Kaufman, TX

After countless days and hours of Target Practicing with his Matthews Bow....the Kaufman County Game Warden gathered enough patience and precision that allowed him to take the Buck of a Lifetime, on Monday, October 19, 2009. This certainly proves that practice definitely makes PERFECT.

Click here for the photo and interview.

This could not have happened to a better guy. And I have to admit that I am totally biased, because this great guy is not only a great hunter, but a GREAT husband and father as well.

Here We Go!! Another Season of Little League Football in Kaufman, Texas.

This will be our second season participating, so I'm a little ambivalent about it. I look forward to the games, but not the rough and demanding practice schedules that these little ones have to edure. Not to mention that most of the games are on Saturdays, smack in the middle of the Day. This requires me to either set very early or very late showing appointments on Saturday.

But I know with Football Season, also comes very cool weather (not until October here in Texas) and the Holiday Season. My son is already practicing plays and getting use to new players, but when school starts in a few weeks, reality will set in for him.

So I wish the Kaufman Lions Little League Association Good Luck this Season. I don't look forward to sitting in sweltering heat over the next couple of months, but I do look forward sitting in the benches under warm blankets with a cup of hot cocoa come this Fall.

Here's Wishing You Many Touch Downs Guys!!

MeLisa Minter, MBA, Realtor

www.homesmint2be.com

It's that time of year where everyone is reflecting on how well things went for 2008 or how far south things went for 2008. Given the state of our overall economy, the latter is true in most instances.

However, as I was researching Statistics in my local MLS for performance information for 2008, I found that Kaufman County overall, had a pretty good year when it came to home sales.

http://www.kaufmancounty.net/

What was most impressive is that the Average percent of List Price received on homes that sold within the first 30 days was 96.80%. Sellers for you, this means that homes that sold within the first 30days, received 96.80% of the list price and homes that were on the market for more than 120 days, still received 95.72% of the list price.

Kaufman County is the fourth fastest growing county in North Texas and with new developments popping up around the county, I'm sure it will surpass that number pretty soon.

Now it's time for a look-see with our charts and graphs.

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Listings per Status

Minimum, Average, Maximum

Days On Market Analysis

Listing Price\Selling Price

If your like me and are not big on charts and graphs, here's the breakdown:

Search Period: 1/1/08 - 12/31/08

Active: 600

Pending: 76

Sold: 1078

Average List Price $150,000, Average Sale Price $133,274 and Average Days On Market 102.

What does this mean to you as a Seller?? This means that now is a great time in Kaufman County to put your home on the market. Grant it, it may sit on the market longer than you may want, because according to the numbers, over 288 homes have been on the market for 120+ days. But it will sell faster if the price is right, the condition is great and the location is favorable.

What does this mean to you as a Buyer?? This means that if you're thinking about making that move to the "Country," then you'd better get a move on it.

Now grant it, these numbers are for residential listings with 3/2/2, pretty standard, and if you want acreage, which is why most of us move to the country, then the numbers would vary there as well.

But in the end, it looks like the year of 2008 for Kaufman County, Texas was a pretty good year.

If you are considering buying or selling in the Kaufman County area, please feel free to contact me and I will be more than happy to assist you with your real estate transaction.

MeLisa Minter, MBA, Realtor

469-766-7379

www.homesmint2be.com

melisa@homesmint2be.com

As 2009 approaches, I'm starting to review my marketing plan for the year. Since I have been in the business for over a year and half, I have tried almost every marketing method. What I have learned that has worked for me was of course referrals, followed by advertising in a popular monthly real estate magazine, then the good old fashion door-knocking.

I was never big on advertising in print media, for some reason it never worked out for me, even when I was an event planner. But the particular magazine that I am advertising in now has great publicity and it also gives agents free websites, which I thought was great. Homes and Land advertises in several different regions and when I started receiving phone calls from people that were viewing my ads in other cities a light went off. I immediately thought I have to keep this advertising campaign going.

I would have never thought to advertise in some areas where this book is delivered to, simply because they were not areas that I served, but this definitely increases my reach to potential buyers and sellers. So the Homes and Land ad stays.

As far as referrals go, you can never get enough referrals from friends and family. A week ago, I hosted an appetizer and cocktails happy hour for our little league football moms. I have gotten several referrals from the moms and I try to stay in contact with them even during the off season. There are a wealth of contacts to be gained from these moms and I look forward to building these relationships.

Finally, the good old fashion door-knocking will be put back into my plan, especially since gas prices have dropped to a more managable level. I can easily go out and approach expired and FSBO sellers and just make a day of it. I have compiled great packages for both of these sellers and have gotten a listing from an expired and a potential listing from a FSBO, so I'll keep at this.

I know a lot of agents frown on advertising in print or on door knocking, but since I'm fairly new and have had the opportunity to see what works, I think I will stick to what has brought me results.

Tell me what works for you. I'm open to different strategies and plans.

Well I've just listed another Rockwall County short sale, again in a neighborhood that is less than five years old.

I know this is probably a problem that is running rampant from city to city, but as I emabark on this short sale, I am even more prepared to deal with it; especially since I've had the "honor" of doing a prior short sale with this bank.

What I've learned in doing short sales is that you have to have a heck of a plan in your approach with the banks. Make sure you have all of your documentation from the seller and the information requested of you as the agent, such as a CMA, market reports and listing agreements. What has been a tremendous help and my "ace in the whole" is my escrow officer at the title company that I work with. I was referred to this particular title company by another agent while I was doing a short sale this past summer.

This company has a great deal of experience with the bank and plays a vital role in calling and compiling redundant information if need be. They are also on the bank's preferred list of title companies. Since there is an established relationship, it makes things go a little faster, as the escrow officer and I can have a tag team effect going on.

Short Sales are becoming the norm and if you have not had the opportunity to do one, then get ready. There are so many sellers out there who are upside down in their homes. Loan Modification does not seem to be doing the trick anymore. I've never understood how a bank can allow a seller to tack on more money to their montly mortgage payment when they didn't have enough money for the monthly mortgage payment in the first place.

Anyway, I am quite lucky this time around. I got an offer on the property within 3 days after I listed it and I immediately submitted that offer to the bank with a full short sale package. Right now we are waiting from the bank to hear if the offer will be accepted.

I'll keep you posted.

Hope All Is Well

MeLisa Minter

469-766-7379

www.homesmint2be.com