Lisa Stafford's (lisastafford) Blog

I Did It! I Am No One on Google.

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:07:15 -0700

Congratulations to my AR friend Corinne!!! This is encouragement to us all! Let's all celebrate with her!!I Did It! I Am No One on Google. Last week I wrote a post about being number two on Google and only having Homes.com to conquer. This weekend I had no clients. I finally had time to get some yard work and mulching done. I checked emails with my IPhone which I always carry in case I am needed as a broker - but the computer sat on my desk unused. After an afternoon siesta - I was exhausted from a lot of yard work and just fell asleep - I turned on the laptop to catch up with posts, comments and an afternoon of AR reading. It occured to me I had not checked my visitor stats, so I jumped on over and was somewaht surprised at all the visits. I checked a couple of the visitors to see where they found me and one was from a search for Barrington IL Real Estate. Woohoo I am no 1 on Google. I did it. Who me? Yes Me! Ah yes, my site is no 1 on Google, so I can sit back and do not need to do anymore SEO work. I can hear KaterinaGasset (my SEO coach) choking on her tea-no way Corinne you have to keep it up. Of course I know that, getting there is hard but staying there will take work and I am not about to give up my spot at the top. Thanks Katerina for that final little snippet-it worked and I am thrilled.

Tips to New Agents: It's Not As Easy As It Looks

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:20:33 -0700

A great list of tips and encouragment!After reading quite a few discouraged agent posts over the past few weeks, I spewed out the following post just for you… and to anyone else who may need a hug. At one point last year I had a young lady working with me part time. She was a neighbor and wanted to find out what it was like to work in Real Estate. She thought that she may like the job but wasn’t sure so she hung out in our office for a few months and helped with paperwork, filing, etc. She said that she was inspired by me and my husband. So a few months later she decided that in between her full time job, she wanted to pursue her Real Estate License. It took her almost a year to complete. Between the school and the testing, she finally finished. She came to me a few months ago and said that she was going to quit her job and become a Realtor full time…. (if you are a full time agent you can hear me screaming now……), I was hands waving in the air, jumping up and down and screaming……… “NOOOOOOOO!!!!!” Then I promptly calmed down and said ……, “that’s probably not the best way to do it because you may find yourself running through your savings in the beginning and stressing out over the small stuff. Why don’t you hold on to your job and start slowly?” on the side story…. Now, the full time agents are going to say, “You cannot do Real Estate successfully part time.” I agree and disagree with this. You cannot run a busy successful real estate business part time. Agreed. However you can slowly start your Real Estate business part time as long as you organize it properly. I did it by working a part time job for the first six months. I worked on call, at nights and at “off Real Estate hours time”. That you can do. You just have to decide how badly do you want to do it. Plus, there is nothing worse than a desperate Real Estate agent. You don’t realize it but you look like a wondering lion who has starved for months in the desert on the prowl for a kill. It’s not a pretty sight and your clients are like the gazelles and can smell your scent ten feet away. Back to the story…. So you know what happened, she didn’t listen to me. She quit her job, dove head in and started working. At first she was happy, positive. I would see her at meetings, company trainings and she would come to meet from time to time with questions. But slowly, slowly, I started seeing her go downhill. I could see it in her face. The stress of not closing a deal. The story of how another agent said something rude in front of her client. How she felt like a taxi cab driver…. The drama, the drama, oh the drama. Last night my iphone started blowing up with texts. “I hate this business.” “People are awful in this business.” Moreover, she was going to quit because she decided that she was better off in another career; one where she had a boss, could walk in, clock in, clock out and get a check at the end of every week. I am here to tell you my friends, if that is what you need to feel successful day in and day out, a career in Real Estate may not be for you. I know you see all of the top agents at your brokerage making great commission checks. Maybe you even watch Reality TV and see how these agents show the property two times and make a $100,000 pay check. hmmmm…… how can I break it to you gently? “It’s all smoke and mirrors.” I am not saying that they are not making these commissions because they do.... but my point is that it rarely happens just that easy and just overnight. Most them have good connections that they have developed and of course time in the business. Tips to New Agents: Be Positive. Feel Good. Get up in the morning, look in the mirror and clap three times and tell yourself what a great day it is going to be and how awesome you are. (Trust me, it works.) Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You have to be confident in this business. No one wants to work with the down and out agent. You can accomplish this by finding a positive resource that makes you feel good and you are going to have to find out how to do this asap! For me, it’s The Secret. I have a vision board in front of me and I have projections in front of me. You can call it “hokey pokey” but I recently took out my old projection list and most of them have already come true. Know that in reality most people are never overnight successes. It takes years. All of my family are entrepreneurs so I have grown up seeing how hard it is to start a business and actually succeed in it. I would say based on my experience it takes 2 to 5 years to get it going to where you feel good. We are on year 4. Surround yourself with good people. If you are not around positive, successful, driven people…. it’s going to be hard for you to make it. Delete Negative Nellies from your circle. Also you know those people who are energy drainers? (i.e. those people who you feel exhausted after being around for any time)….. Delete them. Find a successful agent who you admire and look up to. Ask them to if you can have an hour of their time. Buy them dinner, a cup of coffee, a movie ticket. Tell them to tell you how they made it. I did this three times in my first year of business. You are probably not going to have the budget or resources to do everything they are doing but do it in a small and “niched” out way. Be sure that you have a really great broker who is supportive of you. If you don’t, maybe you need to find one who is supportive. My broker and office team leader is there for me 100%. They have helped me grow, develop and they don’t put limitations on my creativity. Find a niche that you love. Focus on it, master it and grow it. The only way you are going to succeed is to get out of the classroom and start working. I know it may seem scary at first but just do it. And if you are scared….. see #6. Maybe you don’t feel like you have the support? Maybe you are scared to write your first contract? I remember for awhile, I was scared to work with buyers because of the buyer contract, that was a limitation I put on myself. A psychological warfare that held me back. That was ridiculous. Now I know these contracts inside and out…. yes, I still have questions some times but agents with 20 years of experience still have questions. Real Estate is competitive. Don’t get caught up in the game. Make other agents your friends, colleagues and be positive. I cannot tell you how many agents are now my friends and they refer me business every week. My partner and I have a very super niche, they know this and they know we are good people. Guess what? They actually send us business. I have one agent 30 minutes north of me and he sends me his buyers, other agents send me their friends and family. How great is that? Of course you are going to run in jerks but who cares, that’s their problem not yours. Stay positive, stay the course. It will pay off. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Get on Active Rain and see what other agents have done. Active Rain has been a valuable resource for me. Broker Bryant is awesome! When I first started in Real Estate I followed his expired listings program (it has changed a bit now) but I got three listings off of doing what he said. Now I have Katerina Gasset as our coach. I took her SEO seminar and also hired her as our Real Estate Coach…….. she has totally changed our business! Develop good systems and STOP working with unqualified clients. This will kill you. Shucks, I would rather hang out at the pool than drive around some one just who is just wasting my time. Just because you are getting calls and driving clients around…. doesn’t mean you are busy. See #11. You have to find a source of leads. Most likely more than one source. You hate cold calling? Me too, never done it & never will. But guess what? I like blogging, my partner likes Internet lead generation…. we each do this EVERY SINGLE DAY for three hours in the morning. If you don’t have a constant source of leads……. you will not make it in this business. The good news is there are many ways to do it and you should be able to find one that matches something you actually like doing. Whew! Okay, so I think that is about it. You are working for yourself, you are an independent contractor and some times it is kind of lonely. It can definitely be a stressful type of business. You are working with clients who are spending their life’s savings, it’s probably their biggest investments of their lives….. hello? You have to develop trust. They are most likely not going to get your trust on your first whip around the neighborhood…. so you cannot be starving. Point is, it is definitely not as easy as it looks. But if you love it like we do….. I guarantee you can do it.

Derive Great Inner Peace In Life By Playing Your Cards Right

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:02:16 -0700

WOW!! I have very much noted in life some EXTREME wisdom coming from people who have had near death experiences or diagnosed with being terminal. Also those who are working hard at recovery in some form like restoring their reputation or getting away from something addictive. I think these people are so good at this because they are finely tuned into what matters and have GREAT focus. So, Derive Great Inner Peace By Playing Your Cards Right. I see the NEED for great inner peace from so many people with stress in their lives from work, financial, relationships, health, what others say about them, and past mistakes. Besides your own spiritual journey with connecting there giving you peace I give two examples for much greater inner peace for you. The first is from Professor Randy Pausch from Carnegie Mellon University who gave the great Last Lecture prior to dying later on of his terminal pancreatic cancer. Much wisdom tidbits in that lecture but as far as inner peace goes he was a believer in playing the cards you were dealt. However you get to a point in your life that is your hand. Your problems are YOUR OWN, not you spouses, or your parents or friends, YOURS. It is the ULTIMATE in life take responsibility for YOU! If you do this you can get an OFFICIAL GROWN UP certificate. It is SO TRUE, and you see this even with people in their 60's and 70's, we all can grow older but no guarantee other than ourselves doing it for ourselves, that we grow up! Secondly, I have a coffee mug from a friend I used to go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with as their visiting guest. The Serenity Prayer inscribed on the mug is said at every meeting and I encourage you to memorize it to remind yourself of LETTING GO of things you determine are out of your control. The prayer: "God grant me the Serenity to ACCEPT the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference," Being RESPONSIBLE and LETTING GO OF THE OUT OF CONTROL you will have so much more inner peace. It is not being irresponsible like with your head in the sand or lying and always being a control freak about things like traffic, or computer snags, or relationship problems in your life, the past that is the past, or terminal illnesses you cannot change that will drive you crazy in the end. Make each day a new day going forward vowing to do those two things and you will not be distraught or bothered or confused or perturbed or embarassed or upset. Instead, you will have ..... the great gift of BEING AT PEACE in your world!!

Renaissance Park Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow Homes for Sale

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:55:08 -0700

Renaissance Park Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow Homes for Sale Renaissance Park Broken Arrow greets you with graceful fountains and natures beautiful creatures. The 10 acre park was designed for all ages in mind. The amenities include swimming pool, pool house, pavilion, swings and playground equipment for the young ones, basketball and volleyball courts and shaded picnic areas. What an amazing place to spend time with friends and family. Adults and kids alike have more than enough to keep them busy. What about a weekend cookout. Look at this pavilion. Cards, domino's or board games for the afternoon Now lets take a look at the homes in Renaissance Park. Homes were built starting in 2004 and are still being constructed today. The price range is $150's to low $200's. There are currently 14 homes for sale. Average price is $183,000 with 2036sf, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 2 car garage. In the last 6 months there have been 12 homes sold with an average sold price of $181,000 and 1900sf. And what more could you want than great schools for your kids at Broken Arrow Public School.Country Lane Elementary, Centennial Middle School and North Intermediate High School. Don't miss this wonderful subdivision with all the amenities you could want. For a list of homes currently available, email or call me today. Lisa Stafford918-693-3534Broker AssociateMcGraw RealtorsLisaStaffordRealty Copyright 2010 Lisa Stafford All Rights Reserved - Renaissance Park Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow Homes for Sale

Are Cutthroat Home Buyers Causing Home Values To Decline More?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:57:46 -0700

Something to REALLY think about! Question: Are Cutthroat Home Buyers Causing Home Values To Decline More? While you're working with a buyer, when they write an offer, do you just let them write it where they want? Do you let your buyers write low offers just to get that desperate seller to give their home away? Are you writing multiple offers to see which sellers are desperate? If you're the agent that plays the multiple low ball offer game with your buyers to get the best deal, did you know that deal just caused all the neighbors properties to decline in value? Does your buyer care that he just set the first domino in motion of a large decline in neighborhood values where he/she just purchased their "investment" property? Does he/she realize when they try to flip and sell that home in six months, they to will lose money because of this domino affect? Does buying a home at bargain prices really net you more money? When a buyer pays a bargain price on a home, the next seller in that neighborhood has to use that comparable when they sell their home. The lower price the buyer gets, the lower price the seller has to sell for. And since they had to sell lower, the next home seller in that neighborhood will have to do the same thing. And the dominoes start to fall, and fall, and fall. How does this affect the value of the property you just bought? Should we be educating our buyers on this domino affect? Do I even know what I'm talking about? What do you think? What about you home buyers? Are you cutting your own throat by pressuring a desperate home seller into selling below market value? Lisa Udy Platinum Real Estate Group Please Help Carolyn Capalbo

Seven Oaks Broken Arrow-Homes for sale Broken Arrow Schools

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:29:34 -0700

Seven Oaks Broken Arrow-Homes for sale Broken Arrow Schools Seven Oaks Broken Arrow is a beautiful wooded subdivision conveniently located to downtown Broken Arrow, major highways and shopping. The homeowners have access to a beautiful pool and pool house. Homes range from $160,000 to $250,000. The entrance is most inviting and professionally landscaped to the season. What a first impression for friends who visit your home. The beautiful pool house and pool are surrounded by a secure fence for the safety of the neighborhood and privacy of the homeowners. What a great place to spend with family and friends and never leave the neighborhood. Homes in Seven Oaks Broken Arrow are single story to two story. Available are 3 or 4 bedrooms with 2 plus baths. Are you looking for a 3 car garage. You can find it here. The variety of styles offer you a home of your choice.NSU is located just a few minutes down the road. Also are the Broken Arrow Schools for Oak Crest Elementary School, Sequoyah Middle School and South Intermediate High School. And Seven Oaks Broken Arrow is a hop, skip and jump to restaurants, shopping and entertainment. Whether you are looking for Mexican food, fast food or home cooking you can be there in less than 5 minutes. Are you looking for entertainment on the weekend? How about a movie or bowling. And what about shopping for clothes, home accessories, office supplies or groceries? You got it, many stores are available. For a list of homes currently for sale in Seven Oaks Broken Arrow, just shoot me an email or give me a call. Lisa StaffordBroker AssociateMcGraw Realtors918-693-3534LisaStaffordRealty Copyright 2010 Lisa Stafford All Rights Reserved - * Seven Oaks Broken Arrow-Homes for sale Broken Arrow Schools *

1030 N College Ave, Tulsa OK 74110 Homes For Sale

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:36:58 -0700

1030 N College Ave, Tulsa OK 74110 Homes For Sale $52,000 What a cute home for the first time home buyer or and investor alike. 1030 N College Ave, Tulsa OK 74110 has 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath and a second living area that could easily be 3rd bedroom, workout room or playroom. This homes has more features than you could every expect. In 2009 the Water Heater was replaced, exterior painted and gutters replaced. The fenced yard will keep your pets or children from harms way of playing in the street. In addition to a one car garage, there is an extended carport for extra protection from the weather. The double gates and extra yard on the side of this home is plenty of room for your boat. Inside you'll find a remodeled kitchen, hardwood floors, updated bathroom and neutral painted walls. The washer/dryer connections are located on the inside also. For more information or to schedule a time to view 1030 N College Ave, Tulsa OK , call me today. Lisa Stafford - Broker AssociateMcGraw Realtors918-693-3534LisaStafford@msn.comLisaStaffordRealty.com

I Believe In You!!!!

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:44:34 -0700

I Believe In You!!! When is the last time someone said these powerful words to you?? Even better, when is the last time you said them to someone else?? When I first started in Real Estate in Austin, Texas there was a Realtor in my office who said this to me.. I Believe In You! These words gave me the strength, courage, drive and power to know that I could do it. 4 little words and my world changed. Richard Doyle is a Realtor in Austin who mentored me and believed in me. He actually sent it in a text to me and I kept it on my phone until the phone bit the dust. It was the first time anyone had ever said those words to me. 4 little words that I'll never forget and because they meant so much to me, I use them today. I've told my kids many times in the past 5 years that I believe in them. It's amazing what that does to a child even at 26 yrs old. And I love to tell them and see the difference not only in their facial expression, but posture seems to straighten and they can walk on water. WOW.......there's nothing like it. When is the last time you told someone "I Believe In You"? Maybe your children, spouse, boss, employee, friend, sister? Or maybe your thinking, well........no one has said it to me, so why should I say it to someone else? Try it today and you will receive as much gratification saying it as the person you tell. If you don't believe me, just try it once. Remember..............It's better to give than to receive! I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!! Lisa Stafford-Broker AssociateMcGraw Realtors918-693-3534LisaStafford@msn.com

Buying a house now could be the best hedge against inflation …EVER!

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:22:25 -0700

My friend Richard says it well!! Most economists agree that recent rashes of government spending will ultimately lead to significant inflation. The constant infusion of cash that is intended as a short-term solution will eventually have a long-term effect on the value of a dollar. One of the best hedges against this expected phenomenon is the purchase of a home during one of the best buyer’s markets in history. With low, low property prices and record low fixed interest rates, there has never been a better time to buy a home. But if one takes into consideration the fact that a mortgage may be repaid with inflated dollars, the deal only gets better and better. By fixing housing expenses now in terms of the 2010 dollar of today, home buyers will be immune from contrary inflationary economic forces for as long as they own their property. It’s a tremendous way to protect wealth and to meet your housing needs for decades to come. All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily! We Do HUD bids in Georgia! 770-827-6225

Sunday Real Estate Crossword Puzzle

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:15:43 -0700

Here is a little fun to slip into our busy days. ENJOY!! I'll post the KEY in a few days!!

ACROSS
1		A specific type of real estate
4		A specific type of real estate
5		Three little letters that mean so much to Wall St.
7		Organization founded in 1901
8		Home buying helper
9		21st century version of 'walk-away'
11		Manner of pay
14		The price is right
15		Caution: they might have a dog
16		Loan secured by property
17		Takes a while to sell
20		They've moved on
22		Some things to think about
26		Highly successful real estate network
28		Person in charge
30		Principal, interest, taxes, insurance
31		Legal agency relationship
32		Trust loyalty accounting
33		It's king
34		Has nothing to do with SS Act of 1935

DOWN
2		Lenders' number
3		No agency relationship
6		A closing must have
10		A lender tease
12		A year in review
13		Ownership from wall to wall
18		Created by a Cuomo
19		Real estate mantra
21		Court ordered
23		No listings for you
24		Cause of the "meltdown"
25		What motivates some
27		A government lie
29		Not all real estate agents

----------------------------------------------------------- ~ Representing Buyers Since 1999 ~ Carla Muss-Jacobs, ABR, CEBA, e-PRO, Realtor® Principal Broker/Owner EBAPortland, LLC YOUR Exclusive Buyer's Agent (503) 810-7192 / Carla@CarlaHomes.com CHECK OUT www.EBAPortland.com for Home Buyer TIPS! All rights reserved (c)

Buyers Look At Your Home Online First.... What is Their First Impression?

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:36:23 -0700

Buyers Look At Your Home Online First.... What is Their First Impression? Since buyers are looking online first then the first impression needs to be great!!! As we all know......You Don't have a Second Chance for a First Impression! Here are a few tips to help have a better First Impression Online and Off.... Landscaping- Have a well manicured lawn. A green lawn that has been edged is very sharp. Weed all flower beds and planters. You don't have to have alot of plants, but a few bags of new mulch is worth much more than the cost. Trim the small starter limbs and stragglers from your trees as well as shrubs. Walls - We all have many pictures, clocks, plaques and art to decorate every wall in our house. But in this case, less is more. Remove items that aren't the focal point and allow buyers to get an idea of what their favorite pictures would look like on your wall. Less on the wall also makes your rooms look larger in a photo. Tables/Counter tops- Remember, less is more here. Coffee tables, end tables etc should be dusted, catalogs straightened and items not used often put away. Take items off your counter tops such as piles of mail, small appliances, rags from sinks, toothpaste and other personal items. You'll be surprised how much cleaner and larger it will look. Especially in a photo. Compare the two photos here. The items on the table and wall match everything else. There is nothing wrong with decorating your home in this manner. The problem is when someone else is seeing your home online. Look how clean and fresh this looks. It also appears to be a much larger space. This gives buyers who are looking at your home space to visualize their personal items in your home. Like a canvas to be painted. Curtains/Window Coverings- Curtains are used for decorations as well as temperature control. Open or pull back your curtains and blinds. It lets people know you are inviting them in. WELCOME, them to your home. If your thinking of selling your home................look around and see what you think. Take a few pictures yourself with your "stuff" moved around. You will be amazed at the difference it makes. Give me a call today and lets make your home inviting and desirable as we put it on the market to sell! Lisa Stafford - Broker AssociateMcGraw Realtors918-693-3534LisaStaffordRealty.com

Speechless Sunday - Guts Church Relief Team

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:00:40 -0700

Guts Church Relief Team This is a group of men from my new church that I'm attending. Guts Church has a Relief Team that helps in many area of our city and beyond. One of the needs they attend to is to help out single moms. I never intended to be a single mom, especially after 23 years of marriage but God has taken care of me every step of the way since. I was speechless and humbled by the hard work and help that they did. They didn't know me and yet worked on a Saturday to get me moved. They will be blessed many times over for the work they do. THANK YOU.....THANK YOU.....THANK YOU!!!

Willow Gorge Golf Community-2010 Tulsa Parade of Homes

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:54:52 -0700

Willow Gorge Golf Community-2010 Tulsa Parade of Homes Willow Gorgeis located in Verdigras just off of the Historic Route 66. Visit one of the featured homes in the 2010 Tulsa Parade of Homes. Open June 19th thru 27th. Homes in Willow Gorge range from $167,700 to $225,000. Whether you are looking for a 3 bedroom 2 bath resale home, or have a dream home to build, you've come to the right place. Willow Gorge is located on the beautiful Golf Course. Enjoy a round of golf right in your backyard. Choose either a lot on the golf course or one that is not. You can build your custom home today. For information on one of the homes for sale in Willow Gorge, check out this address 25235 Creek Bank Trail.Or to search for homes visit LisaStaffordRealty.com. You will not be disappointed with this beautiful community!

2010 Greater Tulsa Parade of Homes

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:52:46 -0700

2010 Greater Tulsa Parade of Homes Find your dream home at the 2010 Greater Tulsa Parade of Homes from June 19 - June 27, 2010. Featuring over 150 new homes with many styles and price ranges. Homes are open from 1-7 daily and are FREE to the public. You will find the latest material, technology and styles in these beautiful homes. Builders are available to answer your questions about building a custom home of your choice and talk with Realtors to educate and assist you in the home buying process. Are you looking for a paticular location or subdivision? Here is a list of a few of the subdivisions in Broken Arrow that are featured in the 2010 Greater Tulsa Parade of Homes and price ranges of each. Aspen Pond - $157,500 - $190,000 Bentley Village - $172,900 - $200,000Millicent Pond - $337,000 - $387,000 For more information on these and other subdivisions in the 2010 Greater Tulsa Parade of Homes contact Lisa Stafford the prefered Realtor of Broken Arrow Realtors. 918-693-3534

Looks like copy machines are something else for us to worry about

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:50:15 -0700

What an eye opener! Do you remember the last thing you had copied, either for yourself or someone else? You probably do. It could have been someone's driver's license for your client file, a HUD statement, an earnest money check, tax returns for a mortgage broker, or a contract. How about your insurance card at the doctor's office or your social security card for a job you just accepted? These are just a small sample of what we copy on a daily basis. But did you know that the copy machine keeps a digital image of every single thing that it copies?? They're all stored on its hard drive, ready and waiting to be re-viewed by whomever looks for them. I don't know about you, but to me, that it S-C-A-R-Y. My uncle sent me this YouTube video the other day which explains everything clearer that I can. It's a piece that CBS News did on April 25, 2010. It is a couple minutes long, but you'll be glad you checked it out. Or maybe not. ***************************************** We proudly serve and sell real estate in and around all of Charleston, SC. If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, North Charleston, Hanahan, Summerville, Goose Creek or other surrounding areas, and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact us at your earliest convenience. Jim and Maria Hart Realtors®/ AgentOwned Realty (843) 364-9845 hart@agentowned.com Copyright © 2010 by Jim and Maria Hart (AgentOwned Realty).

Aspen Pond-New Homes Broken Arrow-OK-Market Update

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:41:08 -0700

Aspen Pond-New Homes Broken Arrow-OK-Market Update Visit Stay Live Play Aspen Pond-New Homes Broken Arrow-OK-Market Update Current New Homes Listed- $150-$159,000 - 2$160-$169,000 - 2$170-$179,000 - 2$180-$189,000 - 3$190-$199,000 - 1$200-$209,000 - 1 Current New Homes Sold Jan-May 2010 $160-$169,000 - 2$170-$179,000 - 4$180-$189,000 - 1$190-$199,000 - 2 Aspen Pond-New Homes Broken Arrow-OK-Market Update shows the current activity of this new home subdivision. When you drive into Aspen Pond you will see many new homes going up and lots of neighbors playing in the neighborhood. For a place to build your new home in the heart of Broken Arrow you've found the right place. For more information on Aspen Pond-New Homes Broken Arrow-OK contact me, Broken Arrow Realtors finest or visit my website. Copyright by Lisa Stafford-Aspen Pond-New Homes Broken Arrow-OK-Market Update

Showings Are "Hot" in The Summer - Is Your Home the "Cool" One?

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 02:50:35 -0700

Sellers " You don't have a second chance for a first impression"Showings Are "Hot" in The Summer - Is Your Home the "Cool" One? If your home is currently on the market then this is a post for YOU! While I am SURE your Realtor® prepared you for what to do when you have scheduled showings like lights on, soft music, etc there are some special touches that you can do for a showing in the summer that just might make your home stand out! Summer conjures up memories of cookouts, swimming pools, lemonade and fireflies......so, why not get the buyer that will be previewing your home in the right frame of mind? Be sure you have some "punched up" flower power for when the buyer first shows up! Whether it be some fresh new plantings around the mailbox or some bright potted flowers on the porch you just can't ignore the visual of flowers! Is your doormat fresh and clean? If you have one that indicates you have pets - remove it. Instead, opt for a crisp, clean straw mat in perhaps a summer color that coordinates well with other attributes of your exterior. (shutter colors, front door color, etc) Open all the blinds so that buyers have a clear view of the front and back yards. Let the sun shine in! (don't forget to clean your windows!) Make sure your air conditioner is set to a very cool temperature! Like my friend Pat Kennedy mentioned you want it CHILLY in your home for showings! If you have scents in your home you may want to go for a summer scent such as a citrus smell, a crisp herb smell such as basil or even a light honeysuckle scent. Offering a light snack? Many sellers do! If so, opt for a lighter snack such as a lemon cookie (instead of chocolate chip) and some small bottled waters or a pitcher of lemonade! Don't forget to offer some napkins as well! Show off your deck and grilling area! If you have a table on your deck be sure to have the umbrella opened and the table staged. Yes, stage the table on the deck! Outdoor serverware is perfect for getting the buyer to visualize what it might be like to sit on the deck and have a late summer afternoon dinner. Have a large yard? Show it off! You may want to consider a soccer net or a Bocce Ball area. Do swimming pool? If so, make sure it is crystal clear and stage the decking area with clean and well maintained chairs! Choose your music wisely. It's always wonderful to have soft music playing in the background when your home is being shown. Light jazz or blues is always a safe choice! Show off your homes BEST assets and how comfortable it is in the hot summer months! The more you can get a buyer in the mood and "living in your home" the better the chance you have that it will stand out when compared against others they have seen! If you are considering putting your home for sale in Wake Forest NC I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you! As a top real estate agent in Wake Forest NC I have the resources, network and skills to get your home sold in the quickest time frame with the least amount of stress and for the highest amount. Feel free to visit my website, Wake Forest NC House Chick, to research me! You can also call me at 919-649-6128 or simply send me an email - it's just that easy! To keep up with all the latest on the Wake Forest NC Real Estate Market you just can't miss my Facebook Fan Page - Wake Forest NC House Chick! Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area! I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home! For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites: Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE.... Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....

Asking the ActiveRain Community for Help in Finding Our Missing 16 Year Old Daughter - Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California or ?

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:13:57 -0700

Please Help Find Kelsey!!!!!Asking the ActiveRain Community for Help in Finding Our Missing 16 Year Old Daughter Many of you who follow me or Kevin on our other social networks already know that our daughter has been missing from the Superior Montana area since 5/30/10. She is with 2 older males, both of which have outstanding felony warrants. She was last seen in Washington State in the Seattle/Kirkland area and in Sedro-Woolley, WA. She could still be in the Washington area or may also be in Idaho, Montana, or possibly even Oregon or California. We are trying to get the word out as much as possible in case someone in these areas in case you see Kelsey or the other two. If you are not in the area, but know someone who is, please send this information to them as well. They appeared on Washington's Most Wanted on Friday which can be seen here: And here are flyers for our daughter and the other two if you can post them in a visible location, or distribute electronically: http://www.slideshare.net/jammediagroup/documents Our friends have set up a Facebook site for updates and leads at www.Facebook.com/FindKelseyRay. We have hired a private investigator and are working with law enforcement across the Northwest. If you see our daughter or the other two, contact 911 or the Mineral County Sheriff's Office at 406-822-3555. Service, Results, Peace of Mind Kevin and Monica Ray are Missoula Real Estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. We provide services for Buyers and Sellers in Missoula, Mineral, Ravalli, Sanders, and Lake Counties. Contact us at: 406-822-SOLD (7653) or 406-207-1185 You can also Connect with Us On these sites:

How badly do you want to stay in business?

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:13:10 -0700

INSPIRATION!!!! Hi folks. These last few years in Real Estate have been very challenging. A perfect strom to say the least. As most of you know my market area is Central Florida. Specifically....Poinciana. Poinciana was one of the hardest hit areas in the country with values down 70% from early 2006. REOs and Short Sales make up roughly 85% of the market. So how bad did it get? I have always been a small time Broker in a small time market. Usually closing 40-50 deals a year. In 2008 that dropped to 18 deals for the entire year!!! Add to that the fact that values were down about 55% and you have a decline in income of about 70%!! That's pretty drastic. BUT.....instead of throwing in the towel (never an option) I made a choice to keep moving forward. I made a new plan and I stuck to it. And you can too. Just do it. Don't concern yourself with the market being difficult or Buyers being hard to come by. If you spend time worrying about these things it will make staying positive and moving forward too difficult. Just get into the game. Do you have a marketing plan you've been wanting to implement but have been waiting for the "right time"? Well, the right time is now. Before you go to bed tonight make the decision to get into your business. Do the things you have been procrastinating about. Make a decision to be successful in spite of the difficult market. Don't listen to the naysayers. They're wrong. Get out of bed tomorrow and start moving forward. Go find that new listing or that new Buyer. I can assure you they are out there. If you don't go get them somebody else will. My goal is and always has been to do something related to my business everyday. Everyday, I move forward. And not only do I move forward but I do the one thing that will always give me a return. I solicit business. Listings, in my case. If I work on this one thing everyday, everything else will take care of itself. I've been in this business long enough to know that if I have enough inventory, I will sell some houses. I can't sell them all, but if I have enough listings, I can still sell 3 or 4 this month and the next month and the next month. I can keep moving forward. I look at my business as being a "house store". I must keep the shelves in my store stocked with inventory. And it has to be inventory that is priced right, clean and has variety to it. I am trying to attract Buyers. So the more I have to offer the better chance I have of Buyers finding my store and making a purchase. And that is my ultimate goal. This year we are on tract to close 60-70 transactions. That's a huge improvement over 2008. I now feel we have made it to the other side. I was able to hang in there, revamp our business and fight through the storm. And I know you can too. You just have to want it badly enough. Do you? Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close. Want to find out more? www.CentralFloridaShortSales.com ***I am NOT an Attorney nor do I play one on TV. Click the button below for my Bio. Copyright © 2010 http://www.brokerbryant.com/ | All Rights Reserved

Broken Arrow OK Homes for Sale - Union Schools

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:33:33 -0700

Broken Arrow OK Homes for Sale - Union Schools is in a very convenient location, just minutes from Union Schools, restarants, shopping and entertainment for the entire family. Just east of Garnett on 71st St. Homes in Broken Arrow Lancaster Park Subdivision currently range from 2600sf to 3600sf and a price range of $215,000 to $274,000. Check out a couple of the beautiful homes in Lanaster Park Subdivision. There is a beautiful park for the entire family and very easy access. The park also has a gazebo, picnic tables and grill. A great place to spend a summer afternoon. Lancaster Park Subdivision attends a premier Oklahoma School district, Union Public Schools. It is known for its excellence, pride and tradition. The elementary school is Marshall Moore Elementary located at 800 N Butternut Pl, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. For more information and current available Homes in Broken Arrow Lancaster Subdivision, contact Lisa Stafford 918-693-3534.

If You Are Struggling To Pay Your Bills- You Need To Read This Post

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:16:44 -0700

This is AMAZING!!! Saving money is no different than making more money! One of our daughters went to a coupon class about a month ago. Her and her sister do not want to be in debt for anything other than a modest home. Even their cars are either almost paid off or are paid off. They only have credit cards to use as ID and to use for online purchases which they then pay nearly in full each month. They did not want to go alone the first time so I told them I would show them how to save money using coupons and the sales, especially the buy one get one free sales each week. Since we go to the store anyways, I thought I might as well take them with me. We can have some girl time together. If you are struggling paying your bills- you need to pay attention to this post. If you are in debt and want to get your debt paid down and eliminated- you need to pay attention to this post. If you make money but love to save and have more money at the end of your paycheck- then you need to pay attention to this post. This is serious saving! This is not about saving a dollar here and a dollar there. This is about actually making a difference in your family's budget. I will share some other case studies later on. I know families who are using this coupon system to cut their food bill in half and nearly eliminate their budget for household goods, cleaners, personal care products and beauty products. This system is being used by middle class families to extend their budget. The savings each month from their food budget and personal care budget are being used to pay down their debt. I will write a post about the fastest and easiest way to pay down your debt at another time. In fact, this is such a savings to most families that studies have shown that a mom or dad that uses these saving strategies- the coupon saving folks are worth $80 per hour! This is nothing to make light of! As I was showing them I got hooked! Since I go to the store anyways I figured that it was time we started saving some money and use that money we save towards paying for the college bills we are paying and for paying down debt. We spend a lot of money on food, good food, healthy food. But the savings there I will talk about later on. For now, just see how FAT these savings are. This is nothing to sneeze at!!! I don't care how much money you are making in real estate you can learn some frugal ways to save. Since we live in Florida and we are now approaching hurricane season, stocking up is a must do item on your list here. As soon as the storm warning hits- the stores' shelves are empty within hours. In just one month we have enough shampoo and conditioner for a year, enough razors for a year, enough body wash for a year and enough feminine products for a year. In this photo here between Walgreens, CVS and Publix and this is all non food items- I got $980 of products for $64.00. That includes the 6.5% sales tax. We still have lots of items to donate to the Military care packages, send our kids in college and give to homeless shelters. If you are so rich that you don't need to save any money- you and your friends can do this for fun and then donate all your items to charity. The video I posted below is ten minutes long so fair warning about that but it is well worth watching. I go through the items and explain how you can use them, etc. For instance, Nestor and I do not use any deodarents that contain the alluminum in them because that is known to cause cancer. So we donate the free products that we don't use to our kids who refuse to listen to us about deodorants or we send it off in care packages or drop it off at the homeless shelters. Copyright © 2010 By Katerina Gasset, All Rights Reserved.*If You Are Struggling To Pay Your Bills- You Need To Read This Post*

Seven Oaks Subdivision-Broken Arrow-OK-Homes For Sale

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:06:06 -0700

Seven Oaks Subdivision-Broken Arrow-OK-Homes For Sale Seven Oaks Subdivision in Broken Arrow Oklahoma gives you the feel of the living away from the city, yet you are close enough for the convenience of shopping, entertainment and more. Seven Oaks Subdivision has new and resale Broken Arrow OK Homes for sale. Located at 101st Street and 185th E Ave, just a few minutes from Northeastern State University and the Creek Turnpike. And for your convenience you are less than 2 miles to Reasor's Grocery Store, Sonic, Arby's, Ross, Kinko's and much more entertainment. Seven Oaks Subdivision in Broken Arrow Oklahoma is proceeded by an inviting entrance and offers a beautiful pool and pool-house for your pleasure and recreation. With a shaded area for mom or lounge chairs to work on that golden tan, you will not be disappointed here. Seven Oaks homes are priced between $160,000 and $299,000. Each home has is own custom design and beauty. Whether you need a 3 or 4 bedroom, 2 or 3 car garage you will find it here. The first homes were built in 2006 and there are still lots available today for your custom home. Broken Arrow Public Schools is a desired education system for Oklahoma. When you purchase your home in Seven Oaks Subdivisionyour kids will attend these amazing schools. The current schools are Oak Crest Elementary located at 405 E. Richmond - 918-259-4450 Sequoya Middle School located at 2701 S. Elm Pl. - 918-259-4370 South Intermediate 301 W. New Orleans -918-259-4320. To search for homes available in Seven Oaks Subdivision

Aspen Pond - Broken Arrow OK Homes For Sale

Mon, 31 May 2010 08:34:33 -0700

Aspen Pond - Broken Arrow OK Homes For Sale Aspen Pond is located in the heart of Broken Arrow, OK. When you VISIT here you will want to STAY LIVE PLAY Located on 145th E Ave (Aspen Ave) between 91st and 101st Streets. Within walking distance to Braum's Ice Cream QuikTrip Convenient Store, Compadre's Mexican Grill and Family Video. Aspen Pond - Broken Arrow OK Homes For Sale start in the mid $150,000's. Most builders supply Granite counter tops as a standard feature for these homes. Choose from 3 bedroom or 4, 2 baths or more and garages that will accommodate 2 or more cars. If you like covered patio's, under-mount sinks and a choice of oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, look no further. Broken Arrow Public Schools will more than meet your expectations. Vandever Elementary School is located behind Aspen Pond and there are plans for a bridge to allow access for you to walk your kids to school. To find out more about Broken Arrow OK Homes for sale and Aspen Pond visit My Web Site. Or Call me at 918-693-3534.

Willow Gorge-Golf Course Community, Verdigris, OK

Mon, 31 May 2010 07:05:11 -0700

Willow Gorge-Golf Course Community, Verdigris, OK The Villas at Willow Gorge is a great place to call home. You will absolutely love homes at this golf community. ScissorTail Golf Course has 18 holes of challenging golf with a beauty that keeps calling you back. The homes are Willow Gorge-Golf Course Community, Verdigis OK were first built in 2005 and homes are still being built today. For information on homes that are available visit 25235 Creek Bank Trail and see the beauty of the homes . Don't miss out on picking the lot of your choice for your new home also. The beauty of Willow Gorge is not only in the ScissorTail Golf Club, but also in the bridge and professionally landscaped community. Willow Gorge-Golf Course Community, Verdigis OK has a Claremore, OK address, but the kiddos go to Verdegris Public Schools which are located just a hop, skip and jump from your home. Verdigris Public Schools is the home of the Cardinals. The school was established in 1908 and is growing still today in academics, athletics and competitive organizations. Willow Gorge-Golf Course Community, Verdigis OK is located just off Route 66, west on Hwy 266.

4221 S 131st East Ave, Crystal Creek Subdivision - Union Schools

Sun, 23 May 2010 13:02:00 -0700

4221 S 131st East Ave, Crystal Creek Subdivision - Union Schools 4221 S 131st E Ave, Crystal Creek, Union Schools is a beautiful new construction home. Built in 2009 this home is on a corner lot just off of 129th East Ave in Tulsa, OK. It is listed at $194,000. 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths with a formal dining room, kitchen open to breakfast room and living area. Master bedroom is split from the other bedrooms. Utility room has a closet for extra storage and built in folding space. 3 car garagehas 1 single and 2 tandem. Great space for your extra toys and tools Lets take a look as we enter 4221 S 131st E Ave, Crystal Creek, Union Schools. When you enter this home you are welcomed by a beautiful formal dining room with a high ceiling, arched openings and double windows for natural light. Picture Framed paneling with crown molding and accent paint. The living room has high ceilings, wood burning fire place, triple windows for natural light. The back door leads to the covered patio for entertaining or relaxing. The living room is open to the kitchen and breakfast room. With a bar for convenience and granite counter tops, you'll love it. This custom kitchen has tall cabinets, granite counter tops, tile floors and arched openings. Stainless Steal appliances top it off. The Spacious Master Bedroomas His and Her closets, high ceilings and room for your large furniture. The master bath has a large tub, separate shower and tile floors. There is still plenty of room for your extra furniture in your Master Bedroom. Union Schools is a very desired school district. Whether you have a kindergartner or one ready to graduate, there's a place for your kids. The elementary for Crystal Creek Subdivision is Rosa Parksand is located at 13702 E. 46th Place South Tulsa, Oklahoma 74134-5919. Rosa Parks Elementaryserves Pre-K through 5th grade. It was opened August 2006. Don't miss all the features of this home at 4221 S 131st E Ave, Crystal Creek, Union Schools. This model home is also for sale. If you'd like to custom build this home, stop by and give us the details. You can pick your lot today.