The Renton Wa Realtor Blog !: April 2010

A Twinkie a Day

A Twinkie a Day -- keeps the doctor (calories) away?  This is a cute post written by my friend Liz Moras Chilliwack BC Realtor. 

Twinkie is 80 years old same birthday as me.  And I'm only 56 ... so I can still be a creamy-yummy-sticky spongecake too. 

Gary McNinch Team selling Renton WA houses and property and condos and townhomes and commercial property and eating Twinkies too.

 

Via Liz Moras ~Chilliwack Realtor, Chilliwack, Hope, Langley, Abbotsford (Harrison Hot Springs, Cultus Lake):

Don't you wish - that a Twinkie a Day would make the calories go away?  No such luck... 2 of those creamy-yummy-sticky spongecakes, and all their 300 glorious calories may not be sensible - but I'll bet they can put a smile on your face :-)  And guess what? The Hostess Twinkie turns 80 today!

James Dewar, a bakery manager in Chicago came up with this shelf-staple and American icon...Hostess cranks out some 500 million of these soft, spongy cakes every year, nutritionally suspect calories that contribute nothing to a sensible diet but a sense of delight.

Indeed, in some social circles, a romantic partner who is sweet, youthful and good-looking but devoid of actual substance is known as a "Twinkie." And like with men, true freedom includes the right to make bad choices.

So here's to you, Spongy King!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2010 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.   

                         Google me!       Follow me on Twitter      My Outside Blog        Find us on Yahoo       Facebook

                                     Stumble        Technorati       Connect with me on LinkedIn        Subscribe to my RSS feed    

 

A Twinkie a Day

A Twinkie a Day -- keeps the doctor (calories) away?  This is a cute post written by my friend Liz Moras Chilliwack BC Realtor. 

Twinkie is 80 years old same birthday as me.  And I'm only 56 ... so I can still be a creamy-yummy-sticky spongecake too. 

Gary McNinch Team selling Renton WA houses and property and condos and townhomes and commercial property and eating Twinkies too.

 

Via Liz Moras ~Chilliwack Realtor, Chilliwack, Hope, Langley, Abbotsford (Harrison Hot Springs, Cultus Lake):

Don't you wish - that a Twinkie a Day would make the calories go away?  No such luck... 2 of those creamy-yummy-sticky spongecakes, and all their 300 glorious calories may not be sensible - but I'll bet they can put a smile on your face :-)  And guess what? The Hostess Twinkie turns 80 today!

James Dewar, a bakery manager in Chicago came up with this shelf-staple and American icon...Hostess cranks out some 500 million of these soft, spongy cakes every year, nutritionally suspect calories that contribute nothing to a sensible diet but a sense of delight.

Indeed, in some social circles, a romantic partner who is sweet, youthful and good-looking but devoid of actual substance is known as a "Twinkie." And like with men, true freedom includes the right to make bad choices.

So here's to you, Spongy King!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          

 

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2010 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission.   Information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd.   

                         Google me!       Follow me on Twitter      My Outside Blog        Find us on Yahoo       Facebook

                                     Stumble        Technorati       Connect with me on LinkedIn        Subscribe to my RSS feed    

 

Choosing an Agent is Like Choosing An Ambassador

Choosing an Agent ... Is Like Choosing An Ambassador...

Intersting post from Jane Peters, Los Angeles Relocation Realtor, and she is spot on with her observation "

All the negotiations prior to and during escrow are handled by these agentsThe right agent can make things happen.  The wrong one can kill a deal."  

This choice will be one of the most important you make.  Of course we want you to "call the Gary McNinch Team".

The Gary McNinch Team home website is www.RentonHomeFinder.com

My twitter handle @RentonHomeFinde

Our facebook page is Gary McNinch on Facebook

My Active Rain website is Gary McNinch Team on ActiveRain


Gary McNinch Team Realtor Renton WA Real Estate Keller Williams Realty Renton WA. Call us Gary McNinch at 206-696-2329 or Robyn Strobeck at 253-261-5252 email Gary@GaryMcNinch.com Serving Renton, Kent, Auburn, Newcastle, Skyway, Fairwood, Renton Highlands and Kennydale and south King and North Pierce counties.

Please tweet us, text us, or send us a snail mail. We like to hear from our many satisfied clients.

Via Jane Peters Los Angeles Living, Los Angeles Homes (Westside Brokers):

So, you are ready to choose an agent to sell your home or to help you in your purchase of a new one.  Flip

How are you going to pick an agent?  Your boss's sister's cousin's wife is a realtor.  She should be good, no?  Your nephew just got his license.  Another good choice, yes?  You know the big-name agent in the area.   He has sent you mailings, knocked on your door and sent you Christmas goodies for years.  The natural choice of course?

Anyone of these people may be the perfect choice, but beware!  This person is not only your representative, they are your ambassador!

GlobeIf you were a nation you would want to make sure that the ambassador you hire to represent you abroad is knowledgeable, sensitive and good with all kinds of people.  Someone who can negotiate with tact. Someone who does not delegate work that they have been hired to do.  Someone who knows the laws of the country.  Someone who can see each project through to a successful end without inflaming the other side and without inciting rebellion.

This is the person you should choose for your realtor. 

The persons front and center in real estate transactions in California are the agents.  Generally the buyer and seller never meet each other.  All the negotiations prior to and during escrow are handled by these agentsThe right agent can make things happen.  The wrong one can kill a deal. The thing an agent dreads most is dealing with a difficult or incompetent agent at the other end.  It makes an already stressful process even more so.

The California purchase agreement is a not a complicated eight-page document in its basic form, but it does have to be filled out correctly to avoid problems later.  Not checking a box or not filling in a blank space can sometimes cause a huge problem later. Not following up also can lose you the deal. Your newbie agent can be fine as long as they assure you that they have an experienced person working closely with them.  This goes for the entire escrow process where all the t's need to be crossed and i's dotted. 
Salesman

That is the practical side.  The personality of the agent is also important.  Are they pleasant?  Are they a people person?  Do they interact well with others?  Especially when you are the buyer, if you are in competition with others on a property, don't you think the seller's agent is going to lean towards someone they are going to be able to work with for the next 30+ days? Things go so much smoother when the two agents work well with and respect each other.

MadI will tell you I was in a deal once, as the seller's agent, where the buyer's agent wined and dined me.  That was Dr. Jekyll.  Once we started escrow Mr. Hyde came out and it was an entirely miserable process.  The agent reflected badly on the buyer.  I wondered if he knew about this other side was also fooled. 

This business is a people business, and a complicated business, not to be taken lightly.  Agents get paid well for their work.  Make sure their work is good.  Choose wisely!

 

 

 

Buying or selling real estate in Los Angeles can be an overwhelming process.  Contact Jane Peters, Los Angeles realtor specializing in absentee owners, relocation to los angeles, and those who need that extra attention, in order to make the transaction a smooth, trouble-free, and fun experience.

Search Los Angeles Homes for Sale.

Digital Signatures - Gary McNinch Team uses Docusign, Do you?

Release from Susan Alberti, from Docusign, about digital signatures in real estate businesses. The Gary McNinch Team uses Docusign to allow our clients to sign contracts without faxing. I used this in the last week to complete an offer and get it accepted for our clients, just before another offer was received.

This is a great time for eCommerce and real estate in particular. 

April 8, 2010, the FHA released a mortagee letter stating its position regarding electronic signatures.  Below is a quick note from DocuSign, chief legal officer, Ken Moyle, who worked so hard to get the mortgagee letter published so you can better implement technology into your real estate business and streamline your processes to provide even better customer service.

"As the chief legal officer at DocuSign, I'd like to share my thoughts, as we applaud FHA's action today. Their decision to clarify their position on electronic signatures will help streamline the sale and financing of homes across the country. Buyers, sellers and agents can use DocuSign's online process to eliminate the time, expense and environmental impact of printing, delivering and signing large stacks of paper documents, and mortgage lenders can take comfort in knowing that DocuSign's e-signature process is designed to be legally compliant in all 50 states and is fully evidenced by a comprehensive audit trail.

The last time Federal Housing Administration released any formal guidance on electronic signatures was way back in 1996.  Over the past 18 months, DocuSign's real estate and mortgage origination customers have made it clear that FHA urgently needed to update and clarify its position on electronic signatures.  And we heard you.

It's now OFFICIAL: E-signed third-party documents, including real estate contracts, are now being accepted by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). 

FHA's lack of guidance was not at the forefront of anyone's mind a couple of years ago when the agency was only involved in two percent of home loans.  But the collapse of financial markets in late 2008 catapulted FHA into the mortgage spotlight almost overnight.   As the new #1 source of funding for nearly half of first time home buyers in 2009, FHA's inability to articulate a clear process for accepting electronically processed documents became a very real problem for those who depended on the agency as a downstream partner.   In fact, in early 2009 we saw some major FHA lenders retreat from their progressive policies toward e-commerce, as they waited for a signal from FHA.

To their credit, staff at the FHA have been pushing for progress for over two years.  It took some early encouragement and help from many concerned parties to help them get this done.  DocuSign began direct conversations with FHA on this issue back in October of 2008, and we shared this blog post about FHA and Lender Acceptance of electronic signature  back in July of last year.

DocuSign spearheaded an industry-wide effort to move the FHA to formally recognize e-signed third-party documents, and the April 6, 2010 dated FHA mortgagee letter is the first in what is expected to be a series of responses to this initiative. With this policy statement from the nation's largest mortgage insurer, real estate professionals can use DocuSign to get real estate contracts, addenda and other documents signed electronically, and their buyers can apply for FHA insurance with confidence. The FHA mortgagee letter can be found at hud.gov.

Thank you to everyone who participated by calling DocuSign and emailing the FHA, NAR or ESRA over the past several months - the FHA mortgagee letter is a result of your support throughout this effort!"

For those who have held off in purchasing DocuSign or in using electronic signatures for your real estate transactions, can now do so with confidence. As the official and exclusive ESIGN provider for the National Association of REALTORS®, and proud partner under the REALTOR Benefits® Program,  DocuSign has a plan to fit your needs.  You can learn more on our website: www.docusign.com/real_estate or www.docusign.com/nar.

The Gary McNinch Team home website is www.RentonHomeFinder.com

My twitter handle @RentonHomeFinde

Our facebook page is Gary McNinch on Facebook

My Active Rain website is Gary McNinch Team on ActiveRain


Gary McNinch Team Realtor Renton WA Real Estate Keller Williams Realty Renton WA. Call us Gary McNinch at 206-696-2329 or Robyn Strobeck at 253-261-5252 email Gary@GaryMcNinch.com Serving Renton, Kent, Auburn, Newcastle, Skyway, Fairwood, Renton Highlands and Kennydale and south King and North Pierce counties.

Please tweet us, text us, or send us a snail mail. We like to hear from our many satisfied clients.

In A Digital World, We're Now A Globally Connected Video Culture

WOW.  I had my 56th birthday last week.  What a change in our world from the days of Super 8 movie cams on tape.

The Gary McNinch Team home website is www.RentonHomeFinder.com

My twitter handle @RentonHomeFinde

Our facebook page is Gary McNinch on Facebook

My Active Rain website is Gary McNinch Team on ActiveRain


Gary McNinch Team Realtor Renton WA Real Estate Keller Williams Realty Renton WA. Call us Gary McNinch at 206-696-2329 or Robyn Strobeck at 253-261-5252 email Gary@GaryMcNinch.com Serving Renton, Kent, Auburn, Newcastle, Skyway, Fairwood, Renton Highlands and Kennydale and south King and North Pierce counties.

Please tweet us, text us, or send us a snail mail. We like to hear from our

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain):

No words needed here, this video speaks volumes....and to think it happened during our lifetime!



   Download The ActiveRain "HELP" Toolbar for your Browser

ActiveRain University Calendar    Real Estate RainCamp     The ActiveRain Manual

Stay in  touch  RSS feed  Twitter  Youtube  Flickr  Facebook  Linkedin