Real estate blog entries tagged with mike cooper by Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, MD, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro (Cornerstone Business Group Inc)

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mike cooper: Don't leave points on the table! - 02/10/12 11:13 AM

In one of those quirky twists in blogging, I ran into a nice surprise. When I started on Active Rain, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know much about the point system, and I didn't really know all the details of how points were earned. Over the past 10 months, I've Iearned a few things about the point system on AR, but there is more to learn.
Today, I was going through my early blogs (I mean really early blogs), and I realized that I had left points on the table. In the early days, I didn't … (39 comments)

mike cooper: Cell Phone Etiquette 101 - 02/09/12 09:05 AM

I was meeting with a group of clients today, and then it happened. My cell phone went off. My cell phone going off isn't that unusual, but in a meeting, it's terribly unusual for me. I try to always flick it to vibrate before I enter a meeting if I carry it at all. I don't want the discussion to be sidetracked by a ringing cell phone. Today, I forgot.
There are certain things I think every business professional should do when relating to his/her cell phone. They are definitely important tools in our arsenal of business weapons, but they … (105 comments)

mike cooper: I didn't realize what they were there for . . . - 02/08/12 12:04 PM

I had just drifted off to sleep Sunday night when I heard this weird whirling sound outside of my window. What in the world could that be? I jumped to my feet and pulled back the blinds, and there they were, two very translucent green characters with odd shaped guns.
I ducked back behind the blinds, but they saw me. Before I could jump back in bed and under the covers, they were seeping through the keyhole in the door. When I summoned the courage to pull my head out from under the covers - they were standing at the bottom … (30 comments)

mike cooper: It's Great When Real Estate Leads Find You - 02/07/12 11:03 AM

There are a lot of ways to find real estate leads, but it's always nice when the real estate leads find you. Realtors are lured into spending a lot of money trying to "get found." There are company and personal websites, click-through sites, homes-magazines, yellow pages advertising, overpriced online marketing companies that promise they can make you a Realtor goddess or at least deliver the moon and . . . ca-ching, ca-ching, ca-ching!
Ironically, a lot of these efforts are spent on the elusive online tech savvy buyer. Approximately 89% of home buyers start their real estate search on the Internet. That doesn't … (38 comments)

mike cooper: Yeah, I'm Proud. But, I Say That Very Humbly. - 02/03/12 11:04 AM

I'm not an openly proud person, but I do have my days where I am running over with pride, and it's hard to keep a lid on it. I have never had a problem saying that my electrical contracting company is one of the best and most talented companies in Virginia. We have done things that amaze me, and on those days I try to keep that proud smile inside until I'm away from my clients and anyone else who might think I'm a total nut case while gushing about our skills. I'm sure it would be obnoxious to some, but … (15 comments)

mike cooper: The Oak and the Sparrow - 02/02/12 01:38 PM

The Oak and the Sparrow The oak stood majestically on the edge of the pasture. For decades, he had proudly watched over the pasture land. Generations of cattle had come and gone from the fields before him, but he stood firm, deep rooted and strong.

Nearby, a sparrow moved effortlessly through the air. He made flight seem so natural. A mild wind would lift him high, and the calm that followed would allow him to slowly glide back toward earth. It was a dance that the oak watched day after day.
In his heart, the oak knew that he played a … (16 comments)

mike cooper: Are you a distressed homeowner? - 02/01/12 12:15 PM

Are you a distressed homeowner? Are you a distressed homeowner in Winchester, VA? You might be and not even know it. I've worked with a lot of distressed homeowners in the past few years, and they all have one thing in common. They all waited until the last minute to try to save their homes.
It breaks my heart when distressed homeowners call with the hope that some sort of magic will ultimately help them save their home and sell it for what they owe. The truth is, most call come minutes before foreclosure. If I could offer a distressed homeowner andy … (2 comments)

mike cooper: Selling your Winchester, Virginia home will likely require some adjustments to sell in this market. - 01/30/12 10:50 PM

Selling your Winchester, Virginia home will likely require some adjustments to sell in this market During the hot days of the Wincheser, VA real estate market, our area had 1400+ agents competing for listings and sales. Now, with the market in a stagnant and unstable place, we have approximately 500 agents. That's a 74% drop in agents. Even still, that's probably 50% more than is necessary. Building permits for the tri-county area are running at 114 for the year. Last year, they were at 341. The year before that, they ran at 1783. Simple numbers like that demonstrate to those who pay attention … (29 comments)

mike cooper: 10 Tips to Buying a Home in Winchester Virginia - 01/30/12 08:02 AM

When considering a new home purchase in Winchester, Virginia, there certain things you'll want to consider. Some things are obvious, and some are easy to overlook in the excitement of a new home purchase. For instance, your considerations may be,
1. How much can I spend? That's something you will need to know before you ever get in the car to look at a property. There is no sense in looking at a $500,000 house on a $125,000 budget. How much can you spend? You will want to talk to a loan officer before you get to far into your search. … (20 comments)

mike cooper: Life is Fragile. It can change in an instant! - 01/30/12 12:32 AM

If you've read any of my blogs, you have probably discovered that I have a big dopey Rottweiler named, Hoss. He was a rescue dog my sons adopted while I was attending a conference in Denver. Our previous rescue, Tony, had died a few months before and the boys felt like they needed a dog. My wife sided with them and off they went to Pet Smart.
Imagine my surprise when I returned to Virginia and was greeted at the door by a 115 pound dog I had never seen before. I was at a fitness conference in Denver for … (29 comments)

mike cooper: Sunday Devotions XIV - The world is not black and white. Sometimes it's gray. - 01/28/12 04:15 PM

I don't think anyone would say I was a traditional pastor when I was pastoring full-time. Having an entrepreneurial mindset, I was always "forward looking" and seeking God's guidance for my church's future. I've said many times that the church is 10 years behind what God is doing. My sons say 40 years behind. By the time the leadership of the local church concludes that something is a good idea, God has moved on because society and the world has changed. Nonetheless, the church launches into ineffective activities that are no longer profitable for the Kingdom of God, and lackluster results … (21 comments)

mike cooper: Realtors, if you leave a house unlocked, THIEVES COME IN AND STEAL THINGS - 01/28/12 12:35 AM

A week ago, I previewed a property in the Winchester, VA area. I'm working with a great young investor couple who are looking for rental properties. Later in the week we all went back to take a second look. This week, we took a third look.
When we arrived at the property, I got my eKey out to open the door and I noticed the door was slightly ajar. I stuck my fingers in the bottom of Supra box and there was no key holder inside so I assumed another agent was inside at the time.
I looked around the driveway … (24 comments)

mike cooper: Available Homes in Winchester Virginia - 01/27/12 02:40 PM

Growing up in Winchester, VA, I always felt like I lived in the safest place in the world. Winchester sits between two mountain ridges. That means we were protected from extreme weather such as tornadoes and hurricanes.
Winchester is about an hour from the Washington, D.C. metro area, but it seems like it's in the center of country away from the hustle and bustle of the Washington, D.C. area. Living in Winchester gives its residents all the benefits of metro living in a quiet less expensive area.
The current real estate market has 498 properties for sale. Of that number, less … (4 comments)

mike cooper: Buying Your First Home in Winchester Virginia - 01/27/12 12:14 PM

Buying your first Winchester, Virginia home can be exhilarating and horrifying at the same time. It's the single largest expense most people will accept in their lifetime. That alone could make you want to run the other way, but STOP! I can help you buy your first home, and we'll have fun doing it.
There are a few things you can do to get prepared for that first home purchase. These simple guidelines will make the process simple and less stressful.
Decide what kind of house you "need" or "want" before you start looking. How many bedrooms do you want? How many … (6 comments)

mike cooper: Use Active Rain to Push You to the Top of Google - 01/27/12 12:15 AM

Whenever someone starts talking about blogging, SEO, web-presence, etc., I see some of my real estate colleagues glaze over with disinterest, and yet, the same people want to find a way to get found on the Internet. There are plenty of companies that will help you get found for $99 and more per month, or you can just follow the simple advice of some of your fellow Rainers.
One of my goals for 2012 was to spend more time on local blogs. From the different sites I blog on, I can see that often the highest number of hits comes from … (58 comments)

mike cooper: The Short Sale Inventory in Winchester, Virginia Gives Buyers Great Options - 01/26/12 08:58 AM

If you are in the market for a new home, consider a short sale. Short sales are unique in many ways, but they do offer a potentially great home at a sizable discount.
What is a short sale? A short sale is when a homeowner has purchased a property and for whatever reason, can no longer keep it. It may be the loss of a job, an illness, divorce or simply because an adjustable rate mortgage has increased the monthly payments to the point that the homeowner can no longer affort the payments.
The homeowner contacts his lender and … (9 comments)

mike cooper: Why do I do what I do? Because I'm selfish! - 01/25/12 07:28 AM

I'm a highly motivated person. I don't need someone looking over my shoulder all the time to inspire me to get moving. If they're looking over my shoulder then they must be moving too. No, if I believe in something I am totally committed until it's done. I'm also a sucker for the underdog. When other agents ask me why I even bother with short sales, the reason below is good enough for me.
Mike, Thank you very much for all of your hard work. Without your relentless pursuit of answers from the lenders' customer service representatives, there is no way this … (14 comments)

mike cooper: Don't put up with garbage from banks! They need you more than you need them. - 01/24/12 12:21 PM

After three months of fighting with a seemingly vacant negotiator, I finally drug my clients across the finish line today. I had both sides of this deal, so I guess I drug both sets of clients across the finish line. Ironically, the negotiator who was assigned to this file nearly messed it up at the last minute, but I was one step ahead of her. That's another story.
If you are new to short sales or REOs, I have some advice for you:
Don't take any crap off of these folks. (Is it OK to say that on a blog?). You … (19 comments)

mike cooper: What to look for when buying a foreclosure in Winchester, VA - 01/23/12 12:00 PM

While the real estate market continues to show some signs of life, there are still pockets of high volumes of foreclosures and short sales throughout the country. In the Winchester / Frederick County, VA area the current inventory of REOs has fallen to 44. That may sound like a lot, but it is below previous numbers.
These REOs (Real Estate Owned,or Bank Owned) properties range in price from $79900-$379900. They offer bedroom and bath numbers from 1/1 to 5/3. With interest rates at record lows, it's a great time to hop off the fence and take a second look at one … (10 comments)

mike cooper: I learned trust when it was the only thing I had. - 01/23/12 01:18 AM

In business, I have a group of professionals I use for just about every aspect of what we do, and I trust them. I know that with a phone call, whatever I need will be taken care of, and it will be done as well or better than I expect, but this isn't where I learned trust.
My life is probably a little unique on Active Rain. I've spent the largest portion of my life in hot spots that put me in danger on a weekly basis. From 1978 through 1994 I spent a portion of every week behind bars. My … (59 comments)

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