"Singing in the Rain!"

Another Wordless Wednesday: Natalie Danielson of ClockHours.com

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:11:42 -0600

Continuning Ed is never a dull moment when you attend a WA State certified clock hour class presented by Natalie Danielson, of ClockHours.com

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, Everyday CK, and Crabbing in the Hood, or you can e-mail him: kitsapagent@gmail.com

VA Appraisal Horror Stories: The Ultimate Deal Killer in Kitsap County WA

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:43:05 -0600

Let me preface this article by stating for the record that I am a big fan of VA financing. It’s one of the few home loan products currently available for active-duty service members and veterans that requires little or no money up front in order to purchase a residential property. The first two houses my wife and I bought were financed with VA home loans, otherwise we would have been renters for a very long time!

It’s just that I really dislike the whole VA appraisal process. While we have many highly qualified appraisers here in Kitsap County WA, and most of them do an admirable job at determining property valuations, the whole VA appraisal process is horribly flawed.

To find out why VA Appraisals are the Ultimate Deal Killer, hop on over to SOUNDBITEBLOG (opens up into a separate window for your viewing ease)

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Urban Meets Ocean- The Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (LOCALISM FEATURED)

Jeremy Blanton (210 Consulting~ Social Media Advisors) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:21:08 -0500

The Market Common is one of the hottest and newest things in Myrtle Beach. It is located on Myrtle Beach's former air force base.

Nestled on 114 acres, The Market Common features some of the finest retail shops & Restaurants along the Grand Strand. Some of these wonderful stores include Barnes & Noble, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Tommy Bahama and many more. Also, there are wonderful dining establishments like P.F. Chang's & Gordon Biersch Brewery.

In addition to all the wonderful restaurants & shops, there are other great things to do including several bike & walking trails, a movie theater and much more.

If you are planning a visit I would highly suggest downloading the Store Directory Map ahead of time.

If shopping and dining is not all you are looking for, The Market Common also have live concerts running all summer long. Check out all of the upcoming events here.

Some other great features of The Market Common include closeness to the Myrtle Beach International Airport, Hard Rock Theme Park & the Beach.

If the Urban Lifestyle is something that attracts you, there are several ways to purchase/rent in and around the surrounding areas. Feel free to contact me for more information.

This is truly an area where you can not only live, but also work and play all day without ever needing to get into your car!

Jeremy Blanton- Myrtle Beach Real Estate Expert

View Larger Map

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I am the Co-Founder of 210 Consulting- Social Media Advisors. If you would like more information on any of the topics discussed in this blog, please contact me directly.

Feel free to subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with my latest posts of tips & tricks to enhance your experience on ActiveRain. If you would like, you can sign up to receive updates via email directly in your inbox.

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Urgent message to all Washington State Real Estate Agents!

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:20:05 -0600

One of my favorite fellow AR Washingtonians provides a much needed 'Heads-Up' to everyone involved in the real estate industry here in Washington State.

Via Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com):

     Actually this message is directed to anyone involved in any part of the real estate transaction in Washington State. All agents, appraisers, loan officers, and inspectors should be concerned about several bills currently working their way through the House and Senate in the State of Washington that in one way or another relate to home inspectors that will affect the entire real estate transaction. This will be the first in a series of posts designed to bring to your attention the major concerns around these bills. While some of these bills may never even make it out of committee, all deserve a quick email to your Senator or your House representative to voice your concern.

    The first one I will discuss is Senate Bill 5644 that would change Home Inspector Licensing to require home inspectors to include “looking for mold.” Since home inspectors are not generally qualified to identify mold, and are not likely to get trained to identify mold, this bill could literally bring every real estate transaction in the state to a halt or at least slow it down while a mold expert is brought in to test the house for mold.

     Mold is the result of conducive conditions----in other words there are: roof leaks, plumbing leaks, foundation leaks, ventilation problems, drainage problems, and other building science issues that must be addressed to get rid of this one of the many results of these problems. Home inspectors, while not specifically required to identify mold are already mandated by law to discover and report on conducive conditions, so adding the word “mold” into the law is unnecessary. As long as there is considerable controversy over the effects of home-environmental mold on occupants of the home, blanket legislation regarding mold is not necessary to better protect the health & safety of Washington residents.

     No one would argue that particulate in the air, whether mold or dust or other contaminates, can affect anyone’s breathing, but these are “building science” issues not mold issues. Knowledgeable home inspectors are trained (or at least should be trained) to identify conditions that contribute to poor indoor quality including conditions conducive to the growth of mold. Any inspector that found conditions that they didn’t understand related to these issues would already be calling for further evaluation by the appropriate building science expert----calling for a mold expert to evaluate every real estate transaction would seem draconian to me.

     While calling for the “mold expert” would not be “required” by the current bill, can you imagine any inspector “signing off” on a house as being mold free? I think not. To paraphrase Chicken Man, “Its everywhere, its everywhere.”

     If you click on this paragraph you will find the bill and its current status. You will also find links to the sponsors where you can email them directly about this bill. You can also find links to your own legislators that you can email as well. Please take a moment to give them your opinion on this matter.

Other Important Bills:

Senate Bill 6433

Senate Bill 6434

Charles Buell

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Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group

PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.

DeCroe, is my "ethereal" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog and other people's blogs to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.

"Demonstrators vs. Deterrence" - New Post on 'Everyday CK'

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:04:27 -0600

This past Friday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the opening of a new exhibit at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport WA.

The purpose for this new exhibit was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launching of the USS George Washington (SSBN598), the first nuclear ballistic missile submarine.

As a former crew member of the 'Georgefish,' attending the ceremony brought back a flood of fond memories - the comradery of my shipmates, the pride and dedication of the crew, the hard work and sacrifices made to successfully carry out our mission.

To read the full story, go to my blog on the Kitsap Sun, "Everyday CK."

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, Crabbing in the Hood, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

"Everyday CK" - Creating Community Conversation in Central Kitsap County WA

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:36:35 -0600

Today marks my inaugural post on Everyday CK a local community-based blog about Central Kitsap County hosted by our regional newspaper, The Kitsap Sun, based in Bremerton WA.

'Everyday CK' will be a place where local readers & residents can find an engaging assortment of articles covering a wide range of issues/topics on the quality of life in Central Kitsap.

To access the first post on 'Everyday CK' go to Creating Community Conversation in Central Kitsap County WA

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, Crabbing in the Hood, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

My son Ben Jacobson is the REAL Cake Boss! - Wordless Wednesday

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:22:40 -0600

My family celebrated my birthday recently, and so my oldest son, Ben Jacobson, made this fondant cake to commemorate the event. Knowing my love for sushi, he created an assortment of nigri and maki rolls using Swedish Fish, Fruit Roll-ups, Rice Crispies & Marshmallows, and donuts. There's a bowl of sticky rice (Rice Krispies & Marshmallows) and Soy Sauce (Chocolate Syrup), and some Wasabi & Ginger (frosting).

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, Crabbing in the Hood, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

"The Weiner Wagon" - Late Entry for Another Wordless Wednesday

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:28:18 -0600

The Oscar Mayer Weenie Wagon came through Silverdale WA yesterday. Does anyone remember the Oscar Mayer whistles we used to have as kids? Boy, am I dating myself or what?

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, Crabbing in the Hood, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp.

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:38:15 -0600

While I personally prefer the more personal FTF connections of live REBC experiences, logistics and budgets don't always allow for such events. Here is another viable alternative made possible by the Ketchup King!

Via Real Estate Tomato (Real Estate Tomato):

We're Back!
Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp.

Our first event was such a success, we decided to parlay the momentum into the launch of another.

January 4th - 9am until 4pm PST
9 Hours, 28 Incredible Speakers, 1000s of Attendees!

It's Free!

What Is Virtual BarCamp?
How Do I Register?
Who Is Speaking (To be determined)
How Can I Sponsor?

In an effort to always improve, we have made some changes to the event format:

There will be 4 Webinar Rooms (previously there were just 3 rooms).
Presentations will be 45 minutes in length (previously they were 30 mins).
Total number of Speakers: 28 (we had 27 last event).
Each Webinar Room will have its own accompanying Live Chat Room (previously there was just one).
Session Topics will be chosen by our Registered Attendees (last time it was first come first serve).
Session Presenters will be selected by us (last time it was first come first serve).
Sessions will be recorded (we were unable to record last time).

We have boosted our goals for the event as well:

Registered Attendees: 3000 (previous: 1000, actual 1928)
In-Office Events: 100 (previous: 40, actual: 71)
In-Real-Life MeetUps: 50 (previous: 20, actual: n/a)
Number of Sponsors: 15 (previous: 10, actual: 13)

We have a new website: www.VirtualBarCamp.com

Just because we hold virtual, online events doesn’t mean that we can’t create an incredibly social community. One of the best aspects of the BarCamp atmosphere is the ability to connect, network, meet and mingle. We took this into great consideration as we planned out the architecture and user experience of our new website.

The tighter the community, the greater opportunity we all have to learn, network and teach. Get involved by involving others!

If you have any other suggestions on how we can improve on our first effort, please let us know!

A Detailed Lay Out Of My Social Media Marketing Plan

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:57:34 -0600

A great complimentary post to my new series on Developing a Social Media Strategy...

Via Sara Bonert {Real Estate Internet Marketing} (Zillow):

I often say that social media can be overwhelming if you don't have a plan. However, sometimes without specifics, this might not make sense. So instead of blogging about the theory of planning, I am just going to lay out my personal plan. This is just what works for me, I am sure others have very different strategies and I would be interested in hearing them.

My goals:   1) Reach and educate real estate professionals about Zillow and internet advertising in general.   2) Keep in touch with my sphere of influence 3) Keep abreast of current real estate topics and 4) Keep abreast of local happening in my neighborhood.

Target: Real Estate professionals and Locals

Twitter- This is turning into my favorite business tool because of my short reading and writing attention span. 95% of my tweets are business related and 5% personal. I'll follow back anyone who is in the real estate industry. I won't follow anyone that hasn't uploaded a picture or whose profile description isn't real estate related. I use TweetDeck to sort out those who are particularly interesting to me and any direct messages or replies. I also use TweetDeck to follow these keywords: Zillow, Wicker Park, and the combination of "anyone know" & "Chicago". Finally use the service to follow the hash tags for any conventions that may be happening. (One exception to this is I have a column in TweetDeck that I track Celebrity Tweets, guilty pleasure). I have TweetDeck on constantly throughout the day and just consider it an extension of my email. I believe the quality of the people you follow and who follows you is more important than sheer numbers. I also use Twitter to broadcast my new blog posts.

Facebook- I use Facebook mostly because I personally enjoy it. If I never got business off of it, I would still use it because I enjoy knowing what people I don't regularly hear from are up to and seeing their pictures. 90% of my status updates are personal, about 10% are business or cause related. I don't post anything I wouldn't want my mom to see (she is now a friend of mine!). Since the "groups" function on Facebook is so easy to use, my policy is that I'll follow anyone that has uploaded a picture and some information about themselves and we have at least two mutual friends. The "groups" function then makes sure I don't miss any of the people I really care to know about. I have groups for: good friends, work friends, high school, college years, and family. The main reason I'll 'friend' anyone is that I will use Facebook to broadcast new blog posts and I want to make sure I reach as far as possible. (tip: don't auto post your blogs to facebook, go create a custom link and message). On average, I check Facebook 5 times a day for about 5 minutes each time.

LinkedIn- I probably could do more here, but I use the site in a very passive way, mainly as a Rolodex or resume. I will only connect with people that I would feel confident giving a personal recommendation about. In other words, I must actually know you. I keep my profile as up to date and complete as possible. I occasional will check my Inbox, but not regularly, as most of the stuff that comes thru this site isn't time sensitive. I probably spend an hour a month on the site.

Blogging- Blogging is my home base to get information out. When I first started I thought- I want to reach real estate professionals, where are they hanging out online? So having my blog hosted by Active Rain was an obvious choice. With so many other professionals using the site, it was an automatic audience. Writing for me doesn't come easy and it takes effort for me to post, which is why I don't post as much as I like. My goal is twice a week. I will also occasionally blog on the Zillow Corporate Blog, when there is something to say that affects the real estate community. I guess I average 3 hour a week here.

Commenting on Blogs- Google alerts here are priceless. Whenever my name is mentioned in a blog post, I will leave a comment. I also try to leave at least one comment a day within the Active Rain community. This is an area I wish I was better at because I think commenting can be a huge play. Without commenting on other people's blogs, authoring your own loses something I feel. I guess I average about 2 hours a week leaving comments.

Reading Blogs- As blogs become more popular, there is so much more to read. I have about 40 blogs to which I subscribe to their RSS feeds and new posts go straight into my Inbox in an RSS folder. This way I don't have to constantly go to blogs to check for updates. I can also catch up on my blog reading when I am on planes by setting these feeds up, as I can read them offline. I will scan the featured blogs on ActiveRain daily and just do a few random searches each day. Finally, I find myself more and more just reading blog posts that people Twitter about. Reading blogs takes up about 45 minutes of my day.

Forums- Again, think about where the people you want to reach are hanging out online, and get there. For me, this means Zillow Advice (obviously!).  In the Professional section of Zillow Advice, many professionals leave posts about things they need help with, so this needs monitoring if I am going to be of help. I am also interested in what is happening locally, so I subscribe to get alerts whenever anyone leaves a post that is tagged to my neighborhood and Chicago in general. I like to interact with these people as well. The auto alerts are great because I can just click on an email, and give an answer that usually takes me about 2 minutes to type.

YouTube- My goal this year was to get more into video and I am starting to creep into it. At Zillow we have been working this year to create training videos for various parts of the site, we now have about 25 that are hosted by YouTube. I then use all the tools mentioned here to get these out.

Yelp - 100% personal. I admit, I am more of a taker than a giver here. I read reviews for just about any place I go to eat and professional service I use. I try to do a review here about once a month, more because I feel guilty about not giving back because I use the site so much!

This post was a little long, but I hope it gives some meat around how I personally have crafted my social media plan. There isn't a one size fits all this! Sites that people have a lot of success with, that I don't use, for example FlickR and blip.fm and fan pages on Facebook. Any other good tools out there?
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Playing Fair in the Blogbox: "The Core Rules of Netiquette" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:33:42 -0500

Rules??? We don't need no 'stinkin' rules!

The more I write and publish to my blog here on ActiveRain and on SOUNDBITEBLOG, the more I realize there are no hard & fast rules for blogging, but simply opinions, preferences, and common sense social netiquette.

So let's start with Proper Netiquette, or, "Playing Fair in the Blogging Sandbox."

According to Wikipedia, "Netiquette is a catch-all term for the conventions of politeness and respect recognized on Usenet, in mailing lists, in live chat systems, and on other electronic forums such as Internet message boards. These conventions address the relationship between personal behavior and group phenomena, and outline a dynamic set of guidelines for conduct that is conducive to pleasant, efficient and agreeable interaction."

In her book, "The Core Rules of Netiquette," Virginia Shea suggests the following basic tenets:

Rule 1: Remember the Human: Basically, follow the Golden Rule and treat others as you would have them treat you.
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life: A reminder to be ethical and to avoid any illegal behavior, such as copyright infringement or plagiarism (clip & paste).
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace: There may be differences of behavior from one platform or forum to the next. Take time to observe how other members interact before taking the plunge.
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth: I take this to mean writing good quality content, both in your posts and in your comments. Don't waste other people's time with meaningless banter. Don't clutter the platform with redundant self-promotion. Have respect for the founders/creators of the network, and abide by their guidelines.
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online: Yes, Virginia, good spelling and proper grammar ARE important. When you take a position of authority on a given point, be prepared to know what you're talking about and support your views. Don't post 'Flame Bait (a tactic used by those who want to draw attention to themselves by creating undue controversy or confrontation).
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge: Share freely from your pool of knowledge and experience. The ones who 'get' the most, are the very ones who 'give' the most.
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control: Notice she doesn't suggest that we refrain from flaming. The act of flaming has long been a tradition on social forums. They can actually be rather entertaining at times. And let's face it, some people deserve to be 'flamed!' But when they burn out of control, becoming intensely personal and damaging, it's wrong.
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy: I think this probably relates more to e-mail privacy, but it could apply to gossip as well. And let's not forget unsolicited SPAM! (Has anyone ever 'solicited' SPAM?)
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power: Just because you may know more than the next person or may have been doing something a little while longer than the rest doesn't make you any better, or necessarily establish you as the resident expert.
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes: Everyone has been a network Newbie at one time or another. Many of us have had the good fortune of meeting some polite, kind, and patient mentors along the way. We should follow their example by helping other new members.

On the HomePage of ActiveRain, the Founders have provided us with a wealth of Community Resources. Many of the articles contained on this resource page will give you a better understanding of what behavior is encouraged and discouraged here in the Rain.

Next time, we'll explore together whether or not any blogging 'rules' truly exist.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

New Homebuyer Tax Credit Overview.

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:55:12 -0600

As usual, my good friend George does an excellent job explaining all the various elements of the recently extended $8000 1st-Time Home Buyer Credit and the new Move-Up Home Buyer Credit. Thanks, George!

Via George Souto (McCue Mortgage) FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages CT.:

As promised below is an overview and comparison between the present Tax Credit and the New. The information below was just given to us by Senator Dodd's Office.

Homebuyer Tax Credit Overview:

First‐time homebuyers (those who have not owned a principal residence in the three years prior to the purchase date of their subsequent home) are eligible for a refundable tax credit of 10 percent of the purchase price of a principal residence up to $8,000 for homes bought between January 1 and December 1, 2009.

If the home is sold within three years, the taxpayer must pay back the credit (called "recapture").

Income limits for the current credit are $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers, phasing out completely after $95,000 for individuals and $170,000 for couples. Income limits are based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).

Extended and Expanded Homebuyer Tax Credit:

Extends the availability of the $8,000 first‐time homebuyer credit to taxpayers who have a principal residence under a binding contract before April 30, 2010, allowing 60 days to close.

Creates a new $6,500 credit for move‐up buyers. Move up buyers are defined as people who haveLike the credit for first‐time buyers, lived in their current home for 5 or more consecutive years during the 8 year period ending on the date of purchase of the their subsequent principal residence. this credit is available to taxpayers who have principal residences under a binding contract before April 30, 2010, allowing 60 days to close.

Raises the income limits for both the first time and move‐up buyer to $125,000 for single filers, $225,000 for joint filers with a $20,000 phase‐out. The $20,000 phaseout means that no credit can be claimed by those with MAGI above $145,000 for single filers, $245,000 married joint filers.

Both the first‐time and move‐up credit are available for principal residences with a purchase price up to $800,000. Purchase price is defined as the adjusted basis of the principle residence on the date such residence is purchased.

Includes strong anti‐fraud provisions:

Gives the Internal Revenue Service math error authority which they have requested when processing IRS form 5405. This would allow the IRS to correct certain errors during credit processing, and avoid the need for a post‐refund, labor intensive audit.

Requires a copy of the settlement statement (HUD‐1) which would verify the date of purchase, the residence address, and the purchase price.

Introduces an explicit age limitation, allowing no one under 18 to claim the credit

Excludes individuals who are claimed as dependents and married individuals who purchase the home from the family of their spouse from claiming the credit

Eliminates the recapture requirement for military personnel and members of the Foreign Service and intelligence community who are forced to sell their homes within three years as a result of an official extended duty of service. In addition, these individuals have one additional year to qualify for the credit if they served for at least 90 days outside the U.S. in 2009 or 2010.

Purchases made in 2010 can be claimed on the 2009 tax return.

The score of $10.8 billion over 10 years is paid for by a seven year delay of the worldwide allocation of interest rule until 2017, not stimulus funds.

Effective after the date of enactment.

Homebuyers who were eligible for the first‐time homebuyer tax credit pre‐WHBAA will be able to continue to claim the credit. Homebuyers who qualify for the credit under the expanded terms will only be able to claim the credit if they close on their home purchase after the date of enactment of this bill (the binding contract can be signed before enactment).

Some of this, like any new Legislation, is going to take a few days to fully understand. As further clarification is made available I will try to provide it.

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Info about the author:

George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com

My Favorite Active Rain Members To Follow On Twitter

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:47:16 -0600

Time to play "Follow the Leader!"....

Via Sara Bonert {Real Estate Internet Marketing} (Zillow):

A few weeks ago Twitter announced that they now offered the ability to create Lists. Personally, I still like TweepML better for this functionality for many of the reasons outlined in this TechCrunch article: Twitter Lists Competitors Respond: We Can All Get Along.

I went thru the list of people I follow on Twitter and compared that to people I enjoy reading on Active Rain. I then came up with this list of people who are active in the Active Rain community, who I recommend following on Twitter. Click on the link below and you can follow them all (or select a chosen few) in one click.

Favorite Active Rain Twitter Tweeps

There are so many great Twitterers and Active Rain blog authors, I am sure I left off some people that should be included on this. If you have a favorite person you follow on Twitter (and who is active on Active Rain), please put their Twitter handle in the comments of this post and maybe I'll add them to the list!

If you are just getting started with Twitter, these people are great to follow and see the many ways Twitter can be used effectively.

Like what you're reading? Then subscribe to my blog and be notified when I post something new.

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Adventures in VA Loan Home Buying in Kitsap County WA

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:33:45 -0500

One of my most favorite and popular series I've authored since jumping into the blogging fray has been "Adventures in 1st Time Home Buying!" a fun and informative collection of 10 articles created specifically to guide 1st Time Buyers through the home purchasing process.

As a veteran who proudly served on-board a submarine in the US Navy, my first two homes were purchased using VA financing. Living here in Kitsap County WA, home to the Bangor Sub Base and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, many of my Buyer clients are Active-Duty military and choose VA loans when buying their homes.

Given the unique nuances and pros/cons of VA financing, I thought it would be helpful to publish a series of articles geared towards helping Active-Duty service members and veterans to better understand the VA loan process, and equip them to intelligently navigate the potential challenges they may encounter.

First, let's dispel what is typically the most common misnomer about VA loans:

A VA loan is a mortgage loan guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and may be issued by any number of qualified lenders, i.e., banks, savings & loans, credit unions, mortgage companies, etc.. However, neither the loan nor the money borrowed is provided by the VA.

The VA Loan began in 1944 through the original Servicemen's Readjustment Act (also known as the GI Bill of Rights). The GI Bill was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and provided Active-Duty Service Members and Veterans with a federally guaranteed home loan with no down payment. This program made the dream of home ownership a greater reality for millions of service people and veterans. The GI Bill has contributed more than any other program in history to the welfare of our uniformed personnel, veterans, and their families.

In our next installment, we'll compare the VA Home Loan with other loan products, and help to determine if VA financing is the best choice for you.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

A Lonely, Stupid REALTOR is Transformed - BEFORE ActiveRain and NOW

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:16:33 -0500

My dear friend, Jeff Dowler, conveys some of the same sentiments many of us would agree with. ActiveRain was a life-changing dynamic in my RE business and served to foster hundreds of lifetime friendships....

Via Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate ~ 760-840-1360 (RE/MAX Moonlight Beach (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)):

My first thought was that this BEFORE ActiveRain and NOW contest would be a snap. Ha!!

Once I started actually thinking about it I realized my memory was going to be significantly challenged (that happens often). Of course I joined AR in August 2006 so I'm old in blog years - those who are newer may easily recollect their before-AR personas. But let's give it a shot with the few neurons I still have.

BEFORE ACTIVERAIN I HAD NO FRIENDS.

Well, not quite - make that no real on-line friends. The shift from Internetless-friends to where I now have more than I would ever dare to try and list (not just the many casual connections but folks I call true friends) has been an amazing transformation, and one which I never would have anticipated.

And now I have personally met well over 100 AR folks from all over the country, many of them more than one time, and THAT, for me, is remarkable. Hmmm, I wonder if anyone is dating or even got married from having met via AR? Any spicy stories to share?

Two early AR gatherings of Friends in Southern California - Crystal Cove and Manhattan Beach

Before ActiveRain I knew nothing...and Now I know everything.

Ok, that's writer's privilege here to exaggerate. I knew a fair amount about real estate and marketing before AR, but that knowledge has grown exponentially, with AR being the 24/7 on-line seminar that it is. In some ways I was a child embarking on an amazing journey of learning that continues today. I have learned more about on-line marketing, dealing with short sales and REOs, dressing up my website, social media, listing presentations, dealing with buyers and sellers, different types of technology and various gadgets, and endless other topics than in any series of classes, webinars or reading I have done. Truly AR is a remarkable brain trust. If you can't get an answer to a question from at least one of the 160,000+ members, well, then, perhaps there IS no answer. Imagine the power and influence we have with all that knowledge!!

BEFORE ACTIVERAIN BLOG WAS A FOUR-LETTER WORD.

OK, blog is still a four letter word. But instead of being clueless, and fearful, about this four-letter word, thanks to AR I can actually write articles on a blog, talk with others about blogging, and even teach. AR has helped me know myself better- my likes and dislikes, my passions and interests, my values, my ethics, my emotions, my humor and sarcasm. I have a pretty good sense of my voice and what I like writing about, and discovered my creativity. Plus I think I have become more tolerant of other's perspectives, and, indeed, truly value the diversity that is ActiveRain. Nope, still don't like the bad behavior I see, which I ignore as best I can.

ActiveRain, and blogging in general, has helped me become a much better agent. I had barely lived in CA for a year when I started blogging and it has enabled me to become an area expert in many ways - housing, things to do, communities, restaurants, local happenings, to name a few - and to understand my market conditions by writing monthly market reports.

Being a source of information IS essential and I am now this in spades (so I'm told). Buyers and sellers find me on Google because of what I know and write about. How cool is that?

Before ActiveRain my business was coming from some print advertising, a few referrals (several through my broker) and luck. Having only been in CA for a year in a rapidly declining market with a zillion agents and no network when I moved here was challenging. AR has changed all that. Apart from my CRS referrals and some past clients back East, my business now comes predominantly from my blogging, including referrals in and outbound (do you know a better referral network than ActiveRain?!).

There has been a growing awareness on my part of what consumers are looking for and need in their real estate transactions in a market that is unlike any other - this has come not only from my own personal growth in my blogging, but perhaps more so from the many others who form the greatest social media network in the world that I have learned so much from and who so freely and generously share their knowledge and expertise. ActiveRain is an unbelievable gift.

ActiveRain has led to teaching at several local real estate boards, talks at several RE Bar Camps and the Women's Council of REALTORS, a panel at the recent C.A.R. convention, a Los Angeles Times article, an Agent Interview in "Thrive: How REALTORS Can Succeed in a Down Market (2009)," and interviews for several REALTOR magazines including the The Residential Specialist (CRS) for January/February 2010.

What lies ahead? A time of tremendous growth and change, an opportunity to learn from the greatest collection of brain power in real estate I can imagine, and the knowledge that where I am now is nothing like where I will be in the future.

And I look forward to more friendships around the country and beyond.

THAT is Before ActiveRain and Now.

"Singing in the Rain!"

Another Wordless Wednesday: Natalie Danielson of ClockHours.com

VA Appraisal Horror Stories: The Ultimate Deal Killer in Kitsap County WA

Urban Meets Ocean- The Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (LOCALISM FEATURED)

Urgent message to all Washington State Real Estate Agents!

"Demonstrators vs. Deterrence" - New Post on 'Everyday CK'

"Everyday CK" - Creating Community Conversation in Central Kitsap County WA

My son Ben Jacobson is the REAL Cake Boss! - Wordless Wednesday

"The Weiner Wagon" - Late Entry for Another Wordless Wednesday

Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp.

We're Back!
Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp.

January 4th - 9am until 4pm PST
9 Hours, 28 Incredible Speakers, 1000s of Attendees!

It's Free!

In an effort to always improve, we have made some changes to the event format:

We have boosted our goals for the event as well:

We have a new website: www.VirtualBarCamp.com

A Detailed Lay Out Of My Social Media Marketing Plan

Playing Fair in the Blogbox: "The Core Rules of Netiquette" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

New Homebuyer Tax Credit Overview.

My Favorite Active Rain Members To Follow On Twitter

Adventures in VA Loan Home Buying in Kitsap County WA

A Lonely, Stupid REALTOR is Transformed - BEFORE ActiveRain and NOW

"Singing in the Rain!"

Another Wordless Wednesday: Natalie Danielson of ClockHours.com

VA Appraisal Horror Stories: The Ultimate Deal Killer in Kitsap County WA

Urban Meets Ocean- The Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (LOCALISM FEATURED)

Urgent message to all Washington State Real Estate Agents!

"Demonstrators vs. Deterrence" - New Post on 'Everyday CK'

"Everyday CK" - Creating Community Conversation in Central Kitsap County WA

My son Ben Jacobson is the REAL Cake Boss! - Wordless Wednesday

"The Weiner Wagon" - Late Entry for Another Wordless Wednesday

Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp.

We're Back!Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp.

January 4th - 9am until 4pm PST9 Hours, 28 Incredible Speakers, 1000s of Attendees!

It's Free!

In an effort to always improve, we have made some changes to the event format:

We have boosted our goals for the event as well:

We have a new website: www.VirtualBarCamp.com

A Detailed Lay Out Of My Social Media Marketing Plan

Playing Fair in the Blogbox: "The Core Rules of Netiquette" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

New Homebuyer Tax Credit Overview.

My Favorite Active Rain Members To Follow On Twitter

Adventures in VA Loan Home Buying in Kitsap County WA

A Lonely, Stupid REALTOR is Transformed - BEFORE ActiveRain and NOW

We're Back!
Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp.

January 4th - 9am until 4pm PST
9 Hours, 28 Incredible Speakers, 1000s of Attendees!