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  • 8 in 10 homeowners expect the value of their homes to go up either "a little" (55 percent) or "a lot" (26 percent) in the future.
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    January 11, 2010
    Funny Real Estate Listings - Again

    It’s been awhile since I’ve linked to Lovely Listing - the site formerly known as “It’s Lovely! I’ll Take It” that features funny, interesting, and sometimes just BIZARRE photos of homes for sale.  The author says, “I’m just trying to make myself feel better about buying a house at the absolute peak of the housing bubble.”

    I was drawn back today because a friend sent me a link to a house featured on my own MLS … it rather has a party-time feel to it with the bar and spiral stairs.  The gold shag and built-in seating in other pictures add to the effect, but that’s just my opinion.

    But this one is my favorite of the day from Lovely Listing … someone’s knocking at your door.

    They’ve infiltrated your defenses!

    Have a great Monday!

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    December 11, 2009
    Friday Fun Video: Real Estate Agent Repellent

    I will only say that I am VERY impressed by a real estate agent who goes door to door meeting people as part of their marketing plan.

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    October 30, 2009
    Friday Fun Video: Haunted House for Sale

    One word to this agent:  BRILLIANT!

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    October 23, 2009
    Friday Fun Video: Marketing Genius

    Brought to our attention by Nick Gioia of the Baltimore Homes Group, this video is hilarious!

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    Thanks for sharing, Nick. Have a happy weekend!


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    October 16, 2009
    Glow in the Dark House?

    My former broker always used to say, “If you don’t list you won’t last.”   The benefits of listing, of course, are the incoming phone calls from prospective buyers. Even if said buyer doesn’t necessarily buy *that* house, you may  have the opportunity to find him/her another place to live and then you can sell the house to someone else!

    However, there are some listings that may not be worth the listing.  I took one this past summer that I instantly regretted.  It was in really bad condition, plus the boys had spray painted on the back patio:

    Live [nationality removed] or die!

    They never did repaint the patio as I suggested and the listing expired without a single contract - not even a low-ball offer.

    After that demoralizing experience, I’ve made it my goal for next year to be very picky about what yard I’ll put my sign in.  This house, for example… NO.

    Home for Sale, With Beautiful View of The Nuclear Plant

    A gorgeous 3-bedroom fishing cottage with a brand-new kitchen, original wood paneling from the 1930’s, a master bedroom with fireplace, and an observatory situated on half an acre of land near the Dungeness National Nature Reserve.  It has a private driveway, is less than 5 minutes from the sea, and offers some incredible views of Romney Marsh.  At £247,000, it’s a steal.  Well, except for the fact that it’s 80 yards from one of Europe’s largest nuclear power plants.

    Well I have to give props to the listing company.  If I had taken the listing, I would ABSOLUTELY focus on the positive!  Afterall, disclosure isn’t necessary when the gigantic power plant right behind the house is so obvious.


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    October 9, 2009
    Friday Video: It’s MLS Picture Day!

    The fun starts at 1:43 with the dirty house pictures!

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    Have a happy weekend!


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    March 27, 2009
    Have Computer, Will Travel

    I’ll be out of town all next week but am bringing my ‘puter and camera with me so I can update once or twice for the Shak & Jill’ers.  My sister and I are heading to Washington, D.C.  She’s never been so I get to be tour guide!  I’m pretty confident my feet and legs will be very sore when I get home on Sunday, April 5th.

    One of my goals next week is to feature some of the real estate in the Washington metro area, but I don’t think there are many houses in the “mall” area.  However, I shall try..

    Since I have an abundance of packing to do, I’m not going to search my own MLS finding the best of and worst of pictures.  Instead, I’m linking to West Virginia agent Jack LeVine (aka Uncle Jack) to do it for us!

    Hope your weekend (and next week) is beautiful, flood free, rain free, blizzard free, and chaos free!


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    February 27, 2009
    Friday Photo Fun!

    A couple of pictures caught my attention this week and I saved them to share today.

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    I think I stared at the photo above for several moments trying to figure out the objects on the counter. Bottles?  Dishcloth?  Spoon? The picture itself isn't bad, but it would've been so easy to clear the counters to better the chance to pull in buyers.

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    This picture tickles me.  The fruit is a nice touch, but next time I'd take it out of the bag and put in a bowl!

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    Even if you're not a real estate agent, I'll just bet you can figure out exactly why this picture pinged my radar. Le sigh.

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    December 12, 2008
    For Real: Found on the MLS

    I found this yesterday while searching the MLS.  It made me smile.

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    Isn’t that just too funny?  It would definitely make me want to go see it!  I’m intrigued!

    Happy weekend!

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    December 5, 2008
    Photo Friday: The Song Lyrics Edition

    It’s with a song in my heart that I present these not-so-great MLS photos.

    I got a pocketful, a pocketful of sunshine.  Oh-oh-ohhhhhh. 

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    Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.

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    I don’t like spiders and snakes.  And that ain’t what it takes to love me… Like I want to be loved by you.

    Chiggers1032560

    I’m so dizzy my head is spinning. Like a whirlpool it never ends.

    Dizzy1030764

    Hear the caterpillar crawl
    Hear the bed bugs bite
    Hear the crickets scream
    All the sounds of the night
    Hear the sound of footprints
    On the ground I think I say
    Don’t step on the lightning bugs
    Watch the crack in your knees

    Ac1023990

    There’s a house on my block
    That’s abandoned and cold
    Folks moved out of it a
    Long time ago
    And they took all their things
    And they never came back
    Looks like it’s haunted
    With the windows all cracked
    And everyone call it
    The house, the house where
    Nobody lives

    Wow1038522    

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