tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9576562079228313452024-03-13T00:53:54.730-05:00Dallas Real Estate BlogJeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-2638403484205387312015-01-20T13:23:00.000-06:002015-01-20T13:31:49.761-06:00When is the "Best" Time to List Your Home For Sale?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"When is the best time to list my home?" I get asked this question on a pretty regular basis throughout each year. My answer is usually, "It doesn't matter when you list your home as long as it's spruced up and it's priced well." It's true that real estate listings and sales follow yearly trends fairly consistently, e.g. <a href="http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/01/15/prime-time-list-home#sf6948408" target="_blank">more homes are listed in April and May than in November and December</a>. But consider the following argument for listing your home in November instead of May. <br />
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Listing your home in April and May can statistically hurt your chances at getting top-dollar for your home due to the increasing spring inventory and stiff competition. There is also the added inconvenience of having a large number of unqualified buyers traipse through your home with an unsuspecting agent, aka "tire-kickers" and "looky-loos." Alternatively, listing your home in November and December, a time when many sellers take their homes off the market if it didn't sell over the summer, can increase your chances of a quick sale due to decreased competition. Not to mention that buyers who take the time to look at homes around the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays are typically very qualified buyers.<br />
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As you can see, there are pros and cons no matter what month of the year you choose to list your home. But the fact remains that homes in all price ranges sell all year round...when you hire the right agent, that is. Happy selling!Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-52732430897622957552014-05-28T17:10:00.000-05:002014-05-28T17:12:03.572-05:00Protesting Your Property Taxes in Dallas County<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The real estate market has significantly improved since 2013 and it continues to improve in 2014. Because of this, many of you have received new "fair market value appraisals" for your home. And, for many of you, this value is significantly higher than your previous market value appraisal, which results in higher property taxes. If you feel that your new fair market value does not accurately reflect current market conditions, then you can protest this new proposed value and even offer your own value recommendation complete with supporting documentation. This blog post will help guide you along this fairly straightforward process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>quick summary</u></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of the process is as follows: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1) file your <i>online protest</i> along with comparable sales and photos of "physical, functional, and economic obsolescence;" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2) a DCAD representative will email or call you with their <i>informal response</i>, which may include a complete denial or a new proposed value that you may accept or decline; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3) if you <i>accept this new</i> value then you're done! Congratulations!; or,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(4) if you <i>decline this new proposed value</i>, then you will need to schedule a <i>formal hearing</i> where you will go before the appraisal review board and plead your case at the DCAD headquarters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1</b> - Go to <a href="http://www.dallascad.org/">www.Dallascad.org</a> and click on Search Appraisals. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 2 </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Search by name or by property address.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 3</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Click on your property's address.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 4</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Click on the "uFile Online Protest" link and follow the instructions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EbewwIqJ_ahoX1ZeMm5wK3foifaVBRzSZWGG1hkp0fpia8N52pC4xvVR8p02bVA0cEBVw5kZCpmemxBuXqIHQGVwiBrGegtSX0I1YztqWx9HluYIDm3JWa16XThTKt7ezfxs6rao-tcW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-28+at+11.02.15+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EbewwIqJ_ahoX1ZeMm5wK3foifaVBRzSZWGG1hkp0fpia8N52pC4xvVR8p02bVA0cEBVw5kZCpmemxBuXqIHQGVwiBrGegtSX0I1YztqWx9HluYIDm3JWa16XThTKt7ezfxs6rao-tcW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-28+at+11.02.15+AM.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other important information you may need to finish the protest process.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>PROTEST PROCESS:</u> </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">(</span><a href="http://www.dallascad.org/Forms/Protest_Process.pdf" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">http://www.dallascad.org/Forms/Protest_Process.pdf</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Some residential properties may qualify for the </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><u>uFile Online Settlement Offer Program</u></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">. This program is only available when using the uFile Online Protest Program. If your property qualifies for the uFile Online Settlement Offer Program you will be alerted via the Internet when you file your protest on the uFile Online Protest Program. </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><u>Residential property owners may be eligible to settle their property value by submitting documentation and evidence to substantiate their claim.</u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some neighborhoods are not eligible for the Online Settlement Offer Program for the following reasons:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- the complexity of the market in those neighborhoods,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- if your property is represented by an authorized tax consultant,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- if your property is classified as a Land only account,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- if the property account has an existing protest filed, or</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- if the protest reason is not value related. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">However, property owners may still file a Residential protest online even if the property does not qualify for a Settlement Offer.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DOCUMENTATION SUPPORTING VALUE</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You should provide documentation that supports your market value position. If you have recently bought your home, then you should provide a copy of your closing statement and/or fee appraisal if one was done for financing purposes. If you have not recently purchased your home, you should try to provide sale comparables, broker’s opinion of value, and/or any sales information that you feel supports your position. If your property has any conditional problems and/or repair issues, you should provide pictures and/or professional repair estimates of the problem areas. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sale of Subject Property</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A signed and dated closing statement is required. The closing statement will include a description of the property being transferred. A copy of the sales contract and the volume and page number of the deed filing will be required in some cases for sales within the last 3 years. Interior and exterior photographs of your property are also good forms of evidence. </span><b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sales of Comparable Properties</i></span></b></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ales of comparable properties with photographs should include the following information, if available: 1) property address; 2) sales date/sale price; 3) grantor/grantee; 4) volume and page number; 5) financing terms/source/confirmed by; and 6) appraisal of subject property, date and reason for sale.</span><b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Proof of Physical, Functional or Economic Obsolescence</i> </span></b></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This type of information can be documented in a variety of ways. The best types of documents are usually estimates for repairs from contractors and photographs of physical problems. All documentation should be signed and attested. This means you must furnish “documented” evidence of your property’s needs. </span></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HOMESTEAD VALUE vs. TOTAL MARKET VALUE</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">By law, the county may not increase your </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Homestead Value</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> more than 10% each year. Therefore, if the the county last appraised your property in 2012, then your capped homestead value cannot increase by more than 20% in 2014. NOTE: "</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Homestead Value</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">" is different than "</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Total Market Value</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">." If you have a Homestead Exemption, then you are only taxed on the Homestead Value and not on the Total Market Value. You may ask that the Total Market Value also reflect the Homestead Value. You may also want to review my blog post on </span><a href="http://duffeyhomes.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-file-your-homestead-exemption.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">How to File Your Homestead Exemption</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>OTHER COUNTY PROTEST PROCEDURES</u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Other counties will have similar processes to Dallas so I recommend starting out by going to your county's respective website and searching for your property to see if they have an "online protest" link. Here are links to other county appraisal district websites. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Collin County Appraisal District - 469-742-9200</span><br />
<a href="http://www.collincad.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.collincad.org </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Tarrant County Appraisal District - 817-284-0024</span><br />
<a href="http://www.tad.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.tad.org</span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Denton Central Appraisal District - 940-349-3800</span><br />
<a href="http://www.dentoncad.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.dentoncad.com</span></a></blockquote>
Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-53708811732182798352013-03-12T17:00:00.001-05:002013-04-28T01:22:40.131-05:00Why won't buyers just make an offer on my home?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJf8-kaaJ4Bu0QWLd7ToU02ZIeBi0Ro3wN8w4GjB_XtRW6ehxubzO0rITnlP42RfYi8v4RjXsAsMr3vKJbbyHQf2298p4cvYnkeVwlOkCmE5iHrvfGSuELhM_p6FC2ExHbu5EZ4hRZyC2/s1600/offer_you_cant_refuse.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJf8-kaaJ4Bu0QWLd7ToU02ZIeBi0Ro3wN8w4GjB_XtRW6ehxubzO0rITnlP42RfYi8v4RjXsAsMr3vKJbbyHQf2298p4cvYnkeVwlOkCmE5iHrvfGSuELhM_p6FC2ExHbu5EZ4hRZyC2/s1600/offer_you_cant_refuse.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consider the following scenario. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You list your home for $395,000, knowing full-well you'll take $350,000. But you want to "leave room for negotiation" since everyone knows buyers will want to negotiate. Four months later, 25 to 30 buyers have traipsed through your home, left very little feedback ("not the right layout, thanks!"), and you've received no offers. You call me because you're considering changing brokers. During our meeting, I recommend that you reduce your asking price to $359,000 or perhaps $355,000. Then you ask me the most notorious question of them all, <b>"Jeff, why would I reduce the price? No one has commented that my home is over priced. Heck, no one has even made me a low offer?"</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've typically answered that question by saying something like, "The buyers have been telling you your home is overpriced, you just haven't been listening. Being on the market for 4 months with no offers screams that your home is overpriced for the location and condition it is in." I would wager that only 50% of the people I've told this to actually believe this line of reasoning. Why isn't it as effective as I'd like? Because it sounds like a sales pitch brokers have been trained to give sellers after 30 days, then 60 days, then 90 days, etc. But it's the truth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I read this article titled "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/help-a-seller-out-5-tips-buyers-would-give-sellers-if-they-could-2013-2" target="_blank">5 Tips Buyers Would Give Sellers If They Could</a>," and I <i>really</i> liked this broker/attorney's answer to the very question posed above. I plan on using her (edited) answer below from now on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"You might be thinking the best plan of action is to list your home high, planning on the fact that prospective buyers will want to bargain the price down, </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and it is true that most buyers expect to engage in some basic negotiation. <b>They are not, however, interested in correcting your belief system about your home and its value, which are clearly not based in reality.</b> Buyers invest a lot of time, energy and emotion in making an offer on a home. So, if your list price is so bizarrely above market value that the chances of coming to a meeting of the minds on the price are slim, the buyer will simply pass and move on to the next home without giving your home a second thought. </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>If your home is dramatically overpriced compared to the others in the area, most serious home buyers in the market for a home like yours will either (a) never come see it, because it doesn’t show up in the price range they are searching online, or (b) not come see it unless and until you drop the price, because it simply isn’t worth their time and energy until you correct your pricing into the realm of the realistic."</i></span></blockquote>
Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-21253392903705333142013-02-04T13:10:00.003-06:002013-03-12T17:03:04.817-05:00How To File Your Homestead Exemption<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-spacing: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you purchased a home in 2012 and occupied the property on January 1st, 2013, then you should file for your Homestead Exemption. This exemption will save you approximately 20% on your property taxes for 2013. Below is information on this exemption that I copied from the <a href="http://www.dallascad.org/" target="_blank">Dallas Central Appraisal District</a> website and applies to the entire state of Texas. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><i>"A property tax exemption excludes all or part of a property's value from property taxation, ultimately resulting in lower property taxes. To qualify, the property must be designed or adapted for human residence and the homeowner must own the property on January 1 of the year application is made. The person claiming the exemption must reside at the property on January 1 and cannot claim a homestead exemption on any other property. If more than one individual (not a married couple) owns the property, each separate individual must make application if they reside at the property. Exemptions are allocated according to percent of ownership interest the applicant has in the property. The exemption application must be completed, notarized and include a driver’s license o</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><i>r social security number and date of birth."</i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-spacing: 5px;">If you have not already done so, please go to the relevant appraisal district website below where your property is located. For most of the websites you can search for your property and then click a link to print out a homestead exemption form. I have also included the phone numbers for each of the appraisal districts should need to contact them directly. If you have received a letter in the mail telling you to pay a fee in order to claim the Homestead Exemption, promptly discard it in the trash. Claiming this exemption is free. </span></span></div>
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Dallas Central Appraisal District - 214-631-0910<br />
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<a href="http://www.dallascad.org/">www.dallascad.org</a><br />
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Collin County Appraisal District - 469-742-9200</div>
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<a href="http://www.collincad.org/" target="_blank">www.collincad.org </a> </div>
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Tarrant County Appraisal District - 817-284-0024</div>
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<a href="http://www.tad.org/">www.tad.org</a></div>
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Denton Central Appraisal District - 940-349-3800</div>
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<a href="http://www.dentoncad.com/">www.dentoncad.com</a></div>
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(The Homestead Exemption application link is at the bottom right of the Home page)</div>
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Step 1. Go to <a href="http://www.dallascad.org/">www.dallascad.org</a> and click "Search Appraisals"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Y56KvrPhbnZ8jQ-fgaYEQPB_D6rfMM5QP0gSh_H5SzFIm6OWqjarzHyWhw7pDpaMgewFtt6n0ndKJMr8ERQ4fL7ASzDId3BnPZlQsh6X5Uuf7FdOUm1jFpPQO09f-NIkTQAICOutms0/s1600/Search+Appraisals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Y56KvrPhbnZ8jQ-fgaYEQPB_D6rfMM5QP0gSh_H5SzFIm6OWqjarzHyWhw7pDpaMgewFtt6n0ndKJMr8ERQ4fL7ASzDId3BnPZlQsh6X5Uuf7FdOUm1jFpPQO09f-NIkTQAICOutms0/s320/Search+Appraisals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step 2. Type in your name and click on your property address</div>
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(You can also search by property address)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWrfxNI_yqgUB4e7aRJuperIcFIUKrOTgtZuzIqyNVKsXFXwFg4ESRneLhJbhBD61x-xSqVH_-bvl3Pdw2UqfXbHDXWpshOzej-sev8Aifb_jfo0-s6wfwfK48QinMtxzPFGDg43EaLxT/s1600/Find+Your+Address.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWrfxNI_yqgUB4e7aRJuperIcFIUKrOTgtZuzIqyNVKsXFXwFg4ESRneLhJbhBD61x-xSqVH_-bvl3Pdw2UqfXbHDXWpshOzej-sev8Aifb_jfo0-s6wfwfK48QinMtxzPFGDg43EaLxT/s320/Find+Your+Address.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step 3. To file online the address on your driver's license must match your property address. </div>
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Otherwise, click on the link to print out your Homestead Exemption form. </div>
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Step 4. Mail your completed Homestead Exemption form to: </div>
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Dallas Central Appraisal District</div>
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PO Box 560328</div>
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Dallas, TX 75356-0328</div>
Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-41836898599781296352012-09-09T15:57:00.003-05:002013-03-12T17:02:17.901-05:00The Death of the Dreaded "Z" Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjYK1vDGx0URJY5TJZegqkVQAveSdxNtzMmKPtvSqtgJyIUm3N8SdtpqQTy_PCMkfDO1xNWMKfCxZXyEwosgxJfhj3VaL6DlcN9l28JM8Gi6sZAQhevlMrft6Hbeh-URqgmP1jEHZOS8t/s1600/zorro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjYK1vDGx0URJY5TJZegqkVQAveSdxNtzMmKPtvSqtgJyIUm3N8SdtpqQTy_PCMkfDO1xNWMKfCxZXyEwosgxJfhj3VaL6DlcN9l28JM8Gi6sZAQhevlMrft6Hbeh-URqgmP1jEHZOS8t/s320/zorro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Since I began in the real estate industry back in 2003, there has always been a huge debate regarding the dreaded "Z" sales price. For those of you not familiar with the real estate jargon, a "Z" sales price means that the true sales price was not disclosed in the MLS. Area brokers and appraisers would see the last list price of the home with a "Z" next to it; therefore, no one in the real estate industry would be able to use that sale as a reliable comp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The impact of this little letter will never affect approximately 99% of the real estate market areas throughout North Texas. However, in some of the higher end neighborhoods, such as the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, and Turtle Creek, "Z" sales could account for up to 20% of all the sales. This meant that agents and appraisers would never be able to use any of those sales when running market analyses for their respective clients. Since Texas is a "non-disclosure state" there was a question of whether or not our local MLS could prohibit area brokers from using the "Z" sales price and require them to disclose actual sales prices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Well it looks like this debate has finally come to an end...for now. Feel free to read the full release from the <a href="http://www.dfwrealestate.com/" target="_blank">MetroTex Association of Realtors</a> below. (</span><a href="http://www.dfwrealestate.com/professional-news/final-z" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">Link provided here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">) In short, as of October 15th, 2012 brokers will no longer be allowed to utilize "Z" sales in the MLS. I'm happy this rule is being abolished. It will mean more accurate appraisals for agents, appraisers, and the city of Dallas. Of course, this will also mean some of the more expensive purchases will have to pay more property taxes. For example, I once looked at a home listed at $10M; the Dallas County Appraisal District had it valued at $3.95M. It turned out that the last few times this home had sold, the price in the MLS had been "Z'd out;" therefore, the county had no way of knowing what the home was truly worth. I'll save my paying-your-fair-share debate for another blog post, but for now let's just say that I'm happy with this change. I also hope the commercial real estate sector will jump on board. (</span><a href="http://duffeyhomes.blogspot.com/2008/10/giving-middle-finger-to-uncle-sam.html" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">See my post about Dallas Country Club for my thoughts on that</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">)</span><br />
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Newly Revised NTREIS Rules have received final approval from NAR and among the changes is new language that removes the “Z sale” provision and clarifies mandatory reporting of sales prices to the MLS. MetroTex has adopted an enforcement policy that includes a period of time to educate MLS subscribers about the rules change and allow for existing contracts with a non-disclosure requirement to close. We will include announcements at the area MLS meetings as well as in this publication and other written notices from the association with information about the Rules change and we will not accept any non-disclosure requests dated after October 15, 2012.</div>
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<strong>Why this change and why now? </strong><br />
The NTREIS Rules and Regulations have always required that MLS Participants disclose the sales information for listings and that listing agreements with your Sellers include provisions for including this information. However, since the State of Texas is one of a few states that does not require the sales price be included in the publicly recorded Deeds, there was always some question over whether a purchaser had the right to demand that their purchase price not be reported to the MLS system. For that reason, our Rules inserted a provision that allowed a purchaser to make this request and, if all parties agreed, the Listing Participant could report this as a “Z sale”. This was always intended to be an exception for the rare circumstance where a purchaser made the request and the “Z” was a placeholder beside the last list price so that these “Zero” sales would not significantly affect our statistical reports by including a “$0” sale within a sampling of comparables. A last list price would be reasonably close to the actual purchase amount and would be on an insignificant number of sales, thus having little effect on comparables. For example, in 2005, “Z sales” were less than 1% of overall sales in the system, though even then we were seeing over 10% in some neighborhoods. By 2010 we saw a 150% increase to over 2% of the market being non-disclosed sales and close to 20% in some neighborhoods. This begins to have a significant impact on comparable sales available and hinders the ability of real estate sales professionals to accurately advise clients on home values. The inability for Appraisers to provide accurate comparables negatively impacts the lender’s loan approval process. MetroTex began an educational process on the Rules requirement to report sales information and to enforce the “failure to report sales” provision of the Rules against MLS Subscribers that had a high level of non-disclosed sales and to closely scrutinize the documentation to support such sales to ensure that the requests were being initiated only by purchasers and in compliance with the Rules. We also began discussing with our neighboring MLS Providers and with NTREIS possible rewording of the provision in the Rules that allowed for nondisclosure requests. These efforts did result in a reduction of non-disclosed sales to approximately 1 ½ %, but there still remains a significant impact in some neighborhoods.</div>
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At the same time, an unrelated challenge in another market area over the requirement to report sales information in a “non-disclosure” State* resulted in a legal opinion and a Rules clarification in the National Association of REALTORS MLS Policy and Model Rules clarifying that an MLS, which is a private subscription based service, can require its Participants to report all sales information, including sales prices. In a “non-disclosure” State, this requirement can still be made as long as the information is reported to the MLS service and the MLS service does not publicly distribute that sold information to 3rd parties (with a few exceptions for academic and statistical reporting). Mandatory adoption of this new language from NAR removed any question of reporting sales prices, allowing NTREIS to remove the exception that allowed for non-disclosure.</div>
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A common reason given for a purchaser to request non-disclosure has been privacy. This is often the case for a high profile government official or celebrity and accounted for the reason the “exception” was added to Rules many years ago. In today’s world of social blogs and tabloid news, locations and prices paid are now public fare. We have seen several cases over the last few years where this information was not disclosed to MLS Participants and Subscribers (who pay a fee for their services), but was front page “news” in tabloids and gossip blogs. The information reported did not come from the MLS then and will not come from the MLS in the future - the MLS Rules include specific provisions on how Participants and Subscribers may use sold information and specifically prohibits distribution of this information to the public. For more information on how to address questions over reporting of sales information, <a href="http://www.dfwrealestate.com/sites/default/files/FAQSalesPriceDisclosure.pdf" style="color: #3a4d71;" target="_blank">see our FAQ’s</a>.</div>
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<em>*non-disclosure State: In most states, the Deed recorded in the Public Records states the amount paid for the property being deeded. In a “non-disclosure” state (like Texas), there is no legislative requirement that the amount tendered be included in the recorded Deed, thus most Deeds in such states include “$10 and other consideration” in place of the actual amount tendered. In Texas, there is no law prohibiting the amount tendered being included, it simply is not legislatively required.</em></div>
Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-17194487898155411172012-08-21T11:37:00.000-05:002012-08-21T11:38:55.440-05:00Remarkable Marketing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlopRXbDbrJKO_pjJnJ2Eu5Ur5w2Faid7os_cm1U-u5ypboadhhIfp1Rx6ENLq-En7IVC3YpIMB_OpSYUvouBNtfpwHti0NTEsDn1iNz29-0Xwrhjj_PUhsVpBmcrYyDfDvSSL7jXQkWnw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+11.21.25+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlopRXbDbrJKO_pjJnJ2Eu5Ur5w2Faid7os_cm1U-u5ypboadhhIfp1Rx6ENLq-En7IVC3YpIMB_OpSYUvouBNtfpwHti0NTEsDn1iNz29-0Xwrhjj_PUhsVpBmcrYyDfDvSSL7jXQkWnw/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+11.21.25+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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This property at 5946 Llano Ave. in Dallas was just listed by an Edwin Dolatkhah with <a href="http://www.pluginrealty.com/" target="_blank">Plugin Realty</a>. It's priced at $209,000, which is pretty good for the area. It's also listed as a "<a href="http://duffeyhomes.blogspot.com/2011/05/short-sale-vs-foreclosure-what-are-your.html" target="_blank">short sale</a>." But how about those photos, huh? I mean, nothing says "Welcome Home" more than scary pitch black photos. Amiright?<br />
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But seriously, how in the hell can any reasonably intelligent person upload those photos, knowing they will be distributed to all major real estate websites, and not think to themselves, "You know....These photos are a little on the dark side. I wonder if I should retake them?"<br />
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And then there is the person who snapped these photos. Did you even think to try a light switch or maybe open the blinds? You didn't? Okay. No. That's fine. No, no, no. Really. You did a great job. :/Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-45249875052832484662012-05-24T14:28:00.000-05:002012-05-24T14:45:36.093-05:00How to Protest Your Home's Value<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHmYr5a2HizCv1sCj_hch73Rov1hX6MMpgdlXpulV9QQHwt1d5JL3ZXzEvObgRVMI3MhGVcJcedhxnRkBvUdWbq-kQSKtPsx-l4c4wBPa8YPiha4QiOq6xrskWp303iT_g28xvi0R79mY/s1600/protest-signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHmYr5a2HizCv1sCj_hch73Rov1hX6MMpgdlXpulV9QQHwt1d5JL3ZXzEvObgRVMI3MhGVcJcedhxnRkBvUdWbq-kQSKtPsx-l4c4wBPa8YPiha4QiOq6xrskWp303iT_g28xvi0R79mY/s320/protest-signs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you live in Dallas County, you have until May 31st to protest your home's assessed value. So, if you feel like <a href="http://www.dallascad.org/" target="_blank">DCAD's</a> valuation of your home is worth more than what you could actually sell it for in today's real estate market, then you should keep reading because you're paying too much money to the man.<br />
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The quickest way to protest your taxes is using the new uFile Online Protest. Here are some screenshots to help guide you through the process.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<ul>
<li>Go to <a href="http://www.dallascad.org/">http://www.dallascad.org/</a> and search for your property </li>
</ul>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J-XgpNkFZudXKPUt1XqiVW5045wleSYHSxT9kG6A_eLKCRTjZWe5Ow4QOI9-Ax8zOtp3ilNFiGpk8D6tL_t9ydkc2F3EHmZosw_MGMkN0YtYYUb0OzF02NPdHdIPd7KM4xmaajvOHxcM/s1600/Search+Arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J-XgpNkFZudXKPUt1XqiVW5045wleSYHSxT9kG6A_eLKCRTjZWe5Ow4QOI9-Ax8zOtp3ilNFiGpk8D6tL_t9ydkc2F3EHmZosw_MGMkN0YtYYUb0OzF02NPdHdIPd7KM4xmaajvOHxcM/s320/Search+Arrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Type your name in the box as instructed and choose the property you want to protest</li>
</ul>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQwpUsCjks0Hb1ACeoAgJ8gQGPIA4XBQ2Y2uxjoff7WkDqmLBhe986Biq-oX7zwINEim2nGgfxaR2HmSUmuQcuzrAq4mcZbEfYQIdQzIdI8UESvSlsIPlQXsMOobuXYVOhC_DvVQIhdTF/s1600/Search+Box+Arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQwpUsCjks0Hb1ACeoAgJ8gQGPIA4XBQ2Y2uxjoff7WkDqmLBhe986Biq-oX7zwINEim2nGgfxaR2HmSUmuQcuzrAq4mcZbEfYQIdQzIdI8UESvSlsIPlQXsMOobuXYVOhC_DvVQIhdTF/s320/Search+Box+Arrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<ul>
<li>Click on the uFile Online Protest link and follow the instructions</li>
</ul>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3TjC-2c85TUQE5ZP7eiVencpCzefVXNu3zuNfni_3vhlAj22hpxgr7ko5OlkWvnQ7kQGGvGE1NjPB8IJW3PVJc9fbJeOomC6-rUBKT-924TN04MuNrDM8CNaVTil129j5d4bWFLb9TsO/s1600/UFile+Arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3TjC-2c85TUQE5ZP7eiVencpCzefVXNu3zuNfni_3vhlAj22hpxgr7ko5OlkWvnQ7kQGGvGE1NjPB8IJW3PVJc9fbJeOomC6-rUBKT-924TN04MuNrDM8CNaVTil129j5d4bWFLb9TsO/s320/UFile+Arrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dallascad.org/Forms/Protest_Process.pdf" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the full protest procedures located on their website. And if you'd like me to send you some comparable sales information in your area to back up your claims, <a href="mailto:jeff@duffeyhomes.com" target="_blank">shoot me an email</a> and I'll do what I can to help out.<br />
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Don't live in Dallas County? Try one of these websites to learn more about your appraisal protest procedures.<br />
<br />
Collin <a href="http://www.collincad.org/">www.collincad.org</a><br />
Denton <a href="http://www.dentoncad.org/">www.dentoncad.org</a><br />
Fannin <a href="http://www.fannincad.org/">www.fannincad.org</a><br />
Grayson <a href="http://www.graysonappraisal.org/">www.graysonappraisal.org</a><br />
Hunt <a href="http://www.hunt-cad.org/">www.hunt-cad.org</a><br />
Rockwall <a href="http://www.rockwallcad.com/">www.rockwallcad.com</a>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-46700983060288988292012-02-17T10:06:00.005-06:002012-02-17T10:33:49.711-06:00Two More Reasons Why I Have Little Respect For Real Estate Agents<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0GlzrQAQF4PmiiRaERx5oeQqNeWtoneQiKskXRS9PyyUXNIp5SSbEWedKglUEOp6k-OoLeuh61QJPUlKX1ycQS08JtYYiW1E8hHXf65Onqa2QmjCKncBDcUAfgQA_l2nNTV5oZBUwlsz/s1600/businessman-banging-his-head-against-the-wall-ispc026073.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0GlzrQAQF4PmiiRaERx5oeQqNeWtoneQiKskXRS9PyyUXNIp5SSbEWedKglUEOp6k-OoLeuh61QJPUlKX1ycQS08JtYYiW1E8hHXf65Onqa2QmjCKncBDcUAfgQA_l2nNTV5oZBUwlsz/s320/businessman-banging-his-head-against-the-wall-ispc026073.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710136910505779250" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>#1 - Commenting on offers before presenting them to your clients </b></div><div><br /></div><div>When I receive offers on my listings - even very low offers - my standard response is, "Thank you very much for your offer. I will present it to my clients and get back with you as soon as I can." Unfortunately many agents feel the need to interject their personal opinion on the matter before we ever start negotiating. For example, recently I made an offer on behalf of my buyer clients and it went something like this:</div><div><br /></div><div>My client offered $275,000 on a home listed at $300,000 in hopes of meeting somewhere in the middle. This is pretty much standard practice, depending on various other factors, but for the most part this happens frequently. The listing agent called my cell and said, "Jeff, your client's offer is VERY low. I don't think we're going to be able to get this to work." I asked if he had presented the offer to his clients yet and he said, "Well, no. But I think they're going to be offended." He thinks. He doesn't know. He <i>thinks!</i> So in his mind, before even presenting the offer to his clients, he thinks we have no chance of making this work. The best part of this true story is that they accepted $275,000. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>#2 - "Agent is owner"</b></div><div><br /></div><div>If you don't know how I feel about agent-to-meet showings then you can catch up by reading <a href="http://duffeyhomes.blogspot.com/2009/03/agent-to-meet-or-not-to-meet-that-is.html">this post</a>. Yesterday I scheduled about 10 appointments for homes priced at or just under $300K and I gave the homeowners more than 24 hours notice. Under 99.999% of circumstances homes under $300K should <b>never</b> be agent-to-meet appointments. One listing tried to reschedule our showing by an hour because the agent had to meet us at the home to let us in. When you're looking at 10 homes in a 10 mile radius it's too much hassle to go back to view one home. I cancelled the showing. There is simply too much inventory to look at. The scary part about this story is that the home is <i>owned by a licensed realtor</i>. She should know better than to a) reschedule a showing with 24-hour notice, and b) require that she meet us at the home to let us in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Friday, indeed. </div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-45624656769628241312012-01-25T11:52:00.003-06:002012-01-25T12:15:38.251-06:00Most Expensive Homes In North Texas<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Here is the list of the most expensive home sales for 2011 in North Texas. Not surprisingly, the Park Cities (as Highland Park and University Park are collectively known) delivered 4 of the 10 most expensive sales, with the Preston Hollow area only accounting for two. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">#10 - 1745 Turbeville Rd. (Hickory Creek)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">List Price - $5.6M. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxm0LvF4Rtsoq8m2eVlwslxVyka_sIZHTOzq9lVr8tUn23MH1aAKxnWuoWNZTE19of3KLgnclk7F0B8Mt0NRfOSlcCTLoytZQPUiw3izNl0y1aRf-E36JfxDIsKS31oblBcmoyGA9r06l/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.43+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxm0LvF4Rtsoq8m2eVlwslxVyka_sIZHTOzq9lVr8tUn23MH1aAKxnWuoWNZTE19of3KLgnclk7F0B8Mt0NRfOSlcCTLoytZQPUiw3izNl0y1aRf-E36JfxDIsKS31oblBcmoyGA9r06l/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.43+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629446246101922" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#9 - 4636 Chapel Hill (White Rock Lake)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $5.995M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CVre8ESd1Gw20EyDQfL3Y7_02eb8T58dx3GyG2zaPYwl0dRee48bSCFxXLTnn-H9gxLrJ8q1wrpfHuB5mEBFlXo0GSitfWzALOj-GcX0WiZ-XuvIOfdu5DWYpu9bqDnv1aBPuveh2n5o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.50.14+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CVre8ESd1Gw20EyDQfL3Y7_02eb8T58dx3GyG2zaPYwl0dRee48bSCFxXLTnn-H9gxLrJ8q1wrpfHuB5mEBFlXo0GSitfWzALOj-GcX0WiZ-XuvIOfdu5DWYpu9bqDnv1aBPuveh2n5o/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.50.14+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629225544445250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#8 - 10340 Gaywood Rd. (Preston Hollow)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $6.495M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Only 26 days on the market!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP75Mc5jbTpPOqtj1liamHC1hktf-mWSDXPGTL3yFPjWDdklXLbnNX277P0-HY0BAWKKGBH8y09WfVyAmsU-0Z1lUnTNVQFnvbU-zIsS1lRJE3gO77GLaFXGFANrfFfHbZEbB48BIYC63/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.49.43+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP75Mc5jbTpPOqtj1liamHC1hktf-mWSDXPGTL3yFPjWDdklXLbnNX277P0-HY0BAWKKGBH8y09WfVyAmsU-0Z1lUnTNVQFnvbU-zIsS1lRJE3gO77GLaFXGFANrfFfHbZEbB48BIYC63/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.49.43+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629211758203378" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#7 - 6900 Baltimore Dr. (Uber Swank Volk Estates in University Park)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $6.99M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - $6.5M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Only last 14 days on the market!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UeokGDNC7zXyCIx3-UtFQmu4rfTUsCA5OqLqpm19NMeyvdome7YN2aZ2ATv2-gD6JZki-UoEmdAuWz3Vm4tBYssSSVQBYgB4RaKh3QWOH37zMITglf3Z_GydZygjy9vYhxhHbEbsMEMN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.50.38+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UeokGDNC7zXyCIx3-UtFQmu4rfTUsCA5OqLqpm19NMeyvdome7YN2aZ2ATv2-gD6JZki-UoEmdAuWz3Vm4tBYssSSVQBYgB4RaKh3QWOH37zMITglf3Z_GydZygjy9vYhxhHbEbsMEMN/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.50.38+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629236447983842" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#6 - 9338 Meadowbrook (Preston Hollow)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $6.795M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOmdhKCUsPH3dcSpWtOv4qdRW9k1vNiEV1hM7yC57kYLNQhnyqyNG1nZyVoaZH2XNrFj_j7NtTjhrwXYMOgnqrGf4R5KnGZeeszTZvInC9qcnr86RB8gu7zOYbc4_tRhl1nn94GQrIe0s/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.49.58+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOmdhKCUsPH3dcSpWtOv4qdRW9k1vNiEV1hM7yC57kYLNQhnyqyNG1nZyVoaZH2XNrFj_j7NtTjhrwXYMOgnqrGf4R5KnGZeeszTZvInC9qcnr86RB8gu7zOYbc4_tRhl1nn94GQrIe0s/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.49.58+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629216713020754" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#5 - 6815 Baltimore Dr. (Volk Estates Lot in University Park)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - 6.99M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - $6.5M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Only 27 days on the market!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#4 - 3816 Turtle Creek Dr. (Private street that overlooks Turtle Creek)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $7.9M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE9GOl-6hGlo5CaAUtbAMXNvD_qj45qsrCSZYQkWP9m5OUQE3jdjlCYakgx76IGYwSS1ZnANpqElo-EC8FuALvUJEiw6Kq_YU78ZXNI3OCY00wRXSFx-TfJX9FErgNTDVX62U-164O08I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.50.28+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE9GOl-6hGlo5CaAUtbAMXNvD_qj45qsrCSZYQkWP9m5OUQE3jdjlCYakgx76IGYwSS1ZnANpqElo-EC8FuALvUJEiw6Kq_YU78ZXNI3OCY00wRXSFx-TfJX9FErgNTDVX62U-164O08I/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.50.28+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629228522455874" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#3 - 3711 Lexington Ave. (Highland Park)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $8.5M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Only 27 days on the market!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq3eOE2woswGKvDOsT4TJyCxUbNvK-kaydrTf-bjI6YL4EZJ8AsJzI7aYsa2_oZWOmg6E3YaSaq1KbQmT8roo5y5X24PStXFcCsNwxvE1qa9OVqlqqIHRx7675BoUQ7q1vgl5NyH8WSox/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.05+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq3eOE2woswGKvDOsT4TJyCxUbNvK-kaydrTf-bjI6YL4EZJ8AsJzI7aYsa2_oZWOmg6E3YaSaq1KbQmT8roo5y5X24PStXFcCsNwxvE1qa9OVqlqqIHRx7675BoUQ7q1vgl5NyH8WSox/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.05+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629436019854690" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#2 - 3851 Windsor Ln. (Two Adjacent Lots in University Park)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $9.6M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L_r2j4vypTS-iDh-pbidrg8lMlb2H6CKQUulftb_9yCX-chAhoX56apQGgoLqrDbgMCxs_BoGLznRNqnhamRZ13nCGKz0SIyg0zTFylOlsa8DpRvallpsFjOelnBeI5CtJ7pmiIfYx8X/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.31+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L_r2j4vypTS-iDh-pbidrg8lMlb2H6CKQUulftb_9yCX-chAhoX56apQGgoLqrDbgMCxs_BoGLznRNqnhamRZ13nCGKz0SIyg0zTFylOlsa8DpRvallpsFjOelnBeI5CtJ7pmiIfYx8X/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.31+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629441476934098" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px; " /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">#1 - 1850 Turbeville Rd. (Hickory Creek)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">List Price - $15M</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sold Price - Not Disclosed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hdbEyRKCn6ZWS985ndIkpihXKOPIEZYmOsTCfBMrj9ZfBWg7igGmBRttyOkWKRC2PuImCqjpApq-OYJ6m35I1J13uY1UTJuLnJ2QdG8GhWNMrwg1JPmF5rl-g2UEUIFRzOMt0DGd53CK/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.55+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hdbEyRKCn6ZWS985ndIkpihXKOPIEZYmOsTCfBMrj9ZfBWg7igGmBRttyOkWKRC2PuImCqjpApq-OYJ6m35I1J13uY1UTJuLnJ2QdG8GhWNMrwg1JPmF5rl-g2UEUIFRzOMt0DGd53CK/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-01-25+at+11.51.55+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701629452276303746" /></a></span>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-83795528307906441722011-09-14T12:10:00.005-05:002011-09-14T12:15:58.712-05:00Buyer Incentives Are Pointless<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZKHpBruWXpSsDEjPaYsH-L4BKQrExcarJnE0tYkS_qZWnbP7_uadMivioosiA1OJxkdW0LTRbtorwSVjbT12AjgSBoks3gQhR89lLIFsBCuvpkowHIEc3aFzd7HSlYTMPQIUWfGdqB1v/s1600/dunce+girl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZKHpBruWXpSsDEjPaYsH-L4BKQrExcarJnE0tYkS_qZWnbP7_uadMivioosiA1OJxkdW0LTRbtorwSVjbT12AjgSBoks3gQhR89lLIFsBCuvpkowHIEc3aFzd7HSlYTMPQIUWfGdqB1v/s320/dunce+girl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652264772536325378" /></a><div><br />But perhaps one of the most ridiculous incentives I've seen recently is a $1,000 buyer's agent bonus for <a href="http://www.duffeyhomes.idxco.com/idx/6810/details.php?idxID=074&listingID=11601473">this home listed at $800,000</a>...wow. $1,000 extra bucks. Great idea Ms. Listing Agent.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. You're an idiot. </div></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-88856214237027508642011-08-09T12:33:00.004-05:002011-08-09T12:44:00.964-05:00Best Use Of For Sale Sign. Ever.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzRFYwODbYgfHOwg_2NJCGEppPi8c6DMNoKVv7dA9ZBO5tE0AT0XofqctD7kEgtscMV80ljQwSs5h9_laiw85gfhspyL-reAQ7edWqADqcIgf1oFgy0fOaVPFv5eslKQ-9XwuiQ7SmBam/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-08-09+at+12.33.24+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzRFYwODbYgfHOwg_2NJCGEppPi8c6DMNoKVv7dA9ZBO5tE0AT0XofqctD7kEgtscMV80ljQwSs5h9_laiw85gfhspyL-reAQ7edWqADqcIgf1oFgy0fOaVPFv5eslKQ-9XwuiQ7SmBam/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-08-09+at+12.33.24+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638910873627013538" /></a>
<br /><div>
<br /></div><div>This is absolutely one of my all-time favorite real estate pictures. According to my friend Sean, who sent me this picture via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jeffduffeyandassociates">Facebook</a>, this picture was taken in the Park Cities this week. So, is the house for sale or the car? I'm confused.</div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-71494790981449075992011-08-03T17:35:00.008-05:002011-08-08T07:27:30.753-05:00Proof That Pictures Can Make All The Difference<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtALGn4uUotZvn4o3td6l3Oz-dtIjAg5R_DdMin4rAYoMPl2XL8iZ5znhf3VGMupqSSQLKJihf8byZiVX-rt8Ju1MqwLt0jeNIu0OfOOdlXmg8VRv2sBIsFrMTBDAlmcQhG5YcIRVC6H6k/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-08-08+at+7.17.12+AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtALGn4uUotZvn4o3td6l3Oz-dtIjAg5R_DdMin4rAYoMPl2XL8iZ5znhf3VGMupqSSQLKJihf8byZiVX-rt8Ju1MqwLt0jeNIu0OfOOdlXmg8VRv2sBIsFrMTBDAlmcQhG5YcIRVC6H6k/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-08-08+at+7.17.12+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638458341036834242" /></a>
<br />
<br /><div>I recently listed this property at <a href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1600-Abrams-Road-Unit-5_Dallas_TX_75214_M80890-86903">1600 Abrams Rd. in Dallas</a>. The "Before" pictures were taken by the Realtor that previously listed the property. The "After" photos were taken by yours truly. As you can see, great photos can turn a property from "blah" to "Wow!". Some agents simply don't take the time to snap good photos. Something I've never really understood. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>It's also important to note that this home was vacant so I had the property staged. Staging is an absolute MUST in today's real estate market. However, I'm not so sure about <a href="http://www.candysdirt.com/2011/08/05/stage-home-sell-live-pets-dallas-real-estate-news/">staging a property with pets</a>....but furniture is a definite must have. Props to Kira Sauer of <a href="http://www.blissbykira.com/">Bliss by Kira</a> for doing a great job staging this wonderful home!</div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-65557330550854771062011-08-03T16:25:00.008-05:002011-08-03T17:16:25.220-05:00Bad Real Estate Photos: Not Just For "Cheap Homes"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd-YFpkO12G-FrH56kkhCXJWhyphenhyphenHFrGplUBiF4NYSIJQnRbKBfXKEJGjKf1t5MdS4r4CJwJ0SUhG7r2HR-3CUMlhxjGqii6c2g1eUIOFRRZX_JdHn6YSzcCE2BW6YFVRHx8dbBTXqlQ3bj/s1600/mailbox-house.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd-YFpkO12G-FrH56kkhCXJWhyphenhyphenHFrGplUBiF4NYSIJQnRbKBfXKEJGjKf1t5MdS4r4CJwJ0SUhG7r2HR-3CUMlhxjGqii6c2g1eUIOFRRZX_JdHn6YSzcCE2BW6YFVRHx8dbBTXqlQ3bj/s320/mailbox-house.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636744704652110706" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Lately I've been working with a large number of buyers. This translates into hours upon hours of looking through hundreds of homes - and their photos. Now, we all know there are tons of <a href="http://duffeyhomes.blogspot.com/search/label/Bad%20Photos">bad real estate photos</a> out there. But what I don't understand is why sellers put up with them? Surely the owners of these homes realize the photos their agent took are terrible. One would also think bad photos simply won't be acceptable for high-end homes, right? (See the two listings below for the answer.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I spend several hours taking professional photos of every single one of my listings, regardless of the list price. I even have special computer software that I use to process the photos and touch them up as needed. I do this because I understand the power photos have when attracting potential buyers. Yet for some reason there are still agents out there - and their sellers - who don't seem to get this. Here are some examples. Enjoy!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.duffeyhomes.idxco.com/idx/6810/details.php?idxID=074&listingID=11583880"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">7225 Turtle Creek Blvd. - $2,295,000</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh1ndHYECv4P5-5Zf8dIYncX06bLqYpgjWDWrAq6hFYTlRzKOjGCLySCgelplgRIIZx5fGM_Fq_8KtDoizEEuW5EOLZevu83Mw3tWVl5looXs7DaoKbU2W8Kl3w7Z3VsFtQGVhyphenhyphenL-Uu3g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-08-03+at+4.21.03+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh1ndHYECv4P5-5Zf8dIYncX06bLqYpgjWDWrAq6hFYTlRzKOjGCLySCgelplgRIIZx5fGM_Fq_8KtDoizEEuW5EOLZevu83Mw3tWVl5looXs7DaoKbU2W8Kl3w7Z3VsFtQGVhyphenhyphenL-Uu3g/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-08-03+at+4.21.03+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636751141966167778" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Loving the <a href="http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/six_flags_over_texas/casa_magnetica/">Casa Magnetica</a> angle. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGqgEuUlaN8UXfJ5o8_bsGM26pzwc2E7WqrjnTg4d0kTPrkMdDy8Kzuj98srFNKHjqX9q6Tf-d4mDqv1GBP6magUDYaJqENSeS98doW3-qlRWSdwISoeklcoegxAK3e87s74QoF4AwE6w/s1600/7225+Dark+Kitchen.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGqgEuUlaN8UXfJ5o8_bsGM26pzwc2E7WqrjnTg4d0kTPrkMdDy8Kzuj98srFNKHjqX9q6Tf-d4mDqv1GBP6magUDYaJqENSeS98doW3-qlRWSdwISoeklcoegxAK3e87s74QoF4AwE6w/s320/7225+Dark+Kitchen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636753141574989410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Kitchen is "light and bright."</span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ftPI8ElucBtiH_teWo6siWrZOb6B8NX_j0fqA3s17vLyGfuiS5gLXFVXt3jm_0JbHaBE1x_lcDYGNSnDHqleDxeaf6haqw_pt9NRHiOwRJtNzl_JNOWspi4554ux-7l9Tk4dAiMovqbm/s1600/7225+Side+Yard.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ftPI8ElucBtiH_teWo6siWrZOb6B8NX_j0fqA3s17vLyGfuiS5gLXFVXt3jm_0JbHaBE1x_lcDYGNSnDHqleDxeaf6haqw_pt9NRHiOwRJtNzl_JNOWspi4554ux-7l9Tk4dAiMovqbm/s320/7225+Side+Yard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636753137791048162" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">More beautiful side yard. Comes complete with water hose.</span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLZuTKjTARxreQELR638-Zh7i2k35fsCVoNtsuswQdLgKVvb9JPS4cJG-kRvqLZGgucvb10Y392CVqshtfDP0sfskmuw-JFYElYH2ykEtSRBI6RlMVV9k6-nbX9zlBTX54QpcFNvVbJkJ/s1600/7225+WTF.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLZuTKjTARxreQELR638-Zh7i2k35fsCVoNtsuswQdLgKVvb9JPS4cJG-kRvqLZGgucvb10Y392CVqshtfDP0sfskmuw-JFYElYH2ykEtSRBI6RlMVV9k6-nbX9zlBTX54QpcFNvVbJkJ/s320/7225+WTF.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636753137418301010" style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">We're uncertain what this photo is supposed to show us. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">BAD REAL ESTATE PHOTOS BONUS: <a href="http://www.duffeyhomes.idxco.com/idx/6810/details.php?idxID=074&listingID=11327937">4223 Bordeaux - $7,450,000</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ZEwjNYsYuKf7Hbj-Rt1NIZL2cz0TxkSuUUXtMb5p9M_cfiX1yIdSpeKZCb84iI8DGZWMIbUi8kBuGbE-X7K2qDxbM7xf69rXLnRMO1pbYo__RHY1rPuTbKBJnTndVshi_pGKzs6ys7F/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-08-03+at+5.04.20+PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ZEwjNYsYuKf7Hbj-Rt1NIZL2cz0TxkSuUUXtMb5p9M_cfiX1yIdSpeKZCb84iI8DGZWMIbUi8kBuGbE-X7K2qDxbM7xf69rXLnRMO1pbYo__RHY1rPuTbKBJnTndVshi_pGKzs6ys7F/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-08-03+at+5.04.20+PM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636754502430461506" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">You would think a $7,450,000 home would have a little more, I don't know, pizazz! in the photos. Someone <i>PLEASE</i> help me understand how this is acceptable. </span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-56510955376511589142011-06-28T15:49:00.005-05:002011-06-28T16:28:44.788-05:00Sales Statistics For January thru May: A year-over-year comparison<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I wanted to see how the YTD (Jan. - May) sales numbers for 2011 compared with last year's sales numbers. And since we all know there was that little "Buyer's Tax Credit" thing that falsely inflated our sales numbers for 2010, I went back to 2009, as well. So take a look and let me know what you think.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The first thing that sticks out to me is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9% drop</span> in the number of sales for Area 12 from '09 to '11, yet during the same time Area 12 has seen roughly a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">25% increase </span>in average sales price. This is intriguingly coincided with an almost <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">20% increase</span> in DOM. I'm at a loss as to how to explain this. So perhaps some of you stats geeks out there can help out. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></b></span></div></span></span></b></span></div></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><div style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Area 12 (East Dallas/Lakewood/White Rock Lake)</span></span></b></span></div></span></b></span></div></span></b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Year</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"># Sales</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sales $</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$/sf</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DOM</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'09</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">707</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$221,465</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$118</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">98</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'10</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">751</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$229,455</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$124</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">93</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'11</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">648</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$276,756</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$134</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">117</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***********************************************</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Area 11 sales have <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">increased over 50%</span> during this same time period in 2009, yet from '09 to '10 the sales prices<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"> dropped 14%</span>, only to increase slightly in 2011. Maybe this means North Dallas and Preston Hollow hit the bottom? If so, aren't you mad you missed out on some great deals?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Area 11 (North Dallas/Preston Hollow)</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Year</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"># Sales</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sales $</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$/sf</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DOM</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'09</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">152</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$842,824</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$217</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">137</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'10</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">217</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$728,165</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$187</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">162</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'11</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">232</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$761,022</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$192</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">146</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***********************************************</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sales in the Park Cities have <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">increased a stunning 80%</span> since '09, with a modest <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">8% increase</span> in average sales price. This seems like a solid upward trend. This seems much easier to interpret than the other two areas. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Area 25 (Park Cities)</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Year</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"># Sales</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sales $</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$/sf</span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DOM</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'09</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">161</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$1.049M</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$292</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">136</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'10</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">275</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$1.072M</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$298</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">143</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'11</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">291</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$1.133M</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">$309</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">127</span></div><div><br /></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-22492910362959463362011-05-12T13:25:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:56:34.616-05:00Let's Take A Look At The Tribute Lakeside Golf and Resort in The Colony, TX, shall we?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxVUCysAxwfTLhMxTdXWS9sWBii2HKSet6WhzjeGKvSSzM4OhygNKLmxQI0hsHwsGmTI29qgK4kpW6LRooLnfIq0zJr-23FAhXJ70WpjDEyu7PkqxR2X1R_8DROX7REkDPfN1K5q1N-du/s1600/The+Tribute.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxVUCysAxwfTLhMxTdXWS9sWBii2HKSet6WhzjeGKvSSzM4OhygNKLmxQI0hsHwsGmTI29qgK4kpW6LRooLnfIq0zJr-23FAhXJ70WpjDEyu7PkqxR2X1R_8DROX7REkDPfN1K5q1N-du/s320/The+Tribute.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605908817847307154" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I recently received an email about </span><a href="http://thetribute.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Tribute Lakeside Golf and Resort Community</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (you can read the press release below) and thought I'd look into it. You know, since real estate is kinda my thing. It's located in The Colony, which is considered far far far away from us lazy Dallasites, and is located on 1,150-acres on Lake Lewisville. That's quite the spread. According to the website, there are two premier 18-hole golf courses, parks, pools, gardens and playgrounds. Apparently there are also plans to build an elementary school in the future. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The developer is </span><a href="http://www.matthewssouthwest.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Matthews Southwest</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> which is responsible for turning the historic 1913 Sears and Roebuck building into the very successful and very hip </span><a href="http://www.southsideonlamar.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Southside on Lamar</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; a thriving residential, arts and entertainment area. Matthews Southwest is also the developer for the highly anticipated and </span><a href="http://www.omnihotels.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Omni</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> operated </span><a href="http://www.dallascchotel.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dallas Convention Center Hotel</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. You certainly can't argue with their resume. Plus, they're based here in Dallas, and we like that. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There looks to be </span><a href="http://thetribute.com/the-builders/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">seven home builders</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> building homes in the Tribute from the $240's all the way to over $1M. That's quite ambitious given the location, however, the Lake Lewisville location will certainly attract a lot of interest simply due to the lack of waterfront property in North Texas. Sure, there is </span><a href="http://www.highlandvillage.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Highland Village</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and Little Elm, but they don't have The Colony's decent toll road and 121 access - and </span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">IKEA</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span><a href="http://www.shopstonebriar.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stonebriar Mall</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> are nearby, as well. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'll be keeping an eye on The Tribute to see how it fairs over the coming years. On the surface, it reminds me a lot of the much larger, 2,500-acre </span><a href="http://www.castlehills.com/home"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Castle Hills</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> community and the much smaller and Croatian inspired, 45-acre </span><a href="http://www.adriaticamckinney.com/default1.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Adriatica</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in McKinney. Both of these communities were developed with a particular theme in mind; unlike the somewhat generic </span><a href="http://www.stonebridgeranch.com/default.asp?id=461582"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stonebridge Ranch</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> community in McKinney. The Tribute is clearly going for the Old World theme. Now the question is, will people buy into it? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Golf Course Real Estate still has a Pulse in the Heart of Texas</span></span></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For many, it’s the American Dream: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of… Golf Course Living. In 2011, the first Baby Boomers turn 65 and the demand for golf course real estate in Sunbelt states will likely skyrocket as Boomers look for homes in a climate conducive to their hobby.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But those who have long dreamed of living adjacent to fairways and greens could be disappointed. Development of a golf course community is exceedingly rare in this slumping economy. After almost two decades during which new golf course communities spread like wildfire across the Sunbelt, both the real estate and golf industries have suffered major setbacks.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In 2010, builders started on 15,000 homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to Ted Wilson of Residential Strategies, Inc. That’s down nearly 70% from the 51,000 housing starts in 2006.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">New golf course construction has also taken a major hit. The overbuilding of courses in the 90’s and early 00’s oversaturated the market. When the recession descended upon the industry, many courses were forced to close, some in the middle of construction.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With every rule, however, there is an exception. In 2010, only one course opened in The Metroplex. What vaults this course from exception to veritable anomaly is it is part of a residential community.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Old American Golf Club, located in The Colony’s The Tribute Resort Community, opened its doors to public play in September 2010. In addition to fairways, greens, bunkers and water hazards, The Old American features brand new residential lots alongside select sections of the course and dozens more just off it. In the desert that is the current landscape of new golf course development, The Tribute is an oasis, affording golfers the opportunity to live alongside the game they love.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Old American and The Tribute were brought to life by Matthews Southwest, a DFW-based developer that has transformed The Metroplex’s real estate market through urban redevelopment and suburban lifestyle development. In The Tribute, Matthews Southwest saw the opportunity to deliver a suburban community where people could enjoy their hobbies right outside their front door. The community’s location on the shores of Lewisville Lake, combined with The Old American and The Tribute Golf Club (opened in 2005), has provided residents with access to golf, boating and fishing.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even in the down economy, builders and homeowners have pounced on the opportunity The Tribute presents. Matthews Southwest reported a more than 100 percent year-over-year increase in residential lot sales at The Tribute in 2010. The community’s 1,150 acres showcase many of North Texas’ most prominent and distinguished builders, offering home designs that emphasize the Old World-themed atmosphere of The Tribute and begin in the 240’s.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As Baby Boomers and golf enthusiasts search for a place to live in harmony with the game they love, they may be hard up as developers and builders continue to tighten purse strings. However, The Tribute serves as proof that golf course real estate still has a pulse in the Heart of Texas.</span></span></p></div></blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;"></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-21221672874700898232011-05-09T17:43:00.004-05:002011-05-17T19:41:00.843-05:00Short Sale vs. Foreclosure: What Are Your Options?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJPQVBJa0atq7Zw4AjsQaB-aOWGB1Z2qVHmGCk9FakZrgkcnxrjteSrAWQeL2nd55b2xBRBhfrGPQZC0xgABz5YHGtk4Xg_C_UaQ-nMGm5awW027m4XdlYLfdMxbrpCKtb_b6BDVkJzxy/s1600/Short+Sale+vs+Foreclosure.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJPQVBJa0atq7Zw4AjsQaB-aOWGB1Z2qVHmGCk9FakZrgkcnxrjteSrAWQeL2nd55b2xBRBhfrGPQZC0xgABz5YHGtk4Xg_C_UaQ-nMGm5awW027m4XdlYLfdMxbrpCKtb_b6BDVkJzxy/s320/Short+Sale+vs+Foreclosure.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607849549898277378" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let me give you a very common real estate scenario, one I have encountered more frequently in the past several years.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mr. Seller paid $350,000 for his home in 2006. He now wants to sell his home because he [got relocated/got married/wife had their 4th child]. As a real estate agent, I now have the awkward responsibility of telling him his home is currently worth $315,000 in today's real estate market. He then tells me he owes $340,000 on his mortgage and that he doesn't have the cash to bring to closing and asks me what his options are.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If the above scenario sounds familiar, you're not alone. So, here are your options:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. Bring enough money to closing to cover your remaining mortgage, plus closing costs. For example, you owe $340,000 on your mortgage but you can only sell your home for $310,000. You are responsible for the $30,000 difference, plus closing costs.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2. If #1 isn't an option, then you need to consider staying in your home until you are in a position to sell your home without bringing money to closing. Or, if you </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">have</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to move you can choose to rent out your home until you're in a better financial position.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. If neither of the above options sound good to you - you don't have much cash but you HAVE to sell your home and don't want to rent it out - then you need to consider a short sale. Meaning, you need to negotiate with your mortgage company and ask them to cover any shortage in paying off your mortgage after your home sells. Basically, this is like option #1, except you're asking the bank to cover the $30,000 shortage, plus your closing costs. This will negatively affect your credit, and most short sales are huge headaches and can take many months to close, but you will be able to move on to the next chapter in your life without taking a huge financial loss.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4. Just walk away. Many homeowners have chosen to simply walk away from their home and let go into foreclosure. This will negatively affect your credit more so than a short sale, but you won't have to deal with the headache of a short sale, or the ensuing months of paying a mortgage on a home you can no longer afford - or no longer want. This option is very attractive to the rich. e.g. 'Why keep paying on a home that is depleting my bank account and has lost over 50% of it's value since I bought it? Let the bank deal with that headache!' Having enough cash to get them through the next 7 years while their credit score recovers is also helpful.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our real estate market will continue to force many people to choose between the scenarios I have outlined above. And every one's situation is going to be different. You need to decide what works best given your current financial situation. Talking openly and honestly with your real estate agent is the best advice I can give you. I make decisions based on the information my clients give me. If you tell me you're not in a hurry to sell and you're financially comfortable, then my advice will be much different than if you told me you needed to sell in the next 45 days or you will no longer be able to pay your mortgage, car payment, etc. Unfortunately, people tend to tell me the former, when the truth looks more like the latter.</span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-89064229408723743322011-01-11T17:00:00.005-06:002011-01-11T17:53:47.870-06:00Mortgage Interest Rates Will Increase on 1/12/2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UyZFJ4_GBH54ogEIsJ2XdGM5AqyeURSCRrAht-VhLNN_c8FebOxdYo4ZfYzEYmJlqjYRS9WDxndrbJwfqYiAGoVVOVH9lhQEYaXDJq4TqubvrLdCuWP9Yrh4wv8YiEMpt0Sctzx-vyJ_/s1600/big+banks.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UyZFJ4_GBH54ogEIsJ2XdGM5AqyeURSCRrAht-VhLNN_c8FebOxdYo4ZfYzEYmJlqjYRS9WDxndrbJwfqYiAGoVVOVH9lhQEYaXDJq4TqubvrLdCuWP9Yrh4wv8YiEMpt0Sctzx-vyJ_/s320/big+banks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561074572328267618" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I just received the following email from a lender I work with very closely. This is yet another "Big Bank" move that penalizes many people, even if they have great credit. (<a href="http://duffeyhomes.blogspot.com/2010/02/short-sale-hell-another-reason-why.html">And we all know how I feel about banks</a>) While I don't particularly think this will have a huge negative impact on our real estate market, I certainly don't think it is going to help matters as we delve into 2011. So, if you've been shopping for a loan, and don't plan on putting down at least 25%, I highly recommend you call your lender immediately and lock-in your rate!<br /><br /></span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I wanted to send an urgent email advising that rates are essentially going up for all conventional loan clients tomorrow and this is not the result of daily market action. All lenders, including me, will be subject to the new rate structure on conventional loans.<br /><br />Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will institute new “risk based pricing” adjustments to rates essentially for all buyers who don’t put at least 25% down regardless of how high their credit scores are. (You read correctly.) The mortgage giants, which account for 75% of the mortgages in the United States, have leveled these “risk based pricing” adjustments in the guise of charging a premium to those that didn’t take care of their credit and “rewarding” those that did. The issue is they seem largely punitive in nature, even for A+ credit individuals. Additionally, anyone with less than a 740 credit score can expect to see the rate rise exponentially the closer the score is to 620. For example, a buyer with a 699 credit score would see a rate that is around .5% higher EVEN WITH 20% down!<br /><br />The bottom line is the overwhelming majority of conventional home loan applicants will see their rates go up effective tomorrow, Wednesday, 1/12/11. Since rates are still at historic lows, the true effects of this won’t be as drastic. As the rates start to rise due to market forces, this could become a significant impediment to home purchases whereby otherwise qualified and ready homeowners are forced to rent. While no one will disagree that sensible lending practices from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must be utilized, there may come a time where we make our voices heard about the potential negative effects on our nations recovery as a result of this action.</span> </blockquote>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-75903474530184247682010-12-14T22:14:00.004-06:002010-12-14T22:33:46.950-06:00Just trying out some fancy HTML slideshow stuff<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.DuffeyHomes.idxco.com/idx/6810/customSlideshowJS.php?stp=basic&name=FeaturedListingsonHomePage&pt=sfr&county[]=397&lp=750000&hp=25000000&ba=0&srt=DESC&slideshowWidth=400&slideshowHeight=300&imageWidth=390&imageHeight=290&rotation=5&propCount=25&alignment=center&fontFamily=Verdana%2C%20Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif&borderWidth=6&borderStyle=inset"></script>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-24544518324630723382010-10-20T09:40:00.005-05:002010-10-20T10:08:05.733-05:00North Texas Is The Fastest Growing Region In The Country<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIEduyGRjVoxcuoAbs1-RH26m-J3VhjiNeINABK4PziAG1su5XNwvhT_wPCFeQ8j4weNu333LanwgGtEDApC9Vodm11GAVRUoUf_iLmnZVj-sYePSFuUyuPWfzm17WGEogagyy_b2KX5e/s1600/FriscoCityLimits.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIEduyGRjVoxcuoAbs1-RH26m-J3VhjiNeINABK4PziAG1su5XNwvhT_wPCFeQ8j4weNu333LanwgGtEDApC9Vodm11GAVRUoUf_iLmnZVj-sYePSFuUyuPWfzm17WGEogagyy_b2KX5e/s320/FriscoCityLimits.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530140639344505730" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This may very well have been what <a href="http://www.ci.frisco.tx.us/Pages/Default.aspx">Frisco's</a> city limit signs looked like before the millennium, when very few people in North Texas knew much about the then fledgling town. But now, according to <a href="http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=25918118&GT1=35006">this MSN Real Estate list </a>that names the Top 15 Fastest Growing Cities in the country, Frisco is the fastest growing city in the entire country! North Texas made a strong showing with <a href="http://www3.mckinneytexas.org/www/default.aspx">McKinney</a> surprisingly coming in strong at the #2 spot, and <a href="http://www.cityofdenton.com/">Denton</a> coming in respectably at #13. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The only other Texas city to make an appearance on the list is <a href="http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/">Round Rock</a> at #7. </span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-26093989979936154052010-08-03T17:46:00.004-05:002010-08-03T17:54:52.427-05:00Vote For Me And Win $100!<a href="http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Dallas-TX/#poll"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e989GKXsqRTgoiyQ0DJoYZJAIe0GkyUGPjSqH9NJkMLwzpb9a5N1Ove7kIt4b2HB3R3-lbzX1T7k8qooHft050LYbeU-bdVqO4tr7Vntlvg4CeNziN0HjK1rhwk4IMqYie-thInIKV6n/s320/Zillow_Nomination.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318962494645250" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ok, so you won't really win $100. But you should still </span><a href="http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Dallas-TX/#poll"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vote for my blog anyway</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. DREB has been nominated by Zillow.com as one of the Best Real Estate Blogs in Dallas and I need your support!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You can vote once a day, every day, up to August 11th, 2010. And don't even pretend you don't have time at work to play around on the internets and the Facebooks. I know you better than that. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now go </span><a href="http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Dallas-TX/#poll"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vote</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(P.S. Thank you for your support.)</span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-7190565704190925292010-08-03T17:23:00.003-05:002010-08-03T17:36:02.564-05:00Marketing 101: How NOT to Photoshop Pictures of Your Listings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5-XO2GZXhigV_BUCxYJVkOCCdHGIdPtzuvKiY5mfNc1Je7nYLciTByk_OGCHAAMaJLP92Ehc_9AFM-ep6jxKJs39vdL3v2A-yIinXHT-jUDN5G4W7S-Yh-fBifjiC35T7cnGBx5tC1Wd/s1600/Bad+Photoshop.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5-XO2GZXhigV_BUCxYJVkOCCdHGIdPtzuvKiY5mfNc1Je7nYLciTByk_OGCHAAMaJLP92Ehc_9AFM-ep6jxKJs39vdL3v2A-yIinXHT-jUDN5G4W7S-Yh-fBifjiC35T7cnGBx5tC1Wd/s320/Bad+Photoshop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501312817663411474" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I admit that from time to time I will photoshop some pictures of my listings. You know, get rid of a few brown spots on the lawn, enhance the colors of the landscaping and grass. But the above photo is just embarrassing. Did this agent have his 6-year-old photoshop this for him? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That being said, </span><a href="http://www1.ntreisinnovia.net/ntr/maildoc/sd_DGJVLA20100803172532.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the house in under contract</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Let's just hope for the seller's sake this agent's negotiating skills are better than his/her photoshop skills. </span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-72774230505392366292010-07-14T20:13:00.008-05:002010-07-14T21:01:15.684-05:00The Dirt In Highland Park Has Appreciated Over 500% Since 2006<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwEh_EiM0pMD89n4fQmQa1XuQUMFvO-9QOpPoWaRLYVxOsAB_ggEvB_PLU9TdLoUAAJbJVfG7JH7a2FLoBCqKutI8c6vaOG2UH8-TxGf_hcbCGfFTFFZoeDMbt4HQ7ZGIp5W9UBWMJ9q2/s1600/Picture+5.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwEh_EiM0pMD89n4fQmQa1XuQUMFvO-9QOpPoWaRLYVxOsAB_ggEvB_PLU9TdLoUAAJbJVfG7JH7a2FLoBCqKutI8c6vaOG2UH8-TxGf_hcbCGfFTFFZoeDMbt4HQ7ZGIp5W9UBWMJ9q2/s320/Picture+5.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493935168856742850" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://ntreislistings.marketlinx.com/SearchDetail/Scripts/PrtBuyFul/PrtBuyFul.asp?emailGUID=ca4dc847-07ae-4dc2-acd7-d484b75af3da&AgentId=0506186"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4311 and 4321 Lakeside Dr.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, both listed at approximately 1.17 acres, have just been hoisted on the market for a mind-boggling $16,225,000 and $15,100,000, respectively. Something about this new listing just isn't adding up. Literally. Nearly everyone knows the piece(s) of land I'm talking about. The gorgeous treed corner lot where Lakeside Dr., Preston Rd., Oaklawn Ave. and Armstrong Ave. all meet. Or some of you many know it as the piece of land across the street from where Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, lives. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So, the short history of these lots is they were both comprised of 4310, 4311, 4320 and 4330 Lakeside Dr. and they were all four listed for sale together in the MLS back in 2004 under one address, 4311 Lakeside Dr., for $7,500,000. The entire property eventually sold after a whopping 673 days (almost 2 years) on the market for a meager $6,025,000. While the property's owner is listed in the tax rolls as the Town of Highland Park, I seem to recall chatter that a neighbor who lives on Armstrong purchased the property to make sure the property sold to a nice individual that would want to build a HUGE single family residence on the property, as opposed to a church or some other commercial development. But who knows if that's true or not. I certainly don't. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anyway, a few days ago I saw a couple new lots listed for sale in Highland Park with the addresses 4311 and 4321 Lakeside Dr. And then I see the redonkulous list price! I quickly whipped out my trusty TI-82 calculator to discover that the appreciation rate from $6,025,000 in 2006 to over $31,000,000 in 2010 is a nonsensical 520% appreciation rate over 4 years. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sure this piece of land is desirable, but $6M to over $30M in 4 years for the same exact piece of dirt? Am I missing something here? </span></span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-69498604413946992592010-05-19T11:39:00.003-05:002010-05-19T11:55:47.179-05:00HGTV's "My First Sale" Is Coming To Dallas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUP5cB9Gr0wwzIq9M4SkJ4r-WLHK0eHOOv3SwAGxeQcKZoLYsVWAA2VSjRepmxRllXvmkyI4vxU7CVsik3_HPuezo-VeO11EHYwlTJr5DFEPRCNmKw8llwfYMERdAjrs6_HhJ0RsCO21h/s1600/HGTV_logo_jpg.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUP5cB9Gr0wwzIq9M4SkJ4r-WLHK0eHOOv3SwAGxeQcKZoLYsVWAA2VSjRepmxRllXvmkyI4vxU7CVsik3_HPuezo-VeO11EHYwlTJr5DFEPRCNmKw8llwfYMERdAjrs6_HhJ0RsCO21h/s320/HGTV_logo_jpg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473022329818955730" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yesterday I got a phone call from a casting director for HGTV's show "</span><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/my-first-sale/show/index.html"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My First Sale</span></i></a></span><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/my-first-sale/show/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;"></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">" asking me if I wanted to apply to be a part of the show (and also to share the press release to other area agents). Here is the press release: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">SELLING YOUR FIRST PLACE? Then HGTV is looking for you! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">MY FIRST SALE, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">the popular primetime HGTV show, is looking for first-time home sellers (and their real estate agents!) in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington DC/Arlington VA areas.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We are looking for fun, high-energy people who are </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">just starting</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> the process of selling their first place! Our cameras will be there to capture all the trials and tribulations, stress and success of prepping for sale, pricing, negotiating, and ultimately selling a home for the first time.</span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Taping will begin in Spring 2010 and will continue through Winter 2010. Ideal candidates will be motivated, financially candid people who want to share the experience and the purchase details with HGTV and their audience. Singles, couples and families are all invited to apply!</span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif; font-size: small; ">If selected to appear on an episode of My First Sale, home sellers will receive a DVD copy of the episode to enjoy for years to come. Real estate agents will also receive a DVD of the episode. If this sounds like fun, first-time sellers should apply now for immediate consideration! </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <div></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to the show's page on HGTV.com the show is billed as follows: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Think buying your first place is tough? Try selling it! </span></span><em style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My First Sale</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> takes the proven and successful docudrama format of </span></span><em style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My First Place</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and turns it upside down — telling the story from the seller's point of view. Selling your first place means the stakes are even higher than when you purchased. More pressure, more jeopardy, more to gain — and potentially thousands to lose. For HGTV viewers, </span></span><em style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My First Sale</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has even more drama and, most important, more valuable takeaways to help viewers make top dollar on their own sale. </span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I personally haven't seen any episodes but it sounds like a great idea. Hopefully it won't be the equivalent of </span><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters/show/index.html"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">House Hunters</span></i></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> where the buyer sees 5 homes and makes an offer on one of them. Then the buyers get a phone call while they're having a picnic in the park with their 2 and a half children and - POOF! - instant happy homeowners! That ain't how it works folks.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So if any Realtors or homeowner's out there are interested shoot me an email. I'll be happy to send you the application and contact information. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">Gotta run and go get my hair did for my casting video!!!</span></span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-34041376260478453812010-04-30T13:28:00.006-05:002010-04-30T13:51:36.378-05:00Are Interest Rates Really Going To Rise? Experts Say "Yes!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eumn_DZvV9UX5fTIl470PmYyZoAmlLluW1dJmiQQYVHMTVtr5GWlHmN5qIXBcAXa08klXYfVmxpE4w-HK6XDfEqmHEXBss8jYFzmtgBlN0w_7LYcCjuBYy-nPJDtHBNFplxSq9qwU7CX/s1600/interest_rates.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eumn_DZvV9UX5fTIl470PmYyZoAmlLluW1dJmiQQYVHMTVtr5GWlHmN5qIXBcAXa08klXYfVmxpE4w-HK6XDfEqmHEXBss8jYFzmtgBlN0w_7LYcCjuBYy-nPJDtHBNFplxSq9qwU7CX/s320/interest_rates.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466000007752069730" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Consumers, mortgage lenders and real estate professionals are all wondering what will happen to interest rates now that the <a href="http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/">Tax Credit</a> is expiring. Earlier this year many financial types said interest rates will definitely rise in the second half of 2010. So far this year the interest rates have been hovering around 5%, so will interest rates rise, and if so, how high will they go? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, serif; ">Ken Rosen, chair of the University of California Fisher Center for Real Estate, by keeping rates so low, “We are encouraging asset bubbles in the stock market, bond markets, and global real estate,” Rosen says. T</span>his <a href="http://www.inman.com/news/2010/04/30/mortgage-rates-hold-now-expect-increases">Inman News article</a> states interest rates will rise for the next 10 consecutive quarters and will be at an average of 5.8% by the 4Q of 2010. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is a <a href="http://www.mbaa.org/files/Bulletin/InternalResource/72524_.pdf">very informative spreadshee</a>t from the Mortgage Bankers Association showing the predicted rise in interest over the next 2 years. Spoiler alert - by 4Q of 2012 30-year fixed interest rates are predicted to be around 6.6%. Yikes!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So if you've been sitting on the fence, whether to refinance or buy a home, it might be time to jump off that fence and take advantage of the low interest rates while there's still time. </span></span></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-957656207922831345.post-16494273776825163932010-04-12T12:29:00.004-05:002010-04-12T12:45:14.876-05:00The Onion Pokes Fun at Real Estate Agent Photos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvjS1HozOfWSIGW71rdRJc7DJrClsaR8jjE7TwI2V0M4YsReWzA729xwESC1e7FIkIO2Rv4B8rqla43T1S3bB3Q2pAwNiulOZ_8DeNjNnpRz5EYYGPcuFyDN6IJynJZILyWyhrPpLrxRy/s1600/Remax+Sign+Photo.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvjS1HozOfWSIGW71rdRJc7DJrClsaR8jjE7TwI2V0M4YsReWzA729xwESC1e7FIkIO2Rv4B8rqla43T1S3bB3Q2pAwNiulOZ_8DeNjNnpRz5EYYGPcuFyDN6IJynJZILyWyhrPpLrxRy/s320/Remax+Sign+Photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459307854553691986" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Thanks to my friend Ken for passing this </span></span><a href="http://www.theonion.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Onion</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> article my way. </span></span><a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-wasnt-going-to-buy-this-house-until-i-saw-the-re,17038/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here is a link to the article</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> and I've also copied it below. It pokes fun at the fact many Realtors put their photos on their signs, business cards and even billboards. My favorite line from the article, <blockquote>"You know, in a way, I'm sort of glad Mary and I never met face-to-face. Touring the property with her assistant and conducting the negotiations over the phone really helped maintain the mystique of that wonderful, wonderful sign. I can only assume Mary's heavily made-up visage conveys an even greater degree of trust in person."</blockquote> Hopefully both real estate agents and consumers will get a kick out of this. I know I did!</span></span><br /><h2 class="title" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; line-height: 28px; font-size: 14px; font: normal normal bold 27px/normal Georgia, serif; text-transform: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></h2><h2 class="title" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; line-height: 28px; font-size: 14px; font: normal normal bold 27px/normal Georgia, serif; text-transform: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></h2><h2 class="title" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; line-height: 28px; font-size: 14px; font: normal normal bold 27px/normal Georgia, serif; text-transform: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I Wasn't Going To Buy This House Until I Saw The Realtor's Headshot On The Sign</h2><p class="meta" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-transform: uppercase; "><b>BY SAM CONE </b><br />MARCH 16, 2010 | <a href="http://www.theonion.com/issue/4611/" title="The Onion: Issue 4611" style="color: rgb(20, 81, 123); text-decoration: none; ">ISSUE 46•11</a></p><div class="image" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; float: left; display: block; position: relative; font-size: 11px; width: auto; 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border-color: initial !important; " /> <span style="text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; font-size:10px;">TWITTER</span></a></li><li class="last" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); position: relative; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; "><a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-wasnt-going-to-buy-this-house-until-i-saw-the-re,17038/&title=I%20Wasn't%20Going%20To%20Buy%20This%20House%20Until%20I%20Saw%20The%20Realtor's%20Headshot%20On%20The%20Sign" style="color: rgb(50, 50, 50); text-decoration: none; display: block; "><img src="http://media.theonion.com/img/sharetools/reddit.png" style="border-top-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; " /><span style="text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; font-size:10px;">REDDIT</span></a></li><li style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); position: relative; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; "><a onclick=" generic_popup('http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-wasnt-going-to-buy-this-house-until-i-saw-the-re,17038/&title=I%20Wasn't%20Going%20To%20Buy%20This%20House%20Until%20I%20Saw%20The%20Realtor's%20Headshot%20On%20The%20Sign&srcTitle=The+Onion&srcUrl=http://www.theonion.com', 675, 325); return false;" href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-wasnt-going-to-buy-this-house-until-i-saw-the-re,17038/#" style="color: rgb(50, 50, 50); text-decoration: none; display: block; "><img src="http://media.theonion.com/img/sharetools/buzz.png" style="border-top-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; " /> <span style="text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; font-size:10px;">BUZZ</span></a></li><li style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); position: relative; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; "><a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-wasnt-going-to-buy-this-house-until-i-saw-the-re,17038/#" onclick="return article_tools_popout();" style="color: rgb(50, 50, 50); text-decoration: none; display: block; "><img src="http://media.theonion.com/img/sharetools/email.png" style="border-top-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; " /><span style="text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; font-size:10px;">EMAIL</span></a></li><li class="last" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); position: relative; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; "><a href="javascript:window.print();" style="color: rgb(50, 50, 50); text-decoration: none; display: block; "><img src="http://media.theonion.com/img/sharetools/print.png" style="border-top-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; " /><span style="text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; font-size:10px;">PRINT</span></a></li></ul><div class="sponsorship side" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center; "></div></div><div id="related" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><h5 style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase; line-height: 11px; font-size: 10px; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); ">RELATED ARTICLES</h5><ul style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "></ul></div></div><div class="article_body" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions a person can make, so when I set out to purchase my first home, I didn't take the matter lightly. Sure, the place I ended up with isn't in the greatest shape, or even in the best part of town. And by any fair market estimate of its value, I certainly overpaid.</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">But as far as I was concerned, the deal was sealed the moment I saw real estate agent Mary T. Ellington looking back at me from that Re/Max sign, her face just barely visible over the rampant weeds growing in my new front lawn. For my money—$256,560 of it, to be exact—there's nothing like a poorly lit, oversaturated photograph to let me know that I'm working with a friend and not just someone out for an easy commission.</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">To be honest, I had serious reservations the first time I drove through what is now my neighborhood. I have two kids, so the lack of good schools in the area and the dangerous highway mere feet from the unfenced backyard were sources of concern. But after I passed more than half a dozen of Mary's signs in front of house after ramshackle house, I just knew that if she sold me a home I would be her No. 1 priority. And if there was any doubt left in my mind, it was immediately eradicated by the quote right below her picture: "You're my No. 1 priority!"</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">But the slogan was really just the icing on the cake. Seeing Mary's insincere, plastic smile and stiffly coiffed hair several times had already reassured me that I was making the right choice.</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Still, I had a few lingering concerns, which is normal with any major life decision. So it's a good thing I drove past that billboard bearing the selfsame image of Mary on my way home! There's a certain level of gravitas and legitimacy that only a 30-foot-high, clumsily retouched photograph of a middle-aged woman can achieve. Text-only ads may have their flashy exclamation points, and business cards may be embossed and glossy, but I don't think any of those things could ever convince me to plunge myself and my family into insurmountable debt the way that awkward photo did.</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">You know, in a way, I'm sort of glad Mary and I never met face-to-face. Touring the property with her assistant and conducting the negotiations over the phone really helped maintain the mystique of that wonderful, wonderful sign. I can only assume Mary's heavily made-up visage conveys an even greater degree of trust in person.</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I just wish every crucial choice in life could be guided by hastily produced visual aids! Sure, finding the very best attorney, bail bondsman, or elected representative is no more difficult than perusing the signs at a bus stop or the contents of one's mailbox. But what if I need a babysitter or a qualified psychiatrist? Or—God forbid—a funeral director?</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I guess what I'm saying is that it's just such a relief when professionals take the time to demonstrate a true respect for my intelligence. By having their picture taken in front of that same sky-blue background used in all my school yearbook photos, it's clear they're trying to put an honest face on whatever transaction might transpire between us, and not at all employing some sleazy, calculated tactic they learned during a business seminar at a hotel by the airport.</p><p style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/18px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The airport with a major flight path right over my new house.<img src="http://media.theonion.com/img/icons/terminator.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div id="pagination" style="zoom: 1; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div>Jeff Duffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860615329612340942noreply@blogger.com4