Southern Realtor Network Caravan Weekly Newsletter - 28 May 2009

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The Southern REALTOR Network The Southern Realtor Network of the Birmingham MLS meets every Thursday morning at 9:00 am at Ruby Tuesday, Highway 31 N, Vestavia. The meeting includes a light breakfast. WAGON MASTERS Bruce Ludwig RealtySouth Vestavia 979-6400 Ron Alexander RE/MAX Advantage 296-1515

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The REALTORS will have a chance to make announcements along with the Birmingham Association of REALTORS (BAR). You will have a chance to present any old and new listings, with which you may need assistance. You will also be able to discuss both buyers’ and sellers’ needs. Networking begins at 8:45am and gives you the chance to meet with

Gloria Jackson First Federal Mortgage

965-2167 Call to sign up for Thursday Breakfast

We would like to thank Ruby Tuesday for allowing our caravan to meet at their location at no charge. Please remember to email Kimberly Boackle of AmeriCapital Mortgage, no later than noon on Wednesdays, to add your listings for the next newsletter. Please remember to include MLS #s. Thanks!!

Duties to Realtors

Sandra Carr Martha Moody Smith RELI Inc 999-0207

other REALTORs and affiliates of the BAR. The charge is $3 per person, which goes to our charity, FAMILY CONNECTION. Please visit their website at http://familyconnectioninc.org.

Standard of Practice 16-14

REALTORS® are free to enter into contractual relationships or to negotiate with sellers/ landlords, buyers/tenants or others who are not subject to an exclusive agreement but shall not knowingly obligate them to pay more than one commission except with their informed consent.

Standard of Practice 16-15

In cooperative transactions REALTORS® shall compensate cooperating REALTORS® (principal brokers) and shall not compensate nor offer to compensate, directly or indirectly, any of the sales licensees employed by or affiliated with other REALTORS® without the prior express knowledge and consent of the cooperating broker.

Standard of Practice 16-16

REALTORS®, acting as subagents or buyer/tenant representatives or brokers, shall not use the terms of an offer to purchase/lease to attempt to modify the listing broker’s offer of compensation to subagents or buyer/tenant representatives or brokers nor make the submission of an executed offer to purchase/lease contingent on the listing broker’s agreement to modify the offer of compensation.

Published by AmeriCapital Mortgage - 205.278.5200 Email: [email protected] Fax to 205.278.5290

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Calendar of Events Mon, 1 June 10am

PR Task Force

Mon, 1 June 11am

PR Committee

Tue - Thu 2 - 4 June

2009 AAR Summer Meeting

Wed, 3 June Noon

WCR

Thu, 4 June 2pm

Grievance Committee

Fri, 5 June 9am

IMAPP MLS Workshop

Mon, 8 June 12:30pm

Ethics Hearing Panel

Mon, 8 June 1pm

Ethics Hearing

Wed, 10June 11am

Membership Committee

Wed, 10 June 1:30pm

MLS Committee

Thu, 11 June 8:15am

BCRC Task Force

Thu, 11 June 9am

Orientation

Fri, 12 June 8:30am

CCIM

Fri, 12 June 9am

MLS Basic

Fri, 12 June 11am

Introduction to IMAPP

Fri, 12 June 1:30pm

MLS Advanced

Ken Giglio - 370 370--1296 $1500 per month

Beautiful 3,000 sq ft town house sits right on the 1st fairway of Inverness Golf and Country Club off a private street. Two master suites, 2 other large bedrooms, fenced back (pets welcome) and all appliances. Just like living at a resort.

Carl Davis - 563.2321 301 Hidden Creek Trail, Pelham - $950 per month

3BA/2BR on a fenced corner lot with fireplace in living room and covered patio

825 Meriweather Dr., Calera - $1,000 per month

3BA/2BR on fenced lot with fireplace in living room, master on main level and one-car garage

Call Mark Boackle or Jim Nerios for all your mortgage needs:

AmeriCapital Mortgage - 205-278-520o or 800-818-6174

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What Every FSBO Fears*** *** This is the final section of the FSBO article I have been sharing over the past several weeks. I did not want to skip the “final tactic,” but in reviewing it, I have judged It may be truly offensive to some of you. Be warned! Broker John Veneziano is not out to scare any one. Instead, he's on a mission. And you can tell... When he talks about it, he gets fired up and passionate. Immediately you know this guy is genuine. What is John so worked up about? Simply this: FSBOs and their willingness to welcome strangers into their homes. John can't understand why anyone would EVER let a stranger into their home. In a chaotic, unpredictable world, a person's home is their last sanctuary. And an unpredictable stranger can very easily violate that sanctuary.

That's why John doesn't have a problem approaching FSBOs and saying, "Are you crazy?" Commission v. Family "What is your family worth?" he'll then ask. "Don't you realize that you are going to let strangers into your house? Would you let the cable guy or the phone guy in with out an appointment? What about the dozen or more people who want to see your house? If they drive up, are you going to let them in?" Like a deer trapped in headlights, they stare blankly at him. "Or what about a phone call like this: 'I saw your ad in the paper this morning and was wondering if you'd be around Monday about 2pm?' 'No, can't do that, my wife and I'll be at work,' you say. 'Fine, how about 6pm?' 'Great. See you then.' "Then the next day around 2pm your house is broken into." "Or how about a call like this: 'I live in a bad neighborhood and my family and I want to move. Is your neighborhood safe?' 'Sure,' you proudly respond with your big, strong voice, 'so safe nobody even needs an alarm.' Know what happens? You guessed it, that very home is burglarized the next day." John says these are just a few of the things that could happen. A creative criminal could come up with a dozen things to say or do to an unsuspecting FSBO. Then John will confront the FSBO with this: "Listen, when I don't come home from a showing, my wife knows to call the police. Who knows that you've been showing a home to a stranger? Who's gonna call the police for you?" The typical response is, "I didn't think of that." REALTORS Are Worth Their Commission Then, John changes tactics. He says, "On average, it takes me 60 days to sell a house with the help of 300 other agents and their 1500 pre-qualified buyers. "I know you want to save commission, but qualified buyers will generally gravitate to the homes that are sold by reputable brokers because they represent 97% of the homes for sale. "FSBOs, on the other hand, who have only 3% of the homes for sale attract less-than desirable traffic...buyers who also want to save the commission will look for FSBOs...and don't be shocked when they beat you up on price. The commission you're wanting to save, they will easily take." "What if I just try," says the FSBO, "and in 3 weeks, if it's not sold, I'll call you." "And you still feel okay letting strangers in during that time?" John says. "Listen, why don't you just do the right thing and protect your family and let us help you sell your house safely, quickly and for more money. You have nothing to lose." You'll Never Forget John Veneziano John said that the classic response from a FSBO when confronted with this argument is usually resistance. He explains it's human nature..."They don't want to look like they're wrong, stupid or foolish. But eventually they come around. And you know what, they'll always remember me as the guy who got in their face to protect them." To some, John's approach may appear to rely on sensational or deceptive tactics to get the listing. John angrily disagrees... "When you've had 3 colleagues in the past brutalized or murdered by criminals disguised as 'buyers,' I think you too would make it your mission to educate the public about the dangers of going FSBO." Of the 3 colleagues, only one survived. She was raped, beaten and had her throat slit while showing an empty home. Fortunately she crawled to a phone that was supposed to be disconnected and called for help. The other's weren't so lucky. One was raped, strangled, found dead on the side of the road. The other shot dead while a "buyer" stole his car.

Network Notations: Thank you to Barry Lawrence and Madison Lawrence (Hometown Mortgage 980.7285) and Lloyd Payne (State Farm 978.7378), for providing this morning’s breakfast and two cookbook door prizes. Please call Gloria Jackson (First Federal Mortgage), 965.2167, to sign up for a Thursday breakfast; we are a sad group without our morning victuals. Don’t forget to dine at Ruby Tuesday’s and let them know that you are a member of the caravan - They are truly generous in allowing us to use their facility every week for FREE. Your $3 weekly donation is able to go straight to our charity. Welcome back to our weekly jokester, Charles Heaton!! MLS changes coming through a new Virtual Office Website (VOW) platform. Your “Active Keys” will all be needing to be replaced

Upcoming Events: Vestavia Hills “I Love America” Series - Held at Wald Park 6:30pm; free

swimming, food, fun for adults and children and a movie at dusk. Friday, 5 June - Shades Mountain Baptist Church Jazz Band and the movie “Kung Fu Panda” Thursday, 2 July - Shades Mountain Baptist Church - Pops in the Park and the movie “Hotel for Dogs” Friday, 14 August - Vestavia Hills High School Band and the movie “Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa” Saturday, 6 June- Alabaster CityFest - 9am until midnight -

Both RE/MAX STARZ Team and Mary Lou’s Team will be sponsoring tethered balloons with rides available for $5 or $25 (t-shirt and raffle ticket) - All proceeds will benefit Children’s Hospital. You may also purchase a numbered golf ball (limited to 1,000) for $5 each, which will play into a very unique raffle with prizes ranging from airline tickets to spa days to grills.

Beena Shah - 240.0510 - Keller Williams 1410 7th Way South, 35205 - MLS 427858 - $119,900 2BR/1.5BA - Corner unit townhome within UAB, no association fees, low maintenance, fenced backyard

Coming Soon

Maggie Kessler - 999.9877 - Cahaba Real Estate 841 Linbard Lane, Vestavia - $109,900 2BR/1.5BA - 1/2 duplex with main level hardwood floors, tile countertop in kitchen, deck overlooking single car garage with storage and private wooded backyard in a cul-de-sac.

Pat Lynch - 616.4100 - ERA Oxford Realty 5005 Jacobs Way, McCalla - MLS 428649 - $175,000 3BR/2BA - Single level living with eat-in kitchen with new hardwood floors, 2 pantries and tons of cabinet space, master suite with sitting room, trey ceiling and jetted tub, family room with vaulted ceiling and stacked stone gas fireplace and large fully fenced backyard

Manda Luccasen - 283.0380 - RE/MAX Advantage 2213 Garland Drive, Vestavia Hills - MLS 427721 - $329,900 3BR/2BA - Single level living with hardwoods throughout, a completely renovated eat-in kitchen from floor to ceiling, new finished basement, formal dining room and living room, den has gas fireplace and opens to patio, updated master bath and new furnace

Lou Herring - 601.4485 - D.R. Horton 2022 Chandalar Court, Pelham - MLS 409602 - $124,900 2BR/2BA - Single level townhome with Brazilian cherry hardwood floors and newer carpeting, vaulted ceiling and garden tub in master, eat-in kitchen, dining area in family room with trey ceiling and gas fireplace, privacy fence in backyard with hot tub, gas grill and storage room 919 Greystone Highlands Circle - MLS 428210 - $188,500 2BR/2BA - Four sides of bring on this single level home, new hardwood floors and carpet, eat-in kitchen and formal dining room, fireplace in living room, crown moulding throughout and private backyard

C A R A V A N L I S T I N G S

Call Mark Boackle or Jim Nerios for all your mortgage needs:

AmeriCapital Mortgage - 205-278-520o or 800-818-6174

C A R A V A N

Stephanie Reese - 283.7801 - House of Style Realty Reduced by $164,000 to $735,000 $5K Selling Agent Bonus & 1 Week Stay at Perdido Key

Owner Financing or Lease/Purchase Available 5207 Mountain Ridge Parkway, 35222 - MLS 415941 4BR/3.5BA - Amazing custom home with copper gutters, iron door, 2-story foyer, Brazilian Cherry hardwoods, Smart Home Technology, magnificent kitchen, dining room with coffered ceiling and marble floor, 6 cars in 2 garages, mountain views from porch and stone terrace and so much more! City Federal Building 27 stories of history and style with 12 distinctive floors plans, upscale kitchens with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops in both kitchen and baths, hardwood floors in loving and kitchen areas, tile baths, expansive windows showcasing the Birmingham skyline, 9-foot ceilings with recessed lighting, washer and dryer.

Liz Elliott - 913.1056 - Advanced GMAC

L I S T I N G S

Reduced to $179,900

3476 Birchtree Drive, Hoover - MLS 408724 - $189,999 4BR/2BA - New paint and carpet, Eat-in kitchen looks in on family room with stone fireplace, formal living room and dining room, automatic whole house generator

Call Mark Boackle or Jim Nerios for all your mortgage needs:

AmeriCapital Mortgage - 205-278-520o or 800-818-6174

WIN UP TO $100,000 IN MAY 2009

Sell Just 1 of 8 properties in Oakmere at Lake Crest For Details Call Ron and Shelia Alexander - RE/MAX Advantage - 296-1515 648 Whitestone Way - The only townhome left 613, 617, 621, 633, 661, 665, 681 Trumpet Circle - with elevators! Visit oakmerelakecrest.com

Stephanie Reese - 283.7801 - House of Style Realty Poolside Agent Luncheon - TOMORROW, Friday, 29 May - 11:30am to 1:30pm Gourmet Cuisine, Wine and Beer 2600 Highland Avenue - Corner of Niazuma 2600 Highland is an 11-story building containing eight levels of highend condominiums above a three level parking deck. Included are a salt-water pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, and plaza and gardens. The interior finishes include granite, marble, and travertine countertops; hardwood flooring; stainless steel appliances; and travertine and marble bathroom floors and showers

Kim Lucas - 447.3554 - RealtySouth

BUYER’S NEED

At least 10 acres, preferably in the 119 area but would look at other locations and further out 280. Should be zoned and suitable for horses and building an arena as well as stables. Please call Kim FIRST if you have anything coming on-line.

Call Mark Boackle or Jim Nerios for all your mortgage needs:

AmeriCapital Mortgage - 205-278-520o or 800-818-6174