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Fargo ND Print Media: Another Great Reason to Live in Fargo Moorhead

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 23:02:34 -0700

Fargo Media: ND foreclosures second lowest in nation Fargo, ND - North Dakota had the second lowest foreclosure rate in the nation in october, according to RealtyTrac.com, which tracks foreclosures nationally and state by state.In the first half of 2007, North Dakota had the third lowest foreclosure rate, slightly higher than South Dakota and Vermont.Tim Karsky, commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, which regulates state charter banks, credit unions and money brokers, among others, said there don't seem to be a lot of the troubled sub-prime mortgages out there."We know they're being made," he said. "We've got some companies that specialize in making loans and helping people make loans that have less than average credit."But he said the real estate market is still healthy enough to help people get out of those loans if they need to.And, unlike a few of the troubled states, the number of lenders in North Dakota continues to grow:As of Aug. 31, 404 lenders were licensed in North Dakota this year, compared to 394 last year, said Bob Entringer, assistant commissioner.That's compared to 381 as of Aug. 31 in 2005."We have some of the companies that have taken bankruptcy and have surrendered their licenses," Karsky said. "There's still companies getting into the market. For some of them, they still see an opportunity to make loans."Joe Sheehan, a mortgage broker with Heartland Mortgage Co., agreed with the assessment that North Dakota borrowers aren't in trouble.He said the state has had a lot of responsible lenders taking borrowers' situations into account before handing out home loans."We never had the risky loans in our market," he said. "Probably the worst loans that anyone did was interest-only."Which, in turn, bodes well for the real estate market."Analyzing national real estate activity is like asking for a national weather forecast; it will vary in different areas and parts of the country. Like the weather, real estate is local,"said John VanMiddlesworth, former president of the Bismarck-Mandan Board of Realtors, in a release. "Real estate continues to prove to be a smart investment, and interest rates are favorable for consumers. The real estate market here is good."More Updates In Fargo Real Estate

Fargo Print Media: Welcome to the Valley.... Renaissance Women

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:37:33 -0700

Fargo Print Media: Welcome to the Valley.... Record Number of women buying homes If you're a single woman in Fargo who wants to buy a house, the good news is the market is wide open for you. The stats from the Joint Center for Housing Studies say: More than one in five home buyers is a single woman.Twice as many unmarried women are buying homes than single men.Single women make up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994.Top Three Reasons Unmarried / Single Women Buy a Home Strong desire to own her own home.Need more space or want smaller home.Relocate closer to job, school or family.Real Women Who Buy Real HomesWomen home buyers come in all sizes, shapes and ages. They are divorced, never married, separated, widowed; some have children, others live with friends or partners and many live alone.Trends for Single Women Home Buyers*3 out of 4 women spend less than $200,000.*Prefer 2 bedrooms or more.*Less likely to choose new construction.*Buy in city over suburban areas.*Will compromise size & cost to get other amenities.*Will not compromise on location or quality of neighborhood.*Prefer condominiums over single family homes.*Smaller spaces are acceptable.*Desire security and / or gated access.*Like to engage in social interaction with neighbors.*Want close proximity to stores, shopping and fitness centers.Try a Professional in this magazine Log on to www.redriverhomeguide.com

Fargo Print Media: Faith Publication Coming to the Red River Valley

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:28:19 -0700

Fargo Print Media: Faith Publication Coming to the Red River ValleyA new publication named Valley Faith is set to be launched in the Fargo-Moorhead area this November. The four-color glossy publication will be a “guide to the different local places of worship” in Fargo, Moorhead, and the surrounding area. David Holland, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Valley Faith, describes the publication as more than an all-faith guide. but a place to find inspiraction and direction. “We are really encouraging all faiths to participate,” he said. David also added that currently the Fargo-Moorhead area has 138 places of worship. Holland said the publication is offering a free opportunity to places of worship to expand their ministry’s outreach program by providing them with a profile within the publication and on the web. The churches and other places of worship will have the option of purchasing advertising space if they would like a larger presence in the perfect-bound magazine. Holland also pointed out that the publication will be largely supported by community advertisers and other sponsors who would not considered “places of worship.” Holland cites hospitals, florists, funeral homes, caterers, nursing homes, and businesses that provide wedding services and receptions as examples. “It all ties together” Holland said. The premeire publication of Valley Faith is scheduled to launch in mid-November. Holland said they are targeting to have it out before Thanksgiving due to the amount of people coming home for the holidays. Holland said the response has been overwhelming and the interest continues to build He said if all 138 churches chose to participate and have a presence in the publication, the first issue would would be approximately 80 pages. The magazine will consist of faith profiles, stories of inspiration and faith-based events. The publication will have four design and administrative staff members, along with three sales and marketing professionals. Valley Faith will be tied to its corresponding website, www.ValleyFaith.net, which will provide more current events and articles. Holland said the goal was to have an interactive website within the faith-based community and those looking for outreach. Holland said the biggest challenge of starting the publication was the same as many of his other entrepreneurial projects-- conveying the idea of what the publication is about and finding advertising opportunities. For him, the best part of starting Valley Faith is getting to inform people of how many different religious opportunities there are in the community. Holland talked about the population of the Fargo-Moorehad area in comparison with how many churches and religious affiliations there are. “The faith presence in our community is amazing,” he said. Holland has a background in real estate. He has sold commercial real estate for 25 years and been involved in several entrepreneurial start-up businesses. Holland is a graduate of Oak Grove High School. More information can be found at www.valleyfaith.net or call 701.238.6181.Valley Faith Facts30,000 copies printed semi-annuallyAll local places of worship included in book withs article of inspirationWebsite: www.ValleyFaith.netPhone: 701.238.6181Email info: info@valleyfaith.netDistribution Highlights:Hornbacher’s SunmartC-StoresChurchesFinancial InstitutionsRestaurantsCollege Campuses

Fargo Print Media: Helping Kids with the Move to Fargo Moorhead.

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:14:06 -0700

Fargo Print Media: Helping Kids with the Move to Fargo Moorhead.Although relocating can be one of life's challenges, it is also an adventure. By guiding your child through this experience with knowledge and patience, the transition can be a piece of cake! The home you are moving from may be the only one your child has ever known. There's a sense of familiarity there, not only with the house, but everything around it. The neighborhood friends, parks, and schools will no longer exist for them. That's why moving can be especially troubling for children. But if parents understand what their child's concerns and needs are, a lot of distress can be avoided. What are your kids concerned about? · Preschool children tend to worry about being left behind or separated from their parents. · Kids aged 6 to 12 can be concerned with how their daily routines will be affected. · Teenagers are concerned primarily with fitting in and having their social life disrupted. Ideas for easing their concerns include: Communicate with your child about what the new house will be like. Take them on a visit of the new home and neighborhood, but if you can't, take lots of pictures or videotape it to make them feel more comfortable with their future surroundings. Get information on the schools and childcare available in fargo moorhead. If you can, visit the school with your child and meet some of the teachers. Try to get your child involved in the moving process. Have them pack some of their own special belongings and younger children can decorate the box with stickers and/or markers. Be sure to keep this "box of necessities" close at hand during the move. Make plans together on how to decorate their room. You may want to leave their surroundings the same, but this could also be a great time for change. Maybe let them pick a color of paint for their new room or a new bed set. Ask your child what some of the favorite things in their life now are and try to make those happen at the new house. Most kids will have lots questions, so answer them in a positive way and be understanding of the fears they're facing. Focus on things for them to look forward to, like a first snow or their own room! Starting over in a new place is never easy even in a great city like Fargo. If possible, find pen pals in the new location before you move so your child will have someone to interact with and learn about the area. Contacting the Fargo Moorhead Chamber of Commerce for pamphlets on the area is another great way for your family to sit down together and visualize what the new town will be like Leaving friends behind may be one of the harder things your child has to do. Throw a going away party with their friends and take lots of pictures to make a nice scrapbook for them to look back on. Give them a stationary set or prestamped cards so they can stay in touch with friends too.Just think, when you relieve the stress your children are feeling, you reduce your own stress and are able to focus more on other aspects of your move! Sponsored by:The Red River Home Guide

Fargo Print Media: Fargo Moorhead Women Must Focus on Retirement Income.

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 19:32:10 -0700

Fargo Print Media: Fargo Moorhead Women...... His message is for all the women out there in the Fargo Moorhead Area: Whether or not you are the breadwinner in your household, preparing for retirement should be extremely important to you! One item of planning that must be considered is the financial situation of a surviving spouse and what can be done to prepare for a potential shortfall.Women survive their spouses more often then men. The Administration on Aging estimates that seven of ten women will outlive their husbands, [1] highlighting the need for retirement planning even more.Unfortunately, women are often at a disadvantage when it comes to resources available for retirement. The average woman spends nearly 15 years away from the workforce, while the average man will be away for 1.6 years. This translates into lower benefits from company pensions, 401(k) plans and Social Security.Various estimates indicate expenses after the death of a husband will be 80 percent of what they had been when he was alive. Unfortunately, a widow’s income may likely be much less than what will be needed to cover expenses. Of all elderly persons with income below the poverty level, over 70 percent are women. [2] More than half were much better off financially before their husbands died.Less time in the workforce may also mean that fewer women qualify for health benefits. This can put an even greater burden on their retirement income. It is imperative for women to start saving now for their retirement, which can be accomplished through several savings vehicles. It is equally important to protect your nest egg through adequate life insurance coverage and insurance options should your health care needs change. Adequate planning for retirement and surviving a spouse can be a deciding factor in living comfortably.Taking the time to examine the household finances and planning carefully will help to ensure there are adequate means of support for either spouse during the golden years. Talk to a qualified individual about your retirement needs to prepare for and enjoy a comfortable retirement in Fargo Moorhead.Great Design Work Here

Fargo Print Media: Kris Sheridan of Park Company

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 19:13:08 -0700

Successful Fargo Women Business: President, Park Co. RealtorsEducation: UND – social science and education degreeCommunity volunteering: North Dakota Real Estate Commission, North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Board, Fargo Renaissance Zone Committee, MeritCare Foundation Board of DirectorsOn leadership: “Someone who creates an environment where others can succeed and flourish. Helping others to achieve their personal and business goals.” Answering a 1974 newspaper employment ad for a realtor opening at Park Company propelled Kris onto a path of success, leadership and service to others in a community that was new to her. Two years earlier, Kris, her husband and the first two of their four daughters moved to Fargo from Colorado, where she had taught at the junior high level for several years. By 1974, Kris had been a stay at home mom for several years and she felt that she would be a better parent if she worked outside the home but a job would have to fulfill her criteria of flexibility, financial reward and most importantly serving others. When Kris answered the Park Company employment ad, Barb Buchanan was the Residential Resale Manager and soon Kris joined her team as a new residential salesperson. Ownership of the company evolved and in 1981, Kris bought stock in Park Company and she and Barb became business partners. Besides business partners, Barb has been Kris’s greatest mentor and friend along the way. Kris says that she has also learned a lot about the real estate business from Barb over the years. More changes took place when Kris and Steve Stoner became co-owners of Park Company after Barb’s retirement in 2000. Interest rates rose to 18% just after Kris and Steve took the helm of the business and Kris now says that nothing about business scares her after overcoming that financial test. Outside of meeting challenges together, Steve is responsible for looking into the future of their industry and leading the company down the path towards new initiatives and projects. Kris adds that Steve is also her best friend. Kris is in charge of running Park Company day-to-day and that includes personally handling all employment recruiting efforts, helping agents to be successful and running sales meetings for their employees. At the start of each day, Kris never knows what the work day will bring and what her employees will need to do the best job possible serving their clients through buying and selling homes. Even though Kris is deeply involved in the business day by day, and many times minute by minute, she is always thinking about business plans and goal setting for a solid and successful future. She wants Park Company to continue to be the leader in real estate in this area, to continually increase the company’s market share, and is constantly looking for new opportunities for the business. Kris mentions the formation of Park Company’s new mortgage company as an example of pursuing new business ideas. In every business venture, it is important to differentiate yourself from the crowd and Park Company remains the leader in meeting customer needs. It is very obvious that Park Company is committed to being a consumer-driven business with a strong emphasis on customer service. Their mission statement reads, “To provide premier real estate services” and the company vision is, “To be the region’s industry leader in service, company integrity and community involvement.” To further the company vision, Kris says that they strongly encourage and support employee volunteer activities in the community. They also survey clients after each real estate transaction for suggestions and comments in order to improve and react to what clients want and need in a realtor. In order to best serve client needs, Kris reads publications constantly, attends conferences and is in close contact with other realtors across the country. She especially learns a wealth of information and hears of potential trends from real estate companies located on the east and west coasts. Kris says that their agents are always attending conventions and that this active learning contributes to high achieving results within the company. A current trend in real estate business, is the fast growth and use of technology. Kris says that customers are doing their home purchasing homework online first and then come to a realtor with a lot of information. The accessibility of this type of information has raised the bar as to what people expect from a realtor. Customers also want immediate information from their realtor such as emails and phone calls answered quickly which contributes to making the profession an extremely fast-paced business. Kris’s favorite saying is also Park Company’s 2007 motto and it is: Do Not Live to be a Success, Live to be a Blessing. She says,” It reconfirms to all of Park Co. that we are a consumer-driven company with a strong emphasis on customer service.” This former teacher, mother of four daughters and grandmother of 10 leads a very public and fast-paced life during business hours. But personally lives a very private, quiet life. As part of her public life, Kris mentions that she has needed to overcome her conservatism in business, learn to take risks and move out of her comfort zone and ultimately believe in herself. From spunky and awkward junior high students to family to business… Kris serves by investing an incredible amount of energy to create an environment where others can succeed and flourish and where she can help others to achieve their personal and business goals.Red River Home Guide.com Park Company Fargo Moorhead

Fargo Print Media: Small Businesses Need a Great Logo and Marketing Material.

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 18:34:33 -0700

Fargo Print Media Tips for Fargo Moorhead Learn more. Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their businesses with a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. However, they rarely explain the reasons behind this advice. Below are some of some of the benefits of a professionally designed logo and identity system:To look "bigger" and "established." Home-printed business cards or cards printed with Microsoft clipart scream "small-time vendor" to your potential clients — and that is how they will want to compensate you. To increase your chance of earning venture capital or of selling a business. If you present a well-rounded business package that includes marketing materials and graphics, your business will look more complete. To attract more clients. Some clients look for a well-defined company, and "look and feel" may be one of their criteria for making a purchasing decision. To brand yourself. If you are a consultant, you need a logo in order to build an image and a brand that is greater than your individual identity. Be sure to avoid the Top 10 Branding Mistakes. To convey that you are reputable. A logo and professionally-printed materials show that you are committed to both your business and to your clients. To give clients a sense of stability. You may not have been in business "since 1908," but if you have invested in your identity, you are more likely to remain firm and relevant in the eyes of your customers. It goes a long way toward building that all-important "trust." To be more memorable. Forty percent of people better remember what they see than what they hear or read. So to have graphics associated with your business, and to keep those graphics consistent, makes you more likely to be at the forefront of potential clients' minds when they need your goods or services. To explain your company name. If your company name contains a little-known word or an acronym, the logo can give visual clues to its meaning. To endear your company name to your clients. A difficult-to-pronounce or hard-to-remember company name makes it challenging for clients to hire you. When potential clients need your services, they may not recall a tricky name. But if you reinforce the name with interesting, compelling graphics, they are more likely to remember you, pick up the phone, and hire you. To explain an unusual line of business. If your business is nontraditional or in a hard-to-explain industry, a logo can help to clarify exactly what it is that you do. To differentiate you from your competition. A well-designed logo can have many subtle meanings and can begin to tell the story of how you do business, including the special practices that make you stand apart from the competition. To stand out in your field. A well-designed logo and an identity system can put you far above the competition, especially when paired with a strong marketing program. To comply with expectations. In some industries, a logo is just expected. In the creative services industry especially, having a logo is an industry standard. To show your commitment. Do it for the sense of personal pride that it will add to your practice.These benefits will boost your business and your confidence, so consider developing a logo and identity as soon as possible.HG AD... Let Us Help You

Fargo Print Media: Google GOD? From Their Mouths

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:23:45 -0700

Fargo Print Media: Google GOD? From Their Mouths..... Ask George Orwells "GOOGLE"“When asked about Google’s future, he talks about the targeted personalization of search results: ‘The goal is to enable Google users to be able to ask questions such as ‘What shall I do tomorrow?’ and ‘What job shall I take? 23-Year-Old Mark Zuckerberg Has Google Sweating“Owen Van Natta, Facebook’s chief operating officer, said a visit to Amazon.com will uncover all the product recommendations one might want but the value can be limited in the anonymity of the people posting the reviews. On the other hand, if you take your online activities and put them through the filter of the people you know well, those actions take on greater meaning.” Wikipedia ranks first for online news“According to Nielsen//NetRatings, the encyclopedia site Wikipedia is the top news and information destination on the Internet, gaining 20 million unique monthly users in the past year.” Google: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet“Search engine giant Google Inc. has been putting together a massive cable network to provide customers around the world with telecommunications services ranging from broadband Internet to home and mobile phones.”

Google, Yahoo Both Working On Next Generation Social Networks

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:08:01 -0700

“It’s a busy Sunday evening - first the news on Yahoo Mosh, and now news that Google is working on its own next generation social networking service called Socialstream, possibly to take the spotlight away from the ailing Orkut.”

Beware Real Estate Professionals: Google Targets Real Estate Market.

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:35:51 -0700

When I saw this video on Inman TV, I jumped to watch it. It’s not everyday that you get a Google executive speak specifically about Google’s goals for the real estate market.Google Wants:To aggregate listings from across the country from the top 100 brokerages.To court MLS boards around the country to get them to feed them their listings.To provide free data on listings to consumers that are searching with real estate related terms.What does it mean for you?:Make sure ALL your listings are on Google Base Try using a service like Postlets or VFlyer so you don’t have to submit listings manually.Keep an eye on your local search terms. You will probably notice the Google Base search bar come up for some local real estate terms.If you work for a local broker, try to talk them into feeding your office’s listings into Google Base.On some smaller searches you may start to notice Google Base results in the organic area. This is strickly for Google Tech People.Contact Red River Home Guide for more details701.729-3824We are for hire.

Beware Real Estate Professionals: Google Targets Real Estate Market.

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:32:00 -0700

Lets start with what google wants google gets.... When I saw this video on Inman TV, I jumped to watch it. It’s not everyday that you get a Google executive speak specifically about Google’s goals for the real estate market.Google Wants:To aggregate listings from across the country from the top 100 brokerages.To court MLS boards around the country to get them to feed them their listings.To provide free data on listings to consumers that are searching with real estate related terms.What does it mean for you?:Make sure ALL your listings are on Google Base Try using a service like Postlets or VFlyer so you don’t have to submit listings manually.Keep an eye on your local search terms. You will probably notice the Google Base search bar come up for some local real estate terms.If you work for a local broker, try to talk them into feeding your office’s listings into Google Base.On some smaller searches you may start to notice Google Base results in the organic area. This is strickly for Google Tech People.Contact Red River Home Guide for more details701.729-3824We are for hire.

Fargo Print Media: Google Targets Real Estate Market.

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:09:30 -0700

Fargo Print Media: Lets start with what google wants google gets.... When I saw this video on Inman TV, I jumped to watch it. It’s not everyday that you get a Google executive speak specifically about Google’s goals for the real estate market.Google Wants:To aggregate listings from across the country from the top 100 brokerages.To court MLS boards around the country to get them to feed them their listings.To provide free data on listings to consumers that are searching with real estate related terms.What does it mean for you?:Make sure ALL your listings are on Google Base Try using a service like Postlets or VFlyer so you don’t have to submit listings manually.Keep an eye on your local search terms. You will probably notice the Google Base search bar come up for some local real estate terms.If you work for a local broker, try to talk them into feeding your office’s listings into Google Base.On some smaller searches you may start to notice Google Base results in the organic area. This is strickly for Google Tech People.Contact Red River Home Guide for more details701.729-3824We are for hire.

What Housing Bubble in Fargo?

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:29:44 -0700

This makes me mad every time I see it. Either the National Association of Business Economists is full of people with no real business experience or fools. This is a headline from a major online Real Estate publication, "Economists See Credit Problems as Bigger Threat than Terrorism." I know they were all alive just seven years ago when terrorism cost the lives of three thousand American citizens. That headline goes beyond sensationalism. It is rude and insensitive. The article goes on to say that one in three members of the NABE, "...Said the housing boom can be described as a 'serious National bubble." Then later in the article three in four said they would "buy a house today if they intended to use it as their primary residence." Would someone please tell these academic fools that housing is local in nature? While many major markets suffered and are suffering from the over-zealousness of investors followed by the over-zealousness of foolish sub prime lenders; there are many markets that are healthy and many more that are suffering a softening but nothing close to a collapse. These gloom and doom headlines supported by a minority of questionable economist opinions feed the problem they are describing. While the facts support the opposite conclusion. Even the economists own research supports the opposite conclusion. In the same article, "Asked to look five years into the future, 42 percent expected US home prices to remain flat, 41 percent said prices would rise." How did 34 percent of the same group call this a bubble that is fed by a threat bigger than terrorism. Let's give credit where it is due. "59 percent still say there is no national housing bubble, only significant local bubbles. Another 8 percent said there's no bubble at all and that the market is functioning correctly." Hooray for those groups. They got it right. There are some local bubbles where there were hundreds and thousands of development parcels and homes developed and built in anticipation of future sales and the sales that were feeding that demand was investor speculation (Boise and Sarasota to name two). In late 2005 and through 2006 the investors realized that the boom was being fed by their own demand so withdrew. This left a tremendous inventory in some cities or areas of cities. Unfortunately, in 2006, the secondary market lenders realizing that they had allowed a foolish combination of underwriting standards for the previous five years or so immediately followed this. They were buying loans that allowed buyers to have both, little or no down payment and marginal credit. How this happened (and who should be prosecuted for it) is a mystery that will likely to remain such. The result was that in some communities around the country, particularly where there were high priced homes and with less sophisticated buyers; many of these mortgages were used to purchase homes. That created additional pockets of excess inventory which stalled prices in those areas. Now in the fall of 2007 the majority of lenders loaning jumbo loans, over $417,000 have stopped funding these high-end loans for some period. This will further increase inventory and dampen prices in some areas. Notice the language, dampen prices in some areas. Most of the country is experiencing a normal buyer's market that normally follows a long healthy seller's market. The latter group of economists put it perfectly. The market is functioning correctly. In 1986 after two to three years of a soft buyer's market not unlike what we are experiencing now (Although it was driven by different causes.) there was a long strong period of a healthy seller's market with steady appreciation. There was a momentary softer buyer's market around the Gulf War in 1991 (although not caused by it) followed by over a decade of a healthy buyers market that lasted until 2006. If we learn from history strong seller's markets last longer than softer buyer's markets. So again, the economists got this right. The same article said 58% of the economists predicted a 'meaningful' recovery in U.S. housing markets before the second half of 2008 or in the second half of 2008. The majority of the other 42% predicted the recovery in 2009. This is completely consistent with history. This two or three years of soft buyer's market with slightly flattening prices will likely be followed by five or more years of a healthy seller's market with equally healthy price appreciation. REALTORS® all learned in their first Real Estate class that the market is driven by supply and demand. As long as there is an increasing population of people with reasonable or better incomes, the demand will keep the market healthy. Add to that the fact that the Federal government repeatedly states that they realize that the Real Estate market is critical to the health of the economy and they will do whatever is necessary to keep mortgage money available. It all adds up to a principle residence continuing to be the safest and smartest investment for a person living in this fabulous nation. (Just be careful of areas that have experienced rapid appreciation for more than twenty-four months. There could be a windfall or just a fall looming.) If you are associated with Real Estate, please separate the sensationalism from the truth. If you are in most communities in this country, everything is pretty normal. Prices are appreciating a little slower but still appreciating. Houses are on the market longer. Buyers are fussier. Yes, it is tougher to sell Real Estate. But you still have one of the best jobs in the world with more personal freedom and opportunity for success than any other business person or professional on earth. If you are in one of those tougher markets, my heart is with you. You do have an uphill battle for another twelve to twenty four months. You have my strongest wish that you can survive and succeed through this. If not, come back to the business in a couple of years. I feel comfortable promising you that the good times will roll again in the not too distant future. I love this business for what it provides to our society, the people in it, and the strong bright professionals that make me proud to be a part of it. By The Fargo Real Estate Voice

Check Out The Red River Home Guide website

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:50:21 -0700

Helping You Become A Super Agent

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:17:05 -0700

Fargo Marketing Group: MEASURING AUDIENCE

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:04:07 -0700

Print Ads: audience is measured by the average number of copies of a publication sold over a given period, or circulation.Banner Ads: 'Hits' are a meaningless statistic – the key statistics with respect to measuring a web site's audience are unique visitors . Unique visitors is defined as the number of different individuals who visit a site within a specific time period. Web sites measure unique visitors using sophisticated software that identifies visitors by the specific IP addresses of their computers.Problem: As you can see, print and online ads have effective methods to measure audience, and although knowing total audience is very useful, it still does not tell you how many people actually saw your ad.Print Ad: Let's say you have a quarter page ad on page 12 of The Red River Home Guide with a circulation of 20,000. How do you know how many of the audience of 20,000 actually made it to page 12? This is one of the weaknesses of print ads – there is no way of measuring how many people made it to page 12 so there is no way of knowing how many saw your ad.Banner Ad: Let's say you have a banner ad on an inner page of a web site that has 50,000 unique visitors/month. How do you know how many of the audience of 50,000 actually made it to the page where your ad is displayed?WHICH IS BETTER?The short answer is that neither is medium is necessarily better - both can offer effective distribution for your brand and message. For instance, print advertising is a more portable advertising option (not too many take their computer to the toilet to read…) while banner advertising offers interactivity (you can't click a print ad…). Without question, an integrated print and banner campaign is more effective than focusing only on one or the other exclusively.Ultimately, when allocating precious advertising budgets, it comes down to getting ‘the most bang for your buck in Fargo Moorhead'.

In the game of life, this coach strives for success in the Valley

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:36:22 -0700

Fargo Area WomenFargo, ND - Looking to improve your life? Carolyn Kramer, owner of LifeSuccess Consultants in Moorhead, claims to be able to help you do just that. LifeSuccess Consultants provides group coaching, seminars, presentations, workshops, corporate training, and individual coaching on how to create success in your life and believe in your potential and power. Kramer offers a number of programs in full day, half-day, and customized formats for a variety of groups and executive and personal retreats, in-house corporate trainings, stadium keynotes, conference halls and more. Kramer is an Independent Licensed LifeSuccess Consultant and a business partner of Bob Proctor and Paul Martinelli, of LifeSuccess Productions. She researches the motivational industry and studies with master teachers Bob Proctor, Dr. Carolyne “Isis” Fuqua and Loral Langemeier. There are four other independently licensed LifeSuccess Consultants in the Fargo-Moorhead area that Kramer works with as a team.Kramer opened her LifeSuccess Consultants office in April. She already has 20 corporate clients and 75 individual clients, which are seen one-on-one or in group-sessions. Clients usually have recurring visits while they follow what Kramer describes as a curriculum. Carolyn mentioned that her Master Mind group is very interesting. It is a free, ten-week study that claims to change the course of your life by teaching you how to apply to your life the foundational principles of Napoleon Hill’s book, “Think and Grow Rich!” The study says the “results will astound you as you watch the lives of your Master Mind group improve from one week to the next!”Kramer also recruits speakers for her clients. She said that she will be coordinating and bringing Suzanne Whang, the host of the show House Hunters, to Fargo around September 20th. House Hunters is the #1 rated show on HGTV. Although Kramer has a financial planning background, she says LifeSuccess Consultants is her “dream job.” She explains that she gets to do something she really loves and get paid well for it. She enjoys working through issues and discussing how to get more out of life with her clients. “The best part is watching the growth and increased awareness of my clients,” she said. Kramer said the most difficult aspect of starting the business was finding the time to get everything done.Her future plans for the business include expansion. Once she begins motivational work with a company, there tends to be multiple sites, so she will be looking for more consultants to help facilitate the sessions.Kramer has a company website that sells various programs, including The Science of Getting Rich, You Were Born Rich Learning System, The Winners Image, The Goal Achiever, Your Mission in Commission, The Success Puzzle, and The Secret DVD. Order prices range from $29.95 to $1,995.More information can be found at carolynkramer.lifesuccessconsultants.com or by calling 701.238.1515. Activerain members only Please, We sell 1000 business card, full color gloss for $49.00 delivered. Nobody Beats are prices.Thanks Lindsay 701.261.8637HG Fargo Media

Helping famlies look to the future with hope in Fargo Moorhead

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:08:54 -0700

Funerals help to recognize the fact that a death has occurred and provide a setting for family and friends to face the reality of death—the first big step towards working though grief. Funerals also bring family and friends together to support each other during a very difficult time. Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, is owned and operated by third generation funeral director John Runsvold and has provided funeral arrangements in our community since 1920. John’s great grandfather was instrumental in the beginning of the business and John’s grandfather Joseph became an owner and mortician. Then, just as John’s father James was graduating from Concordia College with an English degree, he also decided to become a funeral director. The next generation of family funeral directors came in to existence when John was born in 1953. He graduated from Fargo North High School in 1971. After attending NDSU for two years and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, John graduated with a B.S. degree in Mortuary Science in 1975. John joined his grandfather, Joseph, his father, James, and partner, Neal Bradburn, at Hanson-Runsvold as the third generation funeral director. John and his wife, Cydney, have owned the funeral home since 1982. John is active in community affairs, including past president of Fargo-Moorhead Sertoma Service Club, Past Master of East Gate Masonic Lodge, past SE District Governor and Past President of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. He served on the Audit Committee of the National Funeral Directors Association, is Past President of the First Lutheran Church Foundation, Past Chairman of the First Lutheran Church Television Committee and Past President of Hospice of the Red River Valley. John is currently President of the North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service. He was elected to serve as vice president on the Executive Committee and as District 6 Governor of the Board of Directors for the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. John also serves as a member of the Exam Committee that writes the National Board Exam for Funeral Service and sits on the By-Laws Committee and the Curriculum Review Committee for the American Board of Funeral Service Education, which accredits the schools of Mortuary Science. John has always worked at a funeral home. He started working at the family’s business when he was eight years old pulling weeds and picking up garbage. A little older, he started to mow the grass surrounding the business and washing cars. By 10th grade he knew that he wanted to work in the family business as a funeral director. John had an early interest in psychology and sociology that followed him through college, since it is an important part of Mortuary Science studies. Years later, his interest and expertise in this area has helped him deal compassionately and kindly with people’s emotions during the highly emotional time of grieving. John said that his profession is actually uplifting and not depressing as people expect it would be. Being a funeral director is a helping profession and John mentioned that it is uplifting to help people get through the initial shock of a loved one’s death. John works to put himself in the family’s shoes during the difficult time of a member’s death and guide them through the many decisions that need to be made. It used to be that the funeral home business was usually a family business. John said that is not the case now. Other changes within the profession include people becoming funeral directors as they embark on a second career to do something more meaningful. And today, more women are going in to the profession. In fact, more women now are in Mortuary Science university programs than men. John stressed that his profession is not just a job that he does. The word vocation comes to mind realizing the inclination, abilities and complete commitment that it takes to work in this profession. It is intense and John is linked to his business 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The biggest adjustment has been for John’s wife and three children. Sacrifices need to be made by family since weekends, evenings and holidays are not exclusive when you are needed by someone during a crisis. A typical day for John can include funeral pre-planning meetings with people, meeting with families to decide on arrangements for an immediate death that has occurred, and working at funerals and memorial services. John said that he does not care for the business end of the funeral home’s operations and has an office staff to help with business functions. John keeps learning about his field through continuing education classes and attending conventions. His active participation in The Pursuit of Excellence program of the National Funeral Directors Association encourages the exchange of ideas between directors throughout the country. John is committed to business excellence and his favorite saying is, “Any job worth doing is worth doing it right.” John believes in leading by example and asking the question ‘what can we do better?’ He is more interested in improving his business than in expansion. It is clear that John is doing what he loves. After 32 years of working as a funeral director he said that he still enjoys coming to work every morning. Every day at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, John and his staff are assisting and guiding people through all matters concerning death, the funeral and burial of a loved one. Every day John is helping families look to the future with hope.

Why Buy a Home in Fargo When You Can Rent?

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:43:50 -0700

Answer: A home in fargo moorhead is an investment. When you rent, you write your monthly check and that money is gone forever. But when you own your home, you can deduct the cost of your mortgage loan interest from your federal income taxes, and usually from your state taxes. This will save you a lot each year, because the interest you pay will make up most of your monthly payment for most of the years of your mortgage. You can also deduct the property taxes you pay as a homeowner. In addition, the value of your home may go up over the years. Finally, you’ll enjoy having something that’s all yours - a home where your own personal style will tell the world who you are. Let the Pros Help you

Restoring your Credit in Fargo Moorhead Area

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:20:41 -0700

financial problems, if not handled well, can have a long-term and negative effect on your credit history.It’s important to prepare now for potential problems later.Most financial crises occur because of something beyond your control. Most financial crises occur because of something beyond your control:Maybe your company is getting ready to lay you off. You wouldn’t know that in advance.Maybe you get sick and are unable to work for a period of time.You can’t really control these things, and in most cases you can’t prevent them from happening. What you can do is:*Manage your finances well.*Keep your credit in good shape.*Save money for emergencies.But what if your credit isn’t in good shape when you get sick? What if you don’t have savings when you lose your job? What then?Before you start to panic about financial disasters that haven’t happened yet, learn how to read the warning signs of credit problems.Learn how to prepare for and cope with a financial crisis before it occursand how to live through a crisis if you’re already in one.Find a Premier Lender in Fargo Moorhead at:Try a Professional in this magazine

What to do in Fargo-Moorhead…

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:56:52 -0700

Things to do while in Fargo-Moorhead? We’ll start with food first…Places to eat:Asian:1) Yuki-Hana Sushi (1450 25th St S) - the best sushi in town2) Grand Buffet (1620 32nd Ave) or King House Buffet (122 Broadway) - the best Chinese buffets in town3) Nine Dragons (3228 13th Ave S) - good place to order the menu items, but I would avoid the buffetDO NOT: eat at the Giant Panda.American:1) Kroll’s Diner (1570 32nd Ave S & 1033 45th St SW) - great place to “sit down un eat”2) Monty’s Downtown (220 Broadway) - I still haven’t been to Monty’s but only hear good things about it (for Fargo it may be on the ’spendy’ side of things)3) The Bison Turf (1211 University Dr N) - a dive bar with good food, their bison burger (yes, with actually bison meat) is the best in town.4) HoDo (101 Broadway) - expensive but good, their bison burger is very good as well.5) We do have the normal chain restaurants as well; Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Chili’s, Hooter’s, Ground Round, Applebee’s, Famous Dave’s, Doolittles, Ruby Tuesday, Perkins, Denny’s, Bennigan’s, and Buffalo Wild Wing’s. My fav of the chains is B-dubs.Coffee:1) Atomic Coffee (222 Broadway) - the newest of the 3 F-M locations is on Broadway, my preferred location was the old 4th St in Moorhead. Alas it was torn down to accommodate the new Main Ave bridge.2) Babb’s Coffee House (315 Broadway) - chill place on the corner of Broadway and Main. Good place to begin/end a stroll through Island Park.3) National chains (almost everywhere) - we have either a Caribou or Starbucks on every block (or what seems like it). At any one time you shouldn’t be too far from caffeinat-ion…Italian:1) Toscana Restaurant (202 Broadway N) - the food is pretty awesome, the owner/chef is from the east coast and does italian ‘right’.2) Ristorante’ Isabella (612 1st Ave N) - I haven’t been here yet, but have heard some good things.Other:Mexican: Acapulco (1303 34th St. SW) - the best and most authentic Mexican you can get in town (or almost anywhere in the midwest I think).Mediterranean: Santa Lucia (1109 38th St. S.) - I haven’t been here yet, but it has received consistent great reviews throughout its 20-some year history.Art/Theatre:1) Fargo Theatre (314 Broadway) - first run independent films among other things, check out their website for more info.2) Plains Art Museum (704 1st Ave N) or Rourke Art Museum (521 Main Ave Moorhead) - yes, we have 2 art museums. I haven’t been to either but have always wanted to go… never seem to find the time.3) NDSU / MSUM Fine Arts - when you have two large (12k and 8k student) universities in town you get the added benefit of their fine arts program (of course they tend to be more seasonal).Attractions:1) Fargo Air Museum (1609 19th Avenue North) - not a huge museum, but definitely interesting and the only one in ND. We also have the only Air Sho (yes, without the ‘w’) in ND, it typically occurs every 2 years.2) Thunder Road Family Fun Park (2902 Thunder Road (frontage road I-29)) - in operation when weather allows, it is a go-cart and mini-golf amusement park. Its signature is an erupting volcano.3) Hjemkomst Center (202 First Ave N Moorhead) & Bonanzaville (1351 West Main Ave in West Fargo) - good places to visit to discover some of the history of the Red River Valley region.Shopping:1) Broadway (from Main Ave to 5th St N) - the boutique part of town where you’ll tend to find more one-of-a-kind items and top end brands (ie Coach).2) West Acres Shopping Center (I-29 & 13th Avenue S) - the largest mall in the state and the ’shopping mecca’ of ND. It is also the center of the West Acres area of town, that generally refers to the 13th Ave corridor and all the shops on it (Target, Walmart, Toy-r-us, Kohls, and numerous strip malls).3) Scheels (45th St & 15th Ave S) - this store claims to be “the world’s largest all sport store” and is a shopping attraction onto itself. It is the flagship store of the Fargo headquartered sporting goods retailer and the backside of the store is actually the companies corporate headquarters.Sports:1) Bison Athletics (gobison.com) - the largest university in town and the only Division I program in ND (until fall 2008). Our football program is nationally ranked and many of our other programs and student athletes are nationally recognized.2) Redhawks Baseball (1515 15th Ave N) - a member of the Northern League, they are always a perennial favorite to make the playoffs and have 3 championships.3) Fargo Marathon - established in 2005 there were 9,000 participants in 2007. Not too bad for relatively new marathon .Well, that’s all I can come up with for now. Fargo may not be Minneapolis or New York, but we try and keep ourselves amused To View the Possibilities

Print Advertising Works

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:11:08 -0700

There are several things you must consider when developing your ad. ■ What do you want your ad to do? In other words, what is the primary goal of the ad. You must determine whether the purpose is to introduce your company or product, generate sales for a time-sensitive product, elicit a response to a question, or prompt the reader to request a free sample. ■ Who is your target market and where will you find them? In order for an ad to be effective, it must be directed to and read by your target market. If you publish psychological tests, your market would be psychologists, clinicians, and other mental health professionals who utilize these tests in their daily work. So how do you find publications that are read by the target market you wish to reach? If you are promoting a new product or service, you may use the Web to search for publications or related media that this special group uses. You can also conduct research or hire a consultant to help you find your niche. Another area to explore is special trade associations that your audience may be members of. These organizations often have publications that are tailored to meet the specific needs of their members. ■ What does your target market read? Once you've narrowed down your target audience, you must decide where you want to place your ad. Magazines, newspapers, trade publications or flyers are commonly used print publications. However, where you decide to place your print ad will depend on the product or service you are marketing. If you are promoting a new medical device, you will want to place your ad in publications widely-read by those in the medical or healthcare profession. ■ How much do you spend on your print campaign? This may be one of the biggest questions you may have. Determining how much you will spend will also be largely influenced by your budget for the promotion and whether you are planning other advertising to support your print campaign. Some considerations in determining how much to spend include: your reach or the number of people in your primary market; narrowing down the primary publications read by your audience; and the actual cost to run an advertisement in these publications. Many publications offer various sizes, such as a 1/6 page, 1/2 page or full page, which can accommodate your budget. Of course, the larger the ad size, the greater the visibility you will have. But this does not mean a smaller ad will go unnoticed. With good design and typography and a strong direct message, a small ad can have significant impact. Other factors to consider when determining how much to spend on the campaign are: ad placement and color. Premium placement and the use of color will increase your response rate. ■ When should you advertise and in which issues? Another thing to consider is when is the most likely time your target market would read about your product in the publication. Also, the frequency of the publication is another important consideration. The more people see and read your product, the more familiar they will be, which will result in greater sales generated. If the publication reaches your primary market, then you should consider expanding your budget to allow the print ad to run at least at a three-time frequency. ■ What do I put in the ad? When designing the ad, be sure to include a graphic or headline that would catch the eyes of readers and hold their attention. There must be something about your product or service that would capture the imagination and interest of the reader. It could be something very new; an improvement over a past performance; a special "promotional" price; a health benefit; a less costly version of a product; etc. ■ What other variables should be considered? Wherever you decide to advertise, timing is most important! A special issue of a magazine or journal will draw more readers, increasing your exposure. You may also want to consider the months in which you advertise. If you have time-sensitive products or services, they should be promoted a month or two before your targeted response deadline. Conferences and workshops should be advertised well in advance of the event, so people can plan ahead. Print advertising works. Understanding advertising basics will help you get the exposure and sales you planned. By following these guidelines, you will be on your way to getting a good ROI. PRINT GUYS

TenTop Reasons to advertise in real estate magazines

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:40:19 -0700

Magazine advertising engages: Multiple studies show that consumers are more likely to find magazine advertising acceptable and enjoyable compared to advertising in other media. In addition, they find magazine advertising less interruptive. Magazine advertising is considered valuable content: Consumers value magazine advertising, according to numerous studies. Starcom found that when readers were asked to pull ten pages that best demonstrate the essence of their favorite magazines, three out of ten pages pulled were ads. MRI data show that consumers trust and value magazine advertising. These studies’ findings reinforce those from the Northwestern University Magazine Reader Experience Study. Magazine advertising moves readers to action, including visiting and searching on the web: More than half of readers took action or had a more favorable opinion about the advertiser in response to magazine ads, according to Affinity Research. Numerous studies prove that magazine advertising drives web visits and searches more than other media. Magazine advertising improves advertising ROI:Multiple studies have demonstrated that allocating more money to magazines in the media mix improves marketing and advertising ROI across a broad range of product categories. Magazine advertising sells—and it delivers results consistently: Several studies show that magazines are the strongest driver of purchase intent and boost other media’s effectiveness. What’s more, magazines deliver results more consistently throughout the purchase funnel than TV or the Internet. Magazine advertising is relevant and targeted:Consumers consider magazine advertising more relevant than advertising in other media. With a range of titles that appeal to a wide variety of demographics, lifestyles and interests, advertisers can hone in on targets that fit their needs. Magazines reach the most desirable consumers:Across major demographic groups, the combination of the top 25 magazines delivers more rating points than the top 25 TV shows. In addition, heavy magazine readers are likely to be among the highest spenders across most product categories. Magazine audiences accumulate faster than you think—and with lasting impact:The average monthly magazine accumulates approximately 60% of its audience within a month’s time, and the average weekly magazine accumulates nearly 80% of its audience in two weeks. In addition, consumers refer to magazines multiple times, even saving them, giving advertisers the opportunity for multiple exposures. Magazines influence Influential: Local publishers always have the advantage of knowing the market place. Magazines are the medium that “Influential Americans”—the one in nine consumers who control the levers of change—turn to the most for making purchase decisions and recommendations. Magazines supply credibility:Consumers trust and believe magazine advertising more than advertising in other media. In addition, consumers turn to magazines as a source for information on new products. To View the Possibilities

Fargo has it all.

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:02:03 -0700

“Fargo-Moorhead boasts of a future bright with expansion, engaging cultural diversity, and a quick start into the 21st century. The Fargo-Moorhead area is the largest metropolitan area between Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and Spokane, Washington. In the past few years, several magazines have proclaimed Fargo-Moorhead as one of the most stress free metropolitan areas in America. “Quality of Life” is one of the most often-repeated phrases that people use when describing Fargo-Moorhead. The air and water are clean, the economy is very active, the crime and unemployment rates are some of the lowest in the nation and the people are some of the most friendly. Fargo-Moorhead is a bustling and active metropolitan area set in the midst of rich and fertile farmland. We’re proud of our local history and our attractions show it off well! Plan your day to suit all your interests. Your choices range from A to Z, art galleries to zoos! With so much to choose from, Fargo-Moorhead’s events and attractions satisfy everyone in the group. Diverse entertainment opportunities allow you to play like a child, experience sophisticated drama, enjoy a concert with world famous singers or attend a rodeo. Fargo-Moorhead is a lively, cultural community that boasts a pleasant variety of things to do and places to see. What are you in the mood to do? Fargo-Moorhead is pleasantly seasoned From simple to elegant, from fast food to haute cuisine, Fargo-Moorhead is a virtual smorgasbord of dining choices. With more than 250 restaurants, there’s no end to the culinary variety and style–home cooking, barbecue, steaks, all-you-can-eat buffets, Italian, Asian, Vietnamese, Mexican, Greek and even “intergalactic.” Do you have a particular cuisine in mind? Or, maybe you’re just looking for something nearby. Either way, you’ll find what you.L et me Be the first to welcome you to the midwestwww.redriverhomeguide.com

hi Any advice to go from here would be great

Fargo Web Designs, LiteSpeed Hosting SEO Services (Paulchristl.com) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:37:28 -0700

WideSpread Distribution Hot spots from Fargo to Grand Forks and the Lakes. Distributed in all grocery stores in the metro areas, lobbies,chiropractor, and dentist waiting rooms, break rooms, auto service stations, and hair salons. Internet Exposure- Design-Layout Included With Ad Ad Size Choices Available For All RealtorsThanks alot