Suzi Gravenstuk, REALTOR®, Broker

*Note: This blog is posted to various Active Rain Groups as well as Localism because I am seeking the opinions of Active Rain members. At this time comments cannot be posted to Localism blogs.

FAQ's:

Why spend time Blogging? At this time my profile has been viewed 10574 times. At some point blogging may benefit my clients, whether they have a personal appreciation for blogging or not.

Conclusion: Someone, somewhere is interested in at least 1 or some of my posts. An average "post" statistic I look at is: views: ex-3410 clicks: ex-133 . Statistics confirm there is a MS Gulf Coast readership out there besides spyders, crawlers, and business to business folks wanting to improve my income with their products.

Blogging is my "me" time. It helps me to center and focus. Usually when writing a post, I will need to research. Research is a good thing; an investment of sorts.

I began my Active Rain Blog in 2006 as the Coast was still in a dreadful struggle to rise again after hurricane Katrina. I have learned a lot from the Active Rain membership at large. Over time, I also learned that some one, somewhere is tuning into my blog. From looking at Active Rain Statistics, I gather that whoever is tuning in is attracted to photos. My "photoblogs" usually get around 3000 views, even when I think the topic might be a bit lackluster.

Why would I discuss facets of Active Rain membership at Localism.com ? Sometimes there is cross over. Its that simple.We can only imagine what the makeup of the audience is. I figure that that both Localism and Active Rain have readers that are real estate professionals and/or individuals with a real estate need. Many of the super folks that I now work with are Go Zone investors across the United States.When I write for Localism, I write with these clients in mind and prospective MS Gulf Coast relocating households. I try to imagine what I would want to know.I try to give a glimpse of the nature of "Localism" for these investors and potential buyers or renters. Real life.

Because of the popularity of original photo-blogs, I also imagine that some of the people who left the area after Katrina are homesick and stop by for a photo fix.

*Now, just in case some of the investors I work with are tuning in--below are some excellent sites to review Section 8. The Landlord Association , Hud Groups: Landlords ,Hud Fact Sheet .

*For anyone tuning in for any reason--Section 8 Landlords are scattered about all over the place. Section 8 is not the same as the old idea of "projects". Section 8 tenants and land lords do not have any outward sign of help with government funding. In my opinion, the housing allowance for section 8 is at the upper moderate income level. This may be one reason why people without section 8 often seem to have difficulty paying the same rent as those with a section 8 allowance have. I repeat--Section 8 does not mean you are a slum, a project, or have run down property. NO one but you, the tennant, the property manager if you have one, and Uncle Sam will know that your particular property is involved with section 8.

Locally, the CAL Group is on both the SRAP (Small Rental Assistance Program) and Section 8 lists for investors that choose to be in either or both programs. Other than that CAL does extensive multi-media advertising.

I did find the Go Section 8 website interesting. Please check it out and let me know what you think.Go Section 8 Website Info

Why do I seem to change my mind about the market? Because the market changes. My visual definition: the housing market reminds me of the waves I watch when walking the piers along Beach Boulevard. The only constant thing about the waves is that they are there and will continue to be waves until the end of time.

How can you hear so many different interpretations of the current state of the market? Let's try a personal analogy to illustrate this. Data begins in the Field. Think of me as a Field Worker/Field Agent. I love the one on one contact and being at a place that I can personally observe what is going on. The data I gather, what is in my mind and sometimes comes out of my mouth--is related to raw data. This data has not been manipulated, caluculated, run through programs, analyzed or interpreted. It is what it is. However, few agents or field workers can have enough contacts to actually develop reliable, general, across the board theories. At most, we develop suspicions of trends. We take into consideration, current competition and what our soon to move prosepects and residents with pending lease renewals ask us to match or compete with. By the way, we are fortunate if they tell us what other offers they are contemplating. Some investors may care about the raw data the field agents are encountering; some may not.

By the time you see reports, the conclusions are likely a bit stale, although you have the numbers for reliability--except, even the government sometimes relies on NAR reports. NAR reports ofen come from multiple agents entering data on the fly. There is likely a bit of error in those figures, although the errors may be accounted for by standard deviation. So, you may be talking to people with different purposes using data gained in different ways in different time frames. You may be hearing from a field team with raw, in your face information VS a sales team that gains statistically valid data through various proven resources.

Who is to say which type of data is most useful? Or, that either type is right, or wrong in any way? I will say this--I am immensely grateful for the investors who respect both sides of the data story. Now, please excuse me as I have a Saturday showing and a raw data gathering opportunity.

*The CAL Realty Group Currently has move in ready vacancies in Long Beach, Gulfport, and Biloxi/N. Biloxi. Some of our Investors accept/Welcome Section 8 residents.

I was doing property rounds at Avondale, the CAL community just off North HWY 15, Biloxi. I stopped by one of the homes that an owner staged. (Ignore the bounce house, that was for an open house.) So, I'm getting things out of my car and leave the trunk open. Kicked off my shoes to walk barefoot in the grass around to the back door to put a Supra lock on. I forgot my gadget and walked back around front.

There I met 2 of Harrison County's finest. They thought it odd that a car was parked in the driveway with the driver door open and the trunk lid up. They didn't say a word about my bare feet.

I smiled and told them "REALTOR at work." I laughed when I heard them calling in my car as REALTOR at work. ...OK maybe I have a weak funny bone. Anyway, they didn't leave immediately. So, I told them "Thank YOU" on behalf of CAL, the Owners, and the residents for looking out after us and keeping our communities safe."

They still did not leave. So, I told them my recent story about pursuing my hit and run driver. They still did not leave.

Finally one of them asked me how much one of "these" units rented for... Finally, finally--I asked the right question--hit me over the head next time; "Would you like to see inside." "Yes, with a grin."

Come to find out one of the gentlemen will be getting married soon and will start out renting. He left with my card. I locked up, went back to my car, put my shoes on and headed for Westbury in South Gulfport.

Westbury, CAL's newest community courtesy of investors, is conveniently (of course) located just off 5th at Cowan. Westbury is tucked away in residential neighborhood--so you won't find it by accident. However, if you are looking for a brand new townhome or flat near Beach Boulevard and Cowan; you know the drill:-) 228-222-3183 .

Several interesting design concepts here. The two end units are 3 bedroom, 2 bath while the middle units are 2 bedroom/2 bath. This could be a solution for extended families that REALLY need to be near each other, or friends. The thing is--to make the Friends and family concept work--you need to be among the first to lease. Hint...

Yes, I know some folks out there in cyber space are thinking where are the interior photos? I would rather show you myself. But if you insist on interior shots, I will have them soon. Actually, if you are truly interested I can snap shots and email from my Blackberry--except it seems that Blackberry shots leave a lot to be desired.

Communities are a lot more fun and interesting with people; and domestic pets under 20 lbs.

If you will soon be relocating, the CAL Realty Group has enough property and locations to always have a ready vacancy. We try to accomodate your situation. Long term leases are always preferred, but we will consider shorter rentals for example if you are buying a CAL built home, or buying any home, your work is temporary, etc.

Thanks for stopping by. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

If I arrive in Biloxi between 7:30 and 8:AM I have time to do the Casino Walk before going into the office. Actually, its the I-110 walk. If you are heading East on Beach Boulevard, put your right turn signal on at the lighthouse (Porter Ave intersection). If you park on the far West end of the parking lot you get about a mile in by walking the parking lot with the I-110 walk. If you were to continue walking past the Beau Rivage to the Hard Rock Casino that will net you about 2 miles round trip.

Its a pleasant way to start the day. It isn't a peace and quiet start because you have nearby traffic and very boistrous sea birds.

There is always someone to greet along the way.

Incidentally, if you decide to take this walk you are very near the CAL Group office. From Beach Boulevard make a left at the Shell station (Renoir). Take REnoir to the intersection with Dr. Martin Luther King. Enter the Parking lot. Look for the big white historic looking building, then focus in and you will see the CAL Group sign. Please call ahead, I would hate to miss you. (228-222-4203).

The CAL Group currently has rentals available in most areas of Gulfport and Biloxi, with some nice units in Long Beach also. We also have commercial space available in our building--actually--the building is for sale.

I have been on a roll lately. The other day I attracted the attention of not 1, but 2 families who were going to rent near each other. I was already visualizing how pleased the property owners would be.

So, it comes down to verifying employment. Rarely do you get an HR phone and fax number, so I knew I would need to do a little research. However, when I called the Supervisor of the prospect to get that information he verified the income, and position of the prospect. On top of that I got a glowing recommendation. He didn't seem sure in his recall of exact wages and pay periods. I said, "Okay. Do you have the Human Resource number? I'll just give them a quick call." The "Supervisor said, "Oh, we don't have a department like that..., we're drillers". Me, "OK. How about Accounts Payable?" No answer.

Well, I had a glowing recommendation. Almost all the blanks were filled in. I probably could have gone with that...But, no. I had the bright idea of looking the company up on the Internet and getting the number for the nonexistent HR office, as well as the fax number. I faxed over the request to finish the employment reference. Well, a few minutes later I got a call from the HR administrator. They had never heard of the "Supervisor". The employee had been terminated about two weeks ago. Wow! Lying on paper, and right to my face. The HR department was a little upset about the (F R A U D) as well.

I tried calling the applicants several times. Now, no one will answer my calls. Darn. I could have had fun with this; but the Supervisor must have tipped off my applicants. ...I'm just glad I had not tipped off the property owners that we had prospects.

That, in light of several other applicants that really, really wanted to rent not returning my phone calls any more. I became a little grumpy. Most likely that was why I followed the guy that rear ended me and took off. I did get 911 in on that escapade as reported in an earlier blog. I think I experienced a little displaced satisfaction when I saw him handcuffed and hauled down to the Biloxi PD. On top of his car being crumpled in the front end, he now has the following charges: Leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license, driving without insurance...

There was a time in my life that I would have felt guilty about pressing charges. No more. Standing up is the only way we can clean up some of the lying, cheating, scamming--just plain wrong behavior that is going on in our world today.

Speaking of scamming--I am publishing this blog to Localism Mississippi because I want the public to be aware that real estate scamming is rampant, and it is a two way street. As a rental prospect you need to be careful about who you respond to--As a Landlord, you need to be careful who you respond to.

In either position--before you do anything, PLEASE do some extra research. No matter which position you are in; renter, or Landlord, go to: Rental Scams and review the latest real estate scams. I also published a recent scam I experienced, but fortunately avoided at Craigslist, essentially warning Craigslist readers about scams originating at Craigslist.

Speaking of Rentals--if you are moving to Harrison County, Mississippi--contact me. I can most likely help you get settled and "Moving in the Right Direction". Many new moves will benefit from renting first, getting your bearings, then buying. I am equipped and ready to assist with the plan and process.

Tip: Any time you are meeting with a REALTOR or an agent get a couple of forms of photo id and ask for their license wallet card--which should match in some way, the business card.

Avondale is now on Google maps as Avondale/Hwy 15 Biloxi, MS.

Friday night before the Open House that I had been planning for almost a month--we had a huge impressive thunder storm. We thought it just made a lot of noise until the next morning. I saw sights such as the following:

Keep in mind this is the Long Beach High School Parking lot, a block North and a block West of my residence. This shot almost looks like one of my harbor shots.

This photo was taken from my car. Incidentally, this property has been for sale for a long, long time. I expect some day, a developer will buy it and w will see a new community in this area. Sometimes I wonder what it would take to "de-sensitize" the North side of 28th street to rain..."

Needless to say, it was very wet out. Highwy 15 was crowded with cars, boats, campers and golf carts that had been moved away from low lying residences. It always looks very strange when low lying area evacuate their motor vehicles. I experienced a growing sense of dread. What would Avondale's status be?

Though the East side of Highway 15 was littered with Parked Vehicles avoiding low lying flood water--The West side of Highway 15, where Avondale is located was almost dry. There was barely a puddle of water anywhere. I was grateful that I work with developers that know how to choose and develop land that doesn't flood in flood prone areas. As a matter of fact we've had a few applications from folks who are tired of being flooded out when it rains. Of course we all know that applications are merely formal wishes until an application is qualified and approved.

By the way, we have several 3bed 2ba Garden Home (duplex style) if homes that have both sides available. This could be a great solution for a large extended family. Think of it as a 6 bedroom, 4 bath home with 2living areas and 2 kitchens...I would bet that someone would accept $1700 to $1750 mo depending on lease term.

Photos from the Open House this past Saturday reminds me to tell everyone that this grouping of 2 bed 1 and 1/2 bath townhomes has recently had a big, huge, very important change. This owner decided to not remain in the SRAP program. This means that every single person that was told they made too much money to live in these attractive and comfortable Townhomes--now qualify.

Typical lease terms are 12 months; although we do have some executive rentals with shorter terms.

Remember, All students go to D'Iberville schools unless you choose a private school.

If you are thinking of relocating to any town in Harrison County, Mississippi--Give the CAL Group a call. We'll leave a light on for you AND move you in the right direction" RBI. Rent, Buy, INvest. Remember, "Hoping for a good future without investing in today is like a farmer waiting for a crop without ever planting any seed."

Suzi Gravenstuk, committed to showing 777.