The Creel Deal ®

For years buyers have been told to have a home inspected and obtain a Homeowner Warranty Policy ("HOW"). That way the buyer would know the current condition of the property, and if certain things failed, there was a policy to cover them. Some realtors use the homeowner warranty to help make the s...

  So that ARM's run it's course, and it's time to pay the Piper! That's the issue thousands of Americans face daily; to many, its a quagmire that leads to financial ruin and foreclosure. To others, refinancing is the solution they seek. Some will be qualified, and many will not. Is refinancing yo...

It never ceases to amaze me when I read of the shenanigans our fellow agents pull, then get fined for. This month's batch has some real winners in it (no names mentioned of course).    1. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 2 (Required Turn-in), Rule 11(b)(ii) (Restrictions on Showing and Sale),    Rule ...

As the housing crises take it's toll on so many family's, I was especially impressed recently as I witnessed natures ability to keep the family unit intact. Having now been working in Iraq for one month, I've had to endure some of the harshest weather one can imagine. The winds are fierce, and t...

  I've recently had the great displeasure of debating (on AR) with a CA homeowner that essentially blames everyone in the world for their situation but themselves. I've never dealt with a person so full of self-pity and hate. I'm amazed how some people simply are unwilling to accept an iota of bl...

  I suppose it will never end, it's simply engrained in American salesmanship culture. I've just been reading the still never-ending supply of blogs and postings that are chock-full of self praise for the writer, and loathing for other agents that are leaving the business. It's sort of a "Hey, wa...

 No one loves animals more than me, but I can assure you, that's not a sentiment shared by all. There have been many times when touring homes with clients that the cute little Chihuahua, Pekinese, or other miniature dog has cost the seller a sale. Tiny dogs can be aggressive, and love to bark; I ...

 I can't help but to notice that builders have gotten much kinder towards RE agents lately. Wasn't so long ago they did all they could to keep us off their developments, and discouraged buyers from using an independent agent. Now that people aren't flocking out there on weekends for hot-dogs and ...

 As our housing crises worsens, we may need to look beyond our own solar system for the answer. A Space Ship home in Chattanooga Tennessee (right) went on the auction block on EBay recently, and can apparently be purchased for a mere 100k! The home was built in 1970 on Signal Mountain, shortly af...

As summer approaches I prepare for the sound of music! My home is fairly close to Lake Boren Park, and each year I get to sit in the back yard and enjoy the sound of live music. Every summer is interesting here in Newcastle's Olympus neighborhood; from the community garage sale, moonlight movie n...