If the Home Seller Says.... This is what they really Mean! - Mar 25 10:01 PM
For all of us that are veterans in real estate we've heard every possible line a potential home seller can say while they try to negotiate in a position of strength! The problem is that most of them really don't know what they are saying and how it will most likely kill any chances of selling! Any person knows that it is wrong to paint yourself into a corner with no way out, yet home sellers ...
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Atlanta Georgia Drought - How Will it Impact Georgia and Future Growth? - Oct 22 12:08 AM
For all those that have not heard we have a tremendous drought taking place in Georgia. This one is the real thing. We are down to a 90 day supply, before they tap into the reserves! As of right now there are no other contingencies once we hit the critical level. When the water is gone, that is it! No back up plans! I am surprised that everyone has waited so long before taking any real ...
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Hmmm . .. How Functional Is VACANT? - Oct 29 06:32 PM
Remember, you are selling a HOUSE, a property; space. Disassociate yourself.
Okay, but what if . . .
What if the house you are selling is vacant? Well, it becomes easier to disassociate yourself! YEA! After all, your belongings have already been removed and that, of course, is what made it home.
Now the problem becomes that your disassociation ; well, uh, is the very disassociation your vacant house is displaying to all the potential buyers. Uh-Oh!
Let's step back and think about ...
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How To Get Ripped Off In One Step - Mar 24 12:06 PM
I teach real estate investing to beginners and seasoned professionals. Last Saturday I had a class of 18 seasoned investors with varying degrees of success and experience ranging from over 30 years down to just over a year and one guy who has never actually bought anything but has been to virtually every class I have held and read all of my booklets and articles. So today he sends a deal to me to "look over" ...
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Stopping The Confusion About The New FHA/FNMA Loan Limits - Feb 19 08:46 AM
Unbelievable! That's the number of emails I am getting from all across the nation about the new FHA loan limits. You need to stop thinking right now that you can borrow $729,750 using FHA on a single family home anywhere in the United States. That's not what the change is and it is not what the change is going to be. That is the agreed upon MAXIMUM for ANY FHA loan and that will be for ...
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Is It Worth Staging a $129K Home? - May 07 05:22 PM
I read a very interesting blog this morning authored by Phyllis Pafumi, Owner of Restyled to Sell in NJ. Phyllis points out that Home Staging is for real people, real houses and real budgets. I couldn't agree more.
I too get asked by Realtors and home sellers whether staging is worth the investment for the lower priced homes. I use the following example to help make my point.
Scenario: Occupied home, not yet listed. This couple had ...
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Unacceptable... - Apr 26 02:48 PM
While coming home from ice skating with my son today, I drove by a listing. It looked kind of interesting. Pretty yard, nice area. It made me a bit curious...
So, when I got home and my son was taking his nap, I looked it up on the MLS. I'm not going to discuss the price because it is not material. I didn't run comps to see how well priced it was for the neighborhood, but my ...
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Mystery Unveiled! How To Sell Your Clayton County House! - Sep 25 09:16 PM
Mystery Unveiled! How To Sell Your Clayton County House!
We have all read the headlines. Clayton County, Georgia, is a tough place to sell houses. It has even been reported to us that some homeowners have been informed by their agents that the reason their properties have not sold is because their house is in Clayton County.
We have news for them. That is absolutely not true.
The fundamental truth is that any house priced competitively in ...
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Home Buyer Negotiations: Is There Ever A Good Time To Be In A Backup Situation As A Home Buyer? - Nov 09 05:28 AM
In this changing Real Estate market there are time when backups are common and times when they are not. Still the fact remains that as a home buyer for real estate, it's rarely a good position to be in as a backup.
Now that the mortgage restrictions are heavier and ever changing, the number of contracts that fall through is more indictive of an inexperienced agent. What I mean by that, is that inexperienced agents will ...
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GIve me Land, lots of land...don't fence me in (Sing it now) - Oct 03 08:13 AM
In my last blog I talked about buying water property. Especially water property that was on a Corp of Engineer Lake. In this blog I am writing about mountain property. Your buyers or friend moving to the mountains may be coming from an urban or different setting. They are looking for mountain property. They don't want to be fenced in. They see the trees hear the streams and are taking out their check books. Later they ...
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Who's the Hero Now? - Jun 29 06:17 PM
This week I have had a couple of staging consultation appointments that have beckoned me to seek opinions from stagers and realtors. First I'll lay out the scenario; summarize my concern; and then follow up with my opinion.
Scenario: In both cases the homes have been listed for quite some time (more than 6 months.) In one case, (I will refer to as STAGE 1) the homeowner still occupies the home. In the other case, (STAGE 2) ...
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Selling Above What You Paid For It | Aversion for Selling at A Loss | Decision Time For Sellers - Sep 22 10:58 PM
I just finished reading several well written real estate articles that explored a reality check for home sellers. It was quite informative, and compared other periods of peaks in the real estate market in the late 1980's and draws some comparisons to our current situations. It seems as though a mathematician could easily dispense solutions for homeowners. The problem is the reluctance of the homeowner to embrace the economist approach. We also were talking to some ...
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Buy first, sell later? Sell first, buy later? Recommendations? - Mar 01 07:17 AM
A common question of home owners in todays market cuts right through all the nonsense. Sellers that are relocating, and have to sell...seller's downsizing, or young families expanding...all ask the same question. We are considering purchasing a new home, but in this market is it wise to buy first, and then sell our home? Or is it wiser to get this home under contract and sold and then buy?
Since it is the seller's money, and not ...
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Activities and Happens in Gwinnett County, GA February 2007 - Feb 10 03:09 AM
I would like to share some of the events occurring in my community for the month of February.
On February 3, 2007 a new 31,040-square-foot Aquatic Center opened in Bethesda Park. This includes a nearly 7,000-square-foot indoor leisure pool with zero-entry beach-style access. This facility is available for rent Friday through Sunday after normal operating hours.
On February 10th Centerville County Center will host a Black History Celebration. A musical event celebrating people and heritage: Black History ...
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My 500th Blog on ActiveRain! - Mar 19 09:52 PM
Where has the time gone that this momentous moment has come so fast? It seems like just yesterday that I joined ActiveRain! I guess the topics I wrote about varied from showing homes, selling homes, buying homes, agency, contracts, ethics, Internet, closing techniques, home seller tips, Atlanta homes for sale, Atlanta luxury homes, localism and so much more! So what did it get me? Referrals, sales, the sale of my own personal home a few closed ...
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Alpharetta Bank Fails & Mortgage Related Issues Are to Blame | FDIC Shuts Alpharetta Based NetBank Down Today - Sep 28 08:05 PM
I was searching for some Atlanta local news this evening and I came across something I wasn't looking for. It seems that as of 3PM today the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC and the Office of Thrift Supervision shut down a local bank which is Internet based and has no physical branches. The name of the bank is Netbank based out of Alpharetta Georgia, and it has over 2.5 Billion in assets, and over 1200 employees. ...
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Picture This for Showings! - Jul 03 04:31 PM
The Internet has changed everything regarding Real Estate MarketingToday, Class, we are going to explore: Lesson 1: No posted pictures = a no showIllustration -- (Yeah, right . . . whatever . . .) Lesson 2: Unappealing pictures = very few showingsIllustration -- Lesson 3: Providing inaccurate pictures = angry showingsIllustration -- Illegal marketing wallpaper use (although this is the best use for wallpaper that I have seen) Lesson 4: Average pictures = average showingsIllustration -- Lesson 5: Staged Home Pictures ...
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My First ActiveRain Post - Mar 20 09:03 AM
I'm an ActiveRain newbie, and I've been told that blogging is the wave of the future. I'm a bank foreclosure and short-sale specialist in Coweta County Ga!
I am looking forward to making ActiveRain an important part of my already busy day. There is plenty here to read and a lot I can learn, and if I'm lucky, maybe even pick up a little business!
If you know of anyone in the Coweta County GA area looking for a ...
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Win Win is a Loser! - May 06 09:55 AM
The big term for the last several years was "Win..Win!" In today's market it is a total loser. It represents an agent that does not know the basics of negotiating, and is a capitulation in representing your client's needs. If an agent has a signed agency with a buyer or seller, the responsibility of the agent is to get the best possible terms. It does not mean that there should be concern for the other party that ...
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Mountain Magic - Jul 09 11:27 AM
Well this is my first attempt at blogging and I hope it is fun and useful to everyone that takes the time to read it. Most of my information will concern real estate with emphasis on the North Georgia Mountains. I have been a member of AR for about a week and have tried to take the time to read and comment on interesting blogs and to see what this blogging is all about. I could ...
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Why Grandma's Kitchen May Be Harder To Sell - Feb 24 07:59 AM
I caught the tail end of a news report the other day on one of our local stations regarding a couple who have had their home on the market for 2 years. As a home stager, this obviously caught my attention. They showed the interior of the home and more specifically the kitchen. Proudly displayed on a wall was a sign that read: Grandma's Kitchen. Evidence, I'm sure, of all the wonderful meals she's made and ...
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HELLO from Blue Ridge, Georgia! - Feb 21 12:12 PM
HELLO from Blue Ridge, Georgia! I am Barbara Argo. I have a motto: "I don't want to stand at the setting sun and regret the things I've not done." And that is precisely why my husband and I moved to the North Georgia Mountains. We wanted to pursue living in the beautiful and picturesque mountains, to breathe the cool, clean air, to enjoy the friendly people and to help other people realize their dreams of owning ...
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Update: Atlanta's SIF Round Tables At IKEA - Jan 07 06:47 PM
UPDATE: January 14th, 2008: The 10:00 a.m. round table is now full. Slots are still available for the 2:00 pm round table. However, responses are flooding our inbox so, hurry! Home Staging Professionals In Georgia Unite!The details you've been waiting for....The event you won't want to miss!In an effort to help unify the staging industry and to help further promote staging professionals throughout the state of Georgia we are hosting two separate round table sessions at IKEA. There ...
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How Many Agents Does It Take To Screw in a Light Bulb? - May 05 10:14 AM
How Many Agents Does It Take To Screw in a Light Bulb? There was a time that the answer to this question could be "As many as it takes!" I think that we all agree the real estate market is now moving in a very different direction. The Atlanta area had about 8500 agents in the 1990's when we averaged about 3500 home sales a month. Around 2004-2004 we still only had about 12500 agents and ...
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Improving Interest Rates and Other Market News - Mar 12 03:33 PM
YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO BUY A NEW HOME TODAY - AT LEAST LESS OF AN EXCUSE
A must read for anyone who depends on mortgages and finance to buy or sell a home.
It's always good to see the rates in the fives. What is strange is why buyers wait "for a better rate" when the are in the fives. Then again it really is our fault and the fault of the American though process in ...
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Are these agents nuts? - Sep 13 06:03 PM
Our company opened another new office today as we continue to takeover the Atlanta real estate market and a good free lunch was a superb bonus. While at the open house I met one of our new strategic partners from a termite company. I asked him if the recent heat wave was as good for his business as i believed. (The 100 degree heat and little rain has driven every bug known to man into our ...
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Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On - Feb 11 12:01 PM
Here, in the North Georgia Mountains, our homes are total electric unless an owner or a builder chooses to have a propane gas tank installed (usually for the purpose of gas logs in the fireplace and possibly an occasional gas connection in the kitchen).I found that when I came to live full time in the mountains, the security of having heat was a major priority so that I would not have to worry about whatever mother nature might ...
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The Millon Dollar Club - Dec 30 10:26 AM
I recently attended a local meeting of our board of Realtors. Our board does a lot of good work. The guest speaker was a minister who runs an out reach program. Very good stuff and we all contribute. In her speech she mentioned that ,"she didn't know what the million dollar club was but wanted to be a member." She said it rather tongue and cheek but in the back of her mind I knew she ...
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Home Is Where the Heart Is; The Wallet's Where the House Is! - Aug 15 02:02 PM
Home Staging by a professional home stager prior to placing your home on the market is a tool that provides multiple home selling advantages. Having been a Realtor® for many years, and now a professional home stager, I have witnessed both the financial and emotional advantages home staging provides to home sellers over, and over again.
First, the wallet's where the house is! it's important to look at your current market statistics with your Realtor®. The numbers ...
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Got another lead from AR - Aug 09 06:34 AM
Yeah you guys!!!
I got another lead from AR. This young lady called me over the weekend, and wanted me to be her agent, she is moving to GA from N. Carolina.
This lead came in a perfect time, as I was really frustrated with my inactivity when it came to real estate... I have been concentrating on other areas in my life, with good reason, but I needed a reminder that I am in the real estate ...
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Is this signature too much too add to the occasional blog post? - Mar 02 10:21 PM
I created this to use as a "signature" for my blog posts. Not every one of them, but on ones that lean more in the advertising direction. I may have gotten a little over zealous but now I kind of like it. so is it too much?
___________________________________________________________________________________
If you are preparing your home for sale, I am a licensed GA Real Estate Appraiser, as well as, an ASP Certified Home Staging Realtor. What does this ...
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Local Baseball and what it means to our community - Baseball Talk 101 Contest - Mar 11 03:15 PM
Atlanta and the greater metro area is blessed to have the Atlanta Braves. The Braves organization brings a lot to the community and to Metro Atlanta as a whole. Besides the ability to see a major league games, meet stars, get autographs, and spend a day at the park, you have to step back and take a look at what these people do for the community.
First and foremost, having a team like the Braves is ...
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Make Your Clients Feel Special! - Aug 09 11:38 AM
I have come across some home owners who were very unhappy with their realtor. This was mostly put down to lack of effort on the Realtors part. I've also come across several listings on the MLS sites which don't even have pictures for the properties they are trying to sell. Nothing screams disinterest and lack of effort than not putting pictures up of a property they are trying to sell (unless of course there is a ...
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Simple Staging - Sometimes Less IS More - Feb 18 07:03 PM
When a home has an incredible feature, I say flaunt it. Whether's it's the fireplace or the granite on the counter-tops, they're features of the home that could help influence a buyer's decision.
As a home stager, it's important I help accent those features when staging a home. Here's an example of how less really is more...
Kitchen Before:
Kitchen "after" picture:
By placing the accessories at the far end the eye is drawn down the entire length of the counter-top. A ...
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My Success Is All About You! - Apr 09 05:20 PM
FINALLY! Here it is!
Oh, sorry, you haven't been waiting for it - I have!
The post I have hoped to do; hoped I'd envision; hoped to lay out there to my colleagues. Finally . . .
Actually, it begins as only relevant to me, but I hope you will read on; as my intent is to be relevant to you! Attention, Stage It Forward and Realtor Active Rain Member, it's all about you!
I'll explain in due ...
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What do you think of "Motivated Seller" and "Price Reduction" - Mar 23 11:09 AM
I have been noticing that a lot of agents use remarks such as Motivated Seller and Reduced Price. Personally I think that everyone selling their home is probably motivated or it wouldn't be on the market. Secondly, I almost feel like putting these phrases are a disservice to your client. I think this makes it look like the seller is so motivated that they will accept a low ball offer.
I also feel that putting the ...
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Habitat For Humanity International : Americus, Georgia - Mar 17 03:26 PM
I live in metro Atlanta, home to the the the and the In addition to these wonderful sports teams Atlanta also offers some wonderful theaters, beautiful public parks (many of which offer baseball and softball opportunities), the Georgia Aquarium and numerous Universities and Colleges (including many of the nation's top Historically Black Colleges and Universities). There are, of course, numerous other things to see and do in metro Atlanta. Today I wanted to highlight a top ...
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Write Words for the Right Photos - Nov 02 03:21 PM
I have a passion for Real Estate. I have a passion for marketing. And, because of those two passions, my ultimate passion is Real Estate Merchandising -- yes, home staging.
Having been a Realtor in Georgia for many years, I gained a heartfelt appreciation for the value of good marketing and extraordinary presentation of properties. With every listing I had, I dedicated time to gathering the most powerful words to display an intriguing property description. I combined those ...
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Attention HOME SELLERS: Join the Marching Band, or You Will Miss the Parade! - Jun 26 01:41 PM
Today's buyer has a different thought process and is marching to a different tune. Times have changed. Selling your home has a whole new meaning - new meaning to the buyers, that is! Selling a home today is all about intricate detail. Sellers need to march with perfection and the buyers need to see the performance!Listing agents cringe today when they hear their seller say, "The buyer can make that color change and visualize my homes ...
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Listing Agents Say "Buy Now!" and Buyers Agents Say "Wait!" - Oct 04 10:45 PM
Listing agents and buyers agents have each drawn a line in the sand choosing to represent as an agent either a buyer or a seller. The object of each agency agreement is to represent their clients in selling or buying a home. When you think about it, the advice should not benefit the needs of the agent, it should be advice that best serves the needs of the buyer client or seller. That is what advice ...
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Georgia's Chateau Elan Winery & Resort - Apr 04 10:13 PM
Just a short drive, 45 miles from downtown Atlanta, nestled in the north Georgia foothills, there is a fantastic place called Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. This beautiful resort sits on 3,500 acres of the most beautiful land in Georgia.
The Inn itself resembles the beautiful chateaus one sees in the French countryside. All the details were captured in the authentic architecture of the 275 room inn. There is also an 1,832 square foot presidential suite; ...
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Atlanta Real Estate Agents - How Many Are Enough? - Feb 14 10:14 AM
Several years ago in the Atlanta real estate market we had about 8500 real estate agents that used our MLS systems, three years ago we went from 12500 agents to over 45000 agents. A 300% increase in a period of about 3-4 range. Wow! The problem for all is that Atlanta home sales never increased exponentially. With current sales numbers of single family Atlanta homes falling back to ranges not seen in more than a decade the ...
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George, The Good News Realtor - Aug 11 05:24 PM
Is it Bad News; or is it Good News?
The Realtor that advises their listing clients to have a Home Staging Consultation prior to publicly listing their home on MLS knows they are delivering good news, not bad. These Realtors know how to make lemonade, time and time again!
Realtors are continually in client situations where they have to deliver bad news. It can be a challenge, chiefly because Realtors have an obligation to deliver honesty to a potential ...
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Seasons come and seasons go! - Feb 27 09:30 AM
My home state of Georgia is rich in many a resource. We have industry, we have a plethora of entertainment, but the thing I love the most is our seasons. We have all four. Sometimes they fade into each other like cool watercolors fading into different whispy shades. Other times they come into the harsh light like the resounding boom of a gun going off. My grandmother's favorite saying about our March was if it come in ...
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Blog Anthology, Posts 61-75 - Oct 27 09:37 AM
Part V... will it ever end?On my "other" blog, at Active Rain, I had written a post about generating ideas for blog posts. Well, one of those ideas was to do an A-Z series. So, I did.A is for Appraisal covers the basics about Appraisals, CMAs, CMSs and BPOs. They all have different methodology, but the goal is the same... figuring out the value of a property.One of the items that WILL be more utilized is ...
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Atlanta's Local Baseball And Softball Opportunities - Mar 13 11:23 AM
One of the many great things about the metro Atlanta area is the access to a top notch, world class baseball organization the For those of us who are not quite Major League Baseball caliber, the metro Atlanta area offers many local baseball and softball outlets for all skill levels. With this blog, I am going to highlight some (not all) of these local opportunities. You will be able to click on images and hyperlinks to ...
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I am a Blogamist... - Feb 18 09:57 AM
I have another blog. Over there I coined a term.
blogamy
But, yep. I've been keeping another blog and hiding it. The letters on my lapel, the late nights when you hear typing in the other room... Always having to find more ideas. It is from 17 posts a week (some are for members only, and don't show up on a casual search). At least since my New Year's Resolution to give each blog original material.
So, while ...
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Atlanta Real Estate New Homes - Why Build a Custom Home in this Market? - Jan 07 08:02 AM
In this current Atlanta real estatemarket I hear of a few people building a new custom home. I shudder! It is like playing "Russian Roulette" with only one bullet missing in the chamber! It is probably not a smart move at all! I would personally like to ask why? You will never be able to resell at current builder prices. I hate to see where a person spends 700K for a home that may only be worth ...
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Good Bread, Good Meat... - Nov 27 10:54 PM
Every once in a while, I need to wander off on a tangent. Tonight, while driving back from the initial meeting for volunteers at the NHL All-Star Game, I drove by Fat Matt's Rib Shack (and let's not forget the Chicken Shack next door). So... I got to thinking about some of the great places I have been lucky enough to eat at here in Atlanta. I know it isn't about real estate, but we live ...
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Raise the Selling Commission, Lower the Price or Both? - Mar 30 10:10 PM
I've had a lot of success in the past for correctly marketing our listings. Cleanliness sells, location sells, appearance sells, and over 94 % depends on price! So given every thing is in order, priced competitively, and well marketed, but no shows at all what would you encourage the owner to do? Sellers are very impatient these days.Since we price very competitively, and we have lots of experience selling, we very seldom ask the seller to ...
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Atlanta's FREE Attractions! Part 4! - Apr 04 04:06 PM
It has been very enjoyable for me, the blogger, to be able to highlight for you, the reader, some of Atlanta's wonderful FREE attractions! I am a big fan of our wonderful city and truly view it as a beacon of the progressive south. In this the final installment of this series, I am going to start a little north of the city where the pivotal Civil War battle for Atlanta began, then move to the ...
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Thank you, Jeff Foxworthy! Redneck Laughter Relief for the Weekend - Nov 03 05:14 PM
I lived in Atlanta, GA for 30 years and used to feel a bit embarrassed when folks would laugh about Georgia being a redneck oasis. Then on came Jeff Foxworthy to the scene and showed everybody how much money there is in redneck humor - or really, raking it in while laughing at oneself. It's a real art to not take oneself too seriously!!
So I ran across these redneck jokes recently - ENJOY!!
A Redneck passed away and ...
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How do you tell your seller their home is overpriced? - Mar 08 07:57 AM
How do you tell your seller their home is overpriced? First of all, we never take an overpriced listing. We believe it is unethical not to explain to a seller what the home is really worth in our opinion. We support that with lots of statistics. However, in this current real estate market, prices are shifting.Even though in the Atlanta real estate market we are not seeing major price declines, however...pricing remains a strategic part of the sale. ...
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Snow, Snow, First Snow I see tonight... - Jan 20 08:53 AM
My BUTT is cold, let me in!
Yesterday morning started off with a very dreary sky for us here south of Atlanta. We had some rain mixed with a little ice around 9:30. It didn't take long before this turned over to ice mixed with snow.
Tater my outdoor/indoor kitty was cold and as you can see needed some special attention from my daughter to get warm.
We spent most of the day watching our quiet little country world ...
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Great Atlanta Snowstorm of 2008 - Jan 17 08:05 AM
People in other parts of the country might not know that every once in a while we do get some sort of frozen precipitation around here. Usually this comes in the form of sleet or freezing rain and sometimes actual snow.
Needless to say, this can be quite exciting for for folks around here. At even the mention of the "s" word several things begin to happen:
*People run to the grocery store and buy bread and ...
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GPS vs. Mapquest (no comparison) - Dec 22 01:01 PM
Everyone's using GPS navigation devices these days, except for my tech savvy sister who still uses Mapquest. She e-mailed me the other day to say she wished she had bought an extra one for herself because she was lost in unfamiliar out of state territory. She did me a huge favor when she was in the shopping trenches the day after Thanksgiving, waging war against other electronics store shoppers battling for the small available quantity of Black Friday ...
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Are you seeing Appraisals come in lower than usual - Nov 01 08:10 AM
Are you seeing Appraisals come in lower than usual?I certainly know the market is soft right now and prices have been down, but it just seems that we're seeing appraisals come in even lower.A relocation client of mine hit the date where he was going to be offered a buy-out. The cvompany had 2 appraisals done and submitted to the relocation company. While the homes could certainly qualify as comps, there were other homes that had ...
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Why To Buy NOW - Dec 04 10:12 AM
Reasons to buy can easily be separated from market conditions. For example even in a war torn world or impoverished nation it really doesn't matter the stability of the economy, the condition of the government or the value of housing, people need shelter and land. They need land to grow food or keep livestock. They need shelter to stay out of the elements. These are key basic human needs.
In America, most urban and suburban areas, we ...
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Blog Anthology, Posts 76-90 - Oct 28 12:59 PM
Sixth part? Yep.My "other" post on September 11th was P is for Pictures. With the importance of the internet for consumers looking for homes, the presentation is more important than ever before. Previously, I showed bad pictures... this time I went for the good ones.A lot of people on Active Rain thought I was going to have a problem with Q... Q is for Quit Claim. It was easy. When reviewing the title history, seeing a ...
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Z is for... - Sep 17 10:20 PM
Z06 Corvette, Nissan 240Z, Z28 (1LE!), Zamboni, Zagato, Zonda, some other fabulous car beginning with Z....
No.
Zillow. I mean really, this is a real estate blog. How could I go through the alphabet and not hit Zillow for Z? If you don't know what Zillow is, go ahead and Google it... we'll wait...
Got it, ok.
There is a whole language that has sprung up around Zillow. The valuations that they provide are called Zestimates. But, most ...
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It's Just A Fib and I Got The Listing! - Aug 27 09:42 PM
Do you prefer to be told the truth about what will get your property sold? Or, would you prefer that we sugar coat things and tell you what you want to hear?If you prefer to hear what you want to hear, then I am not the agent for you.Today, I had 4 different people call about us listing their property. Two had listings that had expired. Both of these properties had been on the market for ...
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The Real Estate Alchemist, Part III - Mar 16 10:48 AM
This one has been kicking around in my head for a few days. I read this around the same time that I read the info for the previous installments of The Real Estate Alchemist. (I & II). As I read it, it was troubling me. I know that from what I have seen, the limited service brokerages haven't done well for consumers, but here was evidence to the contrary... I had to think a bit...
Here is ...
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Ladybugs...friend or foe? - Dec 11 08:38 AM
Are these cute little fellows invading your home?
I did a little research as they love my home this time of the year. Seems they are searching for a place to hibernate for the winter. They gravitate to homes that are light in color and near woods or ponds. Hmmm...now I get it all. LOL, my home fits the criteria of a virtual ladybug cave during the winter.
While these little fellows can be a pest, they are not ...
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TOM PULSIFER OF GEORGIA - WELCOME TO ACTIVE RAIN - Nov 23 04:41 PM
Tom Pulsifer, an old friend from RealTalk and e-PROTalk.
I received an e-mail last week from Tom Pulsifer asking where I ws and what I was doing these days. Folks who know me for years from ActiveRain often e-mail inquiring about my health.
"I'm fine. I'm hanging out at ActiveRain. Come on over" is my response.
Tom joined today. Check him out. There aren't many members in Habersham County, Georgia.
WELCOME TOM
...
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Please say your number twice! - Nov 14 09:00 AM
As our society gets more mobile and more electronic, we use devices more frequently than ever before. It also seems like we are getting more dropped calls, or fade outs in voice mail.
While it does not happen often, I sometimes get a call that needs to be returned to someone that I do not know. They leave their name and purpose of the call and then they SAY THEIR NUMBER. While saying the digits of their ...
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How Bad is the RE Market? - Mar 13 09:54 PM
Every day we're innundated with negative news on the RE market. The national media have forced many buyers to stay on the porch and "hunker down" to weather the storm in response to the blitz of negative reports of negative market condtions.However, in middle Georgia, things are not all grief and gloom. Property, priced correctly, continues to move. And we continue to prove that market conditions are local phenomena. Fact of the matter, our local market is pretty ...
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The Single Best Thing About Being Part of The AR Community - Feb 28 11:05 AM
I just figured out another thing that I love about AR! That is, the ability to get a glimpse inside the worlds of all the various people who are involved in the real estate, mortgage, title, appraisal, home inspector, stager and all the other facets of our industry.Yesterday a lady named D. Bass commented on one of my posts and I went to check her blog out. It turns out that she's a mortgage underwriter that ...
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For Sale By Owners - "Do You Have a Buyer?" - Feb 13 08:26 AM
Everyday in Atlanta I receive large email attachments, fliers, pdfs., and WORD docs. from For Sale By Owners asking us if we have buyers to please bring them by their home. More often than not, I just delete them. There is not enough time in the day to respond to each one. Sometimes I do, and let them know that in the past I have sold many For Sale By Owners that have listed with us, ...
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First read the POSITIVE blogs on Active Rain - Nov 06 07:34 AM
With my daily routine, I get in about 7:45 or 8:00, pour some coffee and venture into ACTIVE RAIN!I find it so helpful to get the NEWS- There's always an update on mortgage rates, housing info, etc.CURRENT ISSUES - like working on Short Sales or Foreclosures. I also like reading about what other REALTORS are experiencing in their (your) market and how you are dealing with it.But the most important thing that GETS ME GOING in ...
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How long should I wait to hear back from my offer? - Aug 09 06:39 AM
Ok, I am here biting out my entire finger nail, I am so excited that I finally sent in my first offer, but it's taking forever to hear something back.
It was an offer on a foreclosed property and I sent it in last Friday and it expired on Monday, I was hoping to get a counter offer at least by the end of the week.
How long does a bank typically take to counter on an offer ...
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Dipping my toe in the water... - Jan 27 05:33 PM
So...Day Three on ActiveRain. It's still very mysterious to me as I'm not sure exactly how this works and how it benefits me. I sort of feel like I'm shooting in the dark. But...for now, I'm gonna keep shooting!I had a good day yesterday. Showed property all day to a wonderful couple from FL who are looking for something in the $250K-$300K range. For the time being this will be a second home, with the thought in mind that ...
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Postlets.com - Jun 01 10:02 PM
Is anyone else Using Postlets? I
saw Tim Maitski of Atlanta using the
other day, and I was really impressed with them,
www.postlets.com is Free!! Check
them out! Great for posting template for your listings on line! And
more!
Let me know your thougths!
Roswell Georgia Home for Sale Better Than New! $319,900 Roswell Georgia Home for
Sale $319,900
Alpharetta New Listing. CAR LOVERS WANTED! 7 CAR GARAGE - IN-LAW SUITE w/ Full
Kitchen
Kennesaw Home ...
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Down on the farm! - Mar 04 10:07 AM
Ah, Georgia red clay just freshly turned squishing between the barefoot toes of a child on a warm spring day.
This is how I started out as a child. Watching my father turn the tractor row after row getting it ready for planting season. Georgia is famous for its red clay and while that has its benefits it also has some drawbacks. My father and grandfather would hash over the best ways to combat this and mostly ...
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More than Buying a Home, It's Making a Lifestyle Choice in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains - Oct 02 03:39 AM
We are going into our busiest season of the year, Fall in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains. As a Realtor, I can already tell that we are seeing more home buyers now. Some home buyers held off buying that dream mountain escape thinking prices will go lower and more than likely missed out on the log cabin of their dreams. Who knows whether prices will go lower? Atlanta reported just last week that prices have started increasing and ...
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So you bought the house of your dreams...now what? - Aug 11 09:32 PM
One of the homes I photographed yesterday was one of the most beautifully decorated homes I have ever step foot in. It really looked like it was straight out of a home and garden magazine. The homes in this subdivision were selling well into the millions. We had an engaging conversation with the owner. She drew my interest when she talked about how people worked so hard to get into that subdivision and then not have ...
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Turn Key Condition or a Project? What are Home Buyers Looking For? - Dec 17 11:18 AM
I think many home sellers are totally unaware that when selling a home that buyers want to buy a home where they can move right in! What a concept! They are looking to buy a home, not a project! That's right, it isn't rocket science! Most home buyers are looking for a home in turn key condition that they can move right into without ripping up your shag carpet, replacing your original avocado kitchen appliances, replacing ...
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What is "Non - judicial" foreclosure? - Apr 03 03:57 PM
I have written a few posts lately about a property here in Georgia that went to the courthouse steps on Tuesday. I was aware that the foreclosure process was different is most states, and here in Georgia we typically have non-judicial foreclosure.
What that essentially boils down to is this:
1) The lender sends the borrower a notice that they are in default, and the foreclosure process is started.
2) The property is advertised in the legal organ of ...
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Media Correction: 100% Financing *IS* Still Available - Feb 18 02:51 PM
100% Financing IS Still Available and at decent rates - fixed for thirty. This product IS available in some areas of Florida. Every time I hear some blabbering mouth from the news media talking about how 100% financing opportunities are gone I really want to reach my hands through the toob, pull out their tongue and wrap it around there head. They speak with such authority yet they know nothing.If you are buying a home in ...
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Atlanta Gerogia Home Sellers...It is ALL about you! - Apr 04 10:28 PM
New Page 1
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Friday Real Estate Forecast Looks Great For This Weekend - Video Included - Feb 29 01:59 PM
If you or your clients have been "on the fence" this weekend may be one of the best weekends to move forward that we have seen or will see for a while. Rates are very low today and if they go into the weekend unchanged should emerge Monday just as strong. The stock market has tumbled nearly 2 percent as of the writing of this article and demand is increasing. Unfortunately the bond market is flat ...
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1179 Georgia HUD Homes for $100 Down - Feb 16 09:19 AM
What? Are you kidding? I can actually buy a Georgia HUD home for only $100 down payment? Maybe - there are a couple of rules but they don't exclude the majority of buyers. Sorry to say that Ken Cook cannot use this program to buy a home but maybe YOU can and if you are an agent I am certain one of your clients can.
As of the time of the publishing of this information there were ...
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Glorious, it doesn't get any better than this! - Mar 20 08:38 PM
It was a perfect day in Newnan, Georgia. Yes, it is indeed the first day of Spring, but that is an arbitrary word assigned to the day during which a specific astronomical event occurs. But that in itself, did not make the day perfect. No, it was a perfectly crisp, cool and clear day following rainstorms that cleansed the air of particulates and pollution! The sun shone gloriously, and late in the afternoon, I turned off the computer, ...
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Do you Twitter? - Mar 31 11:13 AM
Are you a Twittering consumer?
I'd love to hear from you.
I have recently re-introduced myself to Twitter. I had jumped on last year, but quickly grew bored. I wasn't really familiar and didn't have much of a handle on it. But, through the support of other agents and real estate professionals on Active Rain, I have stepped back into the fray.
At this time, my Twitter ID is LaneBailey... or @LaneBailey... you should be able ...
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Timing the Real Estate Markets! Don't Miss the Boat - The Time to Buy is Now! - Feb 24 12:04 PM
"Gee I could have had a V-8!" The biggest mistake in most persons lives is looking back over their shoulder and realizing they made a mistake! It is a great time to buy a home in Atlanta! Don't wake up one morning regretting it! "I should have bought when prices were at rock bottom!" Even for Atlanta real estate professionals with loads of experience, timing the market is almost impossible. Is it the right time to ...
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Seriously! Please Do Not Feed the Bears - Feb 10 01:10 PM
Basically, feeding kills bears! The Black Bear lives in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains and throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains. They were near extinction at one time but proper management of bears and their habitat has helped the population of black bears recover.Most bears will shy away from humans because they are naturally afraid of humans and human scent but the temptation of food odors will draw them in. I feel the Georgia Mountains are ...
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Countrywide Sued - Saga Continues! - Sep 13 12:27 PM
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House Hunting? Are you skeptical of a staged home? - Jul 19 02:21 PM
Home buyers look at multiple homes when surfing the market. Generally they look on the Internet first in the comfort of their home or Realtor's® office, then they head out for an excursion tour guided by their Realtor® hoping to find the family solution that fulfills their dreams for daily living.
Sometimes buyers, some Realtors as well, feel that if a home is staged, the sellers are trying to "fool" the lookers; trying to cover up something, ...
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Into the mailbag VI... Why didn't my house sell? - Mar 05 11:18 PM
I admit that this wasn't an email into my inbox. But, it is a question that I have received, investigated, and actually seek out.
Lane, we had our house on the market for ___ months. Why didn't it sell?
There is an easy answer, and a not very easy answer. First I'll give you the easy answer...
Your agent didn't do the right things to make your house sell.
Is that what you wanted to hear? If it ...
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Loans are getting tougher to get - Feb 28 08:55 PM
We got an e-mail yesterday and many of the types of loans that we are all accustomed to seeing are no longer as easy to get. There appears to be limited 100% loans and especially for those with borderline credit scores. If you have excellent credit and have some money to put down, you should be OK.
Just don't expect (1) no money down, (2) 90-100% loan AND a great interest rate. You can probably get ONE ...
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A better way to look at everything... - Dec 27 03:55 PM
Part of my daily reading ritual includes Seth Godin’s blog. He is often described as a marketing genius. I think that well might be true. But, his blog isn’t just about marketing, but also often touches on greater issues. This one certainly did. Although, he actually wrote it four years ago… still rings true. Did you go read it? I’ll wait… … … … .. . Ok, now we’re on the same footing. I think that ...
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Beachfront Realty Selling Property in the Georgia Mountains - May 07 05:18 PM
Just 20 minutes from Highlands, North Carolina, These are North Georgia's premier gated mountain communities. Bordering both a protected National Forest & Darnell Creek, these communities offer the best of mountain living, less then two hours from Atlanta. 1-5 acre sites from the $100s & views overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Call us for a free dinner with information, you won't be dissappointed.
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Tell me something good ... the media and the market! - Mar 12 07:19 PM
I got a phone call today from a staff writer at the Newnan Times-Herald, our local newspaper in Coweta County Georgia. The journalist asked if she could ask a few questions about the local real estate market, and I said that I would be glad to talk as long as she liked.
She started with the usual questions. "How's the real estate market today" and "Where do you see it going in twelve months" and "how long ...
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Double Show Down - Apr 16 05:29 PM
Hi all, it has been a while since I was able to post. Buyers are on the move and limits the time I have.
In fact I spent most of the day showing new homes to a young couple and parents who both want to buy in the same community. The look I received from the builders agents was quite amusing. We have found the right place . Negotiating two contracts at one sitting will be fun!!
More ...
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This week in the Mountains - Feb 16 03:37 PM
As I look around I see plants popping up their heads. Spring is coming. Weather wise we will soon see warmer longer days and things turning green.
For those of you who follow events. We have had some good rain this winter so far. The mountains appear to be in good shape water wise. Atlanta is still under the gun. But the welcome winter rains along with conservation, and a shifting in water policy as it relates ...
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Savannah - Sep 06 08:50 PM
Well I'm sure you have heard something about our little city by the sea. We are sometimes called The First City of Georgia because after all General Oglethorpe did land here back in the 1700"s. Savannah was founded as a colony of Britain and thus was settled by western Europeans. A little known fact about this southern city is that slavery was not allowed here for quite some time and caused quite a divide among the ...
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Atlanta Home Inspectors tips for helping with allergy season - May 07 10:47 PM
I don't know about you but after reading the info below I think I'm definately going to have to get out the feather duster. I have this really great feather duster from Flylady.net and it does a fantastic job when I've got it in my hand instead of typing here at this computer.
“House dust is one of the most prevalent – and unavoidable – allergy triggers in any home,” says Dr. Berger. “Since you can’t ...
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How to get your listing to the top of Realtor.com - Mar 19 10:24 AM
Our company has just provided all agents in the company an option to join Realtor.com Showcase. Did you know that 84% of people searching for a home go to Realtor.com first? Basically ads in papers, magazines etc. are becoming more and more obsolete. People searching for homes are going to the internet first and usually end up contacting an agent off of the internet.
Did you know that putting all 25 pictures, virtual tour, and a video ...
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Is It Just Me Or Are Things Turning Around? - Feb 11 09:22 AM
Really, not to brag.....BUT WHAT A WEEKEND!!!!Finalized one contract on Saturday, received two offers on two different listings and FINALLY got my uncle's active adult ranch condo rented out.After a contract-less January, February sure is starting off with a bang! On the downside, and Atlanta agents don't chastise me because I know they don't work in our market, but I held an open house yesterday for a client without a single drop-in. That's after advertising in ...
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Where's the Water ? - Sep 30 09:20 AM
If ocean front property is the most desirable, and mountain property a close second, then water front property in the mountains must be the first place many folks look to buy. In fact it is. There are a few types of water property buyers. I am going to list them and talk about one of them in detail.1 The stream buyer. This buyer wants to hear the sound of the water and see the frogs and ...
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Financing Today - Apr 14 11:34 AM
I realize we are in a market that is changing daily. Today I was on the phone with a lender here locally who told me that she was having a very difficult time right now getting customers Conventional financing. She said most of her customers were going FHA or other alternative financing. This confuses me! I wonder what other agents are experiencing? I have a customer coming into my office tomorrow and I find it hard ...
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