Working with First Time Home Buyers

Catch the Spirit!

Last week I had an inspection with a first-time-home-buyer couple. Their enthusiasm and excitement about everything was infectious. They measured every room, they brought tools and tinkered witht the loose door knobs, they learned how the windows opened & closed, they brought a hose and exterior home cleaner and cleaned a section of the hardiplank. This was a vacant home so it was easy to feel free to experiment and experience.

I was fun to share in their excitement. I've started giving Home Buyer Seminars and look forward to more of these experiences.

Having fun selling to first time buyers.

Connect with Kathryn Gorham -
Green Key
Properties

8754 Reed Drive - Suite 14 - Emerald Isle, NC 28594

252.646.4656 cell

252.354.7007
office

www.greenkeyproperties.com

kathryn@greenkeyproperties.com

Sailing the Pamlico

Enjoying Playtime!

We've all been working hard with too little reward to show for our efforts. Sometimes the best formula to create more abundance and flow in our lives is PLAY! I know that intellectually. I know that spiritually. Today I lived that experientially.

We sailed our 14' Hobbie Cat Monohull day sailer on the Pamlico River. The breezes were great, there was no gasoline to buy and Henry & I had a chance to just talk and really listen to each other.

These waters off the coast of North Carolina have hosted many boats. Our founders sailed them and settled their shores. Pirates profited and pillaged along our shores and have left many tales some of them even true. Waters off the coast have connected us to foreign lands, trade goods and more recently recreation.

The litte orange icon showing up on sites... how does that work?

RSS feed.... hmmmm.... What is it?

I've been wondering about the little orange symbol on sites for RSS feed. I mean it is even on my MLS client portal sites. I know it stands for RSS feed, but what is it and why do I want to try it.

Wikipedia - defines it as Really Simple Syndication.
http://www.whatisrss.com/ What is RSS .com site - says it is Rich Site Summary

My curiosity led me to looking it up while waiting the half hour for Flex MLS to come back online yesteray.

I found this youtube video that tells it in plain english much better than I can and I thought I would share it.

CommonCraft - presents RSS in plain English.

I now have my Google Reader and I am adding sites. Will let you know how it goes.

Next I want to learn how to add an RSS feed to my website - that may take a bit more learning. But I love learning.

http://www.greenkeyproperties.com/

kathryn@greenkeyproperties.com

Are we coming out of this recession?

Signals of a recession winding down. (edit/delete)

According to a Wall Street Journal article today...

By BRIAN BLACKSTONE WASHINGTON -- U.S. job losses softened markedly last month, sending one of the strongest signals yet that the severe recession may be winding down.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124420479347588831.html

That said we still have 17 months of joblosses on the books matching a record set in 1981- 1982.

We have a way to go to climb out of this recession an I will take this "slowing" of the job loss as one sign we are reaching the "turning point."

Job Loss by month

January 2009 - 741,000
February 2009 - 681,000
March 2009 - 652,000
April 2009 - 504,000
May 2009 - 345,000

I always like to share when I find news that is good. Count your blessings today if you are one of the ones with a job.

www.greenkeyproperties.com
kathryn@greenkeyproperties.com

Isakson ... should you know this name?

Isakson ... should you know this name? (edit/delete)

Johnny Isakson, didn't ring a bell with me. I am not even sure how to pronounce his name. However when I read about him his amendment did ring a bell. He is the Georgia Senator who is continuing to push for the $15,000 tax creddit for consumers - the same tax credit that was nixed from the stimulus bill earlier this year at the 11th hour.

The one thing in the stimulus bill that many believed would actually stimulate some economic growth and recovery. Home buyers, home sellers and all those in and related to the real estate industry were cheering on this proposed amendment.

There is hope. In the May-June 2009 Issue of REBAC magazine the senator is quoted from a Chattanooga, Tennessee businesss forum arguing that, "Our economic crisis started with housing, and our economy will continue to suffer unless we do something now to immediately fix the housing problem."

If you are remotely interested in the housing recovery of this country pay attention to Isakson's tax credit bill which has passed the Senate and awaits action in the House.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/02/02/daily76.html
Atlanta Business Journal article - February 17th, 2009

http://isakson.senate.gov/press/2009/020409housing.htm
February 4th press release by Johnny Isakson

www.greenkeyproperties.com
kathryn@greenkeyproperties.com

Green Sustainable Counter Tops!

Recycled Glass coming to a kitchen near you. Yep, out of the landfill into the home. It's a new sensation in green and home design.

Companies buy landfill and recycle glass as well as glass from municipalities when they change from glass traffic signals to plastic.

One of my buyers was telling me they are thinking about it for the home they are purchasing so I had to look into it. I love finding out about new "green" products.

After looking into it more I find that many of these products can be used for table tops, walls and even floors too. Gotta like it. Many of the sites have Green certifications such as LEEDS

http://www.vetrazzo.com/sustain.html - Vetrazzo - recycled glass

http://www.enviroglasproducts.com/ - EnviroGlas - recycled glass

http://www.icestone.biz/ - IceStone - recycled glass and concrete

Do you have Green-minded friends, neighbors, family or clients?
Talk to them about this new sustainable product for building and remodeling.

Here is a site that has reviews - http://www.helpful-kitchen-tips.com/kitchen-blog/2009/03/14/glass-countertops-review-recycled-glass-countertops/

I found the review helpful - similar to info you would get in an FAQ

Your cell number in the hands of telemarketers!

I've gotten a couple of emails letting me know that cell phone numbers are going public sometime this month June 2009. Which means the first group actively seeking the newly public information with be the telemarketers. If you don't want your cell phone minutes and voice mail box taken up with solicitation calls then...

If you haven't already listed your number with the DO NOT CALL REGISGTRY... "when would now" be a good time to do so?

www.donotcall.gov

Enter up to three phone numbers - and then confirm the registration by clicking the email registration recieipt. Remember to add mom's or spouse or children who aren't tech savy or who wouldn't be bothered taking the time, but would appreciate the service.