What awesome weather we've had for the last few days! Cool enough to work in the yard all day and not MELT!!! Fall is coming, I just know it!!!
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The Fishing Report first: Lots of bait fish up close, so perhaps that will bring in lots of fish! Last week, with the water all stirred up by Hurricane Ike, the fishing was terrible. But, as typical, after the water calms, the fishing is good!!! You can still catch Snapper in State waters about 9 miles out and they are definitely out there!!! You have to go out into Federal waters to catch Grouper though. There should be plenty of Kings and Spanish in closer though (since almost none were caught during the Kingfish tournament---they should be hungry!!!).
Chip loves fishing this time of year!! So much cooler and you can definitely catch'em!!!!!
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Below is a video clip to an Oyster Eating Contest hosted by Two Crabs Restaurant Saturday.
Unfortunately, there were only two contestants, but it was still fun to watch!!! Where O Where were all you oyster eaters???? Prickly Pear also held a silent auction and wine tasting. All to benefit Growing Minds, a center for autistic children!
So, this past weekend had good weather, good fun, good friends + I showed some property----Can't get any better than that!!!
Oyster Eating Machine
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The real estate market has been slow this whole month, which is pretty typical for September. Kids are going back to school and folks are getting back to the old routine and out of that summer vacation mode! Buyers will be around in October though, so I imagine things will pick up a little more next month. There are definitely some bargains out there for those end-users!!!!
I am going out of town the first week of October, so I'll try to get my newsletter out before I leave. I'll feature some pretty good bargains!!
Interest rates are back down under 6%. Anyone with good credit and a little bit to put down won't have any problems getting loans. Anyone with lots of cash-------bargains galore!
Sellers who are willing to owner finance are getting the most action. Or those who are listing at reasonable 2008 prices instead of 2005 prices are actually selling!!
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On a very personal note: My Dad suffered from Alzheimer's for many years. It was extremely painful for me and my 7 brothers and sisters to watch him "dissolve" into a listless shell of a man. Alzheimer's is a horrid disease, crippling to the person as well as to the family who has to participate. Two of my sisters and I are participating in the Walk for Alzheimers to raise money for research. I absolutely pray that a cure will be found soon. Below is a link to my sister's page for this walk. If you would like to contribute to this great cause, I would be eternally greatful!
Memory Walk 2008
Have a great week!
Mary
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Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Mexico Beach Fl dodges Hurricane Ike
Mexico Beach, once again, dodged another Hurricane. Hurricane Ike stirred up our waters, clouded up the skies, and brought in lots of surfers, but other than that Mexico Beach fared well!
Cape San Blas, of course, felt a little battering, as it always does. The road where stump hole is, (the rocks) was covered with water by the 14 ft storm surge. At least one home and a group of townhouses in that area were undermined by the beach erosion there as well. This area takes a beating every time there is any kind of storm in the water, so it certainly was not a surprise!
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We had the 12th annual MBARA Kingfish tournament this weekend. Ike really put a damper on that as the water was not only rockin' and rollin' with the wave action, the water gets so murky that the kingfish don't want to eat!
We appreciate all those that turned out for the Captain's meeting----lots of great door prizes and the sausage, as usual, was delicious!!!! I know a lot of guys didn't get to go out and fish because it was too rough, but I don't think you missed anything!
We only weighed in two kingfish! 19.25 was the winner and 5.40 was the runner up!!!! We weighed in only a few spanish, with 3.85 being the winner!!!!
We all had a good time and again, thanks to all of you who, year after year, support the MB reef association!!!!
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On the real estate front..............it's been a little slow! Not a lot going on, a few new listings, a sale here and there, and that's about it. This time of year is always pretty slow just because schools have just begun and people are adjusting back into the usual routine from summer vacations! My October newsletter will have September stats.
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If I may, (and since its my blog, I guess I can!) I'd like to post a little gripe of mine. I've never quite understood why some people use different agents to gather information. If someone wishes to explain--PLEASE EMAIL ME! I really want to understand. We (real estate agents) all make our living the same way...by commission. I've had some calls lately from potential buyers who are asking ME for information even though they have called/talked to /other agents. I know new buyers may not understand that any agent can help them with any listing, but these are not new buyers. I can understand using different agents for different areas, of course, but why make several agents work for you when only one is going to get paid.
I think loyalty provides the best customer service. This is usually the case in all industries! If you go to the same service provider every time you need service, don't you think they go a little above and beyond to please you? I think this is the same in real estate!
I'm grateful for every sale I've had. Grateful for every person who used me as their agent (whether they will use me again or not). And I certainly understand switching agents when you've used one agent and had a bad experience! But, I don't think its really fair to any agent when you use many agents to gather your information and then use only one on the transaction. Our time really is worth something---when we spend time emailing, making phone calls, researching information and properties for you and then you use someone who didn't bother doing that for you. I just don't get it!
Sorry for the whining, just had to get that off my chest!!!!!
I'm over it now!!!!
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Keep Galveston and the other areas that were hit hard with hurricane Ike in your prayers!
Have a great week and if you are looking to buy or sell----give me a call!!!!
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"Stop, drop, and roll won't work in Hell!"
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Mary
Cape San Blas, of course, felt a little battering, as it always does. The road where stump hole is, (the rocks) was covered with water by the 14 ft storm surge. At least one home and a group of townhouses in that area were undermined by the beach erosion there as well. This area takes a beating every time there is any kind of storm in the water, so it certainly was not a surprise!
______________________________________________________
We had the 12th annual MBARA Kingfish tournament this weekend. Ike really put a damper on that as the water was not only rockin' and rollin' with the wave action, the water gets so murky that the kingfish don't want to eat!
We appreciate all those that turned out for the Captain's meeting----lots of great door prizes and the sausage, as usual, was delicious!!!! I know a lot of guys didn't get to go out and fish because it was too rough, but I don't think you missed anything!
We only weighed in two kingfish! 19.25 was the winner and 5.40 was the runner up!!!! We weighed in only a few spanish, with 3.85 being the winner!!!!
We all had a good time and again, thanks to all of you who, year after year, support the MB reef association!!!!
________________________________________________________
On the real estate front..............it's been a little slow! Not a lot going on, a few new listings, a sale here and there, and that's about it. This time of year is always pretty slow just because schools have just begun and people are adjusting back into the usual routine from summer vacations! My October newsletter will have September stats.
______________________________________________________
If I may, (and since its my blog, I guess I can!) I'd like to post a little gripe of mine. I've never quite understood why some people use different agents to gather information. If someone wishes to explain--PLEASE EMAIL ME! I really want to understand. We (real estate agents) all make our living the same way...by commission. I've had some calls lately from potential buyers who are asking ME for information even though they have called/talked to /other agents. I know new buyers may not understand that any agent can help them with any listing, but these are not new buyers. I can understand using different agents for different areas, of course, but why make several agents work for you when only one is going to get paid.
I think loyalty provides the best customer service. This is usually the case in all industries! If you go to the same service provider every time you need service, don't you think they go a little above and beyond to please you? I think this is the same in real estate!
I'm grateful for every sale I've had. Grateful for every person who used me as their agent (whether they will use me again or not). And I certainly understand switching agents when you've used one agent and had a bad experience! But, I don't think its really fair to any agent when you use many agents to gather your information and then use only one on the transaction. Our time really is worth something---when we spend time emailing, making phone calls, researching information and properties for you and then you use someone who didn't bother doing that for you. I just don't get it!
Sorry for the whining, just had to get that off my chest!!!!!
I'm over it now!!!!
__________________________________________________
Keep Galveston and the other areas that were hit hard with hurricane Ike in your prayers!
Have a great week and if you are looking to buy or sell----give me a call!!!!
________________________________________________________
"Stop, drop, and roll won't work in Hell!"
________________________________________
Mary
Monday, September 01, 2008
Mexico Beach, FL avoids another Hurricane
Mexico Beach has been blessed once again and has avoided nature's fury!
Amazingly Hurricane Gustav brought us very little rain, perhaps some 30 mph gusts, and a little storm surge!
The surfers are out in full force today enjoying some wave action! We have surfers come from everywhere, Georgia, Alabama, Texas to catch a wave! Check out the video I took this morning on my website!!!
I pray that Louisiana fares okay and am grateful that most residents evacuated. It is times like these that possessions seem trivial. It is family and friends that are "priceless" and although it is frustrating and difficult to evacuate, one must remember what is important!!! Always better to err on the side of safety!
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My email has been filled with websites that advertise "make millions buying foreclosures". The companies that sell the books and videos and classes teaching people how to buy foreclosures are the ones making millions!!! I do think that people can and do make good money buying and fixing up and reselling foreclosures! However, it is not as easy as these companies make it out to be! You have to do your homework first and foremost! You have to know the area, you have to have money (no matter what the videos and books say) and you have to know what you are doing!
In this market, and I am talking our local market not the national market, even if you buy a foreclosure or any property at a really good price, please be prepared to hang on to it for at least a year or two.
I truly believe this is where a lot of people go wrong. They buy and believe and count on "flipping" it in a few weeks. You need to have the ability to carry the property's expenses for a year---you may not have to----but at least be prepared to. This will make your life and flipping experience much less stressful and productive!!!!
My husband and I have purchased several properties for investment always with the intent of hanging on to it for several years. Several times we have sold those properties much quicker than we had anticipated just because we were presented with an offer we could not turn down!!!
That is always a nice turn of events, but my point being, we had planned and were able to carry the property for several years!
I have gotten onto a tangent though. My focus was the websites that promote foreclosures.
There are several websites, of which I will not name specifically, that give you information about properties that are in pre-foreclosure or already foreclosed on. Please be aware these websites are not always accurate! For example: They still list a property as a pre-foreclosure when the property has already been foreclosed on AND re-sold! They have a property listed as a pre-foreclosure when THERE IS NO MORTGAGE on the property. They have an incorrect address for a pre-foreclosure. They also give just the first mortgage as the loan amount, there may be a 2nd mortgage or tax liens on the property.
I'm certainly not saying that all information is incorrect, just please be aware that you must still do your homework and do not rely solely on these public foreclosure websites.
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I will be sending out my newsletter with August's real estate stats by the end of the week. If you are not on my email database for the newsletter, please sign up and I'll send it to you.
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Don't forget to check out my website for past blogs, my new buttons of FAQ's and VIDEOS!!!!
You can search just my listings or all properties on the market as well!
Have a great week!
Mary
Amazingly Hurricane Gustav brought us very little rain, perhaps some 30 mph gusts, and a little storm surge!
The surfers are out in full force today enjoying some wave action! We have surfers come from everywhere, Georgia, Alabama, Texas to catch a wave! Check out the video I took this morning on my website!!!
I pray that Louisiana fares okay and am grateful that most residents evacuated. It is times like these that possessions seem trivial. It is family and friends that are "priceless" and although it is frustrating and difficult to evacuate, one must remember what is important!!! Always better to err on the side of safety!
_________________________________________________________
My email has been filled with websites that advertise "make millions buying foreclosures". The companies that sell the books and videos and classes teaching people how to buy foreclosures are the ones making millions!!! I do think that people can and do make good money buying and fixing up and reselling foreclosures! However, it is not as easy as these companies make it out to be! You have to do your homework first and foremost! You have to know the area, you have to have money (no matter what the videos and books say) and you have to know what you are doing!
In this market, and I am talking our local market not the national market, even if you buy a foreclosure or any property at a really good price, please be prepared to hang on to it for at least a year or two.
I truly believe this is where a lot of people go wrong. They buy and believe and count on "flipping" it in a few weeks. You need to have the ability to carry the property's expenses for a year---you may not have to----but at least be prepared to. This will make your life and flipping experience much less stressful and productive!!!!
My husband and I have purchased several properties for investment always with the intent of hanging on to it for several years. Several times we have sold those properties much quicker than we had anticipated just because we were presented with an offer we could not turn down!!!
That is always a nice turn of events, but my point being, we had planned and were able to carry the property for several years!
I have gotten onto a tangent though. My focus was the websites that promote foreclosures.
There are several websites, of which I will not name specifically, that give you information about properties that are in pre-foreclosure or already foreclosed on. Please be aware these websites are not always accurate! For example: They still list a property as a pre-foreclosure when the property has already been foreclosed on AND re-sold! They have a property listed as a pre-foreclosure when THERE IS NO MORTGAGE on the property. They have an incorrect address for a pre-foreclosure. They also give just the first mortgage as the loan amount, there may be a 2nd mortgage or tax liens on the property.
I'm certainly not saying that all information is incorrect, just please be aware that you must still do your homework and do not rely solely on these public foreclosure websites.
_______________________________________________________
I will be sending out my newsletter with August's real estate stats by the end of the week. If you are not on my email database for the newsletter, please sign up and I'll send it to you.
______________________________________________________
Don't forget to check out my website for past blogs, my new buttons of FAQ's and VIDEOS!!!!
You can search just my listings or all properties on the market as well!
Have a great week!
Mary
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