Archive for the '3 Legged Horses' Category

What A Story To Live And Tell(and catch on tape)

February 23rd, 2008 categories: 3 Legged Horses

Saturday is for fun.

Kayaking is one outdoor activity that Idaho is famous for.Whether a lazy afternoon on a quiet lake or a heart pumping adrenaline fix on one of our many rivers, there is something for every skill level and desire.

After seeing this video, I know I’ll stick to freshwater boating. File Attachment: Kayak.mpeg (2000 KB)

Spring is in the air, the horses are frolicking in the fields and the meadowlark has return to sing it’s heart out.

Have a great weekend.

Tags: kayaking, Idaho, adventure

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7 Reasons Real Estate Agents Should Love To Blog

January 14th, 2008 categories: 3 Legged Horses

1. Gets you away from your computer! (Oh really you say?) Yes, it does involve movement if your blog requires it.  Study Aaron’s blog and you know he out of his comfy chair exploring the Atlanta area to get some great blog ideas.

2. Forces you to talk to real people (other that your clients).That’s definitely what Crofton Realtor, Margaret had to do to design this great post Snowbird Express

3. Gives you something to envy, learn and study such as: 

•  picture taking St Paul Churches 
•  being funny Man poses as Buyer
•  staging Before and After Pictures
•  writing  copywriting tips

4. Becoming an expert means more than knowing how to sell a house. You will have to uncover all sorts of things about your market area to be “the local real estate expert” Read Marty’s blog about Alaska’s Real Estate and you’ll know he studies his area. Or on the other end of the nation, Jackie has a pulse on Tampa’s real estate.

5. Once I poke my toe into the waters of the internet, I better have my facts straight.  I’ve heard agents say some off the wall things to clients, knowing clients probably wouldn’t call their bluff to their face. But be sure that someone would set you straight if you said the same thing in a blog. (and they should)

6. I want to work with informed clients, the more I can share  with those thinking about real estate, the better.  Our relationship will be easier and richer because of my blog.

7. I never get bored with my profession, because there is always more to learn, more to share, more people to meet and that’s why I love blogging about real estate.

 

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“They Did It Without A Real Estate Agent”

September 27th, 2007 categories: 3 Legged Horses, Community Events, Real Estate News

Those words just jumped out at me! They realized their dreams and bought a house that they had fallen in love with but couldn’t afford until it showed up on ebay. Read the whole article Ebay Bid Earns Them A Home. I think it’s great they were able to get a good deal, but my question is “who represented the buyers?” Who was there to promote and protect their best interest?

Something to consider, the seller normally pays the real estate commission, which in this case was probably between $3000–$4000. So the wonderful price reduction of $30,000 was “not” because they didn’t have to pay a real estate agent. Another thing to consider, was that savings of $3000–$4000(always negotiable) worth it? I’m not saying that this is what happened, but buyers need to remember who the agent they are working with, is working for!

Congrads to the ebay winners and may all your dreams come true.

Tags: ebay, real+estate, representation

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College Graduate Humor

September 2nd, 2007 categories: 3 Legged Horses

               

 

I am so proud of my son’s recent college graduation from BSU. He sent me this clip reminding me that he is still the fun loving kid that occupied 18 years of his life in my home. He has one of those laughs that is just contagious.  I guess his wife didn’t think so after waking in the middle of the night and hearing him still laughing over this video.

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Why Buying A New House Is Like Buying A New Car (At First Glance)

August 20th, 2007 categories: 3 Legged Horses, New Construction, Real Estate News

1. Criteria. I know little about the mechanics of a good car and before I became a Realtor, I knew little about the stuff houses are made of (and I’m not claiming I’m an expert on that either).  So my reasons for purchasing usually involved a short list; the color, the comfort, the price, and how nice the salesperson was. Not good ways to evaluate purchases that involved years of income! I’m sure I was not the only one who bought a car or house with this criteria in mind.

2. Uniqueness. New cars smell good and they are clean, and you do get to customize depending on your ability to pay for the features you want. The same goes for new houses.  There are no smells that aren’t yours, they are clean(at least of personal items) and you do get to customize your house to your desires depending on your ability to pay for those features.

3. Newness. With a new car there is absolutely no eating in this vehicle, you have to wash and vacumn it weekly, and that first scratch just tears your heart out. I remember with my first new house, there was no eating except in the dining room, shoes were removed before entering the house, and everything was kept looking new as long as possible. That first nail hole is usually put off for at least the first year…..

4. Payments. This is where the things become quite different.  With a car, you decide what you what and how much you can afford, what your monthly payments will be and then you drive away.  With a house, you decide what you can afford, what you need and what your monthly payments will be then you walk into your brand new house and guess what?  You need all kinds of things that are not rolled into your monthly payments like shades, fencing, storage, landscaping and the list goes on. Those expenses have to come out of your pocket or savings. And these are not inexpensive items.  It amazes me that so many first time homeowners buy brand new.  Not only do they have all these added expenses, they also need personal items like furniture, lawnmower, vacumn cleaner, and the list goes on.

5. Equity. With a new car, you drive it off the lot and you will probably never recoup what you paid for it. A house in recent years, could easily recoup on the average 5% yearly.  But if you have to add all the things you need to finish a new home, like a lawn, fence, blinds ect… you will not get that high of a return.  Living in it for only 2 years and then selling it in this market, you’ll be lucky to break even.

Buy an existing car (fairly new) with some warranty left on it and your depreciation expenses will be much lower.  Buy a existing house, with all the things you need rolled into the mortgage and historically,you could see that 5% gain in only 2 years.

Right now in our market you can get really good deals on existing homes. There are people that need to sell or are very realistic about what their home is worth. You can get great value and not have to put in a yard, a fence or shades.  Some of these homes are practically brand new and are being offered at the same price or even better than brand new. 

But still I see another new home has a sold sign on it.  Personally I think it’s that nice looking salesperson!

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Buyers Beware!!! Don’t Let This Lame Horse Ruin Your Real Estate Investment

August 15th, 2007 categories: 3 Legged Horses, Buying Land Advice, Regulations and Red Tape

How can this happen? You buy that perfect piece of Idaho paradise and a couple years later,because of circumstances beyond your control, you need to move. What happens next is a blur….your real estate agent tells you, your property is part of a illegal lot split!! and according to county rules, there is no building permit available even though you already own a house on this property?

Or you buy property,and start the building of your dream home. That is the wrong time to find out you can’t do what ever you want with the land you paid too much for.

How can that be true?

Well, unfortunately for the landowner, it happens in Ada county more that we realize. What transpired was that a farmer decided he didn’t need all his land and just parceled off what he didn’t want, leaving behind a lot that is too small according to the county. When the county does get involved, like when you apply for a building permit, they will tell you “NO”

Why the county let this happen in the first place, I have yet to get a good answer (something about before the age of computers…blah,blah,blah)

Be sure you are diligent about this issue if buying in the county!! Have your real estate agent check, or better yet, personally do a diligent search with the county to be sure the zoning is correct and what you expect. This is not difficult to do, it is just something the average person(and I might add the average real estate agent) does not realizes could be a potential problem.

So how does this story end?

Probably in a lawsuit. Someone may of known about this problem and did not disclose it. A lawsuit, though messy and time consuming, is probably the only way to get your equity back. But if the owner is dead and his secret died with him…then you just bought yourself a lame horse partner.

Tags: illegal+splits, ada+county, Kuna+Idaho

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