Another Perspective

Small Home?

Space Savers: Gadgets for Small Homes
Are you or your clients short on space? New products unveiled at the International Builders’ Show this month in Orlando, Fla., can help home owners get the most out of every square inch.

• Laundry workspace. Whirlpool's Laundry 123 tower and work surface is a vertical metal box that can be placed beside or between the washer and dryer. It holds detergent, bleach and dryer sheets. In some models, a retractable 10-inch rod pops for hanging clothes. The towers sell for $199 to $329, depending on style and color.

• Hanging fireplace. The Radium by Lennox is a ventless gas fireplace enclosed in a floating glass surface that hangs flat against a wall. The unit is about 35 inches wide and 27 inches tall and about as thin as a plasma TV. No chimney vent to the outdoors is required. Instead, a catalytic converter cleans the hot air as it leaves the top of the fireplace from the combustion chamber. The Radium is scheduled to be available in June at $2,499. A smaller unit will cost $1,999.

• Expand the garage. Garage Gladiator offers a Jumbo Cabinet that is 6 feet tall and 2 feet deep. It has three adjustable shelves and two brackets that can be used to mount it on the wall. Add a third bracket and the cabinet can be lifted to create more floor space. It holds 300 pounds, but Gladiator says that’s it’s sturdy enough to handle four times that. The suggested retail price is $369.

Beware: Common Identity Scams

U.S. citizens lost $680 million to identity theft scams in 2005, according to the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Sentinel database.

Here are some of the most common according to Identity  the Identity Theft Research Center:

• Tax audit scare. With an audit hanging over your head, would you say no to the Internal Revenue Service? That's what scammers are counting on when they call and ask you to verify information on your tax return or complete a questionnaire requesting personal info. Lesson: Never give out critical info, such as you Social Security number, over the phone.  If you do get a call, call back to verify the request, then ask for any inquiry in writing.  The IRS generally notifies taxpayers by mail, not phone or e-mail.

How To Avoid Predatory Lending

For most families, buying a home is the biggest and smartest purchase they ever make.  Unfortunately, not all loans are in their best interest.

When loans hurt instead of help, they can quickly lead to foreclosure and even bankruptcy.  It's important to learn the warning signs and common problems associated with predatory lending, and to ask the right questions when shopping for low costs loans. 

The term"predatory lending" covers a wide range of abusive practices. Some may be predatory for one borrower but not for another, because everyone's circumstances are different.  Predatory lenders often take advantage of first-time homebuyers and others who may be vulnerable to high-pressure sales tactics, so it pays to know how to protect yourself and who can help.

Fortunately, The National Association of Realtors and the Center for Responsible Lending have published a brochure titled, "Shopping for a Mortgage? Do Your Homework First". Click on the link below to download the brochure.

Download predatory20lending20brochure20pdf1.pdf

New Marketing Idea!

  Today in Inman News there was an interesting article about how one agent in California became the Rookie of the Year for his company.  He acted as a buyer's agent for 16 Sacramento-area homes that were allegedly converted into indoor marijuana-growing operations. Today, the DEA raided the homes and arrested the Rookie.  And - here's the whole story.

REALTOR Safety Week

The National Association of REALTORS has designated September 10-16 as the fourth annual REALTORS Safety Week.  Here are some tips to remember:

• Always keep a mobile phone at your side; program emergency numbers into speed dial.
• Meet all new clients at your office; verify their identity.
• Whenever possible, avoid being at the office alone.
• Take a personal safety course.
• Install deadbolts with full one-inch bolts on all entry doors to your home and the door to your home office.
• Make sure you know your route to and from each property you visit.
• When you're alone getting into your car. the first thing you should do is lock the doors.

Safety applies to everyone - not just REALTORS. Safety at Home or The 10 Second Rule both contain helpful information.

2006 Huricane Season

Thanks Leroy for all the information on the 2006 hurricane season.  The Hurricane Evacuation Plan contains notes from the 2006 Houston Hurricane Conference.  This article is a comprehensive guide to Houston's plan for this hurricane season. A recommended website for additional information is, Governor's Division of Emergency Management, and TexasOnline.

Click here for the Texas Department of Transportation evacuation maps.

And, don't forget about 2006 Hurricane Season Resource Guide.

The State of the Nation's Housing

For those that like statistics and charts - Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies has released it's 2006 State of the Nation's Housing report.  This report has been released annually by Harvard University since 1988.  It has served as an essential resource for both public policy makers and private decision makers in the housing industry.  This year's report provides a current assessment of housing's role in the economy and its continued strength; housing affordability chanlenges; house price appreciation and trends; the evolving rental markets; and demographics driving the housing market.  Click here for full report.

Give Customers What They Want

New research from the National Association of Realtors sheds light on how buyers and sellers choose a real estate practitioner and what they expect from the relationship.

Most important factors in choosing a practitioner

FOR BUYERS

41% Professional Reputatuion

24% Knowledge of the neighborhood

7% Association with a particular company

28% Other

FOR SELLERS

57% Professional reputation

17% Knowledge of the neighborhood

6% Association with a particular company

20% Other

What they want most from their practitioner

SELLERS

28% Help finding a buyer for their home

27% Help selling the home within a specific time frame

17% Help pricing the home competitively

12% Advice on how to fix up home to sell it form more

7% Help with paperwork/inspections/preparing for settlement

9% Other

BUYERS

59% Help finding the right home to purchase

10% Help with price negotiations

9% Help determining what comparable homes are selling for

12% Other

We have been celebrating our stars for 2005 - what does this really mean? Our stars closed a total of 508 transactions in 2005 - they understood what their buyers and sellers wanted for a successful transaction.

All our agents closed 715 transactions in 2005  - and received a 99% 'rave review' report on follow-up surveys sent.  We listen and understand what our clients want.

What's Hot...What's Not

              Are You A Hot Realtor? 

                                   

HOTA real estate Web log (blog) NOTStatic Web site

HOTRSS feeds of listings  NOTE-mailing new listings

HOTReturning calls within an hour or two  NOTNot calling back until the next day

HOTV-cards  NOT Business cards

HOTLearning a second language  NOTExpecting everyone to know English

HOTHybrid SUVs  NOTGas-guzzling SUVs

HOTForming a sales team  NOTNot having an assistant

HOTVideo tours of properties  NOTVirtual tours

HOTEarning a designation  NOTThinking you know it all

HOTSmartphones  NOTCell phones

HOTPodcasts of listings  NOTPaper brochures of listings

HOTPersonalized Web sites for listings NOTNewspaper ads

HOTSending text messages  NOTCalling by phone

HOTBeing in top physical shape  NOTLove handles

HOTMobile Internet access  NOTDialing up to the Internet

HOTGetting on TV  NOTWriting newspaper columns

HOTVirtual assistants  NOTWorking alone

List from Realtor Magazine Online March issue.

Seller's Market

According to the Houston Association of Realtors  Market Metrics Analysis published March 6, 2006 it's a Seller's market for Single Family homes in Houston. To download the complete report, click on the link  Download market_metrics_analysis.pdf

The report also indicates a Seller's market for Townhomes and Condos.  And, a Buyer's market for High Rises.  The report reflects the entire Houston MLSs and may not accurately reflect individual markets within the city. 

Think Spring, Think Maintenance

 

Think Spring

Spring is a season of renewal. Birds are singing and the flowers are beginning to burst into bloom. The days are getting longer and people are getting outdoors again. So not surprisingly, real estate activity begins to swing into high gear. The weather is more cooperative and families are looking to move during the summer break. If you are considering putting your home on the market, now's a good time to do some spring maintenance to make sure your home is in tip-top shape.  Even if you aren't planning to sell your home, you should still add these chores to your list to help preserve your home's value and help avoid major repairs later on.

Walk Around the Outside

Check for any damage caused by winter's cold weather. Look for those sagging or loose gutters, window frames or siding. Is your roof missing any shingles, or is there any water damage under the eaves? Promptly schedule repairs for those items you can't do yourself.  Over the fall and winter, leaves, mud and debris may have accumulated in your gutters. Check your gutters for clogging and damage and schedule an appointment for cleaning. Walk around your yard as if you were a first-time visitor.  What impression does your home make?  Be sure to clear away fallen branches and leaves. Loosen the soil around perennials, plant annuals or a vegetable garden. Prune shrubs and trees. If your water supply has been off for the winter, turn it back on. Test your automatic sprinkler system or connect your water hose and check for cracks and leaks. Replace old washers or sprinkler heads.Don't forget the backyard! Is it time to condition your deck.  Be sure to hammer in any loose nails, or replace them with galvanized deck screws. Replace any broken boards or rails. Consider renting a power washer to clean dirt and mildew from the wood, and then apply an all-weather sealer or stain. Then dust off that patio furniture you kept protected over the winter. Repair any broken fence boards and paint or seal them as needed. Clean the pool if it has been covered all winter. Wash windows, screens and windowsills; repair any winter damage.

   

Take A Tour Inside

Start making a list of things to do in each room. Then dive in. Dust walls and ceilings to remove cobwebs and wash any grimy areas. Wash window curtains or remove drapes for dry cleaning. Deep clean rugs and carpets. Dust and polish wood or laminate floors. Clean fan blades using mild soapy water. Check the central air-conditioning unit for debris and obstructions; vacuum the main condenser coil on top of the unit. Check the operating condition of window air-conditioning units; remove and wash filters in mild soapy water. Make sure all exhaust fans and vents are clean and clear. Don't forget to remove the lint buildup from the clothes dryer vent. One often-overlooked area is the fireplace. Be sure to sweep ashes carefully into your fireplace's ash pit or into a dustpan. Clean and lightly oil fireplace tools. Remember it's springtime, so you may want to decorate the fireplace or wood stove with a large silk flower arrangement. Look around for clutter.  Are there items you don't use any longer? If you are planning on moving, what items will you not need? Consider having a garage sale and then either donate or trash the remaining items. And lastly, don't forget to replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A good time to change them is when you change your clock for daylight savings. Although performing these spring chores may be dreaded task, they go a long way in maintaining and even enhancing the attractiveness and quality your home.

Think Outside the Box

This blog was started to give the Realtors® of Prudential Gary Greene, Memorial an idea of the possibilities available using a blog to share real estate information to a geographic market.  Included in this blog are links to real estate sites of interest. 

Just found a new one today.  Cobaltsky Design & Development has been working with Greg Flory and Michele Flory a.k.a The Flory Team of the Woodlands to create a real estate blog.  The blog is called Experience the Woodlands - The blog focuses on Real Estate news and happenings from around the country, state, and The Woodlands, community and neighborhood news, and new neighborhood updates. The site includes links to many free services provided by The Flory Team, headed by one of The Woodlands’ top realtors- Michele Flory of Prudential Gary Greene Realtors in The Woodlands, TX. It's a must see.

State of Housing Market

All the newspapers, bloggers, and TV pundits have an opinion about what is going on in the housing market.  You hear all kinds of talk about 'the housing bubble', the 'Local Rag' prints articles on a weekly basis about the record real estate market in Houston. 

What do we hear?  Sellers that, after listening to all of this, have unrealistic ideas about the value of their homes.  Investors calling from all over the country, with unrealistic expectations about the price of property and their ability to buy, fix up, sell or rent homes.

Is there a clear mind in this discussion?  What do we tell our buyers and sellers about the facts of home owenership and real estate as an investment?  James Glassman writing for Townhall.com, a Conservative News and Information Website, states...'The house you live in is not an investment. It's an asset that produces nontaxable personal income, in the form of comfort and joy. When you sell your home, you have to buy another one. By contrast, if you sell your General Electric stock, you can do anything you want with the cash. And selling a home when prices are relatively high inevitably means buying a home when prices are relatively high.' He writes a level headed article that is worth sharing with your clients. Click here for the entire article.

MLS Stats

In sales meeting yesterday, Ginger suggested that we need more visuals when meeting with potential sellers.  You ask - you get. 

Year to date, Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors is ranked number one in closed units at 1804.We are also number one in closed volume at $377,039,103.

For the month of April, Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors continued number one in closed units at 556 and number one in closed volume at $120,940,034.

One of the reasons we are number one is the Gary Greene website.  In April we had 319,828 detailed pages opened.

With over 900 agents, market share, internet exposure (garygreene.com, yahoo.com), billboards and  TV spots, we can sell homes faster, for a higher price with less hassle than any other company.

Blogs Will Change Your Business

Just published by Business Week Online is an article by Stephen Baker and Heather Green suggesting that 'blogs are not a business elective.  They're a prerequisite.' The entire article is a comprehensive discussion on how blogs work and how they are being used in business.  They state you cannot close your eyes to blogs (not blobs) - they are going to shake up every business including how we do Real Estate.  Click here to read the entire article.

This blog was created to introduce you to the concept of blogging and provide a source of information at the same time.  But - I challenge you to think about how you can use a blog to build your Real Estate business.

There are a number of good Real Estate blogs available - Grow-A-Brain is one of the original.  They have links to others on their blog.  Others I recommend are The Realtygram Blogger by Francis Flynn Thorsen with Realty World, Bethlehem, Pa., San Francisco Real Estate by Amy Blakeley, Florida Real Estate authored by self proclaimed 'ex surfer girl' Karen Mason of Miami Fl., The Real Estate Experts by Merv and Pam Forney with Choice 3 Realty Group in Leesburg Va.

If you know of others let me know so this list will continue to grow. 

Realtor Safety Tips

It can be a dangerous business - and we all need to be aware of 'smart' practices as we conduct the business of real estate.  Here are some tips from National Association of Realtors:

• Keep a charged cell phone with you at all times.

Be careful how you dress.  Flashy or expensive jewelry might attract the wrong kind of attention.

Don't put your home phone number on your business card.

Never advertise a property as vacant.

Always take your own car for showings.  If you must take one car, you drive.

I would be interested in seeing any of your comments and ideas on additional tips you might suggest.

What Time is It?

Synchronize Your Watch! - Ever wondered what the 'real time' is - well, now you can know within .2 seconds. Click here --

You will never be late to a sales meeting again because of an incorrect watch setting.

See you at 9AM sharp next Tuesday.

How Heavy is a Glass of Water

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "how heavy is this glass of water?"  Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.  The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter.  It depends on how long you try to hold it.  If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.  If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.  If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.  In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." 

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management.  If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for awhile and rest before holding it again.  When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.  So, before you go home tonight, put the burden of work down.  Don't carry it home.  You can pick it up tomorrow.  Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.  Relax, pick them up later after you've rested.  Life is short.  Enjoy it! And...

How Credit Scores Work

I'm sure your clients often ask you about credit scores and how the impact their ability to get a mortgage.  Have you ever wondered what FICO stands for?  Or, how the credit bureaus come up with the score?  Now you can have the answers to those questions and more. Click here for the details.

For answers to other questions that might come up in the course of doing real estate, check out How Stuff Works.

Speculative Real Estate is 'Risky Business'

An interesting article from the National Association of Realtors regarding real estate investment.  There is a discussion on why sellers might not be able to recoup their costs if they sell their homes without owning them for 3-5 years.  When you have sellers in this situation - they might be interested in the information discussed in this article.

Link: Speculative Real Estate Is 'Risky Business'

Real Estate Investing

As knowledgeable, professional, REALTORS, we provide our clients with good advise.  But, sometimes the want more than what they hear from us.  Here is an excellent article from The Houston Business Journal that you can share with your client regarding real estate investing in Houston.

The New Do-Not-Call Law Means You!

Save yourself an $11,000 fine by complying with the new Do-Not-Call rules. It is against the law to cold-call consumers to solicit business without first checking the National Do-Not-Call Registry. As of last month, this includes calls to For-Sale-By-Owner and expired listings.
Link for additional information.

Let You Clients Know About White Fence

Thanks to our ongoing effort to make incentives available to more of you, we've been able to UPGRADE our agreement with White Fence to give a $25 Gift Card to any agent who refers 5 accepted orders of phone, satellite, newspaper and electricity services, as well as the $50 gift card for every 10 accepted orders. We've also upgraded the gift to be redeemed through SpendYourAward.com, which offers you the choice of spending your gift certificate at either a multitude of online stores OR receiving a traditional gift card in the mail. The online merchants will allow you to spend your gift certificate in more than one place, for example $15 at SharperImage.com and $35 at Linens n' Things, and the traditional gift cards can be used in $25 increments at many fine retailers and restaurants. Again, these rewards have no limits- If you have 15 accepted orders, you'll get $75. And also, our Plasma TV incentive with DirectTV remains in place with those DirectTV orders ALSO counting towards the gift certificates. Click here for all the details.

Remember, the Utility Connections Service is a great time saver for your clients and can be accessed through the front page at GaryGreen.com.  Ask Mary Ann what she thinks about the program!

Everything You Need To Know About Handhelds

Realtor Magazine Online published by the National Association of Realtors reviews various industry websites.  This month they reviewed Brighthand.com.  This site has the resources you need to be an informed buyer and expert user of handheld computers and smart phones.

Other excellent website review including, IRS.gov. Home Improvement Website Roundup, and Mold Website Roundup.  Click here to see all the reviews.

Simple Home Maintenance

Good information that you might want to share with your sphere, customers, or clients from HGTV.

Simple Home Maintenance

New MLS Photo Rules

 

In an ongoing effort to  help raise the bar for Houston Realtors, the MLS Advisory Group and the Houston Realtors Information Service Board of Directors have recently approved a motion to increase the minimum number of required images that must be submitted on each MLS listing from one to six images for certain property classes. In addition to raising the minimum number of required images, agents will also be able to take advantage of new functionality that allows up to 16 images per listing and the ability to submit a PDF document that can be designated for public display on HAR.com and member websites. Examples of these types of PDF documents may be property flyers, floor plans or detailed room by room property descriptions. 

All listings, other than Lots and Acreage, added on or after April 1, 2005 are required to have at least 6 unique photos. Listings added before April 1, 2005 will not be required to have 6 photos.

Mortgage Fraud

The Texas Association of REALTORS®  has received reports that government regulators and the FBI are investigating allegations involving potential mortgage fraud in real estate transactions.

The Texas Association of Realtors legal staff suggests that the listing broker advise the seller NOT TO ENTER INTO A SUSPECT TRANSACTION without the assistance of counsel and for the broker to withdraw from any transaction the broker has reason to believe involves mortgage fraud or is a highly suspect transaction. 

Here are Red Flags to watch which may involve mortgage fraud

Megapixel Race at Milestone 8

Approximately 75% to 80% of consumers in the market for a home use the Internet to search for that home.  This means that Realtors need to have exceptional tools to market their sellers home on the Internet - a good camera for both the Internet and flyer's (or another option is to hire a professional to take the pictures).  As camera makers introduce new and better technology, prices are going down.  Here is a review of the newest 8 mega-pixel camera's.

Link: The Big Picture: Megapixel Race at Milestone 8.

Double Check Program

     

2005 Postcard Program

Nine new colorful postcards have been designed for the 2005 prostcard program.  Ordering will be available through PREA at Quick Links>2005 Postcard Program.  Every full-time sales professional may order 1,000 postcards.  You just pay shipping and handling.  For a small additional charge, you can have them custom imprinted (Creative Service will assist with this). Orders must be in multiples of 200 for each design ordered.  Order your supply on March 1.

Digital Images

Everything You Wanted to Know About Digital Imaging - But Were Afraid to Ask-

presented by the Fabulous Pat Crockett, Sr. Marketing Specialist, Prudential Gary Greene patcrockett@garygreene.com

There are two ways to tell the size of a photo (size means resolution), by PIXELS and DPI (dots per inch).  The more dots there are in an inch (or higher the resolution), the better print quality you'll get.

A computer monitor only needs photos at 72 DPI - if they are higher in resolution the photos are too big and take too long to upload.  This is the reason that photos uploaded to Houston Association of Realtors , Gary Greene.com and virtural tours need be no more than 72 DPI.  You can get 8+ photos at 72 DPI on a floppy disc.  If the photo is to be used for printed materials like the Houston Chronicle or a Flyer, the resolution (size of the photo), must be a minimum of 300 DPI.

Weblog Calendar

You asked for it - you got it!

We now have a calendar on the Weblog.  Click here to check it out.

The calendar is also available on the right hand side of the site.  Let me know what you think!

NAR Emergency Plan

Keep your buyers safe with free Emergency Preparedness Plan

When your buyers close on their dream home, help them keep it and their families safe. As part of their closing gift, give clients information on how to prepare for a flood, fire, hurricane, or even terrorist attack. NAR has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Homeownership Alliance to develop an  Emergency Preparedness Guide  for homeowners. The guide details effective family communication plans, identifies emergency supplies, and provides other resources that can prepare families and their homes for different types of emergencies. This is a large file - be patient as it opens.  I have added the guide to the 'Tools You Can Use' links on the right.

Property View Up 28.25%

 

In January there were over 314,000 detailed property views.  That's over 10,400 per day...more than 7 property views every minute...24 hours a day.  Share this information with your potential sellers.  It is your responsibility to spread the word - 'Gary Greene has the ability market their property to the largest possible buyer pool' . 

Graebel Moving Services

Reminder,

Graebel is available exclusively for clients, agents, and employees of Prudentail Gary Greene, Realtors.  Graebel has a 96% stisfaction rate with our clients. Check out their site.

Over 300,000 Pages Viewed In January

Thousands of detailed pages are opened each month on

GaryGreene.com.  In fact - there were over 300,000 pages opened in January, 2005.  The peak date was January 11, when 14,000 pages were opened.  How about a visual to show your sellers why they should list with Prudentail Gary Greeene?  Here it is!

Know Your Numbers

Joeann Fossland GRI, LTG, MCC is a dynamic speaker and business coach.

Joeann states, real estate is a numbers game.  You have heard that over and over, haven't you?  The normal context of this statement is based on the focus of cranking out numbers of contacts.  Or, the simple belief that the more people you contact, the more successful you will be...  Click here for the rest of Joeann's excellent article.

For other articles containing industry news and tips you can use Go to the Realty Times Website.

Number One

Why would a seller list with Prudential Gary Greene?

I hear agents say, how can we compete with 'Limited Service' and 'Boutique' brokers....  Well, lets see-

• We have the most educated, professional, ethical agents
• We are the only company that offers a 'Target Marketing' system to our clients' homes in the shortest time and for the highest dollar
• The other companies do not have 'you'
• Oh, and by the way - We have market share

Need a visual?  Click here and print the visual.  Questions?  Go get those listings!