thousand scenarios where this product makes terrific sense. For instance, if health issues have created a situation that has affected a senior buyer's credit score-with an HECM the buyer DOES NOT HAVE TO MEET ANY CREDIT QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. And what if the current housing situation has put downward pressure on the price of their existing home and their net is going to fall short of what they need to buy? An HECM for purchase may be just what they are looking for. You can find an HECM for purchase calculator on my website at www.jillsellspinehurst.com. Select "Is Reverse Mtg. for Me" from the column on the left. If you or someone you know is 62 years old or older, and facing a retirement not quite what it was designed to be, you may want to consider the value of the peace of mind that this product offers. For more details or to see if you qualify, I would be happy to discuss the options with you. Feel free to give me a call any time at 910-315-9977.

Thinking outside of the box for your Baby Boomer clients

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:03:46 -0700

There appears to be a new product in the reverse mortgage arena that may be a lifesaver for baby-boomers looking at a retirement that is different than the one they designed because of the market turmoil and erosion of capital and real estate values. They can purchase a home with a reverse mortgage and an FHA guarantee. When Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) it increased the loan limits for the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) product and authorized HECMs for home purchase. Here's a scenario: Your clients, at least 62 years old, have taken a hit in their retirement account over this last year of market turmoil. They would prefer not to carry a mortgage and they aren't going to realize what they had planned on out of their current home. Besides all of that, for some reason their credit has been adversely affected. Using the new improved FHA HECM, they can use the cash out of their current home to create an equity position in a home adequate to allow the creation of an HECM. With as little as 30% of the home's cost, and no credit qualifications (the home has to qualify, the buyer doesn't!) they can move in and live there with no mortgage payment until they move on or die. Insurance associated with the HECM is part of the package and provides for any shortfall at the time of resale. Any access equity beyond the costs of the loan at the time of resale goes to the owner or their estate. I know we all have clients for whom that peace of mind is worth far more than the equity that they are not building for their heirs in their home. Those dollars not spent on a mortgage can perhaps be invested elsewhere for greater return than the real estate might have yielded. You'll find a reverse mortgage scenario calculator here: http://www.goldengateway.com/dothemath/trmcc/wl/purchase-step1.do?cid=kw It will also tell you the return on cash in over time, based on various annual appreciation rates.

Winners!!

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:31:57 -0800

I got a short text message from one of my colleagues last night, one of the owners of my market center. Most of our ownership group (with the exception of the one who is returning from an awesome adventure travel vacation involving both a motorcycle and Antarctica!) and a few of the office staff attended the Moore County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet last evening, where our market center was among the three finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year. The text message said "we won" Congratulations to the best bunch of Realtors every assembled under one roof, and especially to an awesome and courageous ownership group who hatched the plan to create a Keller Williams office from scratch. It took us some time to earn the franchise, but what a wonderful accomplishment, and what a terrific acknowledgment of the effort. The award is pictured below and I know that each and every one of my associates is thrilled and proud to be a part of this company and to have contributed to earning this honor. It will certainly be displayed with pride!

Southern Pines Home, Adorable and Priced Right!

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:51:00 -0800

This cute cape style home provides one-story living and convenience, spacious half-acre+ lot. You'll find yourself living in your Carolina room with all the light and comfort that it offers. Large eat-in kitchen for casual meals, formal dining space for dinner parties, a wonderful expansive multi-level deck and private back yard for barbeques. Living room/Dining room combination features built-in cabinetry and wet bar, brick fireplace, sky light, and new paint and carpet. In fact there is new paint and carpet throughout most of this terrific Pine Needles area home. I would LOVE to show you this adorable 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Check out the virtual tour: http://client.imprev.net/71/19771/194585/index.ipv

Into each life a little. . .

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:27:26 -0800

snow must fall--even, occasionally, in the Carolinas! What a beautiful morning!

Active Adults Carolina Bound?

Jill Ford (Keller Williams Realty of Pinehurst) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:50:48 -0800

I am delighted to assist your referred clients to find the home of their dreams and Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Whispering Pines or greater Moore County North Carolina. Tons of golf, tennis, equestrian activities, cycling, theatre, music, art and wonderful weather 12 months of the year. Always happy to pay a referral for your northern escapees, and your halfbacks on the lam from Florida!