Recent Blog Posts

In March of 2012 I posted the following:Do you often wonder what the customer you have spent the day with thinks of you? Do you wonder what the customer sitting across from you at lunch, at your expense is really thinking about their house hunting experience? Welcome to the world of sales!People do not think, they stereotype. They do not conclude, they categorize. They do not calculate, they assume. How do people stereotype you? The first obstacle that you must overcome is not the competition, it's the stereotype outsider's have of you. Is there still merit to it? I believe so! Do you assume and stereotype ? Do you think people stereotype you? Is the stereotype they decide upon really you or do you have work to do?Enjoy your day! 03/21/2023

Selling Baltimore CityIn my 25 years in the real estate business, I have helped numerous people to buy or sell their homes in Baltimore City. ​The City has a wide variety of homes and neighborhoods such that almost everyone's needs and desires in a home can be realized.   ​Baltimore has more park land than most cities allowing its citizens the ability to walk, hike, jog, bike, golf, play ball, or even fly a kite.   ​It is home to several major universities such as Loyola University of Maryland, Morgan State University, Johns Hopkins University, and several more.   ​Major league sports is always a treat with either the Baltimore Orioles or the Baltimore Ravens.   ​One can enjoy art at The Baltimore Museum of Art or at the Walters Art Gallery.   ​Perhaps you would like to listen to the wo... 03/21/2023

What Buyer Activity Tells Us About the Housing Market   The 62% jump in showings from December to January is one of the largest on record. There were also more showings in January than in any other month since last May. As you can see in the graph, it’s normal for showings to increase early in the year, but the jump this January was larger than usual, and a lot of that has to do with mortgage rates. Michael Lane, VP of Sales and Industry at ShowingTime+, explains: It’s important to note that mortgage rates hovered in the low 6% range in January, which played a role in the high number of showings. What does this mean? When mortgage rates eased, buyer interest climbed. The jump in home showings early this year makes one thing clear – while rates may be volatile right now, there are inter... 03/21/2023

There are various options available for financing hotels, and one of them is a construction bridge loan. Click this link to watch a brief video on construction loans then call Karen today at 512-358-1511 to discuss you financing options.  03/21/2023

The stats are out for the month of February, and the numbers reflect the uptick of a spring buying season.   The inventory declined 10% from last month but increased 79.4% over last year.  The inventory has not moved much since the beginning of the year. This data is courtesy of Joan Cox - House to Home, Inc. I track data daily for the Denver metro area, and the amount of price reductions have been hovering around 600-650 each week and homes returning to market have been around 225 per week.   The inventory this time of year is seasonally low, and is below 4,000 during the week, and pops up to a bit over 4,400 for the weekends.  (includes land up to high-end homes) See what homes are currently available - Active Homes for sale in Denver Buyers - If you have thought about buying a home t... 03/21/2023

Buyer flipped this property and profitted 1.2M after the remediation was done. Leaking underground hydraulic car lifts were removed and closure letter presented to lender.  Watch videohttps://www.phase1enviropros.com/environmental-cleanup 03/21/2023

1240 Magnolia Curve, Montgomery, AL 36106MLS# 5349303 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1 Half Baths | 3,055 Square Feet | Cloverdale This wonderful Old Cloverdale home is spacious and pristine! Large formal dining and living rooms are perfect for entertaining. Kitchen large enough for multiple cooks and features tons of cabinets, center work island, and breakfast bar. The breakfast room looks into a spacious den/family room with built-ins, wet bar, and wall of windows overlooking beautiful backyard. Upstairs there is a HUGE main bedroom (runs the width of the house) with three closets. Two guest bedrooms share a bath, and a hall walk-in closet for even more storage. Corner lot has mature trees, two car detached carport, large brick patio, and your own private half basketball court! And, you have a ... 03/21/2023

Up to $100,000 Available to Winning Proposal for Public Art Artist proposals are now be accepted to create a permanent art installation at Gene Lynch Urban Park in Downtown Silver Spring. The park, which will open in spring, sits on a quarter acre at the intersection of Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue, immediately adjacent to the former Discovery Channel Headquarters building and across the street from the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center and Silver Spring Metro Station.The winning proposal could earn up to $100,000 for its artist. The public will select the winning artist from the group of finalists through an online voting process.The park is named for the late Planning Board Commissioner Gene Lynch. It includes an open lawn area, a pergola with bench swings and a 10 x 13-foot concret... 03/21/2023

Here's an experiment: I prompted ChatGPT to write an advertisement for a house in Florida.Prompt: Write a persuasive advertisement for selling a single family house in Florida.In about 15 seconds it gave me this:Looking for your dream home in the sunshine state? Look no further than this stunning single family house in Florida! With its prime location and luxurious amenities, this property is the perfect place to call home.Located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Florida, this house offers the perfect combination of privacy and convenience. With easy access to major highways, you'll be just minutes away from world-renowned attractions, shopping centers, and some of the best restaurants in the state.But the real magic lies within the walls of this beautiful home. With 4 bedr... 03/21/2023

Michael Wing from The Epoch Times reports "the planetary parade now rolls into spring." On March 28, 2023, those with good sky views will be able to see five planets and the Moon: JUPITER (PLANET OF LUCK, FORTUNE, SUCCESS, GENEROUSITY) MERCURY (PLANTET OF COMMUNICATION, INTELLECT, MEMORY) VENUS (PLANET OF LOVE, ROMANCE, MONEY, BEAUTY, ART) URANUS (PLANET OF EXTREMES, BREAKOUTS, LIMITLESSNESS) MARS (PLANET OF ENERGY AND ACTION)*For more information about the planets, look them up.  Wing explains "we cross the threshold from winter into bloom season 2023. The photograph is a stock photo from my paid subscription to Ribbett and edited. In my head I am thinking if the Planets in the Heavens can come together, why can't we as a human race? (no political comments please.)Since the beginning o... 03/21/2023

The process of getting pre-approved for a home loan and buying a house typically involves the following steps:Determine your budget: Before you start looking for a home, it's important to determine how much you can afford. This will depend on factors such as your income, debt, and credit score. Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is a crucial step in the home buying process. This involves submitting an application to a lender, who will review your financial information and credit history to determine how much they are willing to lend you. Hire a real estate agent: A real estate agent can help you find homes that meet your needs and budget, negotiate on your behalf, and guide you through the home buying process. Shop for homes: Once you know your budget a... 03/21/2023

 As we head into spring, activity in the Wilmington real estate market remains stable. Realtor Melanie Cameron shares how many homes have come on the market, gone under contract, and sold in New Hanover County, Pender County, and Brunswick County in the past 7 days. Want to track your home's value? Sign up on our website to receive a monthly email update with your valuation. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel or follow our Facebook page to see all of our new videos as soon as they are posted, including our informative Friday F.A.Q. series. We look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs! 03/21/2023

Once you’ve made the decision to sell your house and have hired a real estate agent to help, they’ll ask how much access to your home you want to give potential buyers. Your answer matters more now than it did in recent years. Here’s why.At the height of the buying frenzy seen during the pandemic, there was a rise in the number of homebuyers who put offers on houses sight unseen. That happened for three reasons: Extremely low housing inventory A lot of competition from other buyers wanting to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates And general wariness of in-person home tours during a pandemic Today, the market’s changing, and buyers can usually be more selective and take more time to explore their options.So, in order to show your house and sell it efficiently, you’ll want to... 03/21/2023

As a taxpayer in Mount Laurel, NJ, you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your tax deductions and credits. But claiming inaccurate deductions or credits can come with serious consequences. Here’s what you need to know about how they work, why it matters and how you can protect yourself. What are Inaccurate Deductions or Credits? Inaccurate deductions or credits are when a taxpayer claims an expense as a deduction or credit that is not allowed under the IRS rules. Some common examples of inaccurate deductions include claiming expenses for items that were not used for business purposes, such as meals, entertainment, travel and other non-business related items. Another example is claiming expenses for a vehicle that was used for personal use. Why Does it Matter? Claiming inac... 03/21/2023

The Wisconsin Woodland Report March 2023 Columbia County; Hunting, Timber, Investments!  Market Snapshot for 20+ Acre Properties         Available Properties Report Price Total Acres $/Acre Original MLS # Status Municipality County $160,000 44.5 $3,596 1942902 Active Dekorra Columbia $220,000 74.66 $2,947 1929727 Active Caledonia Columbia $262,500 24.45 $10,736 1947558 Active Newport Columbia $325,000 35 $9,286 1937111 Active Marcellon Columbia $590,000 59 $10,000 1947428 Active Caledonia Columbia $762,000 60.96 $12,500 1948210 Active Columbus Columbia $949,000 59 $16,085 1936344 Active Rio Columbia $2,000,000 38.97 $51,322 1942665 Active Arlington Columbia $2,900,000 241.73 $11,997 1903201 Active Lewiston Columbia $3,900,000 39 $100,000 1942664 Active Arlington Columbia      $  11,367... 03/21/2023

Today’s youthful adults can be expected to be fully occupied with meeting the demands of today’s challenging economic environment. Much has been written about the difficulty first-time homebuyers face. Since they are frequently unable to match the advantage current owners start with—the ability to parlay gains from the sale of a current home as the down payment for the next—it’s an uphill climb.With that as an opening challenge, it’s small wonder that many give up and continue on the easier option: they just keep renting. If the monthly spend for renting is measurably less than the all-in cash flow cost of buying, the numbers can point in that direction. More often, it’s a tossup—or it would be, were it not for a couple of factors that make buying the better long-run choice. One of them... 03/21/2023

Real Estate Owned. South of 10, near the base, close proximity to fka Foxwood's golf course newly renovated Blackwater Golf Club This 4 bedroom 2 bathroom home in South Crestview featuring upgraded 18'' tile flooring, wood tile floors, carpet in bedrooms. Covered 24x12 sq. ft. patio, and a pool. Plus, Shed with power & water - perfect workshop space. Updated fireplace, garage floor has been surfaced and the entire garage is insulated creating a usable space in the garage. This home sits on a quarter acre lot! Call to take a look at 2245 Titanium Dr today.  919398 Residential  Detached Single Family - Active      $312,250      Address: 2245 Titanium Drive, Crestview, FL 32536 County: Okaloosa Area: 25 - Crestview Area Sub Area: 2502 - Crestview Southwest Project Name/Subdivision: FOXWOOD... 03/21/2023

So you have finally made the decision to sell your home! Congratulations!  After signing the listing agreement you start thinking on how this is going to affect your day to day schedule.  Let's take a look on what it means to put your home on the market.You have decluttered, removed as much personal  items as possible and cleaned until your own mother wouldn't recognize the place.  Whether you did it yourself, or you opted to have your agent assist you or hired a professional stager, your home is now ready for prime time!As the market changes you have to decide how much Access to allow to your home!Perhaps you work away from your home  and can accommodate pretty much all showings within reason.  You provide your agent with a key and set times that you will allow other agents to "show" y... 03/21/2023

Monday marks the vernal equinox—the astronomical marker that denotes when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. More relevant for area real estate matters, it also signals the start of spring and with it, Douglasville’s high season. It’s hard to pin down exactly when Douglasville’s busiest real estate season begins (it’s either now or at the start of April), but the rise in activity isn’t limited to astronomical reasons. There are at least five others:1. For sure, the shift to nicer Douglasville weather does bring people out to investigate open houses—even if they aren’t fully committed to a purchase right away. As gardens bloom, blossoming curb appeal draws crowds.2. The school calendar dictates many a family’s timetable. If a move is in the offing, the need ... 03/21/2023

Unsettling developments in the banking industry had been front-and-center in the national press for all of last week, so the headline in Realtor News was definitely effective clickbait. For any Dallas house buyer or seller concerned that a financial spillover might disturb their own plans, the promise would have been irresistible:“How 3 Recent Bank Failures Could Impact Housing Market” would be hard to skip past if your Dallas house is already up for sale (or soon will be). The thing is, what seem to be disruptive events may not prove to work out that way when all is said and done—despite all the scare-inducing coverage (Realtor’s ‘bank failures’ story was illustrated by a cartoon depicting black-suited bankers disappearing beneath stormy waves).How could a general banking industry mess... 03/21/2023