Heath's Blog

The top ten states searched for real estate in August were New York, California, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Alabama, Iowa, Arkansas, and Indiana. CA and FL both have had re-surging markets lately. New York and Texas markets are the "last" to see a slow down. Massachusetts has a new movie studio and movie industry developing. Illinois has the Obama factor. Alabama has the go zone and the jobs going into the coast and Mobile. Iowa is as far from the global warming floods as you can get. Arkansas has Walmart. Indiana had to get action sooner than later.

Happy listing and selling!

Anybody can quit. It takes a man or woman with courage and confidence to keep going.  Each tree blooms in its season.

If you concentrate on a missed shot, you can't win the game. If you concentrate on those who say no, you can't hear those who say yes. When you focus on the road, the destination appears far away.

Obstacles are fixed. You are able to adapt and overcome. Don't focus on what you're going through, focus on what you're going to.

We are in a new season of growth! A new season opportunity! A new season of success!

(Notes from Joel Osteen today.)

Here on Cape Cod an era ended today. The last Senator Kennedy  of the three family politicians left the Cape for the last time. Some applauded, some teared, some genuflected, and others began to talk about the future of MA politics before the hearse was out of Hyannis.

Whether you were pro of anti Kennedy politics,it is admittedly an end of an era. The games have begun. The next election could signal a new era in MA politics, or it could be time of stagnation or status quo. Politics will again be interesting here in MA for a time.

My wife was a counselor at Camp Jabberwocky many years ago, still has very good memories, and is fond of their efforts. If you don't know, Camp Jabberwocky is the longest running overnight camp for children and adults with disabilities in the United States.

Well, this weekend, in on of their ongoing efforts to raise funds, they are hosting a 5K run at 10 AM at the Farm Institute in Katama (Edgartown). There is a $25 runners fee for the 5K run (10 AM) and for the 1/2 mile fun run which follows it at 11 AM there is a $12 runner fee.  There will be entertainment by the world famous Vineyard Sound at 11:30, too.

All proceeds will help Camp Jabberwocky keep providing fun summers for many kids and adults with disabilities.

If you are there for the Clinton/Obama festivities while Chelsea gets married and The Prez takes a vaca, check out the 14 Aero Ave in the Katama part of Edgartown.  And if you run, the word is that the Celtics are matching the fees!

details on the camp jabberwocky web site.

I have friends in the military. I appreciate their service, doing what needs to be done to protect my freedom and this country. My Dad was a Marine Corps Lieutenant. I was born in the time that allowed me not to have to serve because of the peace and prosperity provided by those who lived before me.

I have seen the red shirt videos and information about "red shirt Fridays" to quietly show support for the troops. Recently the video below was emailed to me. It shows another way to indicate support for the troops. This video shows the sign language sign for "Thank You" being used to thank the troops. One more way for me to be appreciative without being boisterous.

Thank you for your service.

You can also to their web site: www.gratitudecampaign.com

The NAR reported yesterday that pending home sales are increasing for the 5th straight month.  This real estate trend hasn't happened in a few years.  Of course we all remember that during the boom, there were record increases year after year until the collapse. 

Now, people have settled in to the idea that there has been a correction, that prices are more reasonable in most parts of the country, and that this is a good time to buy if you have the opportunity.  Coupled with the first time buyer incentives that expire at the end of November, and the market from here to December looks like it will continue to grow.

The data from the NAR can be found at http://www.realtor.org/research/research/phsdata

Happy Listing and Selling! (And Buying!)

So I ask you, does having 91,000,000 results in a search for real estate help or hinder a customer's understanding of the real estate market they are looking to buy or sell in?  I don't think it helps. I search my own MLSs every day.  Because I do it every day, I know where to look, what to look for and HOW to look.

Even looking at the name of the listing agent in an MLS listing can tell me more about the listing than any picture can.  Many agents have tendencies - price too high, embellished descriptions, pictures of a beach when it is farther than a mile from any water, etc. Knowing who listed it can tell me how much time to spend on it.

I think that having "pictures of real estate" on 91,000,000 results has dramatically slowed the time it takes for customers to talk to real professionals about real estate.  AND then a customer has to re-learn so much, because many of the 91 million results are either distractions or lead generators who aren't there to help, but only there to capture and sell a customer's "contact" info.

Real estate is local. 91,000,000 results is not local.

Happy selling and listing!

(I post this response to a question that was asked on a website that sometimes doesn't keep my comments. The question was about the current usefulness of the NAR. Kathy is an educator in AZ.)

Hi Kathy.  Actually the database you are describing is coming - from the NAR and not some other entity. It should be available to Realtor members this fall. It will provide information about every property in the US.  This was described in June at a small meeting in Chicago at the NAR building that I was personally present at.  Dale Stinton stated that it will be a member benefit and indicated that other entities will not be given access without a lot of forethought. I wrote about the meeting in my blog in June.

I think that the strength of the lobby of the NAR has helped the real estate profession.  One of the NAR's problems, however, is the disconnect that agents currently feel. Whether it is the problems with Rltr .com type sites or even the ideas of others who plan to harness our independence for their profit with a natl m ls, agents across the country are looking for someone who listens to them and their business needs.  The NAR leadership is working at listening more and answering needs. One example is your database request - it is on the way to members. 

I own a small company on Cape Cod and one of the problems I see with the NAR is the tremendous effort it takes to unify over 1 million independent business people for movement in any specific direction or action.  When the NAR sends out a "Call to Action" how many Realtor members do you know that read it, and take some sort of action?

An interesting factoid: over 2 million real estate licensees in the US, less than half are members of the NAR.

Happy listing and selling!

Heath Coker CapeGroup.com (Cape Cod Real Estate) REindex.com (Free agent links) @CapeGroup @RealEstateIndex

Happy listing and selling!

http://bit.ly/cGk7B (a funny youtube video about finding real estate)

If you are planning to have a place on Cape Cod while you're working at the Hollywood East studios, you should buy now.  The privacy factor is not as easy to achieve on Cape Cod as you might think. Still, there are some interesting buys right now that could provide you and your family privacy from the summer crowds.

The Cape has long been a place for vacationers. As such, many of the properties have been built close together on smaller lots. As more quiet interest in the Cape develops from people who have to work a little harder to find privacy, properties that can provide it are going up in value.

If you are looking for comfortable digs with a buffer, you should start your search now.  For example 11+ acres within 20 minutes of the new studio are on the market for $7+ million.  With one multi-bedroom colonial, another beachfront home with four more bedrooms, hundreds of feet of private beach, a private dock, another guest house, and a barn, you could work and play on Cape Cod.

Other areas on The Cape can provide privacy, too. And, when the word gets out that Hollywood East is a great place to be working, there will be more than a few who appreciate privacy - and look for it.

Helping buyers and sellers come together without a lot of fanfare can be as useful as owning a private location.

Best wishes,

Heath Coker, Owner Cape Group Real Estate www.CapeGroup.com

I was on the Vineyard for the 4th of July.  This year we made it early enough to the family picnic that we got to see the "parade" in the Oak Bluffs Campgrounds. For over a decade, the summer residents have dressed up and paraded down Clinton Ave to the Tabernacle (where we got married in '85).

The pictures below are a sampling of the spirit and fun of the day.  After the parade, we enjoyed a great cook out hosted by my wife's aunt and uncle.  After the cook out, the kids and some "psuedo adults" went to state beach to jump off the "Jaws" bridge - another tradition.

It was a beautiful day. We had good food, good conversation, laughs, good company, and sun. We later returned to Falmouth for the fireworks there.  A long day of gratitude and fun.  Thanx to all the soldiers who keep us safe.

I hope you had a great Fourth, too.