Category Archives: Uncategorized

08/14/12

A Dream Vacation Boca Grande Style

Completely Furnished Rental Accommodations Managed by Boca Grande Real Estate, Inc. Boca Grande, Florida – Directly on the Gulf of Mexico

Click on map to view property in corresponding area.

Boca Grande Gasparilla Island, Florida
Directly on the Gulf of Mexico and Charlotte Harbor. It isn’t necessary to leave the country to enjoy a dream vacation on a peaceful, beautiful island. Even as you leave the mainland and cross the little toll bridge, it is like entering another world. On the right, the glistening blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico gently lap the white sandy beach. Beckoning from the left is the vast expanse of charlotte Harbor – edged with mazes of lush, uninhabited isles, coves and bays – unchanged since the Calusa Indians fished these same waters for centuries past. From the late 1800′s to the present, Boca Grande has attracted people seeking tranquility in a picturesque, natural environment…the ultimate get-away for a weekend or longer. Where time seems to stand still.

Fully furnished private residences:

  • Townhouse Villas, Condominium Apartments
  • Private homes inland and on the beach
  • Available by the week, month, season or weekend

 

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08/14/12

If I Had a Hammer…

I’ve spent most of the last year thinking about how not to be a real estate agent. Well, more precisely, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how not to be perceived as “just another agent.” It’s led me to focus 110% of my

energy on the quality of service that I deliver to my clients. It’s led me to create a value proposition that is different than what most people expect from a real estate agent. It’s led me to ask myself a simple but important question every single day — “Why should anyone choose to do business with me?”

But it’s occurred to me that simply avoiding becoming a stereotype isn’t necessarily the same as adopting the right value propostion or delivering the right kind of service to clients. And it’s also occurred to me that I shouldn’t be the only one answering my daily question, “Why should anyone choose to do business with me?” In fact, it would be really valuable to let anyone but me answer that question. So now you can.

How do you define the perfect real estate agent? What special service would delight you beyond your own expectations? How would we do business together? What would our relationship be like? If you’re buying a home, when would you want my assistance (and wouldn’t you?)? If you’re selling a home and you had the chance to work with the greatest realtor in the universe, what would your expectations be?

One thing I’ve learned is that if you’re reading this blog, you’re not the least bit shy. So don’t pull any punches. Think back to that compelling voice-over at the beginning of The Six Million Dollar Man…”We can make him better…stronger…”

So what are you waiting for?

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08/10/12

IS THE ECONOMY FINALLY COOLING? SACRAMENTO MORTGAGE RATE UPDATE

The benchmark 30 year conforming fixed rate mortgage ended the week essentially unchanged from last week.  Freddie Mac’s weekly survey showed an average of 6.16% with .8 points cost for the western U.S.

WEDNESDAY’S FOMC MEETING

The Fed meeting adjourned Wednesday without any change to key short-term interest rates. This was widely expected, however the Fed went on to express continued concern about inflation and wage pressures, creating volatility in late trading.

PPI & Retail Sales

On Friday, the core PPI rate reported flat for the second month in a row, increasing hope for a Fed easing of rates later in the year.  Compounding the sentiment was a decline in April retail sales, the biggest drop since September and worse than expected.  Earlier in the week a spike in consumer revolving debt use—mostly credit cards—to 9.2% in April from 2.9% in March indicating that consumers will continue to prop up the economy even if it means increasing debt to do it.

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