Can Nice Blogs really finish First?

May 14, 2008 at 11:27 pm · Filed under Silverdale Real Estate, Real Estate Bites, Mortgage Bites, Sparks from Sparky

As an avid blogger, it’s been an interesting ride thus far. Technology has been advancing rather rapidly in the real estate industry, and the early adapters are usually the ones who benefit the most. I’ve always prided myself on embracing the latest and greatest. So when the marketing paradigm shifted to Web 2.0, I jumped in with both feet! Static went dynamic. The need/demand for interactivity made conversational blogging a perfect venue for meaningful exchange with today’s computer-savvy consumer.

But blogging has an established tradition of stimulating somewhat ‘lively’ debate. Access any number of popular political blogs, and you’ll quickly discover what I mean. While viewpoints and opinions are freely shared, so are vicious barbs and slanderous jabs. Personal attack and public humiliation seem commonplace. And unfortunately, many times, it appears that the ones who are the most ’successful,’ or at least generate the greatest amount of traffic/comments, tend to be the ones who are the most caustic, abrasive, and condescending of the bunch.

Things are a bit more sedate in the Realty Blogdom. However, I have noticed here lately, a few similar trends. Some of the blogs that appear to create/attract the most interest, tend to be overly critical and negative. Sensationalist and provocative titles are employed. Targets are chosen and eviscerated before the viewing public, and all for the sake of ranking. Forget about helping to empower and educate the consumer. We’re having way too much fun dragging someone’s character in the mud!

It reminds me of a guy I used to work with in a previous life. I’ll call him ‘Elvis’ because he loved ‘The King,’ even to the point of sporting huge pork chop sideburns. “Elvis’ was God’s gift to the business world. I had the privilege of accompanying him on a week long sales road trip from Hell. As we traveled along, he confided in me that God had blessed him with superior intelligence. But that his penance in life was to put up with everyone else’s ignorance (his exact words!).

There are some blogs/blog authors who are like that. They’re obviously graced with tremendous smarts and a wonderfully endowed vocabulary. But they seem to be lacking somewhat in the humility department.

So I guess my question is this: Can Nice Blogs finish first? Or do I have to be abrasive and demeaning to succeed? Do we pander to the publics obsession with sensational, provocative, and controversial? Do we sacrifice substance for traffic/ranking? Is content still the King, or is it my buddy, Elvis?

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“The Lost Art of Live Theatre” - Culture in Kitsap County WA

April 14, 2008 at 12:36 pm · Filed under Bites of Kitsap, Silverdale Real Estate, Sparks from Sparky

I have the good fortune of serving as a board member for C-STOCK (Central Stage Theater of County Kitsap), one of several live community theaters here in Kitsap County WA. Our group produces predominantly family-oriented musicals shows, and has a long-standing tradition/emphasis on encouraging the active involvement/participation of area youth.

I’ve also had the pleasure of actually ‘performing’ in several of the past productions. My first show with C-STOCK, “1940’s Radio Hour,” was a truly wonderful experience, followed by “Footloose,” and most recently ”Damn Yankees.” In “Footloose,” I was joined by my middle son, Elliot. Then in “Damn Yankees,” Elliot, and his younger brother, Luke, were both part of the cast.

It has been thrilling to see my own kids participating in community theatre. C-STOCK offers a very healthy and wholesome environment/outlet for kids, and sure beats having them parked in front of the TV, XBox, or hanging out with the undesirables down at the mall.

Unfortunately, with so many other venues competing for our entertainment dollars, live theater has lost much of the draw it has historically enjoyed. It’s difficult at times to compete against high-budget, special effects Hollywood movies. The ease, comfort, and cost of Netflix/Blockbuster rentals at home seems to have a much wider appeal.

But there’s something truly magical about live theatre. The facility that C-STOCK uses for their theater here in Silverdale WA is very small (A bit too small at times!) But it lends a very special sense of intimacy to the experience. It many instances, it’s nearly participatory or interactive. You feel like you’re part of the cast! We recently produced “Beauty & The Beast.” It was a show of epic proportions. The sets and costuming were absolutely stunning, the performances electrifying! Even though I watched the show nearly every night, it never ceased to evoke gut-splitting laughter and heartfelt tears.

Now “THAT’S” entertainment!

Are you finding it increasingly difficult to plan a night out that’s suitable for the entire family? Look no farther! C-STOCK is the sure bet in Kitsap County WA!

Visit our newly designed website (developed by none other than Buckwheat himself - Mark Flanders) at www.cstock.org

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Choosing Your Real Estate Agent: “One Size doesn’t fit All”

April 12, 2008 at 12:11 am · Filed under Silverdale Real Estate, Real Estate Bites, Buyers, Sellers, Sparks from Sparky

I’ve been reading a number of blog articles lately from other real estate agents who promote themselves as though they’re the cure for cancer. They proceed to explain why potential clients should select them as their agent. They all use many of the same descriptive terms - ‘Honest’ or ‘Ethical’ or ‘Hard-working.’ And it just makes you scratch your head and wonder, if all of them are so honest, ethical, and hard-working, why is the general public’s perception/approval rating of real estate agents so low?

Many of the agents I know respond to Seller inquiries rather agressively. This isn’t bad, in and of itself. Being confident in one’s abilities is a good trait, as long as it doesn’t supersede or overshadow the best interests of the potential client.

But ‘One Size’ doesn’t fit All. Let me explain…

Whenever I become engaged in conversation with a potential client, I let them know up front, that while they’re interviewing me, I am interviewing them as well. There are so many dynamics and variables that exist from one client to the next, I just never assume that I will work/partner with everyone who asks.

I’m not being rude or arrogant in this approach. The working relationship between a real estate professional and their client is crucial to achieving success. In a slow market like we are experiencing right now, with high levels of inventory and highly selective Buyers, it is imperative that a home be priced agressively and the necessary steps be taken to ensure that the home is adequately prepared for market.

Quite honestly, there are some instances where I feel customers can be served better through other means: 

With all the recent foreclosures, short sales are becoming increasingly common. This area is not one of my strong suits, so I would probably refer it to another agent, one that I know has proven ability.

If someone is ‘upside down’ (owes more on the house than they could sell it for), or lacks equity, it may be better for them to consider using a ‘limited-service’ agency - a ‘per menu’ provider that will place their home in the local MLS for a flat fee. Typically these agencies will only put up a yard sign, fill up the flyer box, and enter the home in the MLS. They typically don’t help counsel you or negotiate any offers that come in. You’re on your own there. But that might be a better situation for some, as opposed to using a ‘full-service’ agent.

What are the specific, current market dynamics in the area of the subject property? What are the inventory levels of comparably priced homes? What are the Seller’s goals or timeframes for selling? These are just some of the nuances that vary with each situation.

So while I like to think I’m a pretty good agent, I realize that I can’t be all things to all people.

That’s one of the many benefits of blogging. It allows me to share insights into who and what I am. Through my writing, I can convey my unique perspective, my passions, and my personality. Prospective clients can determine whether we would be a good fit without ever having met in person. How cool is that?

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The Global Bean - Building Community around Great Coffee

March 13, 2008 at 10:26 pm · Filed under Bites of Washington, Bites of Kitsap, Silverdale Real Estate, Sparks from Sparky, Business Bites

Living in the Pacific Northwest, and being a stone’s throw across the Sound from Seattle, we are literally inundated with coffee shops & espresso stands on nearly every corner. From the major players like Starbuck’s, Tully’s, and Seattle’s Best, to the smaller venues like “Natte Latte,” we have a wealth of choices to get our caffeine quick fix.

In his book “The Purple Cow,” Marketing Guru Seth Godin states that Starbucks was ‘remarkable’ a few years ago. Now, he says, they’re boring.

Well, I wouldn’t necessarily call them ‘boring.’ Just recently, they intentionally closed all of their stores early so they could conduct training sessions for their employees. Supposedly it was to send a message to us consumers that Starbucks truly cares about improving their products/services. I watched a video clip on MSNBC where they were interviewing regular Starbucks customers outside one of the ‘closed’ stores. Boy, were they ever upset! Most of them simply headed down the street to the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts store! …..But I digress….

We have a new ‘player’ here in Kitsap County WA - The Global Bean. They occupy 1st floor space in the Cavalon Place II Office Building, part of the new Highland Business Park on Myhre Road in Silverdale.

As a long time Starbucks customer, I initally thought this venture was headed for a tough go. I mean, who can compete with Starbucks? During my first visit, it took entirely way too long to get just a simple tall brewed coffee with an add shot. I had become spoiled by the Howard Schultz java assembly-line.

As I was waiting, I met one of the partners, Joel Skellie. Great guy, very personable, down to earth. He said straight up,…

“We’re never going to be fast. We’re not going to compete against Starbucks, or any of the others. This is a place to slow down and connect. And we’ve got live local musicians three nights a week - from Celtic to Bluegrass, Jazz or Acoustic. Our vision is to be a place where our community ‘happens” and becomes more intimate.”

Wow! Stop the Press! ‘Slow down’ and ‘Connect?” Gee, what a concept!

So, I’ve been back. A lot. My wife and I go just about every week for coffee and a friendly game of Scrabble over Jazz. My blogging buddy, Buckwheat (aka Mark Flanders) and I meet there every Thursday morning at 8am with other area blog enthusiasts. We met some friends of ours there a couple of Sundays ago, and enjoyed wonderful conversation and great eats. As we were talking, we noticed that the place was empty except for us. We asked the barrista why there weren’t more customers, and he said that they had closed 2 hours ago! We were mortified! But they had been so busy cleaning up and had simply allowed us to continue our conversations!

The Global Bean is the vision and reality of partners Joel Skellie and Lance Gilbert. Joel has been a Kitsap County resident for over 19 years, served as a worship pastor for nearly as long, and is heavily involved in community music. Lance moved here in 1995 bringing a very successful software company along with him from Southern California. He is also involved in area music and theatre, enjoys graphic arts, music & video production, software design, and consulting.

Okay, so maybe when you’re in a hurry, you can do one of those ‘other’ drive-thru assembly line places. But as crazy and hectic as life is these days, it sure is a nice change of pace to ’slow down’ and ‘connect’ every once in a while! 

The Global Bean…  “Where Community and Coffee Connect!”

2021 NW Myhre Road, Suite 101 ~ Silverdale, WA ~ 360.892.9582

Hours:  M-Th 7am-10pm ~ Fri 8am-Midnight ~ Sat 9am-Midnight ~ Sun 8am-7pm

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True or False - “Now is a ‘GREAT’ time to Buy Real Estate!”

March 6, 2008 at 9:01 am · Filed under Bremerton Real Estate, Silverdale Real Estate, Real Estate Bites, Buyers, Sellers, Sparks from Sparky

As I travel throughout the Real Estate Blogosphere these days, I see a lot of articles being published by agents with the positive-spin headlines,….

…..”It’s a GREAT Time to Buy!”

I wonder how much of this is simply hopeful optimism? Wishful thinking? Or an attempt by those in the real estate industry to counter the incessant media bombardment of ‘Doom & Gloom?”

Well, let’s face it, in most markets across the country, existing homes sales have declined significantly. There’s no way to sugar coat that reality. And as much as we’d love to see things turn around soon, there is no substantive indication of that happening anytime in the near future.

But I suppose, if enough people say that it’s a good time to buy, then maybe some innocent and unsuspecting consumer will actually decide to ‘buy’ something? Just like Peter Pan, we could collectively think ‘Happy Thoughts’ about the market, and magically, home sales would fly!

Buying a home is a HUGE decision, by far one of the most important financial investments you’ll probably ever make. Certainly not something to be rushed into based on the overly zealous opinions of someone who doesn’t get paid unless YOU buy!

So, is it TRUE or FALSE? Is ‘Now’ a good time to Buy?

Well, the answer is TRUE. And FALSE. It really depends on each individual situation. What’s your current financial status? What are your goals? Where do you want to buy? How long do you plan on living in the home?

Here in Kitsap County WA, many of our clients are Active-Duty military. A good number of them are typically on orders to be stationed here for 2 to 3 years. In the past, with home valuations appreciating nicely, investing in a home purchase made sense in most instances. But with the current market decline, it may be better for some people to take advantage of on-base housing, or rent.

If you’re considering a home purchase, find a real estate professional who knows the local market intimately, and can give you reputable counsel, based on your particular needs.

And if the first words out of their mouth is, “It’s a Great Time to Buy!,” then give me a call.

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“Real Estate and the 2nd Coming”

January 9, 2008 at 12:46 am · Filed under Bites of Kitsap, Bremerton Real Estate, Silverdale Real Estate, Port Orchard Real Estate, Poulsbo Real Estate, Real Estate Bites, Buyers, Sellers, Sparks from Sparky

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,

 nor the Son, but the Father only.”  ~   Matthew 24:36 

Okay, let me start off by saying that I mean no disrespect here. I am just as anxious for the 2nd Coming to happen as the next card-carrying evangelical fundamentalist (Come quickly, Lord Jesus!). But it seems that lately, we’ve had just as many people attempting to forecast the future of real estate as we do those who’ve attempted to predict the date and time for the return of the Son of Man.

In both instances, it’s simply a best guess. No one knows for certain what’s going to happen and when. Certainly there are indicators and previous cycle patterns to analyze and compare. But the reality remains, no one knows for certain.

But in real estate, there is one thing we can say with confidence - “No Two Markets are the Same!”

Just because some Wall Street ‘wannabe’ claims that the 2nd Great Depression is looming right around the corner, doesn’t make him right. Those guys earn a living on speculation! And if one more TV News Starlet, scratching her way to higher ratings, refers to the current housing market as a ‘Holocaust,’ I promise I’m gonna hurl!

Are there areas in the US housing market where things are tough? You betcha! In some places, prices are dropping, valuations are decreasing, and foreclosures are rising at an alarming pace.

But there are just as many housing markets, if not more, that are experiencing ‘normal‘ conditions. By ‘normal,’ I mean, experiencing the usual cycles historically associated with the real estate market. Every 8 to 10 years or so, we go through a market adjustment. After enjoying several years of very fast or brisk activity, the market begins to slow.

It is during these downturns, that the pessimistic media naysayers of ‘doom & gloom’ act as though these kind of cycles have never happened to us before. The constant bombardment of their incessant negativity begins to affect us, and their created perception starts to become our reality.

Certainly, if one lone trader can adversely affect the cost of crude oil, then the constant negative bombardment of media hypesters can easily influence our perceptions over the current real estate market.

The real truth is that real estate is bad in some places, but not so bad in some, and still fairly good in others. Please, don’t allow the Media’s broad brush strokes to paint an incorrect picture of YOUR market. If you’re looking to buy or sell, consult with your local real estate professional. No one is better equipped or knows your market more intimately than someone who is actively involved in providing expert representation in your specific area.

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“Safe in the Sound” - Bites of Kitsap County WA

December 20, 2007 at 12:15 am · Filed under Bites of Washington, Bites of Kitsap, Bremerton Real Estate, Silverdale Real Estate, Real Estate Bites, Buyers, SoundBite Bites

Okay, so what if we just had over 12″ of torrential rain swamp us in a 24 hour period, causing sinkholes and washed-out roadways. And forget that we have a huge stockpile of nuclear warheads just down the street at Bangor Subase (at least once a year the tree-hugging Al Gore global warmers protest at the front gate). 

Regardless, the Silverdale WA and Bremerton WA area just recently made the No. 10 spot on a list of the Safest Mid-Sized Cities across the US with populations of 150,000 to 500,000.

The list is from a report compiled by Farmer’s Insurance. The rankings take into account variables such as crime statistics, weather, life expectancy, and terrorist threat levels.

Two other Washington State cities were ranked - Olympia (the State Capitol) came in at 1st place, and Bellingham was 5th.

To read more about the Most Secure US Places, go