Well, it's Tuesday and I'm off to a meeting. Again I must apologize for being an irregular blogger. My real estate work has been a priority. Sales and listings are more difficult to get and keep together. Consequently, I am spending every available minute talking and communicating with friends, acquaintances, even strangers; time which keeps me away from blogging.
But, having been through real estate markets like this, I know that eventually it will all work out. I'm keeping the faith and working diligently each and every day.
I hope you're also in good spirits this fine day and off to do good things and seek great accomplishments. I wish you good luck. Good luck to all of us.
Do Good ..... BE GREAT ..... 110% .....
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
What is your Realtor doing for you today?
I had the brainstorm of writing today about “What’s your Realtor doing for you today?”
This is a significant topic because, with unsold listing having been on the market for longer than six months, I believe every seller would want to know exactly that. But, the fact of the matter is, beyond advertising, socializing and kibitzing with friends and clients, I’m not really sure most Realtors are doing much to directly benefit the interests of the sellers they represent.
Real quickly, before I get too far, let me go back for just a second. In my last Blog I wrote that not all real estate agents were Realtors and agents who were also Realtors should be held in higher esteem than others. If for no other reason, this is significant because Realtors have agreed to uphold a higher set of standards than non-Realtor agents. Those standards are intended to benefit buyers and sellers alike. Plus, the National Association of Realtors is working very hard to uphold and protect the rights of private property owners and we, as individual Realtors, contribute mightily to such efforts; rights which many of our elected officials are attempting to erode and take away from us.
Now, back to the matter at hand, “What’s your Realtor doing for you today?” Well, in my own case, I’ve had to get as far outside of the box as I could. At times, it would seem like there was nothing that was working. Newspaper, internet and specialty advertising, despite costing a fortune, wasn’t working. Interestingly enough though, buyers are continuing to buy and sellers are continuing to sell. But, since I am dedicated to helping my sellers find buyers who will love and enjoy their properties as much as they do, I felt I had to do something. But, where to begin? Back when I first started in real estate, just out of college, I always said I the more creative I was the more I helped my clients.
Consequently, this is one thing I’m now doing for a property owner in the Spanaway area of south Tacoma, Washington. Their home is an estate quality property with two plus acres, a private pond, creek frontage, a lovely two story main dwelling and a guest house. In reviewing their general neighborhood, I’ve found numerous similar properties. In a letter I have been sending to many of those similar property owners, I write:
“The intent of this letter is simply to introduce you to a nearby property which is listed and available for purchase. Being that it is also on acreage, it is similar to your property. To some degree, I sense that properties like yours have an estate quality and offer prospective purchasers a unique opportunity to be close-in yet somewhat removed and secluded.
“It is exactly that sense which has encouraged me to write to you. No, my interest here is not your property. Instead my interest is the possible contacts or acquaintances you might have who may have suggested at some point that they too would be interested in a property like yours, if only the right one were available. Consequently, I submit to you the attached information about my listing at 14520 11th Avenue Court East.
“Despite what the media reports, buyers are still buying and sellers are still selling. In most cases, it’s simply a matter of finding the market. Originally licensed in 1972, I have been through markets like this before and I can assure you, it’s not all doom and gloom. For your convenience I’ve also enclosed information about myself.
“If you’re unaware of anyone who might enjoy and value my listing, I appreciate your consideration. However, if you have friends who would also like to deal with a professional and experienced Realtor in other matters, I would appreciate the referral. Again, I thank you for this opportunity to be of service to you.
“My warmest regards,
“Kenneth C. Thiemann, Assoc Broker / WA State Certified Appraiser
“Personal Cell Phone (253) 370-5626”
Along with the letter I am including information about myself and an informational flyer about the property.
Where many agents are simply interested in getting and maintaining more listings, I feel I am actually doing something positive to benefit the interests of my seller.
Anyway, thanks for dropping by and I hope you have a great day. Always remember to:
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. 110% …..
This is a significant topic because, with unsold listing having been on the market for longer than six months, I believe every seller would want to know exactly that. But, the fact of the matter is, beyond advertising, socializing and kibitzing with friends and clients, I’m not really sure most Realtors are doing much to directly benefit the interests of the sellers they represent.
Real quickly, before I get too far, let me go back for just a second. In my last Blog I wrote that not all real estate agents were Realtors and agents who were also Realtors should be held in higher esteem than others. If for no other reason, this is significant because Realtors have agreed to uphold a higher set of standards than non-Realtor agents. Those standards are intended to benefit buyers and sellers alike. Plus, the National Association of Realtors is working very hard to uphold and protect the rights of private property owners and we, as individual Realtors, contribute mightily to such efforts; rights which many of our elected officials are attempting to erode and take away from us.
Now, back to the matter at hand, “What’s your Realtor doing for you today?” Well, in my own case, I’ve had to get as far outside of the box as I could. At times, it would seem like there was nothing that was working. Newspaper, internet and specialty advertising, despite costing a fortune, wasn’t working. Interestingly enough though, buyers are continuing to buy and sellers are continuing to sell. But, since I am dedicated to helping my sellers find buyers who will love and enjoy their properties as much as they do, I felt I had to do something. But, where to begin? Back when I first started in real estate, just out of college, I always said I the more creative I was the more I helped my clients.
Consequently, this is one thing I’m now doing for a property owner in the Spanaway area of south Tacoma, Washington. Their home is an estate quality property with two plus acres, a private pond, creek frontage, a lovely two story main dwelling and a guest house. In reviewing their general neighborhood, I’ve found numerous similar properties. In a letter I have been sending to many of those similar property owners, I write:
“The intent of this letter is simply to introduce you to a nearby property which is listed and available for purchase. Being that it is also on acreage, it is similar to your property. To some degree, I sense that properties like yours have an estate quality and offer prospective purchasers a unique opportunity to be close-in yet somewhat removed and secluded.
“It is exactly that sense which has encouraged me to write to you. No, my interest here is not your property. Instead my interest is the possible contacts or acquaintances you might have who may have suggested at some point that they too would be interested in a property like yours, if only the right one were available. Consequently, I submit to you the attached information about my listing at 14520 11th Avenue Court East.
“Despite what the media reports, buyers are still buying and sellers are still selling. In most cases, it’s simply a matter of finding the market. Originally licensed in 1972, I have been through markets like this before and I can assure you, it’s not all doom and gloom. For your convenience I’ve also enclosed information about myself.
“If you’re unaware of anyone who might enjoy and value my listing, I appreciate your consideration. However, if you have friends who would also like to deal with a professional and experienced Realtor in other matters, I would appreciate the referral. Again, I thank you for this opportunity to be of service to you.
“My warmest regards,
“Kenneth C. Thiemann, Assoc Broker / WA State Certified Appraiser
“Personal Cell Phone (253) 370-5626”
Along with the letter I am including information about myself and an informational flyer about the property.
Where many agents are simply interested in getting and maintaining more listings, I feel I am actually doing something positive to benefit the interests of my seller.
Anyway, thanks for dropping by and I hope you have a great day. Always remember to:
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. 110% …..
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sales Still Happening - Home Ownership Benefits
Blog for 02-11-08
Although the market has slowed, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that homes and properties are still being sold and buyers are still buying. And no, no one appears to be stealing anything. No theft involved. Obviously there are still those who understand the benefits of home ownership.
Okay, let’s review. The benefits of home ownership include:
1. You have the choice to repaint the colors you like or relocate or enlarge rooms to make the space more pleasing and livable. Tenants are rarely given the option of making such changes.
2. With a fixed rate loan, it’s a guaranteed savings program. While very little is applied to principle initially, a portion of every payment represents debt reduction and, over time, it increases with each payment that is made. In a rental situation, a tenant pays rent and the landlord benefits from the debt reduction on his loan.
3. Over the long run, homes typically appreciate in value, typically at 2% -to- 3% annually. While the amount varies, over a period of 30 or 40 years, nearly every home in America has benefited from appreciation. In fact, in 1972, appreciation was considered a function of inflation. Regardless of the amount, appreciation or inflation will help to increase ones equity position. Simply put, equity can be defined as current value less mortgage balance owing. However, it is important to remember that when selling a property, ones equity is reduced by the selling costs applicable to that specific sale. I’ll try and address that more at a later time. Appreciation doesn’t apply to tenants.
4. And, speaking of inflation, the amount that one borrows to purchase a property today is typically repaid in dollars that are worth less as each successive payment is made. Rent is what it is; rent.
5. Although it will vary with each property owner, each will speak of an intrinsic value or security that property ownership provides. This is something very difficult to measure, but it always seems to exist. For my family, purchasing property in a specific location provided my children access to the schools we thought would give them the best education. Unknown to us at the time, it also gave them a great sense of worth because their parents were property owners. I’d like to see someone attempt to measure that benefit
Let’s talk more about appreciation or inflation. If one purchased a property with 100% financing and an interest only loan, the home would have to increase in value roughly 9.3% in order for the owner to breakeven upon its sale. Of course, that assumes that the owner would utilize the professional services of a Realtor. In the typical world, based on the typical appreciation or inflation, one would have to continue owing that property for at least three-to- four years in order to breakeven. This is important because there seems to be a lot of purchasers who believed their purchase today meant instantaneous profits tomorrow.
The point here is that purchasers were buying real estate, not for the benefits of owning that property, but instead because they believed that real estate was a certain means to instant riches. Fixers and foreclosures became the envy of every so called investor. Or, If only one could purchase a property with two lots from an unsuspecting seller so they could make a killing selling them separately in a simple legal procedure. Of course the market took a turn and many unsuspecting investors have been left holding an empty bag of equity. Many years ago I learned an important lesson; that you couldn’t eat equity; it simply didn’t provide the nourishment to sustain life. In that sense, until sold, equity was an intangible.
Speaking of homes with extra lots, I have a story. I’ve represented sellers twice where they legitimately had two lots that could be legally separated very easily and inexpensively. In the first case, the property owner was having great difficulty emotionally making the transition from one home to another. When I explained the benefits of separating the two lots and selling them individually for more money, he emphatically said that he didn’t want to deal with the bother or the strain. It was his choice and consequently a builder bought the property, split the lots, rented one and built a new home which was eventually sold on the other.
In the second instance, I informed my prospective seller that there was a definite benefit if he split the lots before we put them on the market. He followed my advice and his home was sold to one buyer and the vacant lot was sold to a different buyer who eventually built and sold a new home constructed on the vacant site. This is an important story because it goes to the matter of honesty and integrity; things which I have patterned my entire life around.
Obviously, there is continued vitality in property ownership. But we as Realtors need to go back to the basics and promote the greater values of property ownership rather than simply selling it as a quick and easy way to untold riches.
Throughout my blog today, I have mentioned Realtor, not real estate agent. This is an important distinction that very few Realtors make. In short a Realtor is one who has pledged to abide by a higher set of standards and ethical obligations than what is required by the state for other licensed agent. Therefore, as a Realtor, I’m better than a non Realtor agent. Plus Realtors, through their dues, work continuously to promote and protect the interests of property ownership.
Anyway, I’ve been busy; spending countless hours crafting words together hoping that a meaningful and striking mosaic would result. My goal has been and will continue to be to help my sellers sell their property and to provide my buyer clients the opportunity to purchase the homes and properties of their dreams.
Again, I thank everyone who has contacted me. I believe I have continued to be successful in responding to every one of you. And as your week continues, remember to always:
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. 110% …..
Although the market has slowed, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that homes and properties are still being sold and buyers are still buying. And no, no one appears to be stealing anything. No theft involved. Obviously there are still those who understand the benefits of home ownership.
Okay, let’s review. The benefits of home ownership include:
1. You have the choice to repaint the colors you like or relocate or enlarge rooms to make the space more pleasing and livable. Tenants are rarely given the option of making such changes.
2. With a fixed rate loan, it’s a guaranteed savings program. While very little is applied to principle initially, a portion of every payment represents debt reduction and, over time, it increases with each payment that is made. In a rental situation, a tenant pays rent and the landlord benefits from the debt reduction on his loan.
3. Over the long run, homes typically appreciate in value, typically at 2% -to- 3% annually. While the amount varies, over a period of 30 or 40 years, nearly every home in America has benefited from appreciation. In fact, in 1972, appreciation was considered a function of inflation. Regardless of the amount, appreciation or inflation will help to increase ones equity position. Simply put, equity can be defined as current value less mortgage balance owing. However, it is important to remember that when selling a property, ones equity is reduced by the selling costs applicable to that specific sale. I’ll try and address that more at a later time. Appreciation doesn’t apply to tenants.
4. And, speaking of inflation, the amount that one borrows to purchase a property today is typically repaid in dollars that are worth less as each successive payment is made. Rent is what it is; rent.
5. Although it will vary with each property owner, each will speak of an intrinsic value or security that property ownership provides. This is something very difficult to measure, but it always seems to exist. For my family, purchasing property in a specific location provided my children access to the schools we thought would give them the best education. Unknown to us at the time, it also gave them a great sense of worth because their parents were property owners. I’d like to see someone attempt to measure that benefit
Let’s talk more about appreciation or inflation. If one purchased a property with 100% financing and an interest only loan, the home would have to increase in value roughly 9.3% in order for the owner to breakeven upon its sale. Of course, that assumes that the owner would utilize the professional services of a Realtor. In the typical world, based on the typical appreciation or inflation, one would have to continue owing that property for at least three-to- four years in order to breakeven. This is important because there seems to be a lot of purchasers who believed their purchase today meant instantaneous profits tomorrow.
The point here is that purchasers were buying real estate, not for the benefits of owning that property, but instead because they believed that real estate was a certain means to instant riches. Fixers and foreclosures became the envy of every so called investor. Or, If only one could purchase a property with two lots from an unsuspecting seller so they could make a killing selling them separately in a simple legal procedure. Of course the market took a turn and many unsuspecting investors have been left holding an empty bag of equity. Many years ago I learned an important lesson; that you couldn’t eat equity; it simply didn’t provide the nourishment to sustain life. In that sense, until sold, equity was an intangible.
Speaking of homes with extra lots, I have a story. I’ve represented sellers twice where they legitimately had two lots that could be legally separated very easily and inexpensively. In the first case, the property owner was having great difficulty emotionally making the transition from one home to another. When I explained the benefits of separating the two lots and selling them individually for more money, he emphatically said that he didn’t want to deal with the bother or the strain. It was his choice and consequently a builder bought the property, split the lots, rented one and built a new home which was eventually sold on the other.
In the second instance, I informed my prospective seller that there was a definite benefit if he split the lots before we put them on the market. He followed my advice and his home was sold to one buyer and the vacant lot was sold to a different buyer who eventually built and sold a new home constructed on the vacant site. This is an important story because it goes to the matter of honesty and integrity; things which I have patterned my entire life around.
Obviously, there is continued vitality in property ownership. But we as Realtors need to go back to the basics and promote the greater values of property ownership rather than simply selling it as a quick and easy way to untold riches.
Throughout my blog today, I have mentioned Realtor, not real estate agent. This is an important distinction that very few Realtors make. In short a Realtor is one who has pledged to abide by a higher set of standards and ethical obligations than what is required by the state for other licensed agent. Therefore, as a Realtor, I’m better than a non Realtor agent. Plus Realtors, through their dues, work continuously to promote and protect the interests of property ownership.
Anyway, I’ve been busy; spending countless hours crafting words together hoping that a meaningful and striking mosaic would result. My goal has been and will continue to be to help my sellers sell their property and to provide my buyer clients the opportunity to purchase the homes and properties of their dreams.
Again, I thank everyone who has contacted me. I believe I have continued to be successful in responding to every one of you. And as your week continues, remember to always:
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. 110% …..
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Working to Achieve Success for my Clients!
Well, here I am again; untimely as ever. Except, I have an excuse. Current real estate market conditions have kind of gotten in the way and necessitated that I spend my writing time, writing time previously devoted to writing in my blog, actively pursuing my real estate business. Despite all of the negative talk about the market, there are still sellers who have to sell and buyers who have to buy and they deserve the best representation available. But, everything has become harder, requiring more time and patience than ever before. Consequently, I have deliberately chosen to continue to provide the best representation and service that is humanly possible to my clients. On the other hand, such a commitment has left a visible void in my blog. Not to worry though. I have been able to respond to everyone who has contacted me personally about their real estate needs and questions. Once again, I’m extremely happy to report that that is a positive.
Although not attributed to anyone specifically, on my shelf there is a picture of a young person riding a bike through the woods with the words “To achieve, you must believe something and want something with all your might. Then, you must be willing to commit yourself to a course.” Those words and the picture are from an old page calendar providing different thoughts for each day. I recite that because, with so many negative things going on all around us, I see more and more people needing encouragement in their lives.
But if you think about those words, “To achieve, you must believe,” they really are true. One has to believe something is possible before one can attempt to work toward achieving it. On my file drawer I have the words, “Believe and Succeed” written. There is also a page with the words, “If you can’t believe it, you can’t achieve it.”
I suppose you could say that my thought for today is, this is the first and best day of the rest of your life. If there is something you have been dreaming about but have lacked the confidence or strength to commit to it, look at yourself in the mirror and repeat, “Today is the first and best day of the rest of my life. I can do and accomplish anything I commit all of my energy and attention to achieving. I can do it.”
Thanks again for stopping by and have a great and wonderful day. But always remember to
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. 110% …..
Although not attributed to anyone specifically, on my shelf there is a picture of a young person riding a bike through the woods with the words “To achieve, you must believe something and want something with all your might. Then, you must be willing to commit yourself to a course.” Those words and the picture are from an old page calendar providing different thoughts for each day. I recite that because, with so many negative things going on all around us, I see more and more people needing encouragement in their lives.
But if you think about those words, “To achieve, you must believe,” they really are true. One has to believe something is possible before one can attempt to work toward achieving it. On my file drawer I have the words, “Believe and Succeed” written. There is also a page with the words, “If you can’t believe it, you can’t achieve it.”
I suppose you could say that my thought for today is, this is the first and best day of the rest of your life. If there is something you have been dreaming about but have lacked the confidence or strength to commit to it, look at yourself in the mirror and repeat, “Today is the first and best day of the rest of my life. I can do and accomplish anything I commit all of my energy and attention to achieving. I can do it.”
Thanks again for stopping by and have a great and wonderful day. But always remember to
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. 110% …..
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Real Estate, Homes & Fixers
Although it has been several weeks since my last post, I’ve been constantly thinking and reviewing what information, beyond what is provided daily in the newspaper or other media, would be useful and meaningful. Quite honestly, I’ve actually been overwhelmed with all of the various alternatives.
To begin with, what is commonly referred to as “fixers”, I want to relate a conversation I had with a former builder who now purchases homes in poor condition and gives them a facelift. What this particular former builder told me was that he no longer had the insurance required to be a builder but, by buying “fixer” homes and giving them a ‘like new’ appearance, insurance wasn’t required. Obviously not all people engaging in “fixers” are former builders. Yet, when looking at a home that has been rehab’d, does anyone ever know the level of knowledge or skill the person had who completed the work? Were permits required? Was there electrical or plumbing work completed that is now hidden behind nicely textured and painted walls? The point here is not to belittle or defame “fixers” as bad. It’s simply to caution the public to take care in knowing what they are buying. Until the recent slowdown of appreciation, “fixers” supposedly made a lot of money for what seemed like little risk. Granted, they seemed to fill a need for housing that looked perfect and therefore became more appealing to home buyers who wanted a cute house which didn’t require any work. However, buyer beware, a superficial facelift doesn’t make a new home or condo. What happened to sweat equity?
Regarding credit scoring, which I believe was originally intended to make our society color blind, it is now being extended to real estate home loans. Of course it has always been applicable to real estate loans. Except now, home buyers with lower credit scores will pay an additional quarter percent, possibly more, than buyers with higher credit scores. Also I learned yesterday that private banking, in addition to dealing with high asset clients, is able to continue lending to high profile borrowers with larger than typical debt regardless of their credit score. I guess the point here is the public, especially the average people, needs to be more aware that greater opportunities will be available to those who are able to accumulate assets while retaining a higher credit score.
And that brings me to my next point. What is a home and why buy it? Obviously is home is somewhere to live and a lot more. This question has been a concern of mine for some time. Too many people seemed to be buying homes with the overriding expectation that prices would continue to rise at unprecedented rates forever. Plus many buyers were relying on 100 financing in order to complete the purchase. Of course when home prices stopped accelerating and a move or relocation was required, it isn’t too difficult to see what drama would occur with the home buyer who is now a seller. I hope that seller has deep pockets. Oh yes, there could maybe be a “Short Sale” in their future. But that’s an entirely different topic that will be considered another day.
Getting back to my point about a home, it would seem to me that a home is a place which offers security and protection to the home buyer. It is also a place where asset growth can occur. Short-term, no! Long-term, the answer has to be yes. Thirty-five years ago we counseled home buyers that, in order to break even on their home purchase, they needed to stay or keep a property at least 2-to-3 years. We’re likely at that point again. Yet the advantages of owning rather than buying are staggering. As a homeowner, if you don’t like the color of a room, you can change it without consulting with a rental management company or a landlord. If a faucet begins to leak, no problem, just go to Home Depot, get the parts and fix it yourself. If you want to remodel and add a room so you don’t have to move, do the work yourself or hire a contractor to assist you. Perhaps we need to be more concerned about the advantages of home ownership rather than whether prices are up or down on any particular day, month or year. Believe me, as a homeowner, despite period of slowdowns and low appreciation rates, the long-term prices of real estate has always grown. And it always will. You see, there is only so much land.
Anyway, I’ll try to be more diligent about writing to my blog and I won’t let things build up inside where I feel so overwhelmed. Thanks for reading and do have a great day. Speaking of having a great day, I sense that too few of us ever get the encouragement we need in order to fully have a great day. I hope that each of you will come to recognize the great potential that lies within you and decide to fully and completely use it to make your day great. In working toward your goal, please remember to:
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. And always give 110% in all that you do …..
Now, go out and have a “Great Day!”
To begin with, what is commonly referred to as “fixers”, I want to relate a conversation I had with a former builder who now purchases homes in poor condition and gives them a facelift. What this particular former builder told me was that he no longer had the insurance required to be a builder but, by buying “fixer” homes and giving them a ‘like new’ appearance, insurance wasn’t required. Obviously not all people engaging in “fixers” are former builders. Yet, when looking at a home that has been rehab’d, does anyone ever know the level of knowledge or skill the person had who completed the work? Were permits required? Was there electrical or plumbing work completed that is now hidden behind nicely textured and painted walls? The point here is not to belittle or defame “fixers” as bad. It’s simply to caution the public to take care in knowing what they are buying. Until the recent slowdown of appreciation, “fixers” supposedly made a lot of money for what seemed like little risk. Granted, they seemed to fill a need for housing that looked perfect and therefore became more appealing to home buyers who wanted a cute house which didn’t require any work. However, buyer beware, a superficial facelift doesn’t make a new home or condo. What happened to sweat equity?
Regarding credit scoring, which I believe was originally intended to make our society color blind, it is now being extended to real estate home loans. Of course it has always been applicable to real estate loans. Except now, home buyers with lower credit scores will pay an additional quarter percent, possibly more, than buyers with higher credit scores. Also I learned yesterday that private banking, in addition to dealing with high asset clients, is able to continue lending to high profile borrowers with larger than typical debt regardless of their credit score. I guess the point here is the public, especially the average people, needs to be more aware that greater opportunities will be available to those who are able to accumulate assets while retaining a higher credit score.
And that brings me to my next point. What is a home and why buy it? Obviously is home is somewhere to live and a lot more. This question has been a concern of mine for some time. Too many people seemed to be buying homes with the overriding expectation that prices would continue to rise at unprecedented rates forever. Plus many buyers were relying on 100 financing in order to complete the purchase. Of course when home prices stopped accelerating and a move or relocation was required, it isn’t too difficult to see what drama would occur with the home buyer who is now a seller. I hope that seller has deep pockets. Oh yes, there could maybe be a “Short Sale” in their future. But that’s an entirely different topic that will be considered another day.
Getting back to my point about a home, it would seem to me that a home is a place which offers security and protection to the home buyer. It is also a place where asset growth can occur. Short-term, no! Long-term, the answer has to be yes. Thirty-five years ago we counseled home buyers that, in order to break even on their home purchase, they needed to stay or keep a property at least 2-to-3 years. We’re likely at that point again. Yet the advantages of owning rather than buying are staggering. As a homeowner, if you don’t like the color of a room, you can change it without consulting with a rental management company or a landlord. If a faucet begins to leak, no problem, just go to Home Depot, get the parts and fix it yourself. If you want to remodel and add a room so you don’t have to move, do the work yourself or hire a contractor to assist you. Perhaps we need to be more concerned about the advantages of home ownership rather than whether prices are up or down on any particular day, month or year. Believe me, as a homeowner, despite period of slowdowns and low appreciation rates, the long-term prices of real estate has always grown. And it always will. You see, there is only so much land.
Anyway, I’ll try to be more diligent about writing to my blog and I won’t let things build up inside where I feel so overwhelmed. Thanks for reading and do have a great day. Speaking of having a great day, I sense that too few of us ever get the encouragement we need in order to fully have a great day. I hope that each of you will come to recognize the great potential that lies within you and decide to fully and completely use it to make your day great. In working toward your goal, please remember to:
Do Good ….. BE GREAT ….. And always give 110% in all that you do …..
Now, go out and have a “Great Day!”
Friday, December 14, 2007
Realtors Help in Flood Relief
I am a Realtor. Not all real estate salespeople belong. But, for those of us who do, each of us ascribes to a written code of ethics, higher than what is required by the state's department of licensing. We also work within our communities to further the interests of real property owners. Of late, our organization has spearheaded continual efforts by the State Legislature to increase the excise tax on the sale of all real estate throughout the state. When I started in 1972, the excise tax was one percent and the medium sale price of homes sold was considerably less than it is today. Since then, the excise tax has grown to well over 1.8% in many communities of the state. Obviously, the medium sale price of a home likely exceeds many hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As I said, not all real estate salespeople are Realtors. I am proud to hold that distinction. This week I am particularly proud to be a Realtor because of our efforts to help flood stricken communities with aid and assistance. I received the following email from Pat Maddock, President of the Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors, concerning our continuing efforts to provide relief.
The email states, “Yesterday, the Executive Committee of the Washington REALTORS voted to deliver $50,000 in assistance to the local REALTOR associations in the Washington Flood damaged counties. So, they could help the REALTOR families whose lives have been so severely disrupted by the recent flooding. Sitting in that meeting I was very impressed by the unanimous vote by our state leadership to do the right thing, at the right time. During that meeting it was announced that the Louisiana Association of REALTORS has already been in contact and they are sending a check to help in the relief effort, too. They did not hesitate to do so, remembering that the Washington REALTORS (that's you and me) were the first to send assistance following Hurricane Katrina and that was more than $70,000. Also during that discussion a call came in from the Seattle King County Association President, Dan Kennedy, saying that SKCAR, with their 8,000 members would add $5,000 to this cause. Immediately Karen Schweinfurth, the Snohomish County-Camano Island Association President added $2,500 from her association and this morning, your Board of Directors here at the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS voted to match the Snohomish donation. I was equally proud of them but they went a step farther and that's where you and your adult family members come in. In fact, we can't pull this off without YOU!
“As a former FEMA employee, I can attest that following a major flood event there is an endless list of unmet needs. They take many, many forms and they are real and some are dire. Well, having spent hours on the phone with emergency management officials from federal, state and local agencies over the past twenty-four hours I can tell you that in some ways they are desperate...desperate for help. Yes. The cash donations go a long way but they need helping hands, too. They need bodies and they need them now. The media hasn't even scratched the surface in terms of the length and breadth of this most recent Washington disaster and the degree to which it has affected families throughout the area. We can help.”
Yes, through the efforts of all people, wonderful things can be accomplished.
As I said, not all real estate salespeople are Realtors. I am proud to hold that distinction. This week I am particularly proud to be a Realtor because of our efforts to help flood stricken communities with aid and assistance. I received the following email from Pat Maddock, President of the Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors, concerning our continuing efforts to provide relief.
The email states, “Yesterday, the Executive Committee of the Washington REALTORS voted to deliver $50,000 in assistance to the local REALTOR associations in the Washington Flood damaged counties. So, they could help the REALTOR families whose lives have been so severely disrupted by the recent flooding. Sitting in that meeting I was very impressed by the unanimous vote by our state leadership to do the right thing, at the right time. During that meeting it was announced that the Louisiana Association of REALTORS has already been in contact and they are sending a check to help in the relief effort, too. They did not hesitate to do so, remembering that the Washington REALTORS (that's you and me) were the first to send assistance following Hurricane Katrina and that was more than $70,000. Also during that discussion a call came in from the Seattle King County Association President, Dan Kennedy, saying that SKCAR, with their 8,000 members would add $5,000 to this cause. Immediately Karen Schweinfurth, the Snohomish County-Camano Island Association President added $2,500 from her association and this morning, your Board of Directors here at the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS voted to match the Snohomish donation. I was equally proud of them but they went a step farther and that's where you and your adult family members come in. In fact, we can't pull this off without YOU!
“As a former FEMA employee, I can attest that following a major flood event there is an endless list of unmet needs. They take many, many forms and they are real and some are dire. Well, having spent hours on the phone with emergency management officials from federal, state and local agencies over the past twenty-four hours I can tell you that in some ways they are desperate...desperate for help. Yes. The cash donations go a long way but they need helping hands, too. They need bodies and they need them now. The media hasn't even scratched the surface in terms of the length and breadth of this most recent Washington disaster and the degree to which it has affected families throughout the area. We can help.”
Yes, through the efforts of all people, wonderful things can be accomplished.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A Holiday Visit!
As a Realtor, one of the most enjoyable things I do is deliver a Holiday Thank You Baskets to all of my clients I’ve had since I reactivated my broker’s license in 2001. I say it’s fun because I usually get invited into their home and we are able to chat about their year and important developments that may have occurred. They also want to know about my year and whether I have any more grandchildren. Most everyone is interested more in life and living; raising their families or enjoying retirement than in the negative news concerning real estate or the economy.
Although I enjoy it immensely, it does require an extraordinary effort to get to everyone and spend time visiting with them. You know, there are only so many days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, I can assure you, I certainly enjoy it immensely. What’s more important, most of my clients have come to look forward to my Christmas Basket and my visit.
Although I enjoy it immensely, it does require an extraordinary effort to get to everyone and spend time visiting with them. You know, there are only so many days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, I can assure you, I certainly enjoy it immensely. What’s more important, most of my clients have come to look forward to my Christmas Basket and my visit.
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