What 13.1 Taught Me!

I did it! Keizer Iris Half Marathon to be exact! So what, you may say, lots of people have. True you are but it taught me something.

Around mile 9 my body hit "the wall". I was not out of breath but my legs were out of gas and they did not listen to me anymore. I told them to move faster but they didn't. I told them to pick up my stride but they didn't. People started passing me that I had passed in miles 5 and 6. While I was running I thought about how my body has limits. I am young and somewhat fit but my body does have limits.

The silver lining is that even when you realize that body or mind or life has limits -Limits can be broken. My legs slowed but my they kept moving and got me to the finish line. I didn't walk and I didn't stop.

My goal was to run it in 2 hours. Never running this distance before - 2 hours was a lofty goal but as I crossed the finish line at 2:00:37. I made it! Well, almost!

Push past your limits! Even if it you think you can't just keep moving and do it at your own pace. My shirts says it all "SPEED KILLS".

Salem Real Estate Values

Just for fun I went to zillow.com to see what home values have down in the last ten years. Fun may not be the best descriptor for the perceived value that home owners have lost. My first house road the roller coaster up as I bought in 2004. I sold in 2008 and made a mint. My next home bought simultaneously has plummeted ever since I bought it but I plan to stay.

If will reading this you tear up or find that your are ready to sell give me a call. I am great at listening (sobs to moans) but also great at helping determine what is best for your real estate holding. If you would like to add to your portfolio call me too.

503 602-103nine

RE/MAX Equity Group

1860 Hawthorne Ave NE

Salem, OR 97301

HUD homes are some of the best values in our market right now. They are be listed and sold daily. Give me a call for a list of HUD HOMES.

EARTH DAY! BE KIND TO IT!

Like many holidays we take a moment to reflect on love, thanksgiving, earth, Jesus' Birth, Veterans and Spooks in the night. Often it is short lived but why not think about Earth Day more than just today.

I drove to work today and I used some electricity for a shower and to make my breakfast but I want to be more conscious of what I am doing to recycle, reduce and reuse.

If we all do one small thing it can make a huge impact. Buy that annoyingly loud bag of SunChips or ride your bike to work.

Not to be overly cheesy to quote Captian Planet, "The Power is Yours!"

Spring is Sprung in Salem

It is that time again when the OCD in me screams spring cleaning. Finding the time however is a little more difficult. Here are 6 Worth-the-Price Fix-Ups that require cleaning and fixing up your home that don't involve hiring Amelia Bedelia.







1. Clean Up your Act. Remove any unused items, declutter countertops, organize shelves and closets, and make the home sparkling clean.


$50 to $200 Cost for tubs to store in the attic or garage
Make $20 to ? selling it on Ebay or CL

2. Brighten Up. Clean all windows, replace window treatments, update fixtures, open the windows.

$250 Cost for new stuff or paint to renew old light fixtures or curtain rods.
Make $20 to ? selling old stuff on Ebay or CL

3. Stage It. Rearrange stuff, get new accessories and furniture to enhance not crowd rooms and play some music.

$200 Cost look on CL or borrow from a friend
Make $20 to ? sell it

4. Go Green Thumb. Curb appeal please! Do all maintenance you have been neglecting and bring in some new plants and mulch. Flowers on the porch invite!

$200 Cost

5. If it Broke, Fix it! Go around the home and make a list of what needs to be repaired and get on it. Call Amelia if you need help with this one. Don't tell her to "weed the garden"

$? Cost


6. Floor it. If it is worn out replace it. Carpets need cleaning too. Look for coupons or ask for referals from friends.

$200 to ?

7. Relax. Call your Friendly Neighborhood Real Estate Agent and invite him over for a bbq.


This post was inspired by 6 Worth-the-Price Fix-Ups in Realtor Magazine April May 2011

RE/MAX equity group has new Managing Broker

George Grabenhorst is the new Managing Broker for RE/MAX equity group, Salem Business Center. George brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. A lifelong Salem resident and 4th Generation Real Estate Broker this is not George's first rodeo.

George is the Salem Association of Realtors President and sits on many boards as well as coaching track and officiating Football.

Welcome George and we look forward to his leadership and enthusiasm.

Dissmal Days Are Over!

The internal optimist in me says "look how far we have come!". Here are a few stats to remind you why we live in a great nation and in a great time.

Roughly 90% of the states have added jobs during the most recent 12-month period. Formely, every state had dealt with recession at some point during the past three years.

The upward "mobility" of the typical American remains the greatest in the world. Why? The U.S. economy "rewards" the combination of hard work and educational achievement more than ever before...and more than any other country in the world.

Average U.S. life expectancy has reached 78.2 years (men 75 women 80), the highest ever. This compares to 76 years in 1995, 68 years in 1950 and 47 years in 1900.

The list goes on and on but this is a great time! Live it up!

HUD Homes Tips and Tricks

If you are like me before I make a purchase of $25 or more I do some research. I start with Craigslist and then Ebay. I look at online retailers. I do a appraisal of sorts to see what the item I am considering purchasing is worth. I look for coupons online in the effort to save a buck. I read reviews about products. It is the thrill of the case.

HUD homes or homes owned by the Secretary of HUD (Housing and Urban Developement) are homes that a inline with my shopping habits. No, there aren't coupons. No, they aren't on CL or Ebay but they can be bought at huge savings. How, you might ask, is a secret that only a select few know about. What kind on savings? That varies too, but for those of us who know the system we save our buyers and investors lots of money.

The beauty of HUD homes is that they come with a appraisal already completed. So if you are finacing the home you don't have to worry about an appraisal fee ($450). Or that the home value is inline with market.

Last year I sold a home in Keizer that was built in 2001 and is 2500+ square feet. It appraised for $250,000 originally and then dropped to $225,000. Yes, it needed some cosmetics but it became a great value for my buyers. They bought it for $189,000 and HUD paid 3% of that for closing costs to them. Wow, is right, but these are the deals I am referring to. Good Homes, Great Deals, Best Broker ever, Right? Well, it was not me as much as my knowledge for HUD.

Contact me and we can talk about getting a deal for you! There are 30 Hud homes in Marion County as I post this blog.