Finally, the first rain of the spring is coming down in buckets here in Cedar City!  It is long overdue and welcome for the most part.  It would only be unwelcome if it causes flooding and property damage!                                                                     We are really glad that this storm came in the form of rain and not snow!  The leaves are almost out on the trees and it would have been a shame to have them damaged from another arctic blast of cold air.  We needed the rain to come and wash down the dust, and alleviate the growing fire danger.  As much as we love the sun, and we do! We like the rain also!  05/07/2008

Darcy does bookkeeping part time for a local construction company.  She is in a small office complex with several different businesses in the complex.  She was talking to a lady that works at another business who told her that she has a house in another state that is listed with an agent.  The lady told Darcy that her agent called to say that they were holding an Open House on a weekend.  The lady and her husband were curious so they decided to go and just see what kind of interest their house was generating.  They drove into town the night before so that they could kind of see what was happening.  The day started, no signs, no agent, no visitors, etc.  At the end of the weekend, she called to see how the Open House went.  The Agent's response to the question of how the Open House went ... 05/06/2008

There is on the white board in our training room at the office a quote, I am not sure who wrote it, but I liked it.  I goes: Whoever said that winning isn't everything, has never battled cancer!  What a true statement!  We have a Realtor in our office that is currently battling this horrific disease.  This is one thing that has touched nearly every family in our country.  I have lost several loved ones to one form or another of this disease.  I am sure that many other of our Active Rainers are in the same boat as I am.  I am glad that I have the opportunity to work with this fine lady!  She never calls attention to her disease nor does she ever complain about it.  She is truly an inspiration!  This is one battle that it is everything to win!  Thank you to everyone who did the Cancer Wal... 05/02/2008

Every week our office has a sales training meeting that the broker does.  Sometimes, he will have some outside people, but usually it is the broker that does the training.  We also go over new listings in the office as well as real estate needs that our clients have, but we haven't been able to meet with what is listed in the MLS.  The meeting is usually an hour then we go on a tour of listings that our office agents have listed.                                                                    This is a great opportunity to preview the property, and as a listing agent, we use a property and pricing evaluation form that the other agents in the office fill out.  These make it easier for us to go to our client and let them know that the fire engine red wall in the kitchen is attractive, ... 05/01/2008

Darcy and I had a great experienc today.  The states Division of Real Estate has the Director of the Division, the Education Director and the Enforcement Director go around to various areas within the state to do trainings and to meet with Realtors that do not work in the Salt Lake City area.  This isn't the first year that they have done this, but it is the first year that Darcy and I have had the day free to attend this training.  It was great information on what they as the head of our division are doing to help us to better do our jobs.  To be honest, this is the first time that I have ever heard of this, but they actually reduced our licensing fees by nearly 50%!  This is unheard of!  They have also gotten to the point that after July 1st, all of our licensing renewals will be done... 05/01/2008

As I sit here pondering the work week that lays ahead, a question arose from my study.  What disinguishes you from all of the other Realtors?  It is a fair question.  I could say honesty and integrity, but then, so could most of the Realtors on my board.  Besides, it has been my experience that the more someone tell me about their honesty and integrity, the more I reach to make sure that my wallet is still there.  Honesty and Integrity, are best shown, not bragged about, at least in my opinion.  So this isn't an easy question, I am still working on my answer, but what is it that Darcy and I do better than everyone else in our board?  That is the hard question, and even more difficult, how can we make this a marketing advantage.  Something that benefits our clients, and separates us from... 04/26/2008

This morning both Cedar City and Enoch City will have Arbor Day Celebrations with contest for school kids and others.  Cedar City and Enoch will each be given the designation of Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.  This is a wonderful way to be green.  The best thing about it as part of the celebrations seminars will be given on tree selection for our specific to our area and soil.  This is a great opportunity to get out and learn what type of tree will grow best in our area.  Along with the seminar on what types of trees, there will be a seminar on how to properly care for your trees.  Those who attend the seminars will recieve a $20 tree voucher, the activities and seminars are free.  All children attending will recieve a free tree as well as a demonstration of how to ... 04/24/2008

There has been a little controversy here in Cedar City over the proposition of building a new Recreational Center with a swimming pool.  Several years ago the City sold it's swimming pool to Southern Utah University.  The University in turn, put a 10 year lease in affect so that the two high schools would be able to continue with their swim teams etc. The 10 years is soon to be up and the University wants to tear out the old pool and use the space in another manner.  The City is now stuck with the proposition of where to build the Rec Center, and more importantly, how to pay for it.  There really isn't a question of need, a community with as much to offer as Cedar City has, needs to have a place for it's residents to swim and recreate.  The City has been very progressive in building fac... 04/24/2008

Whether it is just that we have had 5 days in a row with no snow, or if the market is changing I don't know.  I worked floor at the office today, and it was busier than it has been the last year of working floor combined!  It was great!  I got two solid listing appointments scheduled, one from a sign call of ours, the other was a floor call.  I also had a really good conversation with a FSBO, and convinced him to pay a commission if we were to bring in a buyer.  I will check back with him and see what I can do to list that property.  During what few quiet moments there were, I was talking to another agent in the office and he mentioned that his inquiries on his web site had really picked up and that they were much better inquiries than he had been getting.  This brings a level of excite... 04/21/2008

I was watching the local news (Darcy had control of the remote, and doesn't watch baseball when she has the remote) otherwise I would have been watching the Indians and the Red Sox.   There was a story citing a national poll saying that 60+% of potential home buyers are saying that they will wait at least 2 years to buy and 25% of homeowners fear that their home prices will drop over the next 2 years.  How dumb is that?  Let's wait until the market starts to pick up and home prices rise to buy.  Why should we buy a home at a bargain price, when we can wait until the price comes back to where we think that they should be?  I wonder if these same 25% would wait until Memorial Day to buy gas.  I mean the price will certainly be higher then, right?  What kind of logic is behind this?  This ... 04/14/2008

We had our local board luncheon this afternoon.  At our luncheons the board generally tries to have a speaker come and speak about issues that affect us and our business.  Today we had a local engineering company come and speak about soil testing, as well as environmental and structural concerns.  The reason behind it is that in our area we have a lot of blue clay, and other soils that cause problems with foundations. The long and short of it is, that now our local governments are require the soil engineering to be done on new construction prior to the certificate of occupancy being issued.  This has been a requirement for a while, but they are really cracking down on it.  That means that new construction will cost more even in areas where there haven't been a lot of problems.  I guess ... 04/09/2008

Every so often I have emails with inspirational quotes that come.  Some I read and think about others I really like and want to share.  Todays thought comes from the 1 man that I wish were running for President, Colin Powell.  The quote is: "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failures." This is such good advice.  There are really no get rich quick schemes that are really effective.  The only really effective way really is no secret, and Colin Powell said it very simply in this quote.  Have a Great Week! 04/07/2008

As I sit here on Sunday afternoon feeding my adiction, the thought came to me.  That I needed to remember to take time to do the important things in life.  I need to step away from the computer once in awhile (sounds sacreligious I know) to spend time with my beautiful wife and family.  This time should actually be spent doing something that doesn't involve Real Estate.  I also need to make sure that I give Darcy the chance to take some time to do what she wants to do whether it involves me or not. I also need to take time for myself.  Doing something that I like to do(besides blogging on Active Rain), and develop some other skills to better my life.  I think that it is also important to spend time for worship.  The spiritual aspect of life is often the first thing put aside in our busy... 04/06/2008

Hi Greetings from Cedar City!  We were hoping for a nice weekend weather wise this week.  While it isn't awful, it isn't great either.  It is one of those weekends that makes it difficult to enjoy the benefits of living in beautiful Cedar City.  I mentioned in a blog ealier that Outdoor Life had listed Cedar City in the top 20 places to live for enjoying the outdoors.  This weekend has been cool, windy and high clouds, which makes it difficult to get out and enjoy the beautiful mountains here. I will admit that it doesn't help that I have been under the weather since Wednesday.  It is too bad, Spring here in Iron County is really beautiful.  We have several National Parks within easy driving distance.  Zion's National Park is less than a hour away, with Bryce Canyon, Escalante and Capit... 04/05/2008

How many agents out there are secret agents?  By that I mean do you wear name tags or corporate apparel when you are out and about?  I have to admit, I don't always wear my name tag, and I don't have a lot of corporate apparel.  I have business clothes, and try to dress like a professional, there is just nothing that says that I am a realtor.  One of the aspects of the training that I blogged on yesterday was that we need to be agents when we are out and about. The other aspect of wearing your profession, is that you have to be prepared to be enthusiastic about your market.  I know that when I do remember to wear my name tag, I usually get one person that wants to know how real estate is doing.  I will admit, I wasn't as prepared as I needed to be, so that is a new leaf that I am workin... 04/04/2008

Yesterday I read Lissa Uder's blog on Expired listings, it was a good blog and obviously garnered a lot of attention.  I decided rather than just add my thoughts to her blog, I would write down what we have decided to do in light of the National and State Do Not Call Lists.  We simply send a letter.  We have a letter that we try to get out the morning that the home expired.  Right on the bottom we have the disclaimer that if they have relisted, we wish them luck in selling their home and please disregard this letter.  We keep these in a file, then after 10-12 weeks, we check those against the MLS to see if they have re-listed their home.  If not, we have another letter that we send out.  The reason behind this is I am not an attorney, I do not know how the Do Not Call Lists are being in... 04/04/2008

April Fools day came a couple of days early here in Cedar City.  On Sunday afternoon we enjoyed another couple of inches of snow.  So I guess that March did go out like a lamb, albeit a frozen one.  The snow did make everything look like a lamb.  I know that complaining about the weather is an easy thing to do.  We do enjoy the moisture, or I should say that come summer, we will enjoy the water.  It is also a good thing to be reminded that even though we love the warm Spring temperatures, we don't always get what we want. I guess that was the April Fools joke, just when you think it is time to stow all of the winter gear, it is in fact, not!  There have been some very good April Fools things on Active Rain today, I just haven't had a lot of time to spend reading them.  Anyway it has bee... 04/01/2008

I was just doing a check on the MLS to refresh my memory of the homes that have been listed during the past week in the Cedar City area.  What a great selection!  It is a very opportunistic market!  We have had a great selection from starter homes to executive homes, to even gentlemen's ranches.  There is also a good selection in the many surrounding communities!  Whether you are looking to buy your first house, or looking to move into that dream house, NOW is a GREAT TIME to buy!  These are just the home that have come into the market in the last 7 days, combined with what was already on the market, I agree with what a long time Realtor told me about this market.  "I have never seen such an opportunistic market, for both buyer and sellers."  For the seller looking that has equity, and ... 03/28/2008

Phase 1 of the Fort Cedar Commerce Center construction has begun!  This is another of the new commercial area in city limits that is underway.  The exciting thing about the Fort Cedar Commerce Center is that it has frontage on Interstate 15.  It is a center with about 13.5 acres to be built into commercial suites.  The specification look great!  Phase one consists of 2 10,000 square foot buildings that can be divided into 2 5,000 square foot areas with fenced storage areas.  there will also be 2 9,400 square foot buildings that can be divided into 1,500 square foot areas. This is another of the great opportunities that are coming to the Cedar City area!  For more information check out the city's official web site: www.cedarcity.org.  Thanks and have a great Week! 03/26/2008

In office meeting today, the broker and most of the other agents in the office commented that they had seen a lot more positive activity in the market in the past couple of weeks.  More qualified buyers, sellers that understood that in order to sell, they had to price according to the market.  Although the past couple of weeks haven't been great for us, It did make me wonder if were at least entering the corner, prior to being able to turn it.  Our broker has a friend that is a broker in San Diego.  Our broker mentioned that his friend had noticed a lot more sales activity in San Diego, at least more going into pending status.  This is good news for us, our market is tied to the Southern California and Southern Nevada areas.  When they do well, so do we.  Here's for hoping that if we ar... 03/26/2008