Lori Bee

As I was driving in my convertible yesterday, I realized one of the reasons why I love driving #topless so much is being able to absorb the smells of the south. Honestly, it's like a perfume...

Here's a list of a few of the smells of the Carolinas I absolutely love.... the intense sweet smell of Honeysuckle and Jasmine; the tender soft smell of Magnolia Blossoms; Sweet Grass esp when it's being tossed for hay; the earthy smell of Horse Farms (yes I like that smell - LOL); the ferns and wild mint in the woods; the sulfur smells of the marshes (yes, I like that too); the smell of red clay after a rainy afternoon; the smell of Eastern Carolina Pork BBQ in a big roaster; the smell of Muscadine wine at a summer picnic; and sweet ripe peaches at the summer markets.

They say that smells are the strongest sense that bring memories flooding back. I so believe that and hope you will share a few that you like and bring you back to a moment in the Carolinas...

:-)

My Farm just went on the market. And I had my first showing yesterday. Having my home on the market, refreshes my memories of what Sellers go thru.

First there was the we HAVE to see it today. Then we don't know if we're going to get to it. And then re-schedule for tomorrow. Ok. I know how that goes and that it's tough on the buyers too. I'll cut you a break there....

But then you come and only look for 15 minutes at over 4700 sq ft (but ya didn't even cover the second structure!), and 17 + acres? The agent was very, very kind and sweet, and I want her to bring back more client's so you have to be gracious... BUT...

Buyer's agents some simple things to remember:

1. PLEASE PLEASE don't put anyone in your car unless they are pre-approved.

2. If the home is "overpriced" to begin with, then why did you look at it? It's not like that is hidden!

3. If the floorplans are online, and won't work, and they won't remodel, consider a pass.

(This was the problem here - they had 8 - count em, EIGHT kids and I only technically have 3 bedrooms!)

4. If they have to have a neighborhood with amenities, then why are you showing them this one?

5. If the school district won't work, then why are you showing them this one?

6. All brick or maintenance free, is a must? Rule it in or out, first.

7. If you can't be on time, please reschedule. Don't show up 5 minutes before your supposed to be out of there.

8. Please remove your shoes, esp if the carpet appears to be new.

9. Schedule the appointment. OH YES, esp with my new constructions, I catch brazen agents on my lockbox reports on this one. Amazing how many will lie & claim they weren't there. Or worse yet, give me odd feedback on the interior and you check the lockbox report, and they never went in. LOL.

10. Be courteous with your feedback. The seller(s) have worked hard to make their home available to you and your clients. Helpful is great. Insulting and abrasive is not.

I am sure I could go on and on with this list, and feel free to add your 2 cents. But it does give me new perspective being the seller again. And I've been thru this more than a dozen times! As a buyer's agent, just consider how you would like to be treated. That Golden Rule thing goes a long way towards not wasting your time, your clients, or the sellers.

Thanks....

Hannah, Jacob & Cooper

"He taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty."

.... John Grogan, Marley & Me

It's amazing to me how quickly you can give your heart, when someone (or something) gives so fully to you. Such was the case with the little stray beagle that appeared at my home just over a month ago. I was tending to my horses at the run-in shed, when I heard a vehicle slow down, and a little girl shout "Bye Bye Puppy." I looked up to see the vehicle speeding away, and an adorable young Beagle running full speed towards me.

That was my introduction to "Cooper" as my kids named him. The name was a mistaken memory from the Fox & the Hound Disney movie. But even after we realized it was Copper, we still preferred Cooper, as it was my grandmother's maiden name (Coop was her nickname), as well as the last name of several good friends. :-)

I think they may have chosen our farm, because it was formerly owned by a prominent local veterinarian, who sold it to us when he retired. Perhaps they couldn't afford him anymore and thought it was kinder than taking him to the shelter.One of those things I never thought about when purchasing this farm... ;-)

This little dog was so, so sweet. Just wanted to be with you all the time. He loved the kids so much. They fell in love with him. Cooper got along with all the other dogs, and was very, very obedient. For the life of me, I could not figure out why somebody would ever dump this dog, unless it was dire financial circumstances. I called the vet and the shelters to report him found, but we had pretty much decided that if somebody didn't claim him, that he would become a member of our family. He was...

Long story short, this little dog loved us with every ounce of his being. And we fully gave our hearts in return. Only to have it broken this week, when he was killed in the road in front of our farm. He had tried to follow me out to work that morning, and I had turned back into the alternate drive to have him locked up. Which he was. But about an hour before I returned he was let loose, and I think he was still bound and determined to find me. Heaven found him first....

I want my children to learn, that even though there is pain in life, it is not a reason to shut down, and close the doors to your heart. Yes, we have shed more than a few tears, but we are better people having experienced such truly unconditional love and loyalty, even if just for a short time.

A lot of people would not open their hearts again after such hurt. And trust me, I am devastated. But it is a life lesson to love and be loved. No matter the tragedy, I will live. I will love.

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P.S. I hope you will consider opening your heart to a pet in need. Contact your local shelter, or one of many rescue groups, including Adopt A Beagle. Do it in honor of Cooper....

If you rob a bank, you will be prosecuted. Heavily prosecuted. However, the government is fully allowing banks to rob the American Homebuilders, that are barely hanging on by a thread as it is, in these tough economic times. Let me share with you some of my personal knowledge and experiences of what they have done to my family.

A little background info: I have been married to a homebuilder for 17 years. Although we are now separated, and pending a divorce, it truly pains me to see what they are doing to the business that we BOTH put our hearts and souls into for over 10 years. Our company is very representative of the average American small homebuilder. We built approximately 50 homes in 2007 and cut that down to about 20 last year. We are no longer building, but just trying to sell off remaining inventory. After that, I don't know what the company will do, other than the occasional pre-sold custom build.

We pride ourselves in our reputation. Not only with our customers, but within the industry. And our family names are on the business. We planned on handing it down to our children, if they so choose. Chris was a third generation homebuilder. Now, barring a true miracle, it probably won't go to a 4th generation. We are the faces and the hearts behind the names. We don't want you to look at us as a statistic or just "another number." Everyone in this business has a "story" and these days it often involves a lot of pain.

We moved here for better opportunities from West Virginia back in 1999. Soon thereafter, Chris learned the "tools of the trade" from his Uncle, who has been in the building business for around 20 years. It came natural to him, as his grandfather, and great uncles, had all been builders and tradesmen as well. I got my real estate license shortly after he started building, and together we partnered into building our company into a business that in 2007 was listed as one of the top 25 builders in Metro Charlotte (even against the BIG guys).

While over the last ten years, we have enjoyed many rewards and opportunities of this business, we have never been "filthy rich." We have lived comfortably and purchased our family farm, after a 3 year search, for an affordable amount. We paid our employees well, and considered them not only our business partners, but our extended family. Our last remaining employee will leave "our family" tomorrow.

Unless you have ever owned a small business, you can not possibly know how much it hurts to let good, hard working employees go, thru no fault of their own. Worrying about how they will feed their families and pay their bills. But we have our own children to feed, and our own bills to pay too. But we have ALWAYS paid... This is where the banks come in. While we have made many tough decisions, dismissed employees, consolidated offices, and made huge cut backs, we have always paid our bills.

This includes thousands upon thousands of dollars of commercial loans and their interest "carry." Most of these notes were issued a year or more ago. At one year, these notes are either "called" or "renewed" by the commercial lenders. We have never, to my knowledge, missed a payment. Something that we're proud of, but now feel like we are also being penalized for. Banks will NOT negotiate with a debtor that is not behind. In fact, upon renewal they are RAISING the Interest rates on these commercial loans in SPITE of the prime interest rate being SIGNIFICANTLY lower, than when the original note was issued! This is also in spite of our good payment history. Our personal experience has been a 2-3% rate hike over a commonly issued 6% original commercial loan from last year.

The banks say that this is "risk management." I think it is HIGHWAY ROBBERY, and that at the very least I want the American public to know what they have done. They are "socking it to" the ones of us who are left, to make up for the ones already gone. They are running us out of business with these rates and practices. Many, many of our builder and trade friends are truly suffering. Losing their new and personal homes, filing bankruptcy, and yes even ... going hungry. These are not just statistics people, they are families.

Today, I got a call from a closing attorney regarding a transaction scheduled to close tomorrow (thank God!). But the banks and the title insurance nearly derailed this sale, which would have been devastating not only to us, but to the homebuyer, I am sure. It seems that banks have requested that no title insurance be given unless, not only the builder signs there are no lien waivers, but that each and EVERY VENDOR who EVER worked on that home, signs lien waivers too.

This news comes a DAY before closing! And many of the original framers, roofers, and various vendors are now out of the business. We have no idea how to even track them down. We have a few new ones on our list to complete warranty work, and that is about it.

I never thought I would say this, but I am glad the home has sat finished for nearly a year. It was our saving grace. I remembered that in the state of North Carolina, that all mechanic's liens HAVE to be filed within 120 days of completion (certificate of occupancy). I told Chris to call back the Attorney's office and tell the Title Insurance Company AND Bank of America, to "wipe their hineys" with the CO, and that they better not stand in the way of this closing.

Yes indeed, I was mad, but I am gonna get my paycheck tomorrow. And Chris will pay off this loan, at least, to another greedy lender who recently raised our rates extraordinarily. And hopefully, we still have enough left in our dwindling savings to keep paying for our own home, and for our children's meals.

But we are now at a definite crossroads, where we too are contemplating, pursuing other means of providing. Even though we both take great pride in our individual companies, and what we have accomplished, that won't keep paying the bills.

And consumers (and buyer agents too), something else you should know, just because you see that the Seller/Builder is walking away with a few thousand dollars from the closing, please do NOT think they have made that all as profit. I have recently had to stop going to closings because I had an obnoxious buyer who went off that we "made money." He didn't realize that my family personally took a $40K loss on that house, and just the lender got paid. I was so mad but restrained myself to the point of just shaking my head, walking out, bursting into tears, and punching the wall (instead of him) on the way out of the building.

Don't worry I still review all HUD statements prior to closings for Sellers, and attend with my buyers. But I admit I get too emotional, knowing how much money I, or Chris, or one of my other builder friends, is losing at that table...

I do not look at these things with regrets. I do have hope. I have experienced this before growing up in the hills of West Virginia, and knowing what hungry and poor, really is. It's not that bad ... And I pray it never is. I do know these hard times are just life lessons that teach us to appreciate the good times that we have had, and that hopefully we will have again. I don't mean to be the "downer" or want sympathy or empathy. But we are the face of the American builder that these lending practices (i.e. ROBBERY) are destroying. The American public can either choose to ignore it and turn away, or fight back.

And if you know me, I am a fighter....

Because these are MY Faces Behind the Story...

Copyright 2009 monroescoop.com Union County, NC 28110

Snow in the Carolinas! A 2nd time this year!

Twitter Friend @SteveSherron, of the Monroe Scoop took some of my simple shots, taken with my i-Phone and made this little video. This is my farm, Blessing Hill, located in Waxhaw, North Carolina. I love the outdoors and even when it snows, I like to be out "in it."

One of the great things about Waxhaw, is that there are many scenic farms, and beautiful parks, like Cane Creek where you can enjoy the great outdoors, and scenic views. And yes, we do REALLY have four seasons. These shots are proof!

I hope all of you take time out of your busy day, to stop and look around you, and enjoy the great outdoors. Have a great day!

P.S. Please check out Steve's site at the Monroe Scoop for lots of local information, and more great video's. Get the Scoop on Union County!