I had hoped to have a few funny comics made for me for this week. They’re not ready yet. Stats for December Came out today.   Look at the list and then we’ll talk!

Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc.  Real Estate Trend Indicator

Caroline County, VA
From: 12/01/2008 to 12/31/2008                Statistics generated on: 01/07/2009

Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale Data
Copyright 2009 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Yes, you saw that there were 3 homes listed in the $80K range and 9 homes in the $90K range. A home for everyone? Almost. There is still 100% financing available with strict guidelines – including good credit scores and job security. But more importantly, with only 3.5% needed for an FHA plus closing costs, those waiting for that right time… this might be it for you. This is the best buyer’s market in 70 years!

Who should buy right now?

• First time Buyers – lots of options for your new home, use your “tax credit,” prices and interest rates are lower
• Land Developers – Land owners want to get rid of it, You can buy it.
• Move up buyers – If you’ve owned your home for over 10 years without refinancing, now may be the time for you to buy
• Investors – Buy when people are desperate
• If you don’t mind waiting  - Foreclosures and Short Sales – Bank are desperate to get rid of inventory, but these may take time to close
• In the future, people will say, “I wish I had bought back then!”

Who Should Sell Right now?

• If you need to move to relocate
• If you see a change in income coming
• If you have not been able to keep up with your payments – short sales are much better for your credit than a foreclosure
• If you have been in your home for 5-10 years without refinancing, you may have enough equity to purchase a different home and take advantage of the low interest rates

More Questions? I’m here to help!

In the two weeks I was traveling to Florida and back, I stayed in 4 different hotels — with four different personalities.

Hotel #1 – I will never go back to again. I was afraid to leave my laptop in the hotel while I went out to get a bite to eat. The sheets were scratchy. The front desk clerk was smoking outside wearing an old sweater and slacks when I arrived. Breakfast was Little Debbie Individually packaged breakfast snacks. And the milk and juice were in containers I could not take with me to drink on the road.

Hotel #2 – I may not go back but for completely different reasons. It was very comfortable, but very expensive. Eco-friendly and Eco-style sitting room. The king sized bed enveloped me and I wish I could have slept in it more instead of only 6 hours a night between meetings. But the sitting room was very stiff. I loved the kitchenette and the maid even cleaned my dishes for me! They even had cards to remind you to strengthen your brai and your body.  

But here’s where it went downhill.  When we booked the room, we knew it was going to cost a bit more, but I did not know that all parking was valet parking ONLY. I had to pay extra for that each day – at valet parking prices. Then every time I needed my car, I paid the valet a tip to get it or take it back. Thus, when I needed my phone power cord, it took me a few days to get it out of the car. And the hotel was not within walking distance of restaurants. So get your car from the valet or eat in the hotel. They had the snacks in the room. That’s great! If I wanted to pay $8 for jellybeans or $4 for a soda, it was available in my room for me. But the vending machine with the soda for $1.50 was missing. So once again, you were put into a predicament of buying nothing or paying 400% more than usual – which would be taxed at the end of your stay. Always helpful, but always for an additional cost.

Hotel #3 – This hotel was kid friendly and fun! We got a great deal and the service was very polite. It did not include food, but there were plenty of food options available from inexpensive on up. It included free shuttle service. Parking was free. There was plenty to do with its resort setting. I would certinly go back.

Hotel #4 – Comfortable and clean. No breakfast, but we got coupons for the kids to eat free at the attached restaurant with we actually decided to use because it was clean and empty. The service of the hotel was a bit awkward though. Not very friendly and acted like I was doing them a service by staying with them instead of making me feel welcome and invited. It seemed like I was taking up their time from doing something more important. We had to take the plastic off the sleeper sofa (well at least we knew it was clean!). I’m not sure if I would go back to this hotel or not. It would depend on the other options at the exit.

One more note…  It’s not a hotel, but a town. Ad no, it was not Disney owned. We stopped in Jacksonville, FL for lunch one day. The Arby’s was the nicest Arby’s I’ve ever visited. Almost too happy! But you know what? I remembered them! And they made the whole family laugh! We also stopped at Starbucks before hitting the Interstate. They were all happy and bubbly too! And the next time we drive through Jacksonville, we will probably stop to see if they are just as polite and friendly.

OK. What’s my point? There’s several ways I can go with this.

• In your job, what type of service do you provide?
• Do you make your clients feel special?
• Do you offer items in the name of service, but then make it so expensive that it’s not used?
• Where are the hidden fees?

These do not have to be just business, this could be in your personal relations or community volunteering too!

But the one question I want to ask is “What type of home environment do you create?”

How does your home make you FEEL?

So often I’m running around trying to help my clients find that special home, but then I get home and I pull out the pizza. Now the kids say “yea!” but the husband does get tired of it. So here are some questions I asked myself about my home while I was traveling:

• How often do I take TIME when setting the table? Does it all match? Are the utensils where they belong? Did we turn off the TV? How about a candle or other decoration?
• My home may be tidy, but when was the last time it received a deep cleaning? Have I moved the couch pillows to vacuum lately? Do I need to clean the chocolate pudding or pen marks of the arms of the chair? Have I flipped my mattress lately to keep it even?
• What special touches have I added to make my home feel warm and welcome? Does the family look forward to coming home so they can relax? Use your five senses here! Candles for smell. De-clutter for sight. Soft music in the background for sound. Texture and color in paintings and pillows – the feeling of joy or welcoming. Chocolate chip cookies or pumpkin pie ready for dessert?
• What fun things do you add for the kids, your company or your spouse? Not just in their rooms. Folding napkins for dinner, towels and little soaps in the bathroom, cutting sandwiches for lunches, kid-sized tea cups when you have your coffee.

What types of touches do you like to see when you go on travel? Why not add them to your home!

I had the privilege of attending the National Association of Realtors Convention this year. It happened to be in Orlando so we made it a working vacation – as we do with most of our vacations. The kids and Grandpa played at Disney while Matt, my Mom, and I worked. Don’t worry we had a few days of fun too!

Matthew and I will get to hear some great speakers, get some extra training, and meet with other Realtors from across the nation. Some of these will be old friends and some will be new! Since we love social media we have many friends that we have not met in person yet. This will be out chance to laugh and talk in person. I can’t wait!

While I am gallivanting, I hope to share some of the tidbits of great information that we are receiving.  I also plan on sharing updates on what inspiration I am receiving – old and new ideas revitalized!

Or if you’d like a more comical dialogue of our trip you can always sign up to follow us on Twitter. www.twitter.com . Click on Find people, type in our names, and click to follow! (However, they seem to be over capacity today. It should calm down soon.) You can even download Twhirl (www.twhirl.org ) to have the Twitter updates automatically refresh for you while you play/work online.

Enjoy this wonderful fall weather and I’ll soak up some extra sunshine while in Florida.

I got kidnapped by my kids and spent today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. BTW, when did they change the name? I thought it was MGM???  It’s so nice to visit a place where they treat you like royalty! You may have to stand in line for an hour, but they smile at you and help you any way they can.

That’s NAR Convention Lesson #1 – Find more ways to show the client that they come first.

This was already a top goal of mine, but it’s been a great opportunity to see how Disney works hard to help ALL their customers feel special. You are important and I understand that too. No question is too silly. No concern is too little.

So let me send out a reminder about the golden rule for all of us… “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

Considering a move to Virginia? Are you wondering “Where exactly is Caroline County in Virginia?”

Caroline County is on the I95 corridor between Washington DC and Richmond. We’re about 2 hours away from our Nation’s Capital and less than an hour away from our state capital. But we’re also just a few short hours from the mountains or the beach! Pretty cool, right?

Here are a few lings to some visual tours of Caroline County, Virginia.

Visual Tours of Community

Caroline County - More to Come!

Lake Landor

Lake Caroline

Bowling Green

Thanks for visiting! And if you’re interested in staying longer, call me up and I’ll show you some great homes with your housing requirements.

Today, we bring you another edition of MacNugget News.

When the phone rings and an agent says they’re coming on over, do you sometimes forget what needs to be done? Here’s a little video to help you remmeber those steps…

So today, we present to you, “The 10 minute Tidy.”

Another item I read was the article called “Who Will Pick the Apples? Jobs Americans Won’t Do.” You may have seen it. It was in this month’s (July) Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Living magazine. Dr. John E. Bonfadini Ed.D. did an amazing job of expressing what has been on my heart! Often around us I hear children say, “I won’t do that job. It’s too yucky.” Or “It’s boring!” But there is something to say about hard work and accomplishment. I know all jobs are not for everyone and it takes all of us to make the world go round. But I hope your goal in life is not just to make money but to make a difference in your community and for your family.

I am so thankful that I can share my heart for housing with the families of Caroline County! With 2 other generations and my wonderful husband before me, it was a practical choice for us. But I also enjoyed my jobs as a day care worker, a waitress (except on holidays when I could not be with my family), and a teacher to my children.

How does your job help your family and/or community? When you go to work tomorrow, take those ideas and apply them to your work. And while you are at work, do the best you can do! Smile. Be an encouragement to someone. Laugh. And the day will go faster and have more profit – no matter what you do!