If you ever get to know me, you'll find that I'm a pretty laid back guy.  I like to have fun, I like people and I am rarely serious (that doesn't equate to flippant).  That's all true unless of course you're messing with my clients.  Then, I'm a bulldog, and I dont' shy away from a fight.  Ever. When I take a listing, whether it's an REO, a short sale or a fair market property, I'm engaged.  My goal is to get the highest dollar possible for my clients.  I love it when everything goes smoothly and works to everyone's benefit.  But, that doesn't always happen.  Sometimes it can be challenging.  That might mean I'm going to bump heads with somebody on the other side of the table.  No problem.  I have a very hard head.  Don't believe me, ask my wife.  If you're thinking about becoming an RE... 01/12/2012

Winchester, Virginia is the last town of any size in the northern most tip of Virginia.  It is a historian's dream come true because of the vast early American, Revolutionary War and Civil War history. Winchester has a small population of 26,322 +-.  The county, which surrounds the city on all sides, has a population of 78,305 +-.  The last recorded number of homes in the city of Winchester tallied 10,587 of which 10,001 were inhabited.  Of that number, 54% of the homes are rentals.  Only 46% of occupied city homes are owner occupied.  This number may reflect the high number of properties that have gone into short sale in the past three years, but market statistics may point to an additional source.  During the last quarter, October 2011-December 2011, fifty-nine homes were closed withi... 01/10/2012

Well, I finally did it.  After 14 years of getting up at O'dark thirty, I finally gave up my M,W,F Spinning® classes.  I have loved it from day one, but my current schedule is making it harder and harder to keep up the pace and still stay on top of my business.  Sometimes you've got to sacrifice one good thing to preserve another good thing.  It's not right or wrong, it just is what it is. For those who are unfamiliar with Spinning®, it is an indoor cycling program taught in a group format on a specially designed stationary bike.  Most major fitness equipment providers produce some type of indoor cycling bike today.  If you belong to a gym, I'm sure you have some type of indoor cycling program to check out, and please do. Giving up my class was hard.  It took me over a year to finally w... 01/06/2012

Owning a real estate brokerage and an electrical contracting company has a number of advantages for me.  It's not unusual for me to offer electrical services to a client as a thank you for buying a home through our company.  We just did that for a broken water heater.  It can save the client a lot of money, and it endears them to both of our companies for the extra-mile service.There is one issue that we run into a couple times a year that everyone needs to be aware of because it is terribly dangerous.  Normally about the time it turns cold or the time it turns hot clients start having trouble with receptacles.  It happens when they plug a space heater or an air conditioner into an outlet.It works for a while, but then it stops working and normally knocks out whatever is down the line. ... 01/03/2012

  I grew up with a beagle named Tab.  He was a typical beagle.  That means a lot of things for those of us who have been beagle owners.  In my case, Tab was a barking, bellowing rabbit chasing escape artist.  If he saw an unattended door he would bolt out of it, and he would be gone for hours.  You could hear him bellowing throughout the fields behind our house, and every once in a while you would see the flick of the white tip of his tail as he tracked something.  When he returned he always smelled like something dead.   I came home from school one day to see Tab staggering around the yard with a milk cartoon stuck on his head.  Who knows how long he had been like that, but there he was stumbling around like an intoxicated teenager after the prom.  He was always good for a belly laugh.... 01/02/2012

I'm starting to see a new trend in short sales in our area.  I recently had a client who wanted to buy a property.  I met with him and his wife, and I had them get pre-qualified with their lender and they qualified for a nice property.  Off we went in our search, and after a couple weeks we found a great house.       The only issue with this house was that it was an REO and required a certain lender do the pre-qual before the seller would consider a contract.  So, I sent my buyers off to a friend who worked for that lender with the expectation that they would be back shortly with another pre-qualification letter.  It would be easy since they had already been pre-qualified, right?  That's what I thought, anyway.       After the interview, the lender called and asked how much my clients h... 01/02/2012

It is unfortunate that in our age of advanced technology that we have not been able to create a GPS for life.  You know, one that tells you to turn right, turn left, take the motorway (my GPS voice is a lovely British lady named Mandy), please turnaround when possible and you have reached your destination. No, life is full of long drives, wrong turns, short trips, long trips, bad trips, good trips, trip ups and of course great rides to great places.  If you find yourself at the beginning to 2012 with whiplash from an out of control internal GPS there are things you can do get to back on course. Look at your mistakes honestly and assess where you made bad turns.  The wonderful thing about a new year is that it's a new opportunity to course correct.  When we can acknowledge our mistakes, ... 01/01/2012

Our family had a great Christmas with lots of loved ones around, and throughout Christmas day I realized that there were many lessons to learn.  For instance, No matter how old you are, you're still your parent's children.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but they do tend to want to take care of you at any age.  I treat my sons the same way my parents treat me.  They're still my boys.  Just now, they have much more expensive tastes. I retain cookies. No matter how much restraint I have an hour before dinner, I have none at dinner.  Holiday dinners are a great time to keep the family oral tradition alive.  The next generation needs to know the family history. A post dinner nap is non-negotiable. The speed at which you open presents does not change the impact of the gift inside. Surpr... 12/26/2011

The one thing I love about this time of year is the sense of hope that is born in the hearts of people both near and far.  Sure, there are those who decide to act like total morons by beating each other at a local store or by spraying shoppers with pepper spray, etc., but I see a much greater and more noble spirit emerge in the majority of people I encounter this time a year.  There are few people who were able to capture the best that is this great country than Ronald Reagan.  I hope you enjoy this televised speech President Reagan made on December 23, 1981.  The country was in much the same place it is today.  Notice how he pulled the country together through a very dark hour, rather than try to divide it for his own personal gain.  He was a true statesman.  He sought the more generou... 12/24/2011

It's almost Christmas, and Santa is sitting in stores all over the county taking orders.  He should probably be home doing the final plans for the big event, but I digress.  Thinking about these faux Santas scattered near and far has made wonder what kids would say if they weren't threatened prior to their turn on the fat guy's lap.  Such as, You're a fatty boom ba laddy. How can you be at Kohl's and Sears at the same time? My sister lied about breaking the dish.  No, really, she shouldn't get anything. I saw the Smith's carrying Johnny's gifts in their house.  They won't be needing the extra help this year.  Can I have Johnny's toys? How can you fit down the chimney? Can I go home with you?  I can test the toys. This is creepy. Do you sleep between stops? Have you ever left a toy at th... 12/21/2011

Twas the week before Christmas                and all through the house,                                every creature was searching, even my spouse. They looked under the bed                 and in every bag,                            hoping to see presents with their names on the tag. They shook every box             to see if they could hear,                         the sound of a present they                                had asked for this year. But, I remained silent,          I dared not to speak,                 so the mission continued for the                        presents they seek. The gifts had been scattered            both near and far,                     some in my office, and some in my car.  I offered no guidance,            I kept a straight face,                 ... 12/17/2011

1. Focus - Determine what your distractions are and eliminate as many as possible.  Some things are just that, distractions, and they cheat you out of moving forward. 2. Get Healthy - Eat foods that don't rob you of energy and good health.  Sleep what your body needs.  Exercise consistently, effectively and efficiently.  Avoid fad diets, avoid fad foods and avoid fad exercise. 3. Educate Yourself - Learn more about those things that propel you forward.  Don't seek advice from failures.  Look for people who have succeeded at the place you want to go to and seek their advice, experience and wisdom.  Read good books, listen to successful leaders and learn the mechanics of your field of choice.  And remember, everyone pays their dues.  Make every day a learning day. 4. Invest in Healthy Rel... 12/17/2011

Over the past 30 plus years I've worked with a lot of couples who where struggling with their marriages.  There is one stress issue that has come up over and over, whether voiced or not, but it's not money.  The number one reason, beyond adultery and abuse, for couples to break up is failed expectations.  It might have been promises not kept as the core of the failed expectations.  For instance, a young man may woo a girl into relationship, and ultimately into marriage, because of the potential for a comfortable life with lots of "stuff" and all that life can offer, like kids, cars, a nice home, great vacations, etc.  But, when reality hits, the economy turns upside-down, the jobs or promotions don't come, the money is too little and the expectation is crushed.  Soon after, the marriage... 12/13/2011

While moving some furniture recently I found an old photo album that had pictures of one of my favorite dogs.  I've had some wonderful dogs, and I've loved them all, but Tessa was my girl.  She was a Christmas gift from an old girl friend when I was just out of high school.  She was the best thing I took away from that relationship.    What was unique about Tessa is her place in my personal history.  During her life with me, I found Christ.  I received her as a gift before my relationship with Christ, and she spent the second half of her life with me as a Christian.  During that time, God revealed so much about Himself, and He clarified His Word through my relationship with her.  He allowed that wonderful dog to become His tool to instruct me, and those lessons have stuck with me my en... 12/11/2011

I think the past three years have probably been some of the toughest years I've witnessed in my lifetime.  The country, in a broad way, has fallen into a malaise of sadness and helplessness, but I want you to know it's not terminal.  The media, politicians and protesters far and wide would love to have you think we as a nation are in decline.  We have had a period of moral and economic decline, but like a bad case of the flu, it's not terminal until we accept it as the norm or the new normal. I'm old enough to remember the beginnings of the "misery index."  Why would we need a misery index?  Because we were miserable.  We, as a nation, had elected politicians who had let us down, much like today.  We had overspent, much like today. We had made promises as a nation that we couldn't honor... 12/06/2011

Homeowners know that a mortgage is a great way to buy a house.  But, too many don't realize just how much a mortgage can run the price of house up over the course of a loan.  If I told you that I would sell you a $200,000 house for $364,813.42 you would never do it, but a 30 year mortgage can run the purchase price of a house up $164,813.42 in interest at 4.5% over a 30 year mortgage.There are ways to reduce that number that are simple and within reach.  Anytime you take out a mortgage, make sure you have the privilege of pre-paying principal without penalties.  Let me show you how this works.Let's start with a $200,000 mortgage with the first payment beginning January 1st.  Interest is loaded on the front of your mortgage, so your early payments are predominately interest.  Let me give... 12/04/2011

During times like the ones our country is facing, it is easy to turn inward and wonder why these things are happening, and there are plenty of answers to that question.  The one that is hard to answer is "Why is God letting this happen to us?"  Or maybe it's a little more personal, "Why is God letting this happen to me?" The premise of the question is flawed.  The assumption is that when bad things happen somehow God is no longer involved in a good way in our lives.  The truth is, God is always involved in our lives.  Don't misinterpret the silence of God as the inaction of God.  There are times when you may not be able to hear the voice of God simply because He isn't speaking, but that doesn't mean He isn't working in your behalf. A loving Heavenly Father, just like a healthy loving ea... 12/03/2011

There are so many things I plan to do in 2012 that will aid me in my business that I don't know where to start, but one incident today confirmed that one of my priorities is right on target. Advertising, marketing through the Internet, developing a stronger web-presence, calling new leads and past clients and knocking on doors are awesome ways to reach out to others who may end up as potential clients or repeat clients, but one of my priorities this year will be to expand my knowledge of Russian and Spanish.  There is a growing Russian population in the Shenandoah Valley and the Spanish speaking population has grown tremendously.  So, one of first priorities in 2012 will be to enhance my language skills to increase my market share with these two groups of potential clients.  12/01/2011

One of the great things about living in a small community is the down home flare it offers.  In our community, there is one weekly event that causes local residents to hustle down to the local convenience store.  No, it's not the lottery, it's The Valley Trader.  The Valley Trader is a quirky weekly sale flier that is filled with just about everything you can think of, including the kitchen sink.  The Valley Trader offers ads to anyone who wants to post them relating to just about any item they want to sell, and most ads are free.  The Valley Trader makes its money off of sales of the weekly publication. If you need a bumper for a 1986 Ford F150, you'll probably find it.  Looking for a new puppy?  No problem.  What breed?  How about a wedding dress?  They have them.  Backhoe?  You bet. ... 11/30/2011

Sometimes you get that perfect "make it happen" client who makes this job a blast.  In a closing today, I had to tell my client that the listing agent forgot to leave the keys at her new property, and he didn't get them to the closer prior to closing for the property. "No problem," she said.  She had a couple errands to run prior to going to her new purchase.  We agreed that I would run down the agent and snag the keys.  Then, I would meet her there in a couple hours. Now, in the back of my mind I knew she was going to be in the house when I got there, but I went through with the plan anyway.  Of course, when I pulled up, there she was, coming out of the house.  She had used her credit card to open the door, and she had already climbed up on the roof to do a little patch work.  When I w... 11/28/2011