judyo's Blog: All Categories

I'm saying that a lot lately.  It's sad watching the sellers' faces fall as I show them the reality of today's market.  Just yesterday I had to tell a senior woman whose family wants her to sell (because they fear for her safety in the town she lives in) that her house is probably worth around what she paid for it many, many years ago.  I could see the tears forming in her daughter's eyes and had to listen to the outrage of her son (not aimed at me personally, thank goodness).

The home owner had a mix of jubilance (she didn't want to move) and confusion on how the home she so lovingly cared for could be worth so little.  She lives in a town I don't work in much and only took it on because it was a referral from a friend.  This was a town that was always…

I was very happy to see that Morgan was putting on another REW Summit this year.  After attending last year's gathering I couldn't wait for the next one.  I originally planned to go without thinking twice about it.

However, I had hoped my husband could go on the trip with me and that we could spend a day or two in Seattle and at least one day in Victoria.  But my husband has a heavy schedule with his band in the summer and told me I'd have to go without him.  So I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that again.

Add to that the fact that we purchased a townhouse in Scottsdale, AZ at the beginning of the year and I won't even mention how much we spent on the purchase and furnishing the place.  Not to mention the 3 trips we've already taken and the fact that…

A highly respected tribe leader that had settled in Indiana was upset over a competing tribe member advertising his caves for sale.  He brought his grievance up with his local higher powers named MIBOR.

MIBOR wasn't sure how to interpret these ancient scrolls and they contacted the highest powers that be  called NAR.  Together, they reviewed these ancient scrolls to come to an agreed upon interpretation.

Even though the complaining tribe leader had signed an agreement of reciprocity, he did not understand what that meant.  He did not like sharing his wares with others.  He wanted to be the only tribe allowed to sell his inventory of caves.  Any cave buyers had to come directly to him to purchase his inventory.

Smoke Signals

You see, this…

Palos Park, IL is one of the highest priced southwest suburbs and is a very desirable place to live.  The average price for a Palos Park home for sale in 2008 was $543,485.  It was started as an artist's community many years ago and offers a rural feel that is still close to downtown Chicago.  In fact, you can jump on the Metra train that has a stop in this prestigious village.

I showed a very unique home yesterday that looked cute in the MLS print-out.  I was excited to see it myself.  The age is unknown but this cute and unique home has been there for quite some time. 

We drove up to the circular driveway and noticed the quaint cape cod style home nestled in a forest-full of trees - something Palos Park is famous for.  Before we went inside, we stepped…

OK, I'm finally calming down after taking a break to watch the end of Judge Judy and eat a Fiber One version of a Pop Tart.  Ahhh, my blood pressure is coming down.  I was driving this afternoon for what seemed like hours, and I suppose it was close to it - well, at least more than an hour.

I sold a foreclosure located much closer to my home than the listing office.  But I had to hand deliver the earnest money and originals of the contract and the addendums.  I did not have time to Fed Ex them because the buyer was too busy since we got the go ahead that our offer would be accepted and was only able to get certified funds today.

I hate to drive

I had never stepped foot in the town I needed to travel to but I did kind of know where it was.  And I knew…

I've had a seller for quite some time that finally got an offer on his Lockport townhouse for sale.  The original offer was within $10,000 of his new, lower list price.  Not bad in today's market.  But I couldn't get him to budge from his asking price.

After much chiding from the buyer's agent, I kept my cool and told him that my seller feels he can get full price, maybe not today, but soon.  The agent came back with an offer only $5,000 off list price.  My seller would still not budge.

My seller used to be a real estate agent

I have dealt with many ex-agents over the years and they know enough to be dangerous.  When I requested him to initial the area on the contract that states he was rejecting the offer, he got angry and told me that isn't…

My real estate partner meets a lot of people due to her bartending job in Orland Park, IL.  She met a guy a while back that was having a beer because his wife was shopping in the nearby Orland Park mall.  My partner, a friend I met in 6th grade, has a way with words and has no shame to admit she is a REALTOR and a bartender. 

She owned a couple of her own bars but sold her last one a couple years ago and went back into real estate.  Another REALTOR friend is part-owner of a popular restaurant/lounge and offered her a postion, which she gladly accepted.  She brings in the clients and I do most of the rest of the work.  She isn't computer literate but likes to sit open houses so we work well together.

So this guy actually calls us as his listing was about…

I have passed up more listings in the past year than I have the entire 26 years I've been in the business, and it's leaving me questioning if maybe I should take a break with my current listing system.  I just returned home from a listing presentation for an Oak Forest condominium for sale that was an expired listing but these sellers cannot afford to sell right now.

I get listing appointments from people finding my websites, referrals and past clients.  I also send out a postcard program to expireds and fsbos, although there aren't many fsbo's left in my area.  My websites are already up so unless I want to pay someone to help me create a landing page or something special for sellers, I can let my sites do the work they're already performing.

I'm…