Getting Schooled When Fishing! After finding a home my clients wished to buy, we wrote up the Real Estate Purchase Contract then sent it to the listing agent. Immediately, I get a call, saying the sellers would not accept it but might take a higher price. Agent wanted to verbally negotiate the sales price, but refused to counter in writing. I took the time to: show the property write up a good offer get signatures and submit  He tried to wrap it up with a phone call. I told him to write up a counteroffer. Verbal in real estate remains and always will be hearsay and the conversation cannot be validated. He could even say it didn't happen! He's fishing and might just get schooled today! 07/02/2022

'Ole Glory Coast to Coast - Veyo, Utah We respectfully fly the U.S. flag every day of the year in front of our residence, spotlighting it at night. 'Ole Glory greets all, proudly waving to everyone that happens to be traveling up or down the road, daily.  My husband and I have military backgrounds and it is more than just a piece of colored cloth ran up a flagpole. It speaks for freedom and the: White signifies purity and innocence Red, hardiness & valour, and the Blue signifies vigilence, perseverence & justice   Many lives have been lost defending our country and those heroes deserve to be honored every single day. If everyone respected and valued those lives, what an amazing and veritable force the U.S. would become again. When attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, real estate even... 06/30/2022

Achieving Home Ownership Can Be More Difficult For... Some people wish to blame a lack of commitment or accountability in building their own wealth on anything/everything. "Responsibility finds a way. Irresponsibility makes excuses!" ~ Gene Bedley Why some consumers fail to purchase real estate:Irresponsible spenders, compulsive shoppers and must haver's. They apply for credit cards, max them out, then call family members or friends to bail them out to pay their car payment or lease amount. Those who have poor credit ratings are chronically late when paying their bill's. They let them go a week or two then split them up, paying half now and the remaining ones later. No sense or care re: timing. Champagne tastes on a beer budget. Their wants and needs are excessively higher than the abil... 06/21/2022

When land sharks strike...Prepare to bite back! Most professionals run ethical businesses but some intentionally blur established rules, laws and regulations for selfish gain. They build a bad reputation, often hurting those inside the real estate industry. Here are some cases...Scenario: Buyer agent accepts a referral from an out-of-area real estate agent, agreeing to pay the specified percentage upon successful recordation. The buyers purchased and the referral fee was never sent. Remedy: When buyer agent refused to send the amount due, the referring agent built a case and won. Referral money finally showed up! Scenario: Listing agent lowers the buyer broker compensation on the MLS after going under contract. Prior to closing, the title company sends over the settlement statement. Buy... 06/20/2022

Happy Father's Day to All My Men! Ironing my dad's Army fatigues when he was still active military was the least I could do for a decorated Vietnam War Veteran. Thank you for loving my mom and taking on 7 kids. You sacrificed your wants and needs to ensure we had what was necessary, often working two jobs to provide.You are my hero, my rescuer, my saving grace and will always remain in the most favorite part of my heart. Thank you for everything dad!​ Thank you My Honey for being a fantastic father to Sebastian and Spensyr, for always putting our family first in everything. Not only are you a respected retired Navy Veteran, you are also a Gulf War hero. You are the best husband a woman could ask for, my heart still skips a beat when I think of you! ​I love you, admire you and laugh more... 06/19/2022

just a smidgen... Again, media opinionists are pushing their narrative, creating a lot of industry chatter about cyclical patterns and impending disaster. Most days I ignore the constant static and go about my business. Besides, who knows what will happen in the next shift?  Those of us that have experienced a market downturn understand the need to pay attention to trends and subtle nuances in the real estate market, even if it moves just a titch. It helps to decide a clearer direction. Agents in the last economic downturn learned new business practices and standards, tenacity and patience were required. They had a huge advantage over those who lost sight when the money wasn't quick. In the last several years, those new to the industry took advantage of an up real estate market, many wi... 06/17/2022

Nerdin Gardens: Hedging Inflation A food shortage may be inevitable if American farmer's are unable to grow crops because of contrived, inflated costs. Gardening and canning your own food is a viable option to fill in the meal gaps. My brother, who lives in Pittsburgh, went to the grocery store for a week's worth of supplies. There was absolutely no chicken in the displays. What about the baby formula shortage? This is outrageous! Wait, there's more... Many young people believe that food appears on store shelves via a magical unicorn delivery service... And then some city folk say that successful farming is simply putting a seed in the ground and watering it... Extremists want all beef products banned because burping cows are the #1 cause of ozone layer depletion... Pfffft to that, igno... 06/16/2022

Nerdin Gardens: Nerdin Gardens: I'll take mine TO GO, please! Humans like flowers because they are visually pretty, bees simply see a quick meal. Flowers have a big, “We’re open, come on In” sign that beckons all species of bees to feed on their nectar and pollen.  Bees appreciate flowers because the pollen feeds the larva aka baby bees in the hive plus adds greatly to a hive’s food storage. It is also used as an energy source and yet another reason to garden, naturally. Easy access makes blooms appealing for a quick trip to collect while pollinating the blooms that bud out, further ensuring that fruits and vegetables may reach their full potential through fruition in the gardens. This dynamic is mutually beneficial, in that, ‘bees need flowers and flowers need bees’. Similar to the wor... 06/15/2022

Blinding home prices! Given the opportunity, home owner's may overprice a property in hopes of netting more money. To avoid paying uber-inflated prices, consumer's in the market to buy need guidance to help navigate the process. Well-maintained properties in a fantastic location become very desirable. Emotions are hard to control when determined to become a homeowner at any cost, especially when multiple offers result.  Rising interest rates have not deterred consumers from moving forward. Though I have a several buyers actively looking, sellers are still reluctant to accept offers requiring financing and appraisal conditions. My parents purchased a new build back in the late 1970's when interest rates were in the mid-teens. Though it was daunting, they pushed through the cold-feet synd... 06/14/2022

'Ole Glory Coast to Coast - Iwo Jima War Memorial, Hawaii  While on a trip to visit our son and daughter-in-law in Hawaii, both U.S. Navy sailors on the island of Maui, we did some sightseeing during the stay. We enjoy learning more about military history and have to say that the Iwo Jima War Memorial captures an important moment in time. My husband is a retired U. S. Navy Chief, so visiting such monuments always brings out our patriotic side. The monument is a replica of the Joe Rosenthal-inspired memorial in Newington, Connecticut, and is slightly different from the memorials in Arlington, Virginia and Harlingen, Texas.  During WWII, training for the Battle of Iwo Jima took place on: Guam The “Big Island” of Hawaii and on Maui  On Feb. 23, 1945, American flags were raised on Mt. Surib... 06/13/2022

A One and Done'r. Back in the last upmarket cycle, it seemed agents had more business than they could handle. One person, in particular was very successful, closing transactions every week, quickly becoming a top producer.  He thought it unnecessary to remain in contact with past clients due to the high volume of buyers and sellers. As the market began to slow, so did the amount of people calling and coming through the door. A couple of years later, I asked if anyone had seen or talked to him. Apparently, after struggling to bring in business, he left the industry for a paid position, rather than tapping the power of the Sphere of Influence. Remaining in touch is simple and effective, especially when consistent. People want to know that they matter and by following up and through with t... 06/11/2022

'Ole Glory Coast to Coast - St. George, Utah Recently, I had the honor of attending the Gold Star Monument ceremony that was dedicated to all families that have lost an immediate family member while serving the military. It was held March 26 at Historic Town Square. The U.S. flag hung at half mast in honor of the reverent occasion. My aunt was a double Gold Star recipient. Her husband, Robert Edwin Graves, an Army Sergeant was held POW and perished in the Korean War, his only son, Randolph Edwin Graves, Specialist E-4, a helicopter gunner was killed in action during the Vietnam War while on a mission. “We hope this will inspire people to talk about the price of freedom, and the responsibility we all have as beneficiaries of those freedoms,” Mayor Randall added. “It reminds us that some ... 06/10/2022

Some Things Should Remain in the Privacy of the Mind Some personalities enjoy verbally purging anywhere, not caring who is within hearing distance of their diatribes. There might be a place and time for that but never in close vicinity of clients. These types of people attempt to make a connection with an audience that relates to their woes. similar to trauma-bonding. They try to look more like a victim and less like an overly emotional wreck. That behavior may come back to bite! A difficult transaction is a time to step back in retrospect and discover what could be made different, next time, so processes go smoother with fewer problems. Getting feathers ruffled and taking an offensive stance when things go wrong, or directing your anger towards someone else rather than looking at what ... 06/09/2022

Nerdin Gardens: Honey Bee’s Do Not Float!Pulling weeds, row by row,Dutifully nurturing what we sow.Looking over, what did I see?A little, water-soaked honey bee.Thinking, ohhh-me, ohhh-my!Let’s get this guy safe and dry.I quickly placed him upon the stone,Once ready, he happily buzzed home!-- The End Bee's are our garden friends and may need a drink of fresh water, especially on hotter days. Place a rock in the center of a bird bath or container, above the surface for them to land safely. Glad I was there to save this one!~ Wanda Kubat-Nerdin in Nerdin Gardens 06/08/2022

3 Reasons Buyers/Agents Should Not Attend Home Inspections Buyers get excited once a desired home is under contract and due diligence begins.  They often want be present during the home inspection. Being risk averse, I advise clients to show up once it is completed, meeting them there to discuss the results with the inspector for the following reasons: 1. Inserting themselves unnecessarily. As an agent, I avoid practicing outside my scope of expertise, allowing the home inspector to relay information. When the report hits the inbox, I wait to discuss the contents until buyers are ready. There may be some items to remediate and then put it to paper. 2. Distracting hinders inspection timeline. The last thing a home inspector wants is to be followed from room to room, with people asking qu... 06/07/2022

D-DAY: All gave some, some gave all! Today, Monday, June 6, 2022 is the 78th anniversary of D-Day also known as the Allied Invasion of Normandy, France. I am so very thankful for those who stepped up. All gave some, some gave all, they are heroes, every one! "You are about to embark on the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you… I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle."– Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower Allied forces from 13 countries stormed five beaches, becoming the beginning of the end of Hitler's dream of Nazi world domination. The Normandy landing included: 5,000 ships 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 service men

 The boat ramp went down, each soldier facing over 200 yards of beach before re... 06/06/2022

Nerdin Gardens: A Hidden Cache A Hibiscus bloom blew off the plant, as the wind gusted, twirling all around, making itself known to all. Bending down to pick up the pink flower, I spied a red-caped visitor that had crawled inside the stem cup. Upon closer inspection, it was obvious the ladybug had discovered a colony of aphids that were depleting the host plant of nutrients. She was quite busy you see, paying no mind to me, only the task at hand. Taking advantage of getting her fill was of utmost importance before the ants showed up again, making their rounds to herd or aggressively defend their prized food source against any and all intruders.  You could say she cashed in on the cache!  Moving quick when a true opportunity presents can be the difference in sweet success or a failed att... 06/05/2022

Nerdin Gardens: Red Torch Echinopsis The Red Torch Echinopsis cactus blooms twice a year and are very vibrant in color and the size of a dinner plate. The flowers last only a day or so. Other colors of the blooms come in pink, orange, white and yellow! Their stunning beauty is meant to be seen and appreciated close up! They're everywhere right now, here in southern Utah. We are lucky enough to have witnessed this bloomer in Nerdin Gardens. Happy day all! 06/04/2022

Money For NOTHING and Some Funds for FREE! Apparently, some builders wish to financially benefit beyond closing. Details include an entire paragraph in the warranty deed, demanding proceeds if a homeowner decides to sell soon after recording.  Life situations happen. Death or divorce may occur and the surviving/other spouse may need to sell quickly because the bills are overwhelming. All profits gained reverts to the builder, per the verbiage.They must wait out the 2-year period before putting the house on the market to sell or pay the home builder all proceeds.  Another builder has implemented a rule that requires a buyer to only use their assigned, in-house agent should they resell - no end date. Then their attorney just may call the listing agent in an effort to enforce!Some home bui... 06/03/2022

Here a view. There a view. Everywhere a view in southern Utah!  Dramatic hardscapes made of red stone and white overlook the St. George, Utah area valley floor below. This view is meant to be shared with interested parties, whether during days of play or cool evenings spent. Many people ask, what is the draw to the St. George Utah area? I tell them it may be the: Blue skies Sunny days High desert climate Friendly atmosphere Amazing views at every turn  Several nearby national parks and golf courses are also a huge draw for visitors. Internationally re-known Tuacahn Ampitheatre, nestled in the red rock canyon, offers world-class musical productions. You can go to these sites as well for more area information: City of St. George Information Washington County School District Washington Cou... 06/01/2022