So the negative effects of our market has finally hit home for me in a personal way. The business side as a Realtor has been phenomenal – 2008 may be my best year since starting in mid-2005! However, just the other week, my neighbor 2 doors down packed up and moved out overnight.

Before we go any further, I have to tell you I really don’t know the specifics of their quick departure. We were friendly, but I was never good friends with them. Just a wave here and a “Good Morning!” there…but I certainly feel for him and his family. What could be so overwhelming that a family makes a decision to up and abandon their home?

For one thing, the tax records show that the home is mortgaged WAYYYY over what it is worth. That makes it hard to sell and impossible to break even. Then there are the constant improvements that were done to the home – always new fixtures, cabinetry, and what-not being installed…the empty boxes were always out for the garbage man for all to see! Maybe he lost his job (my wife recently lost hers) and there was no way for them to continue meeting the payments for their 1st, 2nd, or possibly 3rd mortgage. Did the taxes and insurance put them over???

No matter what, now we, the neighbors, have to deal with the aftermath. After all, I want to protect my homes value – which is why I moved in there in the first place. Statistics show that homes within ¼ mile from a foreclosure lose 1% of their value. 5 foreclosures in close vicinity – you may be down 5% already.

So I have taken the position of caring for the outside of that home like it as my own. It sucks, to be honest. The grass will certainly die, thanks to the owner taking the sprinkler controller…which needs electricity to run it (shut-off). I have already trimmed the hedges and removed lawn debris, which cleaned it up a bit. I am going to run my mower over there soon…but how long can this home sit vacant and not fall into repair? Does the 1st lienholder know the home has been abandoned?? A bit of detective work (and personal time) will be needed to find out…

Is this the tip of the iceberg? The stats are overwhelming...only time will tell…

I recently found myself on the selling end of my own personal property - my first car that I got after college. A beautiful 2000 Chevy Blazer w/ 97,000 miles. I was presented with a unique opportunity to upgrade to a beautiful 2006 Nissan Altima. On Saturday night, I wrote up the following ad on Craigslist, and what do you know...I sold it the next morning!

1 owner (me) - NEVER SMOKED IN!

This was my first car out of college and I barely drove it during the first 5 years (airline pilot). I'm in real estate now and I have bought a new car with 1) 4 doors for my clients and 2) better gas mileage for all the city driving I do.

I have had ZERO problems with my Blazer and I wouldn't be selling it if not for the 2 reasons above. I completed every oil change on schedule and just had my first tune-up done last year (I don't even think I needed one). After 8 years, there are only a couple of items that need attention:

1) Fuel Gauge inop (I get about 340 miles per tank).
2) Driver's Side window "auto-down" feature doesn't stop when fully down (goes up and down like new).
3) Scratched on Pass. side rear quarter panel - backed into a small mailbox while showing clients (arghhh)

Just put 4 new brake pads on (WearEver Golds) - the left rear still squeaks occassionally and I don't know why. 4 Michellins with good tread depth (2006). Tow package installed in '05. 190 horses - great acceleration.

KBB has Private Party Value at $3930, hence my price. Pictures to be posted soon.

Here's my recipe for success:

1. DON'T OVERPRICE! We say this all the time, but it's hard to put into practice. The kicker here was I had a great deal I couldn't pass up, so I needed my asset sold asap. I saw what Kelley Blue Book had it at, saw what dealerships were selling it for, and listed it slightly below.
2. DISCLOSE DISCLOSE DISCLOSE! I was upfront and clear about issues I know with the vehicle. I had nothing to hide and my ad exemplified that point.
3. USE KEY WORDS! Words like "original owner", "never smoked in" and "Michellins" touch on what every buyer is looking for - high-quality, well-cared for, and brand name.

The same ideas are successfully used to sell homes...let's start on your ad today - call me!