Yogi Berra got this one right. Every day, we come to "forks in the road." We usually do not recognize them at the time, but, with our 20/20 hindsight, we recognize them. The real estate industry is at a fork in the road, a fork with two clear directions. And, the great thing is that we can see this one, and make a reasoned decision. Technology has hit the real estate world, with  great impact. It affects real estate practitioners, buyers, sellers, and all ancillary service providers. The "fork," then, is the choice to ride the technology wave, or to continue doing business as we have always done it. We all recognize that the number one way to create a transaction is to meet, face-to-face, with a buyer or seller who is capable of making a decision. But, increasingly, buyers and sellers a... 04/06/2011

Ah, back to the basics... and, a little refresher along the way. I read a new post today, from Erica Kelter, of Helena, Montana. It brought enough of a reaction from me that I need to expand a bit. Erica wrote of her first GRI class (tomorrow), and, of her excitement. That's one of the things I love about the GRI program. Because it is often the first formalized training, after one gains their real estate license, it is memorable to the attendees, and they will form professional bonds throughout their state, or region. I have attended GRI classes in many states, and made lots of friends. I can attribute several referrals to the contacts I made in those classes. GRI provides a great "leveler" for everyone, with graduates schooled on the same subject matter, learning the vernacular, and t... 04/05/2011

Fiirst, I must apologize to all of my previous clients and contacts, whether or not we ever closed a transaction together, for letting them drop off of my radar screen. Oh, I didn't "forget" them. I just got too busy, and was looking ahead... not behind. Shame on me! Second, to all real estate professionals, it just makes sense to have these friends in our databases. They, if satisfied with their experiences with us, will recommend us to their friends... but, only if we are at the top of their minds. A simple note, preferably handwritten, is the best way to start. E-mails can follow... (Do you know their new email address?) A phone call, on their birthday, or anniversary... a home run! (Do you still know their birthays and anniversaries!) Many systems exist that direct or manage lead an... 04/04/2011

I know; I know... a picture, at one time, was only worth a thousand words. But, with inflation, it started to take more words to equal a picture. Now, with the graphic-rich Internet environment where we live and work, It takes a million words to equal a GOOD picture. So... how do you get a GOOD picture? I've tried everything. I took a course at my local Community College, I've read books, blogs, "wikis," and I still don't know how to take a good photo. I've spent more money, and wasted more time, sending in film, only to have the photos come back looking pretty pathetic. At last! The day of good, inexpensive, digital cameras, with high-capacity storage cards arrived! Now, I take a million pictures, and, by the law of averages, I wind up with a couple of dozen great photos. Then, guess w... 04/03/2011

"Don't Think Green... Think Beige," is a phrase that saved my marriage, and, maybe my life! I'm prone to embellish a good story, so stick with me for a minute, OK? In 1978, the ARMY transferred me to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Of course, my ever-faithful wife and kids followed me. We had been in Germany, with their emerald-green forests, beautiful flowers, and the cool, damp weather where that sort of flora flourishes. My wife had grown up in England, where if anything it was greener, cooler, damper, more densely packed with flowered "strays," than even Germany could provide. "Oh my gosh," I thought, we were going to live in the high desert of Southeast Arizona! Since I had experienced high desert living earlier in my life, I was happy, but realized what a shock It would be to the wife and... 04/01/2011

Sierra Vista, in Spanish, means Mountain View. So what? Many areas of our great continent have mountain views... so what makes Sierra Vista, Arizona different? Another term, "sky islands," needs to be introduced. Sky islands are essentially small (usually) mountains, or mountain ranges, that seemed to have just "popped-up" from the normal terrain, and then appear much the same as islands that stand majestically above the seas. The Huachuca Mountains are sky-islands, and provide the mountain view, or "Sierra Vista," from which we take our city's name. With peaks at 9,300 feet, these are real mountains, and they form one rim of the San Pedro River Valley. Sierra Vista is nestled against the foothills of the Huachuca Mountains, a place of great interest to nature lovers and bird watchers. ... 03/31/2011

Too Much Information? As we become more tech-savvy in our marketing, struggling (and succeeding) to provide high-quality, effective tools to the consumer of real estate services, we have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. Some of my web sites, for instance, make available every imaginable information source, with user-customizable searches; for homes, schools, crime statistics, community demographics... and, will soon be able to dispense a Latte, to my real estate prospects. Well, not really a Latte, but draft beer is quite possible! Well, it seems that many of the features are a bit overwhelming to some of my prospects, while others (the "Engineer" types), cannot get enough information. Of course, if I can capture them, as a valid lead, to place in my database, I can easily help them... 03/30/2011

Climate: Among the most moderate, anywhere in the United States. How could that be? We are at an altitude of nearly 4,700 feet, high above the hot desert floor.,, about 10-12 degrees cooler than Phoenix, in the summertime. We are far enough south that we don't receive the heavy snow falls common in our northern mountains... we usually get snow four or five times per year, but it almost never sticks. Home buyers in Sierra Vista are often surprised by the lack of extreme heat and cold, deciding to buy their real estate here, in this "oasis" in the sky. Fort Huachuca: We have a marvelous neighbor, Fort Huachuca (wah-choo-kah). A very high-tech installation, they mainly are engaged in intelligence doctrinal development and training. They are also responsible for most ARMY communications sys... 03/27/2011

Ever heard of Keller Williams Realty? Recently, Keller Williams Southern Arizona opened an office in Sierra Vista, Arizona! Though Keller Williams Realty is the second largest real estate franchise in North America, most people here in Sierra Vista haven't heard of them. But, they will! Keller Williams Realty leads in technology necessary to function in today's real estate market. Buyers and Sellers, as well as real estate agents benefit from this technology, and the results it promotes.   03/27/2011

Gunner Andersohn - Worked, Played, Lived, and Loved! My father Gunner Andersohn passed away last week Tuesday while I was away in Seattle. This is the first time in my life that I have so few words available and yet so much to say.  Just a few weeks ago, I flew back to Sierra Vista, Arizona to be at his bedside. I will never forget nor regret those last moments with my Dad, they were priceless.     You can never be prepared or in the right place to get "that call" which unfortunately comes to us all at some point.  Saying goodbye to one of the most important people in my life is by far the hardest thing I've ever done.  The lump in my throat, the queasy stomach, and unstoppable tears are merely a sign of the love that I have for my father. The last and most memorable words my father spo... 03/15/2011

Ever said that to a buyer before? If not, it's a good saying to keep in your pocket when informing buyers about the upcoming inspection. "If you ask for everything, you may get nothing" Let's face it, buyers certainly have the upper hand in this market but it doesn't mean they can get away with murder. Sellers still have the product buyers want and can refuse to give it to them should they present themselves unreasonable.  In my last blog about sellers being too emotional I mentioned that sellers often get overly attached to their home and feel offended when a buyer asks for the moon. Well, here we talk about the opposite side of that equation and when buyers really DO want the moon, and the stars and the seller to pay for it all.   My mentor once said, "If you ask for everything, you m... 11/30/2010

As a man and being myself, I could almost live in a cave. No monthly payments and when I need food, just go out and get it. Also, being a married man, she needs a roof and dislikes the little critters. So a house is our need, and maybe yours too. I want servants too; but that's costly. So we get to make our own meals and clean up our own messes. You want a castle too! Well, here in Sierra Vista, AZ near Fort Huachuca, AZ we have some darn nice homes and hand picked few are close to castles. How would you like a home instead?  Let the mountains be your castle walls and the peaks your turrets. Weather is not too darn hot in the summer and when it snows, melts the same day. We have everything from inexpensive to real spendy. Join us for what you need. 10/05/2010

Even "CRAZIER" was standing out there shooting this!  :-O 08/13/2010

Last week I was fortunate enough to get away for a couple days to take my kids and visit their Grandpa for his 85th surprise birthday party in Arizona.  It had been 8 long years since my 3 boys had seen there Gramps, so this was a great surprise and fun for us all.  I won't bore you with all the mushy and sobby details, but I did want to share this video with you of my father playing the piano, possibly the very last time, and it was such a blessing to have it caught this on film.  Somehow I think he must have known this, and so he performed this song called "MORE" magnificently.  So no tutorial today, no instructions or "How To" do this or that, just a simple video of Dad on his piano, with all his grand kids, son, and friends gathered around to wish him a very special 85th birthday. H... 07/30/2010

It's amazing how bombarded we have become over the last few months with prospective home buyers wanting to contact us in regards to purchasing homes in the Sierra Vista area. We all know that the Home Buyers Credit is due to expire very soon, and due to this a lot of people are scrambling to get in contact with an aggressive buyers agent. A good amount of these people need assistance now, to be able to buy their homes as soon as possible. These people truly need an agent whom has the time and experience to respond to these inquiries. We have learned that persistence has proven to pay dividends with these inquiring families and individuals. If you are serious about having the ability to increase the amount of prospective home buyers you contact each month, we would love the chance to ta... 04/15/2010

It's amazing how bombarded we have become over the last few months with prospective home buyers wanting to contact us in regards to purchasing homes in the Sierra Vista area. We all know that the Home Buyers Credit is due to expire very soon, and due to this a lot of people are scrambling to get in contact with an aggressive buyers agent. A good amount of these people need assistance now, to be able to buy their homes as soon as possible. These people truly need an agent whom has the time and experience to respond to these inquiries. We have learned that persistence has proven to pay dividends with these inquiring families and individuals. If you are serious about having the ability to increase the amount of prospective home buyers you contact each month, we would love the chance to tal... 03/31/2010

Sold Market Analysis (Residential Listings) February 2010 Another average month here in Sierra Vista. First time home buyers are still dominating the market and being in a military town.... VA loans are the loan of choice.  No. of Listings Dollar Volume Average Price Median Price Average DOM RESIDENTIAL     OTHER 4 $766,184 $191,546 $188,604 134     CONVENTIONAL 14 $2,559,983 $182,856 $180,415 136     FHA 5 $694,000 $138,800 $141,000 89     VA 32 $6,530,074 $204,065 $200,308 132     CASH 13 $1,378,500 $106,038 $69,000 96     OWNER CARRY 1st 2 $112,500 $56,250 $56,250 132 Analysis by Area Benson 1 $242,000 $242,000 $242,000 212 Bisbee 2 $349,750 $174,875 $174,875 98 Cochise 1 $63,000 $63,000 $63,000 92 Douglas 2 $195,000 $97,500 $97,500 71 Elfrida 1 $32,000 $32,000 $32,000 99 Hereford 10... 03/09/2010

Another year comes to end and its time for the new year to dawn, bringing with it new aspirations, new resolutions and new hope..May the New Year bring you happiness, joy, good health, prosperity and a lot of luck. 12/31/2009

Merry Christmas!! This is the holiday of all holidays. People anticipate the coming of the end of the year because of all the fun and festivities that Christmas can bring. Families reunite, enemies end feuds, friends create more memories. It’s Christmas time. It’s the time to go out and enjoy the beautiful life God has blessed us with. -- Most Sincerely, Brad Snyder, e-Pro REALTOR/Property Manager Sierra Vista Realty 12/25/2009

Friends, Realtors, countrymen, lend me your ears. The evil that inexperience and indifference does to our profession must end; the good is oft lost in their wake; so let the winds of change begin with the Real Estate Warrior. The noble new agent of the future is ambitious: If it so, He will excel to greatness never before achieved, he will be an honorable agent; So much so that all honorable agents to come will speak of his greatness. His clients will say he was my friend, faithful and just to me. He hath brought many happy buyers and sellers together by becoming a trusted advisor and all did see him as an expert and a good citizen while his adversaries feared is stern negotiating skills. He sees no challenge too large….he understands the challenges of the future and can navigate the se... 09/10/2009