I have to remind myself often in this business that I am merely a facilitator. I represent a buyer or a seller, and somtimes both. It is of the utmost importance to remember that we represent someone with a lot of stake in the game. Our opinions and circumstances don’t matter. Our end goal should be to get those keys for our buyers or to give those keys as a seller with everyone sitting around the table excited about their next challenge in life. All too often I engage with other Realtors that have simply forgotten what it is like to be professional and to “stay the course”. I think it is really sad when we have to remind the agent we are working with that we are only representing our client and that I am not the enemy. I recently had a transaction with a long time agent in my marketplace that would get so upset while we were negotiating that I purposely made my voice lower and slower so she would do the same. She crossed so many lines professionally that it made me question her true intentions and of course her professionalism. This business is tough enough without having to remind our fellow agents who we are and what our job is. Ethics unfortunately cannot be taught. The standards that I guess I take for granted sadly is lacking in a lot of professionals in our market place. Cheers to those that continue to be a pleasure to work with and an asset to this profession!!!!

Which Is America’s Best City?

Based on metrics like school performance, green space, and cultural amenities, Raleigh, N.C., ranks No. 1 in Businessweek.com’s first Best Cities ranking

By Venessa Wong

(This story has been corrected. A reference to a former pedestrian mall has been removed. )

Ask most people which city they would most want to live in and usually their answers would be shaped by such realities as proximity to their jobs and what they can afford. But suppose you could choose to live anywhere you wanted regardless of cost? What if you could live in a city that offered a wealth of culture, entertainment, good schools, low crime, and plenty of green space? Many people might opt for obvious choices such as New York or San Francisco, but great as they are, data reveal other cities are even better.

Businessweek.com spent months working with data that would help us to identify the best cities in the U.S. We looked at a range of positive metrics around quality of life, counted up restaurants, evaluated school scores, and considered the number of colleges and pro sports teams. All these factors and more add up to a city that would seem to offer it all. When we began the process we had no idea which cities would come out on top. The winner? Raleigh, N.C.

Raleigh No. 1

To most residents of Raleigh, it may not come as a surprise that their city earned the title of America’s Best City. Raleigh shows the cultural graces that go along with anchoring the so-called Research Triangle, home to North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Among its many attributes the city sports 867 restaurants, 110 bars, and 51 museums, according to Onboard Informatics, as well as a thriving social scene, good schools, and 12,512 park acres, equal to several times the green space per capita in cities like New York and Los Angeles, according to the Trust for Public Land. It also offers a great deal on nights and weekends—from concerts and opera, to the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and college sports, to the 30,000-square-foot State Farmers Market.

Raleigh may have a population of only about 400,000 and span about 144 square miles, yet data show it still offers a lot, if only in a smaller package. True, Raleigh may not be the center of the tech universe like San Francisco, a hub of higher education on the same scale as Boston, or a vibrant 24-hour metropolis like New York, but all those cities also offered higher unemployment, a dearth of parks, worse public education, and other negative factors that weighed against them.

“We’ve always said, you can find about every amenity that you want, even in a city of our size,” says James Sauls, director of Raleigh Economic Development, a partnership between the City of Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

The city has been home to an array of celebs including Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi, Dexter star Michael C. Hall, and singer Clay Aiken (whose dog was even named Raleigh).

Better, Not Bigger

With help from Bloomberg Rankings, Businessweek.com evaluated 100 of the country’s largest cities based on 16 criteria including: the number of restaurants, bars, and museums per capita; the number of colleges, libraries, and professional sports teams; the income, poverty, unemployment, crime, and foreclosure rates; percentage of population with bachelor’s degrees or higher; public school performance; park acres per 1,000 residents; and air quality. Greater weighting was placed on recreational amenities such as parks, bars, restaurants, and museums per capita, educational attainment, school performance, poverty, and air quality. As living in great cities can be expensive, affordability was not taken into account.

The data for this ranking came from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sperling’s BestPlaces, GreatSchools, Onboard Informatics, RealtyTrac, Bloomberg, and the Trust for Public Land.

After Raleigh, the next highest-ranked cities were Arlington, Va.; Honolulu; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Irvine, Calif. Larger cities placed lower: New York was 14th, while Los Angeles ranked 53rd and Chicago 75th. The highest-ranked city with a population greater than 1 million was San Diego, at seventh. Washington, D.C., which has 588,433 people, came in sixth. Since some criteria were evaluated on a per population basis, places did not necessarily score higher for having a larger number of establishments or amenities.

At the bottom of this ranking of 100 cities were Detroit; Stockton, Calif.; Akron, Ohio; Laredo, Tex.; and Cleveland.

A Park With a City in It

Many urbanites appreciate cities’ bustling streets and constant activity. Raleigh, though active, is often described as “a park with a city in it,” according to the city tourism site, and the downtown area has wide sidewalks, public art, and outdoor cafes, according to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. With several colleges in the area, it is also a young city and about one-fifth of the population are in their 20s, compared to a national rate of 13.8 percent, show 2010 Census data.

“The Raleigh area features a cluster of great universities, so education is part of the culture of the community,” says Ford W. Bell, president of the American Association of Museums. “Integral to this culture are the region’s museums, rooted as they are in education and lifelong learning.”

Most residents drive, though Raleigh also has a public bus system, including a free bus service downtown.

High quality of life combined with new and expanding business in the region have attracted more residents to Raleigh, one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities: The population in the metro area expanded by an estimated 12.2 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to economic and demographic data company Woods & Poole Economics.

Growing Economy

The city’s largest employers are the state and public school system, according to Raleigh Economic Development. Strong technology, defense technology, biotechnology, and life sciences sectors and emerging cleantech and smart grid industries have bolstered the local economy, says Sauls.

In the weak U.S. economy, Raleigh’s unemployment rate increased to 7.6 percent in July 2011 from an annual average of 4.4 percent in 2008, BLS data indicate, but joblessness in the city remains lower than the metro area, which reached 8.4 percent, and lower than the U.S. rate of 9.1 percent.

Even in today’s tough environment, a number of Raleigh companies are expanding, including software company (RHT)Red Hat, which announced in January that it would add 540 jobs. The company had looked at other cities, but as Chief Executive Officer Jim Whitehurst told reporters, Raleigh offered the best overall package.

“It’s a combination of things: There’s a great university system here so it’s easy to find qualified talent and it’s a great place to hire people. The relative cost of living is low, the cost of real estate is dramatically lower [than other cities], and the state is pro-business,” says Whitehurst, who moved to the area in 2008 from Atlanta. And with most of the benefits of a major metropolitan area, he says, “it’s a wonderful lifestyle.”

Click here to see which 50 cities placed highest in our ranking.

Wong is a lifestyle and real estate reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek.

Well, there is no secret that there are buyers out there that are sitting on the fence, or that tell you that they are qualified but in reality they have never spoken to a mortgage lender, or have no idea what they want in a home or which location they want to live in. And, in the same realm you have sellers that just don’t listen to what advice you share with them, don’t keep their homes in the shape that you hope they would for the few showings that they are getting or the worst – they decline showings to potential buyers.

We all deal with these clients on a daily basis. The question becomes, what do you do about them?

My answer, besides the simple prayer and wishing that they will miraculously change, is – to be patient. Easier said than done, I know. You have to stay in constant communication with them because you don’t want them to get discouraged with you but you need to also give them the time to figure it out for themselves what it is that they need or want. Yes, this is a huge waste of your time but not all buyers and sellers are motivated. If they were then this job would be a snap, right?

So, give them your attention, all the information they need and/or want and all the time and patience that they need.

Let’s hope they all do eventually close though!

So I am having a Broker Open House on one of my listings in a couple of weeks. I send the flyer out to all of the agents in our MLS, list it on Facebook and have it on an epropertysites.com site too. So, my question is this….how do you determine whether or not you will make the time and go? Is it dependant on location, time, what kind of food & drink is offered, will there be any drawings or give aways or simply, all of the above? I vote for all of the above. The time is 4-6pm on a weeknight so it is convenient to grab an hour of social fun on your way home. This home is in the heart of North Raleigh so convenient for most people to make a pit stop. Wine & Cheese…do we need anything else in life? $50 Gas Card giveway….who doesn’t need money for all of the gas we are using these days and at the high prices, it will come in handy. 6104 Ballou Court in Raleigh, NC 27609. A great Midtown Cul de Sac location minutes North of I-440 and South of I-540. Walk to the Greenway Trails, Optimist Park and Shelley Lake or take a quick drive to enjoy dinner at Vivace and then walk to a movie at North Hills Theater. You can’t beat this location all with mature trees, a fenced in yard, separate storage building, brick patio, 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, eat in kitchen, living room, family room with masonry fireplace, separate dining room and Southern front porch. All of this for $185,000.00. Come See What ALL of the Fuss is About! See for yourself how great the Northclift Neighborhood is…..

What Buyers Want in Homes Today

Buyers have a long list of what they want when home shopping, but one of their biggest desires: A good deal.

“And no matter where a seller prices their property, they’re looking to negotiate,” says Patricia Szot, president of the MetroTex Association of REALTORS®.

But that’s not all they want. Bankrate.com recently asked real estate professionals to chime in on the top desires of their buyers when home shopping. Here are four things that made the list of top home buyer preferences:

1. Homes that are in good condition. “There’s not a lot of flexibility in that,” says Ron Phipps, president of the National Association of REALTORS®. Many buyers now take the attitude: “I’d rather spend the money getting into the house” and not have to spend more money later, Phipps says. One of the major reasons is that “buyers have limited amounts of cash,” he adds. “Even if they want to do a fixer-upper, they don’t have the money to do it.”

2. A bargain with incentives. Buyers are looking for a good deal, even when considering bank-owned properties, says Joan Pratt, real estate broker with RE/MAX Professionals in Castle Pines, Colo. “They want the short sales and the foreclosures and they want them to look like they’re owner-occupied,” she says. “They don’t want to paint. They don’t want to put carpet in. They don’t want to clean.”

And they aren’t only asking for a low price but they also want incentives to buy too. As such, sellers are offering everything from gift cards for new furniture to paint to financial assistance at closing.

3. Outdoor living areas. Homes with screen porches, outdoor kitchens, two-way fireplaces are becoming increasingly competitive in the marketplace as more buyers say they want more outdoor living space.

4. Open kitchens. “The wall between the kitchen and the family room is evaporating,” Phipps says. “The kitchen is becoming part of the gathering space.” (See Buyers Want Cozy, Connected Kitchens)

Source: “9 Items Homebuyers Desire in 2011,” Bankrate.com (March 2011)

Media Alert – The Market is Getting Stronger Despite What The Media Says

So, it’s not media worthy anymore because it isn’t tragic or stunning BUT the market is getting much better each and every day. Rates are at a 30 year historic low (sitting just below 5% for a 30 year loan), inventory is shrinking, housing is more affordable than ever and a lot of buyers are gearing up for this spring. In actuality, existing home sales have climbed over 5% this month compared to January 2010 across the country. That is significant!

First Time Home Buyers made up of almost 50% of all buyers nationally in 2010. And, the majority of those Buyers were single women. The average age of the first time home buyer is 31 years old. It is so very rewarding to help those first time home buyers find that right house for them and that fits in line with their financial budget. The excitement and enthusiasm they have is reward in itself.

The Baby Boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) are also in the top of the buying market. Baby Boomers are downsizing and/or retiring. They are moving closer to family and getting out of the extra square footage and land that they currently have. Just a bit ago I helped put a Baby Boomer couple “under contract” in a home here in North Carolina. This is to be their second home in 40 years! They are similar to first time home buyers in that some of these Baby Boomers haven’t looked for a home in decades so they feel “new” to the housing market. And, the environment for buying that home has changed significantly since they bought their last home. The contracts have doubled or tripled in length and terms. The mortgage process is definitely more precise, demanding and explorative. But, this is an important niche in our current market. Baby Boomers need just as much attention and patience as those First Time Home Buyers need. And, they can be every bit as rewarding.

So, don’t listen to all of the media hype about foreclosures (they are down too by the way) and short sales and how lousy our real estate economy is, because it just isn’t all true. Pay attention to what is happening in your own local market. Continue to focus on providing the best customer service you know how to give and it will all work out in the end.

Here’s to a Productive and more importantly, Positive 2011!

I love the fact that I have the technological capability to write an offer for a buyer client, get their electronic signatures, email or fax it to the listing agent and back to my office with signatures all while I am sitting in my car in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart. It saves time, gas and reems of paper. And, it is very impressive to the clients.

It’s funny to me because the only reason I got a cell phone (just 13 years ago) was because my husband bought one for me when I passed my real estate exam. He thought I would need it in my business. I remember how awkward and weird it was too. But, that was my first taste of the world of technology. I barely knew what the Internet and the World Wide Web was.

Now, we have Blackberry’s, Iphone, Ipads and wireless everything. I don’t even think twice about Googling anything and everything that I need more information about. I immediately email or text before I pick up the phone to make a simple phone call.

Have we gotten too out of touch? Sometimes I think YES but then I realize that it’s impossible. It’s still the simple things in our business that will never change, that keeps us basic – that first face to face meeting with your new client, the conversations we have with them about their life and what they need from us, the reassurances that we give to those buyers or sellers when they get butterflies over closing details, and the sincere gratitude we give and get when a transaction happens on time with little to no incidents.

Technology is great but don’t forget how important it is to stick to the basics too!

Let’s have a wonderful 2011!

Sincerely,

Tammy Anderson

I have to remind myself that when I first got in to the real estate business I didn’t know that the sellers paid the commission for all agents and that is determined up front. When my first buyer (in the year 1999) asked me if they had to pay my commission, I honestly wasn’t sure – how embarrassing. But, now I stress to all first time home buyers that the commission is set before the yard sale sign hits the front yard dirt. It is important for all first time home buyers to know this. It is imperative that they choose a buyer’s agent to help them thru the process, someone that represents their interests. Essentially it is a free service to them, so why not?. It is important that someone represent your interests and not the sellers interests.

The A,B,C’s of buying a home are as follows:

1. Get preapproved by a local lender to know what you qualify to buy.

2. Find a trustworthy buyer’s agent that will work hard for you and will keep your interests at heart.

3. Sit down with that agent and discuss the process and talk about what you would like in your home and neighborhood.

4. Begin your search both online and in person.

5. Write an offer, negotiate terms and price, get all signatures, submit contract to mortgage lender.

6. Complete all inspections as quickly as possible – home inspection, termite, radon, etc. (buyer responsible for payment).

7. Find an attorney to begin closing paperwork.

8. Call utility companies, reserve moving truck, pack, contact postal service.

9. Close your home!

A good real estate agent is worth every penny that they get paid. They will save you from wasting a lot of time, energy and money looking in the wrong areas, working with the wrong people and will ensure that you have a productive and easy going experience from beginning to end.

Best of luck in finding your real estate agent and your next place to call home!