August, 2008
Often, as I write information about Fredericksburg real estate, I have a dedicated blogging partner. Her name is Mylla. She is a “Chug,” half Chihuahua, and half Pug. She is pictured here with my daughter, but often assumes this exact position as I write blog articles.
Category : Blog
I wanted to start offering glimpses into the everyday life of a Realtor. I felt like this was the place to begin.
Some of the greatest rewards of being a Realtor are found in the human aspect. I was reminded of this yesterday, when I walked out of a closing with my buyer client.
He walked out the door, looked at me with a big smile… then promptly pumped his fist, while exclaiming, “YES!!!”. He then shook my hand and offered a big, “Thank you.”
I drove home with a renewed vigor for helping my clients achieve their dreams… and a refreshed view of why I do what I do.
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Real estate attorney and manager of Ekko Title in Fredericksburg, Michele Freemyer will join us on the Borrow Smart and Retire Rich radio program this coming Thursday at 9:00am. The show airs from 9:00am to 10:00am on the Fredericksburg Live segment of AM 1230. Michele will be available to field questions regarding real estate, settlements and related topics. If you are available to listen to the show, and call in with your questions, I encourage you to do so.
However, if you are uncertain as to whether you will be able to listen, I encourage you to go ahead and email me any real estate related questions you would like me to ask Michele on your behalf. I will then either email you the answers, or post the answers here on the blog.
So, this is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have, and have them answered by one of the best attorneys in the business. I will be taking those questions between now and Wednesday at the close of business.
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In team sports, it is extremely difficult to win with a group of individuals, with individual goals. You need a team. Every part of the team (the individual members) has a role to play, and everybody else on the team is depending upon the others to do their job. When every member is committed to excellence in their specific roles, and place the team before themselves, you win often. That is the core of a championship team.
This is a truth that is applied across all of sports. It is enormously difficult for a pitcher to pitch a no-hitter, without a good defense behind him or her. It’s even more unlikely for a team to win a championship on the pitcher’s talents alone.
The U.S. Track and Field team in the Olympics demonstrated that sheer speed of a single runner, cannot overcome the team component, especially if the baton is dropped by a member of the team. A basketball team usually cannot win on the talents of one player, the opponent will double and triple team that exceptional player… then the team has to carry the load.
Where am I going with all of this? Real estate is a team venture. The immediate core of the team is made up of:
- Realtor
- Loan Officer/Lender
- Title Company/Attorney
There are others, and they are important. But these are the core. If they don’t work in harmony, and they don’t all do their job, then things don’t turn out like they should. It’s hard to win, with weak members of the team.
This is all at the forefront of my mind now, because in the Fredericksburg real estate market, my team works with Ekko Title in Fredericksburg, and they are a VITAL part of our team. The attorney is incredible. She is aggressive, knowledgeable, and committed. I have watched transactions handled by some other attorneys and title companies, and observed how a less than committed effort can hurt everybody involved.
This is particularly important in a market riddled with potential problems from short sales, foreclosures, liens, judgments, and more. Make sure that the elements of YOUR team are committed, and can work in harmony. That is a WINNING combination.
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Category : Blog
Some of you already know that I have appeared as a guest on the Fredericksburg Live portion of AM 1230′s radio programming several times now. The Thursday program is sponsored by Tom Murphy, and is titled Borrow Smart and Retire Rich. I have now been asked to be a regular participant of the radio show, and am honored to do so. In discussing the program, and it’s future with Tom Murphy of Carteret Mortgage, I am excited to see where this program is heading.
For homebuyers, sellers, and those anticipating refinancing their home, this show is a wealth of information. AND, is a fantastic forum in which to ask specific questions you may have about real estate, mortgages, and a variety of other financial topics. So, I encourage you, to listen and call on Thursdays between 9am and 10am, and ask your questions.
If for some reason, you are unable to listen to the program during that time, please feel free to email me your question. We will discuss it on the air, and I will reply via email the information discussed on the air.
The tentative upcoming schedule is as follows:
All programs are from 9:00am to 10:00am
8/28/2008 - We will be discussing the Advantage Plus loan program, that is a wonderful tool for sellers of high end properties to consider, and is a fantastic program for buying a home with lower monthly payments.
9/4/2008- We are anticipating having as a guest, Michele Freemyer who is an attorney, and manager of Ekko Title in Fredericksburg. Michele will be addressing your title and real estate questions.
9/11/2008 – The majority of the show on this date will be devoted to reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgages have piqued the interest of many consumers. Tom Murphy and Kim Thagholm of Carterert Mortgage will address issues, benefits, and concerns associated reverse mortgages.
9/18/2008 – We will highlight some recent successful situations, where our clients have purchased homes with instant equity, and discuss the value curve of these properties.
9/25/2008 – Tom Murphy will have a guest speaker from the insurance industry to discuss financial aspects of the insurance field, as they pertain to the consumer.
Note: This is a tentative schedule only, and is subject to change without notice.
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Gas prices have dropped for 35 straight days across the nation. That is encouraging for those who are in the market to buy a home in the Fredericksburg real estate market. Primarily because most residents of our community commute north or south, and gas prices are an issue.
Interestingly, it seems that gas prices north of town are even better. I paid $3.38 per gallon at the WaWa on Garrisonville Rd a few days ago.
Let’s hope the downward trend continues… a little while longer anyway.
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I thought I would share a couple of photos from our vacation at East Grand Lake in Maine. One is of a 4 pound Smallmouth Bass caught one beautiful morning. The other is of my awesome son fishing from our cabin’s dock.
Category : Blog
This has indeed been a very busy summer. Personally, I coached a championship softball team, of which my daughter was the pitcher. We got to take a much, much needed vacation to a delightful cabin on East Grand Lake in Danforth, Maine. And, most importantly, spending as much time with my children as possible.
Professionally, in real estate, buyers are looking at houses like crazy. It is a full time job just dealing with underwriters to get a loan/transaction to closing. I have also been managing a second business that is growing quite well.
All of that to explain why the blog has been fairly dormant for a couple months over the summer. Now that children are back in school, the blog will get back on track.
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Category : Blog