I recently read an interesting article about a Scandinavian System of mortgages. Can’t recall where I read it but it was a clever approach to financing a home. It seems they developed this system after a fire in the late 1700’s. The banks there issue a bond when a mortgage is originated. The bond is tied to that home. The bond is sold and serviced by the bank. It can be bought and sold in the market. Similar to the way a corporate bond may be traded here except it is just for that mortgage. If interest rates rise the price of the bond goes down. The same would be true if home prices fell. The big difference is that a home owner had he had the opportunity to have this vehicle available would be in a pretty good position today since the bonds would have moved to the market and he could purchase his own mortgage back at a reduced price.
Now on the surface it appears to be a solution but is there a market for such bonds in our society? If so how would they be marketed? Do you break them down into smaller bonds and perhaps have bonds in a multiples of $5,000 initial value and are redeemed similar to GNMA’s. This would allow everyone to take advantage of down markets and repurchase some, if not all, of their mortgages back at a reduced price when the market changes. It would not affect a banks bottom line since the bond is only being serviced by them. However, I am not sure how it would change mortgage rates since the bond would have to be sold at a discount to allow for profit and a rate that would make it attractive to an investor.
It is thinking such as this that will eventually come up with a new system that will once again have the Real Estate Market lead the way out of this recession. This may not be an answer but it is a step outside of bail outs and lends hope to the future.
In Arizona, we rode this crazy real estate coaster until we turned green! Values have plummeted because lenders would just not BELIEVE that they had to make major sacrifices in states like Arizona. Case in point: I took a listing in March of 2008 for $299,000 as a short sale. Quickly, we got an offer at 275K. A complete short sale package was immediately sent to the lender. I called. And, I called And, I called. After 6 weeks, they told me that they had 'lost' the file. A month after that, they wanted completely updated information to proceed. After that was supplied, I was passed around from one department to another, no one knowing what the other had done. Finally, the buyer provided us with an addendum reducing the price to 250K. After all, the lender kept dragging their feet as our market tanked. Back to the drawing board. Months went by. We finally settled on a price of 255K with the seller contributing 10K at COE in November and were ecstatic to finally be closing. But, the coaster took another wild curve. The house was infested with termites and the buyer's appraisal came in at 233K! Feeling like a whipped dog, I crawled back to the lender with the appraisal and a cover letter insisting that they take it and run! Of course, the agents paid for the termite treatment, the lender came to their senses and approved the 233K price, but gave us FIVE DAYS to close and it was Christmas Eve.
Moral of story is that the lender let us close and gave us 10 days. Their incompetance and complete lack of understanding of the real estate industry cost them $42,000 and 9 months worth of payments. How can we help these lenders to see that their procrastination and inexperience with real estate values is taking this entire country down the drain? How can we make them see that we REALLY want to help both the borrowers and the lenders get through this? It's going to hurt - no doubt about it. But, the tough decisions need to be made and made quickly in 2009 to get this country back on it's feet.
ALL of my current and upcoming listings, are Short Sales. I see them in my future here in Arizona for several years to come. But, I LOVE the real estate business. I refuse to give up and let them beat me. We need to stick together to get the message out that the lenders 'have lost control' and if they don't start accepting market value and closing quickly, they will never see their red ink disappear. Please let me know your experiences and advise me of any tricks you have learned to get through this red tape. And, enjoy the ride. We haven't gotten off yet!
2009 has arrived and so has a new real estate company in the Dallas, Texas area. As a broker I have decided to open my own company, Thompson Legacy Realty. It is an exciting time!
For the past few years I have worked with my uncle, also a broker, and that experience has been very valuable. He is now an independent broker and custom home builder. In the past he owned a Century 21 franchise and prior to that he was in commercial real estate. I will always be grateful for all he has taught me, but I have wanted to open my own company, also.
He and I still have plans to invest in real estate together, but will have our own real estate brokerages.
I vow, for 2009, to try as hard as I can to clean up my "junk" communication. In 2009, I vow to NOT use the phrase or word(s): "quite frankly..." "Am A zing..." "you know..." "blah, blah, blah..." "in my opinion" In addition, I vow to take a second look at each email before I "hit the send button" and edit, edit, edit. I will not engage in pseudo creative writing, give information or speculation that isn't necessary but has the potential to only create more questions and concerns ... I will only...(read more)
First impressions make a significant impact on a buyer's decision-making process!
Once your home goes on the market, it becomes a product. Home Staging simply allows you to highlight the best of your home and de-emphasize its flaws. It's not about decorating, but actually turning your home into a model, to appeal to the broadest range of prospective buyers. The goal is to make people feel like they could live there, and the best way to do this is to "neutralize" the surroundings.
Try out these helpful styling tips taken from Setting the Stage - REALTOR® Magazine Online. They've compiled the best tips from stagers and real estate pros—things you can do for little or no expense—to put a home in prime showing shape.
Clear out closets and clutter—sellers can give away or pack up toys, linens, and small kitchen appliances to store offsite. Buyers are also forgiving of storage boxes neatly tucked away in a garage or basement.
Focus most on the most visible areas—the foyer, kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and family room.
De-personalize the home by removing photos, mementos, and dated items.
Use plants in colorful pots or inexpensive wicker baskets to fill in empty spaces.
Look to home catalogs for little details on beautifying the home. For instance, group books, pictures, and objets d’art appealingly on bookcases.
Try angling one or two pieces of furniture slightly and move furniture 4 inches to 6 inches from the wall to create more interesting room spaces.
Put away large collections— porcelains, plates, and so on.
Remove valuables, prescription medicine, collectibles, and breakables.
Trim trees, prune shrubs, and make sure the lawn is mowed and watered regularly.
In summer, turn on the sprinklers for five minutes, 30 minutes before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.
Refrain from cooking anything that leaves a distinctive odor, such as fish, garlic, or cabbage.
Hire a professional service to clean the home, including the carpets and the windows.
Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.
Arrange fresh or silk flowers throughout the home.
Light a fire in the fireplace in fall and winter.
A mirror in a pretty frame can make a small room feel more open.
Use as much natural light as possible. Add extra lamps in dark rooms or corners.
Make functional repairs—fix dripping faucets, sticking doors, and broken fences.
Bring in another pair of eyes—even if it’s not a professional stylist. The person may see problems you and have missed.
Business cards. Why do we put our pictures on them? Besides loan officers ...and maybe models, I'm not really aware of any other industry that puts a picture on their business card. Do you think it's helpful? Or "hack"? Is having your picture on your business card professional? Just thinking...and curious what everyone thinks...before I order a new box.......(read more)
2008, glad it happened, glad it's over....2009...Bring it!
In honor of Queen C's (Candice) birthday today I have quoted her for the title. Happy Birthday Candice!
Now let's reflect for a minute on 2008, what sticks out in your mind, realty wise, that you are glad that happened and glad it's over?
My contribution: I am so very glad I finally got help. Hired two great agents and one is really flourishing. She is in my office daily and takes calls, returns calls, she does exactly what I would do if I weren't always in my "mobile office". She is a genuine good find and I am so happy she is working for me.
Glad it's over? Oh my, I really have a list on this one, but will simplify: I've had some strange experiences with closings and just with people in general. It has been a good thing though in that it was experience. We all know experience is.....priceless.
What are your "glad it happened" and "glad it's over" for 2008?
New Years always get me motivated - so I start cleaning, throwing away trash, organize and file papers, and on and on... It's a great time to : clean up that database... delete those unused icons off your desktop... let GO of those potential leads that will never pan out... delete old and junk email... throw out all those old condiments from the back of the fridge that only have an inch of stuff in them... throw out those packages of meat in the freezer that are covered with frost... are you REALLY...(read more)
Santa Cruz California Home Sale Price Medians by City Santa Cruz County Home Sales Recorded in November 2008 Reporting resale single family residences and condos as well as new homes TABLE OF SOLD PROPERTIES PER COUNTY County / City / Area No. Sold November 2008 November 2007 % Change Yr.to Yr. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 113 $386,500 $674,500 -42.70% APTOS 11 $593,000 $786,500 -24.60% BEN LOMOND 2 $383,000 $635,000 -39.69% BOULDER CREEK 3 $330,000 $425,000 -22.35% CAPITOLA 7 $339,000 $749,500 -54.77% FELTON...(read more)
One look back at 2008, the first of many...I'm sure!
First...Happy New Year Everyone! I love January 1st. The days are already getting longer, and it's a great time to get organized...again. It's not 2009 yet though...so for a look back - A friend sent me this link for CNN's 21 Dumbest Business moments of 2008 - Number 11 ". ..In July, Congress passes the only housing rescue to date: a plan to guarantee up to $300 billion worth of mortgages and prevent more than 300,000 foreclosures. But to participate, banks must take steep losses -- and doing so...(read more)
With the appraoach of 2009 I am extending Best Wishes and a Happy New Year to everyone who participates in Reliberation.
No matter where we stand on the issues, problems, and solutions to the real estate and housing market, I'm sure those of us who are continuing in real estate in 2009 want to experience success, however we individually define it.
The latest figures from my MLS Board show a 30% drop in dues payers from 2008 to 2009. While some of the membership will pay late, there still looks like at least a 25% reduction in realtors here. Many of us who are continuing see this as a positive occurrance. There hopefully will be less competition and less incompetence to deal with on a realtor level.
I will hang in there and will keep plugging away at it. That's what I have been telling all of my long time repeat clients and new clients who have contacted me recently. Once things stabilize they plan to buy and sell more real estate and I plan to be there to help them.
May 2009 be a comfortable and profitable year for all.
Cea mai scumpa locuinta privata de pe glob 2 bilioane dolari
Magnatul indian Mukesh Ambani a inceput constructia unei locuinte private acum 4 ani, cu finalizare in 2009. Constructia este o locuinţa pe măsura averii sale. Blocul se află în centrul oraşului Mumbai India şi este pana in acest moment cea mai scumpă şi înaltă locuinţă privată din lume. Blocul de 27 de etaje cu o suprafata desfasurata de 35000 mp, este destinat exclusiv familiei lui Ambani.
Conform unor surse de pe piaţa imobiliară, citate de revista Forbes, blocul va costa aproximativ 2 miliarde de dolari, cu mult peste estimarea iniţială de un miliard de dolari.
Fiecare etaj este unic din toate punctele de vedere: arhitectural, al materialelor de construire, design unic si decoraţiuni de superlux.
Primele şase etaje ale blocului sunt rezervate garajului familiei miliardarului, oaspeţilor şi personalului de îngrijire a casei. Grădini verticale, pe exteriorul clădirii, vor fi o trăsătură unică a casei. Scopul lor nu este doar decorativ, ci şi de eficientizare a consumului de energie.
Holul este dotat cu nouă lifturi. Două ajung în garaje, trei sunt destinate oaspeţilor, două vor fi folosite numai de familia Ambani şi două se vor afla la dispoziţia personalului de îngrijire. Din acest hol se poate ajunge la aproape fiecare zonă din enorma locuinţă.
Pret pe metru patrat:35000 dolari/mp si este departe de a fi cea mai scumpa zona din lume.
You've done your homework by evaluating your finances and determined how much house you can afford. So, here's a hypothetical question: which costs more? A $150,000 house or a $165,000 house?
It seems like a simple question. Assuming similar financing arrangements, monthly payments are going to be higher on the higher-priced property. But that's not the whole story. It's just as important to think long term rather than just month-to-month-in other words, not only how much the house will have cost after one year, but after 10 years as well. You may find that over time that $15,000 difference between the properties evaporates; you may also find that the difference can double.
Moving in
Appliances can be pretty costly. Does one home have a washer and drier or a refrigerator that conveys at the sale? Purchase, delivery and installation of major appliances can add up quickly. What else about each house needs immediate attention? For instance, many older homes have non-standard size windows. If you need blinds for those windows, the blinds may have to be custom-made. Is that a back-breaker? Maybe not, but it's still a significant expense.
Drive time
Is one of the homes in a location that causes you to use just one extra gallon of gasoline per day on your way to work? If you commute five days a week, that's about 20 gallons each month ... just to get to work and back. At more than $3 per gallon, that could be close to $8,000 over 10 years-a substantial number and almost half the original price difference. Now factor in your trips to the grocery store, school, daycare and other places you regularly visit. How does the location of the home affect your gasoline consumption when you go back and forth to these other destinations?
Different needs
Does one house lie in an area, like a flood plain, that has different insurance requirements? Forty bucks a month may not seem like much, but multiply that by 120 months (10 years) and you get $4,800.
Evaluate the yard and the appearance of the exterior. If you find a home with a big tree that needs to removed, that is heavy-duty work-work that is better left to insured and bonded professionals. Maybe one of the homes will need a new fence in two years, whereas the other home has a brand new one.
What if one home is substantially older than the other? Older homes typically need more work than newer homes. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC components wear out over time and need to be replaced or repaired. Everything from the foundation to the roof can require attention. Resolving a major foundation issue can easily wipe out that initial $15,000 price difference. Fixing a big plumbing problem can be costly, too.
This is not to say that a newer home will not have problems or require attention. All homes require maintenance and repair. Upkeep on homes is a major factor in resale value. Little problems don't just go away, either. They can turn into big problems if they're not dealt with promptly.
This is not intended to scare you or dissuade you from buying a house-far from it. Take this as a piece of practical advice. After you figure out your price range, think about additional expenses not typically associated with monthly housing costs.
If you're trying to decide between two houses that have a substantial price difference, look beyond that initial difference. There's more to affordability than just figuring the mortgage payment and average utilities-there are factors that you may not consider and there are unanticipated expenses that will almost certainly arise.
While it's impossible to predict the future, and no one can guess if your plumbing or heater is going to fail this year, it's certainly possible to make an educated guess at how much living in a home will cost. Your Realtor can help you sort through these expenditures; this is the key to determining your buying power.
Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or http://www.har.com/ and for all of your Pearland TX and Northern Brazoria and Galveston County real estate needs, please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com. All of these sites offer tons of useful, real estate-related information geared specifically for Texans.
Danny Frank is a local Pearland TX Real Estate expert
This column was published in the 28Dec08 edition of the Galveston County Daily News
Effective Realty Sites takes a custom (w)holistic approach to treating your web site performance
As rates drop to between 5-5 1/2% I hope buyers have applied for their preapproval letter. Most hav'nt and dont realize that credit is tougher to get than it was a few years ago. Some buyers think just because they have steller credit they can get a loan. Hmmmm not so according to my sources. I won't work with someone who is not preapproved. The first step for a buyer is to go to where you do your banking and ask to talk to the loan officer. Or get a referral from someone who has a loan. Don't have...(read more)
No matter what traditions you celebrate, Happy Holidays from The Edge Realty Group!
The idea for using electric Christmas lights came from an American named Ralph E. Morris in 1895. The new lights proved safer than the traditional candles, which often started fires by falling in the dry Christmas trees.
The use of a Christmas wreath as a decoration on your front door, mantel or bay window symbolizes a sign of welcome and long life to all who enter.
Today poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant and are the number one flowering potted plant in the United States. The poinsettia, a traditional Christmas flower, originally grew in Mexico, where it is also known as the 'Flower of the Holy Night'. Joel Poinsett first brought it to America in 1829.
In 1836, Alabama was the first state in the USA to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
In 1856, President Franklin Pierce decorates the first White House Christmas tree.
In 1907, Oklahoma became the last USA state to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
Holiday Past In 1949, the tree at Rockefeller Center was strung with 7,500 bulbs.
Holiday Present Now more than 25,000 bulbs are strung on the tree - that's more than 5 miles of lights!
Holiday Past In 1939, an advertising employee at the department store Montgomery Ward wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for a store promotion. That year the store gave away 2.4 million copies of the story.
Holiday Present Ten years later, Gene Autry recorded the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Since then it has sold over 80 million copies. Rudolph has definitely gone down in our holiday history!
Holiday Past The original ball lowered in Times Square on New Year's Eve back in 1907 was made of iron and wood and decorated with 100 light bulbs.
Holiday Present The modern New Year's ball is made of Waterford crystal, covered with 696 light bulbs, 96 strobe lights, and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors.
This Report Will Detail The El Paso, Texas Housing Market. Areas of Focus: Upper Valley, West, East, Central, Northeast
287 homes sold in November 2008 728 New Listings were put on the Market 421 Expired Listings 747 Price Changes
122 of the 287 Homes Sold with in 60 days from listing
There were 13 - TWO BEDROOM HOMES sold with the average sale price $81,858, and the average list price $88,122. With the list-to-sell ratio at 93%
There were 170 - THREE BEDROOM HOMES sold, with the average sale price $134,711, and the average list price $139,451. With the list-to-sell ratio at 97%
The were 104 - FOUR BEDROOM HOMES sold, with the average sale price $215,903, and the average list price $226,345. With the list-to-sell ratio at 95%
Season's Greetings From The Enchanted Island! Puerto Rico
Click at the link below for a special card just for you! Happy Holidays to all my friends and Colleagues. and remember that the perfect spot on earth to retire is here at Palmas del Mar Resort. Good Luck in 2009 http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1693021042895&source=jl999...(read more)
Many people get stressed out around the holidays. Too much stress, or the inability to cope with it, isn’t healthy.Dealing with all sorts of people and situations in real estate can’t help but cause a great deal of stress. Add the holidays and a poor economy and it could get rough.
Cardiologist Robert Elliot, M.D., has some excellent words of advice in his book Is It Worth Dying For?
Adapt to things as they are rather than as you wish they were.
Don’t waste a dollar’s worth of energy on a 10-cent problem.
You're only a couple of days from closing on your new house and everything is almost official. Buying a home is such an exciting experience. There's only one thing left to do - conduct a final walk-through inspection of the property. This allows you to reconfirm the condition of the house prior to closing. Don't let your excitement or the hectic pace of today's lifestyle deter you from performing this final task. Before you grab your pen and head to the closing table, spend an hour or so poking around the property.
The purpose of the final walk-through, which can take place anywhere from two days to a few hours before closing, is to make sure the property is in the condition you expected when you signed the purchase agreement. This includes verifying that all agreed-upon repairs have been made, no damage has been done to the property, and all items included in the sales price - sheds, draperies, light fixtures, fans, appliances, etc. - are present and in satisfactory condition.
Much can happen from the time your offer was accepted until closing-especially if the property has been vacant for long period of time. Uninhabited houses can quickly fall into disrepair if they're neglected. In addition, although unfortunate, vandalism and theft can take place in unoccupied houses. It may be vandals breaking windows, transients seeking shelter, or thieves checking for anything of value, like copper.
Even if the house has been occupied, you should not skip the walk-through. What if the seller removed a ceiling fan or left junk in the attic? What if a wall or the floor was damaged when the seller was moving out? The bottom line is it pays to do this walk-through because you don't know what you may find.
Many sellers willingly fix problems that they may have overlooked in the chaos of moving or during the time a home was vacant. It's beneficial for both parties to proceed with the transaction-and that's important to consider. Any snags with completing the exchange can add time and cost everyone money.
Delays may be more than just an inconvenience to both parties, though. As a buyer, you may have a lock on an attractive interest rate that is set to expire. The seller might not be able to buy their next home because they need the proceeds from this home sale to finalize the deal on their new home.
In some cases, the seller may still be in the process of moving out and could actually be there during your final walk-through. If this is the case, you may be able to get some valuable information from him. He may offer the product manuals for appliances, or suddenly remember a useful tip about the house or neighborhood. See if you can get the contact information of any businesses or contractors who have done work on the property.
When you show up to the walk-through, you should have a copy of your purchase agreement, the seller's disclosure form and reports about any work that was done as a part of the contract. It may also help to have a friend or your spouse with you. If two heads are better than one, then four eyes are better than two.
Don't neglect your final walk-through. Take the time and verify that everything's right with the house. If you do find something unexpected, talk to your Realtor. Some items may be taken care of at the closing table with financial considerations; in other cases, perhaps some other agreement can be reached.
Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or http://www.har.com/ and for all of your Pearland TX and Northern Brazoria and Galveston County real estate needs, please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/. All of these sites offer tons of useful, real estate-related information geared specifically for Texans.
Danny Frank is a local Pearland TX Real Estate expert
This column was published in the 21Dec08 edition of the Galveston County Daily News
I find that some potential homebuyers are hesitant to make a home purchase right now. Is this with good cause?
The national scene
Real estate continues to dominate the news these days. We know that gloom and doom grabs attention, and to be honest, there are people in trouble, particularly in California, Florida, the Las Vegas area, and parts of the Northeast. Although these areas are outside of Texas, it has probably not escaped your attention.
There were several factors that played into the situation in these hard-hit areas: easy credit for high-risk borrowers, 100 percent financing, too much speculation/investment/quick flips, and too much new construction inventory to name a few. The real estate industry tends to be cyclical in nature anyway, and these factors exacerbated a mild price correction after many years of unprecedented growth in those areas.
So, is now a good time to buy here?
It's extremely difficult to outguess housing markets. Turning points are seldom evident until after the fact and national trends may be meaningless in local markets. You may wait for prices to go down, but prices might have already hit their lowest point. In the meantime, you could be costing yourself money, either by not building equity or not taking advantage of a very good interest rate.
So is it a good time to buy? It really depends on your situation. If you plan to be in your house for more than a few years, it's probably to your advantage to buy, regardless of the condition of the market. Remember, it's not so much what's going on in the market; it's more about what's going on with you.
Interest-ing
Interest rates are just as important as the sales price - maybe even more so. Consider that any reduction in interest rate provides you with more buying power. That means that someone who gets a lower interest rate could purchase a more expensive home and expect roughly the same monthly payment as someone who gets a higher rate on a lesser home. My point is that you can't look at only one factor. If the price of homes goes down, but interest rates go up, was it really worth putting off your purchase?
Why you should buy
Very simply, buying a home is the only investment that you can make while paying for a necessary expense - housing. Any other investment is financed with discretionary income. What do I mean by that? Name one other example of money you spend every month on which you'll see a return on investment. Gasoline? Food? Utilities? Rent? Not one of them. Putting money towards purchasing a home, instead of renting, will help you build wealth.
Are there fluctuations, corrections and short-term risks? Of course there are - as there are with any long-term investment. Historically, though, real estate has shown slow, steady appreciation, and we have absolutely no reason to think that will change.
In addition, there are tax incentives for homeownership. Mortgage interest deduction can be significant, especially in the first few years of a loan. Additionally, in late 2007, lawmakers extended a tax deduction for private mortgage insurance, which lets homeowners take an itemized deduction for PMI on a personal residence.
Homeownership has obvious financial benefits, but there's more to it than that. There are strong non-financial benefits to owning a home for you and your family. It's positive for our communities and our nation as a whole. Many studies confirm that communities with high homeownership rates have lower crime rates, higher student test scores and more involvement in local affairs. Being a homeowner provides stability and gives you a strong stake in the future of your neighborhood.
Realtors know the value and joy of owning a home and we understand the financial advantages, as well. If you have any questions or are hesitant about taking the leap, contact a Realtor for professional advice and representation. You can learn more about why buying a home is a shrewd and sensible investment for most people.
Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or http://www.har.com/ and for all of your Pearland TX and Northern Brazoria and Galveston County real estate needs, please visit my site at http://www.danfrankrealty.com/. All of these sites offer tons of useful, real estate-related information geared specifically for Texans.
Danny Frank is a local Pearland TX Real Estate expert
This column was published in the 14Dec08 edition of the Galveston County Daily News
What are some SPECIFIC things that NAR, State and Local Association memberships offer that you COULD NOT procure from ANYWHERE ELSE as a non-REALTOR . . . items or tools without which it would be more difficult--or impossible--to perform excellent service?
I've been pondering and researching this, out of curiosity--and a little 'divine discontent' with 'unions' and 'organizations' in general:
If I 'seceded' from our national, state and local Associations, I would not be able to use ZipForms. That would suck. Is that correct in other states?
Cooperation. Hmmm. I've cooperated with many non-REALTORS. More than happy to keep doing it and I imagine others would coop with me if I had a RWA buyer. Or the buyer can pay me.
Code of Ethics? I know unethical REALTORS and ethical non-REALTORS. We all know the Golden Rule. I wouldn't be less ethical without the big R. And the Arizona Revised Statutes and Commissioner's Standards would still govern my business, as always.
Use of MLS . . . via P2 NLS and R.com, LoopNet etc. and even through our local Association website which is a public site, I can find properties I don't have listed. Not sure I'd miss MLS a lot. Not having it would make showings more difficult to accomplish 'on the fly'. No more lockbox keys.
Then again, thanks to virtual tours and online relationships developed with clients prior to their viewing, by the time we view, we've generally whittled it down to 'top 3 or 5' anyway.
Comps? There are many places to find those without cracking into MLS. County website, title company databases etc.
What else?
Not being the least bit facetious here. I really would love any input on what one would be missing by not being a REALTOR.
If you are a non REALTOR office that withdrew from Association membership, please tell me how you filled in the gaps and how it worked for you. :)
Do sellers REALLY care if their property is in a local or even a regional MLS when it is far more visible here on NLS and via the syndie portals?
So many questions . . . and no, I haven't been dipping into the 'nog . . . YET
A stunning ocean front cottage situated in the village of Calheta with awesome sea views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Calheta Beach was on the market for 59 days and recently sold close to the asking price.
Although properties in Madeira can be on the market for a long time, strategically positioned ocean front properties that are realistically priced are selling a lot faster than the average to informed European buyers.New stringent legislation restricts the construction of properties close to the ocean front; hence all existing properties along the seafront will increase in demand from medium to long term.However, there are presently some very wild statements being made public regarding the local property market - such as certain areas reflecting increases of up to 35% , which is not the reality.For those who are serious in buying, visit our website for some of our property portfolio – none of the properties we market are owned by us.Sellers and buyers are welcome to contact us for an objective, unbiased and a market-related opinion.
Each day as I read the news and e-mails from numerous sources I see many different opinions about the coming new Year and one can only hope and pray that we can as Americans begin to get our attitudes and Dreams back in line with those from days gone by.
We can all look back on the past 5 years and make our own judgements about who did this and who did that to cause the whole melt down of the Housing and Financial markets, But now is the time to start considering a change in the way we feel about the whole thing and to look ahead. Weather you are for or against the coming administration I hope we can start to at least show some respect again for our president. The remarks and comments that have been posted on the News channels and in the papers as well as all over the Internet for the past 2 years belittling and criticizing our President as though all the problems were brought on by a single man have been so terrible and hateful that I for one stopped even reading any further than the headline of the articles.
I did not vote for the incoming president but I will do my best to give him a chance to show me I should have, That being said all in all I don't think one man is going to be able to bring about the kinds of change we need right now because the first change will have to come from we the People......In attitude and respect.....Blaming and finger pointing will not get anything done but getting back to basics will.
I challenge all Americans to unite and stand proud, Be thankful that you live in a Country where you can choose to be whatever you want, And do whatever want because there are many other Countries that do not offer the chance to openly criticize the Leader of the Country let alone call them disgusting names.
This is not an attempt to stand on a pedestal and preach to anyone it is however a challenge to all who take the time to read it
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