Uncategorized

Raggedy Ann

Uncategorized

I’ve been feeling a little like this lately. Mutely frazzled. Taking the weekend off. Back Monday. Heather Barr is a Realtor and a happy workaholic. She eats more than someone her size ought to be able, and is a runner as a consequence. Her TiVo’s full of spy thrillers, police procedurals and Whedonesque sci-fi.

10 February 2008 Read the full article →

What Do You Want To Read?

Uncategorized

Well, it’s happened. Writer’s block. The good news is that I’ve noticed a lot of new readers lately on my humble little blog. And new visitors to my main website as well. I’m pretty sure they’re going there to search the MLS, since real estate is once again the preferred party chit-chat topic. Everybody wants [...]

4 February 2008 Read the full article →

Fed Cuts Rates Again

Uncategorized

The Fed cut the Fed funds rate by another 1/2 point today, for a total of 2.25 points since September. Now sitting at 3.0%, this is the rate that banks charge each other for short-term loans. See the stock-centric review of the move at the Wall Street Journal.  Traders on the floor seem to expect another [...]

31 January 2008 Read the full article →

200 Recycled Cell Phones = New Gold Jewelry

Uncategorized

Was blog browsing this evening and found this excellent video about recycling cell phones, and the environmental consequences of NOT recycling them. Did you know that recycling 200 cell phones produces enough gold to make a new ring? Shiny! <inside joke for any Firefly fans reading> [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkbpiL9UsY8] Heather Barr is a Realtor and a happy [...]

29 January 2008 Read the full article →

A Unique New Credit Card Idea

Uncategorized

This is a truly lazy post, just a reposting of an interesting idea I saw on CreditBloggers which I read regularly through my Google reader. Apparently, Capital One has a build-your-own credit card. See http://www.creditbloggers.com/2008/01/capital-one-say.html So in addition to having rampaging Vikings in their TeeVee ads, they have a really pretty hook-y idea for getting folks [...]

24 January 2008 Read the full article →

Household Quickie – Window Cleaner

Uncategorized

A quick and easy recipe for household window cleaner, courtesy of Heloise. 12 to 16 ounces water 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% solution) 1 to 2 drops blue or green food coloring (optional) 1 to 2 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional) Mix it all together in a [...]

23 January 2008 Read the full article →

I’ve Been MeMe’d

Uncategorized

Thanks to my friend Shailesh over at The Arizona Mortgage Guru, I’ve been MeMe’d. I’m such a tech geek I had to go look up meme in Wikipedia.  Here are the rules: (1) list 7 things about yourself, (2) tag 7 people to do the meme on themselves including a link to their site. 1. [...]

22 January 2008 Read the full article →

Today’s Fed Rate Cut Smacks of Fear

Uncategorized

In the only emergency rate cut since 2001 and the biggest cut since the 80′s, the Fed today cut it’s main interest rate (the federal funds rate) by a whopping 3/4 of a point to 3.50%. The Fed’s standard cryptic statement said “Appreciable downside risks to growth remain,” and continued that the Fed would “act in [...]

22 January 2008 Read the full article →

The Temptation Revisited

Uncategorized

3 posts ago, in The Temptation of Your Neighbor’s List Price I wrote, “our current strong buyer’s market will cause your neighbor to take significantly less than X, or take his home off the market.” Readers could assume I meant that homes that sell are selling for waaaaay under asking price. Not true. Most homes [...]

15 January 2008 Read the full article →

Mortgage Rates Drop

Uncategorized

Based strictly on my personal experience with recent buyer clients… Rates rock! Plus, a great personal credit rating pays off. My buyer 1 was quoted 5.8% and locked at 5.75%. Buyer 2 was quoted 5.70% and we’re waiting for him to lock that stupendous rate as we speak. If you’ve been thinking, “I’m gonna wait for [...]

15 January 2008 Read the full article →

Crazy MLS Ads #2

Uncategorized

MLS 2736462 There’s just so much that’s funny about this ad. It starts with “This home offers a great room feeling with wet bar” and ends with “NOTE: Sellers will not consider a Letter of Intent Offer. Only a Realtor Association Purchase Contract will be considered.” Maybe I’m missing something that goes on when investors [...]

11 January 2008 Read the full article →