Seattle Real Estate Bar Camp and Seattle Unchained is this week!

February 9, 2009 by Leave a Comment

If you're not in the real estate or mortgage industry, this post might be a big *yawn* REBCSea for you.  My apologies!  However, if you are a real estate agent or mortgage originator, you should consider checking out these events (if there's still room).

The big daddy is Real Estate Bar Camp which takes place this Friday beginning at 9:00 a.m. in down town Seattle.  I'm actually leading a break-out session with Brian Brady for fellow mortgage professionals and I'll be involved (learning or teaching) other events throughout the day.   As this is an all day event, I will not be posting rates on this Friday.  You can follow my rate updates on Twitter.  If you are going to RE Bar Camp, be sure to visit the web site and chime in what you would like to learn or teach soon.

Come a day early on Thursday afternoon and you'll catch Seattle Unchained.  I'll be involved on a panel with fellow bloggers at this event.

Zillow was kind to provide space at their headquarters in downtown Seattle at 999 – 3rd Avenue, Floor 41 for both events. 

I'm really looking forward to sharpening my tools at these (un)seminars.  I'll be returning emails and phones over the weekend.   By the way, on Monday, February 16, 2009, Mortgage Master will be closed in observance of President's Day.

Filed Under: Events

An Announcement You Will Never See from a Traditional Broker

October 13, 2008 by 2 Comments

"Today Redfin laid off roughly 20% of our employees" writes Glenn Kelman, Redfin CEO on his corporate blog.   

You won’t hear these words from the traditional real estate brokerages where agents are not paid salaries.  They’re living (or trying to) from closing to closing.  Some are doing better than others and others are having to make hard choices about their careers and personal finances.

The traditional brokerages do not announce that 10 or 20% of their agents have not received a commission check in the past few months or are not able to pay their desk fees.  Agents move to less expensive offices or they just move on.

It is a very challenging market.  And while the many will focus on the struggles of Joe Six Pack, who opted for the wrong mortgage at the wrong time; very few will have sympathy for the struggling real estate agent who made their living from the Joes of this world. 

Glenn’s announcement is a sad one.  I don’t have established "relationships" with Redfin agents.  I do with home buyers who have utilized Redfin.  I admire Glenn’s honesty and wish everyone in the market well.  I have been very fortunate to work with Washington State buyers and home owners who read my blogs, my past clients who return for their mortgage needs and who refer their friends to me and real estate agents who are trying to stick out this market.  At this time and always, I THANK YOU ALL.

Hopefully with today’s gains in the market, we’ll have the confidence that our markets need to stabilize.

Filed Under: Current Affairs, Events, People, Real Estate Agents

I am back!

July 28, 2008 by Leave a Comment

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Seems like I’ve been gone much longer than I have.  On Tuesday morning (July 22, 2008)  I went to San Francisco for Inman Connect and Real Estate Bar Camp.   Both events were fantastic and I met many wonderful people (I won’t even try to list everyone).   I did take advantage of being in that neck of the woods (and airfair) by extending my trip to include some Sonoma wine country with my husband.  Posts and photos will follow.

This is just a quick note to let you know that I am back in Washington and back to business to usual.   If you or someone you know need help with a mortgage (new or, if you would like me to manage–or adopt–your existing mortgage) please let me know.

Update:  Here are some of my notes from Bloggers Connect that I’ve posted over at my R TEAM Blog:

Leaving a Digital Footprint

Growing Pains: Taking Your Blog to the Next Level

Blogging Pittfalls: How NOT to get sued.

Case Study: How Four Bloggers are closing sales

I’m also working on a post about Flickr from a class I attended at Real Estate Bar Camp taught by Teresa Boardman.   

Filed Under: Events
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