That's a fun bit of info...thanks for posting!

Yes Gig I agree that is a bit of fun info. I once owned a home in North Dallas and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. The midwest is great if you like extremes in weather. I've lived in many parts of the US and Europe, and there is no place like home, I really enjoy living in Tacoma. ( OK, I'll stop before the pom, poms come out.)

Ah yes! Texas. My brother was a Broker in El Paso. I bought 3 homes for 120k each new about 4 years ago. Inexpensive Yes! But, the real story is the property taxes. Try over 3% !! I was paying neary 4000 a year on a 125k house. I sold all 3 at 170k 2 years ago. Rental mkt was strong but the taxes are enough to keep me outta Texas.

Texas homes may be cheap to buy, but real estate taxes are something else. And, of course, there's the problem of living in Texas with all sorts of bad storms.

WOW what happened to the News Tribune Blog. Do you need help with a story? There has been more news for real estate in the last 2 weeks then there has been in 3 years and I don't see one story for the blog.

Good Lord!! Do you need help over there? Don't leave leave me with just Seattle Bubble! We need something for the south enders..............

Unfortunately, I don't think this section is worth maintaining for the Tribune.

Seattle Bubble is a great Blog while Rain City is just a group of Agents and Mtg reps trying to eeek out a living. The writing was on the wall for WM a year ago. Todays news was long overdue. Start the count down for who's next. Its pretty easy to guess.

With the news of more early retirements & layoffs at the News Tribune I can't say I'm surprised at the lack of stories here. Look at how they shrunk the content of their Sunday paper.

Video killed the radio star in the 80"s and Ray has killed this blog. His negative views, shameless promotion of his struggling biz model and brazin attitude has turned most off.

Thanks Ray-

Actually I have heard quite differently. Many readers have contacted me directly praising my blogging here and 4 readers have used 500 Realty to purchase from this site.

Negative views?--Just the facts my friend supported by clear and concise information.

Struggling Biz model?--That is way off base. We have just signed on 2 more banks who believe in our model and have doubled our cash flow. I contend we are the only Real Estate company who has tripled their earnings in the last 8 months and has business up over 1000% since opening 1 year ago. We are opening our 2nd office in Redmond because of the demand on the Eastside. Our database of Pre-Approved Buyers continues to expand but the Buyers are very educated and are waiting for prices to come down further(which they will).

Brazin attitude and shameless promotion? Well, I cannot educate those who do not wish to listen or are too ignorant to accept change. Real Estate is rapidly changing. Paying 2-3% to List is insanity. We will all look back and laugh at how Real Estate used to be performed.

We are striving to offer ALL CONSUMERS 100% of the Buyers commission back in the coming years. We can do this through Lead Generation and soon many Real Estate companies will. For now its 75% which is still the BEST in the Nation. It will just take more time but I assure you time is on our side.

Until then see you All at the Tacoma Home Show Oct 9-12 and the Seattle Home Show Oct 16-19. Mention this blog and get a Free 500 Realty T shirt. They are very form-fitting and you will get many compliments!

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

Exactly....Ray killed the blog! Was it really ever a blog or just a promotion for his company. Shame on TNT for allowing him to control this...too bad the blogging couldn't be just that a forum to talk real estate.
While there is a business model for everyone...a professional doesn't conduct business trying to be a bully. Educate your self for sure -in this market you need a Real Estate Professional who is considered just that -a professional and viewed by his peers as that. Be careful with the company you keep!

Yes, Walnut...I killed the blog. I killed the economy. I killed WM, WB, NCC, AIG, CFC....

A bully? Warren Buffet, Donald Trump, Steve Forbes, and Mark Cuban have been called the same. I guess I'm in good company.

I truly hope your not an Agent. You give us all a bad name.

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

Walnut- You are right. Not sure that this ever got off to being a full on blog. I visited this blog post regularly and there was some good exchange of information and thoughts but I really got turned off when I kept running across the "look at me or look at my company" writings of Ray.
Hey Ray-ever notice rarely does anyone else use this blog to promote them or their company by name? Now you compare yourself to Forbes, Buffet, Trump. OMG get over yourself.
To bad this blog never really took hold. Southsound could really use a real estate blog for locals to exchange ideas and thoughts without other people trying to sell you something.

No sales here. Just commonsense. Use MLS for Owners for selling and Red Fin, Shop Prop, or Handspring for Buying. You do NOT need to use 500 Realty if you dislike me or my bullish stance on the only way to Buy and Sell Real Estate in 2008 and beyond. What you need to do is be smart going forward in both Buying and Selling. Now more then ever!!

The Buffet is over and many more companies like the above will be coming!

See you at the Tacoma and Seattle Home Show!

(walnut and thetruthtold stop tag teaming each other. your intentions are obvious and futile- The public is becoming more educated each and everyday as to what they need and what they are willing to pay for)

Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

Ray, I have been watching you and all these other Agents for awhile. It seems to me what you are attempting to do is in direct conflict with what they are trying to acheive. I applaud your efforts and hope that the walls of the Nat Assoc of Realtors come crashing down. Ever since I can remember they have said its a great time to buy. Just yesterday I saw yet another ad stating its a great time to buy. They are corrupt, give advise that anyone can find with a simple google search, and charge fees that I believe take advantage of people when they need help the most. We are not buying or selling but I'm directing friends your way. I actually sent a seller from Buckley about 60 days ago. Good Luck in your endeavors. I at least appreciate what you are trying to do. I agree it is commonsense but it will still take time to educate everyone. I tried to explain what you are doing to my best friend and he still doesn't get it.

Thanks Justin for the kind words. I believe I met your Buckley seller and thanks for educating him. You earned a 500 Reaty T shirt. Come get it at the Home Show!

pepperrealty1, Justinestate; Let me get this straight; You both don't like the fact that an agent or anyone for that matter telling people this is a great time to buy. Right? Well, if this is not a great time to buy, then when is a good time to buy? Right now, interest rates are low, prices are down, and there is a abundance of inventory and as Ray says, there are many "GEMS" out there to buy. However, by your thinking, a good time to buy is when the market is up and consumers cannot write a offer fast enough with a escalation clause included in the offer. Now they've paid a escalated price and their equity grows at a much slower rate. Tell me Ray, with all your expertise about the economy and the housing market, it seems to me you're contradicting yourself. If you truly are a professional in the real estate business then you know this is a great time to buy. Any financial advisor will tell you this as long as you qualify and can afford a home of your own. Just remember, what goes down, will go back up, and along with it your equity in a home you were smart enough to buy in a down market!

I suggest that there will be great times to buy all the time! But, you must find the GEMS. I found homes in Oregon and Nevada NEW for 135k and bought them in 2005. They went up and I sold 1/2 and the other 1/2 I kept as rentals. It doesn't matter when, just WHAT you buy, HOW you buy it, and WHAT you pay. For the conventional buyer waiting for a bottom I suggest it will be prolonged over many years not just a single day or a month. Always be out looking today, next month, and next year. GEMS will always be present. The foreclosures will continue to mount and there will be an abundance of homes, and great rates, for a very long time. If rates EDGE up, I assure you home prices will fall even further.

The problem we have now is the "mantra" of home ownership is changing. People are choosing to rent and not be straddled with a deteriorating asset, taxes, insurance, and upkeep.

**The "caveat" to this is what Countrywide is proposing. I will explain.. Countrywide will attempt to reappraise the "owner occupied" homes and base the new payment on the appraised value. The glitch is that if you sell in the first 5 years you must give back 50% of the gains. Also the amount that the bank takes as a loss will be noted as a tax gain on the homeowner. Not to mention the amount of people that will take advanatge of this will cause a huge back-up with the lenders.

If these type programs emerge it will be a great deterrent for foreclosure and will help curb the dilemma. Its just a proposal but programs like these just may work.

Stay tuned! We truly are in uncharted territory.


Ray Pepper
Broker
www.500Realty.net

Wow Ray it is nice to see you blogging and weighing in with your opeinion....is this a new Ray, I like it...