Virtual Technology Camp for Realtors

A VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR!

DETAILS – CLICK HERE!

If you are new to real estate, or simply a consumer wanting to know more about what the latest trends and technology is in Real Estate, the Virtual RE Bar Camp is an event you will not want to miss!  I attended my first RE Bar camp in Miami in October. I can’t even tell you how much I learned and how it helped me develop content for my blogs.  Adding technology to  my business as a Realtor gives me the ability to reach to the corners of the world with my message and to those who are using technology in their lives as well.

Learning to niche market, attract buyers and sellers using technology is a part of gaining a competitive edge and communicating with the 86% of people who begin their search on the Internet.  Let’s face it, computers are more and more a part of every facet of our lives, if you’re going to remain a competitor, learn what you need to know and grow!

This will be a fun event,.. gather up your friends and participate, you will be amazed at what you walk away with!

If you miss this, there is always RETech South in Atlanta on March 25, 26th, 2010.  For more information see: http://www.retechsouth.com/

 

The Best Shakes and Butts in Tallahassee

The Best Shakes and Butts in Tallahassee!

Oh my! Can you smell it now? It’s autumn here in Tallahassee, despite the 85 degree day that we had today, there is still a twinge of fall in the air. Driving back roads in Tallahassee you often smell the smoke from leaves burning, freshly mown fields, even boiled peanuts on the corners of the remote intersections just outside the city limits.

But today was extra special! Today I wound up off Highway 90 east at the intersection of Crump Road, just west of Maxwell’s grocery and BP station, and it was lunch time! I had to stop and get gas.. and that’s when I was reminded of what fall really smells like! Butts! Smokin’ Hot Butts!  Boston pork butts that is!

Locally owned and operated, Ali’s Strawberry shakes is a virtual food and produce delight! It’s a fun stop just about any time of day!  If you don’t quite know what to fix for dinner…don’t worry! Between the fresh produce at the Farmer’s market, the homemade jellies and jams that would make any biscuit proud, and the Butts.. the perfectly smoked boston butts just waiting for knife and fork.  Buy the whole thing! you won’t be able to resist and  your family will thank you, believe me!  If you want to eat it right there, the friendly staff. locals and family, will give you a knife and fork and set you up!

We love Ali's Shakes!

On the weekends, the kids line up for the thickest, yummiest shakes in town! made with creamy ice-cream and whole milk and fresh strawberries,…you will not find a better treat! If it wasn’t for the butts, I’d almost skip dinner to have one!

So if you are looking for a way to spend a beautiful day outdoors, or if the butts have made you begin to drool, head out to east Tallahassee, and follow the smoke! You’ll be glad you did!

 

Alis Strawberry Shakes and Farmer’s Market – Directions

The $8000 Tax Credit Explained

For First timehome-buyers, this tax credit may mean the difference in afffording a home or not. It is an incentive to stimulate the economy by encouraging those who have not owned a home in the last three years, to make a home purchase before November 30th, 2009. It has indeeed worked in many areas and has stimulated sales of homes under $250,000 especially. Inventories are lower and many areas attribute increase in home sales to the first-time home buyer sales.
This credit will expire on November 30th, so if you are thinking of purchasing a home, you have a narrow window in which to get this done. Dont forget, there is a holiday near the end of November, which will shorten your days to close even more!
Call a Realtor today, and enjoy your home search! If you need a Realtor referral, call me at 850.212.0440, Debbie Kirkland, Realtor, National Referral Agent.

Most Contemporary New Home in Tallahassee

Trendy Home Features

New construction is one of my specialties as a Realtor in Tallahassee and I am always amazed with the creativity and thought that most people put into custom construction. Choosing a contractor that understands a client’s fundamental goals and then works through the details of planning and design by incorporating those often intricate details into the home is paramount to a succesful working relationship.

This home at 6475 Tracy Lane in Tallahassee is a perfect example of a customer with very specific tastes and ideas for their home. Modeled after homes in their Native Australia and their lifestyles as athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, the home features amenities suited to an active lifestyle and their love of trendy, modern conveniences.

Features in this home include:

• Over 3600 sq.ft. of living space
• Custom made cabinetry with granite counter-tops
• Porcelain and Glass Vessel Sinks
• Custom shaped Stainless Bar, Laundry Table and Fireplace Surround
• 9 ft. Triple Sliding glass doors along the rear of home offering near floor to ceiling views of the pool area and fenced yard.
• Brick Accent wall in Master Suite
• Master Spa Bath with Slate Roman Shower with 5 shower heads!
• Theater or Home Gymnasium Room with Wet Bar

For more information on contemporary, trendy home and custom details Click Here to see this beautiful new home in the gated subdivision of The Ridge at Velda Dairy.

Tallahassee Homes – Marketing Plans That Work

Whetehr you are a seller or a buyer, interview your Realtor. Ask the right questions and make sure you can commmunicate with your Realtor. Call Debbie Kirkland, Realtor and referral agent, for a referral to a professional Realtor in your area. 850-212-0440

Interviewing Realtors?  Can we all agree the ulitmate goal of selling a home is ….to get it SOLD!  Statistics show that the majority of buyers will see a home in the first three weeks, after that, “The thrill is gone,” so to speak. 

So, let’s look at a Realtor’s role in a transaction and what it takes to get a home exposed and to make a wise investment  in today’s market.

Multiple Listing Service

• In our  MLS system, a listing is posted and remains “NEW” for four days! Wow,.. 4 days to show up on the “hotsheet.”  That’s the area most savvy agents look to when they wake up in the AM and before they head out the door. (but face it, busy agents hit the groud running..so let’s hope they don’t miss your “creampuff!”) The hotsheet posts new listings, price reductions and status changes of listings. It’s important to review this, especially if you are looking for properties that are “buyer specific.” By that I mean, you buyer is very specific (picky). It’s ok… it’s a big purchase, buyers should be specific! You want to make sure that your listing is ready to go with as many photos as allowable and a video is shortly following!
• After those 4 days are up..then what? Again, it’s there, searchable, so make sure it can be found by use of pictures and video and that the description will entice buyers!

Websites

• Most Realtors have websites, but content is king, so a website that reaches into the community, showcases area information, neighborhood information and features listings with visual and video appeal is what will reach today’s buyers. 87% of buyers begin their serach on the Internet, and most of those buy homes they have found on the Internet. Websites with photos and videos really bring in the visitors!
• If you’re searching online or in a magazine and find a home with just one picture.. a fuzzy one at that, what conclusion will you draw? If you need to see details and can’t get to the listing, will your Realtor to preview for you? (sellers,..are you listening?)

Local Exposure

• Is your Realtor a wallflower?  The real estate industry is about networking. I seriously don’t think I’ve met a successful Realtor yet who is bashful, reclusive or introverted. I’m not saying your Realtor should be the class clown, but certainly you want them to talk about your home, share your listings with those who may just have the perfect buyer for that property!
• There are many ways for your Realtor to showcase your home to other Realtors. Local Board of Realtor marketing meetings. We have them once a month..what a great time to talk about your new listings! Realtor socials and community events, broker open houses, office and top-producer caravans. Yes, they work! People remember homes they see, and they fit the home to those “specific” buyers we mentioned earlier!
• Don’t forget Social Media tools and networking. In today’s world, if you want to grow a business, any business, people must be able to find you, to see your product and get information with the click of a mouse. If a Realtor is leveraging social networks, people are getting their message, they are exposing products regularly to today’s buyers.
• I think most would agree.. Realtors are the most social creatures on earth! Most balance home, work, family, community… and they all seem to compliment each other. Realtors are working most all the time, even when it looks like it’s completely unrelated events! (just ask the customer I met last night in line at the movies!) Pick one who likes to have fun and is involved! Remember, Realtors are people too, respect their time just as you would your family or co-workers!

Media

• Choosing which media is effective today is a challenge. Measuring the effectiveness versus the cost of advertising is very important. A wise agent carefully times advertising  between print media, radio and tv, web exposure and niche database marketing. It’s a combination of all these mediums that are the most effective.
• Realtors with specialty niche markets may be the best choice for a specfic type property, or in smaller areas it may be the realtor with the biggest tool box, the agent with the tools to attact every type buyer that would be a great fit for your home.

Communication

• This probably should have been first on the list! What is your preferred method of contact. If you are one-on-one, then let your Realtor know this. If you are a busy student or business person, perhaps e-mail  is best for your updates. If you are on the go, mobile technology, texting and e-mail from the road may work best for you.
• No matter what method you choose, regular communication, market updates, showing feedback and product information is critical to your success, both for buyers and sellers. Ask your Realtor for a communication plan!

There are many great Realtors from which to choose today. Take time to interview. If you are a buyer, avoid the luck of the draw by simply calling on signs. Do your homework, buying and selling a home deserves sound, educated and professional information and resources. Find a Realtor who will give you the best service as you enter your next real estate transaction.

Debbie Kirkland, Realtor  .  Armor Realty of  Tallahassee .  www.HomeSalesofTallahassee.com

Florida State Football… It’s More Than Just Football!

Florida State Football… it’s more than the game, it’s the pre-game, the game, the post-game fun! Football is the tie that binds fans, families and friends! Gathering up before the games for great food, tailgate parties, music, warpaint,.it’s tradition here in Tallahassee and it’s almost here!
Team practice has started and we are excited!

See the Team at Practice!

Brush off the grill,.. get ready for THE GAME!
Gooooooo Noles!!!

Florida Experiencing Negative Growth?

Welcome To Florida,.... We Have What You Want!

Now this is scary news!  For the first time since 1920, Florida has experienced a decrease in new residents!  This is a great read:

“A must-read from this weekend’s New York Times: Ever since the 1920s Florida has been cast as the place people go to escape contemplation, not to indulge in it. But in the past year, from Pensacola to Miami Beach, Floridians have been soul searching. And for good reason.” Read More,…

Let’s hope Governor Crist is listening!  Have budget cuts to tourism, recreation and parks, etc. made a difference.. I think more than we realize. Meanwhile, let’s put Florida back on the Map ourselves! We must create our own destiny as Floridians always have. What makes Florida a great place to live,…. go tell someone today!

Tallahassee Dives and Jives,.. off the beaten path!

Come to the Lake..with Jimbo Smith and friends

Come on Out Where the Music is Familiar and  your Friends are Gathered!round!

Everybody knows I love music.. and to dance.. and boy Tallahassee has some of the  best off the beaten path venues! Take your shoes off.. sit by the fire and warm up.. take a Sunday drive… you may never know what you will find. Looking for the coldest beer in town? Want to sit by the lake and watch the most gorgeous sunset ever? Try K & K Fish Camp off Highway 12 at the Lake Iamonia Boat Landing. Mary and Don King cook up some great burgers and hot dogs.. and keep the coldest beer in town.. I mean FROSTY cold. Nothing could be better than sitting on the picnic table listening to locals, Jimbo Smith and Friends whip up some familiar tunes that make you want to kick your shoes off and dance every Sunday afternoon! K & K fish Camp is however.. a fish camp.. get your bait, launch your boat, grab some supplies and head out to Lake Iamonia, the largest lake in Tallahassee! Bring your camera.. you might see a gator or two.. up close and personal!

Another place I have loved for over 15 years is the Bradfordville Blues Club off Bannerman Road! Oh my gosh.. the history.. the great blues artists I have seen there! Many are a once in a lifetime experiences! I had my 35th and my 45th Birthday parties there, the latter with three generations of family present! What a FUN time, dancing and listening to “The Sauce Boss” stir up some blues and gumbo!

I’m sure I’ll think of a few other great entertainment spots.. but for now.. your turn! Meanwhile..let’s head to the lake!

More stories like this can be found at TallahasseeFLCommunity! check us out!

Knocking down Obstacles in the Loan Application Process. Part 1

So you think buying a home is easy these days?  For some, it may be, for most people however there are “glitches.” No one like “glitches,” but these days we stumble into more than ever before.  Believe me when I say, no one is perfect. Even the most savvy real estate investor has obstacles that prevent the smooth transactions we grew accustomed to in years past.

Preparing to buy a home involves more than making up  your mind that you want to move. There are certain steps of preparation that you must follow. The first and biggest obstacle that I run into with my customers is CREDIT ISSUES. Either Bad Credit, No credit, or someone else’s credit..on your credit report! Yes, it happens.

There will be some followup to this BLOG, but for now let’s get the credit issues our of the way. Let’s knock out a few credit score questions and answers.

What is a credit Score?

Good grades come from having done positive things, bad grades subtract points from your grade. Most scores range between 300 – 900 points, the higher is the better grade. A credit score is used to qualify you for loans. If you fall below 630 these days, it will will be a challenge to get your qualified. Lenders will delve into your credit scores, using the scores from three major reporting agencies, and sometimes one national agency. If you are monitoring your credit.. check all 3! The nuts and bolts is this:

What affects your Credit Positively?

• Paying your bills on time and in full.
• Having one or two credit cards used on occasion and paid each month.
• The typical rule of thumb is to use 25 percent or less of your available credit. Ideally, carry a balance of no more than $2,500 if your credit limit is $10,000.
• Steady employment. People who are steadily employed are viewed as being better able to pay their bills on time.
• If you are self-employed, pay yourself a documented salary!

What damages your Credit Score:

• Missing of Making Late Payments.
• Using more than 80 percent of your total amount of available credit
• Bankruptcy
• Liens or foreclosures
• Periods of unemployment
• Repeated, multiple requests for new lines of credit ( i.e. store credit card applications will KILL your credit! Don’t do it to save 10%!)

The Major Factors that affect your credit score:

• Your payment history. Are you paying on time? This is one of the biggest factors that lenders look at.
• Your outstanding debt. Your debt to income levels are critical, your ability to pay back small sums is manageable, large balances are very difficult to manage.
• How long have you been building credit. The longer your credit history, the higher your credit rating.
• The number of inquiries on your credit report. The more times you’ve applied for credit cards or loans, the more credit report inquiries will show up on your credit report. When in trouble, in the fine print, your creditors can pull your credit when you are late, when you apply for loan extensions or modifications. This can kill your score because it indicates you are having trouble managing your debts.

What to do when you see a “cheater” on your credit report.

Sometimes there are debts on your credit report that do not belong to you. This happened recently to my 19 year old borrower as he discovered that his father had been using his social security number and had taken out credit cards in his name. They were good pays,.. but they were NOT his, in fact most were taken out when the 19 year old was 9 and 10 years old! Can someone say, “Credit card FRAUD?” Do us all a favor, report credit card fraud, let the credit companies investigate and prosecute those who committed the crime.  If you are one of those stealing from your kids.. thinking you won’t ever get caught… Think  Again!

Credit card fraud is on the rise. Access to social security numbers, telephone numbers, dates of birth are too easy to find, not to mention accessibility to your mailbox which is full of the “sign here” offers that can be stolen in a flash. Use a identity theft service. It’s the cheapest, best insurance you can own, and these days you need it!

CreditReport.com reports that the average credit score of Americans is “in the neighborhood of 680,..” and that, “while consumers have more debt than the year prior, and a quarter of the country has more debt than the national average – apparently we manage debt fairly well, as our average credit score is hanging in there.”

So, while you may look at your credit card debt and shriek,.. look at your score, do a little housecleaning once a year and relax.

Part II….Exercise Your Right To Choose the Right Lender!

What’s all the Buzz about Twitter?

FloridaSunSales, Debbie Kirkland, Realtor

So  you want to  know what Twitter is all about?  TV, radio, newscasters,.. even Oprah is on twitter now!  My kids ask me what the big deal is… imagine that.. My kids asking me about twitter! Suddenly I feel 24 again.  Anyway…Twitter.. no it’s not just 72 characters insignificant things that  people that talk about their walk to the car, or that they are leaving for work. or arrived at work or that are bored at work. It’s the messages that contain a personal message to NEW acquaintances that share something in common. Whether for a moment or longer engagements between those who converse in real time about a deeper subject matter, or even a common interest in music, there is always something to talk to someone about. These messages turn into conversations with other “Tweeple” who “tweet” with a purpose.. or sometimes just to share a laugh. 

When I first started Twitter, within days some of the Tallahassee folks I was following announced they were having a “tweet-up” – the modern day get-together.  I attended, and met 8 very unique, different, quintessential people who were much more versed than I in what was completely foreign to me.  They gave me the low-down on who some of their cool connections were and where to find great applications to make tweeting easier, etc. They also spoke in “twitter-ese,” and I made notes as fast as I could.. but, that really wasn’t necessary.  All I really had to do, was read, connect to the social media gurus,..examine the applications they talked about.. and before you could say “tweet,” I was up and tweeting with the pros. 

Life changed after that.. I am realizing a dream come true soon. I am going to be hosting a series of social media classes along with 4 young men who are fun, exciting and some of the most brilliant minds in the social media and marketing business. I met every one of these young entrepreneurs right on Twitter. I watched them for a long time.. read their material and examined what I thought were their business strengths, etc. We have even met a few times for talks.. about business and at a few more #Tallahassee Tweet-ups. Next month, We will be teaching Realtors and small business owners the power of social media and what it can do for their businesses.  Things seem to move a little slower here, but more and more folks are catching on to Twitter, to Facebook.. now if I can just persuade a few to devote time to blogging, a new concept to many.

Business-wise, I can tell you that twitter has been responsible for 5 real estate customer referrals and resulted in 3 sales so far. Several more are in the pipeline just waiting to close.  Social networking is as much a part of prospecting as the personal telephone calls I make during the week to past customers and my sphere of influence. Devotion of a little time has certainly been productive, educational and mostly, entertaining!

Happy Tweeting… follow me…..@FloridaSunSales!

Dont Just Watch... Tweet!