Jim Rake

When you're interested in purchasing something, where do you turn for information on the product you're after? Friends? Family? A local store? Well, according to those that study buyers' habits, more and more consumers visit the internet at least once before purchasing an item they're interested in.

Today's home buyers are using the internet more than ever to begin their home search. According to NewCondosOnline, over 80 percent of home buyers use the Internet as a Primary tool in their home search.

So, if that's the case, and you're a provider of data on homes (that means, Realtors), are you providing prospective home buyers & sellers with what they need? If not, why not? Perhaps it's because you've bought into (haven't we all, at one time or another?) one of those "can't miss" get-rich-quick marketing schemes that convinced you, it's all about your image. Well, while there might some truth to the image thing, customers and clients are looking for information on homes, first & foremost.

Surveys have shown that those seeking a home, and using the web for their search, are looking for:

1. Information on homes.

2. Neighborhood information, to include school ratings.

3. Transportation options. In our location, Northern Virginia, commuting options are something almost anyone relocating to this area considers before deciding on their choice of where to live.

4. Community Activities, to include recreational and cultural opportunities for the entire family.

In today's digital world, it's vital that you at least participate in the game. Because, as they say, "if you don't play, you can't win". In other words, if you don't have an online presence, you won't be seen or found. So, if you go to the trouble and expense to market yourself online, just make sure you're "answering the mail." If you're not providing prospective home buyers and sellers with data that assists them in pursuit of their objective, there are plenty of others who are.

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A landmark settlement was reached earlier this week between Florida and Countrywide Financial Corp. The agreement establishes the country's most comprehensive mortgage-modification program, resolving allegations of predatory lending that Florida and ten other states have made against Countrywide. Those states participating in the agreement with Florida are Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.

The agreement calls for Countrywide to provide as much as $8.7 billion in loan relief, assisting some 400,000 borrowers across the country. The program is aimed at borrowers who had secured what are termed as "the most risky loans." Those include adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) that feature what's been characterized as a teaser rate to attract buyers, whose rate then rose significantly after expiration of the teaser.

While this latest agreement between Countrywide Financial Corp. and its borrowers is a step in the right direction, it is merely a first step in attempting to rescue the economy from the mortgage crisis Tsunami. Presidential politics aside, there are miles to go before we right the mortagage mess ship. With projected foreclosure estimates in the millions, much more relief borrower relief is expected, and, according to many of our leaders in Congress, help is on the way. As they say, better late than never.

To Continue Reading this Article, Click Here: That's Why It's Called the Sunshine State

Sitting in front of your High Definition (HD) big screen television, watching somebody else live their life can be awfully tempting at times. I mean, you're in that controlled environment. Better yet, YOUR controlled environment! But, most of us, sooner or later, hopefully, wake up from watching other's lives, and decide to get out and experience the many activities our communities have to offer for ourselves.

But, once we decide to get out and find out what's happening, where do we go to discover what's taking place in our cities or neighborhoods? For many of us, we depend on that weekly newspaper insert. In this area, the local newspaper, the Free Lance Star, has its weekely Weekender section that does a splendid job of providing a rundown of local things that are happening. But for us online types, there may be an easier solution.

A few months back, sitting in front of the computer, I ran across AmericanTowns.com. Talk about community information! When you have a moment, take a look. It offers the latest in Community News. Some of the items covered are:

School Activities, Classified Ads, Church Activities, Community Events (like the Pumpkin Patch, Guide To Apple Picking Orchards, Movie Guides, Volunteer Opportunities, etc.), Best Local Gas Prices, Classified Ads, Recreational Activity Sign Up, Arts & Entertainment News, Local Traffic Videos, Area Maps...in other words, Just about Everything!

White Water Thrill

American Towns has about all you'd want to know about your local area. As a matter of fact, it covers the entire U.S. Make sure you take advantage of this wonderful online tool. You've got all you want to know at your fingertips. So, do yourself a favor, stop playing the couch potato (not just on weekends) and start enjoying all that your local area has to offer!

To Continue Reading this Article, Click Here: What's Happening in Your Neighborhood?

Each year, between the end of summer and the Columbus Day Weekend, we try to do a little house cleaning. And, apparently, so do others. While a garage sale regular I'm not, plenty of my neighbors are. And, for all of us the intent is the same; get rid of stuff we no longer need. But, what do we do with that left over toxic or hazardous material we have sitting around? You know, those old paint cans, cleaning solvents, fertilizer, and other chemicals that have been sitting in the garage or shed for years.

Both local area counties, Stafford & Spotsylvania, set aside dedicated time each year for its residents to get rid of this kind of waste. Stafford's hazardous waste collection is scheduled for the weekend of October 17-18. Spotylvania's is September 27th. In both each cases, the event is for county residents only. According to local gudelines, hazardous material is any "that can catch fire, react or explode when mixed with other substances, or is corrosive or toxic."

Take advantage of your local waste dumps and landfills. They've provided us with the opportunity to get rid of some of that toxic material we've left over and will probably never use. Now, if I can just get my teenager to clean his room, we'll be set for the Columbus Day holiday. It may mean an extra toxic waste run to the landfill, but it'll be well worth it!

To Continue Reading this Article, Click Here: Hazardous Waste and You

"Facts don't cease to exist because they are ignored"

Aldous Huxley

Have you ever heard the "boiled frog" story?. You know, the frog who starts out in a cold pan of water, and sits there while the temperature slowly rises, and before it realizes it, it has been boiled to death. It is one story I've often used in my attempts to teach my sons a lesson or two.

The use of this anecdote or object lesson serves as a warning of the perils of complacency or false sense of security. By the time you've realized the perilous state you're in, you're past the point of rescue or return. In other words, you're doomed!

How real estate is bought and sold has changed tremendously since the development of the web and the digital age. The capabilities of the internet have revolutionized how we do business. Every year, we've seen an increase in the percentage of buyers who begin their search for homes via the internet. This makes perfect sense. When homes are simply a few mouse clicks away, why wouldn't you choose the easiest path of resistence?

The California Association of Realtors trade group recently reported that in its annual survey of home buyers, 78% percent of buyers used the internet as an important part of their home buying and selection process. This was an increase of six percent from the previous year, and followed the increasing pattern of previous years. According to Sherry Chris, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens, this shift of information access has had a dramatic change on the real estate busness. Today's "consumer has access to all the infomation now, it is much different than it used to be."

Most of us agree that one of the beauties of the web is the education it provides. On just about any subject, there's more information available than you have time to read, or watch (Thank you, YouTube). For home buyers, while there are a number of different available "Homes For Sale" sites, the key question might be, "Are you using a search for homes site that is drawn directly from the MLS? If not, you should be. Why? Because they provide you the real time status of homes. If a home is Under Contract or Sold, the actual/current status will be reflected, not two day, or two week old status. If you're working with a Realtor, they should be providing you with a daily feed of active homes directly from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that are on the market that match your search criteria. If they aren't, ask them to provide you this free service. If they are unable to meet this need, it might be time to look for another Realtor.

For some real estate agents, these modern search tools aren't exactly what the doctor ordered. While they certainly appreciate the online search for homes capability, their willingness to educate and provide useful online home related information to their clients isn't met with that same enthusiasm. That doesn't necessarily mean they don't want their customers or clients to have the information on financing options, home inspections, settlement issues, moving links, and local utility providers, among other things. It simply means that THEY aren't providing the information. I suppose the question is, "Why?"

The information paradigm has shifted in the home buying and selling business. What used to be something controlled to a large degree by those inside the real estate marketing club, has now been put on the web for all to see. We live in an "open source" or online world. For buyers, there's no excuse not to take advantage of everything that's available concerning neighborhoods, county agencies, schools, and homes, and anything else about the next place you'll be calling home. These days you can often tour a prospective neighborhood and walk through a home from across the globe months before you ever set foot in your new location, by just going to the web.

For agents, we can provide our clients more information about their new county, city, local culture, and home, than they could ever desire to know, in just a few minutes by maneuvering the mouse and using the keyboard. I certainly appreciate clients that have done their research before beginning their quest for their next home. They, in turn, appreciate more information as opposed to less.

As far as the boiled frog story goes; it is an urban legend and not true. Tests have shown that as the water temperature increases, the frog becomes more and more active in its attempts to escape the gradually increasing water temperature. If there is a way to jump out of the hot water, the frog will. And, that kind of makes sense. There aren't many of us who like being in hot water.

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