Mortgage rates climb into New Year

Mortgage rates climb into New Year | Inman News

Government Agencies Hold 46% of REO Inventory...and More Is Coming

Government Agencies Hold 46% of REO Inventory...and More Is Coming

Dr. Doom, Mr. Bear and Real Estate

Dr. Doom, Mr. Bear and Real Estate

HUD foreclosure inventory rises in the past month for Tarrant County

@MattKonlande tweeted today that  a month ago there were 25 active HUD owned foreclosures in Tarrant County. Today there are 187.

So Now Everyone Knows I Got Foreclosed On-Google Maps now show Foreclosures

So Now Everyone Knows I Got Foreclosed On | Tech Savvy Agent

Mortgage Rates Jump. Will House Prices Fall?

Mortgage Rates Jump. Will House Prices Fall? - SmartMoney.com

Magazine-Daily News-Rising Rates Could Get Buyers Moving

REALTOR� Magazine-Daily News-Rising Rates Could Get Buyers Moving

D-FW foreclosure postings decline 6% � HousingWire

D-FW foreclosure postings decline 6% � HousingWire

Why does someone choose you to sell ther house?

YouTube - Does Brand Matter? Part 2

20 predictions for the real estate and technology spaces in 2011

20 predictions for the real estate and technology spaces in 2011

List Your House Now or Wait Until Spring? | REALTOR.com� Blogs

List Your House Now or Wait Until Spring?

How Rising Interest Rates Will Impact Affordability

How Rising Interest Rates Will Impact Affordability

FHA lenders accused of snubbing subprime borrowers | Inman News

FHA lenders accused of snubbing subprime borrowers | Inman News

great video for Realtors on how to use today's technology-via@techsavvyagent

How to use Mozy, Dropbox, and Google Docs in your real estate business...

http://goo.gl/vPNte

Good news about keeping the mortgage interest rate deduction!

http://goo.gl/fZEAQ

That 3.8% tax enacted as part of health reform is not a real estate transfer tax. Here's how it works. http://tinyurl.com/33axmr2

http://speakingofrealestate.blogs.realtor.org/2010/11/24/the-3-8-tax-is-not-a-real-estate-transfer-tax/

Price Reductions in Dallas-Fort Worth are on the rise

http://blog.altosresearch.com/chart-of-the-day-price-reductions-in-texas/

Fort Worth-Arlington's shadow inventory of distressed properties is among nation's lowest | ...

Fort Worth-Arlington's shadow inventory of distressed properties is among nation's lowest | ...

Mortgages to Skyrocket??

http://agentgenius.com/real-estate-mortgage-economy/fed-to-price-fix-mortgages-to-skyrocket/

My favorite articles this week from twitter-online newspaper style...

http://paper.li/donlawyer

Loved the 1st version of this video-much more current now-Social Media Revolution 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng&feature=related

Check out my favorite stories & links for the past week-in newspaper format

http://goo.gl/xn6OR

D-FW commercial foreclosure postings up 39% in a year

D-FW commercial foreclosure postings up 39% in a year

Everything you wanted to know about Tarrant County Tax Rates, but were afraid to ask

Click on the image to enlarge

Realtors-where do you stand on providing showing feedback to listing agents?

I truly appreciate the local agents that take the time to provide feedback-it is very useful to my clients and myself. I know it can be time consuming when you have shown 20 houses and your inbox is flooded with feedback requests! For a different opinion, read this post from a San Antonio agent...

http://www.rerockstar.com/2010/buyers/showing-feedback-client-listing/#axzz13lFTVVHR

Mortgage interest rates-putting the current #'s in perspective

Should I take my home off the market for the holidays?

Great list of reasons to keep your home on the market during fall and winter...

http://realtrends.com/blog/why-listing-during-the-holidays-is-an-advantage

Existing home sales rose 10% in September

http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/25/news/economy/existing_home_sales/index.htm

Great Post I found for new Real Estate Agents-how to hit the ground running...

85 pages of outstanding information if you are just getting started in the Real  Estate business-posted by Ken Brand-one of the top producers in the Woodlands, Texas.

http://www.brandcandid.com/2010/10/23/im-a-new-real-estate-agent-how-do-i-hit-the-ground-running-and-swimming/

Next time you order new business cards....

The Real Estate Business Card Blunder  http://goo.gl/QzBT… via @techsavvyagent

Mortgage rates ease again-30-year fixed rate at 60-year low!

Less than 4% for a 30 year loan? Why aren't more people buying? It will be one of those decisions they pat themselves on the back for 5 years from now. Search every home for sale in the MLS at.....

 http://www.tarrantcountylistings.com/

Decline in DFW foreclosure filings not due to moratorium

Decline in DFW foreclosure filings not due to moratorium

Outstanding post that every Realtor should read

http://goo.gl/mqmv 

Tons of information on Social Media and best practices for Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging

Outstanding notes by Michael McClure (@professionalone) on an interview with Chris Smith (@techsavvyagent)

Every agent should be following these guys!

New Amazon shopping tool should come in handy for those of us that like to get the best deal

While you are out shopping, use your iPhone to scan the barcode of whatever you are thinking of buying, and Amazon will give you their price on the item. You can download it in the App store. 

My favorite birthday card so far!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/LkaSgGU1cfcDmLeJ

Outstanding post for Realtors from Ken Brand-Why Secret Agents Will Starve and You Won't

http://www.slideshare.net/kenbrand/why-secret-agents-starve-and-you-wont

Mortgage rates resume their record-setting ways | Inman News

Mortgage rates resume their record-setting ways Inman News

Use your phone as a fax machine?

Has anyone used Mobile Phax? It turns your Iphone or Blackberry into a fax machine. Looks interesting...

Texas Attorney General's Office halts foreclosure sales from 30 lenders

The Texas Attorney General's office has called for a halt on all foreclosures, all sales of properties previously foreclosed upon and all evictions of persons residing in previously foreclosed upon properties, until companies have completed a review of their processes, including whether employees or agents "robosigned” affidavits and other documents which were recorded in the State of Texas. The suspension notices were sent to 30 loan servicers doing business in Texas in an effort to determine the full harm Texas homeowners may have suffered or could suffer as a result of these business practices.

Here is a list of the mortgage companies that were sent demand letters....


American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc.

American General Finance, Inc.

AmTrust Mortgage Corporation

Aurora Loan Servicec, Inc.

Bank of America

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC

Cenlar, FSB

JP Morgan Chase & Co.

CitiMortgage, Inc.

EMC Mortgage Corporation

First Horizon National Corp.

Ally Financial, Inc./GMAC

Home Loan Services

HomEq Servicing, Inc.

HSBC North America Holdings, Inc.

Litton Loan Servicing, Inc.

MGC Mortgage, Inc.

Midland Mortgage Company

MorEquity, Inc.

National City Mortgage c/o PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

Nationstar Mortgage Company

Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC

OneWest Bank Group LLC

PHH Mortgage Services Corporation

Saxon Mortgage Services, Inc.

Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc.

Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc.

Washington Mutual

Wells Fargo & Company

Wilshire Credit Corporation

Search every waterfront home in Tarrant County

http://goo.gl/vSnQ

New service that Google provides-here is a link to good blog post about it....

http://210consulting.com/2010/10/02/goo-gl-changes-link-shortening/

Interesting look at what the future of real estate might look like

hope the consumer will still need us in 3 years!

http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2010/10/the-rise-of-me-economics-and-what-it-means-for-real-estate-search.html

2 sites to check out for outsourcing some of your admin work at $6 to $8 an hour!

Plus you don't have the burden of employer social security taxes, FICA taxes, worker's compensation insurance, and unemployment taxes.

odesk.com

myoutdesk.com


Some of the tasks that can be done virtually include...


1.  REO tasks
2. Top Producer, Database Management, online management portals

3. Craigslist postings

4.  Website management / maintenance

5. Social Media

6. Basic SEO

7. Phone receptionist

8. Manage Emails /Phone Calls from Buyers Agents and Potential Buyers

Give me your feedback if you have done this before-would love to get feedback...

The Problem with Re/Max-don't let the title deceive you!

you will love this or hate it...

The Problem with Re/Max

What do you think of when you see this short video?

the real estate business?, short sales?, multitasking?, parenting?

For my Realtor friends-Here is a great company I use to keep in touch with my past clients and database

Sendsations.com. Here is a link to check them out...

http://donlawyer.sendsations.com/

Tax Free Weekend-no sales tax if you buy any of my listings this weekend :)

You can see all the homes that qualify for this weekend's savings at....

http://www.donlawyer.com/custompages_reports/home1.htm

GE Security - GE Security

Supra eKEY for iPhone is here! Looks like I need a new toy!

http://www.supraekey.com

Deed for Lease Option-1 way to avoid foreclosure

Originally tweeted from @ResideCharlotte, this is a program from Fannie Mae that could allow you to stay in your home. Here is a link to more information....

http://www.knowyouroptions.com/options-to-stay-in-your-home/deed-for-lease-option

Does Brand Matter to the Consumer? | 2.0

Interesting opinions on what consumers think of the real estate industry...

Got this as an email the other day and thought I would share...

Think about this:



1. Cows

2. The Constitution

3. The Ten Commandments



--------------------------------------------------------------



COWS

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.



--------------------------------------------------------------

THE CONSTITUTION

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq ... Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.



--------------------------------------------------------------



THE 10 COMMANDMENTS



The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a government building is this --you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of politicians .... it creates a hostile work environment.

Short Sale Hell-Hilarious video

http://fb.me/vZmaBvaW Originally posted by @nathanbangs

Be the 1st to know about this new listing in Kennedale's Shady Creek East

4 bedroom, 3 1/2 baths, 3 car garage & 2 year old salt water swimming pool. Extensive remodeling includes wood flooring, granite countertops, new stainless steel appliances, new bronze plumbing fixtures, new light fixtures, fresh paint. Will be the lowest price in the subdivison. Coming on the market in the next 2 weeks. Let me know if you would like to be the first to see it or get all the info when it comes on the market. don@donlawyer.com or cell is 817-657-9159

From the National Association of Realtors-Tax Credit Deadline Officially extended for closings

NAR Update: Tax Credit Deadline Extended; Flood Insurance Program Reinstated

I am happy to report that Congress has passed a bill extending the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline to September 30, 2010. This is a huge win for REALTORS® and homebuyers, and NAR worked closely with members of Congress to make it happen.

The extension applies only to transactions that had ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, and have not yet closed. There will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law.

Additionally, Congress has extended the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30th. The bill is retroactive and will cover the lapse period from June 1, 2010, to the date the law is enacted.

My blog is being used as an example in a GRI class-pretty cool!

except that I hadn't updated it since May 20th :)

http://donlawyer.blogspot.com/

Price Slashed on this home in gated Mansfield subdivision

lowest price in the gated section of the Arbors of Mansfield. Now $328,500

http://www.donlawyer.com/local_detail.php?id=102862

Interesting blog post about the impact Realtors have on the economy

Thanks to Mike Bowler for this post...

REALTORS that sell homes are great contributors to the overall  economic conditions. Check out the list
http://www.mikebowler.net/?p=912

New foreclosure listing of the day

Each week, I am going to highlight a foreclosure listing that just came on the market. For more info or to make an appointment to see any of these listings, just email me at don@donlawyer.com.

Today's house is a 2 year old Manfield home with a pool. A gourmet island kitchen features granite counters and master bathroom showcases a bathtub with jets & roman columns. 3363 sq. ft. and listed for $310,000

To search EVERY foreclosure listed in the MLS, go to

http://www.donlawyer.com/custompages_reports/listed_after_midnight.htm

Real Estate on Steroids

The Arlington Keller Williams office had a record month in March. We set records in all categories. We took 163 listings, 230 homes went under contract, & we closed 203 homes AND gave back almost $32,000 in Profit Sharing to our agents! Very proud to be in business with talented people!

Love this video about a typical day with a Realtor...

Does this remind you of anyone you know?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HANTJ1JlNbc&feature=player_embedded#

Buyers Get 56 Cents on the Dollar at Texas Foreclosure Auctions

Buyers Get 56 Cents on the Dollar at Texas Foreclosure Auctions: FLS

Top Producer to release an Iphone app soon!

Here is a video that shows the app in action...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uilVq1RKeDs&feature=player_embedded

This doesn't apply to me...really!

A little government humor...

Remember how your potential clients feel-quick video keeps your lead generation in the proper perspective

I love technology, but sometimes it's easy to forget we are interacting with real people... 
http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2008/01/i-am-not-a-lead.html

Keller Williams-Arlington announces their new Commercial Real Estate Department

Welcome aboard Ken!

Keller Williams-Arlington shares over $224,000 in profit with their agents in 2009!

In a challenging year in the real estate community, the agents in the Arlington Keller Williams office received over $224,000 in profit share for 2009! Outside of Keller Williams, it is unheard of for the broker to share any of the profit with the agents (who are the heart and soul of the company). It is truly rewarding to work as a partner in a company where everyone is rewarded for success. Agents-How much did your broker share with you last year?

Save $6500 to $8000 on your next home

Congress has extended the existing $8000 tax credit for 1st time homebuyers until May 1,2010.

A new $6500 tax credit will be available for repeat buyers who purchase before May 1, 2010.

To qualify, buyers must have used their home as their principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years. Income limits are $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return.

For more info, go to...

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq2.php

Call us at 817-635-1015 to take advantage of this rare opportunity for tax savings, historically low interest rates, & outstanding prices right now!