January 4th, 2008 . by Mike Kelly
As a CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designee I have completed hours of advanced study in listing, selling, law, investment taxes and much more. Requirements to receive the CRS Designation guarantee that you are enlisting the help of a proven performer with years of experience (30 in Sonoma County!). Insist on the Best…Demand a CRS!!
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January 4th, 2008 . by Mike Kelly
I ALWAYS have a client write a description of their home and WHY they love living there. I usually add it to my marketing materials. However, I do edit the content if I feel it is inappropriate or opens the Seller to liability. I’ve had many Sellers state the home was “completely remodeled!” That is NEVER what they mean!! And in the greatest state of California you NEVER give a buyer an opening like that!! “Completely” is a pretty all encompassing word! Attorney’s love words like that! Read the rest of this entry »
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December 26th, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
If you are buying the three homes then no problem. If you are trying to purchase just ONE of those three and are trying to get the BEST deal you can then you are committing fraud! If you have a Realtor/Licensee dong this then they are either very desperate (the last agent you want to work with!) or just un-ethical! (The last agent you want to work with!). Either way Jane your actions are not in good faith. I would re-think your strategy.
However, if you are buying THREE homes then what is the expiration on your contract for the offer? Sellers DON’T have to get back to you. The offer can lapse. I usually have a client write rejected across the offer if they don’t wish to respond as I want to show the other Realtor/Licensee the offer was presented (this with the agency signed if presented via fax).
Are you making very low offers? You just might have made them mad and they are letting you wait. My best to husband John!
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December 22nd, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
Below you’ll find the obituary for my Friend’s son; Benjamin Herbert Floriani. His Father, Don Floriani, is our incoming Sunrise Rotary Club President. His Son Ben was tragically killed in a “wrong place at the wrong time” event which belied young Ben’s remarkable turn-around and on-track life. If you would like to contribute to a Scholarship Fund which will help a young person get and stay on track, please read below and contribute to our Rotary Club’s Scholarship program in his name. Read the rest of this entry »
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December 17th, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
Wish to buy but don’t have the resources to take advantage of this great “Buyer’s” market in Sonoma County? Give the “Equity Share” arrangement a try. This is a simple principle wherein you “partner” with an investor who purchases a property and you both agree to the terms of the deal, occupancy, payment structure, and return on investment for the investor and then project out a number of years for the equity share. This involves allowing the home to appreciate or gain equity. You then sell the property in the future and split the equity gain above a certain baseline. Read the rest of this entry »
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December 15th, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
Our guest on today’s show is Tom Havstad. Tom is the owner and primary consultant for permit-help.com. His work in the contruction industry goes back more than 35 years. He has been here in Sonoma County since 1979.Tom has had a General Contractor’s license since 1976, and a Real Estate License since 1978. In 2003 Tom acquired the certification of the California Real Estate Inspection Association as an Inspector to write Property Inspection Reports. Read the rest of this entry »
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December 3rd, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
Find below a link which will take you to a sun angle calculator giving you a basic understanding of how to site your home on uour existing home or if you are considering a new home construction on bare land. I’d invest in a good compass. I have compasses on hand as I show country property and acreage and this question always comes up. If you google Solar Orientation you’ll get a wealth of information. We are coming into the golden age of solar, passive solar designs. Just north of my county we have one of the largest daily solar application villages in “Hopland,Mendocino County, California”. They have alternative energy applications galore!
Here’s a solar calculator explanation:
http://www.pilkington.com/resources/pilkingtonsunanglecalculatormanual.pdf
Here’s a link to “Real Goods” in Hopland, California:
http://www.realgoodssolar.com/?gcid=S30908×001&keyword=hopland%20solar
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November 30th, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
We are in a county of roughly 430,000 in Northern California and our local Realtor Association, as well as other independent and large franchises, have been running full page ads and appealing to the advertising folks at our local daily to speak with “editorial” about the profusion of articles on real estate, lending, and now appraisers. The advertsing folks have been very forthcoming and are volunteering free ad space for opinion pieces within the “real estate section”. The editorial folks have allowed letters to the editors from our ranks and a larger editorial by our President-elect here in Santa Rosa. Read the rest of this entry »
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November 25th, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
I think it all depends on what you are buying and where and who is presenting the offer. When you have a cash buyer you eliminate all sorts of testy situations one biggie being the appraisal. And in his market that is a real BIGGIE for the vast majority of properties on the market. That being said I’d STILL get an appraisal as you want to make sure what your offering isn’t over the market but a great Realtor should be able to supply with the same data of an appraiser. No law says you have to make the deal “contingent” ON an appraisal. You can back out of the deal during your due diligence phase. Read the rest of this entry »
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November 8th, 2007 . by Mike Kelly
The Santa Barbara Assoc. of Realtors put out this information some time ago. They gleaned it from some fearless prognosticators over the past 60 years. It pays to keep the current market in perspective! Some of these forecasts are a bit off the mark!
The prices of houses seem to have reached a plateau, and there is reasonable expectancy that prices will decline.” (Time, December 1, 1947)
“Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today’s average price is around $8,000—out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers.” (Science Digest, April 1948) Read the rest of this entry »
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