Marney Kirk, Towson, Maryland Real Estate

Last week I attended Real Estate Barcamp Washington, DC. I will admit, I was not feeling terrific, so I know I didn't get the most out of the day.

Add onto that the major issue I had blowing up in my face on a deal, my head was just not there.

But what came of that was just amazing.

I was lucky enough to be sitting next to Derek Massey, President of Mid-Atlantic Settlement Services. I had to leave the room to try to sort a few things out, and then sent him a text message about my issue (as it involved title, and I knew he could help me think things through).

Minutes later he arrives at my side, asking, "What can I do?"

Let me say that the title issue is on my listing, where the deed says one thing, but the title insurance policy from when these owners bought the place says something else. I want to note that Derek's company did not handle this deal nor were they chosen by the buyer to settle the property this time around.

But what did he do? He got on the phone. Got some answers. Because I was in need.

You can't ask for a better friend than this. He's not getting anything out of this deal. He actually is using this as an example for his company as to make sure errors like this don't happen on his watch (again, I reiterate, his company was in NO WAY responsible for this AT ALL.). Yet HE and THEY helped.

So what did I learn at Barcamp? That even if the sessions didn't meet my needs at the time, the PEOPLE THERE DO.

Thank you, Derek. I appreciate your help and friendship.

PS: We met originally on Twitter -- behold the power of social media!

The $8,000 tax credit has certainly been a great asset to my real estate business, as a few of my listings sold quickly to buyers hungry to get that back on next year's taxes.

What I am finding NOW though, is that is has the potential to hurt some buyers! I had a long & great conversation with one couple, who hopefully will wait for the right house and not act JUST BECAUSE of the credit.

They have lost out on 3 houses in Baltimore County they were interested in (luckily they weren't in LOVE with any of them!) because people really want this credit. Houses that have been on the market for MONTHS are selling now, with those settlement dates justbeforethecreditrunsout in November.

All of a sudden I was getting frantic emails about wanting to see houses that I KNEW from our buyer counseling session wouldn't work for them. And they wanted to see them NOW.

Why?

$8,000 in their pocket next year.

That is a very powerful thing, that $8,000. But wouldn't a $300,000 MISTAKE be worse?

We, as agents, need to be aware and advise our clients well as to whether waiting or moving forward is in their best interest. In some cases, it very well may NOT be, and we have to be able to counsel them to see and understand that fact!

This past Thursday was REBlogworld -- or Real Estate Blogworld -- at the Las Vegas Convention Center. I was very excited to be able to attend, and walked away with some great information.

Now, we have some agents here on ActiveRain that do this extremely well, and they know a lot of this information already, and I knew some of it...but this really kicked me into high gear. (I hope! :-) )

One session that really spoke to me had a panel of hyperlocal bloggers. Two of them are agents who have been writing about their counties and local happenings very effectively for years.

I want to be them for Baltimore County!

Already I have written two posts on my personal website, one published, the second ready to be published tomorrow.

I have another idea in mind and will be writing that one tomorrow as well.

These are things I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING ALREADY!

What are they? Writing about WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY COMMUNITY THIS WEEKEND.

I AM the area professional when it comes to Towson, Timonium, and Hunt Valley Real Estate. I not only know the houses, neighborhoods, sales, and updates, I also know the events happening in my community.

What better way to exemplify this than to share when events are happening in the neighborhood with details, directions, and ideas?

So this is my new focus, my drive.

My first post was about the Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival in Patterson Park on Saturday.

The one going up tomorrow is the final Autumn Wine Fest at Boordy Vineyards in Baltimore County.

The next one will be about the CreepyWoods Haunted Forest -- new this year in Baltimore County!

So THANK YOU, REBlogworld, for giving me the ideas to share and help me to better myself!

I recently wrote about the crazy week where I listed three fantastic properties. The homes were all gorgeous and priced well.

I am proud to report that all three are under contract.

Of course, we have trials to overcome with scheduling coinciding closings, and the way loans have been happening recently, I know that until they actually settle, we are not done.

I am just SO proud of my sellers, and their hard work to get their homes ready to sell, their willingness to listen to advice, and their understanding of how the process is going to work.

They have been flexible, wonderful, nervous, and excited. I have enjoyed working with them because they have been so amazing!

So, THANK YOU, my sellers of these three properties. You are incredible, and I look forward to our journeys to settlements!

Driving to pick up my son each day, I have been seeing signs galore for the "Baltimore Party in the Park" this Sunday the 10th from 11-5. I have to admit my interest was piqued, and this evening I finally got the chance to look at the website for this party.

What I discovered was something remarkable.

The Nikki Perlow Foundation was founded to celebrate the life of an almost 22 year old young woman who died of an accidental overdose one month shy of her 22nd birthday in 2007. She had been struggling with sobriety after dabbling in drugs as a teenager, had been in multiple rehab facilities, and sober for 15 months when she dove back in and then overdosed.

Rather than wallow, the family created this foundation to help others in the same position as they had been in. They offer financial, emotional, and placement aid to families struggling with the disease of addiction.

The Party in the Park is a day to celebrate, to bring families in the Timonium and Cockeysville communities together for a day of music (including the incredibly popular kids bank, MILKSHAKE!), games (moonbounce!), facepainting, and fun.

To take something so tragic, and turn it into something so good for a community is uplifting. The Perlow family is one I now admire, and look forward to meeting.

So if you are out in the Baltimore County area on Saturday, stop by from 11-5. I am certain you will be glad you did.