Lake Tahoe Experts

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated Mid Kingsbury, one of the Stateline, NV neighborhoods in our South Lake Tahoe real estate market. Please click the link “Mid Kingsbury, NV” found in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog.  This will lead one to all current Mid Kingsbury listings, current escrow and all sales in 2007. Also included are all Mid Kingsbury sales for 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Also included in our left sidebar are all other South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV neighborhoods, plus complete reports on the entire South Lake Tahoe real estate market and Statenline, NV real estate market. Here you will also find current South Lake Tahoe real estate and Stateline, NV real estate absorption rates as well. This is the most complete and up-to-date Lake Tahoe real estate information available online. Our goal is to provide you will all of the information... all of the time.

About Mid Kingsbury:
Set amid the hills next to the lake near the Nevada state line, Mid Kingsbury Grade is part of Lake Tahoe’s largest community. As with Lower Kingsbury Grade, homes in this area range in value from market entry to the most stunning, exclusive, and expensive.

Also found on each spreadsheet page for Mid Kingsbury are statistics charts with the following:

• -- Median Sold Price.
• -- Average List Price.
• -- Original List Price.
• -- Dollar difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Percent difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Average Price per Sq Ft.
• -- Average Days on Market.
• -- Average Size.

We offer this information as a public service. It is the most complete and current information on Mid Kingsbury and the South Lake Tahoe real estate market available.

If you like what you see here and find it helpful, please call or email us for further help with buying or selling a Lake Tahoe home. We’re also always interested in comments and suggestions too. (Please use comments box below.)

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated Lower Kingsbury, one of the Stateline, NV neighborhoods in our South Lake Tahoe real estate market. Please click the link “Lower Kingsbury, NV” found in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog.  This will lead one to all current Lower Kingsbury listings, current escrow and all sales in 2007. Also included are all Lower Kingsbury sales for 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Also included in our left sidebar are all other South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV neighborhoods, plus complete reports on the entire South Lake Tahoe real estate market and Statenline, NV real estate market. Here you will also find current South Lake Tahoe real estate and Stateline, NV real estate absorption rates as well. This is the most complete and up-to-date Lake Tahoe real estate information available online. Our goal is to provide you will all of the information... all of the time.

About Lower Kingsbury:
Set amid the hills next to the lake near the Nevada state line, Lower Kingsbury Grade is part of Lake Tahoe’s largest community. With over 800 homes, the Kingsbury Grade area is commonly divided into 3 sections. Homes throughout span from the bottom of Lake Tahoe’s real estate market to stunning, expansive, lakeview homes that are among the most breathtaking properties on the lake.

Also included in Lower Kingsbury is the neighborhood of Granite Springs, which is located on a few of Lower Kingsbury’s streets under Heavenly Mountain. Granite Springs homes are usually larger, newer and have greater value that other Lower Kingsbury Grade homes.

Also found on each spreadsheet page for Lower Kingsbury are statistics charts with the following:

• -- Median Sold Price.
• -- Average List Price.
• -- Original List Price.
• -- Dollar difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Percent difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Average Price per Sq Ft.
• -- Average Days on Market.
• -- Average Size.

We offer this information as a public service. It is the most complete and current information on Lower Kingsbury and the South Lake Tahoe real estate market available.

If you like what you see here and find it helpful, please call or email us for further help with buying or selling a Lake Tahoe home. We’re also always interested in comments and suggestions too. (Please use comments box below.)

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTAE BLOG) We’ve just updated Lakefront Properties, one of the Stateline, NV neighborhoods as desigated by our mls in our South Lake Tahoe real estate market. Please click the link “Lakefront Properties, NV” found in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog.  This will lead one to all current Lakefront Properties listings, current escrow and all sales in 2007. Also included are all Lakefront Properties sales for 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Also included in our left sidebar are all other South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV neighborhoods, plus complete reports on the entire South Lake Tahoe real estate market and Statenline, NV real estate market. Here you will also find current South Lake Tahoe real estate and Stateline, NV real estate absorption rates as well. This is the most complete and up-to-date Lake Tahoe real estate information available online. Our goal is to provide you with all of the information... all of the time.

About Lakefront Properties:
Lake front homes and estates on the Nevada side of our South Lake Tahoe real estate market are found in all neighborhoods facing the lake, and along Highway 50 from Elk Poijnt to Glenbrook. Value ranges from the high $2M’s to $30M. Lake front homes are usually the most desirable property to own around Lake Tahoe. They are also, and it makes sense, the highest price. Values usually increase along national trends, though lake front properties in Lake Tahoe rarely, if ever, see price declines.

Also found on each spreadsheet page for Lakefront Properties are statistics charts with the following:

• -- Median Sold Price.
• -- Average List Price.
• -- Original List Price.
• -- Dollar difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Percent difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Average Price per Sq Ft.
• -- Average Days on Market.
• -- Average Size.

We offer this information as a public service. It is the most complete and current information on Lakefront Properties and the South Lake Tahoe real estate market available.

If you like what you see here and find it helpful, please call or email us for further help with buying or selling a Lake Tahoe home. We’re also always interested in comments and suggestions too. (Please use comments box below.)

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated Hidden Woods, one of the Stateline, NV neighborhoods in our South Lake Tahoe real estate market. Please click the link “Hidden Woods, NV” found in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog.  This will lead one to all current Hidden Woods listings, current escrow and all sales in 2007. Also included are all Hidden Woods sales for 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Also included in our left sidebar are all other South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV neighborhoods, plus complete reports on the entire South Lake Tahoe real estate market and Statenline, NV real estate market. Here you will also find current South Lake Tahoe real estate and Stateline, NV real estate absorption rates as well. This is the most complete and up-to-date Lake Tahoe real estate information available online. Our goal is to provide you with all of the information... all of the time.

About Hidden Woods:
(Number homes: 32) Known for its exclusive mountain-setting mansions, Hidden Woods has lake views and secluded forest view lots. Homes range from upscale opportunities to richly appointed and landscaped lake view estates. This is an outrageously nice neighborhood.

Also found on each spreadsheet page for Hidden Woods are statistics charts with the following:

• -- Median Sold Price.
• -- Average List Price.
• -- Original List Price.
• -- Dollar difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Percent difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Average Price per Sq Ft.
• -- Average Days on Market.
• -- Average Size.

We offer this information as a public service. It is the most complete and current information on Hidden Woods and the Stateline, NV side of our South Lake Tahoe real estate market available.

If you like what you see here and find it helpful, please call or email us for further help with buying or selling a Lake Tahoe home. We’re also always interested in comments and suggestions too. (Please use the comments box below.)

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated Glenbrook, one of the Stateline, NV neighborhoods in our South Lake Tahoe real estate market. Please click the link “Glenbrook, NV” found in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog.  This will lead one to all current Glenbrook listings, current escrow and all sales in 2007. Also included are all Glenbrook sales for 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Also included in our left sidebar are all other South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV neighborhoods, plus complete reports on the entire South Lake Tahoe real estate market and Statenline, NV real estate market. Here you will also find current South Lake Tahoe real estate and Stateline, NV real estate absorption rates as well. This is the most complete and up-to-date Lake Tahoe real estate information available online. Our goal is to provide you with all of the information... all of the time.

About Glenbrook:
 (Number homes: about 325) With a guarded entrance, a private beach, pier, golf course and club, Glenbrook is one of our most exclusive and upscale communities. Glenbrook properties range from top-of-the-market condominiums to expansive estates. Glenbrook website. Glenbrook vacation rentals.

Also found on each spreadsheet page for Glenbrook are statistics charts with the following:

• -- Median Sold Price.
• -- Average List Price.
• -- Original List Price.
• -- Dollar difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Percent difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Average Price per Sq Ft.
• -- Average Days on Market.
• -- Average Size.

We offer this information as a public service. It is the most complete current information on Glenbrook and the South Lake Tahoe real estate market available.

If you like what you see here and find it helpful, please call or email us for further help with buying or selling a Lake Tahoe home. We’re also always interested in comments and suggestions too. (Please use comments box below.)

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated Cave Rock, one of the Stateline, NV neighborhoods in our South Lake Tahoe real estate market. Please click the link “Cave Rock, NV” found in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog.  This will lead one to all current Cave Rock listings, current escrow and all sales in 2007. Also included are all Cave Rock sales for 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Also included in our left sidebar are all other South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV neighborhoods, plus complete reports on the entire South Lake Tahoe real estate market and Statenline, NV real estate market. Here you will also find current South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV absorption rates as well.

About the Cave Rock:
(Number homes: about 190) Located on hillsides overlooking the lake, Cave Rock and Lakeridge offer both breathtaking lake views and forested lots. Homes range from dated fixer-uppers, through mid-market opportunities to some of the most stunning view property estates on the Lake.

Also found on each spreadsheet page for Cave Rock are statistics charts with the following:

• -- Median Sold Price.
• -- Average List Price.
• -- Original List Price.
• -- Dollar difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Percent difference between original list and median sold price.
• -- Average Price per Sq Ft.
• -- Average Days on Market.
• -- Average Size.

We offer this information as a public service. It is the most complete current information on Cave Rock and the South Lake Tahoe real estate market available.

If you like what you see here and find it helpful, please call or email us for further help with buying or selling a Lake Tahoe home. We’re also always interested in comments and suggestions too. (Use comments box below.)

What are absorption rates... and why are they the best indicators of Market Performance?

As it relates to your South Lake Tahoe Real Estate market, we first heard the term “absorption rates” in a class to earn our Certified Residential Specialist designation (CRS).  We thought it must be something very complicated. You know one of those tedious to learn, intellectual kind of things, straight out of egghead world. But we were wrong. Perhaps wordy, and nothing more than that, “absorption rates” are very simple and immediate to understand and appreciate.

Absorption rates are also the most important guide we know of  to help you price a house for sale, and to get an idea of how long it might take to get it sold. We'll show you how this works under "Absorption Rates by Price Range" further below.

Definition:
“Absorption Rates” means the average number of homes sold per month over a particular period of time. That’s it, and there is nothing more complex about it.

How Absorption Rates are figured out:
We could have used the word “calculated” instead of “figured out”, but that might have suggested higher math, which always seems to create a mental barrier for us marketing types. The only math used to figure out absorption rates is division, and it is purely elementary school stuff.

Here’s the math: to determine absorption rates, the number of homes sold is divided by the number of months.

And here are some examples that will bring “Absorption Rates” all together for you:

• If 12 homes sell in 6 months, the monthly absorption rate is 2. (12 divided by 6)
• If 24 homes sell in 6 months, the monthly absorption rate is 4. (24 divided by 6)
• If 12 homes sell in 1 year, the monthly absorption rate is 1. (12 divided by 12)
• If 24 homes sell in 1 year, the monthly absorption rate is 2. (24 divided by 12)
• If 24 homes sell in 90 days, the monthly absorption rate is 8. (24 divided by 3)

Inventory or "Inventory Depletion": (definition)
What, another egghead term? Hardly, “Inventory Depletion” is just a fancy way of saying “how long it will take the homes that are on the market to sell”. (We think it’s a term for egghead wannabees.) The concept of “inventory” or “inventory depletion” is part of how we present absorption rates. It too is figured out by elementary division.

Here’s the Math: to determine how how long it will take the homes that are on the market to sell, the number of homes on the market is divided by the monthly absorption rate.

And here are some examples that will bring “Inventory Depletion” all together for you:

• If there are 12 homes on the market, and the monthly absorption rate is 2, there are 6 months of inventory. In other words, it will take 6 months to sell these 12 houses at the rate of current market performance.

• If there are 24 homes on the market, and the monthly absorption rate is 6, there are 4 months of inventory. In other words, it will take 4 months to sell these 24 houses at the rate of current market performance.

• If there are 24 homes on the market, and the monthly absorption rate is 2, there are 12 months of inventory. In other words, it will take a year to sell these 24 houses at the rate of current market performance.

What constitutes a Buyers Market, a Sellers Market and a Neutral Market?
The amount of inventory determines market sway. A “Neutral Market” is 6 months of inventory. Anything less than that is a “Sellers Market”, and conversely, an inventory of more than 6 months is a “Buyers Market.”

In the “Inventory” examples above, the first one is an example of a “Neutral Market”. (6 months of inventory). The second example is a “Sellers Market”. (4 months of inventory) The last example is one of a “Buyers Market”. (12 months of inventory)

Two Ways to Look at Absorption Rates:
Absorption Rates are the best means of tracking market performance. They are usually used to indicate “overall market performance”, or how an entire market is doing. Absorption Rates are also used to indicate market performance by price range, or how a particular point in a market is doing.

Your Overall Market Performance Absorption Rates: How to find them.

To get to your overall market performance Absorption Rate Home Page:

• Click on the link in our left sidebar circled in red: “Absorption Rates - Last 365 Days”.

• There is another link in the left sidebar below for Stateline, NV Absoption Rates as well.

 

The Absorption Rate Home Page:

There are three functions you will find here:

• The Absorption Rate Home Page is a spreadsheet of market performance for the last 365 days.

• Circled in yellow are navigation buttons leading to market performance spreadsheets for the last 180 days; the last 90 days and the last 30 days.

• Circled in red is the link leading to your overall market performance Absorption Rate Chart.

 

 The Absorption Rate Chart:

The chart is a summary of overall market performance for the last 365 days, and the last 6 months, and the last 3 months and the last 30 days.

• Total Number Homes on Mkt: This is the total number of homes to become available on the market in the last year, 6 months, 90 and 30 days.

• Number Homes Sold: This is the total number of homes sold in the last year, 6 months, 90 and 30 days.

• Monthly Absorption Rate: This is the average number of homes sold per month in the last year, 6 months, 90 and 30 days.

• Current Homes Listed: The number of active listings on the market (as of the date at the bottom of the chart window).

• Current Months of Inventory: This is the amount of time it will take for all of the homes on the market to sell at the current monthly absorption rate.

• Sell Odds in this time frame: This is the odds of a house selling in the next year, 6 months, 90 and 30 days based on current inventory and current monthly absorption rates.

Absorption Rates by Price Range:

This is an example of the Absorption Rate Home page for South Lake Tahoe, CA  for the last year (365 calendar days):

• Price Range: Note that price is displayed in market segments in a range of $50,000.

• No Homes Sold: This is the total number of homes sold in each price range in the last year.

• Monthly Absorption Rate: This is the average number of homes sold per month in each price range in the last year.

• No Homes Currently on Market: The number of active listings on the market in each price range.

• No Months to Sell Current Inventory: This is the amount of time it will take for all of the homes in each price range to sell at the current monthly absorption rate of that particular price range.

Three Observations from this example: (or how to interpret and translate absorption rate information)

• Homes priced between $300K - $349K:
  
  • There have been 53 sales this year.
  • The market is buying 4.4 homes in this price range a month.
  • There are 30 homes on the market in this example in this price range.
  • It will take 6.8 months to sell all the homes in this price range (at current absorption rates).
  • It is a Neutral Market in this price range (6 months of inventory).

• Homes priced between $350K - $399K:
  
  • There have been 53 sales this year.
  • The market is buying 4.4 homes in this price range a month.
  • There are 53 homes on the market in this example in this price range.
  • It will take a year to sell all the homes in this price range (at current absorption rates).
  • It is a Buyers Market in this price range, and an advantage to the Buyer. (more than 6 months of inventory).

• Homes priced between $400K - $449K:
  
  • There have been 63 sales this year.
  • The market is buying 5.3 homes in this price range a month.
  • There are 71 homes on the market in this example in this price range.
  • It will take more than a year to sell all the homes in this price range (at current absorption rates).
  • It is a Buyers Market in this price range, and an advantage to the Buyer. (more than 6 months of inventory).

 Pricing Magic: How to use absorption rates to best price your home.

• Homes priced between $300K - $349K: (lets use the same example as above, though this applies to all price ranges)
  
  • Understand the number of homes that will be sold in one month, in this case it's 4.
  • The idea is to position your house so it is more attractive than the other homes to Buyers looking in this price range.
  • If you have a time frame of 3 months, your home must be among the top 12 most attractive homes in this price range.
  • If you have a time frame of 1 month, your home must be the most attractively priced home in its price range.
  • Often it is necessary to price your home in the next range below, particularly if time is important , and also if it is a Buyer's market, which means that inventories are high... and there are a lot of choices to tempt a Buyer away from you.

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Finding and Using Your South Lake Tahoe Real Estate Statistics: Here’s How.

[LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG Active rain friends, we're posting this for both our South Lake Tahoe real estate market, and for you. Our hope in providing this for AR is to present an example of how all of us might position our "other" blog to our primary market.

We've added this as a link in the "Our favorites" in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Blog. We'll also refer to this link when we email prospects and clients.

We will also advertise our "Our Purpose" and "How To" links publicly and include them in our email and direct mail campaigns.]

Here's the article:

One of the key features and services of the Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog are the statistics found herein. The statistics are market facts, rumor free and without opinion. Think of them as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about your current South Lake Tahoe real estate market condition.

Your market statistics are just that. Stats. It is fact-based information, and all of it. There is nothing unique about them per se. They just are what they are. What is unique, and prehaps remarkable, is that they can be found here. All day, every day. By using this resource, you are that far ahead of your real estate curve. You can not find this online information resource anywhere else; it simply does not exist.

Our main goal in providing these stats is to give you reliable information that you can count on. It’s a public service for you to see, contemplate, interpret, and make informed decisions based thereon. The information us updated monthly, and you can get to it at your discretion, 24 hours a day, seven days a week... anytime you want, in complete privacy... and on any online computer anywhere in the world.

Consider this blog as your complete, hassle free, cost free real estate sentry if you will. Here, you are truly at South Lake Tahoe Real Estate Market Central.

What the Statistics here are intended to do?
Your real estate market statistics are the basis for making the best real estate decision possible. If, and whenever that time might come.

What will happen if I use the Statistics?

• If you base a selling decision on fact-based information, and price your home within current guidelines, your house will sell.

• If you base a buying decision on fact-based information, and understand current value and market forces, you will make a wise real estate purchase.

How will my use of these Statistics impact the overall market?

• Houses that are priced consistent with market guidelines are attractive to Buyers.

• Attractive listings increases Buyer demand.

• Increased demand reduces supply.

• Fact-based pricing creates a healthy real estate market.

 Where do I find the Statistics?

• The Stats are all found under links in the left sidebar (circled in red). Click on any link to get to them.

• Here you will find links to complete statistics for: (on both sides of our state line)
  
  • Complete Market Performance - Last 365 Days
  • All Annual Sales
  • All Current Escrow Report
  • Current Absorption Rates - Last 365 Days
  • Statistics for Neighborhood

 How do I Use the Statistics?

• For the example here, we're looking at a particular neighborhood. (Al Tahoe, as found in the left sidebar of the main page above.)

• First, look at the spreadsheet. Every listing, sale or escrow relevant to that spreadsheet is there.

• Circled in yellow are buttons that will lead you to other spreadsheets.

• Circled in red are links that will lead you to the Statistics Charts of each particular spreadsheet.?

 What are the Statistics Charts?

• Links on the spreadsheet example above will lead you to a Statistics Chart similar to this one.

• Each Statistics Chart also has six navigation buttons.

• The "Escrow" button (circled in yellow) will lead you to stats for all homes in Escrow.

• The other buttons will lead you to Statistics Charts for all current listings, 2007 Sales and so on.

• Each Statistics Chart contains:
  
  • Medial Sold Price
  • Current Reduced Price
  • Average List Price
  • Price difference list v. reduced price
  • Percent difference list v. reduced price
  • Average Days on Market
  • Average Price per Square Foot
  • Average Size
  • Date and time chart was produced.

Where do these Statistics Come from, and what does it take to Produce them?

• All information here comes from our two multiple listing services (MLS). There is no other resource for it.

• We produce the information ourselves from a raw data feed.

• Software used for production is Excel, PhotoShop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver.

• It takes from 4 to 6 hours per day to keep your information resource updated.

• Updates are done monthly, and often much sooner as needed to capture market shifts, if any, and changes. 

We offer this information as a public service. It is the most complete and current information on the South Lake Tahoe Real Estate Market available.

If you like what you see here and find it helpful, please call or email us for further help with buying or selling a Lake Tahoe home. We’re also always interested in comments and suggestions too. (Use comments box below.)

Click Here (for something cool)

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Our purpose is multifold: It starts with South Lake Tahoe real estate market health.

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG. Active rain friends, we're posting this for both our South Lake Tahoe real estate market, and for you. Our hope in providing this for AR is to present an example of how all of us might position our "other" blog to our primary market.

We've added this as a link in the "Our favorites" in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Blog. We'll also refer to this link when we email prospects and clients. To follow this article, we'll do a complete "How To" post on the statistics found in our blog, why they are important and how to use them.

We will also advertise these "Our Purpose" and "How To" links publicly and include them in our email and direct mail campaigns.)

Here's the post: (every time you see "South Lake Tahoe", just insert the name of your market there.)

The Main Purpose of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog:
Traditionally the only means of getting information about the South Lake Tahoe real estate has been via contacting a real estate agent. We think there is a better way, and this blog changes that.

Now anyone can get the latest, most complete and reliable real estate information online, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a  week.

Through this blog you can get all of the information... all of the time. And it’s available for you at your discretion, at your choice of when, at any place on the planet where you have computer access... anytime you want... in complete and total privacy.

We think making a reliable real estate information resource available is an important public service, and it is long overdue. Think of us, and this blog, as South Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information Central.

If you are considering selling your house, or buying one, or both, either sooner or later, we believe the information you will find here will help you better understand, appreciate and accept current real estate conditions here in South Lake Tahoe.

With complete facts as background, our goal is to give you the greatest comfort possible to make the most informed decision possible... whenever that time might come.

When that time does come to sell your house, if you base your decision within the scope of market reality, your house will sell. Lets say that again in another way, homes priced consistent with market reality will sell.

In addition to the successful sale of one’s house, when homes are priced in accord with current market guidelines, certain economic forces are also triggered: buyers become eager and demand increases.

Therefore, the outcome of proper pricing, and the cause and effect of home sales thereunto, is solid real estate market health. It makes for a good, solid, stable real estate market.

And that starts with reliable real estate information. That is the main purpose of this blog.

Two Sources of Information:
You’ll find both South Lake Tahoe real estate market facts here, and factually-based commentary on it.

The facts are found in our left sidebar under the sub-headings: “South Lake Tahoe, CA Market Statistics” and “Stateline, NV Market Statistics”.

Here you will find nothing but facts and statistics on every sale, every current escrow, every current listing. And every sale in the last three years. In every neighborhood. On both sides of the state line. (We will do a separate post on how to best look at, use and consider the statistics.)

The factually-based comments are found in the middle column of our blog, where you found this one. Here you can find every post and article we have ever written about us and your South Lake Tahoe real estate market. It is Information you can trust about Lake Tahoe and Us. (The categories found in our right sidebar make it easier for you to find posts you might find to be of most interest.)

Our Second Purpose:
We make a living and support our families by selling houses. It’s reasonable to assume that one of our goals for this blog is to attract business, and that’s true.

The traditional way that real estate agents get business is through various means of advertising that has two basic messages: “list with me because I’m the best” and/or “list with me because I sell more than anybody.”

We think that is nonsense. We also think you will too when you consider that 85% to 90% of the time a home sale occurs via the Buyer’s agent, rather than the Listing agent, yet only the Listing Agent can use the word “sold” in their advertising.

What people look for most in a real estate agent is trust. In one way or the other, every Seller and every Buyer is conscious of and has these two questions about a real estate agent, “does this agent have my best interests at heart?” and “will this agent work hard for me?”

Rather than tell a Seller or Buyer the answer to these fundamental questions, we think it’s better to show them. That is our secondary purpose for this blog. To show, not tell.

Our blog and the information we provide is an example of how hard we work. It is unique, and no other agent, or brokerage, even comes close to providing such an information resource for you.

This is an idea of excellence and our rationale is simply, if we work this hard before we know you, perhaps you will deduct that we’ll work this hard, and harder when you ask us to go to work for you. That is our nature. If we can convey that to you, we believe you will call us.

With regard to what makes this blog, and our work on it, unique, it’s the statistics. It takes a half day every day to keep this blog updated and running. We think the reason why nobody else does this is likely because it takes too much work and too much time. One certainly can’t claim the information is not relevant.

We don’t think there is ever too much work or too much time to spend to earn your trust. There is never too much time or work to answer any of your questions. If and when you have any, we would be most grateful if you would consider asking us. We believe this blog shows you why.

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Blown away by a high fastball is how we felt when we got Coach Bloom’s email asking us to join the AR Team with your Week in Review (WIR). Of course, was our answer to the honor. No matter what it takes. You don’t turn down the Coach.

We still think of ourselves as rookies to AR, and the stuff of WIR, with the choices thereunto are for you, the seasoned veterans that have been in the game before us.

We’re greenhorns, sand lot scrubs invited to the show. Our uniforms don’t even fit yet. But here we were, Casey at the plate with a Cy Young winner on the mound, and the game was on. (Has anybody seen my cleats?)

So it’s understatement to admit that we weren’t sure how to go suit up for this in the first place. We started with reviewing Jeff Dowler’s excellent WIR last week. We read it, bookmarked it, and read it again. Yep, there’s a format, a game plan we found there. So we started to follow it.

Pre-Game Warm Up: We noticed that many WIR’s have a lineup card with selected posts put into categories. Jeff had lots of these, and all of them were good: technology, marketing, mortgages, staging, sellers and so on. We thought about that. Out of it a question took form: do we repeat this, or should we do something different?

Infield Practice: Two new thoughts emerged. The easy way out was seductive. Just copy all of the posts with the most comments in them. That is your week in review anyway. But the easy way is not the means for any of us to distinguish ourselves or our business. Not for pros, the easy way is always a strike out.

Batter Up: The other pitch that kept dancing about was “what do we really like”? There are plenty of great marketing, tech, agency and business posts here all the time. Often astounding ones, that’s the golden glove of AR.

Instead of repeating that, we asked ourselves “what makes us feel good”? And there it was, our own game plan had evolved. It felt like a solid single up the middle.

The Winning Run: We set about to find posts that make us laugh, that inspire us, that are positive about our human condition. Was there hope to be had? We didn’t think about if something was written well, or not. Who are we to umpire that anyway?

What was most important to us was how what we read made us feel. If we laughed, felt good or were touched, it made the cut. And we stopped after the first 16 of those. That felt like a game winning double off the left field wall in the bottom of the 16th inning.

The Wrap Up: Then, rethinking the easy way for a moment, we deducted the most commented posts for the week would also cover many of the category bases normally found in a WIR post. As an end of game recap, we decided to include a list of your top commented posts for the week too. Now we had our home run. (This time Casey did not strike out.)

Curve Ball: Jeff, the ace of our pitching staff, had a few suggestions, and we thought two were spot on:
1. There’s lots of walls of words. That stops most of us cold. Layout your posts. Add some air. Hit the space bar. They’ll get read. Fans will cheer.
2. More graphics is more better.

Your Game of the Week Highlights that made us feel good: (we included how we found them, which was as fun as the surprise in a box of Cracker Jacks.)

	From: Ginger Wilcox - Because of Active Rain, I have traveled the World. How we found it: via AR Group "Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul." A wonderful concept post about how AR gives us eyes and ears to other places.
	From: Diane Velikis - Live Like You Were Dying. How we found it: via AR Group "Fraiche Aire." This post and the video reminded us of a song by Mark Knopfler and EmmyLou Harris about those tragic last phone calls from loved ones who were stuck in the World Trade Center. Diane's post is far more positive than that, but it's message is similar: Life is short and very sweet indeed.
	From: Margaret Woda - Is It Just Me Or Does New Business Always Happen When You Go Away? How we found it: via her site to recriprocate for comments Margaret made with us. Also a subscriber. Title caught our eye. Short, sweet, nice photo, easy to read... and so true. But it has to be a real vacation or it won't work.
	From: Fran Gaspari - Can Laughter Add Eight Years To Your Life? How we found it: via the "Blogs" button. Clean, easy to read, nice graphics with a nice, positive message about what’s important, and what’s not.
	From: Maggie Dokic - Believing In Yourself How we found it: via subscribed list. Great photo that fits the message of the post. Most will think this is about confidence, which it is, but we more saw it as the archetypal mother as teacher, protector and purveyor of hope.
	From: Karen George - Thank You ActiveRainers How we found it: via subscribed list. A touching, heart felt, expression of gratitude that very much affirms a great spirit in our AR community... from a great spirit of the AR community.
	From: Dan Forbes - You Can't Get to the Right Place by Going the WRONG WAY! How we found it: via going to Dan's blog to recriprocate on comments he made with us. Terrific title and short, sweet, clear message about our need to be a bit more conscious about ourselves and what we're doing from time to time.
	From: Chris Lengquist - Understanding The Clients I'm After: Living A Happier Life How we found it: via the "Blogs" button, then it was featured shortly thereafter. (We're subscribed too') We liked the title, and especially the line " that doesn't mean you must answer the phone at 8:45 pm when you are reading your daughter a story."
	From: Tom Armstrong - So Funny You MIght Cry... or worse... How we found it: via AR Group "AR Comedy Club" A short post to a priceless video. It's not real estate, it's Tim Conway, but it got our whole family to laugh. That always feels good. And laughter always seems to get our mind right. (ask Broker Bryant..., or maybe not.)
	From: John Lockwood - Unfeatured Posts Are Best How we found it: via the "Blogs" button... shortly before Laurie Manny featured it. (we're subscribed too) We were working on this WIR when this popped up, we selected it right away, and then it got featured. A great post about the heart and soul of AR. Read the comment trail. Most of the usual suspects are here. And now John is one of those. (and Laurie has a great sense of humor too)
	From: Kathy McGraw - How Valuable is Your Time.......Time Management Just for You How we found it: via AR Group "Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul" Good image, lots of air. Like good design, we need lots of air too. That’s why we liked this time management piece. We all need to give ourselves a break. (And especially us.)
	From: Joeann Fossland - Connecting With Clients! How we found it: via the “Blogs” button Nice, clean and easy to read message about the most important thing we're supposed to do as professionals: Listen! And it's something we can always improve on. (I know I can.)
	From: TLW - Let's Talk Turkey...Shall We?...ROAR! How we found it: via subscribed and AR Group "AR Comedy Club" It’s an obvious choice, and we’re biased fans. But we can’t help it. TLW just makes us laugh. She and BB are high points of our day. They make all of us feel good. (I still laugh at that fool hat... knowing there is substance under it makes it all so much more fun.)
	From: Carol Smith - The Ultimate Compliment How we found it: via AR Group "Fraiche Aire" One of the things they don't teach us in real estate school is how good it feels when a client becomes a friend. This is an easily accessible post about friendship and care as professionals.
	From: Brett Noel - TWINKEES AND ROOTBEER - A MUST READ How we found it: via the "Blogs" button A fun, positive message... about stopping long enough to recognize serendepity when it happens right in front of us.
	From: Brian Block - Raising the Bar on Active Rain: Let's Bring it Up a Notch! How we found it: via Brian's blog that we visited to recriprocate on a comment he made with us. We had to select one AR inner-goo post, and this one is an excellent discussion on things AR. Read it. Think about it. And lets thank Brain for doing some real work on it too.
Your Fan Appreciation Highlights for the Week. (the posts that you commented on most)
Mr and Mrs Seller, Newspaper Ads do NOT Sell Houses! - From Donna Harris (120 comments)
Top 11 things to STOP doing immediately! - From Irina Netchaev (one of our mentors. Yea!) (113 comments)
Hey FSBO...That Don't Impress Me Much - From Suzanne Sands (109 comments)
Why Are You On Active Rain? - From Adam Waldman (100 comments)
ActiveRain - Revision of Stance? - You tell us - From AR's Bob Stewart (97 comments)
Add Three Words to your Blog to Increase Reader Response by 8% - From Cyndee Haydon (96 comments)
What Active Rain Can Do For All of Us - From Jason Crouch (94 comments)
Click Here (for something cool) Our Bolero Button? (It's in the sidebar under mybloglog.)