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Big REALTOR Daddy

I am home tonight, alone & playing Mr. Mom with the Little Begotten, while Mommy is in Queens cleaning the in-law’s apartment to prepare it for the market. Her parents have been in Seoul, Korea for the past year and unfortunately my father in law’s health precludes him from returning to the States. Sad. Given our […]
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Numbers are More Important Than Letters

My BA is in English. I am far more of a man of letters than of numbers. I’ve always sort of disliked math, unless it was related to money or baseball stats. But there are times when numbers are clearly more imprtant than letters. Take for example a recent conversation I had with an agent on one of my […]
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Hand Out Your Business Card at Funerals

Just a random thought, and I’ll feel better after saying it: the next agent who asks me how I got all my listings (especially the ones in “their town”) will be told the following: I prospect at funeral homes. I attend all wakes in my area, and I hand out my business card to all the […]
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5 Things Licensees Can do for Past Clients

Remaining in touch is the best way to generate referrals and repeat business. You don’t need lame excuses to remain in touch with old clients. Here are 5 things I’ve done in recent months for people I’ve done business with: Help them grieve their taxes. Unless you sell in an area where prices are rising, […]
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Wordless Wednesday- The Artist
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Buying a Short Sale: What You Need to Know

I sold my first short sale in the 90’s. I have over 10 in my pipeline. I am known in my marketplace for the specialty. Buyers are justifiably interested in the savings a short sale can offer. However, few buyers are prepared for the process, often because it is new terrain for their agent as […]
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But Zillow Said…

One of the biggest thorns in my side is how Zillow offers to estimate home values for consumers. It never fails to amaze me how I can walk through a home, sit with the owner, apply my 13 years of experience to a detailed market analysis, quote the owner my best price opinion, and then be […]
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Salary for Agents?

There is some debate going on in some Inman News stories as to whether or not agents ought to be on salary in order to improve the industry. The author, Buz Hurley, is actually an Active Rain member and has a few blog entries. I don’t see it. It wouldn’t improve the quality of service, […]
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GREAT Aphorism Given to me by a Colleague

I awoke this morning to an offer faxed on company letterhead, complete with a preapproval. While the offer was low, it was clear that the selling agent had his act together. I spoke with him on the phone briefly, and he was, as I thought, a pretty together guy. In the ensuing conversation, he shared […]
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ANNLEE55 or, No Way am I Against Internet Marketing

Who or what is ANNLEE55? I’ll tell you at the end of this post. After my post yesterday I received mostly positive comments but a few thought that I was either advocating that people cold call FSBOs instead of blogging or anti-blogging & anti web 2.0 for real estate altogether. One blogger said I “denigrated” what she did. […]
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Wordless Wednesday- Tuckered Out
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Are You an Agent Who Blogs or a Blogger Who’s a Licensed Agent?

If you are pressed for time and need to skip the rest of the post, I’ll sum it up for you. Blogging is supposed to supplement what we are already doing to grow and manage our business. It should not be done to the exclusion of growing our business. OK, if you have to go, catch […]
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New Listing: 30 S Cole 2F Spring Valley Co op $159,900

J. Philip Faranda | J. Philip Real Estate LLC | 914-762-2500 30 S Cole 2F, Spring Valley, NY Fantastic Ramapo Towers 2 Bedroom Co op 2BR/2BA Co-Op offered at $159,900 Year Built 1965 Sq Footage 900 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 4+ Parking 1 Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $800 per month DESCRIPTION […]
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You Know Real Estate Has Crashed When…

You Know Real Estate Has Crashed When… You forget how miserable 2006 was and instead think of it as the Good Old Days. You have a price reduction form available to clients as a “fax-on-demand.” The customer service number for a referral company you attempt to register with is now a chat line. A competitor’s website redirects […]
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Why the Taxes in New York Are So High

I have a great deal of contact with people outside my home state of New york and they are shocked to hear how high property taxes are. In Ossining, where I grew up, the taxes on the rather average 2000 square foot home I grew up in are over $12,000. I remember the rent for […]
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The Lockbox: True Story

I got a call from a very annoyed agent at once who was attempting to show my listing. There was no key in the lockbox. Naturally, I called my seller client, who was perplexed. “Don’t they know there is a lockbox?” she asked. “Of course they know, but there’s no key in it.” Silence. “It […]
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30 Years of Experience

I was complimented on the use of this aphorism recently but cannot take credit. Whoever did actually say it first was wise: Some people have 30 years of experience, others have one year of experience repeated 30 times. In general, if you are passive aggressive, refuse to submit an offer in writing, claim to have a cash […]
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What is a Bedroom County?

In a recent posting, I made a reference to the “bedroom counties” of New York City, meaning the suburban counties surrounding the Big Apple. The term was based on “bedroom community,” which is defined in the dictionary as a suburb. You can get more specific, as some suburban locales are more destinations in themselves, but […]
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Dear Bank: No, I Will Not Reduce My Commission

Dear Bank: I am in receipt of your extortion short sale approval contingent upon the reduction of my commission. I decline your offer. I do not play chicken with my business, and no, something is not better than nothing. I did great work to produce a buyer for this property in spite of rather shabby […]
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NARSP?

I just got an email from The National Association of REO & Short Sale Professionals offering to make me a certified short sale expert. Frankly, I have no badge or initials after my name, but a filing cabinet filled with closed short sales and about 12 in the pipeline so I kinda thought I was […]