Rate A Home Blog

I just read an article titled "Rate A Cop Web site draws mixed reviews." It was written by the Los Angeles Daily News. Written by Rachel Uranga.

Gino Sesto created a web site www.Ratemycop.com that allows the general public to rate the police officers from around the US. Currently the site is getting over 100,000 hits a day.

The police are in an uproar because they feel the site "endangers officers safety and is ripe for misuse." Therefore the police departments are trying to shut the site down.

What's your thoughts? I feel that rating agents and builders has no different impact then Mr. Sesto's site.

It's been the shortest spring I ever recall.

With the start of spring last week, we enjoyed a day of "decent" weather only to be followed up by nearly 15" of lake effect snow on Friday evening.

The tulips were starting to peak out through the ground, hopefully they are tough enough to weather the Michigan climate.

I've seen a few robins that had made the early trip back home, I'm sure there are a few male birds getting their tails chewed at this point.

I heard on the weather report we can expect more snow tomorrow. Yippee.

Photo compliments of www.92ee.com

I get frustrated watching World Poker Tour when the players don't show their cards to the little camera for the television audience to see.

Many buyer's are approaching the home buying arena keeping their cards hidden from the agent who is representing them. I've heard and read plenty of frustrating moments of trying to read a buyers mind. Meanwhile what could have been a Full House is now washed away like a Royal Flush.

What bugs me is the fact that there is no reason for hidden agenda's between the buyer and their agent. Buyer's should form a team partnership with their agent. Giving the agent the information to win the game for you will be rewarding for both sides.

So how do you "Up Your" hand to win the housing game?

Prepare a personal budget before getting pre-qualified for a mortgage.

Know what you want to buy. Prepare a wish list of only the items you would like in your home.

Locate the agent who is compatible with you and your needs. Meet with the agents, do some research on them, rate the agents you interview. Provide your wish list and any other information that will be important for winning the game.

Be open and up front with your chosen Team Partner (Agent). They are there for your ultimate "all in" hand, but they will need to know what cards are in your hand. Communication is the key to winning the game.

Believe me, your agent wants you to be the winner! A jack pot in a Realtors eyes is a referral from a happy customer. They are not the enemy, they are your partners that can help you stack the deck with the right information.

Buggy by www.92ee.com

Rollie Richardson is a man who experimented with drugs. Mr. Richardson is from Wilmington, Delaware and is known now as "Pastor Delaware."

Rollie was once a college graduate who worked in high-level public relations jobs, Richardson once looked down his nose at the homeless and those addicted to drugs.

Over coming his own addiction, he now pays it forward to the homeless who struggle with the same downfall he experienced.

This morning Mr. Richardson was featured on The Today Show, and what a touching story it was.

You can also read about his accomplishments on The News Journal. Check out what he does for people he doesn't know.

All though I have never met this Great American, my hats off to Rollie Richardson, kudos to you!

ThemThem Group where the 5 P's are the way. Positive People Providing Positive Posts.

Law Enforcement needs our help.

Department of Natural Resources investigators are looking for the person who shot and killed a Bald Eagle in Missaukee County's Enterprise Township, MI in February.
   Investigators first thought the eagle was electrocuted because it was found below power lines.
   Necropsy results came back this week and show the eagle was shot.
   Anyone with information should call the DNR Poaching Hotline: 1-800-292-7800.

   9 & 10's Ted Haller and Photojournalist Stephanie Adkins explain why the timing of the shooting could not be worse.

Read and see the story here.

 Photo's taken by Ted Swoboda or Swoboda Images, Saugatuck, Michigan. 

 Judy is the Executive Officer of The Grand Rapids Home Builders Association (HBA). I am proud to say that I have known Judy for well over 20 years.

Judy has taught me many lessons in life on dealing with people and keeping it positive. A more positive person you will never meet. I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with Judy and her husband Stan over those years.

Judy has been the back bone of the HBA in getting members involved in the community. Helping educate the area in housing needs has been Judy's goal. A well known person at the State and National Association of Home Builders(NAHB), Judy is looked on for input at the highest levels throughout the nation. A New Home advocate to the very end.

Currently The HBA is struggling with membership due to the economy in Michigan. But Judy is being pro-active with the backing of the board and the entire membership to rectify this speed bump in the associations history.

Within NAHB, the HBA ranks 37^th by size out of 850 state and local associations around the country. Much of this is attributed to the dedication and love for the Grand Rapids area from Judy.

Judy is the most phenomenal, outgoing, positive, leader and friend I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I wanted to thank her publicly for being an excellent mentor and a fabulous person.

I love ya Judy.

Thanks again,

Duane

ThemThem a positive post paid forward on that special person who has touched your life. Please join us.

Check out this awesome photo posted on AOL. It came from a research project they were conducting about weasels.

The photo of the wolverine was captured in the northern part of the Sierra Nevada range (Lake Tahoe area) in California by graduate student at Oregon State University, Katie Moriarty.

The wolverines were thought to have left the area many years ago.

In all my years in Michigan, I have never seen our state animal in the wild.

Katie was quoted saying "It was a complete shock. It was not something I would expect by any means."

Read the entire story and view more photos at Camera Spots Wolverine in Sierra Nevada on AOL.

www.aol.com

I just read a beautiful article in The Grand Rapids Press stating hundreds of college students from Calvin and Hope Colleges (2 local colleges) are foregoing their spring breaks to perform community service throughout the world.

When they had a choice to enjoy a view similar to this. Party, release all their pent up energy that has built up over the past few semesters, the choice to give it all up to help those in needs is unbelievable!

Instead they choose to deal with views similar to this. How awesome that there are caring young people that step forward and put others first.

I know there are college students across the US that are doing the same this spring break. Please share them with us.

To all the students that have opted out of the normal beach get aways and parties my hats off to you!

ThemThem Group, where Positive People Provide Positive Posts.

Storm raveged barn photo provided by www.freefoto.com

Here's a game to take your mind off of work for a bit. The object is to locate the person featured in the photo's below. Plus it will help everyone get familiarized with the featured Active Rain Member.

Use a second hand or timer before starting your search and post your time result in the comments section. We'll see who has the quickest eye on Active Rain. I will change the featured Active Rain Member periodically to present you with a new challenge.

Challenge for 07.09.08: Where is Jeremy Blanton? Jeremy is a REALTOR® from Myrtle Beach, SC. He's also a new daddy!

Start your time as soon as you are familiar with the featured members photo. (If you are unfamiliar with the featured member, simply click on the name and check out the photo along with their profile) To determine if you are correct, click on the featured members photo.

The Wall of Fame photo's are the members of the ThemThem Group. Join us and we'll add your mug shot.

If you see one of these,  it means one of our Group members has changed their profile photo since it was posted here.

The ThemThem Group is officially one month old today and boasting 445 members. Bravo to all of you, and a special thanks for helping the Group grow through your positive energy, along with your invites to others.

There have been so many awesome posts to some well deserving people. Already, Moms, Dads, children, co-workers, Active Rain members, companies, Doctors, restaurant workers and pets have all received ThemThem's from the positive Group members.

I wanted to thank each and everyone of you for submitting your input and votes during our group decision of what we would allow to be posted. Over the past week and a half we streamlined the posts and are following the groups decision. I found it hard personally to omit some of the previous posts that didn't meet the groups guidelines and I'm sorry if I offended anyone due to this. Thank you for following the posting guidelines we implemented as a group.

All of you have found the answer, by giving that caring pat on the back to others is rewarding to ones sole.

Here's to the positive people who are the ThemThem Group. Paying it forward one compliment at a time.

Members List for the Who's Who of The ThemThem Group.

The five P's apply: Positive People Providing Positive Posts.

Below is our one month Family Photo, join us.

As if Real Estate isn't struggling enough, I read an article today on the WSJ Online that states, banks and mortgage companies have a "Black List" (of course they don't refer to the list as that) circulating internally.

The list includes, what they term as slow or soft markets that create a high risk for mortgage providers.

The chances of these tagged markets recovering any time soon will lie in the lenders hands. I understand the mortgage companies concerns, but some where the (hate to say it) government is going to have to step in and come to the rescue. Although, if they are insuring the loans, they may be part of the "Black List" movement.

 I'm reading posts where states are pouring millions of dollars into Foreclosure counseling. That I don't understand, seems like the money would go better towards helping out with payments. I'm sure a few million wouldn't touch the problem, but it could hurt either.

So where does this all bring us, where do the future buyers go from here? Mom, Dad help?

Book by http://www.92ee.com/

Do you really know what your looking for in your Dream Home, Condo or Rental search?

Don't do your home work up front and you may end up in the dog house.

One of the best first steps is putting together a Wish List of your needs. If you are working with a buyers agent, builder or leasing agent, provide them with your wish list to streamline the search.

You can choose to e-mail the Wish List directly to your agent or builder in advance of your first meeting. This way everyone is on the same page and not chasing your tails in a circle.

Agents and builders can choose to link the wish list program into thier web site as a lead generator (No cost to utilize this system).

Doggy photo by www.92ee.com