THE TRUTH ABOUT OPEN HOUSES!!!!

    So many real estate agents hold open houses and pump their sellers up on how great open houses are. Facts are this...... Homes selling from an open house is extremely rare. The main reason why real estaet agents hold open houses is not for the seller, but for themselves. I know this article may piss some people off and there are gonna be agents that message me and disagree with me, but even that disagreeing agent knows they have had more than one dud open house.

    Not only is it rare that an open house sells a home, so it may not be worth anyone's time in the first place,....... but it also poses a danger to the sellers, especially if the home is occupied and full of valuables and personal items. Let's think about a few situations and who may be entering your home..... 1) THE NOSEY NEIGHBOR that wants to see what kind of lifestyle you live or compare your home to theirs so they can wait and see how yours sells. They want to see your upgrades, if you are messy, etc... Just plain nosey. 2) RANDOM STRANGER that stopped in to see if there are any good snacks or beverages. The key word in this is stranger. This person could be looking for ways to break into your home or they could even steal a few things while they are walking through. Who knows? If more than one family/group comes through at one time, who is gonna watch one group, while the other wanders through your home? Hmmmmm? Something to think about.

    The majority of people looking to buy a home do not attend open houses these days. They go onto HAR.com, search for homes, narrow down a list, call their real esatet agent, then go and look at the homes all together within a few hours. Buyers look when it is convenient to them, not when it is conveniently open for your agent on a random Saturday.

    After all this, you still say that I am wrong......

     Fine, have your open house, but my thoughts are this..... If you are gonna have an open house at least make it worth the trip. when I have open houses, which is almost never, I make sure it is a big deal and guarantee myself that I am not wasting my time away from my family just to sit in an empty house and surf the web for 4 hours. I make sure it is a very big deal and I have had open houses that require more than one agent to handle the traffic. You want to know how this happens.....

1) I make sure to market the open house in every local way that I can.... HAR.com, Facebook.com(really only works if yoru agent has deep roots in the market your home is in), twitter, flyers to all the local business, and make sure the seller hypes the open house as well.

2) I make sure it is not just an open house, but an event.... I have a drawing for a $50 Gift Certificate for everyone that signs into my open house and fills out a survey on their opinion of the home. **Feedback is key. We want to know what the general public is thinking about your home. These are non-bias, so they are actually very informative.**

3) Food is a big draw.... My last open house was catered by Gringo's Mexican Kitchen. The food was awesome, the attendees fo the open house had a good time, and they left with a full stomach. Hopefully they go and tell others about how they spent their saturday eating good food for free and how the house they were in was pretty nice to look at. They will rave about the open house even more if they were the winner of the $50 gift certificate.

4) On the day of the open house I put out a minimum of 20, sometimes up to 40 signs. I make sure to grab their attention and lead them to the location.

So, unless your agent is gonna pump it up, plan it way in advance, and make it a big deal to draw some serious traffic.... I would suggest to avoid open houses. Of course, your agent has you believing that open houses are beneficial. That's just them selling themselves to you. It makes them look better, but it does near nothing in the way of actually selling your home. Maybe your agent will benefit and pick up a lost buyer and sell them a home at a later date. Who knows?

About the Blogger:

I am a professional real estate agent that has sold hundreds of homes in the Greater Houston real estate market, with most of my experience being in the Pearland area. My family has been in Pearland since about 1939 and we have called it home ever since. My dad graduated Pearland in 1964 and I graduated in 1999(the greatest graduating class in PHS history). Even though the growth of Pearland is great for business, I really miss the good ole days when Pearland was much smaller and it seemed that there wasn't a stranger in the town. We got away with crazy stuff that was just considered "kids being kids', but nowadays kids get arrested and ticketed for fighting. I remember getting caught with beer by the cops and them telling us to pour it out, and then escorting us home. Then, the officer would talk about the good ole days with my dad for a bit, right before whoopin my ass. It was a slower time. We left our doors unlocked and never worried. We got into fights, then hung out with that guy later on in the week, knowing that no one was gonna pull a gun or knife. Once the fight was over, it was over. Sometimes you took a whopin, sometimes you won. There were fields everywhere and we partied in all of them. Now we have "master planned communities" and shopping centers where, cows used to graze. Maybe progress is good, but then again, maybe we are ruining everything good. Nonetheless, many of the guys I grew up with are still here and raising their families here just as our parents did, back when Pearland, Texas was a little more country.

Yes, that is what I said. Local, Guaranteed, Trustworthy Credit Repair Services......

    When I (Ozzie Ramirez) first got into this business over 6 years ago, I ran into tons of people that would come to me with stories of how they were turned down by mortgage companies and they felt lost and pushed aside. Immediately, I knew that I found my niche in real estate. I remembered what it felt like for me and my family, just a few years earlier when we were turned down for a mortgage and felt like we were stuck in our little apartment, while the mortgage companies made us feel like second class citizens and gave us no direction whatsoever.

    So, I made it my mission to make sure that we, myself and my companies, would do our best to make sure that we did not make people feel this way. So, I studied my butt off about credit and credit repair. Eventually, I got pretty good at it and offered FREE CREDIT REPAIR if you bought a home with me. It was awesome and it really exploded my busienss and I even won a Top Producer award from HAR® the very next year in 2006.

    Of course, eventually the credit repair was such a huge draw that peopl were coming out of the woodworks for me to help them. It got me so busy that I could not take care of my reale state clients and many people ended up using my credit repair services and did not end up using me as their REALTOR®. They would get their credit repaired, then move on or buy a car.

    Fast-forward to present day, February 2012..... I have developed some strong partnerships with some amazing business-minded folks, suchas Joe Chavarria - Partner and Credit Repair Manager, John Torres - Credit Repair Specialist, Michael Chavarria - Credit Repair Specialist, and Bo Faber - Credit Repair Financial Partner and Partner. Together, we have built a solid credit repair business and we have satisfied hundereds of clients by repairing their credit and getting many of them into homes as buyers, not renters.

    My guage for our success......... We are a 100% referral company! We do not need to send out post cards, magazine ads, etc.... Our word-of-mouth growth has been so huge that we have grown by 140% over the past 6 months. Yes, in this recession, we have grown.

    Where am I going with this?

    1) We are located in Pearland, Texas. We have an actual location where you can come and sit down with a credit repair specialist for FREE, pull your credit and get custom consultation based on your credit report. At that point, we can tell you your options and let you know what it will take to get your score back up. So, you FREE credit education without paying a penny, from the best in the business.

    2) Our services are GUARANTEED! If you sign up for our program, we guarantee that we can get your results or we will give you 100% of your money back as long as you abide by our policies adn procedures and cooperate with our team of professionals. You have to realize that this is a team sport. We will do our part and let you know what is expected of you, but you have to follow through.

    3) BONUS!!!! If you get your credit repaired with Trustworthy Credit Repair Services, then use our in-house brokerage, Trustmore Realty, to buy a home, we will refund up to $500 of credit repair fees to you within 30 days of closing on your home to show our appreciation.

    So, Call, e-mail, Facebook us, whatever..... Just stop wating around and get a hold of us, so we can begin getting you back on track TODAY!!! Everyday lost is just more interest paid and more rejections by credit companies.

We hope to hear form you soon.

Call us: (281) 317-0330

E-mail us: Info@TWCreditRepair.com

Facebook us: http://www.facebook.com/trustworthycredit

About the Blogger:

My name is Ozzie Ramirez and I love what I do. I have built a team of companies that work hard to give great customer service and to be able to tell people "YES!" We believe that, "If you genuinely love people and show it with your words and actions, they will love you back, and the business will come and go as it is needed." We do not worry about business, we focus on caring for people. We cannot wait to go to work for you and your family and friends. Check us out on Facebook at the following business pages:

Trustmore Realty - Real Estate with Integrity.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trustmore-Realty/116664091745945

Trustworthy Credit Repair Services - Guaranteed Credit Repair you can trust.

http://www.facebook.com/trustworthycredit

Trustworthy Insurance Group - Finding the best policies at the best prices and being there when you need us.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trustworthy-Insurance-Group/299455173431127

What: Donations of Water, Gatorade, Snacks, Chap Stick, Vaseline, and Artificial Tears for the firefighters. We are gathering donations and delivering them to the areas that need them the most based on our contact with news stations and local authorities.

When: Tuesday 9/6/2011 until Friday 9/16/2011. We will make one delivery on Friday 9/9/2011 and on Saturday 9/17/2011.

Where:

Trustmore Realty office in Pearland, TX

2506 Francis Dr. Pearland, TX 77581

Fidelity National Title Company in Galleria Area

‎3005 West Loop South, 250, Houston, TX 77027

Thank you to everyone for all of your donations, I cannot wait to make the delivery and know that we did what we could to let these people know that we care.

Visit the Facebook event page for more details:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147178188707396

Or Call/e-mail Ozzie: (713) 201-4089/AskOzzie@yahoo.com

-    Make a list of of your credit cards, and include the amount owed, minimum payment and interest rate for each account. Commit to paying slightly more than the minimum payments every month.

-    Pay as much as you can toward the account with the highest interest rate whenever you have extra funds available.

-    Once that card is paid off, begin paying more on the one with the next highest rate.

-    Repeat the process until you are debt-free.

For more helpful tips, please contact Trustworthy Credit Repair Services LLC:

Call us: (281) 317-0330

E-mail us: www.TrustworthyCredit@Gmail.com

Visit our web site: www.TWCreditRepair.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TWCreditRepair 

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1) LATE PAYMENTS! A payment more than 30 days late is one of the most devastating hits your score can take. Plan ahead and try your hardest not to pass this 30 day mark. It can lower your scores up to 100 points almost immediately and in the end cost you thousands of dollars.

2) MAXED OUT! There is a common myth that running up your credit card every month and paying it off is a good idea. WRONG! This actually sends a message to the bureaus and lenders that you are not living within your means and need to max out your cards just to survive - NOT GOOD. The best practice is to use less than 50% (20% is even better) of your available credit each month.

3) NEW CREDIT/HOME LOANS! New lines of credit can damage your credit score, especially multiple lines of credit opened within a short period of time. When in the process of purchasing a home or just prior to applying for a home loan, new lines of credit can damage a person's score to the point of being the difference in getting approved or rejected for the home loan.

Visit our site or call today for professional help on getting your scores raised.

GUARANTEED CREDIT REPAIR STARTING AT $29.95!

http://twcreditrepair.com/

(281) 317-0330

Become Facebook Fans of AskOzzie.com Real Estate Services PLLC or Trustworthy Credit Repair Services LLC

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About the Blogger:

My name is Ozzie Ramirez and I am a local real estate broker in Pearland, Texas. I sell homes in the Greater Houston area, including Katy, Pasadena, Alvin, Friendswood, Humble, Missouri City, Sugarland, and Stafford. Since 2005 I have been helping people repair their credit in preparation for homeownership. I decided to get into credit repair when I realized that my credit was crappy, and I kept getting turned down by mortgage companies. The mortgage companies made me feel like garbage and I knew that I couldn't be the only person that felt this way. I was right. So, I started helping people accomplish their dreams of buying their first home and have been doing it ever since, with great success. I cannot wait to put my team of more than 30 real estate agents/credit repair specialists to work for you.

Enter: THE FAN PAGE!!!!

Fan pages or Group/Business pages can be set up easily and linked directly to your personal Facebook page(meaning that you only have to enter in one password and you get notifications to the same e-mail address).

Creating the fan page is easy. It's the exact same process that you went through for your personal page, but you will have to make sure to use the same e-mail address and password and it will link the two for you.

Now that we have that out of the way, we can begin the marketing aspect.

From day 1 you have to begin loading your page with content. Pictures, events, status updates, links, notes, discussions, etc..... Think about the word Fan. What does that mean? Fan is short for Fanatic. People are fanatics because they have a huge like for something. You have to get them to like your fan page. Think outside the box when doing so. On top of loading your page with helpful content you can think outside the box and begin trying to reach celebrity status. You can have affirmations that inspire people, link to very interesting articles, link to youtube videos, have a trivia question and offer gift certificates for the correct answer, you can promote a tailgate party and Toy/Food drive to get people interested(People love a party, they love football, and they feel guilty if they do not at least try to get involved in good causes). Do something that will really draw good attention and get people talking about your Fan Page. Having tons of fans means you have a huge audience, once you have the audience, then you can grow your brand.

Let's take a step back and work on physically gathering fans.

1) Take all of your personal friends and invite them to be friends of your fan page.

2) Once you have invited all of your friends and many of them have become fans, then you can use the @ symbol to post to multiple walls and reach all of their friends. It's pretty simple. In your status update box type the symbol @, then type in the name of one of your friends/fans. It will automatically bring up that person's pic and name below the box. Click on that box and it will tag them in your status update. Within that ststus update, invite them to invite friends to join your fan page and give them a benefit to becoming a fan(like also posting a link to a youtube video you did for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit). By using the @ symbol you have posted on their wall for all of their friends and your friends to see with one message.

3) Use external sites to gather fans. You can use many different types of widgets suchas badges, fan boxes, or share buttons to post a link on your blog or web site that will invite people ot become fans on facebook. Whe you are logged in on your fan page look to your left and you will see in blue lettering the words "Promote with a Fan Box". Click on that link. This will take you to a screen of choices. Here is what you have to choose from:

FAN BOX: Below is a fanbox. It has a link where people can click and become a fan, it will show your last status update, and it will show the people that are currently fans. Pretty cool, huh?

SHARE BUTTON: You can also choose a share button. A share button is small, and less intrusive. 

Share 

PAGE BADGE:  Just like the share button, it is just a glorified link. 

If you need help on how to place these widgets on your blog or web page, I am available any time to walk you through these proccesses. If you learned how to use Excel or Word, then you can do this.

Before I go off on a huge rant and keep typing until my fingers bleed I am gonna go ahead and end this blog post. Once I have organized another set of thoughts I will write another post and hopefully have helped at least one person grow their business.

About the Blogger:

Ozzie Ramirez has been in real estate for more since April of 2005 and has won awards based on his character and his production from the Houston Association of REALTORS®. He has served on numerous boards for the Houston Association of REALTORS® and is extremely excited about the future and how Social Media is changing the wayreal estate marketing is done. He loves the way it evens the playing field and give the smaller company a fighting chance to compete with the huge monsters companies in this industry, no matter how big their budgets are.

If you are ever in Pearland, stop by our new office located @ 2506 Francis Dr.  Pearland, TX  77581 or give us a call (281) 648-4440.

What?:

Texans Tailgate and Toy/Food Drive benefitting the Pearland Neighborhood Center.

We will have a drop off station for Toys and Food. We will also be tailgating the Texans Vs. Colts away game with plenty of entertainment for the whole family. Please RSVP if you want a tailgating spot. We will have plenty of Big screen TV's for everyone to watch the game.

When?:

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 from 10am until 5pm

Where?:

2506 Francis Dr.  Pearland, TX  77581

Details:

Printable event flyer: http://www.box.net/shared/oxrkaq52vm

The buying process is a process with many components and plenty of areas where mistakes can be made. From disclosures and contracts to inspections, option periods, closing documents, and mortgage paperwork the home buying process is definitely a process worth having a professional help you with. In the Greater Houston Area there is a very strong Association of REALTORS®, known as the Houston Association of REALTORS®. This group of agents has come together to build one of the strongest associations in the U.S. With an association web site that boasts more than 1.5 billion clicks per month there are billions of reason to use an agent in Houston.

I can go on and on about how HAR.com and the Houston Association of REALTORS® benefits its agents, but today I am going to head in another direction. That direction is new home sales and why a buyer should have a representative. So I have come up with a consolidated list of reasons why a person should use an agent on their new home purchase.

1) Common Misconception:

An agent's commssion will hurt my negotiating a better deal. WRONG. Most credible home builders in the Greater Houston area do not pay agents out out of the same funds that the home sell is negotiated from. Instead, home builders have a separate account set up, usually as a marketing fund, that is used specifically to pay agents. So regardless of how great a negotiator you think you are, wouldn't it be awesome to have a professional represent you in getting an even better deal? So, why not take advantage of a FREE service from a professional that has been a part of more real estate transactions than most people will ever witness.

2) Confusing Real Estate Jargon in Contracts:

Unless you are a lawyer or a person that has read hundreds of real estate contracts, there is always going to be verbiage and addendums to contracts that confuse the average person. With the average sales contract stretching more than 10 pages long, wouldn't it be wise to have an agent that has already read hundreds of contracts that basically say the same thing that this contract does, but can find any fine print that may harm a home buyer? Don't take a chance and assume you understand or act like you do when you do not.

3) Negotiations:

Many New Home Sales Reps have a pre-determined dollar amount in which to negotiate. Typically, the less of that dollar amount they use to close the deal, the better they will look to their superiors, which will probablyu lead to a bigger bonus for that Sales rep. A well educated agent often knows thos pre-determined dolalr amounts or has a general idea of what that magic number is and how to negotiate to get every penny form that builder. TRUE STORY: I was in negotiatios with a New Home Builder for a client of mine and I had a previous relationship with the Sales Rep that we were dealing with. That Sales rep and I had already discussed the pre-determined amount and I had negotiated every penny that anyone could. Somewhere within our negotiations I mentioned to him that I would like to help my buyer with a financial gift after closing from my commission. After I said that he mentioed a special online coupon that is hard to find on the web site that would give me an additional $2,000 cash bonus at closing. He printed the coupon out for me and we applied that money as a gift to my buyer to get them an even better deal. I believe we used it for upgrades and some closing costs. If I had not been aprt of that transaction or anagent had not been involved at all, that money would not have been accessible to the buyer. I would like to think that most people would agree that getting an extra $2,000 just for having a representative is getting the best the builder has to offer. FREE Professional Representation + $2,000 = Make sure to use an agent when buying a New Home!!!

4) Catching Mistakes:

We are all human and we all make mistakes. In a home purchase there are hundreds of people involved, so there are hundreds of opportunities for mistakes. In the building process of a New Home there are contractors, painters, general contractors, framers, masonry experts, roofers, plumbers, electricians, escrow agents, closers, processors, and many more people. Who is going to double check all of these aspects of the building process while the home buyer is at work? An agent's job is to quarterback the whole process to allow the buyer to continue doing their job, while having peace of mind to know that their prucahse will go smoothly and all the loose ends will be tied up. 

Those are just a few of the main reason why buyers should use a real estate agent when purchasing a new home. If that isn't enought to convince you to make the phone call toa  local agent, I don't know what is.

About the Blogger:

As owner of Capital Trust Realty and creator of AskOzzie.com I have learned a lot about how business is affected by the local economy. I appreciate all of the blessings that our local economy has given our company and look forward to growing and servings thousands more clients in the future. If you ever have questions about real estate and do not want to feel pressured, feel free to call, e-mail or stop in to get your questions answered.

Thank you to all of our Pearland and Greater Houston real estate agents and clients for helping our company to grow.

Follow me on twitter: www.Twitter.com/AskOzzie

Become a fan on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/FanofOZ

Come check out our new office:

2506 Francis Dr.    Pearland, TX  77581

That secret(not really a secret at all) is Self-evaluation.

Winner's Mentality:

In running a business, in life, and in coaching football(I am a Volunteer Defensive Coordinator for the Mt. Carmel Academy Rebels on Houston, TX) the only person we can truly control is ourselves. So why not start every change in life with ourselves.

Example: As a football coach, if my players are not producing, then it is up to me to find a way to help them to produce. Some coaches will never take any of the blame on themselves and always blame the loss of their team on the heart, dedication, or execution of their players. I believe that, as a coach, before I ever find fault in my players, I must find fault in my methods of coaching these players first. It is my job to make sure that these players have all of the skills and tools necessary to win football games. Sometimes the skills and tools have nothing to do with speed, strength, or shoulder pads. Actually, more often than not, the tool or skill that is lacking is discipline or knowing how to do the little things right.

So, after a loss, the first things I do is self-evaluate. Before I ask myself any other questions, I ask myself, "What am I doing wrong and what can I do better?"

Believe it or not, I lose clients in real estate sometimes. Before I blame all of the reasons why my ex-client is using another REALTOR®, I ask myself, "What did I do wrong and what can I do better to make sure this doesn't happen again?" To take it even further, even when I close a transaction and things go smoothly and my client is ecstatic about the home purchase, I still ask myself, "What can I do better? How can I become more efficient or provide better customer service?" The funny thing about all of this is ths answer is often similar. The answer often has to do with education and communication. "How am I educating my client?", "How am I educating my REALTORS® to help them better service their clients?", "How is my communication?", "How am I coaching each player?", "Are my educationl tools effective?" I believe these are the questions that make the difference between success and failure, the difference between greatness and mediocrity.

Loser's Mentality:

It is very easy to place blame on everyone else and think that everyone is crazy, less intelligent, or just not doing their job right, but will that really solve your problems? To place blame on everyone else and make excuses is the sign of a loser's mentality. Stop making excuses, stop placing blame, and start finding real solutions. Solutions that you can control.

As a leader, it is a challenge to help someone break the habits of a "loser's mentality". One of the wisest sayings I have ever heard is probably one of the most vulgar sayings I have ever heard: "Excuses are like buttholes, we all have them and they all stink." As nasty as it is, there is no truer a statement. The meaning of this saying carries infinite powers if you use it properly. It takes time to adopt this saying and put it into action, but it can and must be done to find success.

Example: You have to say it to yourself in the morning while getting up and getting ready for work so it will motivate you to get out of bed and to work on time. If you wait until you get to work, all you can do is think back and say I should have gotten up earlier or gotten dressed quicker. No excuses, I am late because I did not plan properly. Stop blaiming it on traffic or fake coughing and acting sick.

As a coach, I tell the players that I don't want to hear excuses, I want to see results. 

My very own quote, unless someone else has used it before me and published it:

"Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen."

                                                        -Ozzie Ramirez

About the blogger:

I am about to turn 29 and I just attended my 10 year anniversary. Saw a lot of my old high school friends and we had a great time. Pearland High School class of '99 - Woohoo!!

I love real estate and I love to help people. Both go hand and hand. My office is in Pearland, Texas, but I work pretty mucha anywhere in the Greater Houston area. If you ever have questions about real estate here is wher you can find me:

I went ahead and assumed that since Ashton Koocher(haha) is tweeting and he has half of America following him, that everyone knows what exactly tweeting is all about. My mistake.

So I am gonna break it down and give you some great applicable uses for twitter and some links that will teach you how to catch the twitter bug.

To get started, watch this video:

http://help.twitter.com/portal

After you watch the video, scroll down and read all of the helpful information below to help you begin to understand how to use twitter.com.

Hopefully you read all of that useful informaiton and watched the video. Now you have the basics. If you haven't read this information on twitter.com, then the rest of this blog will end up being confusing, so make sure to read it before finishing this blog.

Here is where the fun begins.

Finding people to follow: 

Twitter is about connecting with people like you. Family, friends, people that have the same passions that you do, people that intrigue/interest you, or people that can use your service or product.

Search for friends, family, maybe even motivational speakers,experts in your industry that you would like to network with or learn from, famous people that intrigue you, such as Oprah, President Obama, @AskOzzie, P Diddy, etc.....

I started following people like P diddy, thinking he would say cool stuff or teach me how to break in to the music industry, but of course neither happened, so I stopped following him. It's that simple. Many people get on and just begin following every person they can because they think it will build their network. That is the worst thing to do. Just because you follw them does not mean they will follow you or ever care about connecting with you.

Afte you have found a basic group of people you want to follow, now you can expand it even more and search topics that interest you. I searched "Pearland" because I live here, work here and my family has been here since the 40's. I also search the "Houston Texans" because they are my favorite sports team and I have season tickets. I follow my favorite athletes on the team to see what they have to say. Mario Williams doesn't tweet much, but I also follow Shaq and sometimes he says funy stuff. Have fun with it, you can always stop following them if they bore you.

Twitter Language 101 - Getting your message out:

Now that you have established a presence in the twitter world, it's time to take it to the next level. Since you only have 140 characters per tweet you must use them wisely. For the Text saavy audience you know that the language of text/tweet is different than the language of e-mail. E-mails are expected to be professional and words are expected to be fully written out. The language of text/tweet is made of shorthand, abbrevations, and substitutions.

Example:

E-mail message: It has been too long. How are you doing? What are your plans for this evening?

Text/Tweet: message: Long time, no C. How r u doin? Plans 2nite?

Get creative, but don't confuse people.

Twitter is also a great place to go ahead and post links. With 140 characters you have to get your message across and then get them to click on your link. Links are a great way to let people see your larger messages without having to write 10 tweets to complete a thought. It works well for tech saavy people because we can link to our blogs, cool news articles, our web sites, etc...

Link Tip: Sometimes you may be tweeting a link that is too large to fit with your message in 140 characters. Go to www.TinyUrl.com. Copy your original link from your web browser(I highlight it, then click Ctrl+C). Then, paste the URL that you copied from the web browser in the designated box on the www.TinyUrl.com page(I use the Ctrl+V to paste). Click the "Make TinyURL!" button and presto-changeo! A new, smaller URL will automatically save itself to your clipboard. Simply paste the new URL into your tweet after your inviting message. Pretty cool, Huh?

Making a connection and having people follow you:

Now I will explain hashtags. If you want a better chance of people finding you based on your tweet content you may want to use hashtags. Example: #Texans is a hashtag. The # sign is what is called the hashtag. Sometimes when I tweet about the Texans my tweet may read: "Great Game today! Super Mario and Brian Cushing lead the #Texans to a victory. Bring on the next victim: #Titans." In that message I placed a hashtag on the #Texans and the #Titans. That way other people will begin using the same hashtags. If others want to chime in on the conversation they can search for our hashtags and tweet about these teams. We may even begin a debate. Some people get pretty serious about their team. If many people tweet about the Texans or Titans and use the hashtag, then it will become a trending topic. Meaning, lots of people are tweeting about the same thing. Hashtags are simply put at the front of words to make them stand out and make them more searchable/connectable.

As you tweet more and interact more, you are putting more tweets out there for people to see what interests you. Other people will begin searching topics and see your tweets. That is a good thing. The more people that read your tweets, the more people that might like what you have to say and begin following you. More followers means more people believe that what you have to say is relevant.

Hopefully this blog post was educational and will help you to begin exploring the world of twitter. Possibly, it could even help your business marketing campaign or simply get you connected with some new or old friends. Whatever you do, do it well.

About the Blogger:

My name is Ozzie ramirez and I am part owner of Capital Trust Realty and AskOzzie.com located in the Pearland and Greater Houston Area. I am a licensed REALTOR® in the state of Texas and I use social media to grow my business.

Follow me on twitter: www.Twitter.com/AskOzzie

Become a fan on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/FanofOZ

Come check out our new office:

2506 Francis Dr.    Pearland, TX  77581

If you follow me on twitter, read my blog, or are a friend of mine on Facebook, then you will see that I like taking shots at bad Social Media Marketing campaigns and educating people on effective usage of these sites.

Just last night I as on Twitter.com and I clicked my saved search of Pearland and read some of the local tweets. Much to my dislike I see local REALTORS® tweeting their new listings. I do not have a problem with that  and I think it is pretty cool thatthey are trying. So, I click on their picture to visit their home page and see what they tweet about and all I see is posted listings. Thta would be cool if they had gathered followers that were interested in seeing every time they listed a property, but they don't. I saw 8 followers. That tells me that nobody cares about their crappy listing tweets.

I will go ahead and pick on a friend of mine, Danny Frank, and say that he is not thislocal bad tweeter. He is actually an example of a good tweeter that uses these Social Media sites better than most. He has followers because he tweets about stuff that he cares about. He tweets about multiple topics to gather more followers, he is consistent, and he links to FB, blogs, and interesting articles. Kudos Mr. Frank. You are an example of how to make yourself more effective in this maze we call Social Media Marketing.

I use different ways to market myself on twitter and I will elaborate on all of that later, but for now, I wanted to share an awesome twitter article that I found this morning that gives some great twitter marketing ideas and proves that this beast called Twitter, is worth adding to your marketing campaigns.

Click this link and read this awesome Forbes.com article about Tweeting tips:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/31/top-twitter-tips-entrepreneurs-technology-twitter.html

Thanks for reading and I hope you choose to follow me on twitter and my blogs.....

About the Blogger:

I'm Ozzie Ramirez. I'm very opinionated and clearly a guy that likes to lead more than follow. I love Pearland and Houston and working in Real Estate. I love my beautiful wife and kids. I am a huge fan of the Texans. If youa re ever in the Pearland Area, stop by our newest location @: 2506 Francis Dr.  Pearland, TX  77581. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.

Many buyers listen to the national media and begin to believe everything they hear. STOP! Here in Texas, things aren't as good as they were in 2005 and 2006, but how could the market ever keep up with record breaking sales? Yes, it is a buyer's market. Yes, there are lots of foreclosures. Yes, you can find a pretty good deal. But, realize that in real estate there is nothing set in stone. Every home has a different seller and different circumstances. Some sellers have more equity in their homes, some are negative as far as equity is concerned, banks do want to sell their current foreclosure inventory, but they are not going to just give properties away. Consistently, the Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio markets are at the top of the nations best seller's markets(call us the best fo the worst). But, the best fo the worst means that things aren't nearly as dismal in Texas real estate as they are in the res of the country.

Although, this article was not written by a Texas REALTOR®, it is loaded with truth about buying real estate in any market.

"The declining home values that are plaguing homeowners are just one of the factors creating an opportunity for prospective home buyers.

Standard & Poor's latest Case-Shiller index, which tracks home prices across 20 major U.S. cities, reported that values dropped 19% in January from a year earlier.

Those depressed values, combined with near-record-low mortgage rates and government incentives (an $8,000 first-time home buyers' tax credit included in the stimulus bill), are luring more first-time home buyers into the market. Indeed, a recent Century 21 Real Estate survey found that more than three-quarters (78%) of potential first-time home buyers say now is a good time to buy.

If you agree, be aware that buying a home comes with plenty of potential missteps. Here are 10 all-too-common mistakes first-timers make.

1. Not knowing how much house you can afford.

Many novice home buyers spend a lot of time researching homes - comparing kitchen layouts and backyard square footage - but very little time researching their financing options. One of the first things buyers should do is talk to a qualified lender and get preapproved for a mortgage, says Claire Clark, senior vice president of business development at Prudential California Realty. Without first figuring out how much house you can afford, you risk falling in love with one you can't.

2. Assuming foreclosures are great deals.

Just because the previous owner owed $450,000 on a house before the bank took it over doesn't mean it's worth that much now. Values have slipped significantly, says Jay Michael, partner at Estate Property Group, a Chicago real estate brokerage, so you may not be getting the bargain you think with a foreclosure. Also, most homes owned by lenders or banks have been sitting vacant for months and may have been vandalized. That could require extensive renovation or repair. Weigh the costs of fixing up the property against the savings you'll likely reap by buying a lower-priced foreclosed home.

3. Letting your true feelings show.

No matter how much you've fallen in love with a house, don't let the seller's agent in on it. Otherwise, they will gain the upper hand in negotiations.

4. Failing to find a good buyer's agent.

Landing a mortgage is tough these days. So buyers should rely heavily on knowledgeable agents to help them get their finances in order, says Michael. After all, buyer's agents have a fiduciary responsibility to the buyer exclusively -- and should be looking out for their best interests. Start your search at the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, a nonprofit representing buyers. Or consider using an agent recommended by a relative or friend. Interview each candidate about their experience, if they've worked with first-time buyers before and what kind of service you'll get from them.

5. Underestimating the costs of owning a home.

Whether it's a rusty pipe or a leaky roof, things go wrong and need to be fixed. Many home buyers don't anticipate the additional costs for repair and maintenance, or for an increase in utility costs, says Erin Baehr, CFP and president of Baehr Family Financial. Consider the age of your new home and how well it's been treated by the previous owners in your budget. Be prepared to set aside a small percentage (1% at most) of the home's purchase price annually for repairs and upkeep.

6. Failing to budget for property taxes.

Property taxes - and the likelihood that they'll climb over the course of your time in the house - should be factored into any home-buying budget, says Baehr. To get an idea of how much you'll be paying, call the local assessor's office or talk to people in the neighborhood.

7. Assuming your first offer will get accepted.

As home prices get even more affordable, competition is bound to heat up. "You can't assume you'll walk in there, make the offer and get it," says Clark. Try not to get discouraged if you lose out on the first - or second - house you make an offer on.

8. Skipping the inspection.

Before signing anything, hire a professional inspector, says Justin Lopatin, a mortgage planner with American Street Mortgage Company. The seller isn't likely to tell you there's mold in the basement or the walls are poorly insulated. Lopatin advises buyers to find and hire their own inspector - independently of the realtor - to ensure there's no conflict of interest. (You can find inspection companies in the phone book, or by doing a simple web search with your zip code.)

9. Doing too much too fast.

Some buyers want to make the house their own right away, says Baehr. They overextend themselves on credit to do so, and assume the improvement will pay for itself by increasing the home's value. But that's not always the case - especially in today's market. Instead, buyers need to exhibit patience and make changes over time.

10. Failing to include a contingency clause in the contract.

A mortgage financing contingency clause protects you if, say, you lose your job and the loan falls through or the appraisal price comes in under the purchase price. Should one of these events occur, the buyer gets back the money he used to secure the property. Without the clause, he can lose that money and still be obligated to buy the house, says Lopatin."

To read this article form it's original source, click on this link:

Yahoo! Real Estate News

Original Title: 10 Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make

Original Author: By Lisa Scherzer, SmartMoney.com

Written: Apr 10th, 2009

About the Blogger:

Oziel "Ozzie" Ramirez was born and raised in Pearland and has lived his entire life in the Greater Houston area. His birth parents are originally from Mexico, but he was raised by an Irish woman(THE most influential woman in his life, along with his wife and daughter), in Pearland, Texas. His roots run deep in Pearland, due to the fact that his family has called Pearland home since before 1950. His father graduated from Pearland High School in 1963 and attended college at Texas A&M. Ozzie would later graduate from the same high school in 1999. He loves Pearland, he loves the commercial growth of Pearland as well, but still misses the small town feel that Pearland use to have when he was younger. There is nowhere he would rather live or do business than in Texas, The Greater Houston area to be exact.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy the site.

-Ozzie Ramirez-

The Houston TEXANS official 2009 Schedule is released today!! GO TEXANS!!!

Can't wait until the draft on April 25th!!!

According to Southeast Texas Housing Finance corporation, the following counties and cities are eligible for a $10,000 First Time Home Buyer assistance grant: Austin County, Matagorda County, City of Huntsville, Wharton County, City of Pearland, other cities and counties are also included. Please check with SETH(SouthEast Housing Finance) for more details at www.SETHFC.com.

As if a one time $8,000 First Time Home Buyer tax credit isn't enough, there is another tax credit that lasts up to 30 years. Yep. 30 years. The tax credit is good for up to $2,000 per year for the life of the loan. Here is how it works. An MCC provides eligible homeowners a tax credit based on the interest paid annually on their mortgage loan.

For example: $100,000 loan @ w/6% interest rate

Pays: $6,000 interest on their mortgage the 1st year
Receives: MCC providing a 30% tax credit
Equals: $1,800 tax credit ($6,000 x .30)
This tax credit is only available to homeowners using the
MCC program and will be received for the life of the loan.

The beauty of it is that it is available to everyone, even if they are not First Time Home Buyers and the income limit qualifications are pretty liberal. For more information on this program, click on this link: MCC Tax Credit Program.

Meet the blogger:

If you don't already know, my name is Ozzie Ramirez. I grew up in Pearland, Texas and my family has been calling Pearland home for more than 50 years. I love working in real estate and nothing makes me happier than helping someone get an awesome deal on a home purchase. In the past few years I have noticed a common thread within the homeowners that have found themselves victim of foreclosure. I do realize that soemtimes uncontrollable situations can force foreclosures, such as job loss, or illnesses, etc. For the rest of the foreclosures had more to do with lack of education as it pertains to real estate and buying a home. My philosophy is that an educated consumer equates to a satisfied consumer. With that being said, I created this web site and wrote this blog in hopes that I could educate at least one person and help them to complete a satisfying real estate transaction or avoid an unsavory transaction. Then, I have accomplished my goal.

Every day people log on to our site and even stop me in the streets looking for the answer to this question: "What exactly does the $8,000/$7,500 tax credit mean to me?" It's not that difficult to explain the tax credit without all of the details, but in order to set people straight and help them figure out the whole truth, I searched the internet for a credible source that could give me all the details to pass on to you.

"As we move further into tax season, Treasury and IRS employees have been busy filling in the missing pieces on all of the new tax laws that were passed as part of the recent stimulus package.

When it comes to real estate, the rules are at best confusing. Let's shed a little compact fluorescent light on the subject:

2008 $7,500 tax credit vs. 2009 $8,000 tax credit

If you were a first-time buyer who purchased a home after April 8, 2008 through the end of the year, you might have realized that you could get a $7,500 tax credit on your 2008 tax return. This is a nonrefundable tax credit, which means that even if you don't pay $7,500 in taxes you'll still get that much in the way of a refund, provided you meet other qualifying details, according to Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for the tax and accounting group at CCH.

However, the 2008 $7,500 tax credit must be paid back in $500 equal installments over 15 years, which means that this tax credit effectively functions as a zero-interest loan. (Luscombe said the fine print in the new law says that if the taxpayer dies, the rest of the payback is forgiven. It's unclear whether both homeowners have to die if the property is owned jointly -- or just one of the homeowners.)

If you chose to close on Dec. 31, 2008, rather than Jan. 2, 2009 (perhaps to be able to itemize the interest and points on your 2008 tax return), you may be kicking yourself. The recently signed stimulus bill took the $7,500 tax credit and turned it into an $8,000 tax credit -- one that doesn't need to be repaid, Luscombe said.

But there are some wrinkles that require you to pay attention. To qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, you must earn less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income for couples filing jointly. Also, you must stay in the house (assuming it's your primary residence) for three years or there may be some payback requirement, according to Luscombe. (He's unclear how the IRS would be able to follow up, and some of the regulations and filing requirements aren't fully explained at the moment.) The $8,000 first-time-buyer credit is good only for homes purchased by first-time buyers (or anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years) from Jan. 1, 2009 through Nov. 30, 2009 -- so don't wait to close in December or you'll miss out.

Luscombe said you can elect to take the credit on your 2008 taxes. But if you bought your house in 2009, you'll be able to get only a $7,500 tax credit. If you wait to claim the credit on your 2009 tax return, Luscombe said you'll get the full $8,000.

"I'm not sure if Congress intended it to be written that way, but that's the way they wrote (the law). It might make some sense because of the way the IRS has its form," Luscombe added.

Going Green? Take a Tax Credit

The stimulus package eased requirements on energy tax credits. The $500 lifetime tax credit for building improvements has been increased to $1,500 for such improvements as the installation of energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors and mechanical systems.

In addition, you can take a 30 percent tax credit for every dollar you spend on things like solar heaters, fuel cells and heat pumps, Luscombe explained. The individual limits on particular expenditures have mostly been eliminated.

Foreclosure and Short-Sale Forgiveness

For those who are going through foreclosure or a short sale, where the house is selling for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, the forgiven debt will not be taxed as income through 2012.

"Up to $2 million of mortgage debt on the principal residence that has been forgiven can be excluded from income," Luscombe explained. "Taxpayers do not have to put it on their tax form," even if the lender has sent an IRS Form 1099.""

Credit:

Link to article: http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/ilyceglink/understanding-housing-tax-credits?page=0%2C0

Author: Ilyce Glink, Thursday, March 5th, 2009; Inman News

Currently there are many factors within the mortgage industry that are making it harder to purchase homes. Guidelines regarding credit scores and credit worthiness have become strict and lenders are requiring larger down payments from just about everyone in order to purchase in the present day market. On the other hand, for those that can qualify for a mortgage loan, there are many great incentives going around to make it easier and more affordable for people to buy homes, including lower interest rates, MCC trax credits, First Time Home Buyer Tax Credits, etc....

For some reason a few legislators believe that adding a transfer to tax to the sale of real estate will be beneficial to us all(or maybe just to themselves, I am not sure why). They are proposing a tax to be paid that will add to the cost of purchasing a home. While we are supposedly in a recession and it is difficult for many people to make the leap into purchasing a home at all, why would any one think that adding more taxes to a real estate transaction be a good idea?

It's not! It's a horrible idea and we need to make sure it does not pass into law in the state of Texas. Read up on it and demand that it be shot down.

More details:

Real estate transfer tax filed in Senate

Sen. Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio  filed SB 942, which allows counties to enact new taxes to increase revenue for local transportation projects. One of the new-tax options that would be made available to counties is a real estate transfer tax to be paid to the county within 30 days of the transfer of property. The bill allows the county to set the rate of the transfer tax and mandates sales-price disclosure to ensure that the proper tax was paid.

Background

The NAR®(National Association of REALTORS®) commissioned a study to analyze the effects of a transfer tax on real estate. The report assumed a tax rate of 0.5% and a $125,000 purchase price. Based on these assumptions, the cost of buying a home would increase by about $600, and home sales would decline by almost 3%. This bill, however, allows the county to set the tax rate, so homebuyers could see a larger cost increase and sales could decline more than 3%. Additionally, the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University concluded that the creation of a transfer tax on real estate may create more problems than it solves, costing the state $955 million in lost economic activity with 11,575 jobs eliminated.

*(this passage taken from TAR Political Actions Committee Newsletter-Author unknown)*

Meet the blogger:

My name is Ozzie Ramirez, I am the founder of AskOzzie.com. As part of my duties as a founder and a recruiter I work on the Political Actions Committee within the Houston Association of REALTORS®. As a member of the PAC, it is my job to make sure that  real estate is protected as it effects the every day consumer, my clients. I work in real estate everyday. It is my profession, and my livelihood, and I try my best to keep this site up to date with the most current issues regarding the Pearland and Greater Houston Real Estate Markets. Hopefully this web site will help to educate you and help make your next real estate transaction a more positive one. Feel free to contact our staff at Capital Trust Realty and AskOzzie.com if you have unanswered questions, comments or if you would like to enlist the help of a licensed real estate professional.

As a member of the Houston Association of REALTORS® Bay Area Political Affairs/Leadeship, I have been fortunate enough to follow the $7,500 Tax Credit as it makes its way towards being a true tax credit. For the past few months it was called a Tax Credit and it was actually an interest free loan(the only tax credit on the books that had to be paid back). Finally it is officially a true tax credit for First Time Home Buyers. Ever since the tax credit became a true tax credit I have been searching for a single piece of literature that will sum this tax credit up and make it easier for me to explain, with confidence, how it actually works.

So Here it is:
By Kenneth R. Harney
Saturday, January 24, 2009; F01

Many people look at deregulation as very negative and in some ways it is. If you think about it, deregulation is capitalism, and capitalism is a big part of what makes the United States different from Socialist countries. It's really a big part of what makes America the "Land of Opportunity".

Whether you agree with it or not, it is here and I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon. So, instead of complaining and doing nothing about it, why don't we complaina and try to to control the aprt of energy that we can, our electricity and the efficiency of our homes. Here are a few tips that I have found to help my electricity bill. The list is short, but I am hoping that others will read this and add to my list and maybe we can all help each other to save on our electricity bill.

1) If your home is a bit older and could use some help in the way of efficiency, try this free service. The Texas Government requires that energy companies pay for this service in order to help decrease the per kilowatt hour usage her in Texas. It's a service that test your home for air loss and HVAC efficiency for free. They will help to seal gaps that are causing air loss and if you qualify, simply be stating that you have financial need they will replace all of your current light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs, and you even get to keep your old bulbs. The company is FLC or Free Lighting Corporation and thei web site is www.FreeLightingCorp.com. Check it out and tell everyone you know. Just make sure to tell them that you heard about it at AskOzzie.com.

2) Find an electricity provider that is giving you better rates. The internet is an amazing to shop and compare. Make sure that you get a fixe rate, not a fluctuating month to month rate. It looks so good when you sign up because it starts off so low, but it creeps up and eventually your electricity bill will be out of control like mine was. Be weary of companies that are giving really low rate, locked in for more than one year. Many of the companies that have offered a low, locked in rate for two years have found themselves in financial trouble and have been forced to go otu of business, leaving their customers scrambling to find a new energy provider. I suggest Ambit Energy, not only because I am a Marketing Consultant for Ambit and I sell their products, but because I use their products and they have seved me lots of money. Not to mention, they give great vacation rewards, just for paying yoru electricity bill. For more information visit www.AskOzzie.JoinAmbit.com.

3) Once you find a fixed rate and a company that satisfies you make sure to use these tips to keep the savings coming. Try to make sure that you are searching for electricity in the right season. Electricity rates typically rise in the summer and fall in the winter. So, shopping rates in the winter and locking in your rate in the winter is often a smart idea. Once you sign your ocntract and have committed to the electric provider make sure to keep track of when your contract (locked rate) expires. Many times the electric provider will not notify when your current contract is over because afte the contract is over you automatically go on a month to month program and that means your rate will begin to fluctuate (usually they tend to fluctuate in the upward direction - I don't know why).

Hopefully these tips will help you in the future. Even if these tips save one person money in the future, then AskOzzie.com can be considered a success.

Be sure to check out rates on www.AskOzzie.JoinAmbit.com. Sign up, save money, and start earning reward points that could get you free electricity, or a choice of some wonderful vacation packages. Automatically, by signing up you will receive a 3 day/2 night hotel package of your choice (3 star hotel located in 1 of 12 popular vacation destinations, including Palm Beach, Las Vegas, and San Antonio).

Ozzie Ramirez ~ REALTOR® ~ Credit Repair Specialist ~ Mortgage Consultant

HAR® REALTOR® Hero of the Month for May, 2008

HAR® - Bay Area Political Affairs/Leadership - 2009

We are in a RICH GET RICHER real estate market. What I mean by this is that if you have the finances or if you have good credit in the current market, it is a great time to capitalize. Opportunities to build wealth are everywhere, you just have to know how to make it happen.

Here is my synopsis of what is currently going on in the Pearland and Greater Houston real estate market in the consumer's world:

Thousands of people are headed toward foreclosure and for thousands more it is becoming harder to find financing to make a purchase, by the day. So, we have thousands and thousands of people that are unable to purchase, being cycled over and over again through the rental market. With the number of renters raising at a record level, it is safe to say that supply and demand would allow landlords to raise rental rates and still be able to lease properties quickly without very much downtime between tenants.Cha-ching!!!

People continue to complain about a recession, but notice that in Pearland and the Greater Houston area, apartment complexes and commercial properties are steady popping up. If you do not see what I am talking about, simply drive to the intersection of HWY 288 and FM 518 and drive north towards the beltway or visit Fuqua near the beltway/45 South(right behind AMC 30) and you will see plenty of new apartment units going up. This is the perfect example of the rich getting richer.

For those of us that cannot afford to build whole apartment complexes or commercial buildings, here are a few ways still get your piece of the pie.

1) "Buy Low, Rent Smart, then Sell High when the time is right". Now is the perfect time to find a great deal on a foreclosure, put enough money in it to make it desirable, and rent it out for great profit.

2) Maybe it is a great time to re-finance into a lower interest rate. As long as you plan on staying in your current home long enough to recover whatever closing cost you might incur to re-finance, this could save you thousands over the life of your loan.

3) It may also be a good time to argue your taxes down and save a few bucks on your Homeowner's taxes. It should be easy to lower your tax appraisal with the falling real estate prices.

The way I see it is, if you own a home and are not in danger of losing it, you are rich. Hopefully the tips above can help you to get richer.

Here is my synopsis of what is currently going on in the Pearland and Greater Houston real estate market in the REALTORS® world:

There have been thousands of licensed real estate agents over the past few years that only work in real estate part-time. There are also thousands of real estate agents that have not spent the time necessary to gain the education needed to succeed as a full-time real estate agent. Not to mention, there are thousands of real estate agents that have not been servicing their clients as well as they should and possibly committing unsavory acts that damage their clients in order to close the deal. All of the forementioned agents will realize that their business does not support them and they will need to devote all of their efforts to a better paying full-time endeavor. With this being said, there are other agents that have been working full-time in this industry to become educated in order to better serve their clients and focus on building wonderful lasting relationships with their clients. These are the agents that are resilient and innovative, these agents will flourish in this market, the market that some consider a recession will become a springboard into growing, prosperous business.

Along with running a good business and maintaining a healthy referral base, it is a good time to be innovative. Explore new niche markets, provide new services, connect with credit repair companies, and find a way to get involved with REO properties and serious investors. It is an exciting time to be in real estate. Not only is the economy changing, but so is the consumer and the needs and wants of the consumer.... TAKE ADVANTAGE.

That is my opinion on the current real estate market in both the worlds of the consumer and the real estate professional. My opinion may not be the best opinion, but it is mine and so far it has helped me to head in the right direction, hopefully it can help you too.

Thanks for spending the time to read. Feel free to comment on this BLOG, or you can e-mail or call me direct.

For the third quarter, the closely-watched S&P Case-Shiller national home-price index fell 16.6%, and experts are predicting further declines. Of the top 100 markets, here are 10 with the worst forecasts.

Click here to see pictures from the game!

Ozzie Ramirez ~ REALTOR® ~ Credit Repair Specialist ~ Mortgage ConsultantHAR® REALTOR® Hero of the Month for May, 2008

HAR® - Bay Area Political Affairs/Leadership - 2009

Buying a home can be a lengthy process, but it can also be a very exciting and informative one if you know where to find all of your answers. There are many steps within a real estate transactions where mistakes can be made, so I always suggest picking a licensed REALTOR® to represent, educate, and walk you through the process. Just as it is not a smart idea to go to court without a lawyer to represent you, it is not too smart to purchase or sell real estate without a licensed professional in your corner.

Here are a few helpful tips to use when buying:

 Tip #1: Stop listening to the national media about the real estate market. It is true that home sales are down from recent years, but Pearland and the Greater Houston Real Estate market have not been impacted as severely as the rest of the United States and other major real estate markets. Offering $20,000 below market value may work up north or in California, but that kind of offer will typically not cut it in the Pearland and Greater Houston real estate market. Reasons why: 1) Pearland and the Greater Houston real estate market have held steadily low prices over the years. A home that costs $150,000 in the Greater Houston area could probably sell for $500,000 in the Greater Los Angeles real estate market. $20,000 off of $500,000 is not nearly as detrimental to the seller as $20,000 from $150,000.

Tip # 2: Be patient. Buying a home is typically the single most important purchase of a person's life. I have a saying: "An educated consumer equates to a satisfied consumer." Spending time looking at multiple homes and learning about the home buying process increases the chances of making the right decision and in the end you will be happier with your purchase. When looking at homes, look with a critical eye as well as an emotional eye. As you look at homes, compare the following: the year the home was built, list price, price per square foot, square footage, lot size, number of bathrooms, number of garage spaces, condition and upgrades of the home. As you look at more homes and compare, you will begin to recognize a good deal when you see one.

 Tip # 3: Don't write a contract unless you are willing to pay full price. Don't get me wrong, you always want to try to get the best deal possible and it is best to start lower to make sure you do not leave any money on the table within the negotiation. But.... based on my experience in real estate, the seller is generally willing to give about $5,000 from their list price. $5,000 could be in sales price or in seller's contributions to closing costs. So, go ahead and write your offer for less than full price, but do not get your feelings hurt when the seller is only willing to give about $5,000 from their list price. They may not be trying to drive a hard bargain, they may just not have enough equity to give anymore.

Tip # 4: Hesitation may leave you homeless. After seeing an ample amount of homes and getting a good grasp of the market, you should be able to spot "The HOUSE". The home that you walk in to and finally feel: "This is the one." Realize that you are not the only buyer out there, especially in Pearland and the Greater Houston real estate market. If you are looking for a certain size home for a great price, chances are so are other buyers in that same market. If you have seen 30 homes and "The HOUSE" stands out, you may want to jump on it before one of those other buyers gets that same feeling, but got it the day before. If they saw it yesterday, they are writing an offer today. If you saw it today and wait until tomorrow, you may be too late. When you feel it go for it. Within the contract your REALTOR® should write in an option period(the option period allows the buyer a set amount of time to inspect the property and grants the buyer the unrestricted right to terminate the contract and not lose earnest money).

I hope you have found these tips helpful. Take them and use them wisely. They could save you a lot of money or save you from utter disappointment.