What's Good about September in the Sandhills-wrote this yesterday--got the rain!

Days don't get any better than the one we enjoyed today.  Bright Carolina Blue sky, the occasional puffy white cloud, non-existent humidity, skies streets, and yards washed clean by a recent rain and temps that almost, but not quite reach 80 degrees at the hottest moment of the day.  Absolutely gorgeous, and generally September, October and half of November bring us more days like this than either hotter or colder ones.

PERFECT golf weather, don't you think?  or almost anything you want to do outside--take a hike, ride a bike, jog, run, play some tennis, play hopscotch or hide-n-seek--your kids will love you for it. 

Rumor has it there is some more "make-up rain" in our near future, so grab some outdoor time while you can!

the season's last First Friday

Ah, the last First Friday of the season, happening this Friday in downtown Southern Pines.  What a wonderful way to kick off the weekend, and the month of October.  This week music is provided by the Holy Ghost Tent Revival, with Tim Wilson as the opening act.  Get in on the fun, c'mon to downtown Southern Pines this Friday--you've got to store up a whole bunch of First Friday energy to get you through
the rest of the year until spring.  Check this link to see the fun you'll be missing if you don't show up!
http://www.facebook.com/Pinehurst.real.estate#!/media/set/?o.50966199262&ref=mf

What's good. . .about a world without June in it?

I have to take a few moments this morning to mourn the loss of a very special friend. The friend who among other things is responsible for the title of this blog. If you're looking for real estate wisdom or advice today, I guess you will have to look elsewhere.

Among the most remarkable people I have met is the one who inspired the name of this blog. June Salander, who died peacefully, surrounded by family yesterday afternoon about a month shy of her 102nd birthday never that I can remember, started a conversation any other way. "What's good?" or occasionally "Tell me something good." She never stopped inspiring me with her wisdom, her sense of humor, her need to nurture (and feed!) those around her. She was older than I am today when she began a successful real estate career, and at 72 she took up tennis and enjoyed it for many years. She continued to follow the pros for years after she was sidelined at 89 with a rotator cuff injury, and loved watching it on tv. When Lou, her beloved husband passed several years ago, June embarked on a journey that became a passion. At the age of 89 she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah, and continued to study Hebrew with the Rabbi for many years.

There is no denying she was a remarkable woman, an extraordinary human being. I miss her terribly and cannot envision the world without her in it. I love this picture of June, taken sometime around her 100th birthday I believe. I will keep this lovely image of a lovely woman in my head and heart.

For me a consideration when I left Vermont was that June was unlikely to outlive me, (she was 95 when I left) and that I was going to be limiting my time with her by being so far apart. I never went home without a visit, and made it home for many of her birthdays including the enormous celebration of her 100th at the Rutland synagogue.

What's good. . .that June touched so many lives in her nearly 102 years on this planet, and that she is again with Lou, and George, a son she lost many years ago. I am glad she touched mine.

What's good. . . about Moore County Residents?

Wow, our Red Day food drive was a rousing success! Tomorrow we will deliver some serious amount of grocery products to the Food Bank. We had groups of red shirted Keller Williams agents at Lowe's in Pinehurst and Food Lion in 7 Lakes from 10 to 6 today, soliticing donations from the
remarkably generous residents of both communities. Watch for pictures tomorrow.

What's Good. . .about RED Day

Hey, Welcome to RED Day, a day to Renew, Energize, and Donate. Watch for Keller Williams agents across the country and Canada today honoring Mo Anderson, our Vice Chairman, by giving back to their communities. Our RED Day project at Keller Williams Pinehurst is a food drive. We will be asking patrons to help us restock the shelves of the Central and Eastern North Carolina Food Bank today at Lowe's in Pinehurst and Food Lion in 7 Lakes.

Some items that the Food Bank is always looking for can be found here:
http://content.foodbankcenc.org/getinvolved/mostneededitems.pdf

Look forward to seeing you there!

What's Good. . .about acronyms?

Initially speaking, I couldn't resist ripping off Greg Fous of Market America Realty and Investments in Fort Myers, FL
Directly from Greg's newsletter this morning, designed to keep you completely in the know about real estate related acronyms:

AIREA - American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers
ALTA - American Land Title Association
ANSI - American National Standards Institute
AOR - Association of Realtors
APOD - Annual Property Operating Data
APR - Annual Percentage Rate
ARES - American Real Estate Society
ASA - American Society of Appraisers
ASHI - American Society of Home Inspectors
BD - Book Depreciation
BOM - Back on Market
BPO - Broker Price Opinion
BFP - Bona Fide Purchaser
BRR - Book Rate of Return
CAM - Common Area Maintenance (charges related to commercial leases)
CC - Civil Code
CCIM - Certified Commercial Investment Member
CFK - Cash for Keys
CGT - Capital Gains Tax
CH/BW - Chain Link/Barbed Wire
CO - Certificate of Occupancy
COC - Cash on Cash Return Rate
COE - Cost of Equity
CUV - Current Use Value
DCR - Debt Coverage
DIM - Deferred-Interest Mortgage
DOM - Days on Market
DRC - Depreciated Replacement Cost
DS - Due on Sale (clause)
EAL - Exclusive Agency Listing
EMD - Earnest Money Deposit
ERS - Exclusive Right to Sell
ERV - Estimated Rental Value
FDIC - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDR - Formal Dining Room
FFE - Furniture Fixtures and Equipment
FHA - Federal Housing Administration
FSBO - For Sale by Owner
FMV - Fair Market Value
FNMA - Federal national Mortgage Association ( Fannie Mae)
FP - Fireplace
FPM - Flexible-Payment Mortgage
FRM - Fixed-Rate Mortgage
FRV - Full Rental Value
FSBO - For Sale By Owners
GLA - Gross Leasable Area
GPM - Graduated Payment Mortgage
GRM - Gross Rent Multiplier
HDW - Hardwood Floors
HECM - Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
HELOC - Home Equity Loan Line of Credit
HOA - Home Owners' Association
HUD - (Department of) Housing and Urban Development
H/W - Husband and Wife
HWF - Hardwood Floors
HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
ICA - Independent Contactor Agreement
IRR - Internal Rate of Return
LA - Listing Agreement
LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate
LOI - Letter of Intent
LTV - Loan To Value (Ratio)
LUI - Land Use Intensity
MBA - Mortgage Bankers Association of America
MBB - Mortgage-Backed Bond
MBO - Mortgage-Backed Obligation
MBS - Mortgage-Backed Security
MGIC - Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation
MLS - Multiple Listing Service
MMI - Mutual Mortgage Insurance
MMR - Monthly Marketing Report
MPC - Master Planned Community
MRA - Master Residential Appraiser
MSA - Master Senior Appraiser
MSR - Monthly Status Report
NHBC - National House Building Council
NIA - Net Internal Area
NIM - Net Income Multiplier
NLA - Net Leasable Area
NNN - Triple Net (Lease)
NOI - Net Operating Income
NPV - Net Present Value
NRV - Net Realizable Value
OBO - Or Best OfferOER -
Operating Expense Ratio
OIRO - Offers In the Region Of...
OSR - Occupancy Status Report
PCD - Planned Commercial Development
PEPS - Political, Economic, Physical, Social (forces that drive value)
PHA - Public Housing Administration
PID - Planned Industrial Development
PITI - Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance
PMDT - Purchase Money Deed of Trust
PMI - Private Mortgage Insurance
PO - Principal Only
POA - Power of Attorney
POF - Proof of Funds
PSF - Per Square Foot
PV - Present Value
PW - Present Worth
RAM - Reverse Annuity Mortgage
REA - Reciprocal Easement Agreement
REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust
REC - Real Estate Commission
REO - Real Estate Owned
RK - Re-Key
ROM - Roll-Over Mortgage
SAM - Shared-Appreciation Mortgage
SEM - Shared-Equity Mortgage
SF - Square feetSFD - Single Family Detached
TPL - Third Party Liability
TI - Tenant Improvement
TIC - Tenants In Common
TIP - Treasury Investment Program
TRA - Tax Reform Act
VA - Veterans Administration (Loan)
VAP - Variable Payment (Mortgage)
VAT - Value Added Tax
VPM - Variable-Payment Mortgage
VRE - Virtual Real Estate
VRM - Variable-Rate Mortgage

and if you have stayed with me this long--
Some Fun Acronyms for Buyers
DINKWAD- Double Income No Kids with a Dog
DINKY - Double Income No Kids Yet
YUPPIES - Young Urban Prosperous Professionals
MUPPIES - Middle-age Urban Prosperous Professionals
NOKs - No Kids Couples
DEWKS - Double Employed With Kids S
INKs - Single Income Numerous Kids
ORCHID - One Recent Child; Heavily In Debt
SINBADs - Single Income No Boyfriend and Desperate
YAVIs - Young Attractive Verbal Intelligent (So many of us!

What's Good. . .about this current explosion?

Pictures from a little spin around Whispering Pines and Southern Pines yesterday!

'nuff said.