ActiveRain Community

This is to help get your brain thinking!  See if you can come up with the answer.  If you do, great!  If not, it will help you to really think about what you are reading. Answer for Saturday: What can travel around the world while staying in a corner? Answer: A Stamp Brain Buster for Sunday, Sept. 1 What has a heart that doesn’t beat?   09/01/2024

Is There A Place For Carpet In The Modern Home?My favorite part of any listing appointment... there in the den rests some plush 2013 vintage carpet. The owners swear by the comfort such thread provides and point to the grocery store carpet cleaner rental invoice from somewhere around the last election. I have owned homes with carpet, and frankly such flooring is nice on cold mornings. As a dog owner, I changed to tile and wood as soon as funds were available. Since then there hasn't been a moment I thought, "gee I could go for some carpet". What are you thoughts on the upscale, upgraded carpet? Extra padding, plush texture, cool colors. In your opinion, should home owners consider carpet when replacing their flooring? Are there certain rooms carpet would be better received than others??   08/29/2024

There’s a wonderful town in the mountains of Colorado on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park called Grand Lake where I was blessed to have spent several summers and a fall as a National Park Service Ranger. The job attracts college students and teachers since both tend to have their summers free.The town itself is nestled beside Colorado’s largest natural lake, which was once known as Spirit Lake. When the Native Americans lived in that area, the Ute Indians who were camped beside the lake were attacked by Arapaho warriors. To save their wives and daughters, the Utes put them on a large raft and set them out onto the waters of the lake. As the battle raged on, a storm came up and a great gust of wind capsized the raft, sending all the women and children to their deaths in t... 08/28/2024

On August 22, 2024, National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reported that a median home value price was $422,600 in July of 2024 rose 4.2% from the price of $405,600 in July of 2023.Single family home sales were at annual rate of 3.57 million units in July of 2024 gained 1.4% from June of 2024, but declined 1.4% from home sales in July of 2023. The median single family home price was $428,500 in July of 2024, higher 4.2% from July of 2023.Condominium and co-op sales were to an annual rate of 380,000 units in July of 2024 unchanged 0.0% from June of 2024, but dropped 11.6% from July of 2023. Median existing condo price was $367,500 in July of 2024, increased 2.7% from $342,200 in July of 2023.Distressed homes sales were 1.0% in July of 2024 same as from 1.0% in June of 2024, and unchange... 08/29/2024

Contrary to Popular Belief, Experience Matters Minneapolis, MN: Contrary to popular belief, I can tell you that getting a home loan approved and closed IS CHALLENGING in today's market, and low level application clerks at the big banks and large internet lenders fall very short. Even what appears to be a well qualified buyer can have hidden hurdles. Therefore you need the right experienced person on your team. I understand that mortgages are not a one-size-fits-all business. I take pride in understanding my client's financial scenario and identifying the loan that best suits their needs. I know what happens at each step of the home loan process and why. Your clients new home is the single largest item they will ever finance, and the process shouldn’t have to be so hard, confusing, or s... 08/28/2024

As a long time user and instructor for RPR, I love this product.Both buyers and sellers love it! I can customize it many ways, hook it to my MLS for ease of use, make adjustments based on upgrades and work needed to be done. There are now investor and commercial info, too.If you have not tried it, do it! REALTORS® Property Resource (RPR) is a tool provided by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) for real estate professionals. It’s a comprehensive database that offers detailed property information, market trends, and analytics to help REALTORS® make informed decisions and provide valuable insights to their clients. As a longtime user of Cloud CMA and InfoSparks, I initially didn’t see the need for RPR. However, after becoming an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) this year, I... 08/28/2024

Sandpoint Realty 'Friday Flag' is fun this week with some new visitors that have been showing  up on a regular basis.  We have been having some gorgeous weather lately in North Idaho, and these little guys chose not only to visit but to show some patriotism by basking in the early morning sun under the 'Stars and Stripes'.  If you look closely you can see 'Mama' preferred the shade of the tree to keep an eye on them.   'Experience the Difference' in working with a full time Professional Sandpoint Realty REALTOR® Your wants and needs will always be my priorities.  Mark Don McInnesBroker - Owner208 255-6227 SandpointNorthIdaho.com - North Idaho Home & Land Searches Sandpoint Realty LLC1205 Highway 2Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 08/30/2024

Sandpoint Realty 'Thursday Thought' goes a bit off track, but thought it good for a chuckle.  I try stay away from politics and religion in Active Rain, and in public in general.  This statement attributed to loved comedian Robin Williams seemed to good not to use as a break from the hub bub on the elections.   'Experience the Difference' in working with a full time Professional Sandpoint Realty REALTOR® Your wants and needs will always be my priorities.  Mark Don McInnesBroker - Owner208 255-6227 SandpointNorthIdaho.com - North Idaho Home & Land Searches Sandpoint Realty LLC1205 Highway 2Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 08/29/2024

By adopting a mindset of self-belief, even if it's just a pretense at first, you start to build a foundation of confidence that can transform into real, positive feelings about yourself. This approach helps foster a sense of self-worth and can enhance your overall emotional well-being, making you feel better about yourself and your abilities over time.​​Download the RATE APP today!  #WednesdayWellness #WellnessWednesday #DailyPositivity #DailyPositivity2024 #PositivityQuote #PositivityQuotes #GuaranteedRate #Mortgage #MortgageLender  09/04/2024

Be aware that it is getting harder to first get, and then hold someone's attention especially if it is for something relevant and important. When people play video games, wolf down their food or work those smart phone texts, their focus is acute and on track never wavering.  My thoughts? Apply that to your studies, self-improvement, career & quality relationships and you should do very wellSAME SKILLS I have told people who can text faster than running water to apply that to their quality of life. Why? If you have the skills to command a smart phone at light speed, then those same skills can command personal & professional subjects and outcomes too. The world is yours. Now learn what to do with it. WHAT GETS YOUR ATTENTION? It appears that entertainment or shock holds people's attention... 08/28/2024

Patricia Feager and I are excited to announce AR's September blog challenge. Share your Creativity and Storytelling. Featuring you telling your story in 53 Words. As a blogger and an agent or business owner story telling is probably a part of who you are. You use stories to educate, to persuade clients to take action, and to attract customers to purchase your clients’ homes. But most likely, we use a lot more than 53 words, the challenge here is find the nugget that tells the story without distraction.53 Word Story Rules. 53 words. No more. No less. Hyphenated words count as one and the title does not count.Here is the post from Patricia that inspired this challenge Durable Agents in 53 Words  there is also an explanation of where the idea for 53 words came from and why .How to Particip... 09/01/2024

What To Do When A Deal DiesSadly not every deal ends at the closing table. Due to a variety of factors an agreement to purchase can end up in the trash can with both parties back to square one. Let's take a look at how both buyer and seller should react to a dead real estate deal. Buyer advice 1)Take a deep breath-- A real estate deal can be stressful, I encourage buyers to take a moment to process the loss. For some folks, that's an hour others six months. 2) Why did the deal die--Was it an inspection issue, perhaps an unseen defect that nobody could control for. Did something go south with your loan? Fix what needs to be fixed prior to getting back in the market. 3) Take a closer look at your motivation--Why did you wish to purchase in the first place? Has that desire changed? 4) Stic... 08/28/2024

How Growing Inventory Benefits Today's Buyers in Miami - Dade FloridaSome Highlights While the number of homes for sale varies by local area, nationally we’re up over 36% year-over-year, but still down almost 29% compared to what’s normal.​ Here’s what that means when you buy: more options for your search, more negotiation power for you, it’s more likely sellers will make select repairs, and more moderate price growth. If you want to talk more about what rising inventory means for you, connect with a local real estate agent. #RealEstateMiami #MiamiShoresRealEstate #RealEstateMiamiShores #MiamiShoresRealEstate #RealEstateSouthFlorida #MiamiShores #MiamiRealEstate #RealEstate #Realtor #houseexpert #househunting #home #RealEstateAgent #RealEstateBroker #RealEstateExpert #RealEstateForSale ... 08/28/2024

Do you ever consider where words, names, and expressions originate? Threshold, Raining Cats and Dogs, Turn a Blind Eye, Pass the Buck, and even the continually used  “okay” all have stories about their beginnings. Words intrigue me. They are powerful and with so many choices, you can describe a scene, set a tone, and generate emotional responses. We’ve grown in our industry and modified some of the words we used to use. Some of the changes I think are beyond what we need to do, but I shift, as the industry requires. Certain words I refuse to use. I’ve seen listings described as “immaculate” but after reading about a lawsuit some years ago that I believe was in the Carolinas, that word won’t appear in my listings. A property was described as being immaculate but after the sale was comple... 08/27/2024

Instead of focusing on accumulating more, finding joy in what we already have is key to a fulfilling life. By valuing and enjoying our current blessings, we cultivate a sense of happiness that is rooted in appreciation rather than material abundance. Gratitude shifts our perspective from wanting more to recognizing the richness of our present experiences, ultimately leading to a deeper and more lasting sense of happiness.​​Embrace gratitude! Download the RATE APP and ​start living your best life today! #TuesdayTips #DailyPositivity #DailyPositivity2024 #PositivityQuote #PositivityQuotes #GuaranteedRate #Mortgage #MortgageLender  09/03/2024

"Sometimes you deserve a second chance, not because you weren't fabulous the first time but because the timing and circumstances weren't quite right. You just got overlooked."   -Carol Williams  Second Chance Saturday is all about giving deserving posts more exposure. If you see a deserving post that didn't get Featured, be sure to tag me in the comment section of any post and watch for it in the next edition of Second Chance Saturday.  Let's Welcome Our First-Time Bloggers: Danny Justice  Jolene Baijot  Ted Ciporin  Rob Renk  Dawn Grisham  * * * * *Doing Small Things Are Stepping Stones To Great Things By: Lou Ludwig  "As I see it..."  ADU Crest Homes Joins Forces With COAT Design Remodel Of Solana Beach By: John DL Arendsen "As the age ole adage goes, "The Only Constant In Life Is Ch... 08/31/2024

What Are You Doing To Keep Real Estate Fun 2024 EditionReal estate sales can be a grind. I follow a strict daily schedule so it's not uncommon to look up and 2-3 days have passed. With all the challenges (read opportunities) this year has brought, how are you keeping things fun? Here's a few things I do, would love you feedback! 1) Follow a daily schedule-- Every hour of my workday has a task. By following a tight schedule, I can then relax when I am off. Prior to following a schedule, I would feel guilty on my downtime. 2) Super short term goals-- We know the benefits of "big" goals and even intermediate goals. I will give myself a treat (maybe a new book or sweet food) just for hitting my daily goal. "Only three more things today and I can go to the bookstore" It works! 3) Mastermind ... 08/27/2024

Things To Bring To The Closing TableAfter a long (and perhaps twisting) journey, you are less than 24 hours away from closing on your home. In addition to a winning smile, here are a few things to bring (and one or two to leave behind). 1) Valid driver's license for EVERYONE signing-- The title company likely asked for a copy before, but you will need the license on the day of closing. Forget the driver's license? This will shut down your closing faster than The Dallas Cowboys' in the playoffs. Don't have a license? Please tell the title company as early as possible. There are other government ids that may work. Just don't assume a substitute form of id will. 2) Any Needed cash to close-- Depending on your market, either (likely both) the title company/real estate agent will go over any... 08/27/2024

If you've been in real estate for more than a day, you'll find common elements with every other agent:1.  Time just might be your most valuable (and scarcest) commodity2.  There's always someone with a bright shiny promising to save you time and send avalanches of new clients your way3.  You'll need an entire closet full of hats for all the different roles you'll haveBut you should also find that there a lot of fundamentals to this business, so you don't need to reinvent the wheel.How to blog?  There are many different ways to blog successfully and you have to identify what works best for you and your market.  While niche blogging about Cincinnati patio homes works for me, it's not going to fly so well in downtown Manhattan, or for that matter in sparsely populated areas!  Maybe the rig... 08/27/2024

Posts Just For You- This Week at ActiveRain August 25 to August 31, 2024  Every day there is something to learn here at ActiveRain.  With this series, I highlight posts that gave me that lightbulb moment. It could be something techie, a post about Real Estate or other professions, about a place, or a person. Or, it could be a post that made me sit up and take notice!August 25:  Thomas J. Nelson    What Is the Most Important Quality a Real Estate Agent Should Have?Thomas hit the nail on the head with this one.  Ted Ciporin How to Increase the Value of a Smith Mountain Lake HomeLet's welcome Ted to ActiveRain. He offers some excellent advice for a waterfront home.  August 27: Monica Hill What's in a name?Words or rather how they're used become even more important in certain situations.  K... 09/01/2024