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Cool Parks in Austin
2008-05-23 10:10:00
There is no shortage of beautiful scenery and greenbelts in the Austin area, where there seems to be a walking trail around every corner, and a park around every bend. One of the more unusual of these is Champion Park in Round Rock. It has a little of everything, from a kid-approved playground to a scenic trail by the creek. It’s a great place to spend a Saturday or a weekday afternoon. Just make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen, snacks and drinks because you’ll want to stay all day. Of course, a few extras like towels, sand shovels and buckets will come in handy, too. The park is an immense 33 acres. With plenty of open space, it’s the perfect place to play a game of catch or tag, and then, if the weather is hot enough, to meander over to the play area where sprinklers shaped like whales spout cool water into the sky. When you cool down enough, you can head over to the rock climbing area for an invigorating romp on specially designed boulders, or the sandpit where...
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Free Online Dating and Social Networking Site for Singles
2008-05-23 07:48:00
YouLoveMe.com Free Online Dating and Social Networking Site for Singles Get Paid To Date on "YouLoveMe.com" For friends, love, or money, YouLoveMe.com is an incentive-based next generation, evolutionary, social media progression mixing free online dating and social networking all in one place. Home of the "Most Eligible Bachelor Video Profile Dating Game Contest" The newly redesigned You Love Me mixes the best social networking features with traditional online dating for browsing our free personals ads for singles. This creates the latest social networking progression offering friendship, free dating, and matchmaking. Here you can connect with friends, make money with your own banner ad on MyPage and meet your true love if you are single. The personals are offered to you 100% totally free. You do not need a credit card on this free online dating / social networking site. Please refer your friends. You Love Me was designed and programmed by a Rut...
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Part III: To Chauffeur or not to Chauffeur
2008-05-19 22:52:00
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) researches many aspects of real estate. One of the areas they monitor is the ever changing needs and wants of the public when it comes to what they look for in a REALTOR®. Since the beginning of 2008, the public has reordered what they want from us. They have now told NAR loud and clear that they want to work with those that have a 1) professional reputation, and a 2) deep knowledge of the marketplace. Little wonder with all the negative news in the press and elsewhere about the "softening economy," the problems in many housing markets, foreclosures, and corporate scandals to name just a few. The long term trends from that research also tell NAR that all generations, both in the US and international clients, want everything about real estate now, immediately. Of course how they want to receive that information may vary depending on their generation and cultural background. Many in our industry alread...
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Branch Out
2008-05-19 22:48:00
Aside from their beauty, trees provide many significant benefits to homes, streets and cities. They keep the air supply fresh, provide shade and shelter, and minimize noise pollution. They can also increase the value of your property by up to 25 percent. Professional tree appraisers can determine the dollar value of your trees and plants by evaluating their size, type, condition and location. But regular care is what's ultimately more cost-effective and important in maintaining and protecting the value of trees. Proper tree maintenance involves pruning, watering, mulching, pest management and, sometimes, removal. Inspect your trees for signs of disease or insect damage as well as potential hazards, such as large dead or detached branches, mushrooms at the base of the tree, and proximity to utility lines. When you need professional help, be sure to find a certified arborist with a reputable tree care company. You can star...
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Amy Cherow and Joeann Fossland with me in Washington, DC
2008-05-18 04:53:00
It's always good to spend time with caring people and learn from them! Joeann Fossland and I assisted at the Business Technology Forum and I had the honor of introducing Amy Cherow at her presentation. I have learned so much from both of these women! Amy Cherow gave wonderful tips on using low cost internet strategies to market listings and to market ourselves. She is very entertaining and I recommend that if she is speaking at a town near you, go to see her! It will be worth your while and money. Amy's presentation was only one of many that gave members true value for their membership. There were 700 Women's Council of Realtors members present at the meetings. It was a fabulous networking opportunity. I'll be in Sacramento at the California State Chapter meetings from June 2-3, 2008.
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Is Your Food Safe when Eating Out in Waco?
2008-05-18 04:38:00
Are you ever curious how your favorite restaurant does on Inspections? Do you ever wonder if your favorite dive is considered "safe"? The Waco -McLennan County Public Health District has Local Food Inspection information posted on the Internet as well as broadcasted weekly on the Waco City Cable Channel. Online, food establishments are listed in alphabetical order including those in your children's schools. One of my favorite China Spring eateries is Miss Becky's Cocina which earned a "0" (the lower the score, the better) when getting their Permit. Take a look for how your favorite place ranks here: http://www.mclennanpublichealth.org/healt hinspect.htm#menu
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MLS Reports Clark County Real Estate Market Data for April, 2008
2008-05-18 03:56:00
REAL ESTATE NEWS The Regional Multiple Listings Service (RMLS) has just issued its report on the Clark County Washington real estate market for the month of April , 2008. The slow market experienced by all of us who work in real estate as well as those homeowners who have had their home on the market during the past year is again evident in the residential market activity for last month when compared to April, 2007, with new listings down 14.7%, pending sales down 28.1%, and closed sales down 29.7%. The good news is that compared to the previous month this year (March, 2008), April 2008 pending sales rose 2.4% and closed sales went up 1.3%. Average market time from listing date to pending sale was 91 days in April, indicating that some homes are still selling reasonably quickly. (RMLS Market Action, May 2008) The average price of a home sold during April, 2008, was $288,200, and the median price was $250,000. Looking at the four months of Janu...
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Giving Realtors a Bad Name... We're Not Created Equal
2008-05-17 23:09:00
Tampa, FL - There are many good Realtors all over the country - people who take their real estate jobs seriously and who dedicate themselves to their clients and their business. It's their livelihood and they treat it accordingly. These folks return phone calls promptly, offer accurate directions to their listed properties, have adequate (at least) pictures of their listings, and do the real work required to be successful, whether they are working with a seller or a buyer. There also are many bad Realtors out there. These folks seem to make money in spite of themselves. They make a living off the good natured, yet naive friends/clients who don't realize that their trusted agent is not very good at their job (I was being kind). There are those who have many listings, but do the absolute minimum - only posting it in the MLS and an occaisional open house - to sell a property. Others fail to return phone calls promptly (some of these might also be...
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Ausable Chasm in Future Jeopardy
2008-05-17 23:07:00
A recent federal mandate from the U.S. Dept of Energy may place the Ausable Chasm in future jeopardy. Development may come and take this gem away. Call Tim at 518.834.7454 for details on how you can support the effort to convince the federal administration to rescind its mandate.
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Jingle mail
2008-05-17 16:40:00
Jingle mail should be a new phrase highlighted in William Safire's column in the Sunday New York Times. This credit/housing crunch has produced some interesting words: securitized mortgages; jingle mail No, it's not time for Christmas!! Actually, jingle mail is what lenders fear the most! Homeowners are returning their house keys to lenders at a rapid rate; thus, jingle mail. Mail rooms at loan servicers must be inundated with keys dropping from envelopes as homeowners become discouraged with the sinking economy and their rising debt. Regardless of any Federal 'bail-out' for homeowners, some homeowners simply need to get out from under their situations and mailing keys to lenders is their way of doing so. Some homeowners are so upside -down in their mortgages, that even a bail-out cannot help them. Their options are to be foreclosed upon or simply to mail keys to lenders and walk away. Sometimes, it is more upstanding to simply let go of yo...
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Biggest Problem FSBO Face
2008-05-16 22:26:00
Understanding and performing paperwork There is an increasing amount of documents and attachments that must be included in every sale. Some closing officers are even having the parties sign an agreement that they will sign additional forms if it is discovered that that they have been accidentally omitted. Specific disclosures can be required to be given to buyers prior to them seeing the property for the first time and others prior to entering into a contract, and still others prior to closing the transaction. A bill of sale is generally required when personal property is included in the sale but special care needs to be taken so that it doesn't affect the mortgage amount. Specific types of buyer financing require specially promulgated contracts. Understanding which sales contract to use is important to protect the rights of all parties. It is also necessary to know what special provisions t...
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Going to a Land Auction for CA Land!
2008-05-16 21:59:00
So my husband and I have been investing in real estate since 1991, when we bought our first home in Irvine, CA. Since then, we've bought several homes and multi-units, and as brokers we've sold many, many more, but we've never bought a piece of land. We've bought on the MLS market, and we've bought off-market before a 4-unit was listed. We've bought at a tax sale. And a brochure comes in the mail, listing 250 land properties for sale. So I thumb through and read the interesting ones, aka the ones in areas where we have experience to know values. There are four in our prime investing area, a desert community. And one is a commercial lot on the main thoroughfare. We visit the land lot, and we note what is on either side, seemingly successful businesses. We pull listings from the MLS and call a local broker friend, not asking about this particular lot but about a lot a street or so over that that broker has listed for sale. His listing i...
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Take a Vacation and Write it off!!!
2008-05-16 21:53:00
Summer is coming around, I'm starting to plan my next vacation... ...and I am going to share a little secret. You might have tried all the tricks in the book, but I'm sure you haven't tried making your VACATION TAX DEDUCTIBLE. For example, you fly with your spouse (aka your business partner) to Orlando to scout and purchase a rental condominium. Since this is a business trip, you can deduct the cost of all business expenses, like travel, lodging, and services. Ordinary and necessary expenses are tax deductible, and that's why you can deduct the cost of expense...
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Here’s a Cool Gift Idea...
2008-05-16 21:28:00
Our new Budget Cool er Bag makes a great gift especially with summer coming on. This vylon, zippered insulated bag holds a six pack and ice to keep it cool. It even has an extra pouch in front and convenient shoulder strap. Your imprint is screened onto the front in a large 3" x 5" area. Available in Black, Green, Blue, Yellow or Red this will make a striking gift that will carry your ad message for years. They're on sale right now until 7/1/08 and they're just $3.19 each + $35 screen charge plus shipping and tax (if applicable). This is an offer you won't want to miss! Check it out - click on http://damurphyco.com/pdf/BudgetCoolerBag .pdf Dennis A. Murphy D. A. Murphy Co. Tel: (800) 920-2323 Fax: (800) 357-7725 Be sure to check out all the fine products we offer at: www.damurphyco.com You'll find some great ideas!
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Pac-10 Rowing Championships May 18th
2008-05-16 21:13:00
The Pac-10 final for men's and women's rowing is this weekend (Sunday) on Lake Natoma near Sacramento, CA. My daughter Carly's WSU Cougars are seeded 2nd after Cal and are currently ranked 4th in the nation. Winning won't be easy, but could set up a national championship run. Wow. I never dreamed I be the parent of an NCAA Division 1 athlete, let alone a potential national champion. If you want to see the races you can get the schedule at the WSU Cougars link above and get live streaming at Pac-10.org, but you have to register. I don't know if there's any other way, sorry. Good luck Carly and Go Cougs (that hurts to say as a Washington Husky). On another personal note, my 8 year old, Ryan, qualified for the 2nd round of the local Pitch, Hit & Run competition and will be testing his pitching skills at Garfield High School on Saturday the 24th. Isn't succeeding vicariously through one's children great?
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5 tips for selling a vacant home
2008-05-16 21:05:00
This spring, as it becomes a popular time for homeowners to begin preparing their homes for sale, Showhomes encourages them to do some essential steps to make sure the most important first step takes place: buyers make the decision to view the home. "Many people think all they have to do is make sure the inside of their home is clean, but it really goes far beyond that when it comes to making sure your home looks its best so that buyers will take a look," said Thomas Scott, vice president of Operations for Showhomes Franchise Corporation. "That is why we have released five essential tips that can help local residents stay on the right track when preparing their homes for a sale." Scott reveals five tips for selling a vacant home: 1. Curb Appeal - the better the curb appeal of your home is, the more attractive it is to prospective buyers. - Trim overgrown bushes, weed beds and add a fresh layer of mulch - Clean your front door and repaint if neede...
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10 Fastest-Growing Real Estate Markets
2008-05-16 18:51:00
10 Fastest-Growing Real Estate Markets Yes, even amid the housing crisis, parts of the U.S. are still expected to post price gains in the coming year, according to Money Magazine. Here's where to look. The housing implosion is nowhere near over. In 75 of the 100 top U.S. cities, prices are expected to fall in the next 12 months according to Fiserv Lending Solutions. More from CNNMoney.com: • Gallery: 10 Homes for Sale in Hot Markets • Money Magazine's Real Estate Survival Guide • Gallery: 10 Real Estate Markets Set for Steep Losses ...

Fortune and Emotional Freedom
2008-05-16 18:48:00
One Client of mine is hiring another Assistant for her team. A new Client is delegating to another Agent while she deals with cancer. One Client is percolating with new leads, sales, and listings. Yet another Client is fighting to keep his attitude as he deals with a divorce and the dissolution of a household. Good fortune and ill fortune, if we are lucky our lives experience both. One of my pet expressions is, "While things are going well ride high. Enjoy the success." After a short pause, "Because inevitably life happens, illness, death, accidents will occur. And I have discovered that when you learn to enjoy the good times, when you learn to ride high and enjoy the success; then the good times last longer and the difficult times are both less difficult to survive and shorter in duration." I just got off the phone with a Client who used a wonderful expression. She said her goal all her life is and has been to have emotional freedo...
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RETS is not just an "MLS Thing"
2008-05-16 18:16:00
During the NAR meetings I had the opportunity and privilege to help staff the RETS booth, and one booth visitor in particular piqued my interest. The visitor was a developer for one of the major broker back-office applications and expressed that he had integrated with a number of MLSs and was getting more comfortable with RETS, but he was still perhaps a bit fuzzy on RETS as one of those "MLS things". It really brought home for me how MLS-centric a lot of the RETS effort has been, since RETS really should be providing a tremendous efficiency benefit to brokers and agents beyond the area of the MLS system, moving data efficiently and error-free from forms packages to broker systems and between all of the various broker and agent systems where real estate professionals are performing duplicate data entry. When I expressed those thoughts, I think it was a real "Ah hah!" moment for that developer. I hope that he and other non-MLS developers continue to become more actively engaged in ...
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Should we bail out people that made a bad decision? and how?
2008-05-16 18:15:00
While talking to some people about different bail out ideas, and how they reinforce bad behavior on the part of investors, lenders, and buyers, all at a great cost to those of us that made the wise choices in these fields, I came up with an idea. Barney Franks and Chris Dodd have proposed a $300 Bullion (with a B) package for FHA to cover loans that are currently in default, if the lenders will change to a fixed rate and drop the principal to 85% of today's current market value. in other words; people that bought houses with loans that they could not really cover will get help and 15% of the already shrunk equity in the houses of people who made wise buying decisions will just get washed away. Lenders who wrote "bad" loans will get out of the REO ownership biz and back to writing loans, and investors will take a much smaller hit than if the market was just left to find its own level. Now don't get me wrong I feel for all of those people in dire straights over this. They are my fr...
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Big Apple Circus at Cunningham Park, Queens until May 26th
2008-05-16 16:46:00
The Big Apple Circus celebrates its 30th Anniversary with an annual visit to Cunningham Park , Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows, Northeast Queens . This one-ring circus is so unique since the entire audience is extremely close to all the action. Circus performances at 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm on May 17, 18, 24, 25 and 26; May 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23 @ 11 am and 6:30 pm. For ticket prices and group discounts, call 800-922-3772 Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5pm.

3rd Annual Alternative Energy Expo
2008-05-16 16:24:00
There's lots to talk about today. Saturday, in Warrenton, is the third annual Alternative Energy Expo . It runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Fauquier County Fairgrounds. Admission is $5. If you've been thinking about making your home and/or your life more "green" this is a great place to get ideas, talk to people who can help and get inspired! It's bigger and better than ever this year! Most of you should have received in your mailboxes this week a circular called "Northern Piedmont - Buy Fresh - Buy Local". The Piedmont Environmental Council sent this to residents of Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock counties. In it you'll find a guide to buying almost everything you eat locally from produce to meat, from farmers markets to CSAs to buying right on the farm. Great publication! The WSJ has run a couple of very interesting real estate articles this week. First up was an article called "As Dues Dry Up, The Neighbors Pay"...
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Details In: Interview On Managing Your Business With Commercial Mortgages
2008-05-16 15:22:00
Commercial Capital Alliance President Michael Haltman is extremely pleased to announce that he is participating in a teleseminar/interview with renowned mortgage market trainer, coach, consultant, author and speaker Jan Schrader. Joining them will be Ken Adler, President of HotLeadMachine.com, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) expert with a focus on the mortgage and real estate market. The program will be held on Wednesday, May 21st at 2:00 PM EST. The purpose of the call will be to discuss the commercial mortgage market in general, and more specifically how this market can help you leverage the contacts that you currently have to drive business. This will be an hour that is extremely well spent. We wanted to give RealTown members one of the first opportunities as space will be limited. Please go to the following website and use the VIP code to receive the ...
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Flash Intro Templates | Flash Templates Store
2008-05-16 11:59:00
Enter your search terms Submit search form Web ralecus.blogspot.com Easyway2host provides Flash Intro Templates , website templates are essential to creating attractive flash templates, swish templates Logo Templates Factory offers the finest in web templates, flash templates and website templates for individuals. With a large range of professional quality web design template products. SWiSH Templates are pre-made web designs - usual website templates developed in SWiSH - that can be easily changed to meet the unique requirements of your project. Each Logo Templates, Flash Templates, SWiSH Template is a fascinating multimedia combination of live...
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Mortgage Interest Rates Update
2008-05-16 11:44:00
Mortgage Interest Rates Historical Mortgage Interest Rate Here is a breakdown for the last few weeks. May 15, 2008 30-yr 6.01 15-yr 5.60% 5-yr ARM 5.57 1-yr ARM 5.18 May 8, 2008 30-yr 6.05 15-yr 5.60% 5-yr ARM 5.67 1-yr ARM 5.29 May 1, 2008 30-yr 6.06 15-yr 5.59% 5-yr ARM 5.73 1-yr ARM 5.29 April 24th, 2008 30-yr 6.03 15-yr 5.62% 5-yr ARM 5.68 1-yr ARM 5.29 So what would these rates translate into for a mortgage. Using our free mortgage calculator lets run some numbers. Using our free mortgage calculator lets take a look at what the mortgage payment would be for a 200k loan. The mortgage payment is $1.29 less than what it would have been last week. Considering that the FED cut rates I was a little dissappointed. I was hoping for rates to drop a little more this week. May 15th 30-yr $1200.38 15-yr $1711.46 5-yr ARM $1144.37 1-yr ARM $1095.75 May 8th, 2008 30-yr $1205.53 15-yr $1711.46 5-yr ARM $1157 1-yr ARM $1109.36 Ki helps clien...
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DATING TIPS & ARTICLES
2008-05-16 11:38:00
Online Dating is now a essential part of our modern lifestyle. It's became much more easier than ever before. The free online dating system helps couples or groups to meet and possibly develop a romantic and sexual relationships. Dating is now happen through online & it provide un-moderated matchmaking by the use of personal computers, the Internet, or even cell phones. This dating service generally allow people to provide personal information,then search for other individuals using criteria such as age range, gender and location. The body language is a vital matter while dating,this can tell what kind of people you are. It is often very stressful to date or even try to date when you are shy. However, being shy is basically being afraid of rejection. You can transform yourself from the shy type to the confident person that you should be. The more confident you look, the better response you would get from people. The other import...
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Knightyme Video Tours "Selling Salts" - eZine issue # 13
2008-05-16 07:40:00
In this issue: You'll learn why full motion video is the very best way to market your properties, and the secrets to picking the best video tour provider in your area! Greetings! In this issue, you'll learn why full-motion video tours are far superior to the older virtual tours made from still pictures. Not only that, but we will arm you with all the information ...
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Salt lake City home stats
2008-05-16 06:53:00
Salt Lake City Home Sales We currently have 8113 active listings in Salt Lake county. 2525 were listed in the last 30 days, and 1097 properties were put under contract. We had 1337 properties that didn't sell, and had 909 homes that did sell. It's good to see the number sold up in the 900 range, but we still have a 8.93 month suppply of inventory to burn through. We are still in a buyers market, and interest rates are still great. What are you waiting for? An invitation? You are cordially invited to set an appointment with me to view some properties, and enter into negotiation on the property of your choice! To partially quote Romans 1:20, you are now without excuse! Until next time, Dan
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Shirking my duty in Salt Lake City
2008-05-16 06:36:00
Shirking my Duty in Salt Lake City Well I have to admit I have been less than enthusiastic when it comes to maintaining this blog. I have been watching the market closley in Salt Lake City and posting religously only to think that no one really cares or listens, or pays attention. Well, hopefully I have gotten over myself and will get back with the program. You see, I know that sellers and buyers need my knowledge and expertise now, more than ever. As I see the number of home sales pick up here in Salt Lake, I also see the inventory increase and it's apparent that we really just are maintaining status quo. The inventory is right about where it's been for the last couple of months. So here's my theory, and I'm pretty surer I'm correct. What I'm seeing is a lot of homes that still have not sold, and I'm seeing homes that expired come back on the market. With all the media attention on the "bad market", I think a lot of sellers have had bad ...

Blue Ridge area (Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Page and Shenandoah Counties) l
2008-05-16 04:23:00
Here are the listings that were added or changed on 5/14/08 LastUpdateType ListPrice FullStreetAddress City ListingID Subdivision PARTY $825,000 509 STONEBRIER LN BERRYVILLE CL6711985 ROCK HALL FARM ...
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