I encourage consumers to be well-informed, to do research, ask lots of questions and be comfortable with their decisions.  I have been interviewed by both potential listing and buyer clients a number of times over the years.  I am always amazed at the range of questions and wonder how the interviewers are weighing my answers. Where do those questions come from? Choosing your agent is a popular topic. There are literally thousands of articles and blog posts on how to interview a real estate agent.  Just Google a term like "interview real estate agent", and you can arm yourself with hundreds of questions and interview strategies.  There's the statistical approach:  how many homes did you sell in the last 12 months, average days on the market, list price to sales price ratio.  There's the ... 04/04/2013

Originally posted at spake.com QUESTION:  What's wrong with this scenario? You need a new refrigerator. You go the big box store and are engaged by an energetic salesperson.  She knows the specs for all the models off the top of her head, but you have done some research too and ask her some questions that require studying factory specs, and a call back to you at a later time.   Within minutes you are doing everything you can to beat down the prices on the your favorite models.  You leave with the salesperson's card, and the she calls you back in a couple of hours with the answers to all your questions, offering to fax you the information.  You are a picky shopper.  You call her with more questions.  You visit the store and the salesperson 3 more times,  spending time with "your" salespe... 11/15/2011

                                        I'm constantly being spammed by shysters wanting to sell me a 150 dollar plus short sale tutorial online, or a thousand dollar weekend seminar on short sales. I want to cram those stupid emails back in their inboxes. So hang on my friends: here's the answer you've been waiting for to finally put those pests where they belong: in the trash folder. Here's absolutely the best, HUD approved, free short sale tutorial I've ever seen, and I feel pretty certain that you'll agree. Use that short sale seminar money for your family instead, and have a nice vacation. Click here, it's totally free !!!  No kidding !!! No Obligation !!! There are some things that money just can't buy. -David- 01/25/2011

Here is a video of my listing of a Lustron home built in the 1950s. This is one of 2 intact Lustron homes left in Memphis. More information at the single property site http://2399eastwood.com 09/27/2010

                                                                                                                                                       I received a letter recently from my homeowner's insurance provider with an increase in my premium. I contacted my insurance agent and he began explaining how "the economy has affected their business and they had to increase the premium for everyone in order to have the much needed revenue to process new claims." I didn't buy that stupid garbage at all. Arrrrgh !!!! I've been with the same underwriter for years and have never filed a claim. I also noticed that the insured value of my home was inflated in the policy and out of step with the current market values for homes in my neighborhood. I questioned this and pointed out that the marke... 07/18/2010

I've been watching the condition of the Memphis market for the past few days.  While prior to now we've been in what I would call a declining market, the market here seems to be stabilizing.  The inventory in the area is high, but it is not that high.  My listing in Midtown, the other day I did an absorption rate analysis on it and the rate shows it is still a strong buyers market but that the inventory especially in the midtown area seems to be coming down.  That is a good sign for the market at this point.  So we are beginning to see a slow recovery in the area, especially in the midtown area. 12/12/2009

What's dumber than an agent who takes a million dollar listing, installs a sign and flyer box and doesn't keep the flyer box filled?  The answere could be the seller who hired them.  Keeping flyer boxes filled has always been a hassle, and I have seen them serviced in many ways:  assistants,  the listing agent, courier services - No matter what you do, it's always hard to keep them stocked.  Hard to keep them stocked, but a sin to leave them empty for days or weeks. There is a simple solution:  Don't provide a flyer box. That being said, here's the way I handle the situation.  I am not big on flyer boxes; I think there are better ways to get property information out there and I let my clients know that.  But many feel that the flyer box has some kind of magical power.  Of course I am qu... 12/05/2009