One of the best ways to reduce  agent liability is to use the FHA Home Inspection document.  FHA requires this to be signed, but use it on all your transactions.  I don't care if my buyers pay cash, get a VA or conventional loan, they are presented this document to sign before I write the offer.   I tell them that this reduces my liability and that I strongly suggest they get a home inspection.  Even if the home is "as is", this signed document will help reduce your liabililty.  Keep one in your file and make a copy for the office file.Second, when you use the lead base paint form, make sure your buyers sign and initial the front page of the lead base paint pamphlet, make a copy of the front page and keep it in your file.  Should something ever come up, you have a signed copy that they ... 02/24/2008

You are starting a new career, you cannot learn it all at once, it is very overwhelming.  Make it your goal to learn at least one new thing each day.  You will make mistakes, but you should not make the same mistake twice, learn from them and move on. If you are fortunate enough to have a "significant other" with an income, then take all the educational courses you can afford.  Work on your GRI, I obtained mine the first year, YOU CAN TOO!  These classes are very helpful.Obtaining your ABR is not expensive, and the more designations you have you will appear to be more knowledgeable, and you will be!  As soon as you can work on your CRS, and by all means e-Pro.  I'm working on my e-pro now.  I started my career in 1994, I was 48 years old.  I didn't think I would ever learn it, but I did... 02/24/2008

 Being a Southerner we have always called it breakfast, dinner, supper or breakfast, lunch, supper.  It was in the late 70's that my husband's cousin, Julie, spent the summer with us.  Julie was California born and raised.  The first time I said, "supper's ready," she didn't know what I meant.  She said it was dinner, I said supper and we continued to kid about it the whole summer.Now, some people in the south have changed, and call it dinner.  Not me, it is still supper!!  We don't call The Lord's Supper, The Lord's Dinner!!  I always say, "supper"s ready," or "I don't know what I am going to fix for supper."There are alot of things true Southerner's say.  If I'm going to the grocery store, I say, "I'm fixin to go to the store, anyone need anything?"  Or if someone needs a ride somewhe... 02/22/2008

The Arkansas-Democrat Gazette, our state newspaper, had an article on February 14, 2008 giving the information that Searcy Arkansas will have a new plant that will employ more than 200 workers by late 2009.The plant is Weatherford Fracturing Technologies.  The company bought our old Atlas Carrier Trucking Co. building, which is near the airport, about 6 months ago.  Since then they have reportedly hired about 60 workers. The district manager, Jim Cottom, reported in a news release that the facility is locating here to have easy access to the Fayetteville Shale that is bringing lots of new people to our area.Fracturing is the process that breaks up shale so that the natural gas can be extracted.We in Searcy always like to see new companies come to town and welcome this new plant to Searcy. 02/20/2008

 I am a Realtor and I sell homes in Searcy, Arkansas.  Things happen in our lives and they make us realize how important life is.  This is my story of how a family in Tennessee touched the lives of a family in Arkansas.On October 28, 1996, we got the call we had hoped for.  My husband, Perrin, needed a liver transplant and we traveled to Memphis for the surgery.  He was going to receive the precious gift of life from someone he had never met.  It was both a joyous and sad night.  Our feelings were so torn, we were happy for the chance to live, and sad because we knew someone was making funeral arrangements for a loved one.Perrin had his tonsils removed when he was 21 years old.  He started bleeding and had to have alot of units of blood.  They didn't test back then and he contacted Hepa... 02/19/2008

 Wednesday, February 20thPlease help us welcomeHarp's Food Store2525 West Beebe Capps9:45 a.m.The invitation just came in.  We in Searcy Arkansas are to have our new Harp's Food Store grand opening and ribbon cutting tomorrow morning at 9:45.  It seems as if it was just yesterday that they started building this lovely new building at 2525 West Beebe Capps Expressway.  In the beginning of my real estate career, the location of this store was just country.  We had friends who lived beside this property and it was a long drive (so it seemed) to get to their house.  If anyone had said then that this property would sell for over a million dollars, we'd have laughed.One of the pleasures of being in the real estate business is keeping up with the growth and progress of a town.  Even though my ... 02/19/2008

I was in downtown Searcy AR last week checking with the closing company about a closed property.  Actually picking up my check! : )  As I was walking to my car I met one of our attorneys going to his office.  He worked long and hard and has beautifully redone an old office building right downtown.He asked me to come in and see his office and I was pleased to do so.  As I was walking into one room this huge animal came running up to me,  either to bite me or sniff me.  It turned out to be a sniff.  The attorney said, "I'd like for you to meet Jurisprudence.  Jurisprudence would you tell Miss Barbara hello?   Show her how you can shake hands.  Lay down so that I can rub your tummy."  Jurisprudence then went with us on the tour of the building.  At one point she was directed to show me her... 02/18/2008

SOLD Searcy AR is loaded with new people in town.  The folks are here because of Fayetteville Shale and the extraction of gas from the shale.  We have never seen anything like the excitement of old-time residents who start getting royalties from land that has been in the family for many, many years and all the owner got to do was pay taxes on it.  Now it is almost like a rent house.....collecting a little money!We see sellers fight over 2 acres of mineral rights when selling a property!  It's like a tug-of-war!  Buyer insists on mineral rights;  seller insists on keeping them.  In the past, mostly they weren't mentioned in a sale.  The fine print in the contract still says the property includes all mineral rights owned by the seller.I have this lovely 3 acre lot listed!  The seller has ... 02/17/2008

Searcy has a city slogan that reads "Where Thousands Live As Millions Wish They Could". We really feel this is the best place to live and totally agree with this slogan. Searcy is a community of a little over 20,000 and has a major trade area of over 60,000 in White County. Searcy has many manufacturers, business and medical industries within it's borders.The Ozarks is to Searcy's north and west with farm and bottomland of the delta to the south and east. Searcy is located about 50 miles north of Little Rock, Arkansas and about 100 miles west of Memphis, Tennessee. Searcy is the county seat of White County. White county is the second largest county by land mass in the state and contains more county roads then any other county in Arkansas. Searcy Municipal Airport can accommodate aircraf... 02/13/2008

One of my favorite memories while in this business was brought to mind by my broker today.  He was talking about his first house.  He had just become a married man and his dad was a builder so he had dad construct his house. It was in a new neighborhood, looked good from the street, and he decided to sell it.  I was the lucky one that he called to list his house.  He at that time had no inkling that he'd someday be a broker and own the RE/MAX office in Searcy.I went into the house and was amazed at how nicely his young wife had it decorated.  I saw a huge big screen TV in the living room that appeared to be flat on the wall.  Then we went down the hall and I opened the door to what was supposed to b a laundry room and there was a HOT TUB!  A huge hot tub with steaming water that went fr... 11/08/2007

Searcy Arkansas Public School.  I saw this old postcard and found it so interesting.  The school no longer exists but I believe the house beside it does.  Old pictures of our home towns are so interesting.  11/02/2007

 SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD! All cities have best-selling areas.  In our city of Searcy AR folks usually have preferences.  Some prefer manicured lawns, privacy fences and easy-access to everything.  They usually choose River Oaks, a lovely subdivision on the East side of town.  Others say, "I don't want a neighbor too close to me."  They want a large yard and don't mind driving 10 minutes to get home.  These buyers choose the West side of Searcy.This particular property that I have for sale has 8 acres!  Right in the middle of that most-wanted area of Searcy! The house has about 2700 sq. ft. of heated and cooled space.  It has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths.  It also has a barn and a shop!  The house is somewhat expensive but if I owned it I'd want top dollar too!  You could keep horse... 10/25/2007

Why is it that we always want to go on vacations?  Do new things?  Travel to foreign parts? I guess it's our sense of curiosity.  It is also good for us to go places, see things, do different things, witness other cultures.  One of my fellow Realtors just got back from a tour of Italy.  She stayed gone for two weeks and is filled with awe after seeing the Colosseum in Rome and other sites of the ancient world.  My broker has gone right now to Mexico to build a house for some deserving family in that country.Me?  I just took two nights off and went to Missouri.  But the main thing that I'm here to say is that it is always so good to get back home.  To see Searcy Arkansas again.  To know every street and never have to wonder if it's a one-way.  To sleep in my own bed again!  I'm sure ever... 10/24/2007

SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD!Searcy AR has a lot of nice homes.  Searcy has a very active downtown and this house is within two blocks of downtown.  You could walk to the Rialto, our historic old movie theater. There's an active Theater-on-the-Square that has dinner shows and children's productions.  There's a great little cafe that has famous breakfasts.  Several professional offices are on the square and several places to shop.  If you know of someone wanting to scale down and sit on a nice little porch and watch a tiny garden grow, this is it. 10/17/2007

 I'm not a big fan of rap mainly because I can't understand so many of the words that they are saying.  But I'm a big fan of my hometown Searcy AR and my Alma Mater Harding University in Searcy.  There's a really fun rap tune on youtube that I saw today.  Four talented young people sing in different local spots in Searcy.  There is a lot of humor in the words and the actions.  See it for yourself.  http://youtube.com/watch?v=vMzmpXupUak  09/25/2007