Here's some more Bizarro World coming out of our government. I don't know how anyone can come up with this stuff and keep a straight face. There is talk that they are considering making another change to the inflation index, CPI, in order to save $220 billion over the next ten years. Get this. ...

06/26/2011

Talking with an Iraqi About Homes. Property Rights Are Key to Civilization.

2 Comments

One of my favorite benefits of being a real estate agent is that I get to meet so many interesting people from all walks of life. Last Saturday I met a guy who had called up wanting to see a home. I met him at the home and showed it to him. He had an accent I just couldn't place and he walked ...

06/26/2011

Homeowner Fighting Against Mortgage Fraud for Ten Years Mysteriously Dies. Did the Judge Hire a Hit?

1 Comments

This is a compelling story in so many ways. A Chinese immigrant comes to the United States where he thinks there is "Truth, Justice, and the American Way". He buys a home in New York and everything is fine. Then he finds out that someone just happened to use his home in some kind of mortgage fra...

06/24/2011

Do You Think You're in a Safe Neighborhoood? Better Think Again.

11 Comments

Most of us probably think we live in a safe neighborhood. I do. That's why I moved there. It's a nice suburban neighborhood with an active swim club. Kids all over the place. Homes go from $300K-600K. The guy I bought the home from ten years ago never locked his doors. When we were previewin...

06/24/2011

Special Stips Need All the Verbiage. Not, "Home Inspection Yada Yada Yada."

5 Comments

Agents really need to be careful when writing their own special stipulations. Nothing in a real estate contract is implied. You can't say, "Well, you know what I mean." You need all of the "if not, then what?" verbiage spelled out. One recent example made me chuckle. I received an offer on a...

06/23/2011

In a Group of 23, It's Likely That Two Will Have the Same Birthday. Believe It or Not.

29 Comments

Do you want to make a winning bet at the next party you go to? In a group of as little as 23 people, I'm sure there will be many who won't believe that there will be two people with the same birthday. But statistically, the chances are a little bit better than 50/50. Increase the group alittle ...

06/14/2011

HUD Foreclosure System in Atlanta Is Broken. HUD's Required Closing Attorney, Fearnley and Price, Can't Get the Job Done and Now My Buyer Has to Pay the Penalty? CAUTION!!! Angry Realtor Video Rant.

11 Comments

Update: Since I posted this, a HUD official has since signed off on a release of the earnest money to my Buyer. I thank them for doing that. It was the right thing to do. I was told that they would never do that but maybe there are human beings who work at HUD and can make exceptions when needed....

06/03/2011