Archive for September, 2009

Limited choices of Homes in a Saturated Market?

The first time home buyer rush is on but I'm seeing an interesting trend already.  We still have several weeks to find homes and make the cutoff for the $8000 tax credit deadline by November 30th. BUT…What if you can't find a home you like?? sold home, house sold, tag, raleigh homes sold, first time buyer in raleigh, tax credit deadline If you’re thinking it’s a buyers market, you’re right and wrong all in the same thought. Yes, there are tons of homes available but they may not meet your criteria. The homes that are available might be distressed or short sales. Those are going to be a tight squeeze to close by November 30th. I have some buyers looking under $125,000 in multiple areas of Raleigh, Knightdale, Wake Forest and Eastern Wake County but there aren’t many homes available. If a nice home in good condition hits the market…it’s gone in a few days! Buyers need to move quickly and have a Realtor/Agent who is accessible to set appointments on short notice. Customer Service is more important than ever. Deadlines need to be met and contracts need to be clean. Mortgage lenders have new guidelines and disclosure rules have changed the days of a QUICK closing into a 30-45 day time line. So, if you’re thinking about buying and earning yourself some extra cash…get off the fence! It’s time to act and do it fast! Someone else just saw the home you may want to buy… home buyer sitting on the fence, jump off the fence, man on fence

Erica McClenny, Broker/Realtor

eRealty Inc.

o) 919-844-4686

Helping home buyers and sellers save $$$ in Raleigh, Cary, Wake County and the Greater Triangle area...

  • Free Daily Foreclosure search in Wake, Durham, Johnston,Granville and Franklin Counties
  • First time Home Buyer Education
  • Personal Seminar for people considering selling their home
  • Short sale negotiations
  • Relocation Benefits
  • Corporate training and education seminars available

Happy House Hunting!

I stumbled across this contest today and I'm glad I did.  I got some good laughs at myself!

Enjoy your day and take a good giggle at yourself too.

 

.

Via Bob Haywood, www.BobHaywood.com (McGraw Realtors):

Okay everyone, it's time for a fun twist on Active Rain Bonus Points contest.  This time we're going "Retro" and asking you to kick up the laugh factor by Yearbooking yourself.

What is Yearbooking yourself you ask? 

Good question.  Check out the handsome guy below.

Bob Haywood in 1960Bob Haywood in 1970

Yep, it's me...Bob Haywood in 1960 on the left and 1970 on the right!

I made the pics using www.yearbookyourself.com.  And I had a blast.  All you do is take a picture of yourself and then upload it to the website.  If you wear glasses, take them off for better pictures later.  Then you pick a year and start tweaking. 

So here's the rules of this contest.

1. Go to www.yearbookyourself.com and yearbook yourself into another time period.  NOTE - BE SURE TO USE THE LIGHTEN/DARKEN FEATURE TO MATCH YOUR FACE COLOR TO THE PICTURE...

2. Post your entry or entries back here as a reply to this blog.

3. You may enter 1 pic from each decade, meaning one from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and today.  That gives you 6 shots at the 1,000 bonus points.

4. The contest runs from today through next Monday, September 28th.  Judging will follow afterwards.

5. The bonus points will be awarded to the person who does the best job yearbooking themselves.

Judging will be done by the honorable Renee Burrows, Jason Crouch, Richard Weisser and myself.

Here's Jason and Renee's Pics.  Jason's comes from the year he graduated from high school.  What year might that have been?  Hmmmm, I wonder.  We're still waiting on pics from Richard!  How about it Richard???Renee Burrows!

It's Jason Crouch!

Now, lest you think this is just some silly something or other that has nothing to do with real estate, consider this.

You can upload your pics to Facebook right from the yearbookyourself.com website.  Remember, Facebook is a social network.  We use Facebook to connect with people.  Doing something like yearbooking yourself and posting the pics on Facebook will make others want to do the same. And lots of folks will get a kick out of you, the Realtor being laid back enough to laugh at yourself.  And you'll get lots of comments about how funny it is.  And you'll be talking to people and...well do I have to go on???

And how about this?  There's a ton of marketing you can do with something like this.  Use the pics on a mailer or in your email marketing to catch people's attention.  Anything retro themed fits in with these kinds of pics.

Or here's another one.  Throw a retro party for your clients and invite them to yearbook themselves then show the pics using Powerpoint at the party. 

And, of course, show it to your kids and stand back!

So, get to it Active Rainers!  There's 1,000 bonus points to be had!  And maybe if we can't narrow it down to just one person - 1,000 bonus points to a few folks!

Oh and by the way...I heard that Bob Stewart (and maybe some of the other AR folks) might play along just for the fun of it! 

This contest has been officially sanctioned and approved by the honorable Bob Stewart of Active Rain.

Erica McClenny, Realtor 

eRealty Inc.

o) 919-389-8702

Helping home buyers and sellers save $$$ in Raleigh, NC area...

Over $45 million in sales and counting.  Buy, Sell or Invest with the best.

Happy House Hunting!

 

 

 

I stumbled across this contest today and I'm glad I did.  I got some good laughs at myself! Enjoy your day and take a good giggle at yourself too. .
Via Bob Haywood, www.BobHaywood.com (McGraw Realtors):
Okay everyone, it's time for a fun twist on Active Rain Bonus Points contest.  This time we're going "Retro" and asking you to kick up the laugh factor by Yearbooking yourself. What is Yearbooking yourself you ask? Good question.  Check out the handsome guy below. Bob Haywood in 1960Bob Haywood in 1970 Yep, it's me...Bob Haywood in 1960 on the left and 1970 on the right! I made the pics using www.yearbookyourself.com.  And I had a blast.  All you do is take a picture of yourself and then upload it to the website.  If you wear glasses, take them off for better pictures later.  Then you pick a year and start tweaking. So here's the rules of this contest. 1. Go to www.yearbookyourself.com and yearbook yourself into another time period.  NOTE - BE SURE TO USE THE LIGHTEN/DARKEN FEATURE TO MATCH YOUR FACE COLOR TO THE PICTURE... 2. Post your entry or entries back here as a reply to this blog. 3. You may enter 1 pic from each decade, meaning one from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and today.  That gives you 6 shots at the 1,000 bonus points. 4. The contest runs from today through next Monday, September 28th.  Judging will follow afterwards. 5. The bonus points will be awarded to the person who does the best job yearbooking themselves. Judging will be done by the honorable Renee Burrows, Jason Crouch, Richard Weisser and myself. Here's Jason and Renee's Pics.  Jason's comes from the year he graduated from high school.  What year might that have been?  Hmmmm, I wonder.  We're still waiting on pics from Richard!  How about it Richard???Renee Burrows! It's Jason Crouch! Now, lest you think this is just some silly something or other that has nothing to do with real estate, consider this. You can upload your pics to Facebook right from the yearbookyourself.com website.  Remember, Facebook is a social network.  We use Facebook to connect with people.  Doing something like yearbooking yourself and posting the pics on Facebook will make others want to do the same. And lots of folks will get a kick out of you, the Realtor being laid back enough to laugh at yourself.  And you'll get lots of comments about how funny it is.  And you'll be talking to people and...well do I have to go on??? And how about this?  There's a ton of marketing you can do with something like this.  Use the pics on a mailer or in your email marketing to catch people's attention.  Anything retro themed fits in with these kinds of pics. Or here's another one.  Throw a retro party for your clients and invite them to yearbook themselves then show the pics using Powerpoint at the party. And, of course, show it to your kids and stand back! So, get to it Active Rainers!  There's 1,000 bonus points to be had!  And maybe if we can't narrow it down to just one person - 1,000 bonus points to a few folks! Oh and by the way...I heard that Bob Stewart (and maybe some of the other AR folks) might play along just for the fun of it!

This contest has been officially sanctioned and approved by the honorable Bob Stewart of Active Rain.

Erica McClenny, Broker/Realtor

eRealty Inc.

o) 919-844-4686

Helping home buyers and sellers save $$$ in Raleigh, Cary, Wake County and the Greater Triangle area...

  • Free Daily Foreclosure search in Wake, Durham, Johnston,Granville and Franklin Counties
  • First time Home Buyer Education
  • Personal Seminar for people considering selling their home
  • Short sale negotiations
  • Relocation Benefits
  • Corporate training and education seminars available

Happy House Hunting!

Isn’t It Friday Yet?

Mom2Mom : Isn’t it Friday yet? | Mom 2 Mom

You Get What You Pay For

How much is my expertise and experience worth to buyers and sellers in a tumultuous market? These days sellers are looking for every penny out of the sale of their homes. But recently a seller asked if I was willing to sell his home for a flat fee of $500. I was almost taken aback until I put myself in his shoes.

Here’s the scenario: He’d lost his job. He was in a divorce and the wife wanted 50% of the equity. Also, several homes in his neighborhood had been foreclosed on so values were a bit shaky at that moment.

Could you blame him for asking? I couldn’t!

However, taking the time to sit down with him, get to the bottom of his problems and give him a professional opinion was priceless. By the end of our meeting I’d earned his business and showed him the value of an expert on his side. We agreed to a sliding scale based on value/sales price and overall marketing plans. It was a win-win for both of us.

I’m willing to negotiate my listing rates if it make sense for me and the parties involved. Helping others “move on” is more important than my bottom line…

Happy house hunting!