OK...what can I tell you? I've come out of hiding. I can't believe how long I've been silent but it's time to speak up and speak out. I've been hiding under a rock. What??? Yep, chained and consumed by the negative Internet. Paralyzed by all the bad news and lack of humanity. The past few years have been nothing but doomsday. But it's time for a change!!!! It's time to speak up and let the world know there is a positive world out there guided by a positive force!!! There is a loving and good world. Full of good hearted and good spirited people. HUMANITY IS ALIVE AND WELL.
We have to stop conditioning ourselves for the bad and condition ourselves for the good!!! God created humanity to glorify him. I'm not trying to make this a Christian post but parts of my faith will spill in to the body of this written piece. I hope your faith and spirit will pour positively out of you as well! THE WORLD NEEDS SOME POSITIVE FAITH. The world needs something positive to hang on to and to nourish it's soul!!! We have to lift and not tear down!!! We need to give people a life line not a kick in the face.
One thing that has to stop is the media continuing to report the sick depravity in the world. I know it's out there but do we have to read about it everyday? WHAT ARE WE FEEDING OUR SOUL? How do you stop it? STOP READING THE NEGATIVITY AND START DRINKING IN THE HOPE. Search for that great story that makes a difference in the world. SHARE A PART OF HUMANITY THAT REALLY MATTERS!!! SHARE SOMETHING THAT NOURISHES OUR SOUL.
I promise you here on out this post is to nourish the soul. It may make you laugh or it may make you cry but it will touch your heart in a good way. Let the good blessings flow my friends!!!!
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK!!! STAY TUNED!!!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's Day and Real Estate...Sometimes You Have to Have that "Heart to Heart" Talk with Your Clients.
I was blessed this Mother's Day to go visit my 70 year old mother in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. (she will shoot me for printing her age) My mother is a feisty and fun German lady who plays in her own Oompah Band at a German Restaurant. She remarried last year to a wonderful man and has moved from her condo that she lived in for 25 years in to a town home. She put the condo on the market last year when they got married. She took it off the market for a period of time because the condo market was dead. She put it back on for the Spring and reduced the price but there is not that much activity.
So while visiting my mother in Virginia she asked me to walk her condo and give her some pointers on selling. Mom's condo is the nicest and is very well maintained. She has a beautiful flower bed in the front and even has staged the interior. Everything is in pristine condition. Her price is very reasonable unfortunately the condo market has not rebounded yet.
Mom goes over regularly and works in the garden and keeps her condo very well maintained. She of course keeps up all the utilities, taxes, and HOA dues. The problem is there are many more things Mom would like to do in her life. I asked her what she was going to do with the money once she sells it. She had some medical bills but planned to take a special trip back to Germany.
I had a heart to heart talk with Mom's Realtor (don't you already feel sorry for her) on the marketing of the unit. She was fortunately very receptive and gave me additional insight on the condo marketplace.
I know Mom's situation is like many of our clients. They have maintained their properties and they want the most they can out of them. I certainly understand. I told Mom that I felt she should reduce the price significantly and take the proceeds and go enjoy her life. Life is too short for her to wait 12-24 months for her market to rebound. It's the Spring market and now is the best time. I don't want her to worry about getting the most she can out of her property. I want her to get the most she can out of her life.
It all comes down to true motivation as to why your seller is moving. If I didn't have that heart to heart with Mom we never would have come to the conclusion to take a big price reduction. it would sit there for a very longtime costing Mom precious time and money. How many of you need to have that own 'heart to heart' with your clients.
Mom thanked me profusely. I think I let her off the hook and gave her permission to go live her life.The last thing I want is for her to be fretting over her condo. I want to watch her sing for many more years in her Oompah band and travel to Germany to be with her sister and do what she loves! This is Michelle Amador "Taking It Under Advisement".
PS. Happy Mother's Day Everyone!!!
So while visiting my mother in Virginia she asked me to walk her condo and give her some pointers on selling. Mom's condo is the nicest and is very well maintained. She has a beautiful flower bed in the front and even has staged the interior. Everything is in pristine condition. Her price is very reasonable unfortunately the condo market has not rebounded yet.
Mom goes over regularly and works in the garden and keeps her condo very well maintained. She of course keeps up all the utilities, taxes, and HOA dues. The problem is there are many more things Mom would like to do in her life. I asked her what she was going to do with the money once she sells it. She had some medical bills but planned to take a special trip back to Germany.
I had a heart to heart talk with Mom's Realtor (don't you already feel sorry for her) on the marketing of the unit. She was fortunately very receptive and gave me additional insight on the condo marketplace.
I know Mom's situation is like many of our clients. They have maintained their properties and they want the most they can out of them. I certainly understand. I told Mom that I felt she should reduce the price significantly and take the proceeds and go enjoy her life. Life is too short for her to wait 12-24 months for her market to rebound. It's the Spring market and now is the best time. I don't want her to worry about getting the most she can out of her property. I want her to get the most she can out of her life.
It all comes down to true motivation as to why your seller is moving. If I didn't have that heart to heart with Mom we never would have come to the conclusion to take a big price reduction. it would sit there for a very longtime costing Mom precious time and money. How many of you need to have that own 'heart to heart' with your clients.
Mom thanked me profusely. I think I let her off the hook and gave her permission to go live her life.The last thing I want is for her to be fretting over her condo. I want to watch her sing for many more years in her Oompah band and travel to Germany to be with her sister and do what she loves! This is Michelle Amador "Taking It Under Advisement".
PS. Happy Mother's Day Everyone!!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Taking it "Under Advisement": We Experienced Two Extremes this Weekend!
Taking it "Under Advisement": We Experienced Two Extremes this Weekend!: "We started this past weekend with a beautiful fairy tale wedding with the marriage of William and Kate. I think for us Americans it was a w..."
Monday, May 2, 2011
We Experienced Two Extremes this Weekend!
We started this past weekend with a beautiful fairy tale wedding with the marriage of William and Kate. I think for us Americans it was a wonderful break from a lot of bad news. Many of us especially in the South have especially been worn out from all the tornado scares and have worried about many loved ones. There was William and Kate allowing us to be part of a beautiful tradition, a happy time, and hope for a happy future for the new and improved monarchy. It gave us a break from reality!
As we relished in the joy and pageantry of the weekend our thoughts were abruptly brought back to reality that the President late Sunday night had an announcement to make. Well, late night messages from the President is not normally a good thing. So we end our weekend with an astonishing announcement Osama bin Laden is dead! It was a surreal moment for me. They finally brought to justice the madman that forever changed our world and whose actions broke our hearts and stole so much of our innocence. I think we all remember that day and the weeks there after as one of the most frightening and saddest times in America. Even to this day when I watch footage of the Trade Center going down I'm going back in time...all the same emotions and feelings come out like they are hibernated in my soul.
My own 21 year old son posts on Facebook that justice is served. He was 11 years old at the time...does he truly feel justice. Or is he part of so many of the young crowds cheering "USA,USA". Was a part of his own innocence stolen as well 10 years ago? Probably so, since they are the 1st generation to grow up with the threat of terrorism not only in the world but on their own home turf. They also saw the Oklahoma City bombing and the VT massacre. Their hearts have grown up with unrest and uncertainty.
Our enemy growing up was that mean old Russian country that was a nuclear threat to us all through my school years. But they were so far away not in my homeland or in my backyard.
Now ten years later I hope that all those who have suffered feel a little bit of peace. Yes, justice was served. It cannot replace lost innocence or loved ones but hopefully it brings some closure to those who wanted to see Osama bin Laden pay for his crimes. Revenge truly is not sweet it actually goes down bitter. But justice marches to a different drum and hopefully brings closure. May God Bless America and bring forth a new patriotism that brings our country together. This is Michelle Amador "Taking it Under Advisement".
As we relished in the joy and pageantry of the weekend our thoughts were abruptly brought back to reality that the President late Sunday night had an announcement to make. Well, late night messages from the President is not normally a good thing. So we end our weekend with an astonishing announcement Osama bin Laden is dead! It was a surreal moment for me. They finally brought to justice the madman that forever changed our world and whose actions broke our hearts and stole so much of our innocence. I think we all remember that day and the weeks there after as one of the most frightening and saddest times in America. Even to this day when I watch footage of the Trade Center going down I'm going back in time...all the same emotions and feelings come out like they are hibernated in my soul.
My own 21 year old son posts on Facebook that justice is served. He was 11 years old at the time...does he truly feel justice. Or is he part of so many of the young crowds cheering "USA,USA". Was a part of his own innocence stolen as well 10 years ago? Probably so, since they are the 1st generation to grow up with the threat of terrorism not only in the world but on their own home turf. They also saw the Oklahoma City bombing and the VT massacre. Their hearts have grown up with unrest and uncertainty.
Our enemy growing up was that mean old Russian country that was a nuclear threat to us all through my school years. But they were so far away not in my homeland or in my backyard.
Now ten years later I hope that all those who have suffered feel a little bit of peace. Yes, justice was served. It cannot replace lost innocence or loved ones but hopefully it brings some closure to those who wanted to see Osama bin Laden pay for his crimes. Revenge truly is not sweet it actually goes down bitter. But justice marches to a different drum and hopefully brings closure. May God Bless America and bring forth a new patriotism that brings our country together. This is Michelle Amador "Taking it Under Advisement".
What's Hot and What's Not...Greensboro, NC Housing Numbers
I think it's safe to say that if your Realtor in Greensboro, NC you see the real estate market continuing to pick up. We've seen houses in great condition and priced "right" moving very quickly. I've seen them move in the same week if they are priced very competitively and in top notch showing condition. We see homes in bad condition and or over-priced just lagging along. Bottom line, if you want to move your home...price it right day one and have it in top selling condition...that means no more clutter, fresh paint, clean carpets, shiny hardwoods, tidy garages and staged properly. Are we asking for perfection? Not quite but pretty darn close!
Greensboro is a beautiful scenic Spring-Time City!!! Dogwoods, azaleas, manicured green lawns...everything is in full bloom. It is one of the best times to sell your home but you must do your part in getting it "show ready".
So here are the market numbers from January 1 of this year to today May 2nd! First of all in Greensboro we have sold and closed to date 1010 homes, condos, and townhomes. The great news is that we have pending to close 1440 homes an excellent sign we are picking up steam!
Our most active markets are between $100,000-179,900 but that's where we have the heaviest inventory as well. The $200,000-$300,000 market is also picking up steam with many more pending. Not far behind is the $300,000-$400,000 which is picking up activity in both active and pending sales. This is all good news when we see the price points inching upward.
Bottom line, it's still a buyers market. It will remain that way until our inventory levels dwindle down further. The other good news is that we have more conventional loans and cash buyers which tells me the buyer has at least 10% to put down on their home purchase. The third vehicle for financing is FHA which is way down compared to last year. An excellent loan and gives the borrow the opportunity to put less down. Remember, last year at this time we were inundated with the first time home buyer because of the government incentives. Now our marketplace is much broader which is very healthy.
So what can we expect for May? I think you will see the momentum carry in to May and hopefully in to June as well. Which I think will please buyers, sellers, and of course my fellow Realtors! Happy Selling Everyone! This is Michelle Amador "Taking it Under Advisement".
Greensboro is a beautiful scenic Spring-Time City!!! Dogwoods, azaleas, manicured green lawns...everything is in full bloom. It is one of the best times to sell your home but you must do your part in getting it "show ready".
So here are the market numbers from January 1 of this year to today May 2nd! First of all in Greensboro we have sold and closed to date 1010 homes, condos, and townhomes. The great news is that we have pending to close 1440 homes an excellent sign we are picking up steam!
Our most active markets are between $100,000-179,900 but that's where we have the heaviest inventory as well. The $200,000-$300,000 market is also picking up steam with many more pending. Not far behind is the $300,000-$400,000 which is picking up activity in both active and pending sales. This is all good news when we see the price points inching upward.
Bottom line, it's still a buyers market. It will remain that way until our inventory levels dwindle down further. The other good news is that we have more conventional loans and cash buyers which tells me the buyer has at least 10% to put down on their home purchase. The third vehicle for financing is FHA which is way down compared to last year. An excellent loan and gives the borrow the opportunity to put less down. Remember, last year at this time we were inundated with the first time home buyer because of the government incentives. Now our marketplace is much broader which is very healthy.
So what can we expect for May? I think you will see the momentum carry in to May and hopefully in to June as well. Which I think will please buyers, sellers, and of course my fellow Realtors! Happy Selling Everyone! This is Michelle Amador "Taking it Under Advisement".
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