Spotsylvania, VA

Spring is certainly making itself felt here at Lake Anna. Of course that means taking some photos and here are a couple. There is such a wonderful feeling of newness and a time of hope.

The trees are definitely beginning to bud as are many of the shrubs and the daffodils are telling us spring is here. The garden centers are beginning to experience large crowds especially on the weekends. Of course, now is also the time when we wish we had put more bulbs in last fall. We can make up for it now!

Before you know it the Bradford pear trees will be in full bloom along with the cherry trees, redbuds, and azaleas. Virginia is an absolutely beautiful place in the spring.

Now is the time to decide what big plans you have for your garden. How can anyone not begin to think of big plans when the days begin getting longer and we are enjoying so much sunshine.

Of course, making big plans and carrying them out are two different things.

This is the time we are confronted with all the ideas we got through the winter months while drooling over books and magazines on gardening and the catalogs with all the wonderful perennials and annuals we can indulge ourselves with for just a few dollars and just a few hours of labor. Well, maybe not just a few dollars and maybe not just a few hours but the difference is well worth it. As REALTORS we know how much curb appeal is worth and so much of that depends on the landscaping.

Before we get too busy with the garden we have to make time for Easter. Thank goodness some folks are ready. The bunny is out to greet us but the snowman is hiding off to the right. We had such a mild winter Mr. Snowman has not even realized that we are heading into spring and thus has forgotten to melt. Maybe he'll let us know where the Easter eggs are hidden.

Enjoy the Coming of Spring!

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, please contact Kathleen "Kate " Elim. She lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate. Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or if you prefer e-mail her at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com

Be sure to check Kate's blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/

• Yes, the real estate market has changed.
• Yes, REALTORS are working harder and earning less.
• Yes, properties are sitting on the market longer.
• Yes, many sellers are becoming frustrated.
• Yes, some buyers think the market is even worse than it is and that all sellers are getting ready to give their homes away.
• And yes, some sellers think their property is still appreciating.

All these things are true. Another thing that is true is that this has happened before and will happen again.

Yes, real estate is cyclical. It's a seller's market and then it's a buyer's market. The shift can be swift from one to the other.

As a REALTOR® you sometimes wonder which is the hardest market. The one where there are several buyers for the same property and your buyer is not the lucky one with the winning contract or the one where there are many more listings than there are buyers and your listings aren't the ones purchased.

Among the REALTORS there will be some winners and some losers. Those who have been in the business for a number of years have been through this before and some of them will say no more. Others are facing a tough market for the first time having gotten there license when the housing market was booming. Some of these will see this down turn through and others will disappear.

Whatever happens some REALTORS® will survive because we are needed. We provide a beneficial service to the public in good times and bad.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SURVIVE? ARE YOU DISCOURAGED? THINKING OF QUITTING? ARE YOU BEING INNOVATIVE? AND HOW ARE YOU USING YOUR "DOWN" TIME?

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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, please contact Kathleen "Kate " Elim. Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.

Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites and blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/

If you ever consider selling your home think back to when you bought it.

What was the first thing that sold you on it?

• Was it the location,
• the unusual color of the front door,
• the huge oaks surrounding it,
• the front porch with the swing,
• or was it the dormer windows that brought back memories of a childhood home?

Whatever the reason, that might be just the thing that appeals to the next buyer. Recently when listing homes I have begun asking owners to write what they love about their home. This certainly covers more than just what appealed to them initially, it also gives them an opportunity to share with potential buyers what they feel is special about their home.

Personally, I love to read these comments. It helps me to better understand how the owners feel about their home and also what might be the thing(s) that will appeal to someone else.

Those of us that live at Lake Anna certainly have our own reasons for buying here. The lake was a very important draw (again that powerful factor in real estate LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION) for most of us. Then came the selection of either a house or a lot with the ability to build on it.

Remembering what drew you to a particular home or lot and the plans you selected for your new home can be a helpful bit of information for your REALTOR® to know in marketing your home.

And be sure to share what has made your life there so special.

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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, please contact Kathleen "Kate " Elim. She lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate. Reach Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/

Sometimes you just need something to take your mind off of the current real estate market, blogging, sub-prime loans, foreclosures, and short sales.

If so, here's a little something for you. Those of you that have more than two minutes to think about it may be able to figure it out. I'm sure there is a very reasonable explanation for how this works but I am much too tired to try. Maybe I will let one of my brainy kids do that for me. Here you go http://www.quizyourprofile.com/guessyournumber.swf.

Now that you have had some fun (hopefully) you may go back to thinking of how to do more business. It is a well worth thinking about as most of us would like to have more transactions right now and throughout the year.

That's not to say there isn't some good news. Many people are seeing an up tick in their market. A larger number of buyers are out looking and sellers are being more realistic in their pricing. Contracts are actually be written and accepted (even if it is following some tense negotiations) and making their way to settlement.

There may not be enough good news but there is some, hopefully enough to go around.

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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, please contact Kathleen "Kate " Elim. She lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate. Reach Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/

Some states do not allow dual agency. Others do. Is the trend towards doing away with this type of representation? In fact is dual agency a form of representation or does it really mean that neither the seller nor the buyer are being represented?

When practicing dual agency how does a REALTOR® deal with offers and counter offers. Do they offer advice to both parties, to one, or to neither? What about conditions, other than price, that may require negotiation such as the settlement date, home inspection repairs, pre or post occupancy, and any number of other things that can be a bone of contention between parties.

What happens when a buyer offers a very low price and the seller suggests a very low counter and you believe the counter should be higher. Do you consel them to rethink that counter? That would be difficult if you were also "representing" the buyer. Shouldn't you be looking out for the buyers's best interest? Therein lies the dilemma. The seller's and buyer's best interest are often in direct conflict.

Dual agency can be explained in a cursory way or in depth. In fact, in Virginia it is required to provide the sellers and buyers with the written explanation. How well they understand the consequences is another thing. Even when sellers and buyers agree to dual agency do they really understand the potential pitfalls? As REALTORS®
we have seen the variety of problems that can develop, many more than most people would realize unless they have bought and sold numerous properties.

This weekend I took a new listing and the seller said, while we were filling out the agreement, that she was saying no to dual agency as a result of my advice to her. Earlier this evening I read a post by Nannette Saunders, The Full Monty of Dual Agency and it, along with the discussion I had with my client, really made me wonder if Disclosed Dual Agency has a place in real estate.

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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, please contact Kathleen "Kate " Elim. She lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate. Reach Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/