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It all started with an innocent question about 301 redirects and Google. I had one url “301”d (as the cool kids say) from my old website to my current REW website when it went live. My previous website had some relevant back-links - so there was some “Google love” there. And a good man or woman knows never to turn down love from the big G. The way I understand it, that’s the most “organic” purpose of the “301” -- to tell the SEs "hey, I'm changing locations permanently but p... Read Full Post

Remember those wonderful Safe MLS tokens that we told you about? The ones we need to carry with us at all times in order to log into the multiple listing service? The ones that are sweeping the "realtor nation", from Bethesda, MD to San Clemente, CA? The ones that Kevin was threatening to wear in the shower? We have a token alert…. and you’ll love this. According to an email just received, “Clareity Security (MRIS’s token provider) and Secure Computing (the token manufacturer) have ac... Read Full Post

The most recent edition of Money Magazine ranks Bethesda as one of the top 25 earning towns in the United States. Although not a surprise to those of us who live and work here, it’s always nice to get this recognition. The article cites some of the top employers in the area and also gives the community kudos for its “lively arts and culture scene.” Contributing Blogger - Gretchen Koitz Read Full Post

First confession – I’m a member of MRIS (don’t blame me, it’s not like I had a choice). Second confession – I’m not sure what MRIS has done for me (except perhaps make my job harder). MRIS is a microcosm of what happens when a company gets too large. It becomes bureaucratic, short-sighted and even manages to forget about the desires of its customers. But since every cloud has a silver lining I wanted to share some exciting news about MRIS’ new “canned” IDX solution and all o... Read Full Post

When it comes to condos in the Greater Bethesda area (and most of DC Metro area for that matter), it seems as though developers are missing out on the “out”. Huh? What I mean is that they aren’t paying enough attention to outside spaces – they have interior square footage “tunnel vision”. More and more new buildings are being constructed in Bethesda and beyond with little, if any, balcony or terrace space…and rooftop space (except perhaps very small, communal areas) are almost n... Read Full Post

If you’re a home seller in this current market, you may find yourself in a position of having to make a price “correction” (that’s realtors’ lingo for “reduction”) if your property doesn’t sell in a reasonable amount of time. But, how do you know when to make that reduction…and how much to reduce? The answer lies in knowing what’s happening around you and, to a certain extent, in personal motivation. As many of you know, I am currently selling my own home. This is somethin... Read Full Post

“Everyone around here is too scared to look out the window and see that it's not raining” I’d love to take credit for coming up with that statement, but I can’t take ownership. It is a quote from a lender concerning his organization and he used it after telling me that his underwriters had refused a loan that would have been a legitimate “gimme” a year ago and should have been the same today. I don’t want to use his name, or the name of his organization, but it’s probably impo... Read Full Post

When, as part of the Economic Stimulus Package, it was announced that the FHA would raise their loan limits, members of both the housing and the banking industries rejoiced. With the tightening of lending regulations (some justified, some an over-correction) this would help “free” up money and stimulate home buying. Like every other real estate agent across the country, I was faced with the task of (re) learning the rules of FHA mortgages…but it was a relatively easy task because opport... Read Full Post

Dear MRIS, I’m writing this letter in regards to your new “SafeMLS Token”. You know, the oval shaped piece of plastic with the LCD that looks like it came straight out of a 1980s digital wrist watch – the one with the button I push that gives me a new passcode that’s required every time I need to log into my MRIS account. The “Token” that I therefore have to have with me at all times in order to do my job. Yeah, just wanted to thank you for making my job that much more complicat... Read Full Post

So, lately I’ve been reading the business section of both the Washington Post and the New York Times. With the real estate industry so tied to the economic news, and more specifically to the banking news, it just seems that it makes sense to stay up on what’s happening in that sector. On Tuesday, the front page of the Business Day section of the New York Times has a story about the JPMorgan purchase of Bear Stearns. A photo accompanies the article. It shows two men in white shirts, ties a... Read Full Post