Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela

 

Q: It seems like every month the federal government passes a new housing bill that's supposed to help the real estate market crisis. I'm a homeowner, and nothing has gotten easier for me -- my mortgage payment is still about to adjust, the interest on my adjustable-rate line of credit is still going up, and I'm still upside down on my home by about $25,000! Are there any of these laws that I should really know about or that can really help me out?

A: Late last year, the federal government started responding legislatively to the upheaval in the housing market. Some argue that the resulting laws have been too little; others feel they are too late. My guess is that with the upcoming election, we have only just begun to see how the federal government will intervene in this thing before it's all over. Whether or not you agree with direction of the various measures, it makes sense as a smart homeowner to understand how they may impact your situation. 

Expectation Management

Know this: These federal housing bills go through a vast number of revisions between their proposal and their adoption, so from the time you first hear of a bill to the time it is passed, it is liable to undergo significant changes. Don't write off a bill as irrelevant to your situation just because you couldn't see how it might impact you the first time you read about it.

Also, even after they are signed into law, these bills can take months to implement. For example, from the time the president signed the bill increasing the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA's) loan limits to the time a mortgage broker could actually obtain a FHA loan for you at the higher limits was probably six weeks or so. The more extreme change a particular law represents from the status quo operations of the federal housing machinery and the mortgage industry, the longer it will take for the infrastructure to catch up to the law, so that you can actually take advantage of the new law.

Finally, real estate is a dichotomous market, so usually we think of something that is good for buyers as bad for sellers and current homeowners, and vice versa. Many of the recently passed federal housing laws have provisions that incent people to buy, with the idea that stimulating home buying will help homeowners sell their homes and reduce the backlogged inventory of homes for sale that are sitting on the market in many areas. The end result? Boosting the demand for homes will bolster the value of homes. That is, laws that help buyers buy may have an indirect effect of maintaining and, eventually, increasing the value of your home, but it will take awhile to see any such impact.

Need-to-Knows

From my point of view, there are three recent real estate laws every home buyer, home seller and homeowner should be aware of:

1. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Why do you care about this one? Because it temporarily increased FHA and conforming loan limits to $729,250 in high-cost-of-living areas -- in some areas, this was an increase of several hundred thousand dollars. This means that if you live in a place such as the San Francisco Bay Area, you ordinarily would have had to pay a couple of percentage points more in interest on a jumbo loan to finance a loan amount of $700,000 on a loan that you can now get for the lower interest rate of a conforming loan. If you are a buyer, this obviously could save you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars of interest over the life of your mortgage loan, and may also make it more feasible for you to buy a home in this price range, because the jumbo loan qualification standards are tougher than those for a conforming or FHA loan.

If you are a homeowner not looking to sell your home, though, this law may still be important for you in that it would allow you to refinance up to $729,250 worth of mortgage debt on a higher-interest mortgage or a mortgage with payments and interest that are about to adjust upwards into a 30-year fixed-rate loan amounting to as much as 97 percent of the current value of your home.

This law was passed in March 2008 -- this increase in loan limits will expire at the end of 2008, and will be replaced by a permanent loan limit of $625,500. If you are in a high-cost-of-living area and want to buy, sell or refinance on a mortgage loan amount between $625,500 and $729,250, you've got until Dec. 31 of this year to make it happen.

2. The Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Tax Act. In a short sale, a homeowner sells their home for less than they owe, and the mortgage holders agree to forgive some or all of the debt secured by the property. Until 2007, a homeowner who liquidated their home through a short sale was charged income tax on the forgiven debt. Talk about kicking you while you're down -- you're so broke you can't stay in your home; you are so upside down that you have to sell it at a loss; and then you'd have to pay taxes on the loss, too?! I've actually seen sellers choose to allow their home to be foreclosed on rather than incur the tax obligations that used to be incurred as a result of a short sale.

This law temporarily eliminates the income tax obligation on short sale-related mortgage debt that was forgiven by a mortgage lender, making it less burdensome for a seller to get rid of their home through a short sale. For a homeowner who owes more than their home is worth and needs to try to sell it short, this law makes it worth your while to try to avoid foreclosure through a short sale, without fearing any tax penalty. 

Note -- this act is also temporary, providing an exemption from the income tax on mortgage debt that is forgiven only through the end of 2009.

3. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Passed in early August, this housing bill promises to impact the real estate market in several different ways. 

First, it will allow about 400,000 homeowners who owe more than their homes are currently worth to refinance into federally backed loans, and provides incentive for these homeowners' current mortgage lenders to simply erase the loan balance down to 90 percent of the current value of the home. In exchange, those who refinance under this law will agree to give the feds some portion of the future appreciation of their homes.

Second, low- and moderate-income buyers purchasing their first homes will be given an interest-free loan from the federal government toward their purchase up to 10 percent of the value of their homes, or a maximum of $7,500. Again, the hope is that this will stimulate people to buy, increasing demand for homes and, thus, the recovery of the value of homes.

Third, buyers will no longer be able to use seller-assisted down-payment assistance programs like Nehemiah or AmeriDream after Sept. 30, 2008, so that there will be effectively no 100 percent financing available except for buyers participating in certain governmental or nonprofit down-payment grants and programs.

Action Plan

Consult your REALTOR(R), mortgage broker and/or CPA to determine whether any of these recent laws apply to your state and may help you. Make sure to keep your team of advisors updated on your personal situation and concerns, so that they can notify you if new laws are passed that may help your situation.

Any questions - let us know!! 

http://PedersonPropertiesInc.com

 

The HOPE for Homeowners program will refinance mortgages for borrowers who are having difficulty making their payments, but can afford a new loan insured by HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The program began October 1, 2008 and is scheduled to end September 30, 2011.

Check Out the following websites for additional information&potential solutions:

http://www.hud.gov/hopeforhomeowners/
http://www.fanniemae.com/homepath/homeowners/current.jhtml
http://www.fanniemae.com/homepath/homeowners/in_foreclosure.jhtml

Any questions, feel free to contact us directly at http://PedersonPropertiesInc.com

For the second year in a row, Realtors^® report that exterior remodeling projects return the most money as a percentage of cost, as detailed in the 2008 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report.

On a national level, wood deck additions and all types of siding replacements – upscale fiber cement, midrange vinyl, and upscale foam-backed vinyl – returned more than 80 percent of project costs upon resale. Of these, the most profitable project was upscale fiber cement siding, which recouped 86.7 percent of costs, followed by wood decks at 81.8 percent, midrange vinyl siding at 80.7 percent, and upscale foam-backed vinyl siding at 80.4 percent.

“Because today’s buyers have much more to choose from in the way of inventory, any home for sale must make a positive first impression,” said National Association of Realtors^® President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “As a trusted source for real estate information, Realtors^® understand what attracts and motivates their buyer clients, which is why the results of this year’s Cost vs. Value report underscore the importance of curb appeal in the buyer’s eye.”

The 2008 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 30 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 79 markets across the country, expanding from 60 markets last year. Data are grouped into nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 11th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with REALTOR Magazine, as Realtors^® provided their insight into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets.

In addition to wood decks and siding, window replacements and kitchen remodels also returned a relatively high percentage of remodeling costs on a national basis. All types of window replacements – upscale and midrange wood and upscale and midscale vinyl – returned more than 76 percent of costs. A major midrange kitchen remodel returned 76.0 percent of project costs, while a minor midrange kitchen remodel returned 79.5 percent of costs.

On a national level, bathroom remodels, while still a relatively good investment, do not return as high a percentage as in previous years. A midrange bathroom remodel was estimated to return 74.4 percent on resale, comparable to a midrange attic-to-bedroom conversion, at 73.6 percent of costs recouped, and a midrange basement remodel, at 72.7 percent of costs recouped.

As in last year’s report, the least profitable remodeling projects in terms of resale value were home office remodels, sunroom additions, and back-up power generators, returning only 54.4 percent, 56.6 percent, and 57.1 percent, respectively, of project costs.

Although most regions followed national trends, the regions that consistently were estimated to return a higher percentage of remodeling costs upon resale were the Pacific region of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington; the West South Central region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; the East South Central region of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee; and the South Atlantic region of the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

The regions that generally returned the lowest percentage of costs were New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin), West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota), and Middle Atlantic (New York and Pennsylvania).

McMillan explained that the resale value of any given remodeling project depends on a variety of factors. “A home’s overall condition, availability and condition of surrounding properties, location, and regional economic climate are all factors that will influence the value of any remodeling project,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to consult with professionals like Realtors^® in your area when you want to enhance the value of your home. Realtors^® see hundreds, if not thousands, of homes every year with their buyer clients and can provide valuable insight into what projects and improvements will make a difference with buyers in your area.”

To view this article in it's entirety or to view other great articles, Click Here: http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/curb_appeal_matters_now_say_realtors.

 

This is a mouthful of information - but very informative if you own Real Estate. If you are unaware of the Housing & Economic Act or don't quite understand it - Please read through this & refer to the links for further information. If you have any questions or need to speak with us directly, you may do so at anytime.

H.R. 3221, the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008," passed the House on July 23, 2008, by a vote of 272-152. On Saturday, July 26, 2008, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 72-13. The President signed the bill on July 30, 2008. The bill includes the following provisions:

• GSE Reform- including a strong independent regulator, and permanent conforming loan limits up to the greater of $417,000 or 115% local area median home price, capped at $625,500. The effective date for reforms is immediate upon enactment, but the loan limits will not go into effect until the expiration of the Economic Stimulus limits (December 31, 2008).
  View 2009 FHA and GSE loan limit estimates (PDF: 1.9M)

• FHA Reform- the 2008 Economic Stimulus limits will expire on December 31, 2008. Accordingly, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) have published new loan limits for 2009. Based on the permanent legislation passed in July, the new loan limits will go down from 125% of local area median to 115% of local area median. In addition, the high cost ceiling will reduce from $729,750 to $625,500. NAR is working to make the higher loan limits permanent, but has not yet been successful. Appeals to local area loan limits determined by HUD for implementing provisions of HERA must be made by December 6, 2009.
  Read more>
  FHA Loan Limits> (PDF: 540KB)
  FHA's mortgagee letter> (PDF: 152 KB)

• Homebuyer Tax Credit - a $7500 tax credit that would be would be available for any qualified purchase between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009. The credit is repayable over 15 years (making it, in effect, an interest free loan).
  First-time homebuyer tax credit chart (PDF: 98K)
  Frequently asked questions about the first-time homebuyer tax credit (PDF: 161K)

• Additional Property Tax Deduction - HERA provides a one-year benefit that will be available to all homeowners. Under current law, property taxes are deductible only if an individual itemizes his/her deductions on Schedule A of their tax return. The new provision will permit a deduction of up to $500 ($1000 on a joint return) for all individuals who utilize the standard deduction and do not itemize. Instructions will be provided on the 2008 tax return when it is distributed at year-end.

• FHA foreclosure rescue- development of a refinance program for homebuyers with problematic subprime loans. Lenders would write down qualified mortgages to 90% of the current appraised value and qualified borrowers would get a new FHA 30-year fixed mortgage at 90% of appraised value. Borrowers would have to share 50% of all future appreciation with FHA. The loan limit for this program is $550,440 nationwide. Program is effective on October 1, 2008.
  FHA Foreclosure Rescue Chart (PDF: 87K)

• Seller-funded downpayment assistance programs- codifies existing FHA proposal to prohibit the use of downpayment assistance programs funded by those who have a financial interest in the sale; does not prohibit other assistance programs provided by nonprofits funded by other sources, churches, employers, or family members. This prohibition does not go into effect until October 1, 2008.
  More about the seller-funded downpayment assistance provision
  Tips to finding downpayment assistance programs (PDF: 39K)

• VA loan limits- temporarily increases the VA home loan guarantee loan limits to the same level as the Economic Stimulus limits through December 31, 2008.

• Risk-based pricing- puts a moratorium on FHA using risk-based pricing for one year. This provision is effective from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.

• GSE Stabilization- includes language proposed by the Treasury Department to authorize Treasury to make loans to and buy stock from the GSEs to make sure that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could not fail.

• Mortgage Revenue Bond Authority - authorizes $10 billion in mortgage revenue bonds for refinancing subprime mortgages.

• National Affordable Housing Trust Fund- Develops a Trust Fund funded by a percentage of profits from the GSEs. In its first years, the Trust Fund would cover costs of any defaulted loans in FHA foreclosure program. In out years, the Trust Fund would be used for the development of affordable housing.

• CDBG Funding - Provides $4billion in neighborhood revitalization funds for communities to purchase foreclosed homes.
  More about the CDBG funding provision

• LIHTC - Modernizes the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program to make it more efficient.

• Loan Originator Requirements- Strengthens the existing state-run nationwide mortgage originator licensing and registration system (and requires a parallel HUD system for states that fail to participate). Federal bank regulators will establish a parallel registration system for FDIC-insured banks. The purpose is to prevent fraud and require minimum licensing and education requirements. The bill exempts those who only perform real estate brokerage activities and are licensed or registered by a state, unless they are compensated by a lender, mortgage broker, or other loan originator.

• Modification of $250,000/$500,000 Exclusion - The sole real-estated related "pay-for" among the tax incentives modifies the $250,000/$500,000 exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence. Beginning in 2009, the exclusion, as it applies to a second home (or rental property) that is converted to a principal residence will be allocated. When the second home is sold, any gain attributable to use as a second home (or rental property) will be taxed at capital gains rates. Any gain attributable to use as a principal residence will remain excludable, up to the $250,000 and $500,000 limits. A formula is provided for computing the proper treatment of these gains.
  View some examples that illustrate the application of this new rule (PDF: 27K)

• Neighborhood Stabilization Program
  The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), contained in Sections 2301 through 2304 of that act, represents the first time the federal government has focused specifically on the properties and the neighborhoods impacted by the crisis. The legislation responded to mounting pressure from hard-hit areas in the Sunbelt and the Rust Belt, to help them deal with a crisis that had vastly outgrown their resources and their ability to address it.
  Download the REALTORS® and Neighborhood Recovery pamphlet> (PDF: 2M)

To view this article in it's entirety or to browse additional articles, click here: http://www.realtor.org/buyers_and_sellers

Why, Why, Why Do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are going dead? Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?

Why
Does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why
Do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why

Does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why

Is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why

Do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why

Do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why

Is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?' Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That hurt, you stupid ass?'

 

Why

Is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And my FAVOURITE...

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

author unknown

I may sound like a broken record, but families giving up their pets due to home loss is increasing at ALARMING numbers.  I can only imagine the strain of having to move your family and find a pet friendly rental.  As a "mother" of Three dogs (Yorkie, Doberman and Lab) and One Cat..trust me I KNOW!

If you are headed towards a situation like this.PLEASE take these few simple steps that will convince a potential Land Lord to accept your family and Your Family Pets.  Landlords that are "on the fence" can be put at ease and say YES to PETS if you provide these few items.

While I CANNOT adopt anymore animals, I am willing to do everything I can to help pets stay with their family..call or email me if you need help

If you giving up your family pet, you may email me their picture and information and I will be happy to post them as needing a new home.  You never know who might be looking for a pet like yours and you can avoid the heartache of bringing them to the already over crowded shelters.

There are even some people who may care for your pet for 6 months until you can find suitable housing.

ANYTHING is worth a Try and as a Animal Loving Realtor, it is my duty to help. 

WHATEVER YOU DO...DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS IN THE HOME ONCE YOU VACATE!

There is HELP..Just ASK

Finding an apartment that will accept your pet often depends on your ability to market yourself as a responsible pet owner. Here are some suggestions on how to put your and your pet's best paw forward.

• Write a pet resume. Include information about the age of your pet, whether you spayed or neutered, personal hygiene and behavioral (training background, character traits)description of your pet and about you as a pet owner. Be sure to include your veterinarian's name and phone number along with other personal references.
• Ask for a letter of recommendation from your veterinarian, former landlords, and neighbors to document that you are a responsible pet owner. 
• If your dog has attended training classes - class certifications or proof of attendance may be beneficial.
• Documentation that your pet is spayed/neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and up to date on veterinary care.
• Offer to let your prospective landlord meet your pet and see your current apartment.
• Offer to pay a reasonable pet-damage deposit or secure liability insurance to cover the cost of any pet-related damage.
• Offer to accept a short term lease where your landlord can see if you and your pet are acceptable as long term tenants. Make sure you get in writing the terms of the short term lease and advance notification time requirements.
• Offer to negotiate an addendum to the lease that indicates what the landlord expects of you and your animal.
• Market yourself - pet owners are more likely to stay put since pet friendly housing is difficult to find. Let prospective landlords know that you understand their concerns and agree that living with a pet is not a right but a privilege that you take very seriously.

Here's the basic scoop of developing leads from your website and blog, with some screen shots down below to show you some excellent services that are free (or very inexpensive)...

1. Be found - This is where blogging and a regular updates to your site helps potential prospects and clients find you on the web.  There's constand chatter and a billion dollar industry around "search engine optimization" and "SEO."  At it's core, that just means - Can you be found?

You need not pay for "search engine optimization" if the content on your website matches with what local buyers/sellers are looking for. 

Once you've been found....

2. Be interesting & useful - This means unique and compelling content.  We've (meaning Altos Research) have always felt that there are three (3) questions that home buyers & sellers care about:

• What's for sale?
• What's my home worth?
• How's the market?

If your website provides complete answers to these questions, then a website visitor has less motivation to leave your site (or "bounce" as it's called in web marketing circles).  You become the consultant and resource for the buyer/seller when it comes to their local real estate market. And that's the point, right?

And once they've found you and see that you are indeed the local market expert...

3. Have a "call to action" - A reason to be in touch.  Be specific!

Bad:

"Call me when you're ready to buy or sell!!"

Good:

"If you'd like a local market report for your area like the sample here, just fill out this form and it will be emailed to you right away."

"I can prepare a marketing analysis for your home based on transactions from the last three months.  Fill out this form with your address and I'll complete one for you within in five days."

4. Track your web traffic - If you opened a retail clothing store, you'd want to know how people found your store - whether it was because of an advertisement in the local paper, word of mouth, saw your sign from across the street, etc.  And you'd want to know exactly how many people came to your store each day and compare that number to sales at the register.  Same goes with your website.  This is your store! 

Some resources for tracking your tracking your website traffic:

Google Analytics - This is a FREE service from Google that enables you to see how many website visitors you have each day, how long they were on your site, and how many pages were viewed.  Here's a sample screenshot from my Google Analytics account that I use from my personal blog:

From here, I can see that I get anywhere from 2-25 visitors per day.  I can also drill down to a specific day to see if perhaps my blog traffic did better after certain articles that I've written. I also see that my visitors spend 1.5 minutes on my site.

MyBlogLog - This is service provided by Yahoo!  For as little as $25/year (yes, that's per year!), this will track more specific inbound links.

Again, using my personal blog account, here's an illustration of how it looks:

 

On the left, I can see the exact inbound location - some are from comments I've posted on other blogs, some are search terms on Google, some are from emails that I've sent to friends letting them know I have a new blog post, and one is from my Facebook profile.

By knowing how people find my blog, I can continue to accentuate this channels.  (Looks like I should keep commenting on other blogs!).

3. HitTail - This service requires a subscription, but gives you a "blow by blow" account of inbound web traffic. 

Using the Altos Research HitTail account, I can see a cross-section of this morning's traffic, the time of the visitor, and the search term used to find us.  (Remember the "Be Found" principle...)

 

4. Industry Resources -

Outside of the real estate industry, there are all sorts of resources and companies.  For example, check out LeadsCon.  Not that you need to attend, but take a look at the exhibitors list and visit their websites.  Good companies have lots of educational information and tips that you can glean without actually paying for their services.

Other websites, such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (found this from a Guy Kawasaki tweet), focuses on interactive advertising and lead generation practices.  Tons of info here.  It can get a little theoretical and focus on "big business" but the principles are all the same.

If you're not abiding by these principles, then you're probably not serious about using the Internet for prospect and lead development.  That's okay - many agents I know work strictly by referral, so developing leads from the web is a very low priority. However, if your website or blogs is an integral part of your business and marketing plan, be sure to utilize these basic principles.

In a previous article, I wrote in detail about using an "organic web search strategy" to help with developing traffic and readers to your blog and website.  Another effective strategy is to use effective commenting on other websites to link to your site.

Want to know how this works, or need proof that this is effective? Read on!

Every morning, I read a few articles on Seeking Alpha, a financial market blog. I choose an article or two where the topic is particularly relevant to a blog posting of my own on my personal blog, or a blog posting on the Altos Research blog.

Yesterday, I left a comment on the article - "Why are Mortgage Rates So High?" - linking to a blog post about the mortgage market I wrote earlier in the week.

Using my account with MyBlogLog, I can track incoming clicks to my blog.(You should be using tools like MyBlogLog to track your traffic if you're not already.  Here's more info on these sorts of tools.) See below:

From a single comment that I made on an article on Seeking Alpha related to the mortgage market, I had several clicks and views of my related blog post!

You might be saying - "Well, that's only a few clicks."  Maybe so, but this is for a single day for a single comment on one article.  If you spend 15 minutes (yes, I know - more activities that "only take 15 minutes"...) to leave a couple of comments of several posts, now you're looking at 10 or 20 new readers per day. 

Want another advantage? You're also developing a brand for yourself on these other website. Here's what I mean...

On Seeking Alpha, you can set up a profile for yourself and the site will track your comments and provide you with ratings for your comments - other readers can give you a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" for your comments.  Here's a look at my profile:

 

I've left 15 comments, with just one "thumbs down" rating.  (You can also give yourself a "thumbs up" to help yourself look good - I suggest doing this if you're confident that your comments are good...)

Need more proof? Here's just a sample of some inbound links to the Altos Research website from comments I've left on Seeking Alpha articles:

Two important points:

1. If you comment on another article in a related area, you already have a qualified reader!  If a reader is reviewing an article about real estate in your area, they are probably interested in reading more.  If you show your expertise by offering a constructive comment and a link to a place where the reader can learn more, there's a good chance that they'll click through to your site.

2. Your comments MUST contribute to the topic and conversation of the original article/blog post.  For example, say that you come across an article that's discussing a possible turn in the Atlanta housing market:

Good Comment:

"This is a great perspective on the Atlanta market.  I've noticed that buyers are starting to pick up the phone and get in touch more often.  I've had 15 calls in December vs. only 10 in November, and some are providing me with documentation of mortgage pre-qualification.  I'm not sure if this means the market is turning, but there is some activity out there.  I wrote more about this in detail last week - www.myhomeblog.com/Is-the-Market-Turning."

A comment like this acknowledges the author, contributes to their point, and provides specific information. Once you've done that, you are telling the reader that you also have authority in this area and they will be more likely to click through.  Also, notice that I included the specific web address of the blog post that is related to this story.

It's also acceptable to disagree, so long as you do so professionally and courteously.  Some of the best comments on my blog postings have presented the other side of the argument.

Bad Comment:

"Good post. If you're looking to sell your house in the next 30 days, check out my website at www.Icansellyourhousewithmyeyesclosed.com or call John Doe at No Vision Real Estate at 1-800-555-HOME."

There you have it - commenting helps with blog traffic, builds your brands, and creates more awareness of your local market expertise. Stop reading - get out there and start commenting!

 

Here are a few easy tips and simple solutions for organizing your kitchen.

• Remove your sponges from your sink area.  They are breeders of bacteria.  Put damp sponges in the microwave to sanitize them, and pot scrubbers in the dishwasher to sanitize and clean them.  Put in a sponge caddy with holes for aeration that has suction cups on side of sink.
• Get a handle on recycling.  Don't use unattractive bags, sacks, and boxes in your kitchen area. Use colored crates, cans, or stackables. 
• Pots and Pans taking over.  You can either purge the ones you really don't use, or add a separate mobile work station cart or wire racks that hang from ceiling.
• Pantry clutter.  Take snack foods out of boxes and put in trays, containers, or baskets that are accessible for everyone.  Put cereal in Rubbermaid containers.
• Use round two tier spinner racks for similar items.  For example, jelly's, honey, syrup on one.  Oils, vinegar, and bottled jars on another.
• Instead of letting your Tupperware fall everywhere place the lids into bins with handles for easy pull out.  Put the round ones together, and the rectangle and square ones together.
• Use task lighting underneath your cabinets.  These are fantastic, and you can purchase them anywhere with easy install.
• The paper clutter.  This is one of the worst problems in the kitchen, the best remedy is to go through it as soon as it comes in and recycle what is not needed. Have a file system set-up that you can place mail that you want to keep.  You can also use a message cork board for important mail and a chalk board for family messages.  To get the clutter off of the counters, put mail that needs immediate attention with payment due dates written in red sharpie on the outside of the envelope and place in a letter basket.  Once paid, it can be filed. Keep an expandable file to put your receipts in as soon as you walk in to your house.
• Utensil overload.  Again, go through your gadgets and get rid of items you have never used, maybe a friend or relative would use them.  Use drawer organizers and put utensils that you use to bake with in a drawer, eating utensils in another, and cooking essentials in a decorative holder on your counter.  Also use small zip-lock baggies for small items in drawers.
• Also keep storage items together in an area that you wrap items. Foil, plastic wrap, zip-locks.
• Remove rarely used appliances and put in a pantry or basement.
• Throw out anything that is expired...period!

                                                             PURGE    RECYCLE   DONATE

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

                                                       

                                                          

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

The retirement account statement sits on the counter, unopened. You're too afraid to look.

The house across the street goes up for sale with a "lender owned" sign dangling below. You look away. You'd rather NOT know the price.

And when you try to trade in your wheels for something newer and more gas efficient, you pretend the dealer is talking to someone else. Someone with a much older, much crummier car than yours.

Assets to assets, dust to dust?

If Scarlett could just go home to the red earth of Tara when everything seemed to be lost, where should we go?

Back to work, of course. Back to where real work produces real wealth. The kind you can spend. Not the kind you brag about at a cocktail party.

I don't know about you but all that paper wealth I used to have never bought a single loaf of bread at the store. Maybe it even made me feel a little too secure and kick back a little too much.

I predict 2009 will be a year when business owners go back to the work of working on their business. There may be plenty of devastation. There may be dead bodies. Our economy may look like a war zone.

But we still have this: our business.

We will love our old customers more, and we will strive to add new customers. We will get there earlier. We will leave later. We will take this new economy and devise new ways of doing things. We will discard systems based on an economy that no longer exists.

We will operate by being LEAN. Not by being MEAN.

We will learn more. Read more. Become more focused.

We can't control everything, but we can control our business. To feel in control is to feel empowered.

Unlike the beginning of 2008, now we have survived the war. We are still standing. We will apply what we have learned and adapt.

Things are different, but that's okay. The biggest advantage of all is the fact we can change on a dime. We are flexible, unlike big companies and giant corporations. We are street smart. We know because we are in the trenches, not in the boardroom.

No one can fire us, but we have no one to blame but ourselves if we fail.

When business is good, everyone is too busy for things like customer appreciation, customer service, and customer contact.  Who needs networking groups, referral partners, advertising, newsletters and new ideas when there is so much low hanging fruit? And where somewhere in the misty background, your assets silently appreciate, giving you a false sense of security?

It is time to fertilize. To prune. To water. There is fruit to be harvested from that red earth.

We have realized paper assets will not save our ass.

But there is still Tara.

And I'm going there.

 

Written by Janet Guilbault, California Mortgage Lending Specialist Based Out of the San Francisco Bay Area