For those of you who are unaware of it, you have to be HUD certified in order to make an offer on a HUD listing. You can procure your own HUD key, and show the homes for sale, you just can’t help your client make an offer without being certified. This takes about 8 to 10 wells to do.

 Now with that being said, let’s talk about a funny little thing called disclosure. Would it not seem only right that a HUD listing be required to disclose this information on their listings, so people are aware of this fact? I sure think that it would be a disclosure issue in my opinion, but I could be alone.

 Well, when my good friend Suzanne McLaughlin decided she would check into this, her MLS told her that it should be disclosed. She was then nice enough to call and get a response from HUD on the subject and explain to them that they needed to disclose that information in their listings on the MLS or they would be subject to fines from her local board.

 Their response was basically the title of the post. They were unconcerned about the rules and regulations that the rest of us have to follow. They feel as if they are about following the rules, after all they are HUD. So what do you think? Should they be above the rules?

 I take real issue with the belief that Government run organizations should be able to ignore the rules that the rest of us must follow so closely. I flat out take offense to their answer to Suzanne, but it’s exactly what I would expect out of a Government entity. Sad that I would.

 So here’s your chance to make a believer out of me. Tell me I’m an idiot for being offended, a fool for wasting your time while reading this post, or tell me that you don’t like the people your tax money pays treating us like second hand citizens. Tell me something rather than looking the other way and letting it go.

 Searching for Columbia, SC Homes for sale and haven’t settled on a community, maybe you should take a look at Pickwick Place in Northeast Columbia. Pickwick Place is located off of North Brickyard Road in Northeast Columbia, which runs between Two Notch Road and Farrow Road.

Pickwick Place is a mostly vinyl sided community with brick accents and is convenient to I-77 and I-20. Only 20 to 25 minutes away from Fort Jackson and 5 minutes away from all the shopping and dinning you could want along Two Notch Road and The Village at Sandhill.

Pickwick Place offers a great location for home owners looking to commute to Southeast Columbia, any part of Northeast Columbia, or downtown Columbia. Homes start in the low 100′s and the tree lined streets offer a wonderful, well established look for buyers who are looking for more shade than some new home communities can provide.

 So if you are searching for Columbia, SC homes for sale, you may want to take a look at this little community. It might be the perfect place for your first home or your next home.

 Columbia, SC Real Estate

 Without a doubt it’s here to stay in one form or fashion, and more and more people are making use of it. I got friend request on Facebook a couple months ago from my Mother, so now I know that everyone truly is on there. I would think that any or all of these places, provided you use them correctly, can be an excellent addition to your business plan and marketing strategy. After all, you do want to go where the people go and obviously for now, the people are interested in Social Media.

But in the process of maintaining that online presence, try to remember the original Social Media. Actually going out in the public and meeting people. Your website is a fantastic form of advertising, so is your blog and anything else that you may have in your arsenal. But nothing will represent you better than yourself.

 So don’t forget to make the most of opportunities to go to parties or get togethers and actually meet people in person. Some of the best friend requests you’ll ever make consists of walking up to a stranger and introducing yourself with a handshake.

 One thing is for sure when it comes to Columbia, SC foreclosures, the feeding frenzy is on. The fact of the matter is that foreclosed homes for sale in Columbia, SC have managed to garner a lot of attention from buyers who are in the market to get a good deal. Frankly most of them that I have seen and shown are not exactly what I would call move in ready, but the they get attention from buyers none the less.

 The obvious reasoning behind this is the exhausted media discussion over the amount of foreclosed homes nationwide. Well, we have a slightly different situation here in Columbia. Foreclosed homes do not drive our market, new construction homes from builders and new home communities do. I consider us lucky in this respect and there are a lot of great deals to be had on brand new homes, plus builders are rolling out some great incentives to spark the interest of buyers.

But if you are a buyer in search of Columbia, SC foreclosures, you can find them. If you happen to see one that is in good condition, you may want to make a move on it, but your competition is definitely there. Most foreclosed homes for sale in Columbia see immediate attention due to buyer interest in them as well as their tendency to be priced below market value. If the home is in good condition however, it can quickly and easily receive several offers in a relatively short period of time.

 With that being said, you need to be sure you are aware of what market value is on a home, because if you are looking for a deal, the last thing you want to do is over pay. However, some buyers simply fall in love with a particular home and are more than willing to do just that. You just need to be sure that you are well informed and prepared to deal with the hurdles that inevitably accompany the purchase of a foreclosed home. And be sure you expect the competition, because it will be there.

Columbia, SC Homes for Sale

 In this day and age of doom and gloom it’s always nice to hear some good news. According to Forbes Magazine, Columbia, SC is one of the fastest recovering markets in the nation.

 The list was on the front page of Yahoo today and uses as always, several key factors in determining which U.S. are currently recovering the fastest. The Columbia, SC Metro area ranked 35 on that list. I’d say to be number 35 out of all the cities in the United States sounds pretty good to me.

 To read the full report and see the complete list, please click here.

Columbia, SC Real Estate 

Seems that a trend has begun to develop among several larger cities throughout the United States. That trend is to allow chicken coops within the city limits. Now, Columbia itself is giving consideration to this trendy way to have fresh eggs without relocating from an urban setting.

 Columbia, SC is now moving to vote on an ordinance that would allow chicken coops for the purpose of fresh eggs within the city limits. Owners would have to pay $100 a year inspection fee, coops must meet certain size requirements, they must not be in front or side yards, owners must clean droppings regularly, Roosters would be banned, and owners could possess up to four Hens. These are some of the highlights of the proposed ordinance and of course there are more.

 In the business of real estate, you can get more advice than you could ever want or need and you don’t even have to ask. My favorite advice of all time is the cookie cutter advice you receive from those that believe there is only one way to do anything. The same people feel that there is only one way to conduct real estate and frankly I’m not afraid to say that they are wrong. There are a million ways to say the same thing, pop music has proved this, and there are many ways to become a successful agent as well.

 Wise man thought #1 – All successful agents are cut from the same cloth. WRONG! Many successful agents have similar traits like persistence, consistence, and positive attitude. These are simply traits, not entire personalities. The fact of the matter is that while you can certainly learn from successful agents and some of their traits are fantastic to embrace, it doesn’t mean you need to completely mirror anyone. You can take what you need and leave the rest. By this I mean that putting your own twist on proved techniques will work far better for you than attempting to completely reinvent yourself in an unnatural way.

 Wise man thought #2 – Turn your weaknesses into strengths. Not so much. You can spend an eternity trying to do just this and frankly you could be spending that time being more productive. Your weaknesses are just that weaknesses. It’s best to know what they are for the sake of awareness, but you’d be far better served by focusing on your strengths rather than your weaknesses. Everyone has something that makes them unique and virtually every agent has something that if harnessed and used properly can make them great with effort, creativity, and hard work. But, you must focus on those attributes that set you apart, or your strengths. Focusing on your weaknesses in an effort to make them strengths takes far too much time, energy, and effort and if you make make it a strength then it’s not really a weakness in the first place.

 Wise man thought #3- This works for everyone. WRONG! There is nothing in this business that works for everyone in this business. What works for me may not work at all for you and what works for you may not work at all for me. It doesn’t make either of us better or worse at this business, it just makes us different. No matter who you are, you are an individual and you have to find what works for you. Whether it’s technology due to your strong understanding of computers, your ability to strike up conversation with a brick wall, or your ability to be creative something will work for you and you need to find that and focus on it. No one is or should be completely cookie cutter.

 Wise man thought #4 – You need a certain look. WRONG! I conduct business a lot in a suit and a tie, but the fact of the matter is that you don’t need either one to be successful. I do it because I feel comfortable doing so. You may feel more comfortable in dress pants and a polo shirt. Whatever you feel like is right for you, then that’s likely the best thing for you. I know a very successful agent in my office that was one of my mentors when I first entered the business. She is very proper, very professional, and always dressed to impress. Another agent that also took me under her wing is a human explosion that bursts into a room like a small tornado and I have never to this day in or out of work seen her in anything I would remotely consider dress apparel. The two could not be more different in personality or appearance, but they both do just fine. You have to find what works for you.

Wise man thought #5 – Consistency always works. WRONG! Consistency with a technique or marketing that works will prove fruitful. Consistency with a bad idea is a waste of time, money, and effort. If you’re exhausting your resources with efforts that are showing no return, then it’s time to change your approach. You can be persistent in your efforts to punch through a brick wall with your bare hands, but in the end, all you’ll get are bloody knuckles and not much else. However, if you change your approach and go buy a ladder, you’ll be over that wall in no time. Every area is different and so is the marketing and advertising that works for it. You need to find out what works from a marketing standpoint in your area and exploit that form of advertising. Paying $2,000 a month for newspaper ads in an area where they just don’t work is little more than a waste of money you could be spending on something that will work.

 This list could truly go on for a lot longer, but frankly I’m no wise man and I don’t want to take up anymore of your valuable time. It’s just a little something to think about as you take a look at how you’re currently conducting business and how you plan to in the year to come.

 Looking fornew home communities in Blythewood, SC, maybe you should take a look at Cobblestone Park. Cobblestone Park in Blythewood, SCis beautiful gated community located just off of Blythewood Road. Less than 2 minutes away from I-77, Cobblestone Park is easy to reach from all parts of the greater Columbia area. It’s only 30 minutes from downtown Columbia, SC and about 20 minutes from Fort Jackson.

 Cobblestone Park in Blythewood, SC is a golf course community with a clubhouse, gated access, a wonderful amenities package, tennis courts, and a community center with a gym. Cobblestone is only 15 minutes away from the Village at Sandhill, and all the shopping and dinning you could want in Northeast Columbia, SC. There are also two grocery stores and several restaurants located along Blythewood road, within 2 or 3 minutes of the main gate

All the amenities and a gorgeous community await you in Blythewood, SC. Close to everything but not too close. You can enjoy an active lifestyle with tennis, golf, swimming, and the fitness center, or just relax and enjoy the beauty and comfort of this stunning community.

 Homes for sale in Cobblestone Park start out in the high 200′s and reach all the way to the high 600′s at present. There are a wide variety of attractive plans available to meet the needs of anyone in search of a new home. A wide variety of options and upgrades also ensure your ability to make any house you build a home of your own, with a true custom feel.

 So if you’re in search of a new home in Blythewood, SC, take a look at Cobblestone Park.

 Just when I was ready to give up all hope on Congress after what I have seen from them in my lifetime, they have made a believer out of me and all our problems seem to be a breath away from under control. According to the news they are now planning on passing a bill that will not allow only college bowl game to use the title “National Championship” unless it results from a playoff. That’s right, the U.S. Congress is poised to take down the BCS and ensure that college football has a playoff system rather than bowl games where some team always has the complaint that they were cheated by not being given a true shot at the title.

This story quickly reminded me of why I rarely watch the news anymore and why I really don’t like Congress. With all the problems that are currently facing our nation, we have to take valuable time for our civil servants to stop doing something useful and get involved in college football. I mean we are only at war, in a recession, have a housing crisis, and a huge unemployment rate, but really all these things can wait. We need a college football playoff system.

 Barring the fact that I wouldn’t mind seeing a playoff system at some point, do we really need Congress involved? Find something better to do with your time! Try to actually solve and issue or two that will help the people who had to put you in office. Not since the Congressional hearings on steroid use in baseball have I thought more that Congress should just go ahead and give up. If this is the leadership we have, then we just have no right to complain about the shape the world is in. Try hard to fix your situation as an individual, because you are certainly not getting any help from those that represent you. Unless of course you are a TCU fan, because they may have been a little cheated by the BCS this year.

9- There is no excuse for poor performance.- If you want to ensure that you will lose listings and buyers, then don’t do a good job. You will drop them like flies and you will no longer have to deal with them. While of course everyone has issues in their lives, your clients shouldn’t suffer because of them.

8- Be prepared.- When you’re not on appointments, then prepare for future appointments. Know your market and be ready when opportunity presents itself.

7- Be professional.- That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a sense of humor or that you have to be a complete stiff throughout the process, but you need to be a professional first. No matter how many homes your client has bought or sold, you should be the most knowledgeable in the crowd and you are their to provide them with a service, so be sure that they know you are the professional in the equation.

6- You have to advertise.- At some point your career you may have enough of a costumer base that you can simply focus on referrals and let the business come to you. I assure you that takes a while so unless you’re incredibly blessed at the beginning of your career, then you’re going to have to spend a little time and money advertising. Businesses that succeed rarely do so through luck or by mistake, but many of them have managed to succeed through their advertising efforts. Watch what the successful agents in your area do and focus your advertising accordingly.

5- If you’re not ready to fight, then don’t throw the first punch.- It’s no secret that in this day and age there is a reduced number of buyers and sellers out there making a run at the market. That doesn’t mean that you can’t succeed, you certainly can, but you will have to work for it. There will be lots of competition out there from your fellow agents who remain in the business and you have to be willing to compete for the business.

4- Ask for the business.- One of the easiest ways to get business is also one of the most overlooked techniques in real estate. ASK FOR THE BUSINESS. It’s rare that people will simply volunteer to work with you, so you need to let them know that you want to work with them.

3- Your reputation is GOLD, protect it as such.- There is nothing in the world worth ruining your reputation. You can spend years building a solid reputation as good person and a fair businessman, and in one breath you can blow it all. So, don’t go there, if a situation seems questionable, think about the future of your business rather than the current state of your bank account.

2- If you were wrong, then admit it.- If you are wrong in a situation, and you will be at some point, then you have to be willing to swallow your pride, cast aside you ego, and do the right thing by admitting that you were. Your clients will respect your ability to tell the truth and even if they don’t, it’s still the right thing to do, so you better do it.

1- There is no replacement for education.- Learn everything that you can about this business. From marketing and advertising, to sales techniques, and your local area. The possibilities to study aspects of real estate that could help your business are truly endless, you just have to be willing to learn. The second you decide to stop learning, you put yourself and your clients at a disadvantage, and you make the decision that your business will stop growing.