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Being Smart About Your Second Home Purchase
2008-06-05 06:33:00
I started a series recently on financial planning as it pertains to real estate purchases. We talked about financial planning in general, keeping in mind our overall financial goals as we consider our real estate purchase. My friend Paul Paroti, a financial planner, shared his wisdom with me regarding making these real estate purchase decisions with long term goals in mind. Next we discussed the issue of down payments and the financial considerations associated with making decisions about where the money is coming from, long term goals, tax implications and so on. As a financial planner, Paul again shared some thoughts on this important decision so buyers can give appropriate consideration to their down payments and where to obtain the cash. Putting a large chunk of money down may not always be the right financial decision. Another popular focus of buyers these days, especially the baby boomers, is on buying a vacation or second home. The current real es...
More About: Home , Smart , Purchase

Morgan Square in Spartanburg
2008-06-05 04:42:00
Morgan Square in Spartanburg is the place of the original courthouse village, which was established in the 1780s. The place of the first courthouse and jail near a spring eventually became a square which was named after Daniel Morgan, the general who commanded the American forces at the Battle of Cowpens. In 1880 a opera house with a clock tower was built at Morgan Square. Many Spartanburg's music events were held between 1880-1906 in the Opera House, which could seat 800 people. In addition Spartanburg's city hall occupied the first floor of the Opera House. The Opera House and clock tower was torn down in 1907. The statue of Daniel Morgan was placed on the square in spring of 1881 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens. The courthouse, shops and the Merchant's Hotel, later known as Spartan Inn bordered Morgan Square. Trues Department store opened in 1905 and operated ...
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2008 Hurricane Season – Create a Disaster Plan
2008-06-05 03:10:00
In the past couple of posts, we've discussed Creating a Disaster Supply Kit and having a Pet Plan . While these are necessary to have, they really won't mean anything if you do not have a Disaster Plan in place. This is just one more item to help all remain calm during this time. Since we already have a Disaster Supply Kit and a Pet Plan, we now need to focus on when will implement these whether it is just yourself, maybe a spouse or partner, or even a family. One of the things that needs to be discussed is the types of hazards that you can come across and what you can possibly expect in terms of damage to the structure of your home. Not thinking about this is only deluding yourself. On the other hand I'm also not proposing dwelling on this as well. One thing you need to do it to determine where the safest part of your home is in case a hurricane should strike. In some instances, your home may not be safe and some other area or loca...
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Paul sent you a friend request on Tagged :)
2008-06-05 02:21:00
If you can't see this email please click here Paul Griffin Paul Griffin has added you as a friend Is Paul your friend? Click Yes if Paul is your friend, otherwise click No.But you have to click! Please respond or Paul may think you said no :( Click here to block all emails from Tagged Inc., 110 Pacific Mall Box #117, San Francisco, CA. 94111
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outSmart Your Smartphone
2008-06-05 01:52:00
We have started something new, a group on RealTown, "outSmart Your Smartphone ", is being hosted by Dick and Shelby Betts, Natioinal Speakers on Technology Management and Mobile Solutions; both are NAR certified e-PRO Trainers. Anybody currenly using a Smartphone, considering purchasing thier first device or even searching for the newest release to upgrade/replace their device are all invited to participate in this ongoing online discussion. Look at this as a resource for learning how to get the most out of your Smartphone and place to find helpful Tips & Tricks. We want everybody's input so all you veterans out there help us out by speaking up on how you use your device to manage your business and pitch in on answering some of the simple questions. Shelby and I will be posting answers and offering technical support. Our mission is to help REALTORS learn about the benefits mobile technology offers and how to apply the Smartphone features to manage t...

The BEST Time to Buy A Home in Toms River, NJ, was Yesterday!
2008-06-05 00:57:00
Buy Low, Sell High This is the "golden rule" when it comes to obtaining the greatest return on investment! For many of us, our largest investment is, or will be, our home. That is why we, as REALTORS, should be advising anyone and everyone who is considering purchasing a home to DO IT NOW! The Proof Is In The Data Monday, June 02, 2008 Category - SingleFamily Month Year Monthly Sales Avg ListPrice Avg Sale Price % Diff Sell/list Avg DOM Curr Inventory Months Inventory January 2007 62 $432,723 $404,088 93.38% 88.0 688 11.10 Febru...
More About: Time , Home , River , Yesterday

4 Simple Tips to Save Money When Marketing Your Home for Sale in A Competit
2008-06-05 00:34:00
One thing that showing hundreds of homes through the years teaches you is this...Home Sellers can do a lot to show their home in a manner that gets it SOLD! I have always found it mildly astonishing that homeowners who spend thousands of dollars in upgrades and improvements to their homes fail to invest time and effort in a few critical areas to ensure that their homes are perceived well in the eyes of potential buyers. Some homeowners might be surprised to find out how far a little money will go. Particularly when you put $500 against a backdrop of tens of thousands of dollars which are left on the table because a home does not sell or sells far below the listing price. Here are just a few Simple Things to Keep in Mind when you are showing your home to ensure it shows Sold! Show It!... In a competitive market, there are hundreds of homes vying for a buyer's attention. There are some homes which don't receive even ONE showing req...
More About: Marketing , For Sale , Money , Save Money , Tips

Promote Your Your Real Estate Blog & Vote For Your Favorite Posts
2008-06-05 00:07:00
Hello, fellow Realtown Members, I am pleased to announce that I have launched a new site where you can submit your real estate articles, blog posts, etc. and vote for your favorite real estate content. The site is Houssee.com. As most Real Estate Webmaster readers know, having good incoming links from sites with a real estate theme is part of a successful promotional campaign. Houssee.com aims to be a spam-free alternative to some of the other Pligg-based real estate sites out there, and so far we're off to a good start and it has been well received. One of our first members made the good point that -- in addition to being a good way to promote your own business -- Houssee is also a great way to read posts from a wide variety of different bloggers you may not have met yet. I am very much enjoying the chance to meet new people there, and many of the stories have been very high quality. For some background about why I launched Houssee, chec...
More About: Real Estate , Promote , Blog , Vote

Phoenix Real Estate Blog: How the Foreclosure Crisis Has Spread through the
2008-06-04 22:47:00
I was struck by a string of articles around the country that summed up pretty well how the foreclosure crisis has spread throughout the housing market: The Wall Street Journal: Number of Foreclosed Homes Keeps Rising The Chicago Tribune: Break for sellers: Banks settle for less The Arizona Daily Star: Foreclosure s push down your home's selling price First, the number of foreclosed homes continues to rise. Foreclosures are expensive for banks, which lose money because they have to pay court costs and associated fees to foreclose on a home, and lose money because they typically sell the home (if they can) for less than the mortgage amount. Second, banks realize that foreclosing on homes is bad for them, too, so they start to make deals with homeowners in trouble. Those deals might include reworking a loan, like reducing the principal or changing the interest rate, or they might involve a short sale, where the lender agrees to take...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Phoenix , Blog

What to do when Buying a House
2008-06-04 22:32:00
Buying and owning a home is a dream for many people. But there are so many things you have to put in order for the transaction to go smoothly. You want the purchase of your dream home to be as perfect as possible. Here are some tips for a smooth transaction: Make sure your credit is strong. It is a good idea to resolve any credit disputes and pay off all credit cards prior to buying a house. Also, check your credit score. You can easily do this online for free. This will give you an idea as to what your credit score is like and will let you know if you need to do something to improve it. Use a mortgage calculator to determine how much you can afford in the purchase of your home. Then make sure you get pre-approved by lender you trust. Many home sellers will not accept offers from buyers who are not pre-approved. Meet with a loan officer before contacting your real estate agent. This way, you can have a better idea of how much you can afford in...
More About: House , Buying , A House

What to do when Buying a House
2008-06-04 22:26:00
Buying and owning a home is a dream for many people. But there are so many things you have to put in order for the transaction to go smoothly. You want the purchase of your dream home to be as perfect as possible. Here are some tips for a smooth transaction: Make sure your credit is strong. It is a good idea to resolve any credit disputes and pay off all credit cards prior to buying a house. Also, check your credit score. You can easily do this online for free. This will give you an idea as to what your credit score is like and will let you know if you need to do something to improve it. Use a mortgage calculator to determine how much you can afford in the purchase of your home. Then make sure you get pre-approved by lender you trust. Many home sellers will not accept offers from buyers who are not pre-approved. Meet with a loan officer before contacting your real estate agent. This way, you can have a better idea of how much you can aff...
More About: House , Buying , A House

The Hidden/Green City
2008-06-04 11:09:00
Canopy. That’s a great word and a comforting thought when shade is what you need on a hot day. When it’s canopy provided by trees, the word and the comfort loom refreshingly larger in the mind of any summer sun-smitten shade seeker. No man made shade offers quite the appeal of the dark and dappled shade of a live oak tree on a sun-baked lawn. Austin has a rich urban canopy and, although trees can cause problems with utility lines above ground and roots that break sewer and water lines below, their benefit to the community is undisputable. There are more than 100 species of Hill Country trees and they provide a satisfying and soothing aesthetic component to the urban landscape-basically by hiding it! They also provide significant savings to the city and its residents by reducing air pollution and storm water runoff and by saving electricity by shading homes and businesses which consequently use less power for cooling. Austin’s urban forest and hilly terrain work toge...
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Changing The Look Of A Fireplace
2008-06-04 09:04:00
A fireplace is meant to be the centerpiece of your living space, the heart of your home. Sometimes, however, this focal point is less than impressive and more than lacking in the drama factor. If your fireplace is bland, plain or simply unattractive, a quick color change can do wonders. The secret is using multiple coats to build up depth and create a faux finish, rather than just painting on one flat color. You will need three complimentary colors for this project in progressively darker shades. Natural stone and earthy colors, such as grays and browns, are ideal. A quart of each color will be more than enough to complete your fireplace. Flat exterior paint works best, providing better resistance and more clemency for the hot environment of the fireplace surround than interior glossy paint. First, choose a color for your base coat. This should be the lightest color of the three. For instance, if you are going for a stone look, choose a medium gray. The next color will be used fo...
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FHA Mortgage Loan Intro-Minnesota Mortgage Broker Show
2008-06-04 05:23:00
Besides being a real estate broker of 23 years, I also own a Minnesota based mortgage brokerage in the Twin Cities with my wife. I've owned Venture Development since 1995-visit us online at http://www.VentureLoan App.com Now, more than ever, you need to know how to help your buyer arrange their financing-whether it be a first time home buyer or a move up buyer. Our latest episode of "Dollars & Sense" highlights some of the FHA loan products and how they can be used-FHA 203b, FHA 203K, FHA reverse mortgages, and FHA refinancing. Don't forget-FHA loans allow for DPA-Down payment assistance programs with such providers as Nehemiah and Genesis. 100% financing options are all but non-existant, down payment assistance from relatives or qualified charities will fill the gap. Learning more about FHA and VA loans will help you sell more homes. Conventional underwriting is changing due to pull backs from the private mortgage companies and the guidelines from GSE(government sponsored enti...
More About: Show , Mortgage , Broker

A sign of the times.
2008-06-04 05:15:00
I know market conditions are slow and time on the market is longer than usual. As Realtors, we need to step up to the plate and make our listings shine. Time and time again I see our signs looking far less than professional. Name riders hanging on one side, posts slanted, and other issues. We may not be able to put the needed coat of paint on our listing but, our signs should always look like they are installed correctly and properly maintained. With the over abundance of foreclosures, short sales, etc. we still need to maintain our professional standards. The signs never were up long enough in good times to look tacky during the good times. Now that they are up longer we need to make sure they look great the entire time the home is on the market. Make sure your home is "SOLD by Friday!" Joel Friday Homes
More About: Sign , Times , The Times , Sign of the Times

Constance softball 5-0
2008-06-04 05:12:00
Now that was fun, we started off with 7 runs in the first inning and never really looked back. In the 5th, leading 12-5, we had 12 straight base hits on our way to 10 more runs. This was a great team effort with everyone contributing. The great part was that The Alliance was 4-1 and they knocked us out of the playoffs last year. We need to keep our focus on beating Epiphany still to win the division, but the rest of the division now has at least 2 losses. Make sure your home is "SOLD by Friday!"
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Hollywood Neighborhood Picnic features Live Music, Food and Fun at Hollywoo
2008-06-04 04:33:00
The Hollywood Citizens Association (HCA) is sponsoring a neighborhood picnic on Sunday, June 22, 2008, between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM, at the Hollywood Community House in Brookfield , IL. The Hollywood Neighborhood Picnic is sponsored by the HCA to bring Hollywood residents together for an afternoon of neighborly fun and will feature a live band from 12:00 to 3:00 PM, face painting for children from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, a fire truck from the Brookfield Fire Department, and classic cars presented by Hollywood Motors. Popcorn and lemonade will be available for free to HCA members and for sale to the public. Beer, hot dogs, hamburgers, and chips will be for sale by Johnny B's Bar and Grill and Italian ice will be for sale by The Station restaurant. The HCA was created in 1915 to advance and promote the physical, moral, and social welfare of the Hollywood community and to maintain and preserve the Hollywood Community House, at the corner of Washington...
More About: Music , Food , Features , Live Music

New York Times Article - Writing A Letter With Your Lowball Offer
2008-06-04 03:35:00
New York Times article--Writing A Letter with Your Offer I am a big fan of the New York Times and scan the online edition daily. An article from May 31 is worth reading, I've included a link below. This article offers a template for buyers who want to make a lowball offer on a house. Rather than describe the buyers themselves, how much they love the home, what they plan to do with it, etc, this letter focuses on the buyer's market of today, citing national statistics and why the sellers should not be insulted by the offer--and implies they should be happy they have an offer. Equal time is given to a response as well--there is a sample letter from the seller as a response to the buyer, citing how government backed loans are loosening up restrictions and how going up a little in price doesn't affect monthly payments that much. And, of course, out of all the houses for sale, this house is the one you want. As an agent, I have suggested buye...
More About: New York , Article

Passive Seller vs. Motivated Seller
2008-06-04 03:12:00
We receive calls from homeowners who are considering an auction as a method of selling their home. These potential auction sellers will basically fall into two categories: a passive seller or a motivated seller. The passive seller has a predetermined dollar figure in mind they want from the sale of their home. In a lot of cases, it is very unrealistic. They are very demanding of the auctioneer. They do not want to spend a lot of money in marketing the property for an auction, but they want a lot of people to show up at the auction. They have been told by friends, neighbors, or realtors, not to take less than such and such for the home. This kind of seller does not fit the auction criteria. The motivated is very realistic and understands the current market. While not wanting to give away there home at auction, they understand the market value is determined by a group of potential buyers and the hidden costs of holding onto the property for an exten...
More About: Seller , Passive

6/1/08 - Update for the Northwestern area of Virginia, including the counti
2008-06-04 02:41:00
Please visit us at: http://www.searchnorthernvahomes.com/ to obtain additional information on the property you are interested in. You can also schedule a showing with us to visit the property. Feel free to contact us directly at: 540-829-0077 with any questions Here are the listings that were added or changed on 6/01/08 LastUpdate Type ListPrice FullStreetAddress ...
More About: Virginia , Area , Northwestern

6/1/08 - Update for Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline Counti
2008-06-04 02:40:00
Please visit us at: http://www.searchnorthernvahomes.com/ to obtain additional information on the property you are interested in. You can also schedule a showing with us to visit the property. Feel free to contact us directly at: 540-829-0077 with any questions Here are the listings that were added or changed on 6/01/08 LastUpdate Type ListPrice FullStreetAddress ...
More About: George , King , King George , Caroline

6/1/08 - Update for the Piedmont area of Virginia, including the counties o
2008-06-04 02:40:00
Please visit us at: http://www.searchnorthernvahomes.com/ to obtain additional information on the property you are interested in. You can also schedule a showing with us to visit the property. Feel free to contact us directly at: 540-829-0077 with any questions Here are the listings that were added or changed on 6/01/08 LastUpdate Type ListPrice FullStreetAddress City ListingID Subdivision OTHER $525,000 ...
More About: Virginia , Area

6/1/08 - Update for Southern Prince William County areas, including Woodbri
2008-06-04 02:39:00
Please visit us at: http://www.searchnorthernvahomes.com/ to obtain additional information on the property you are interested in. You can also schedule a showing with us to visit the property. Feel free to contact us directly at: 540-829-0077 with any questions Here are the listings that were added or changed on 6/01/08 LastUpdate Type ListPrice FullStreetAddress City ListingID Subdivision PRICE $115,000 ...
More About: Prince William , Prince , County , Southern

Commercial Property in Dubai takes off
2008-06-03 06:52:00
It seems very clear that the Real Estate developments in Dubai and specially the commercial office price are skyrocking. From 625 per sq foot starting in Year 2006, now have reached an average of 2,200 AED/sq ft.The demand from overseas and local corporations is growing which desire to own their office space instead of renting them. Commercial rents have dramatically increased to unprecedented levels in New York; London and Singapore. The cost per sq foot is high and should continue to grow. Many companies are planning to relocate to the Gulf and UAE as well as other Emirates then Dubai or even to another GCC country to reducing costs. By owning their own office, businesses will create an asset to their company and would be able to get leverage from their financial institution at a double win. When you ask where it will stop, investors would tell you to not be worried for the next 5 years until time of delivery of the property. Business Bay, the Manhattan of Dubai will have 180 de...
More About: Property

Dave Torbert birthday june 7th! DAWSONs(16th) and NELSONS(19th) COMING UP
2008-06-03 06:29:00
Dave Torbert would be 60 yrs old on the 7th of June ! Thanks Dave for the GREAT SONGS and PERFORMANCES, YOU ARE MISSED!
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The Tarrytown and Deep Eddy Areas of West Austin
2008-06-03 06:20:00
Two beautiful areas of Austin which are also very historic are the Tarrytown neighborhood and the Deep Eddy neighborhood, and these two areas are adjacent to each other with Tarrytown being slightly farther north than Deep Eddy. These areas are situated in western Travis County, adjacent to Lake Austin, which is what the part of the Colorado River which is just west of Lady Bird Lake is called. These areas roughly encompass the part of Austin between Lake Austin Blvd. to the south, and Loop One to the east, which is also called the MoPac, since it runs alongside the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks for much of its length. The western border of both Tarrytown and Deep Eddy is the Colorado River, also known as Lake Austin in the area, and many homes in the area have lakefront access. The Tarrytown neighborhood is roughly bordered on the northern edge by 35th Street, near the old military base which is called Camp Mabry. Camp Mabry was named after Brigadier General Woodford H. Mabry, ...
More About: West

The Cliff’s Valley
2008-06-03 05:12:00
The Cliff's Valley is an incredible golf community nestled in a valley and along the Blue Ridge Mountains. With spectacular mountain views and rolling hills this mountain retread is located within minutes of cultural and commercial centers, like Greenville and Hendersonville. The Cliff's Valley offers a luxury community lifestyle with exclusive golf course living in an active, outdoor recreational paradise. The parkland-style Valley Golf course, homesites and more than two hundred acres of private parks and trails are bordered by thousands of acres of forests. The Cliff's Valley golf course is ranked among the nation's "Best New Courses" in the Golf Digest. The Cliff's Valley amenities include an inviting club house in European Old World Style, a wellness center with sauna and indoor pool, workout facilities, tennis courts, event fields for sports, children's playground and hiking trails. Homesites in th...

CATCHING UP W/SSL NEWS
2008-06-03 04:42:00
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MONTH OF MAY??? Well, the answer is, a lot has happened in the last month. I'll try my best to get you all caught up, because I know you're all waiting breathlessly to find out what happened in SSL nation....or, rather neighborhood. Well, here goes. Hang on. To start with, the reason I'm so behind on my blogging is the real estate biz has had me slammed. As an aside, if any of you are thinking about buying a home, you'd better do it now. Rates are still cheap (meaning money is cheap), but housing prices went up one percent last month, & it's the start of a trend. Get'em now, because it'll only be more expensive later this year & in the future. Anyway, you needed to know that & that's why I've been so behind on the updates. Let us move ahead. SSL UNBEATEN STREAK ENDS @ 16!!! It had to happen sooner or later & it did. The week following SSL 2nd straight championship, the first game of the following s...
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Tips for sellers
2008-06-03 03:40:00
Thinking of selling your home? Here are some easy, inexpensive fixes to help create "Curb Appeal" and get you one GIANT step closer to a sale. Paint or stain the front door and garage poors, because a potential buyer's first visual focus is on these doors. Change any outside light fixtures that are dated or worn. Fix that driveway. The buyer must at least feel they can drive the moving truck in confidently. Update landscaping beds with plants and flowers for the current season. Clean windows inside and out - it makes the house feel updated and fresh. Keep garbage and recycle containers inside the garage, along with all toys and equipment.Make sure the garage is neat and organized. Remember, most home buyers cannot visualize even these simple changes and clean-ups, and the ones who can will be looking for a reduced price. So to sell the house quickly and at top dollar, make it "appeal" to the many who will be seeing it rather than the few who are lookin...
More About: Tips , Sellers

Part V: To Chauffeur or not to Chauffeur
2008-06-03 03:24:00
I apologize. My Blog post today is going to be somewhat short… deadlines looming! After you have established a successful client relationship, met your obligations, and been victorious helping them fulfill their dreams…ask them for a written recommendation. Simple, yes. However may of us forget to ask! We are too busy working with other clients or worried that we might get an answer that we won't like or, or, or the excuses go on and on. Tell them you would like other potential clients to understand from your current and past clients how you differ from other agents. Ask them to tell you what they especially appreciated about the way you worked with them. Know that if you have done your job well and been their "trusted advisor,' your current and past clients will be glad to write that recommendation for you. Now…what to do with those letters: · Put a book together that you can keep in your office to hold your letters o...
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