Month: August 2005

Keith Byrd

This is really off the real estate topic. I’ve included some videos from big-boys.com that I thought were entertaining.

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/acarprank.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/roughinterview.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/japtalentshow.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/boyvsball.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/petstar.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/forgottojump.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/rcpilot1.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/badburnout.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/2ndplace.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/scare.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/badredcar.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/nationalanthem.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/nohands.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/officeparty.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/twogreatshots.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/kickback.html

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/baseballplane.html

And lastly…in case you’ve never seen the Numa Numa Dance
http://www.big-boys.com/articles/numanuma.html

Keith Byrd

Wow, if you want to view available homes on the MLS in Hampton Road, Virginia they’ll charge you $3.95 a day Access Fee! If you aren’t aware how this real estate industry works, there are local Realtor boards that operate independently. There are some guidelines from the National Association of Realtors and state boards but the local Realtor Associations can define their own MLS Rules and Regulations. In this case, the Hampton Road MLS decided to charge the public to access MLS listings.

On the Central Coast, we have SIX individual Realtor Associations but they all cooperate with each other so we only need to have one MLS system where all properties are listed. The 6 Realtor Associations are: San Luis Obispo, Pismo Coast, North Coast, Paso Robles, Atascadero, and Santa Maria. There is a committee called the Central Coast Regional MLS to help the associations work together with the common MLS system and lockboxes.

I’m grateful that the MLS Rules and Regulations on the Central Coast are such that allows me to offer the tools to help my clients without requiring a mandatory Access Fee.

Keith Byrd

With the price of gas these days, Amtrak is a much more attractive option. I looked up some fares from SLO. To Santa Barbara, it’s $25. To South Lake Tahoe, it’s $54. To San Diego, it’ $47.

Keith Byrd

I wonder how it is to live in Los Osos these days. Every day I see articles and letters to the editor in the Trib about the sewer. I read that construction is going to start soon and that some plan to chain themselves to trees. Is there a solution to this dilemma that isn’t going to cause hard feelings for many years? Doesn’t look like it.

While I sympathize with the mess Los Osos’ians have got themselves into by letting this drag out for so many years, I can’t help to think of some t-shirt slogans.

How about:

We’re all full of sh*t in Los Osos

Sewer…sewer…we don’t need no stickin’ sewer!

Welcome to Los Osos. Don’t Drink the Water.

Los Osos – BYOBW (Bring Your Own Bottled Water)

Keith Byrd

Homebuyers may not realize that monthly payments on some types of specialty mortgages can increase by as much as 50 percent or more when the introductory period ends. That’s one of the messages that the National Association of Realtors® and the Center for Responsible Lending are trying to drive home in “Shopping for a Mortgage? Do Your Homework First,” a new brochure to inform homebuyers about the risks and advantages of specialty mortgage products.

You can download the brochure here (in PDF)

Keith Byrd

If you haven’t already noticed, I’m doing some work on my website. I’m adding some a mapping service from Real Bird which provides not only street maps, but topology and aerial maps as well.

I also changed the Neighborhood Home Price service to be able to immediately give you the SOLDS in a neighborhood (previously you had to wait until it was emailed to you). That only took a minute or so but I thought you all would like to get the info right away without having to go check your email!

Keith Byrd

I did some statistics on how many homes are sold “in house”, which means that the same Brokerage listed and sold it.

Here are the results for the Solds since January 1st-
North County:
1 mil+ – 33% in-house
$750K-1mil – 32%
500-750K – 32%
<500K - 32% North Coast:
1 mil+ – 23% in-house
$750K-1mil – 27%
500-750K – 30%
<500K - 29% San Luis Obispo (city)
1 mil+ – 25% in-house
$750K-1mil – 31%
500-750K – 25%
<500K - 22% South County:
1 mil+ – 42% in-house
$750K-1mil – 26%
500-750K – 27%
<500K - 37%