Lodi Association of Realtors weekly marketing meeting will be held at the Masonic Lodge in Modesto off of Rose Avenue (map).  this week’s host is Mortgage Lenders association of Stanislaus County.

Speakers will beMary Quten and Sandy Wolfe.  Come by from 8:00-8:30 and network with fellow agents and affiliates; make new contacts. Speakers will be presenting from 8:30-8:45 regarding updates on the City of Modesto Parks and Recreation Department.

From 8:45-9:00 there will be an open forum for property discussion which is a great opportunity to advertise your new listing(s).  You can also ask questions or make suggestions based on your want and needs and update other Realtors® on any fabulous properties you have that are still available.

Join your fellow agents and promote your properties…All REALTORS® are Welcome!

LAR Save the Dates:

-August 13th – LAR Picnic at Micke Grove Park

-September 22th – LAR Golf Tournament at beautiful Woodbridge Golf and Country Club

Image via Wikipedia

Those who want to save energy and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle can look close to home to cut back on power bills.

Here are some tips from Tony Callahan, senior vice president for Beazer Homes, to get you started.

Change filters. Replace your air filter regularly and tune up HVAC equipment yearly. A programmable thermostat will allow you to set the temperature according to your schedule.

Seal gaps. Repair or replace weather stripping on doors and windows, using caulk if necessary to get a tight seal.

Use CFLs. About 10 percent of electric bills come from lighting, and compact fluorescent bulbs are good to use in areas where lights are on for hours at a time.

Water works. Reduce water and the energy used to heat it with new water-saving showerheads and sink faucets.

Check your fridge. Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new Energy Star model will save enough energy to light the average home for nearly four months.

Real Estate professionals, want to know what clients really think about you? Want to hear what they really want or what they’re interested in?

You should check out Tweet Scan. Tweet Scan is a web application that allows you to type in any keyword you want, I did “Real Estate” and it shows you all the latest Twitters that contain the word real estate.

I’ve come accross some pretty neat marketing tricks from other Agents this way, give it a try.

By the way:  For those of you who are not familiar with Twitter.com, it is a web application that allows you to send out a short message to everyone updating them as to what you are doing, or whatever you want.  Think of it like a mini-blog.  People can subscribe to you and follow what you’re doing or “twittering” about. So far, Twitter is over 1 million users strong and growing every day.

The National Association of Realtors filed an application with the National Credit Union Administration to create it’s own web-based credit union for NAR members.  They’ve noted that since Realtors® are independent contractors, traditional credit unions and banks aren’t able to support the needs of the modern day Realtor®.

The Realtors® Federal Credit Union will offer exclusive features to Realtors® such as:

• New Realtor® start-up loans
• Commission advances
• Business payroll and more…

NAR expects approval of their application from the NCUA by the end of the year.

Click here for the NAR’s Realtor® Federal Credit Union brochure for more information.

I was doing some research today on how to update the look of our blog template. I think it looks drab and needs an update.

After performing a Google search for “real estate wordpress” I came along this website that sells a VERY professional looking template that you can run on your own Wordpress blog.
Find out more details here.

Tags: wordpress, real estate theme

Agents, the California Association of Realtors, is offering a free web-based marketing tool to all members.  If you are a member, that means you!  Yes, you!

It’s a prebuilt newsletter with original content each month that features your picture, contact information and listings.

This newsletter is delivered straight to your clients’ inbox, no fuss, no muss.

To sign up for this FREE service, visit www.car.org and click on “Newsletter Sign-Up” on the homepage.

To open Microsoft Office Word 2007 .docx or .docm files with Microsoft Office Word 2003, Word 2002, or Word 2000, you need to install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for 2007 Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint File Formats and any necessary Office updates. By using the Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office system, you can open, edit some items, and save Office Word 2007 documents in previous versions of Word.

I know that it’s idiotic to have to install a program to open Microsoft Word documents, even if you already have Microsoft Word, but that’s Microsoft. (upgrade. feed the beast.)

Click here to go to the download page

Good home maintenance is key to creating and preserving a home’s value. Not to mention, it also impresses potential buyers.

Here are five basic steps that every home owner ought to take — before spending money on dream bathrooms or gourmet kitchens.

1. Safety. Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and in good working order. Check fuel-burning appliances to make sure they are properly vented and no gas connections leak. Make sure the electrical system is adequate. Flickering lights and popping breakers are the sign of a problem. Anchor handrails and grab bars adequately.

2. Preventive maintenance. Repair any leaks in the roof, seal gaps in the siding, paint bare wood, replace damaged decking, patch cracks in concrete, and caulk around tubs and showers.

3. Conserve energy. Install a programmable thermostat, weatherstrip doors and windows, fix leaking faucets, upgrade insulation, and replace leaky windows.

4. Go green. Consider environmentally friendly materials for windows, doors, siding, decking, fencing, roofing, flooring, and insulation.

5. Improve comfort. Get rid of clutter, open up spaces, update window treatments to allow in more light, and organize closets and storage.

via The Associated Press, James and Morris Carey (12/29/07)

PMZBuzz has been informed by the GRI (Graduate, Realtors® Institute) program that they have no sign-ups for the GRI Series to begin in Lodi January 17^th, 2008.

If you are intending to take the course and receive the designation, you need to register ASAP – or the course will be cancelled.

Topics for the course – which is held one day a month – are: Strategies for Success, Purchase Agreement, Environmental Concerns, Trust Funds, Fair Housing, Real Estate Marketing, Investment Properties, Taxation and Exchange, Agency & Ethics, Legal Issues, Financing and Technology.

Signup today and earn this prestigious designation!

Call or email LAR for complete registration information: 209-368-5316 / lodiaor@softcom.net.

Attorney John Villines and JV LAW are hosting a FREE Tax Seminar on Business and Payroll Taxes.

• Find out the truth about IRS collection strategies!

• Hear what the IRS is afraid of – powerful information about resolving your IRS problems.

• Discover what happens if you try to ignore to the IRS.

• Learn how to recover and prevent future issues with the IRS.

When: Saturday October 27, 2007
From: 10am-12pm
Where: At the Hampton Inn, conveniently located off FWY 99 one exit north of Modesto.

Coffee, donuts, and scones, will be served.

Only 30 seats are available, so call today to reserve yours. 209.524.9903 or e-mail your Name (first and last), with a return address, e-mail, and phone #’s to mark@jvlaw.net.