gainesville: It's Not a Piece of **** on a Paper Plate....It's a PROSPECT!!!!!!
- 03/29/08 05:07 AM
I just read a great post http://activerain.com/blogsview/444248/What-Kind-of-Agent by Jeremy Blanton of Myrtle Beach, SC, talking about the difference between REALTORS and LICENSEES. If you have time, you should make that your next stop on AR. His post reminded me of an incident that very clearly demonstrates the very difference that Jeremy is talking about in his post.
It was the end of summer last year and my elderly mother had been having health issues. I had referred the sale of her home to a trusted Realtor/friend in my office as it was just too close a relationship for me to be involved. (Note: … (7 comments)
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gainesville: Call 4-1-1 from your Cell Phone at No Charge
- 03/28/08 03:53 AM
What a great tip I just got from a friend of mine. I have to share it.
Dial 1-800-FREE-411 from your cell phone and you won't be charged. Seems you wouldn't be charged if you called from home either...but I haven't yet tried the service.
If you dial information as much as I do, this will save you a lot of money on the cell phone bill.
… (10 comments)
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gainesville: Restaurant Review: American Tap Room--Gainesville, VA
- 03/24/08 09:15 AM
Yesterday my family and I met at one of the only open restaurants in Gainesville...The American Tap Room. It was Easter Sunday, and the idea to eat out was spur of the moment.
The restaurant really wasn't very busy at all. There were a handful of cars when we pulled up, and a handful when we left.
Our service was so slow, you would've thought they were packed.
The food was incredibly bland, however they offer a wide variety of dishes. At our table we had a chicken cordon bleu sandwich, mini burger and shrimp platter, chicken strips, humus sampler and lasagna. … (6 comments)
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gainesville: Black Cat Crosses my Path
- 03/17/08 03:40 PM
This beautiful, completely lovable black kitty joined my family just around Thanksgiving. He is the most curious kitty I could ever imagine. He can't stand to be away from his people, even though he was a completely feral kitty for the first 6 months of his life.
I tell you all the wonderful things about him because I feel INCREDIBLY guilty for screaming at him for simply jumping on my desk and batting at my pen..that I happened to be writing with at the time.
I clearly need some time off. Look at his face. He doesn't deserve to be … (4 comments)
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gainesville: Happy Frist Time Buyers in Culpeper
- 03/15/08 01:49 PM
I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to represent these first time homebuyers. After looking at nearly three dozen homes, THEY FOUND IT!
The kitchen of their dreams did also come attached to a house, with four HUGE bedrooms, family room (with fireplace), dining room, living room, loft, sunroom, den, a GIGANTIC unfinished basement, and a deck with a screened in gazebo.
This family got a great deal! They got the hous, located in the new community of Highpoint in Culpeper, below appraisal and had the seller pay 3% of the sale price toward their closing costs. Final sales price … (4 comments)
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gainesville: A Book Every Realtor Should Own
- 03/04/08 03:28 AM
If you are going to be involved in a contract negotiation, you need to read this book. SECRETS OF POWER NEGOTIATING FOR SALESPEOPLE by Roger Dawson. It's a quick read and goes through many of the negotiating tactics that are used in our livs EVERYDAY!
I used to be worried going into any type of negotiation, but now I look forward to them. I am also able to lay out my strategy to my clients, be they buyers or sellers. That way, they understand what will likely happen next. Part ofo the strategy for Realtors, is also knowing, by using … (6 comments)
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gainesville: Why Buyers Should Be In Their New Home before January 2009
- 03/03/08 08:15 AM
I can't be the only one out there that is wondering how long the Federal government can keep this up? And by keeping this up, I really mean, keeping interest rates low in an effort to stimulate our housing market.
When housing prices fall, interest rates typically rise. And vice versa. It is the natural order of our housing market. Now, due to slumping home sales, record number of foreclosures, etc, it seems that the Fed is doing all they can to keep mortgage interest rates from rising. No one wants to be the one to blame for an economic recession.
… (4 comments)
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gainesville: Am I Missing Something? Don't ARMS Have an Adjustment Limit?
- 02/26/08 01:57 AM
It seems that everyday when I turn on the news, I hear more and more about the housing crisis in our country. Foreclosures continue to increase, home sales are decreasing. And somehow, ARM mortgages are the ones that are given the bad wrap.
ARMS have specific adjustments...at least the plain old vanilla ARMS do. So why are THEY the ones to blame.
Seems to me that people went for the EXTRAVAGANT, OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH, MAGIC WAND loans. And if they have any type of adjustment, they are considered ARMS. One in particular that has nailed too many people on my street is a … (5 comments)
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gainesville: Parents Know Best---Or Should You Listen To Your Realtor?
- 02/24/08 04:18 AM
Parents are always the first ones we go to for advice, especially with big decisions that they have already been through. And why not? They raised us from infancy. They taught us right from wrong, nursed our physical and emotional wounds, and helped us blossom into the adults we are today.
In the last year I've been blessed to work with many first time homebuyers and young couples. Some need the advice of Mom and Dad more than others. While we trust everything our parents tell us, it is important to note that it may have been DECADES, since these parents were involved in a real estate transaction. Many … (6 comments)
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gainesville: Combination Boxes...Why I Won't Use Them
- 02/15/08 10:20 AM
The real estate market in Northern Virginia has seen an increase in Foreclosure listings, Short Sale listings and the unfortunate rise of combination boxes. I know they about 75% cheaper than electronic lockboxes, but that's no reason to use them. This step back in technology has brought out the worst in some listing and, unfortunately, a lot of buyers agents.
These inexpensive devices are cheapening the respect I have for listing agents. About three weeks ago I met someone who wanted to see a particular rental. I was not available to show it to them right away, but called the listing agent … (18 comments)
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gainesville: What Second Mortgages May Do to Make Money When Facing A Short Sale
- 02/01/08 02:57 AM
I would start this particular post by saying that I was surprised when this happened in a transaction where I was a buyer representative, but at this point nothing in a short sale transaction surprises me.
As a Buyer's Agent, I try to prepare my buyers for the gut wrenching drama that can come with writing on a Short Sale property. The problem in my market (Northern Virginia) is that just about all homes under $250-$300K are short sales or foreclosures. And these are the buyers, first time home buyers to be exact, that I have had the pleasure of working … (7 comments)
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gainesville: New Listing in Gainesville, VA
- 12/29/07 04:34 AM
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gainesville: My Chance to Be a Fly on the Wall
- 11/28/07 12:59 AM
I've often heard stories from agents in my area about the new home builders doing their best to cut out the Realtors from new home transactions. I must admit I thought a lot of this was just sour grapes on the part of the agent who got left out. Seemed no different than an unfaithful buyer dropping their agent in favor of something better. And my first encounter with the builders on this issue reinforced my opinion.
I received a phone call from a client that I had sent over to look at some new homes in Haymarket. I was tied … (12 comments)
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I just read a great post http://activerain.com/blogsview/444248/What-Kind-of-Agent by Jeremy Blanton of Myrtle Beach, SC, talking about the difference between REALTORS and LICENSEES. If you have time, you should make that your next stop on AR. His post reminded me of an incident that very clearly demonstrates the very difference that Jeremy is talking about in his post.
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