Fayetteville, NC Real Estate Blog

Ok...now I know this blog is going to generate a lot of interesting comments.  But hey, the world is full of controversy...so what's one more.

Despite what many people think, partially due to ignorance, a lot of bikers are good God fearing people.  Most of them would give the shirt off their backs if you needed it.  Are you aware that there are many biker ministries?

If you think about it, Jesus could have very well been a biker.  Read the following poem which is often given out at gatherings by the biker ministries.

If you are not aware, the annuals rally at Myrtle Beach is coming up in May.  I always check the local newspapers during this time to see what has been happening in the area.  I ran across this the other day....

I guess I am not the only one with the "bikers and real estate" idea.  For anyone who discounts my ideas, I ask you to look at it from another point of view...

Do you know anyone who does horse properties?  Kinda the same, right?

Anyway, here is the artice:

____________________________________________________________________________

RISMEDIA, May 21, 2007-(MCT)-You knew you could trick out your bike, but did you know you can do it to your home?

In a slow market where real estate agents are pulling out all the stops to get a house sold, one company has come up with a "Biker Beach House" aiming to cash in on that devoted bunch, who spend thousands of dollars on their rides.

These raised beach houses, which the developers plan to trademark, are decked out in black leather, tire-treaded stairs, chrome fixtures, biker bandana window curtains, a poker table, an orange front door and Harley-Davidson bedding.

The homes have metal roll-up garages on the bottom for bike storage - something most beach houses don't have.

"You can customize the house like bikers customize their bikes," said Tammy Winner, co-owner of Myrtle Beach Real Estate.

A growing number of homes on the market forced the owners of Myrtle Beach Real Estate to think way outside the box of typical real estate marketing.

"We had to do something different because the market is flooded with four-bedroom, three-bath beach houses," she said.

In October, Winner created the biker-themed idea to sell the four beach homes that are being built across the street from the Broken Spoke Saloon in Garden City Beach.

This week the real estate company is set up amid the roaring engines and slinky tops within Broken Spoke, pushing their chromed-out homes. They're coming in at 10 a.m. and leaving as late as 11 p.m. They're even joining in the fun by wearing biker T-shirts and handing out beer koozies.

Two potential buyers have picked up contracts, and bike rally visitors seem impressed with the idea.

"This is the first time I've seen anything like this," said Mike McLaughlin of Millville, N.J. "I love the bar stools."

The homes come with a swimming pool, with the option of having a bike symbol put on the bottom of the pool.
It also has extra hoses to wash motorcycles and biker artwork, said designer Denise Thompson. The entire customized home - which can be decorated for any kind of bike or biker - sells for $599,000 by Steve Fournier Custom Building.

The walls are gray with a shiny horizontal stripe, and the carpet is charcoal colored.

"You got to give them credit for creative marketing," said Tom Maeser, president of the Fortune Academy of Real Estate.

He said there could be some obstacles with such a narrowly focused product.

If a buyer plans to rent out the home, it may rent for a higher price in May, but Maeser is doubtful that it would be attractive to renters during the rest of the summer. He also wonders whether such a niche theme will affect resale value.

"It might be a neat feature during May, but after May is it going to detract from the price?" Maeser said. "Those are things from a marketing and expenditure thing you have to be concerned about. To me, that sounds like a very faddish, seasonal kind of thing."

Still, those selling real estate say bikers often make a good portion of buyers that are looking during the bike rally.
"It's a very wealthy demographic. They're retiring just like everyone else," said Tim Collins, a biker himself, and developer of Stone Gate at Prince Creek.

The creators of the Biker Beach House say they're planning to sell their first four homes this bike rally and perhaps build more in a different section of the beach. They're also willing to take the concept to other areas.

Copyright © 2007, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Anybody watch the real estate shows on televisiion?  I admit, I do. 

I really enjoy the show that features Trademark Properties of the Charleston, SC area.  I have made mention of that show to my wife on many occasions and have made the remark that if we travel to Charleston that I would like to stop in and meet Richard, the owner of Trademark Properties.

I really like his no nonsense appraoch to a business model that he created and has grown to a large scale if only locally in Charleston.  Oh....I have no doubt that he will continue to grow this business model and somehow tonight I stumbled upon something that shows he is trying.

What did I find?  I found videos on Youtube.com from people in a city very near to me that are interviewing for positions with Trademark Properties.

I guess I missed the notice that they were hiring...LOL.

Now for your viewing entertainment....the videos that I discovered.  Remember, if you put it out there for the world to see....never be offended by a response that you might get!

I wrote this post last year at this time and it stirred a lot of controversy with a few people...I even got a few emails that could have been considered hate mail....but I feel it is important and I am bringing it to the top pne more time.

If you don't agree, that is okay...

Here it is for your reading pleasure....

Remembering that Easter is not a holiday for rabbits... (edit/delete)

We have all been to the local discounter store lately.  What did you see?  What would most children tell you that the Easter holiday is about?

If you said "the Easter Bunny" you would be right 90% of the time.  Most adults would probably tell you that same answer.

During this time of celebration let's not forget what Easter is all about.

For your reading pleasure here is a little story I found covering just this topic:

                                                                   Jesus and the Easter Bunny

                                                      by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Ask your average youngster what Easter is all about and he'll tell you about the Easter bunny, and finding Easter baskets filled with that annoying grass that seems to stick to household furnishings long after Easter is past. And those pastel foil-covered, football things that are a sorry excuse for real chocolate. And, of course, there are Easter eggs to dye and jelly beans -- you've got to have jelly beans. Black beans are best.

"And mommy, that's what Easter is."

"Oh, Jason, how cute."

How sad! Most children today don't know beans about what Easter really means.

Why don't you tell the story of Jesus to your children or grandchildren this Easter? Tell them about the man who is God's Son, who came to show people the love God has for them. Tell them how evil people murdered him by nailing him to a cross. Tell them how Jesus was buried in a rock-hewn tomb. Let them hear how the Roman soldiers were powerless the morning of that third day when the stone rolled away and Jesus walked forth alive.

Tell your children that because of Jesus, even though people may die, they will not stay dead. That they can live forever with Jesus, and even their bodies will be raised from the dead just like Jesus' body was.

Now I'm sure that Jesus loves bunnies -- he made them. And probably chocolate, too. But don't you think he gets a little impatient with parents and grandparents who exalt a rabbit over the Savior? And on his own special Day, too?

How about it? Will you tell them the real story this year? Maybe even take them to church where they'll hear the story told by experienced Sunday school teachers? Sure, buy some jelly beans and a wad of that clingy grass for their baskets. But don't suppress the real, fascinating truth of Jesus' triumph over death.

After all, those same children are trying day by day to make sense of the death and life they see around them. They have real hopes and real fears and a destiny unfolding. They deserve a real "Jesus Easter" this year.

I believe in one thing.  That thing is children, after all they are our future.  But in order for them to be our future...we MUST protect theirs.  It is our responsibility granted to us when we are blessed with the gift of children.

My motto...."Let''s bring the children home."

As unfortunate as it is, children go missing and unaccounted for every day.  Some come home, some are never found, some are found too late.

Here's your chance to help make a difference and be pro-active in getting the word out when there is a child that has become missing.

CodeAmber.org has made it possible to have both a desktop ticker for alerts and a website ticker.  There is easy code to add the website ticker to your website so that maybe, just maybe, we can ban together and stop a tragedy before it is too late.

Please, if you care, visit www.CodeAmber.org and get the code for the website ticker.  You just never know who might be viewing your website and know about a child that is mentioned there.

Interested in seeing what the ticker would look like on your site?  Visit either of my websites and scroll towards the bottom:

www.MyNewNCHome.com

www.REBiker.com

Sometimes I search for interesting videos on Youtube.  Sometimes a video catches my attention and clarifies some things about what we do in life.  Sometimes not....

Some people have asked me why I am persuing the idea of branding myself as "The Real Estate Biker".  Some think the idea is not that great, some think it is genious, some don't really care, and some can't wait! 

To put it simply, I have been around motorcycles for most of my life.  I relate to these people...well, I guess that is wrong terminology as I kinda created a "group" by that statement.  Ok, I relate to people who ride motorcycles.

Now, while I can dress in my finest suit and tie and put a shine on shoes like you have never seen I can also relate to the more common man.  Sometimes this is what people are looking for.  Sometimes pulling up in the new Mercedes convertible is counter-productive to what you are trying to do.  I know it would be for me.

Funny story today...I loaned a sign to a new to our office agent for a listing they had until thier signs arrived a couple months ago.  I noticed the listing had sold and inquired about my sign yesterday.  I was told that it would be delivered to me today and it was.  The agent came to my office with the sign and began to tell me how she had to put the "hardtop convertible" of her new Mercedes down in order to transport the sign...

Anyway...

Here are a couple videos that might help you relate to where I am coming from...please enjoy.

Well, the time finally came.  My old computer (5 years old = 15 years in computer time) is finally being retired to a more comfortable lifestyle than that of a busy real estate companion.

The Toshiba that I have owned for the past many years was a good and faithful friend.  We worked many deals together and shared a lot of good information.  Retirement has come and I wish my old friend a long and peaceful retirement.

Notice, I said retired, not dead.  The computer still works, but the problem is that the programs being produced and the requirements are steadily growing and my old friend was having a hard time keeping up the pace of the race.  Now when it comes to surfing the Internet and doing simple email the old Toshiba is a champ.

As a retirement gift I am going to pass along my old friend to my parents who have yet to grasp the technological world...they have never owned a computer and have no clue about something as simple as email BUT if they want to share in the instant world of grandbaby pictures...then my old friend is just the one to show them the ropes.

Have a good retirement my old friend, you have served your purpose well.