Robert Guthridge's Blog

This video is part of the Danielle Lazier + Associates Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. Bernal Heights Real Estate Market Update – July 2017 Welcome to July’s Bernal Heights Real Estate Market Update. The number of active listings was down 59% from one year earlier and down 18% from the previous month. As you can see, the median listing price for the month was just over $1.5 million, while the median sales price was just under $1.4 million. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold was up 41%. The number of units sold increased 28% year-over-year and increased 21% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Down 59% year-over-year Number of active listings: Down 18% month-over-month Median listing price: Just...

There’s a lot at stake when you are buying or selling a home — you want to get the best return on your investment if you’re selling and you want to find your dream home if you’re buying. These challenges mean it is essential that you have a top San Francisco real estate agent to guide you through the home selling or home buying process. Every real estate agent should have certain qualifications and a top real estate agent will have even more. As a team of top real estate agents in San Francisco, Danielle Lazier + Associates understand what it takes to produce top notch results in San Francisco’s competitive real estate market. If you’re hiring a real estate agent, these five qualities separate the best from the rest: Experience and a Solid Reputation The truth is that there is no such thing as a natural when it comes to buying and selling homes. Real estate is a complex business, and it takes years to fully understand all of the intricacies and potential issues involved with buying ...

Buyer’s Agent Practice Tips “Seller shall provide documentation from licensed HVAC contractor (not gas company) that forced air furnace and central a/c are in working order.” –Amendment to Purchase Agreement At least in my capacity as a Buyer’s agent, whenever my client’s inspection raises concerns about the home’s HVAC system, I’m careful to explicitly require that any needed check-out be done by a licensed HVAC contractor. According to at least two excellent home inspectors I regularly work with, the techs sent out by utility companies — who increasingly offer home warranties covering many Sellers’ homes — don’t have the same training or credentials. See also , “ Just One Home Inspection in Today’s Housing Market? Try 4 (or 8, or 9!!)” ; and “Proliferating Home Inspection Tests – Part 2.” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wj94Y7 via IFTTT

I have to admit that I am a bit of a weather nut. I live in Colorado, and I love huge snowstorms as well as huge thunderstorms. I also get intrigued by weather events across the country, such as the recent hurricane in Texas. While record weather and incredible events can be interesting to watch 1,000 miles away, those events can be devastating to the people who are directly affected by them. Being in the real estate industry, I cannot help but think about how many homes have been lost from the floods and winds in Texas. In Northern Colorado, The post How to Help People in Houston and Why It Will Help you to Help Others appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2x5ug4U via IFTTT

“Super-Duper High Gloss” (Or, Maybe They’re Just Wet?) When it comes to hardwood floor finishes, there’s “matte,” “semi-gloss,” and “gloss.” * And then there’s VERY high gloss — in the case of the floors shown at right. Rule of thumb:  you’re supposed to see your reflection looking in the mirror. But, when you can see your reflection looking at the floors , the refinishing contractor dialed up the gloss too high (more likely scenario:  the owner did it themselves). * Sound familiar?  Those are the same finishes for paint, except that “flat” substitutes for “matte.” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wIIyIO via IFTTT

The San Francisco housing market is the most inflated and delusional market in the United States. It does make sense though at least from a psychological perspective.  You have many people that are cubicle or open space programming junkies working away to create the new app or new crypto currency and somehow, they feel that […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2isMbwo via IFTTT

I have flipped a lot of houses and seen a lot of houses flipped. I have seen investors spend a lot of money on upgrades that made no financial sense. I have seen investors spend almost no money on a flip for even the basics like paint and carpet. When I flip houses, I spend money on the things that will make me the most money, but I also want the house to be safe for the new owners. Figuring out what to repair and what not to repair is tricky. Usually, when you decide to take on huge remodels, The post How Much Money Should you Spend Repairing a House Flip? appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2vyH7IZ via IFTTT

The San Francisco housing market is the most inflated and delusional market in the United States. It does make sense though at least from a psychological perspective.  You have many people that are cubicle or open space programming junkies working away to create the new app or new crypto currency and somehow, they feel that […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2isMbwo via IFTTT

One of the biggest roadblocks to investing in real estate is getting the money to buy houses. I get a lot of questions about finding money to invest with, but the first question you should ask is how much money will you need. Once you know exactly how much money you need, getting that money and actually buying a house becomes much easier. You will also need varying amounts of money depending on what kind of real estate investing you do. Flipping, renting, and wholesaling will all take different amounts of money, and the type of property you buy will The post Podcast 115: How Much Money Do You Need to Invest in Real Estate? appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wFPplY via IFTTT

This video is part of the Danielle Lazier + Associates Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. Bernal Heights Real Estate Market Update – July 2017 Welcome to July’s Bernal Heights Real Estate Market Update. The number of active listings was down 59% from one year earlier and down 18% from the previous month. As you can see, the median listing price for the month was just over $1.5 million, while the median sales price was just under $1.4 million. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold was up 41%. The number of units sold increased 28% year-over-year and increased 21% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Down 59% year-over-year Number of active listings: Down 18% month-over-month Median listing price: Just...

There’s a lot at stake when you are buying or selling a home — you want to get the best return on your investment if you’re selling and you want to find your dream home if you’re buying. These challenges mean it is essential that you have a top San Francisco real estate agent to guide you through the home selling or home buying process. Every real estate agent should have certain qualifications and a top real estate agent will have even more. As a team of top real estate agents in San Francisco, Danielle Lazier + Associates understand what it takes to produce top notch results in San Francisco’s competitive real estate market. If you’re hiring a real estate agent, these five qualities separate the best from the rest: Experience and a Solid Reputation The truth is that there is no such thing as a natural when it comes to buying and selling homes. Real estate is a complex business, and it takes years to fully understand all of the intricacies and potential issues involved with buying ...

“Recent surveys suggest that . . . maybe 40 percent of Republicans are what you might call conservative white identitarians.  White identitarians are conservative, but their white identity is quite important to them, sometimes even more important than their conservatism.” –David Brooks, “How Trump Kills the GOP” ( The New York Times ; 8/29/17). At his best, New York Times columnist David Brooks offers genuine insights on thorny political and socioeconomic issues. At his worst . . . he spouts his own preening brand of psychobabble that evokes language straight from Seinfeld (“anti-dentite,” anyone??). Guess which category his piece today falls in. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2x0SQnb via IFTTT

Pre-Labor Day Weekend Housing Market Slow-Down One other variable that can be very relevant for homeowners deciding whether to list now or wait till after the market picks up, post-Labor Day weekend:  the availability — or lack thereof — of any needed contractors. That list includes photographers, handymen, and assorted contractors (stagers, painters, electricians, etc.) who may be needed for last-minute home prep/repairs/touch-up. It’s not just home Buyers who are relatively scarce and/or preoccupied this week; so are many professionals that Sellers rely on to get their homes showing-ready . . . See also , “ Do Minnesotans Buy Homes During the State Fair?” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2xJCYCR via IFTTT

I have flipped a lot of houses and seen a lot of houses flipped. I have seen investors spend a lot of money on upgrades that made no financial sense. I have seen investors spend almost no money on a flip for even the basics like paint and carpet. When I flip houses, I spend money on the things that will make me the most money, but I also want the house to be safe for the new owners. Figuring out what to repair and what not to repair is tricky. Usually, when you decide to take on huge remodels, The post How Much Money Should you Spend Repairing a House Flip? appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2vyH7IZ via IFTTT

Reviving “The Milkman Model” For the Grocery Business “Costco is the latest retailer to see dips in its stock on the news that Amazon’s buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.” –Fortune.com [ Editor’s Note :  The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] Count me amongst the skeptics when it comes to Amazon’s latest foray into the grocery business, via its just-closed purchase of Whole Foods. That’s based on two observations: One . Home-delivered groceries still seems like a step back, not a step forward (the word “anachronism” comes to mind). I can still remember, as a (very) small kid, milk deliveries on our front stoop. Those went by the wayside decades ago because it was cheaper and more efficient to bring customers to the food (and milk), than it was to bring the food to the customers. It still is. I’m hard-p...

There’s a lot at stake when you are buying or selling a home — you want to get the best return on your investment if you’re selling and you want to find your dream home if you’re buying. These challenges mean it is essential that you have a top San Francisco real estate agent to guide you through the home selling or home buying process. Every real estate agent should have certain qualifications and a top real estate agent will have even more. As a team of top real estate agents in San Francisco, Danielle Lazier + Associates understand what it takes to produce top notch results in San Francisco’s competitive real estate market. If you’re hiring a real estate agent, these five qualities separate the best from the rest: Experience and a Solid Reputation The truth is that there is no such thing as a natural when it comes to buying and selling homes. Real estate is a complex business, and it takes years to fully understand all of the intricacies and potential issues involved with buying ...

This video is part of the Danielle Lazier + Associates Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. Inner Mission Real Estate – July 2017 Welcome to July’s Inner Mission Market Update. The number of active listings was down 50% from one year earlier and down 44% from the previous month. As you can see, the median listing price for the month was $1.15 million, while the median sales price was just over $950,000. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold was down 28%. The number of units sold increased 45% year-over-year and increased 33% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Down 50% year-over-year Number of active listings: Down 44% month-over-month Median listing price: $1.15 million Average number of days on the ...

Time Zone Trivia One of the quirks of doing business in far Northwest Montana — in this case, with a local logging company — is determining whose time zone applies. The company rep and I had agreed on an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting in tiny Troy, Montana, just 10 miles from the Idaho border (and barely 40 miles from Canada). The catch? The company rep was coming from Moyie Springs in Idaho, which is on Pacific time**, and I was coming from Libby, Montana, which is just to the east and on Mountain time. Fortunately, we clarified the potential glitch the night before — and agreed to get an extra hour of sleep by making the meeting time 8 a.m. Pacific . **While many states straddle two time zones, Idaho is the only state where the division is north-south rather than east-west.  The northern Panhandle is on Pacific time — a nod to the economic influence of nearby Spokane, Washington. Meanwhile, the southern part of the state — home to Boise, the state capital and largest city — is ...

“Two Hour Parking?” Maybe Not Quick! What’s the maximum number of hours someone could park in a space with the restrictions posted above? A. 2 hours B. 4 hours C. 8 hours D. 18 hours **Correct answer:  “D.” As helpfully explained to me by the hotel staff directly across the street in Kalispell, MT (where I recently stayed), if you park in the spot after 4 p.m., you’re good till 6 p.m. Then, there are no restrictions from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next morning. Finally, the two-hour maximum lets someone stay put from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. **Unless it’s over a long holiday weekend, per Ed Molyneaux’s comment, below. See also , “A Tale of Two Cities:  Chicago vs. St. Paul Parking” ; and “ Good News and Bad News About Parking at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2xsoozz via IFTTT

Coffee Kiosks If you’re looking for a local Starbucks to get your morning caffeine fix, you’re out of luck. Fortunately, in much of the west — including Missoula, Montana, where I’m briefly visiting — there are free-standing coffee kiosks instead. The drill:  drive up on the right side, place your order, and pay; then, drive around to the other side and collect your coffee. The kiosks are about the size of an ice-fishing hut; they’re typically manned (“womanned?”) by two-person teams (one on each side). from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2vZGU2x via IFTTT

Solar Eclipse Sidewalk Shadows Combine a little luck (with the weather) and an almost 200 mile drive that began at 4 a.m., and #2 son and I were treated to a dazzling solar eclipse under a brilliantly sunny, cloud-free sky in Rexburg, Idaho** earlier today. Less exactly 2 minutes and 29 seconds, that is. The top photo was taken about 5 minutes after totality, when a passerby noted all the crescent shapes cast on the sidewalk by a still-90% obscured sun. Photo #2 is my son and I about 20 minutes before. And no , no photos during, because I didn’t have the requisite special camera lenses. S uffice to say, though, the effect — including a surreal, 360º sunset-like twilight on the horizon — was beautiful, dramatic, and eerie . . . **About 40 miles west of the mob-scene in Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming.  We began the day in Bozeman, Montana. See also , “ Real Estate Photography and Monday’s Solar Eclipse .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wsJAs...

What Realtors Routinely Get Wrong; or, “How Come There’s No Such Thing as a 2-Season Porch??” If Realtors routinely confuse the various types of porches . . . I don’t know what chance a layman has. Perhaps that’s why, as a public service for Twin Cities Realtors, the local MLS has a post describing the differences — and critically, addressing when to include an enclosed porch in a home’s finished square feet. According to the Northstar MLS Rules & Regs Department, here are the distinctions: 4-Season Porch/Sunroom “A 4-season porch is a room that functions as an interior room, but allows you to take in the views of the outdoors year-round. It has permanent heat and is included in the finished square footage of the home.” 3-Season Porch “A 3-season porch has windows with integrated screen systems and can be used for long periods throughout the year. They can shield you from outdoor elements such as rain, wind, sun and insects, but 3-season porches are not heated. Therefore,...

“That’s Rich” may not have the protean meanings of some other phrases, like “Shut Up!!” or “Hot Dog!” See , “Shut Up!” Has 9 Different Meanings? Shut Up!! (No, YOU Shut Up!)” ; and  “The Many Guises of ‘Hot Dog .'” But, it has more definitions than you might initially guess: One.  Caloric. “That chocolate mousse is rich.” Two. Hypocritical or ironic — usually qualified with “a bit.”  “Trump crucifying Hillary Clinton on ethical lapses is a bit rich.” Three. Loaded.  “Sue’s family has money, but nothing like Mary’s.  Now, THAT’S rich.” Four. Plentiful; abundant:  “The nation’s rich and diverse wildlife.” Five.  Fertile or productive:  “rich soil”; “rich mineral deposits.” Six.  A person named “Rich”:  “Hey! That’s Rich sitting near the 30-yard line!” See also , “ Why is Calling Someone a ‘Piece of Work’ an Insult?” ;  “You’re  . . . You’re . . .  Such an Almond  (Huh??) “; “ What’s the Past Tense of Sight Se...

One of the biggest roadblocks to investing in real estate is getting the money to buy houses. I get a lot of questions about finding money to invest with, but the first question you should ask is how much money will you need. Once you know exactly how much money you need, getting that money and actually buying a house becomes much easier. You will also need varying amounts of money depending on what kind of real estate investing you do. Flipping, renting, and wholesaling will all take different amounts of money, and the type of property you buy will The post Podcast 115: How Much Money Do You Need to Invest in Real Estate? appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wFPplY via IFTTT

I love rental properties, even though I have not bought any residential rentals for two years! I have been spending all my time flipping homes, because our market in Colorado has changed so much. Prices have gone up an incredible amount, but rents have not come close to keeping up. Rental properties are a great investment when the number make sense, not every market has good numbers for rentals. Many people in areas with high home prices can’t find rental properties that actually cash flow. Just because you cannot buy a good rental property in your area, does not mean The post Are Rental Properties a Good Investment when Housing Prices are High? appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2vShrtv via IFTTT

There’s a lot at stake when you are buying or selling a home — you want to get the best return on your investment if you’re selling and you want to find your dream home if you’re buying. These challenges mean it is essential that you have a top San Francisco real estate agent to guide you through the home selling or home buying process. Every real estate agent should have certain qualifications and a top real estate agent will have even more. As a team of top real estate agents in San Francisco, Danielle Lazier + Associates understand what it takes to produce top notch results in San Francisco’s competitive real estate market. If you’re hiring a real estate agent, these five qualities separate the best from the rest: Experience and a Solid Reputation The truth is that there is no such thing as a natural when it comes to buying and selling homes. Real estate is a complex business, and it takes years to fully understand all of the intricacies and potential issues involved with buying ...

The San Francisco housing market is the most inflated and delusional market in the United States. It does make sense though at least from a psychological perspective.  You have many people that are cubicle or open space programming junkies working away to create the new app or new crypto currency and somehow, they feel that […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2isMbwo via IFTTT

This video is part of the Danielle Lazier + Associates Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. Inner Mission Real Estate – July 2017 Welcome to July’s Inner Mission Market Update. The number of active listings was down 50% from one year earlier and down 44% from the previous month. As you can see, the median listing price for the month was $1.15 million, while the median sales price was just over $950,000. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold was down 28%. The number of units sold increased 45% year-over-year and increased 33% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Down 50% year-over-year Number of active listings: Down 44% month-over-month Median listing price: $1.15 million Average number of days on the ...

What Realtors Routinely Get Wrong; or, “How Come There’s No Such Thing as a 2-Season Porch??” If Realtors routinely confuse the various types of porches . . . I don’t know what chance a layman has. Perhaps that’s why, as a public service for Twin Cities Realtors, the local MLS has a post describing the differences — and critically, addressing when to include an enclosed porch in a home’s finished square feet. According to the Northstar MLS Rules & Regs Department, here are the distinctions: 4-Season Porch/Sunroom “A 4-season porch is a room that functions as an interior room, but allows you to take in the views of the outdoors year-round. It has permanent heat and is included in the finished square footage of the home.” 3-Season Porch “A 3-season porch has windows with integrated screen systems and can be used for long periods throughout the year. They can shield you from outdoor elements such as rain, wind, sun and insects, but 3-season porches are not heated. Therefore,...

“That’s Rich” may not have the protean meanings of some other phrases, like “Shut Up!!” or “Hot Dog!” See , “Shut Up!” Has 9 Different Meanings? Shut Up!! (No, YOU Shut Up!)” ; and  “The Many Guises of ‘Hot Dog .'” But, it has more definitions than you might initially guess: One.  Caloric. “That chocolate mousse is rich.” Two. Hypocritical or ironic — usually qualified with “a bit.”  “Trump crucifying Hillary Clinton on ethical lapses is a bit rich.” Three. Loaded.  “Sue’s family has money, but nothing like Mary’s.  Now, THAT’S rich.” Four. Plentiful; abundant:  “The nation’s rich and diverse wildlife.” Five.  Fertile or productive:  “rich soil”; “rich mineral deposits.” Six.  A person named “Rich”:  “Hey! That’s Rich sitting near the 30-yard line!” See also , “ Why is Calling Someone a ‘Piece of Work’ an Insult?” ;  “You’re  . . . You’re . . .  Such an Almond  (Huh??) “; “ What’s the Past Tense of Sight Se...

The San Francisco housing market is the most inflated and delusional market in the United States. It does make sense though at least from a psychological perspective.  You have many people that are cubicle or open space programming junkies working away to create the new app or new crypto currency and somehow, they feel that […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2isMbwo via IFTTT

There’s a lot at stake when you are buying or selling a home — you want to get the best return on your investment if you’re selling and you want to find your dream home if you’re buying. These challenges mean it is essential that you have a top San Francisco real estate agent to guide you through the home selling or home buying process. Every real estate agent should have certain qualifications and a top real estate agent will have even more. As a team of top real estate agents in San Francisco, Danielle Lazier + Associates understand what it takes to produce top notch results in San Francisco’s competitive real estate market. If you’re hiring a real estate agent, these five qualities separate the best from the rest: Experience and a Solid Reputation The truth is that there is no such thing as a natural when it comes to buying and selling homes. Real estate is a complex business, and it takes years to fully understand all of the intricacies and potential issues involved with buying ...

Time Zone Trivia One of the quirks of doing business in far Northwest Montana — in this case, with a local logging company — is determining whose time zone applies. The company rep and I had agreed on an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting in tiny Troy, Montana, just 10 miles from the Idaho border (and barely 40 miles from Canada). The catch? The company rep was coming from Moyie Springs in Idaho, which is on Pacific time**, and I was coming from Libby, Montana, which is just to the east and on Mountain time. Fortunately, we clarified the potential glitch the night before — and agreed to get an extra hour of sleep by making the meeting time 8 a.m. Pacific . **While many states straddle two time zones, Idaho is the only state where the division is north-south rather than east-west.  The northern Panhandle is on Pacific time — a nod to the economic influence of nearby Spokane, Washington. Meanwhile, the southern part of the state — home to Boise, the state capital and largest city — is ...

“Two Hour Parking?” Maybe Not Quick! What’s the maximum number of hours someone could park in a space with the restrictions posted above? A. 2 hours B. 4 hours C. 8 hours D. 18 hours **Correct answer:  “D.” As helpfully explained to me by the hotel staff directly across the street in Kalispell, MT (where I recently stayed), if you park in the spot after 4 p.m., you’re good till 6 p.m. Then, there are no restrictions from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next morning. Finally, the two-hour maximum lets someone stay put from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. **Unless it’s over a long holiday weekend, per Ed Molyneaux’s comment, below. See also , “A Tale of Two Cities:  Chicago vs. St. Paul Parking” ; and “ Good News and Bad News About Parking at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2xsoozz via IFTTT

Coffee Kiosks If you’re looking for a local Starbucks to get your morning caffeine fix, you’re out of luck. Fortunately, in much of the west — including Missoula, Montana, where I’m briefly visiting — there are free-standing coffee kiosks instead. The drill:  drive up on the right side, place your order, and pay; then, drive around to the other side and collect your coffee. The kiosks are about the size of an ice-fishing hut; they’re typically manned (“womanned?”) by two-person teams (one on each side). from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2vZGU2x via IFTTT

Solar Eclipse Sidewalk Shadows Combine a little luck (with the weather) and an almost 200 mile drive that began at 4 a.m., and #2 son and I were treated to a dazzling solar eclipse under a brilliantly sunny, cloud-free sky in Rexburg, Idaho** earlier today. Less exactly 2 minutes and 29 seconds, that is. The top photo was taken about 5 minutes after totality, when a passerby noted all the crescent shapes cast on the sidewalk by a still-90% obscured sun. Photo #2 is my son and I about 20 minutes before. And no , no photos during, because I didn’t have the requisite special camera lenses. S uffice to say, though, the effect — including a surreal, 360º sunset-like twilight on the horizon — was beautiful, dramatic, and eerie . . . **About 40 miles west of the mob-scene in Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming.  We began the day in Bozeman, Montana. See also , “ Real Estate Photography and Monday’s Solar Eclipse .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wsJAs...

What Realtors Routinely Get Wrong; or, “How Come There’s No Such Thing as a 2-Season Porch??” If Realtors routinely confuse the various types of porches . . . I don’t know what chance a layman has. Perhaps that’s why, as a public service for Twin Cities Realtors, the local MLS has a post describing the differences — and critically, addressing when to include an enclosed porch in a home’s finished square feet. According to the Northstar MLS Rules & Regs Department, here are the distinctions: 4-Season Porch/Sunroom “A 4-season porch is a room that functions as an interior room, but allows you to take in the views of the outdoors year-round. It has permanent heat and is included in the finished square footage of the home.” 3-Season Porch “A 3-season porch has windows with integrated screen systems and can be used for long periods throughout the year. They can shield you from outdoor elements such as rain, wind, sun and insects, but 3-season porches are not heated. Therefore,...

“That’s Rich” may not have the protean meanings of some other phrases, like “Shut Up!!” or “Hot Dog!” See , “Shut Up!” Has 9 Different Meanings? Shut Up!! (No, YOU Shut Up!)” ; and  “The Many Guises of ‘Hot Dog .'” But, it has more definitions than you might initially guess: One.  Caloric. “That chocolate mousse is rich.” Two. Hypocritical or ironic — usually qualified with “a bit.”  “Trump crucifying Hillary Clinton on ethical lapses is a bit rich.” Three. Loaded.  “Sue’s family has money, but nothing like Mary’s.  Now, THAT’S rich.” Four. Plentiful; abundant:  “The nation’s rich and diverse wildlife.” Five.  Fertile or productive:  “rich soil”; “rich mineral deposits.” Six.  A person named “Rich”:  “Hey! That’s Rich sitting near the 30-yard line!” See also , “ Why is Calling Someone a ‘Piece of Work’ an Insult?” ;  “You’re  . . . You’re . . .  Such an Almond  (Huh??) “; “ What’s the Past Tense of Sight Se...

Time Zone Trivia One of the quirks of doing business in far Northwest Montana — in this case, with a local logging company — is determining whose time zone applies. The company rep and I had agreed on an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting in tiny Troy, Montana, just 10 miles from the Idaho border (and barely 40 miles from Canada). The catch? The company rep was coming from Moyie Springs in Idaho, which is on Pacific time**, and I was coming from Libby, Montana, which is just to the east and on Mountain time. Fortunately, we clarified the potential glitch the night before — and agreed to get an extra hour of sleep by making the meeting time 8 a.m. Pacific . **While many states straddle two time zones, Idaho is the only state where the division is north-south rather than east-west.  The northern Panhandle is on Pacific time — a nod to the economic influence of nearby Spokane, Washington. Meanwhile, the southern part of the state — home to Boise, the state capital and largest city — is ...

“Two Hour Parking?” Maybe Not Quick! What’s the maximum number of hours someone could park in a space with the restrictions posted above? A. 2 hours B. 4 hours C. 8 hours D. 18 hours **Correct answer:  “D.” As helpfully explained to me by the hotel staff directly across the street in Kalispell, MT (where I recently stayed), if you park in the spot after 4 p.m., you’re good till 6 p.m. Then, there are no restrictions from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next morning. Finally, the two-hour maximum lets someone stay put from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. **Unless it’s over a long holiday weekend, per Ed Molyneaux’s comment, below. See also , “A Tale of Two Cities:  Chicago vs. St. Paul Parking” ; and “ Good News and Bad News About Parking at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2xsoozz via IFTTT

Coffee Kiosks If you’re looking for a local Starbucks to get your morning caffeine fix, you’re out of luck. Fortunately, in much of the west — including Missoula, Montana, where I’m briefly visiting — there are free-standing coffee kiosks instead. The drill:  drive up on the right side, place your order, and pay; then, drive around to the other side and collect your coffee. The kiosks are about the size of an ice-fishing hut; they’re typically manned (“womanned?”) by two-person teams (one on each side). from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2vZGU2x via IFTTT

Solar Eclipse Sidewalk Shadows Combine a little luck (with the weather) and an almost 200 mile drive that began at 4 a.m., and #2 son and I were treated to a dazzling solar eclipse under a brilliantly sunny, cloud-free sky in Rexburg, Idaho** earlier today. Less exactly 2 minutes and 29 seconds, that is. The top photo was taken about 5 minutes after totality, when a passerby noted all the crescent shapes cast on the sidewalk by a still-90% obscured sun. Photo #2 is my son and I about 20 minutes before. And no , no photos during, because I didn’t have the requisite special camera lenses. S uffice to say, though, the effect — including a surreal, 360º sunset-like twilight on the horizon — was beautiful, dramatic, and eerie . . . **About 40 miles west of the mob-scene in Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming.  We began the day in Bozeman, Montana. See also , “ Real Estate Photography and Monday’s Solar Eclipse .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wsJAs...

What Realtors Routinely Get Wrong; or, “How Come There’s No Such Thing as a 2-Season Porch??” If Realtors routinely confuse the various types of porches . . . I don’t know what chance a layman has. Perhaps that’s why, as a public service for Twin Cities Realtors, the local MLS has a post describing the differences — and critically, addressing when to include an enclosed porch in a home’s finished square feet. According to the Northstar MLS Rules & Regs Department, here are the distinctions: 4-Season Porch/Sunroom “A 4-season porch is a room that functions as an interior room, but allows you to take in the views of the outdoors year-round. It has permanent heat and is included in the finished square footage of the home.” 3-Season Porch “A 3-season porch has windows with integrated screen systems and can be used for long periods throughout the year. They can shield you from outdoor elements such as rain, wind, sun and insects, but 3-season porches are not heated. Therefore,...

“That’s Rich” may not have the protean meanings of some other phrases, like “Shut Up!!” or “Hot Dog!” See , “Shut Up!” Has 9 Different Meanings? Shut Up!! (No, YOU Shut Up!)” ; and  “The Many Guises of ‘Hot Dog .'” But, it has more definitions than you might initially guess: One.  Caloric. “That chocolate mousse is rich.” Two. Hypocritical or ironic — usually qualified with “a bit.”  “Trump crucifying Hillary Clinton on ethical lapses is a bit rich.” Three. Loaded.  “Sue’s family has money, but nothing like Mary’s.  Now, THAT’S rich.” Four. Plentiful; abundant:  “The nation’s rich and diverse wildlife.” Five.  Fertile or productive:  “rich soil”; “rich mineral deposits.” Six.  A person named “Rich”:  “Hey! That’s Rich sitting near the 30-yard line!” See also , “ Why is Calling Someone a ‘Piece of Work’ an Insult?” ;  “You’re  . . . You’re . . .  Such an Almond  (Huh??) “; “ What’s the Past Tense of Sight Se...

Home Seller Lament:  “But, I Got it (Full Price) Before!” One of the toughest pills for home Sellers to swallow is revisiting their asking price in the wake of a failed deal, especially if the deal was for full price (or more), early in the listing. That’s especially so when the deal later fell apart solely due to the Buyer’s change of heart — or financing glitch — rather than some issue with the home. Did the Owner REALLY Get Full Price?? Now fast forward three — or six — months. With slow showings and no offers, good listing agents will ordinarily counsel a 3% – 5% price reduction to jump-start things (of course, that assumes the home is already optimally prepped, staged, and photographed). The inevitable protest from the frustrated Seller:  “But, I got it (my price) before!” Having shown Buyers a couple of such homes recently, here’s my sympathetic-but-frank message to the would-be Sellers: “If your previous sale didn’t close . . . you didn’...

The San Francisco housing market is the most inflated and delusional market in the United States. It does make sense though at least from a psychological perspective.  You have many people that are cubicle or open space programming junkies working away to create the new app or new crypto currency and somehow, they feel that […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2isMbwo via IFTTT

Time Zone Trivia One of the quirks of doing business in far Northwest Montana — in this case, with a local logging company — is determining whose time zone applies. The company rep and I had agreed on an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting in tiny Troy, Montana, just 10 miles from the Idaho border (and barely 40 miles from Canada). The catch? The company rep was coming from Moyie Springs in Idaho, which is on Pacific time**, and I was coming from Libby, Montana, which is just to the east and on Mountain time. Fortunately, we clarified the potential glitch the night before — and agreed to get an extra hour of sleep by making the meeting time 8 a.m. Pacific . **While many states straddle two time zones, Idaho is the only state where the division is north-south rather than east-west.  The northern Panhandle is on Pacific time — a nod to the economic influence of nearby Spokane, Washington. Meanwhile, the southern part of the state — home to Boise, the state capital and largest city — is ...

One of the biggest roadblocks to investing in real estate is getting the money to buy houses. I get a lot of questions about finding money to invest with, but the first question you should ask is how much money will you need. Once you know exactly how much money you need, getting that money and actually buying a house becomes much easier. You will also need varying amounts of money depending on what kind of real estate investing you do. Flipping, renting, and wholesaling will all take different amounts of money, and the type of property you buy will The post Podcast 115: How Much Money Do You Need to Invest in Real Estate? appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wFPplY via IFTTT

“Two Hour Parking?” Maybe Not Quick! What’s the maximum number of hours someone could park in a space with the restrictions posted above? A. 2 hours B. 4 hours C. 8 hours D. 18 hours Correct answer:  “D.” As explained to me by the hotel staff directly across the street in Kalispell, MT (where I recently stayed), if you park in the spot after 4 p.m., you’re good till 6 p.m. Then, there are no restrictions from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next morning. Finally, the two-hour maximum lets someone stay put from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. See also , “A Tale of Two Cities:  Chicago vs. St. Paul Parking” ; and “ Good News and Bad News About Parking at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2xsoozz via IFTTT

Coffee Kiosks If you’re looking for a local Starbucks to get your morning caffeine fix, you’re out of luck. Fortunately, in much of the west — including Missoula, Montana, where I’m briefly visiting — there are free-standing coffee kiosks instead. The drill:  drive up on the right side, place your order, and pay; then, drive around to the other side and collect your coffee. The kiosks are about the size of an ice-fishing hut; they’re typically manned (“womanned?”) by two-person teams (one on each side). from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2vZGU2x via IFTTT

Solar Eclipse Sidewalk Shadows Combine a little luck (with the weather) and an almost 200 mile drive that began at 4 a.m., and #2 son and I were treated to a dazzling solar eclipse under a brilliantly sunny, cloud-free sky in Rexburg, Idaho** earlier today. Less exactly 2 minutes and 29 seconds, that is. The top photo was taken about 5 minutes after totality, when a passerby noted all the crescent shapes cast on the sidewalk by a still-90% obscured sun. Photo #2 is my son and I about 20 minutes before. And no , no photos during, because I didn’t have the requisite special camera lenses. S uffice to say, though, the effect — including a surreal, 360º sunset-like twilight on the horizon — was beautiful, dramatic, and eerie . . . **About 40 miles west of the mob-scene in Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming.  We began the day in Bozeman, Montana. See also , “ Real Estate Photography and Monday’s Solar Eclipse .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wsJAs...

What Realtors Routinely Get Wrong; or, “How Come There’s No Such Thing as a 2-Season Porch??” If Realtors routinely confuse the various types of porches . . . I don’t know what chance a layman has. Perhaps that’s why, as a public service for Twin Cities Realtors, the local MLS has a post describing the differences — and critically, addressing when to include an enclosed porch in a home’s finished square feet. According to the Northstar MLS Rules & Regs Department, here are the distinctions: 4-Season Porch/Sunroom “A 4-season porch is a room that functions as an interior room, but allows you to take in the views of the outdoors year-round. It has permanent heat and is included in the finished square footage of the home.” 3-Season Porch “A 3-season porch has windows with integrated screen systems and can be used for long periods throughout the year. They can shield you from outdoor elements such as rain, wind, sun and insects, but 3-season porches are not heated. Therefore,...

“That’s Rich” may not have the protean meanings of some other phrases, like “Shut Up!!” or “Hot Dog!” See , “Shut Up!” Has 9 Different Meanings? Shut Up!! (No, YOU Shut Up!)” ; and  “The Many Guises of ‘Hot Dog .'” But, it has more definitions than you might initially guess: One.  Caloric. “That chocolate mousse is rich.” Two. Hypocritical or ironic — usually qualified with “a bit.”  “Trump crucifying Hillary Clinton on ethical lapses is a bit rich.” Three. Loaded.  “Sue’s family has money, but nothing like Mary’s.  Now, THAT’S rich.” Four. Plentiful; abundant:  “The nation’s rich and diverse wildlife.” Five.  Fertile or productive:  “rich soil”; “rich mineral deposits.” Six.  A person named “Rich”:  “Hey! That’s Rich sitting near the 30-yard line!” See also , “ Why is Calling Someone a ‘Piece of Work’ an Insult?” ;  “You’re  . . . You’re . . .  Such an Almond  (Huh??) “; “ What’s the Past Tense of Sight Se...

Home Seller Lament:  “But, I Got it (Full Price) Before!” One of the toughest pills for home Sellers to swallow is revisiting their asking price in the wake of a failed deal, especially if the deal was for full price (or more), early in the listing. That’s especially so when the deal later fell apart solely due to the Buyer’s change of heart — or financing glitch — rather than some issue with the home. Did the Owner REALLY Get Full Price?? Now fast forward three — or six — months. With slow showings and no offers, good listing agents will ordinarily counsel a 3% – 5% price reduction to jump-start things (of course, that assumes the home is already optimally prepped, staged, and photographed). The inevitable protest from the frustrated Seller:  “But, I got it (my price) before!” Having shown Buyers a couple of such homes recently, here’s my sympathetic-but-frank message to the would-be Sellers: “If your previous sale didn’t close . . . you didn’...

The Twilight Shot of the Century (But, Good Luck Getting a Re-Shoot) Yes, over 80% of the Sun over the Twin Cities will be covered by the moon’s shadow for about two hours Monday afternoon (August 21). But, no , that shouldn’t affect scheduled photo shoots for upcoming listings locally (a client just asked whether his 1:30 p.m. appointment should be changed). That’s because — even at the 1:06 p.m. peak — the effect in Minneapolis – St Paul will apparently be muted (locals will notice only a slight dimming of the Sun). But, what a cool shot to capture for anyone about to sell a home anywhere in the 70-mile path of total eclipse! P.S.: With a maximum duration of about 2 1/2 minutes in any one spot, though, photographers attempting such a shot had better be ready (you’ve got to assume serious photographers will be looking elsewhere  ). from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2wTfNqc via IFTTT