my old blog

Friends & family are usually trying to look out for the buyer's best interests, but may not be qualified to give good financial and/or real estate advice.  Unless they are professionals in the banking and real estate industry and conduct many transactions a year in the locale of purchase, the buy...

Foreclosures are a growing problem in the U.S. and many first-time homebuyers are expressing fear of getting into a situation that they can't handle and the possibility of facing a foreclosure. While it's normal to be nervous about making such a large investment for the first time, it's unusual f...

I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid and love it.  Isn't it cute? I've always thought I was a good driver, but my car does a better job than I do in two areas - 1 - The built-in GPS always lets me know exactly where I am,  the route to take for my destination, and how long it will take to get there.  (I ...

It's smart to consider resale value when buying a house, especially if real estate is part of your plan for building wealth.  For some, however,  the quality of life provided by a certain neighborhood, or a house that just "feels right",  is more important than getting a bargain.  While it's good...

Many sales books recommend that you spend time regularly getting a jolt of inspiration from some positive source - book, video, class, friends, etc. A few months ago, I happened upon a source of daily encouragemet that I look forward to each morning. The author, Mike Dooley, sends out a free mess...

  The damage to this house is the result of a tree that was blown over during hurricane Fay this Aug (2008) in Tallahassee, FL. Many beautiful trees are part of Tallahassee's landscape and are greatly revered by its residents. Regular inspections of trees on one's homestead are likely to identif...

Experts say that win-win is the type of negotiation they try to practice. If both parties to a negotiation try to understand each others' requirements, this promotes an atmosphere of problem-solving instead of battling over positions.  With a problem-solving attitude, both sides are more likely t...

This past week I met two young men who are recent college graduates and have signed on with Americorps to spend one year doing full-time work in the service of others. They are assigned to The Shelter in Tallahassee, FL and their focus is on educating the public about homelessness.  They speak to...

Everyone wants to get a good deal and it seems that most buyers automatically think they should offer less than the full asking price for a home.  If the house is priced below recent sales and active comparables, it's probably a good deal, so why not offer the asking price, especially if you want...

After months of frustration on all sides, the lender approved the short sale and gave one month to close at the approved price.  As the LA,  I sprang into action and notified all parties,  just feeling the adrenalin rush and mentally "chalking up another one".  But today, the story took a twist t...