humboldt: How is the market in your area?
- 04/28/08 04:30 PM
It seems everywhere we look, there's more bad news about the real estate market. But, reading some of your blogs, it seems the market is doing just fine. I'm not an economist and I really don't know how to crunch numbers, but here are some interesting facts about the Humboldt County, California market. The median price used to be $377,159 in March 2006 Last September brought the number down to $358,767 Last February the number was down to $343887 But, now last month, we jumped back up to 346,219! It now appears we have the lowest priced ocean front/view properties in the state for under … (2 comments)
humboldt: Is your lender killing your business?
- 04/23/08 04:28 PM
One would think with the state of the market in some areas, that many lenders would be falling over themselves to get some of the best buyers to buy homes right now. Well, it seems that may not be the case. Lenders have really tightened up the purse strings and are becoming even more difficult to deal with. Case in point, I have been working witgh this ame buyer for 5 years. he has purchased many homes thru me and intends to sell them thru me when he is ready. He has a creidt score over 750, has a great income … (9 comments)
humboldt: What is the most asked question in the nation right now?
- 04/21/08 06:34 PM
How's the real estate market? Any time I wear my Realtor pin on my lapel, someone notices and asks me the same question. How you answer this all important question will determine where your business will be by the end of this year. I have heard some people say, "wow, I've never seen it this slow!" or, "I had to take a second job to try and keep up with my bills!" Most people who have asked me this question is either going to put their home on the market soon or they know someone who's going to be making a move. So, … (10 comments)
humboldt: I just had a fight today!!!
- 04/05/08 06:33 PM
not really...but I did just get your attention! How are you gaining attention toward yourself and your marketing? How many Press Releases have you sent to your local newspapers? How many times have you advertised your new technology? Have you thought of something different to make your listings stand out? I am constantly on the look out for something new. Anytime I add another page to my website, or portal, a new press release goes out! There was a time when I subscribed to the Talking House System and I was featured on the local news channel, and all three of our … (9 comments)
humboldt: Wow! What a weekend!!
- 04/01/08 05:38 PM
How would you like some free exposure? Become a volunteer with your local festival organizer! Here in Eureka, we just finished our 18th Annual Redwood Coast Jazz Festival. It's 3 days of swing, jazz and blues in 6 venues and it gets bigger and bigger every year! I was the host/emcee in one of the larger venues and used this opprotunity to promote my company and to hand out business cards to anyone who is interested. It was a great time to listen to some great music and to network with many new people who may need my services in the near … (2 comments)
humboldt: How to find the best Realtor!!
- 03/26/08 04:20 PM
Finding the right real estate professional requires doing a little research and asking a few questions. You need to know everything about the selling process. What is the marketing strategy? What kind of advertising will be done? Is the Realtor capable and willing to communicate effectively? Can the Realtor effectively present and sell the less-noticeable assets of the property? Is the Realtor familiar with the latest trends in online marketing? Real estate professionals also need to be knowledgeable about the community. They need to have a feel for the history of the area and the approximate price that people will be willing to … (0 comments)
humboldt: Lost relatives?
- 03/26/08 04:15 PM
I haven't seen or heard from my brother in a little over 10 years! I have been searching for him thru many different networks. Paid for some online services and even they couldn't find him. Well I guess one day he started browsing online an since I have such a common name, it wasn't easy to sift , thru the thousands of John Fords! The last time he knew me, I was selling cars many years ago. Also at that time he was living in the Bay Area and I moved to Humboldt County. Somehow, he heard I made the jump to real … (10 comments)
humboldt: They're not making any more!
- 02/14/08 05:19 PM
Roy Rogers used to say," Buy land, because they're not making any more of it!" I have a client who has been looking for 600-1000 acres to raise cattle and is selling his property on the east coast. he would love to have an area where it doesn't get too hot in the summer, about 80 degrees or less and where it doesn't snow 2 months out of the year. We have that kind of weather here in Humboldt County, but not enough land for sale. Does anyone know of a ranch or even some vacant land? … (0 comments)
humboldt: Website advice
- 02/12/08 05:02 PM
Ok, I know someon out there is so in tune with Web 2.0 that they have to have the latest innovation on their website. What I'm talking about is the video of themselves on the opening page of theri website. Fess up! Who has one of these? I have been racking my brain trying to find out how to do this. I've seen it done once and I can never find that website. What it shows is the Realtor "walking onto the screen" of their site and guiding the viewer to any number of links. It lasts between 30-45 seconds but it is a … (6 comments)
humboldt: FSBO's and how to work with them Part 2
- 02/09/08 04:24 PM
I used to hear the saying, "you have to list to last" for many years. I started to find a way to get more listings and realized, " holy crap! I wrote a blog not too long ago on how to get a FSBO to work with you!" What a dingbat! I should practice what I preach! I reached for the phone, and froze.My palms started to sweat. My heart started to race...what am I going to say? what happens if they hang up on me? what if they ask me if I have a buyer? what if...? what if...? what if...? I … (1 comments)
humboldt: The coolest new gadget in real estate!
- 02/06/08 02:48 PM
ok some of you may be wondering, what else is there that could really make us stand out over the crowds? You may already have it or you still don't know what to do with it. It's the webcam! I finally took the plunge and started using my webcam to reply to email messages and give video updates to my clients. I have also successfully use it to get myself a FSBO! The best program I have found is called CoVideo Systems. You can set up a link on your website where a client could click on it and it will open … (6 comments)
humboldt: Aren't you worth more?
- 01/10/08 03:17 AM
I was getting ready to start a major project with a commercial building recently and was going to hire an attorney friend of mine to help me get the job done and to make sure I don't miss any details of the transaction. I knew I was going to have to pay him at least a few thousand dollars. He offered to discount his rates because we have been friends for a long time. Normally I would take him up on his offer. But a few questions came to mind. Would that mean I would get mediocre service? If someone came … (0 comments)
humboldt: Aren't you worth more?
- 01/10/08 03:17 AM
I was getting ready to start a major project with a commercial building recently and was going to hire an attorney friend of mine to help me get the job done and to make sure I don't miss any details of the transaction. I knew I was going to have to pay him at least a few thousand dollars. He offered to discount his rates because we have been friends for a long time. Normally I would take him up on his offer. But a few questions came to mind. Would that mean I would get mediocre service? If someone came … (3 comments)
humboldt: How in the world?
- 01/06/08 03:47 PM
ok, ok already! I am now sold on the idea of setting up an RSS feed and adding to my site. I have no idea how to start and no idea how to get people to subscribe to it. Does anyone out there know how to do this stuff? I am getting ready to jump start my website with new content from www.LMDesigning.com and I want to make sure I am able to show my clients I am up to date on this web 2.0 stuff. can anyone help me? … (3 comments)
humboldt: Writing down your goals are useless!
- 01/05/08 12:44 PM
Unless you can see them everyday! Many times I am bombarded by new Realtors who ask me how I have become so successful in my first year in business, in a town where I didn't know anyone, in a market that hasn't exploded yet. The very first thing I did was write down my goals for the year. I wanted to hit at least $6 million in sales, buy my first new car and be the number 1 Agent in my office of 65. I pasted the #1 on my ceiling so I saw it every morning when I woke up. One … (3 comments)
humboldt: Realtors are dropping like flies!
- 12/26/07 05:25 PM
As some of you may know, it's about that time to renew with many local boards to keep practicing for another year. Unfortunately for some, they may not be able to practice again Many Boards are reporting a lower than average renewal rate and many are just dropping out of real estate all together. It's definitely possible to perservere! There used to be a time where a highway patrolman would pull you over and ask you for you license, registration and real estate license. Just because everyone had one! As stated in my earler blogs, now is the time to get as much … (20 comments)
humboldt: Slow market? Try these tips!
- 12/20/07 10:07 AM
OK folks, let's get back to basics. Some of us have been wondering, how do I get more business during this slow down? Well, get back to the basics! I remember when I first started in real estate 7 years ago, I called just about every expired listing and FSBO I could find so I can add to my inventory. I was told, "You need to list to last!" One of my strong areas was the elusive FSBO. I would drive by and take a picture of the front of the house, put together a CMA and bind it like a book … (11 comments)
humboldt: New in the business? Check out these tips!
- 12/12/07 04:23 PM
A question I am asked by many new agents is "why should I join a service club like Kiwanis or Rotary?" ok, so, you've received your license, found a good broker and now you're ready to take on the real estate business. Then it hits you,"what do I do next?","How can I get business being so new?" Before going into the hows an whys, let me give you a little background...I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2001 to Humboldt County. I knew not a soul in Eureka! No one! zip! zilch! Starting truly on the ground floor. How we ended … (8 comments)
humboldt: Are your kids safe?
- 12/03/07 02:39 PM
When is it really ok to publish kids in a magazine or profile them on the news without permission? Most news agencies will not release the name of an injured victim of a crime if they are under 18. But yet, there are photographers who blatantly shoot a movie or television star's child and sell them to a publisher who runs the story without permission. What about the other kids in the background? Not all their faces are "wiped" out. How are we to know if that photographer hanging outside the school ground isn't a registered sex offender or pedophile in … (0 comments)
humboldt: Holy smokes!!
- 11/28/07 01:59 PM
When I posted my first blog the other day, I didn't realize the amount of comments I would receive in such a short time. I forgot that my e-mails are "pushed" to my cell phone too! That was way too cool! The clients I was with showing properties could still hear the vibrating phone on my hip and realized how "wanted" I was and I was able to get them to sign a Buyer Broker Agreement! I wouldn't recommend anyone who's working with buyers to always get one signed. I was overwelmed by the great tips and tricks my peers have … (0 comments)
Humboldt County Real Estate blog. Talking about day to day real estate dealings between Rio Dell and Trinidad and includes Arcata, Fortuna and McKinleyville
It seems everywhere we look, there's more bad news about the real estate market. But, reading some of your blogs, it seems the market is doing just fine. I'm not an economist and I really don't know how to crunch numbers, but here are some interesting facts about the Humboldt County, California market.;)
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