Jonesboro Board of Realtors Quick Stats for May, 2012

Average price of active and sold listings are up from last year.  The MLS Sold Volume (Year-to-Date) is also up from $88,080,52 to $101,791,36, almost a 14 million increase.  So what does all this mean?  Compared to last year there is less inventory on the market, listings are selling a little faster and for more money.  If you're thinking about selling, now is a great time! 

Addicted to Curating Not Hoarding

I spend a lot of time on the internet, but as a Realtor and occasional website designer, a lot of my work is on the internet.

Pinterest is kind of 2010 but it did not really gain traction until last year.  I was able to mostly ignore it until about 9 months ago, but like many am now addicted. Pinterest is about curations or collections or maybe a form of digital hoarding.

There are pin boards and users can pin, which is mostly about linking to photographs.  There is a bookmark available for most browsers.  Click on the bookmark and pin a picture to one of your boards.  Pictures can also be uploaded onto the site, but that isn't really what curation is about and we have Flickr for that.  Pinterest boards can be collaborative so that more than one user can contribute.

I have several pin boards including ones dedicated to paint ideas, distressed furniture, ways to stay organized,  kitchens, outdoor living, and even party ideas plus many more.  My most favorite thing about using Pinterest is no longer having to bookmark every website page that has a photo(s) of something I like or inspiration ideas.  Like you can really remember months later what page goes to what.  Now all I have to do is go to my Pinterest boards and there it is!

One of the reasons I am writing about this is that I think Pinterest is a great place to collect decorating or remodeling  ideas for a home or it might be useful for staging your home to sell.  Pinterest is great if you're wanting to build too.  A collection of pictures of house styles, cabinet finishes and rooms that you like can be shared with your Realtor or Builder so they have a better idea of what you like.

Looking at your own pin board may surprise you too.  My boards of house features has a lot of European/French Country style photographs.  I was surprised there were so few traditional style photos on my boards.  I never really thought about how much I preferred european over traditional before.  Pinterest is social and as I follow friends and look at their collections I see a new side of them too.  It's always nice to know what your friends like, right?  

Pinterest is still invitation only, but you can request an invite at Pinterest's website www.pinterest.com/landing.  Want to check out all my boards?  Just search Sheila Conkling on Pinterest or click here.  If you think I would like your boards, leave me a comment below and I'll check them out.

Happy pinning!

Elite Homes of NEA

Dreaming of a new home?  Take a look at the work of Elite Homes of NEA.  They specialize in building luxurious, yet affordable, European-French Country style homes. You don't have to live in a half-a-million plus home to live in luxury.  In fact, the new trend of today is downsizing in space, but adding more luxury features and upgrades.

Arched Iron Entry Doors Add  Elegance To a Homes Exterior

Elite Homes has three homes currently under construction that are offered for sale from the mid $300k's to the mid $500k's in price range.  Each home offers great floor plans and loaded up with luxury features and upgrades.  One is in Valley View's Barrington Park, another in Jonesboro's newest subdivision, Grand Cascades, and the third in Jonesboro's first and only gated community, Amesley Manor.  Both Grand Cascades and Amesley Manor is located in the Brookland School District.  You can view information on all three homes here.

Elite Homes is also finishing up a custom home and in the early phase of starting another.  You can read all about Elites Homes and their services by visiting their website, EliteHomesofNEA.com.

No Pictures + Bad Pictures = No Buyers?

While I typically am not a “ranter” when it comes to writing on my blog, I really feel the urge to make an exception to write about a big pet peeve of mine...agents who market homes with NO photos or HORRIBLE photos.  Why you may ask?

Fair warning, rant ahead...

First let me start off by saying there are many good and professional agents in Jonesboro that offer great marketing of their listings.  I have a lot of respect for many and enjoy working with them.  But on the other hand, fewer things drive me crazier than seeing lousy photos for real estate listings and marketing material. The one thing that may be worse is a lack of photos.  Okay, I admit I may be a little OCD about this subject, but agents are hired and PAID by sellers to market their properties. So I just don’t get it! There's no excuse with all the technology available today.  Below are three real life examples of why it's so bad for a seller.

Taken From Inside Car - See the Mirror?

Example #1:  This one comes from a current client, and it’s a story I hear a LOT. “Hey, this looks like it MAY be a  nice home, can you get me more photos?”  I also receive emails from my site from potential buyers requesting more photos for other agents listings.  ANNOYING!!!  Now I understand if the seller doesn't realize how much photos in real estate mean to marketing a home. It’s not their job to know this,  but an agent? An agent knows, and simply put, are just too lazy to take multiple photos and upload into the MLS.   I've actually seen photos of home exteriors in the MLS that appear to have been taken from the inside of the agents car.  You can see the side mirror and some of the interior of the car.  Are you kidding me?  Are they too lazy to at least step out of the car to snap a photo?  Do they not realize the harm they are doing to their client???  Do they even care???

Example #2:  I've had clients request to not be sent any listings that have no interior photos.  They explain that they don’t even pause in their home search when inside pictures are unavailable.  They want to exercise the process of elimination and only include homes that peak their interest to view in person. Many are transferring from another state and are limited to the number of homes they will be able to view physically.   Some only have the luxury of a one weekend visit to look at homes.

Example #3:  I often receive phone calls from sellers wanting to list their home because theirs have expired.  Expired means their home did not sell during the listing term with their previous agent.  Since we are able to view expired listings in the MLS, I always check it out before going to see the home in person.  Usually I am shocked while walking through the home, because the photos in the MLS from the previous listing did not do the home justice at all.  After uploading the new professional photos online, the sellers are amazed at the increase of showings and are impressed when the home sells.  I'm not bragging, it's just simple marketing...good photos sell homes!  I have actually heard agents say, "I'm not in the photography business, I'm in the real estate business".  Really?  It's a proven fact that photos sell homes in today's "see it now" internet world.

Non-professional Photography vs Professional Photography

There are sometimes compelling reasons that agents do not provide photos:  maybe the home is just so completely unattractive that a photo would harm the chances of selling.  Maybe the yard and interior are disasters.  However, that's exactly the thought that buyers would have as well, so no photo could likely do as much harm as actually having a photo.

Still Think Photos Don't Matter?

According to the National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers, 88% of home buyers searched online to find their home.  In today's fast-paced society, buyers want instant results.  They expect to browse the web and find properties matching their search criteria complete with photos.  If the photography is lacking and doesn't catch their eye, they will likely skip right over the listing.  According to Realtor.com, listings with multiple pictures are viewed 299% more than those with none or just one photo.  Again, 299% more!!!

Watch, just watch, the average person searching for homes.  You'll see the vast majority of them blow by any listing without a photo.  They won't even consider it.  Now watch their frustration mount as they click "view all photos" and they see one or two pop up.   I don't think frustrating potential buyers is a good idea.

The Jonesboro market is very competitive and if a property doesn't have photos, buyers will just move on to ones that do.  How does an agent justify submitting a listing with 1, 2, 3 or no photos?  We are able to upload 15 photos into our MLS for each listing.

When we enter a listing into the MLS, that listing is then syndicated out through a IDX system to multiple other websites, such as, Realtor.com, Trulia, Homes.com, real estate company sites and to every agent's website in town who has one.  It's the photos in the MLS that will show on all these sites.  So it's very important for each property to have good quality and multiple photos in the MLS.

Uploading the wrong file size

I see photos in the MLS all the time that simply make me cringe.  For example, some agents upload photos that are too small in file size.  When you click on the thumbnail of the photo to enlarge the photo is blurred out.  Nice!!!  That's really a great way to market your client's biggest investment.  And what's more amazing, all the photos of that listing will be that way.  It embarrasses me not only for the agent and seller, but for the entire industry of real estate professionals.

Generic New Construction Pic

Since I sell a lot of new construction homes, this one always gets me.  The only photo in the MLS for a home under construction is a generic pic with framing for a house with the words "New Construction".  Now that's perfectly fine if an elevation photo from the plan is unavailable. The problem is you'll see this same pic six months later when the house has been completed and is still for sale.  Example:  Recently a beautiful new home closed and the MLS still shows the same photo that was taken last July with sheathing only on the home.  This particular home was absolutely stunning with the most beautiful details throughout, and honestly should have been under contract long before it was.  Sadly, the agent didn't update photos during the construction process showing all the beautiful details that was being put into the home.   

So my advice...

Home sellers: ask demand to see the actual listing of your home in the MLS. Before it even gets to that point though, grill your prospective agent on how they plan to market your home.   Check out their online marketing yourself to see how they market their listings.  They will market yours in the same manner.

Real estate agents: For pete's sake, take photos. If you can’t/won’t, pay someone else to do it. This is fundamental home marketing. Do your job.  The quality of images is extremely important as well.  It not only reflects how well you market your listing for your seller, but the image it portrays of yourself to the public.  To the agents who do...great job! :)

Okay, I'm through ranting now...

NAR Report 2012 Home Sales Looking Positive

Since starting in the real estate business in 1994, I cannot remember a time of being this busy this time of year.  Buyers are out looking AND they are out buying.  The reason?  A lot of buyers who have been sitting on the fence waiting are now getting off that fence and taking advantage of the incredibly low interest rates.  From first time buyers, to buyers who are downsizing or moving up, buyers are out buying!  And it's just not here in Jonesboro, AR either, take a look at the below article from the National Association of Realtors

NAR released its latest pending home sales index figure last week and for the second month in a row the index is up. But more than that, the index has broken 100. This is significant because the only time since the housing boom collapsed that the index has broken 100 is when the home owner tax credit was in effect. The fact that the index has returned to that level a year since the credit has been in effect means the housing market is strengthening completely on its own, without any stimulus.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is upbeat about 2012 because in a number of areas indicators are pointing upward. Not only are home sales up but housing starts are up and home prices are stabilizing in many markets and heading up in some. In areas where they’re still down, the declines aren’t that great. More fundamentally, broader U.S. economic signs are looking positive, including the all-important jobs picture. About 100,000 job are being created a month, and that could rise to 150,000—still not a quick enough pace to get us back to where we were before the downturn but the headwinds are in the right direction.
Originally posted on NAR.org by Robert Freedman

Chicken Crescent Roll Casserole

Tried another recipe I found on Pinterest that was pinned from www.plainchicken.com.  Second recipe I've tried from Pinterest this week!  My husband and I really liked this dish, my grown son thought it was so-so.  It is pretty rich, but good.   The recipe makes 14 rolls and I made the whole recipe so we could eat leftovers. I would cut the recipe in half if I didn't want leftovers.

This can be a quick weeknight meal if you make the chicken mixture ahead of time and just scoop and roll when you get home from work.  I didn't have time to take pics of my own, so I'm using the photos from Plain Chicken.

Chicken Crescent Roll Casserole

2 (8 ounce) cans Reduced Fat Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls *I didn't use fat free*
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup, undiluted *I didn't use fat free*
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese or swiss cheese (or any cheese of choice) *I used cheddar*
1/2 cup milk

Filling
4 ounces cream cheese (very soft)
2 tablespoons butter (very soft but not melted)
1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tsp minced onion flakes *I used sauteed onions*
2 large cooked chicken breasts, finely chopped (or use about 2 cups, can use cooked turkey)
1/2-3/4 cup finely grated cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)
2 Tbsp. milk
1-2 cup grated cheddar cheese (for topping)

Set oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 dish with cooking spray. Mix together milk, 3/4 cup cheese and undiluted chicken soup (can season with black pepper if desired).

For the filling --- (make certain that the cream cheese and butter are very soft) in a bowl, mix the soft cream cheese with butter until very smooth, then add in garlic powder. Add in the chopped chicken, onion and cheddar cheese; mix well until combined. Add in 2 tablespoons milk; mix to combine (add in a little more if the mixture seems too dry). Season with seasoned salt or white and black pepper to taste. Unroll the crescent rolls. Place 1 heaping tablespoon chicken mixture (or a little more) on top of each crescent triangle, then roll up starting at the thicker end. Drizzle a small amount of soup mixture on the bottom of the dish. Then place the crescent rolls seam-side down on top of the creamed mixture in the casserole.
Drizzle the remaining sauce on top (you don't have to use the full amount of cream sauce, just use as much as desired) and sprinkle with 1 cup (or more) grated cheese, or amount desired. Bake for about 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

This was voted the #1 Casserole for the year at Taste Of Home.

I found this spicy Mexican Casserole recipe on Pinterest and thought I would try it out.  It did win #1 Casserole, so it's gotta be good right?  Right!  It was good.  Did it make it to the top 10 of my favorite casserole list?  No, but it is very good!  Plus it’s fast to throw together, and I doubled the recipe for two dinner nights.  A night off from cooking is always welcome for us busy working people, so I wanted to share with all my blog readers.  We also crunched Tostitos on the top, which made it even better.  Below is the recipe before I doubled it.

It's so easy...

CHEESY ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef ( lean)

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 1/2 cups salsa (I used Picante Sauce-mild)

• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans

• 1/4 cup Italian salad dressing

• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

• 6 corn tortillas

• 1 can of drained corn

• 3/4 cup sour cream 

• 2 cups (4 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend or your favorite cheese

• 1 cup shredded lettuce

• 1 medium tomato, chopped

• 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro (I chose to exclude)

Directions

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
• Stir in the salsa, beans, corn, dressing, sour cream, taco seasoning and cumin.
• Spoon a generous layer of meat mixture on bottom of 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
• Place layer of corn tortillas on top of meat mixture. Layer with half of the meat mixture, and cheese. Repeat as many layers as you like.
• The last & final layer should be a healthy dose of grated cheese.
• Cover with foil that has been sprayed with pam or other and bake at 400° for 25 minutes, or until hot & bubbly.  (I didn't have any pam, so I placed toothpicks in casserole to keep foil off cheese)
•  Let stand for 5 minutes before topping with lettuce, tomato and cilantro. Yield: 8 servings.

Enjoy!

Mortgage Applications Soar 4.5%

The below article probably explains the increased traffic of potential home buyers searching for homes on my website, www.NEAhomes.com.  I am literally receiving emails and/or phone call inquiries EVERY SINGLE DAY for the past week.  In all my years of real estate, I personally have not seen so much activity the first part of the year as I have in 2012.  Is this an indication of 2012?  Maybe!  I do know the record low interest rates have gotten peoples attention and many are taking advantage of it.  What I'm hearing a lot from these buyers are they have been wanting/needing to move up to a larger home and now they feel it's possible due to low interest rates.  I also have been picking up several first time home buyers for the same reason, low interest rates.  It seems people who have been sitting on the fence on purchasing a home are now getting off that fence and acting on their wants and desires.  I think it's a smart move!!!  These record low interest rates WILL NOT last forever.  If you're thinking of selling, NOW would be a good time to give me a call, so I can place your home in front of all these potential buyers that are actively searching for their dream home.  YOUR home could be the home of their dreams!   Call me anytime on my cell at 870-219-0652.

Mortgage Applications Soar 4.5%
Daily Real Estate News | Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Mortgage applications for purchase -- a gauge of future home buying -- increased 8.1 percent last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports. The purchase index on an unadjusted basis now stands at 41.9 percent higher than last year, signaling more people taking out loans to buy homes.
More home owners are also taking advantage of low interest rates. Refinance activity last week also increased, inching up 3.3 percent from a week earlier. Overall, mortgage applications were up 4.5 percent last week.
For the fifth consecutive week, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have averaged at historical lows below 4 percent, Freddie Mac reported last week. For the week ending Jan. 5, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.91 percent, with an average 0.8 point, matching the previous record low set a few weeks ago.

Source: “Mortgage Applications Rise 4.5%,” HousingWire (Jan. 11, 2012)

Slurried Brick...What Is It?

I am often asked the question, "Exactly what is slurry brick"?    Read the blog post by Elite Homes of NEA to find out out what slurry brick is, the history, and why it is a desirable trend.

Click to read Elite Homes of NEA's blog post, "Slurry Brick, What Is it"?