activerain ramblings: Tax per mile – Outragous!
- 12/02/08 12:12 AM
A couple months back Gloriabelle wrote a controversial post called It's About Time Buyers Paid For Gas! At the time gas prices were hovering at $4/gallon. Although Gloriabelle had a novel idea - have clients pay for our gas money. Tthe reality is, at least in this area, we are responsible for the costs associated with showing our clients area homes. As a result, Realtors and consumers started to cutback on their mileage which has impacted the State of North Carolina's revenue taxbase on gasoline. With the shortfall in the budget some area leaders have proposed a new tax on … (12 comments)
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activerain ramblings: John F. Santrock, JR - A Tribute to my grandfather -D-John
- 09/13/08 12:57 AM
VideoAd by Mixpo Forgive me for not running around in the Rain this week. My grandfather, D-John(which is short for Daddy John) passed away after a long illness with Alzheimer's. My grandmother asked for me to be the family spokesperson at the funeral! Wow! What an honor. My grandfather was an incredible human being - someone I admired dearly. Here is the eulogy I delivered - If I have a chance I'm going to upload the video that played while we were at the funeral.
My beloved grandfather, John F. Santrock, was a man of many talents, and his sphere of … (31 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Multiple offers in a Buyers Market & the New North Carolina Rules
- 09/01/08 02:24 AM
Multiple offers in a Buyers Market.
Really? REALLY!
When was the last time you heard this kind of music?
Of course I was headed out of town this weekend when a listing that I am co-listing received a number of showings and rumbles of multiple offers within the first 72 hours. Even though we are in a buyers market if the property is less than $400k, looks good, and is in a great location you can still expect to see multiple offers. I've been lucky this year - I've sold two properties on the 1st day they were listed this year. So, how … (9 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Attend CRS Courses - It's an opportunity to learn and network
- 06/20/08 12:10 AM
I spent the last two days in a classroom in Durham, NC in a CRS 206 Technology Course taught by a fabulous instructor, Mike Selvaggio, from Delaware. In preparing this post I stumbled upon Allen Hainge's post, the famous Cyberstars creator, called CRS Courses: Another Big Advantage! and it dawned on me. I should have traveled to take the course in an area where people are moving to my area from. For example, we have thousands of people moving to the Triangle from Florida. I mean, who wouldn't want to spend a few days in, say, Miami? Well it's too late now but I might try that next time. At … (28 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Introducing New Members to Activerain - Lisa Southern
- 06/07/08 01:01 AM
Hello Rainers! I would like to introduce a new member of the Active Rain team. Lisa Southern is a Realtor in my office at Fonville Morisey in Cary, North Carolina. Lisa is a bit of a nomad in that she's out of the Cary office but she serves as a fantastic buyers agent for the Triangle Area. Lisa specializes in relocation, is epro certified, and is a member of Governmental Affairs Council for the Triangle Association of Realtors. Lisa has lots of energy - she'd have to as a mother to four children and Realtor. Everyone in the office loves being around Lisa - she's got a fantastic … (34 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Old World + New World = My World of Real Estate
- 06/05/08 09:12 AM
The Old World of Real Estate
In previous articles I've mentioned that I grew up in a real estate family in Texas. I learned the ropes from my mother who started in real estate in the early ‘70's. They really had it rough back then. There are just some things from my mother's era that I can't help not to forget because they stand out so clearly in my mind. For example, I remember going door to door handing out pumpkins in my moms farming area on Halloween. Better yet - I remember those big books that my mom used to pick … (11 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Santrock's Super 8 Meme...Another Fun & Revealing AR Challenge
- 05/31/08 03:08 PM
OK....so I got tagged by my running friend Dan Cummings (hopefully he'll give me a break for a couple of days for not writing since he's out in the heat running the SanDiego Marathon) but I got hit again today. Tagged for the Super 8 MEME by Jeff Belonger. And, yet again yesterday by Kaety Kowalchuk. 3 Strikes and I'm out! Time to step up to the plate! Memorial Day 2008 was incredibly busy for me so I wasn't able to step it up last week. However, it's time to lay it on the line.
For me, I've lived an interesting life but my tastes … (20 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Price to Sell or Priced to Sit - That is the Question?
- 05/27/08 05:47 AM
Today I met with clients to discuss Marketing their property. I must admit the home was absolutely fabulous(custom built in 2005) and they had done some incredible updates to the home such as:
Plantation Shutters Added a coiffered ceiling in the downstairs formal living room Wet bar in the bonus room Dual Zone surround sound Hired an interior designer and custom painted the walls throughout the home Gourmet kitchen Office on the 1st Floor Added fabulous landscaping 10 Foot Ceilings on the 1st Floor 9 Foot Ceilings on the 2nd, except a 2nd bedroom w/12 foot ceilings That said, my potential clients needed … (57 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Find a Marketing Niche & Work it!
- 05/17/08 05:40 AM
I was in the office on Friday night, yes I have no life, and a new agent was getting ready for an Open House the next day. I proceeded to ask him if Open Houses worked for him. He said "no" but what else am I supposed to do? I told him the single most effective way that I have grown my business has been by deciding on a target market and working it relentlessly. He said, "How do I do that?"
I asked the new agent a couple of simple questions. How do you create your niche? How do you separate yourself … (11 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Just curious - What is your highest # of Views?
- 05/08/08 11:26 AM
Hello fellow Rainers,
I guess I'm a geek or a techy geek or maybe not. Who knows. However, I found my self surfing the statistics on my blog today and I found the output quite revealing.
I have a business background and in order to grow my business I like to look back on my past to see what things worked and what didn't so I don't make the same mistake twice. My business has slowed down a bit, not a lot, but enough that I had a few hours on Phone Duty today to analyze my blog, the success of each post, and … (20 comments)
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activerain ramblings: My new techy toy for my mobile office
- 04/26/08 11:20 AM
In the past I've blogged on several occassions about my Cool Mobile office and the benefits of having one. One of my first blogs was entitled Tech Savvy Agents Have an Advantage in the New World Of Real Estate. And they do! After that I added a few new tools to my toolkit and wrote How to set-up a world class Mobile Office with 5 Simple Devices and showed agents how to get going. Honestly, I can't imagine living w/out all of my tools now. I'm on the go all the time and my mobile office helps me keep in touch when I'm out … (70 comments)
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activerain ramblings: 2007 Year-end Market Report for Cary, NC Real Estate
- 02/11/08 10:36 PM
Don't listen to everything you read in the paper or hear on the news!! The Triangle Real Estate market is doing just fine ladies and gentleman. Yes, I have a few clients that can't sell where they are coming from, but we still have a strong economy, job growth, and our sales last year were the 3rd best on record for Wake County.
From a buyers perspective there are significant buying opportunities for several reasons: 1. The recent mortgage crisis has put pressure on the lenders and made buyers/sellers a bit nervous. Between the new legislation in NC to protect consumers in this state … (3 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Let it Rain in Raleigh - The drought is getting serious
- 01/08/08 01:01 AM
We've all been praying to the rain gods lately to save the water supply in Wake County. In October I wrote "Severe Drought Halts Outdoor Watering Indefinitely in Raleigh, NC" As noted in the previous post it hasn't been working so desperate times call for desperate measures.
When I mean desperate - I mean desperate. Currently the Falls Lake water supply is 10B-yes that's a B for Billion-Gallons low and only drastic changes will help Wake County recover from the drought we are experiencing.
The Raleigh Mayor is proposing a 50% surcharge for water to be implemented March 1 and appear on May bills that … (27 comments)
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activerain ramblings: 2008 Is Coming Soon- Have you set your goals?
- 12/30/07 04:53 AM
I don't believe in New Years Resolutions. They always end up as broken promises a couple of months down the road. Instead I've tried to keep a positive mindset by setting goals each year and evaluating the goals at the end of each year. Through trial and error I've found that there are techniques that will increase the chance of achieving ones goals.
I don't know about you but I know that I have to set short and long-term goals in order to achieve success. Clear goals are essential for a successful career and happy family life. I'm not the only … (19 comments)
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activerain ramblings: It's a Buyers Market - Let's Play Name that Price!
- 12/05/07 06:48 AM
I'm asked all of the time about how the real estate market is doing in my area. I indicate that we have had two markets in 2007. The market from January through July and the "new and improved buyers market". Our market has changed dramatically in the past few months - inventories are climbing, homes are staying on the market longer, and it seems that the abundant supply of buyers has all but disappeared.
As I was writing an offer this morning and counciling my cilents today I realized that my "lingo" has changed considerably since the first half of the … (18 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Somewhere over the rainbow I found Activerain and reached 100k.
- 11/27/07 12:47 PM
Somewhere over the rainbow I found some friends, buddies, and referrals here at the Activerain network. I'd like to thank everyone that's been a part of my journey and look forward to working with you all in the future. Warning - I have two songs in this post so take one at a time!!!
I've written a few posts on my milestones - each more elaborate than the other. I"ve included them here for giggles. 50000 Points & Membership into the Activerain Bronze Hall of Fame 7/3/2007
Blogging Anniversary - An entire year in the Rain 8/30/2007
My 200th Post -A dedication … (27 comments)
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activerain ramblings: If You Could Travel The World Where Would You Go?
- 11/25/07 11:09 PM
Cynthia Tilghman wrote a blog entitled, If You Could Live Anywhere in the World? Where Would That Be? I started thinking -I believe I live in the most incredible place in the world. I am fortunate. I've been to many countries, have seen many cultures, and it makes me happy to know that I live in America - in my town of Cary, North Carolina. I also have a bug for travel. Not everyone has this bug and it is especially difficult to have this bug when you are in real estate. So, I try to travel during my off season - during the … (42 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Gratitude at Thanksgiving
- 11/22/07 02:15 AM
A Poem of Gratitude:Look Within to Find Gratefulness Every moment I dance madlyin Your Love and gratitudeYou show me Truth: like divine happiness,all my answers are within. Not above in the stars and sky,nor in books and poems,only in the writings of Your heartdo I get the chance to dance madly in Your Love.You gift me with gratitude,You attract me to go within, to give up what no longer worksand swim in the ocean of Your Grace.
I am truly grateful for the gifts that god has given me and the life that I am living. Each day is a … (19 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Week In Review - 11/11/07 through 11/18/07
- 11/19/07 05:47 AM
… (63 comments)
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activerain ramblings: Drought causing problems with area homes
- 10/25/07 07:56 AM
As most of you know I've been writing about the extreme temperatures we had over the summer, and more recently about the severe drought in the area. While this has impacted the water supply in the area, I didn't think it would it this close to home. The drought is now impacting the homes in our area.
The News & Observer reported today, from Charlotte, that the prolonged drought is causing home foundations to sag and crack all across North Carolina. There are a number of issues that can effect your home as the clay soil dry and shrink during a drought … (6 comments)
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