Every once in a while I peek out of my cave and find there are some really cool things happening around me. I am even starting to have a little fun selling houses again. Whether that's because I have become desensitized to the scenery of abandoned homes and the lingering ghosts of the families who once inhabited them, or because the scenery isn't quite so bleak- the market having gotten used to itself, I am not sure. Either way, I'm out there again, having fun, shopping houses and looking around in a way I had missed out on in the past.

"The government looking at expanding a pioneering scheme in Flint, one of the poorest US cities, which involves razing entire districts and returning the land to nature."

You can read the whole post if you care to find it on mlive. Or you can google Rush Limbaugh to hear his genius idea to bulldoze Flint. But if you pull out just a few key phrases from the sampling above you sum up not only how our neighbors feel about us but more importantly, how many of us have come to view ourselves. "POOREST U.S. CITY", "RAZING ENTIRE DISTRICTS", and of course "SCHEME". Schemes and Flint go hand in hand, right? But that's a different post for somebody else. My point today is that we seemed to be wallowing for a while in our demise and self pity. (It couldn't have just been me, could it?) We were so busy complaining and projecting that some of us forgot to put some of that energy toward making things better!

Thank goodness some folks never stopped moving forward.

The 501 Bar & Grill...

Back to the Bricks was amazing...

And don't forget we've got our beloved Crim coming up this weekend...

Are these the streets of a miserable city without hope? No way! And coming up October 10th is the event that inspired me today. The Flint Zombie Walk. In a nutshell... you pay your $10 to participate in the 15 to 30 minute walk. You must be dressed as a zombie. There is a fabtab party afterward with cool prizes and such. All ages welcome. Proceeds go to the Eastern Michigan Foodbank.

I LOVE Halloween and zombies (and werewolves and vampires! hello Twilight!) and all things spooky so this got my attention. But I wonder, what else is going on that I don't know about? What other easy ways to contribute to community are the good motivated people of Genesee County spoon feeding me that I am not noticing? How about you? Are you participating or complaining? I'll tell you what. I'll keep a look out and let you know what I find.

This is an accounting as told to me by another agent in the office. I may have juiced it up a bit for fun, though. :-) It's a touchy topic and I should say up front that although the sales call was silly, and such situations often ignite heat under an agent's collar, this agent thought the buyer was "very nice" and only found the story remarkable because of the widespread lack of understanding when it comes to real estate agents and commissions. Let the embellished accounting begin...

So I was stretched out in the blazing sun on a hot park bench in front of the CHAOS ride at Cedar Point. Part of my family was in a two hour line for a dumb turn at going too high, too fast, too steep, and too short. The other part of my family was going round after round on the spinning, flipping, dizzying cars of the CHAOS. Equally dumb. With a rare weekend in front of me with all my buyers pending or in negotiation and deadlines for the moment met, we decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Cedar Point. And I was there to soak up my first batch of sun for the summer, read, write, and not think for two days, while the rest of my crew plummeted hundreds of feet in tiny cars toward the ground at high speeds. A perfect weekend. And then the phone rang.

Having put my daughter on the CHAOS for the seventh time in 40 minutes so that I could sound as professional as possible so I could return the call of my potential new buyer, amidst the screams and laughter of a theme park, I called Joe. Very pleasant and cordial. We talked about Cedar Point, the ChangingStreets.com website, the house he was interested in, and his home buying situation in general. I couldn't hear him so well and we kept interrupting one another, so I made it the goal just to make a plan for Monday to set up the showing and further discuss his needs.

Upon hanging up I reviewed my notes and replayed our conversation concentrating on the part that troubled me that I couldn't get clarified at the time.

"I'm with ABC REAL ESTATE".

"Oh my gosh you're an agent, I misunderstood. I'm so sorry."

"No. I'm just a buyer. But I want to work with YOU."
He then kind of continued to talk and change the conversation. Remember, my brain was only at half strength and the commotion around me was distracting. I decided to let it go until Monday. When I asked for clarification on Monday it went something like this:

"Well here's the thing. My ABC agent is my sister and my wife hates her. So I want you to show us some houses so we can find what we want then buy from my her."

There was amicable conversation beyond that as I explained why if he is going to buy from his sister he has to shop with his sister but I am still not sure he understood. He mentioned noticing that "all Realtors seem to want to get paid." Like that was an unusual thing! LOL. Now I've been in similar conversations where I immediately became incensed but not this one. He simply seemed to not understand. I am not sure if he did call his sister but that's what I advised before I hung up.

End of embellished true accounting of one agent's experience with buyer/agent agency issues. I have touched on this before but with less specific details. Do you think this plain example might help buyers understand things better? I'll throw in some SEO, Facebook it and Tweet it! Whatever it takes! How about you- Buyer or Agent, do you have any experience with this? Have a better idea how to raise awareness? Lay it on me. I'll work it.

Dear Senator,

What in the world is wrong with you? We aren't the banks so we don't deserve your anger regarding a bill gone wrong. We aren't the auto execs who pay themselves too much and lost sight of their responsibility to America. We aren't over paid lazy workers, uneducated and unskilled. We are factory workers who go to work every day to less than pleasant environments and tough labor jobs. We make $40k/year, pay taxes, contribute to society and the economy, and help our neighbors when they need it. We don't have jets or boats or take elaborate vacations. Our worlds are much smaller. Our status symbols involve pretty houses of about 1600 SF, clean cars that cost about $30k, and weekend trips up north.

How do these numbers compare to those in your life, Senator, and that of those around you? Not even close, I suspect.

Is your job to represent and protect Americans? Or be a bully and punish those you don't think behaved?

Much of Michigan will shut down if our automakers do not receive some assistance. Sir, don't you understand that current employees cannot take a 50% pay cut? I am sure you'd advise us to downsize. Fine. But how do we downsize when we cannot sell our homes because we owe more than it is worth thanks to the current real estate market, ruined largely by the banks that you just happily bailed out?!

(don't you dare try to infuse consumer irresponsibility here. Not everyone bought over their heads and splurged on pools and "toys")

With houses under value and people not having jobs to support paying the difference at closing, we're all going to go into foreclosure! Bad for us, sure, but since you don't seem to care about "us" I'll also point out, bad for the economy, for the state, for the country! Why do I have to tell you this?

We are sorry that you think we make too much money. But you big boys in your suits with YOUR cigars and multiple homes, expensive cars, fancy vacations, excess, greed and agendas need to quit your pissing match and pay attention to our corner of the country that you are destroying.

That's the end of the letter. You can email your own letter here. Or make a phone call to 202-224-5744.

I have been complaining about all the rumors and gossip I have read regarding the potential "demise" of the Big 3. I realize that I cannot blame people for the REALITY that thousands upon thousands of autoworkers are facing hard times, I can scold the media for exploiting it with no regard of what it does to the folks who will be affected by it.

Who will be affected by it? To begin with we'll keep it relevant. Realtors, Lenders, Home Buyers, Sellers, Surveyors, Inspectors, Appraisers, Builders, Contractors, and all the people and businesses with whom they do business.

The problem I have with the media is that there really is no confirmed information available on the negotiations revolving around the Cerebrus plan to sell Chrysler. On the employee website, Dashboard Anywhere, it is business as usual. They talk about "stamping out diabetes" and building playgrounds. There was a statement released that Chrysler does not discuss negotiations outside of the conference room until decisions have been made. They remind that if there is speculation, the news didn't come from them.

So where does all this talk come from that puts fear and worry into many households in our community? I don't know but the headlines everywhere use words like "cutthroat", "vaporizing jobs" and "devastation". I am sure it makes for good print and stirs up your audience which is always a good thing, right? But here is also what forms in the mind of myself and many others, sitting at the table at night wondering, "what if...?"

*If you work for Chrysler, more than 30,000 of you (of us)will likely be unemployed.

*If you have friends or family who work for Chrysler, expect them to be stressed out, sad, and unable to buy Christmas presents this year or a dish to pass.

*If you own a Chrysler vehicle your local dealership may close up overnight.

*All those closed up dealerships? If you know any of those employees they will also will be depressed, broke, and unable to bring a dish to pass.

*If you don't have direct relationships with any of these unemployed factory workers, car dealers, mechanics, receptionists, etc., you're probably still connected. As working, thriving, contributing members of the community they spend money at your business. If a hundred thousand people from Detroit to Flint are suddenly out of work, there is a good chance your business or place of employment is going to lose some patrons.

*These "overpaid" factory and white collar workers are the life blood of many businesses in your community. Your favorite restaurant in Auburn Hills thrives on business from the autoworkers. When they are gone, so will be your favorite restaurant.

*If you're in the real estate industry you're about to lose more buyers.

*If you're in the mortgage industry, get ready for more foreclosures.

Dodge truck drivers are like a Harley gang. They love their Rams and admire & acknowledge one another when they pass on the road. Drivers of the Chrysler 300 and the Charger know that while they are in their cars they are just a teency bit classier looking than everyone else. (GM knows this too) Foreign car drivers, you got nothing. You bought into some hype about a car that was copied from an American design and got dressed up with a gimmick and foreign "mystique". Now your community is facing complete collapse. All your fault? Nope. The economy is killing us. But with more support of one another we could have put up a stronger fight against it.

Should Reba's moniker be changed to Negative Nellie? Nope, she's simply REALISTIC Reba for the moment reminding everyone what's at stake.

I read a great post on Active Rain the other day about current pics and true representation of our listings. The author has such a good attitude and turned a big fat waste of time into something to laugh at. (Because we HAVE to laugh, don't we?) Anyway, I got sick of hearing myself complain and "suggest" little ways to create a more delightful and efficient industry and took a break. So I'll let Elizabeth Nieves here of Raleigh, NC fill in for me here. Her actual post had variety in font and nice pics to make the post pop so click over and see her at Active Rain if you want to see the original form and long list of comments from relating agents.

Some years ago, I was working with a buyer who wanted an older, brick home...something that was structurally sound but cosmetically challenged. I had no trouble finding 10 or 12 options in his designated area and price range.

Determined to see ALL of the homes in one day, we began our journey with a certain vigor. The first two homes were okay...but my buyer wanted a big backyard...which neither had. The third home was tenant-occupied and appeared to have severe water damage to the foundation sill. Moving on to the fourth home, my client was really excited.

From the MLS pictures and description, home #4 seemed to be the perfect home for my client. It was a 1960's brick Ranch, with three bedrooms and two baths. It had hardwood floors throughout and a large, eat-in kitchen. Best of all, the home was situated on an almost .75 acre wooded lot...just a few miles from downtown Raleigh. My buyer was convinced that...after seeing home #4...his search would be over. I was equally hopeful.

Pulling into home #4's long driveway, I immediately sensed that something was not quite right. I grabbed the MLS sheet...to verify that I was at the right house. YES...it was the correct address...but it was definitely NOT the same home...or was it?

The MLS sheet showed a well-maintained brick home with a nicely manicured lot. With overgrown bushes and tall weeds for a lawn...this home appeared to have been abandoned for years. There was something else missing...or added. In the MLS photo, you could clearly see the whole front of the home...with only one small tree in front of the bedroom window. That ‘small tree' had grown a little since the MLS photo had been taken...about 35 or 40 feet to be more specific. It was so large, in fact, that the whole side of the house was hidden.

Somewhat speechless, we made our way up the front steps and into the front door. Pausing in the doorway, I could hardly believe my eyes. The gorgeous hardwood floors (from the photos) were partially torn up...leaving exposed beams and holes to the basement below. There was garbage and debris scattered from one end of the home to the other...with at least 10 bags of garbage stacked in the kitchen area. Most of the windows in the home were cracked or completely missing, and the ceiling was falling down throughout the home. The dated appliances were nowhere to be found, and the bathrooms had NO TOILETS. There was nothing (ABSOLUTELY NOTHING) about the house that even remotely matched the pictures in the MLS. As you can imagine, home #4 was a huge disappointment and a complete waste of our time.

Driving to the next listing, I gave Mr. Listing Agent a call about home #4...but he must have been too busy falsifying information in the MLS to take my call. I did leave him a ‘sweet' message...asking for a return call at his earliest convenience. Two days later, he had still not found a convenient time to call me back...so I called him again...leaving another ‘sweet' message...

"Hi Mr. Listing Agent, this is Elizabeth Nieves AGAIN. I showed your listing on Liars Lane the other day, and I am calling to report that someone has broken in and vandalized your listing. You need to get over there right away, because the damage is extensive. They have torn up the beautiful, hardwood floors. The appliances are missing. There is garbage everywhere, and they EVEN stole the toilets! OH...they did leave one clue behind. I think the vandals are landscapers, because...after they totally trashed the house...they planted a 40 foot tree in the front yard. Have a wonderful day!"

The Moral of the story:

'FLUFF' is the 'STUFF' in the middle of an oreo cookie.

THIS IS MISREPRESENTATION!