Archives of real estate blog entries for July 01, 2014

Featured blog posts


  Could not give client away.   When I was made principal broker in March of this year I quit taking listings or dealing with buyers.  That’s not exactly true I do have a select set of clients I’ve been working with over the years that I’ve kept.  Anyway a few weeks ago I had a person hit my website and fill out some information.  I called an agent working with us and give him/her the client’s information.  About two weeks ago that person wanted to see some homes.  I sent an email to all the agents (actually three emails) telling them if I gave them this client to contact me.   I do not keep track of which agent I give a client to but anyway that’s another story.  I waited two days and when I did not hear from anyone I made contact with the client.  I showed him 5 homes over a two week ...
Comments 47
By Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS, South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!
(Fathom Realty Washington LLC)
Should this be a secret? There's an age-old problem in the real estate industry! I guess there are many; however this problem is if you should tell your clients that you're going out of town? How much information it is too much information for your clients? Since we live in an age of instant communications with cell phones and computers it is now possible to be away from your client in another town, state, or country. The bugaboo becomes Murphy's Law, which is, if something is going to happen it's going to be while you're out of town. Most of us cover ourselves with another associate or assistant that will take care of any problems. Some say the can't afford to pay for another agents time; I can't afford not to.  How does this make your client feel especially when you haven't told them ...
Comments 53
By Andrea Swiedler, Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties)
Your short sale with Bank of America has been declined. The buyer does not qualify. No other explanation. All documents are in, buyer prequal with a local lender, proof of funds for deposit, copy of the 1% deposit check, required documents by BOA signed by the buyer. All good. (No, not preapproval, why would the buyer pay the money up front before they knew how long it would take you, if you would approve the sale, etc.) We put homes under deposit all the time with these prequals from our reliable and trustworthy local lenders. Even you, Bank of America, will issue a prequalification pending appraisal, verification of income/assets, etc. This is not the first problem we have had in negotiating this short sale, this is our fourth buyer. One couldn't wait and purchased a different home, o...
Comments 67
By Dianne Goode, Realtor/Broker
(Raleigh Cary Realty)
How many emails do you get in a day?  Dozens? Hundreds?  And how much time do you spend sorting through them?  Not a lot.  An important email needs to announce loud and clear that it's IMPORTANT -- rather than leaving it up to the receiver to intuit that this one email, among the dozens or hundreds, contains crucial information. Recently I overlooked an email and created what could have been a crisis for my client.  Her closing was being delayed and I didn't let her know before she cancelled her lease.  Fortunately, she was able to go back and keep the apartment for an extra month so it was okay -- though nobody is quite sure where the mail she forwarded is going to end up. The email with the bad news had the subject line "Update."  The message said something like, "This is not good."  ...
Comments 41
By Suzanne De Vita, Online Associate Editor
(RISMedia)
In the Northeast, I know summer’s here when finally, the AC is worth turning on. The East Coast is all too familiar with those unbearably humid days, and cranking up the cool air when you’re feeling deliciously sticky is a welcome relief. But it’s taken a little while for temps around here to reach scorching levels, so I’ve saved quite a lot in bills just from holding off on the AC. Yep, I’m one of those people. But for the regular people who have had their AC humming away for the last few weeks, the season’s heating up. If those utility bills are cutting majorly into your vacation budget, it may be time to re-think the “full blast” method. Here’s how:1. Kitchen Kooldown – Your kitchen makes up a good chunk of your utility bills. Run appliances (think dishwashers) at night, when air is ...
Comments 55
By Anna "Banana" Kruchten, 602-380-4886
(HomeSmart Real Estate )
My Client Called Just to say Hi -  ActiveRain Business at it's finest   This may not sound like a business-type of post but it is!  Several years ago I was referred to a gentleman originally from Europe from a fellow ActiveRainer. He wanted to buy an investment property here in Phoenix. Over the course of buying the property he and his wife and I got to be good friends. His English wasn't the clearest so it took time to work through his questions and explain how contracts work here in AZ. It took more time working with him but he was such a great guy I just had to help him out.  We did successfully close on a great investment which as by now had doubled in value and then some.   Throughout the years we've stayed in touch. Recently he had a terrible experience with his current property m...
Comments 46
By Wayne Zuhl, The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate
(Remax First Realty II)
A short sale is a home sale in which the home is financially distressed. The mortgage owed exceeds the market value of the home and we say that the home is "underwater" or "upside down." A short sale is NOT a foreclosure. How does this happen? First, a home is purchased in a high market, and especially when the home is purchased with a large percentage of the value being mortgaged. Imagine a $500,000 mortgage on a home you've purchased for $525,000. Second, the home's value drops below the mortgage value. Imagine the $525,000 home's value dropping to $450,000 - certainly not unheard of in the past 8 years. Now the owner owes $500,000 but can't sell the property for more than $450,000. What can you do? You really have 3 choices: Sell at market value and accept the loss. bring a check to ...
Comments 20
By Dick Greenberg, Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate
(New Paradigm Partners LLC)
I was surprised to discover that I really won't do literally anything for points. The rules change allowing 20 posts per week did tempt me, and then I stopped and thought about it a bit, and, on reflection, it doesn't seem like a very good idea - for me, anyhow.   I've been on AR a little over 3 years. during that time, I've accomplished some things that I consider really important:   Our IDX webpage gets consistent page 1 ranking for our designed long-tail searches, so we're generating business. I've made some real friends. I've found inspiration and role models, and I've become much better informed about my industry. Aside from the drudgery of the obligatory market reports, I've found a writing voice that's fun and personally rewarding. And I made my million.   Thinking about how I mi...
Comments 77
By Jenna Weinerman, Your ActiveRain moving & relocation expert
(Updater)
Buying an apartment in NYC is an undertaking to say the least. But, it's not impossible. I recently read a story about a couple who saved over $100k to buy their first apartment by cutting expenses in all the right ways. How did they do it? Lindsey says, "Well, PBR had something to do with it. And, peanut butter sandwiches." A few tips from her story that may be helpful for your first-time homebuyers: 1. Pack your lunch - it seems like a no-brainer, but actually saves $10-15 per day in Manhattan! Lindsey's husband Ken eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch every day and skips jelly because it's, "An unnecessary expense." You don't have to recommend going off the deep end in that sense, but the concept of saving via homemade lunch is very real. 2. Speaking of unnecessary expenses, cut t...
Comments 92
By Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate
(RE/MAX Executive Realty)
Why Join The Google+ Real Estate Communities? Many of you have as part of your daily ritual to log into Active Rain and read your favorite blog authors. There is certainly nothing wrong with that but if you are a real estate agent, mortgage broker, home inspector, stager, lawyer or anything else connected to the real estate industry you are missing out on a lot of great content if that is all you do everyday! There are many great places online where you can participate in a real estate forum just like Active Rain. Many of you know what a huge avocate I am for using Google plus for your real estate business. What you may not know is that Google Plus has some exceptional real estate communities where some fantastic articles are posted daily. I happen to own one of the three largest real e...
Comments 84

Blog posts


By Highland Beach Condos David Serle, Boca Raton Agent David Serle
(RE/MAX Services)
    Toscana is one of the very few luxury condo buildings located in Highland Beach.  With over 400 units in 3 towers, Toscana exemplifies 5 star luxury.  Between the valet to the 3 swimming pools and har tru tennis courts to the beach club and concierge Toscana is the newest building in Highland Beach.  If you would like more information such as restrictions and listings available in Toscana click here:   Toscana Highland Beach Toscana Video Tour
Comments 2
By Craig Summerall
(Exit Real Estate Consultants)
Have you found yourself in a difficult position?  You have lost your job, or overpaid for your home, or ended up with mounting medical bills and can no longer afford the mortgage on your Lake Murray, SC home.  If you are facing foreclosure, take a look at these helpful hints for avoiding being scammed by a bogus company.  Nothing makes a bad situation worse than finding out that the company who claimed they wanted to help you has now put you in a dire financial state.  Let us help you arm yourself against the scammers and make the best decision in a tough situation. Call us today if we can answer any questions for you, and make sure you enlist the proper people to help you as you make your way through the foreclosure process.  Beware Foreclosure Scams   The worst has happened: you’ve go...
Comments 1
QUOTE OF THE WEEK... "Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out." --Robert Collier, American writer INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... The daily efforts of housing market professionals achieved some impressive successes in May. Existing Home Sales were up 4.9% for the month, to a 4.89 million annual rate. Sales are still down a tick versus last year, but they're getting closer to a healthy 5 million unit yearly pace. It was especially good to see that inventories continued to grow in May and are now up 6% compared to a year ago. The months' supply dipped to 5.6 months thanks to the faster selling pace. The median price for existing homes is up 5.1% over a year ago, which is no doubt bringing more sellers into the market. We saw even more impressive success on Tuesd...
Comments 0
By Jenna Weinerman, Your ActiveRain moving & relocation expert
(Updater)
Buying an apartment in NYC is an undertaking to say the least. But, it's not impossible. I recently read a story about a couple who saved over $100k to buy their first apartment by cutting expenses in all the right ways. How did they do it? Lindsey says, "Well, PBR had something to do with it. And, peanut butter sandwiches." A few tips from her story that may be helpful for your first-time homebuyers: 1. Pack your lunch - it seems like a no-brainer, but actually saves $10-15 per day in Manhattan! Lindsey's husband Ken eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch every day and skips jelly because it's, "An unnecessary expense." You don't have to recommend going off the deep end in that sense, but the concept of saving via homemade lunch is very real. 2. Speaking of unnecessary expenses, cut t...
Comments 92
By Gary Thomas, Realtor to the Dreamers
(Preferred Properties Key West)
This is a Special Blog to warn potential renters about an Active Craigslist Real Estate Scam on 731 Waddell Avenue in Key West.  I received a phone call early Monday evening from a woman who found a too good to be true nightly rental of $400 advertised as "This home provides the privacy you desire during your vacation. The kitchen is well equipped to cook your meals,the 4 bedrooms are great with flat screen TVs, and a lush garden is also available within the environ." Photos were submitted to the prospective renter are displayed below.  A prospective renter exchanged a series of emails with a person identified as "Gary".  I have copied one of Gary's emails below: "This home is available for your dates Nov 1-7, a night rate is $400, 6 nights will total $2,400, other rental fees include ...
Comments 1
By Dick Greenberg, Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate
(New Paradigm Partners LLC)
I was surprised to discover that I really won't do literally anything for points. The rules change allowing 20 posts per week did tempt me, and then I stopped and thought about it a bit, and, on reflection, it doesn't seem like a very good idea - for me, anyhow.   I've been on AR a little over 3 years. during that time, I've accomplished some things that I consider really important:   Our IDX webpage gets consistent page 1 ranking for our designed long-tail searches, so we're generating business. I've made some real friends. I've found inspiration and role models, and I've become much better informed about my industry. Aside from the drudgery of the obligatory market reports, I've found a writing voice that's fun and personally rewarding. And I made my million.   Thinking about how I mi...
Comments 77
By Don Mcbride, Buy or Sell Today
(Nautical Realty Group)
Downtown River District Condo's Sold in June The Dowtown River District sits along the Caloosatachee River In Fort Myers, Florida. It offers high rise and low rise condo living. Here are the sold units in June Average Sold Price                $282,213 Average List Price                 $298,775 Average Price Per Sq Ft       $163.70 Average SP/LP                       95.88% Search Condo's in the Downtown River District What's my home worth  
Comments 0
By Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS, South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!
(Fathom Realty Washington LLC)
University Place Washington single-family MarketWatch (July 1, 2014) ~ There are currently 171 active listings in University Place. ~ In the past seven days University Place experienced;   13 New listings recorded 2 Homes came back on the market 18 Homes had list price reductions 1 listings expired 0 listings cancelled 26 listings went pending 13 listings sold and closed   Currently there are 30 houses that have been on the market for over 100 days... ~ University Place is a incorporated city founded in 1996. The population in 2010 census was 31,144. University Place is the proud host of the 2015 USGA Open Golf Tournament at the Chambers Bay golf course... Tickets available at www.usga.org/tickets ~ For further information about University Place and up-to-date housing opportunities plea...
Comments 0
By Mark Taylor Mortgages, 602-361-0707 #MarkTaylor #Awesomerates NMLS#207897
(and for 1st Time Buyers, Move Up Buyers & Investors )
What Is A ‘Qualified Mortgage’ or QM and Why Is It Important Thinking about a new home or a new mortgage? If you are interested in finding the best possible financial product, it is important to consider the benefits of selecting a Qualified Mortgage. With so many different types of loan products to choose from and financial terms to learn, schooling yourself on the mortgage market before you buy your first home or apply for your first refinance mortgage may seem like a daunting task. Luckily, there are resources that are designed to help you learn the basics of products and terms so that all consumers have the power to inform themselves before securing a loan. What is a Qualified Mortgage? There are many different categories of home loans that individual loan products can fall into and...
Comments 0
By Joy Daniels
(Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd.)
Room For Your Expanding Family~1708 Laudermilch Road, Palmyra Search other homes for sale in Palmyra Listing Details:1708 Laudermilch Road, PalmyraMLS Number: 10255143Bedrooms: 5Baths: 3 FullSquare Feet: 1,817   Looking for a 5 BR, 3 BA Ranch home nestled on 1.42 acre yet convenient to Lebanon, Hershey, Harrisburg and Rt 81, with room for an expanding family? Finished walk-out Lower Level w/4th & 5th bedrooms, Office/Exercise rm, full Bath, Family rm & bar/dining area. Side entry garage w/extra parking & pull down storage. Upper & Lower patios. Barn w/electric, roomy enough for very small car & loft area for storage. A joy to see!   Click Here to View Listings  
Comments 3
By Wayne Liddy, Waterfront homes in Chatham-Kent
(ROYAL LEPAGE PEIFER REALTY INC. BROKERAGE)
  6954 Grande River Line $1,199,500 Luxurious Country Estate in Chatham-Kent   DESCRIPTION : MAGNIFICENT WATERFRONT 10 ACRE ESTATE ON THE BANKS OF THE THAMES RIVER.PROFESSIONALLY LANDSCAPED, LARGE POND WITH FOUNTAIN. 3 CAR ATTACHED GARAGE. BOAT DOCK. INSULATED HEATED 40`X80` OUTBUILDING, CEMENT FLOOR, WORKSHOP & 2 WASHROOMS. QUALITY STORAGE FOR A LG BOAT & A 45` MOTORHOME (13.6` DOOR) APPROX 5600 SQ FT. 4 BEDROOM, 5 BATH UPSCALE RESIDENCE. EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A HOME OF THIS CALIBER; VAULTED CEILINGS, CROWN MOLDINGS, TRAVERTINE FLOORING, MAPLE HARDWOODS, GRANITE COUNTERTOPS. OPEN CONCEPT DESIGN WITH CUSTOM GOURMET KITCHEN OPEN TO FAMILY ROOM WITH GAS FIREPLACE & ENTRANCE TO GORGEOUS SCREENED ENTERTAIMENT AREAOVERLOOKING THE SPECTACULAR GARDENS, POND & RIVER. FORMAL DININGROOM ...
Comments 2
By Michael Abernethy
(Abernethy Properties)
It is one of Old Charlotte's most popular communities. Located just a short distance from Uptown Charlotte businesses and attractions, located at the corner of Sharon Amity and Randolph Road is where you'll find the Cotswold Shopping center, home to Charlotte's first suburban mall.   Many of the homes and shopping centers have seen a complete make-over and transition to fit today's trends and needs. Homes for Cotswold range from ranch style to completely renovated luxury homes. If you like to know more about Homes and Lifestyles in Cotswold click this link Cotswold Homes by Abernethy Properties or you can visit us at APCarolinaHome.com for more information.   Looking for Market Trends and Neighborhood Information:  Cotswold Market & Neighborhood Information Feel free to give us a call ...
Comments 2
By Ron and Alexandra Seigel, Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy
(Napa Consultants)
This year the NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs, made basketball history by beating the Heat in 4 of the 5 games with a margin of 15 or more points. Essentially, The Spurs’ winning formula is unselfishly and continuously passing the ball until it reaches the player who can take the great vs. the good shot. This methodology requires ALL players to trust ALL teammates completely and also resist the temptation (especially for the marquee players) to take over the game and be THE HERO.    In our opinion, this was a triumph of substance (Spurs) over hype (Heat) where the media has been glorifying the “Big Three” (LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh) as heroes.  It is a triumph for substance because the Spurs’ strategy truly represents a leap forward in the evolution of the game of ...
Comments 13
By Doug Rogers, Your Real Estate Resource!
(RE/MAX Coastal Properties )
Homes For Sale Near Pineville La- 234 Elaine Road Searching for a home near Pineville La? Need a nice home on a budget? Let's take a look at what 234 Elaine Road has to offer... Why 234 Elaine Road Three large bedrooms with ample closet space Updated flooring including ceramic tile in the living, dining, and bathrooms. Second living area would make a great den, man/cave, or home school room Large utility room with plenty of space for full size washer and dryer combos Fresh interior paint and updated fixtures Great landscaping and large backyard 234 Elaine Road By The Numbers 1433 heated square feet, asking price of 126,500 dollars 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms in a Hollywood arrangement According to Mapquest, only 9.7 miles from Louisiana College, 15.4 miles to the Alexandria Mall Reasons T...
Comments 3
By Richard Lobenherz, Broker/Owner, CCIM
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate)
Check out this link from Huffington Post on Midwest Vacation Spots.  Charlevoix is ranked #1.   Charlevoix #1 Vacation Spot in Midwest
Comments 0
By Lindsay Saunders
(Keller Williams)
Hard to believe Summer is here!  Good news for the Housing Market and those who work in the Housing Industry.  As you may know, every market is different, and in the Greenville, SC Real Estate Market, we have been fortunate to experience an increase in sales, new construction and relocation buyers.     Greenville, SC Housing Market is strong, and consistently growing.  Below are the most current market statistics, released in June 2014, showing the increase year-over-year.  If you are thinking of selling you Greenville, SC area home, don't miss this "almost perfect" time to sell.   Inventory is low and demand is high.  The Spring and Summer months bring the most buyers, don't miss the Opportunity!   May 2014 Greenville SC Real Estate Stats Active Units for Sale are UP 5.6% from May 2013...
Comments 1
By Bob Pisa, Broker Associate, Commitment, Service, Satisfaction...
(Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. Naples, FL)
Bonita Beach Club On the Beach Condo For Sale  Don't spend next winter in the snow and cold!   Two Bedroom, two Bath, on the Beach! Boat dock available for purchase $535,000 Link to listing at the bottom   Link to full listing and more photos.  
Comments 0
By Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS, South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!
(Fathom Realty Washington LLC)
Steilacoom Washington single-family Market Watch (July 1, 2014)  There are currently 49 active listings in Steilacoom. In the past seven days Steilacoom experienced;   2 New listings recorded 1 Homes came back on the market 6 Homes had list price reductions 1 listings expired 0 listings cancelled 3 listings went pending 0 listings sold and closed Currently there are 15 houses that have been on the market for over 100 days...   Steilacoom is a incorporated city founded in 1854 and was the first incorporated town in Washington state. The population in 2010 census was 58,163. Steilacoom is a host community to JBLM (Joint Base Lewis-McChord). Commute times 2 JBLM are between 10 and 15 minutes. (Depending on traffic) For further information about Steilacoom and up-to-date housing opportuniti...
Comments 1
By Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD, REALTORS® in Clark County, WA
(ViewHomes™- by eXp Realty )
Experience Fresh, Local Produce in Camas We really enjoy living in a region that produces so much fresh, local fruits and vegetables - the Camas Farmer’s Market is one of the great places where you can experience the joy of such bounty. Last Wednesday, we didn’t get a chance to go down to the market, but in the evening our doorbell rang.       A Gift From Camas Farmer's Market! It was our neighbor Wendee’s young son. He had a bag of fresh produce from the Camas Farmer’s Market – yellow zucchini, onions, and cilantro! What a pleasant surprise and thoughtful gesture. Wendee is the owner of Nico Bella salon in downtown and a strong supporter of downtown Camas activities. Her gift created a perfect opportunity for a nice Summer recipe.     That evening, my husband turned the vegetables into...
Comments 19
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