Comments for VerraTerra LLC - Real Estate That Makes Sense http://www.verraterra.com At VerraTerra, we've combined the best practices of the traditional real estate business models with the effectiveness and cost efficiency of the online models to bring you quality real estate services for a flat fee. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:58:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on The Mortgage Interest Deduction’s Farewell Tour? by Gmac Home Loans http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/the-mortgage-interest-deductions-farewell-tour/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Gmac Home Loans Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:58:37 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1568#comment-267 If the mortgage deduction is eliminated, the motivation to own a home would fall, especially where home values are not appreciating. Special interest groups will oppose even the smallest change. If the mortgage deduction is eliminated, the motivation to own a home would fall, especially where home values are not appreciating. Special interest groups will oppose even the smallest change.

]]> Comment on Real Estate Commission Craziness – What value can an agent bring to be paid $500K on one sale? by James http://www.verraterra.com/2010/11/real-estate-commission-craziness-what-value-can-an-agent-bring-to-be-worth-anywhere-close-to-500k-on-one-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-234 James Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:04:45 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1389#comment-234 Roger,... please use better sentence structure and punctuation. I have read your comment at least 10 times and still don't know what your point is. Who should get more? The buyer's agent or the listing agent? Who found property was for sale....the buyer or their agent? Listing agent is giving buyer's agent 2% as a courtesy? I should get zero as whom? ..the buyer's agent or the listing agent? Who works hard to find these types of sellers and buyers?... listing agents or buyer agents? What you fail to understand is there are ways that real estate agents can operate and NOT lose money just by listing (see our listing plans) and by doing so they can charge less and still provide equal value to the seller. However, this article was about the value of a buyer's agent. There is indeed value in a real estate agent but I'm challenging the sliding scale value of the buyer's agent. If they work for a buyer to buy a $300K house vs a $28.8 million dollar house ....does the buyer's agent's value go up 96 times? (300K at 3% compared toe $28.8 million at 3%). My answer is no. From your post...well, ... I'm not sure what your position is actually., ..but thanks for the comment. Roger,… please use better sentence structure and punctuation. I have read your comment at least 10 times and still don’t know what your point is. Who should get more? The buyer’s agent or the listing agent? Who found property was for sale….the buyer or their agent? Listing agent is giving buyer’s agent 2% as a courtesy? I should get zero as whom? ..the buyer’s agent or the listing agent? Who works hard to find these types of sellers and buyers?… listing agents or buyer agents?

What you fail to understand is there are ways that real estate agents can operate and NOT lose money just by listing (see our listing plans) and by doing so they can charge less and still provide equal value to the seller. However, this article was about the value of a buyer’s agent. There is indeed value in a real estate agent but I’m challenging the sliding scale value of the buyer’s agent. If they work for a buyer to buy a $300K house vs a $28.8 million dollar house ….does the buyer’s agent’s value go up 96 times? (300K at 3% compared toe $28.8 million at 3%). My answer is no. From your post…well, … I’m not sure what your position is actually., ..but thanks for the comment.

]]> Comment on Real Estate Commission Craziness – What value can an agent bring to be paid $500K on one sale? by roger http://www.verraterra.com/2010/11/real-estate-commission-craziness-what-value-can-an-agent-bring-to-be-worth-anywhere-close-to-500k-on-one-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-233 roger Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:29:53 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1389#comment-233 that's why you are broke....they should get more....they found out that the property is for sale and negotiated with the sellers,they don't work for the buyers as a courteousy to you (buyers agent) they are giving you 2%. In My opinion you should get zero. Because you should be compensated by your buyers. What you fail to realize that these people work hard to find this type of sellers and buyers. they don't all the time sell the property and when they do they are rewarded if the property don't sell?...they are out of money. your are too narrowed minded to appreciate that people that work hard for a living should be rewarded....unlike you. that’s why you are broke….they should get more….they found out that the property is for sale and negotiated with the sellers,they don’t work for the buyers as a courteousy to you (buyers agent) they are giving you 2%. In My opinion you should get zero. Because you should be compensated by your buyers. What you fail to realize that these people work hard to find this type of sellers and buyers. they don’t all the time sell the property and when they do they are rewarded if the property don’t sell?…they are out of money. your are too narrowed minded to appreciate that people that work hard for a living should be rewarded….unlike you.

]]> Comment on Is There a Difference Between a Discount and a Full Fee Real Estate Agent? by James http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/is-there-a-difference-between-a-discount-and-a-full-fee-real-estate-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-222 James Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:18:50 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1684#comment-222 Thanks Grace. There definitely isn't a one-size-fits-all model for real estate anymore. I think I'll use that! Thanks Grace. There definitely isn’t a one-size-fits-all model for real estate anymore. I think I’ll use that!

]]> Comment on Is There a Difference Between a Discount and a Full Fee Real Estate Agent? by Grace http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/is-there-a-difference-between-a-discount-and-a-full-fee-real-estate-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Grace Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:04:34 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1684#comment-221 I think this is the way the industry has to head in order to stay relevant. With a lot of the information easier to obtain and going through the process a couple times, I feel the need for an old-school traditional agent becomes less and less. This one-size-fits-all model will leave users/buyers either looking baggy or looking like a sausage. Kudos to you James for staying ahead of the game. I think this is the way the industry has to head in order to stay relevant. With a lot of the information easier to obtain and going through the process a couple times, I feel the need for an old-school traditional agent becomes less and less. This one-size-fits-all model will leave users/buyers either looking baggy or looking like a sausage. Kudos to you James for staying ahead of the game.

]]> Comment on Is There a Difference Between a Discount and a Full Fee Real Estate Agent? by James http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/is-there-a-difference-between-a-discount-and-a-full-fee-real-estate-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-220 James Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:30:33 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1684#comment-220 Hi Sandy. Thanks for reading my blog and finding it bold! I don't believe in hiding my true beliefs about the real estate industry, its many flaws and I don't hesitate to share my business philosophies. After all, that is the driving force behind VerraTerra, and if I didn't want to share my business ideas...I shouldn't be in business! However I do realize in doing so, it will ruffle some people's feathers as it has done with you. I'm sorry you think I wreak. I do shower and generally take good care of myself. I shouldn't wreak of anything! Whether I am or am not a part time agent really has nothing to do with my business ideas and practices. Clients of VerraTerra really appreciate what we do and how we do it. I would love to work part-time...actually that's my end-goal! Part-time or less! Why wouldn't it be?! Now, ...let's address the credentials part. You don't know my business nor do you know what I spend my time doing, but you looked me up and looked at one small slice of my records. Well, let's look at a slightly bigger slice of time shall we? Looking from beginning of 2008 (when the market was starting to tank) to now. Officially, I have closed 12 listings and 15 buyer sides in that time period. Since you were kind enough to look up my stats, ...I feel obliged to do the same for you Sandy C. You have closed 12 listings as well and 11 buyer sides in the same period. Looks to me we're pretty much on par with each other. 2010 was actually a very exciting year for me. I spent a bulk of it launching and running VerraTerra Property Management and it's been quite a ride so far. VerraTerra's business models are not for everyone. Likewise the traditional real estate model is not for everyone either. What I write on my blog is my opinion and my view of the industry and all its parts. I'm actually thrilled you read it (or presumably read it). If you'd like to have more conversation on the business models, I'd be open for that. I invite you to continue reading my articles and commenting! Thanks Sandy! Hi Sandy. Thanks for reading my blog and finding it bold! I don’t believe in hiding my true beliefs about the real estate industry, its many flaws and I don’t hesitate to share my business philosophies. After all, that is the driving force behind VerraTerra, and if I didn’t want to share my business ideas…I shouldn’t be in business! However I do realize in doing so, it will ruffle some people’s feathers as it has done with you.

I’m sorry you think I wreak. I do shower and generally take good care of myself. I shouldn’t wreak of anything! Whether I am or am not a part time agent really has nothing to do with my business ideas and practices. Clients of VerraTerra really appreciate what we do and how we do it. I would love to work part-time…actually that’s my end-goal! Part-time or less! Why wouldn’t it be?!

Now, …let’s address the credentials part. You don’t know my business nor do you know what I spend my time doing, but you looked me up and looked at one small slice of my records. Well, let’s look at a slightly bigger slice of time shall we? Looking from beginning of 2008 (when the market was starting to tank) to now. Officially, I have closed 12 listings and 15 buyer sides in that time period. Since you were kind enough to look up my stats, …I feel obliged to do the same for you Sandy C. You have closed 12 listings as well and 11 buyer sides in the same period. Looks to me we’re pretty much on par with each other. 2010 was actually a very exciting year for me. I spent a bulk of it launching and running VerraTerra Property Management and it’s been quite a ride so far.

VerraTerra’s business models are not for everyone. Likewise the traditional real estate model is not for everyone either. What I write on my blog is my opinion and my view of the industry and all its parts. I’m actually thrilled you read it (or presumably read it). If you’d like to have more conversation on the business models, I’d be open for that. I invite you to continue reading my articles and commenting! Thanks Sandy!

]]> Comment on Is There a Difference Between a Discount and a Full Fee Real Estate Agent? by Sandy http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/is-there-a-difference-between-a-discount-and-a-full-fee-real-estate-agent/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Sandy Fri, 15 Apr 2011 06:20:31 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1684#comment-219 Your blog is pretty bold. You have 4 listings and zero of them have sold since the beginning of 2010. What, 5 total sales since the beginning of 2010. You wreak of a part time agent. I for the life of me cannot understand why someone would trust their biggest investment with someone with such weak credentials. Your blog is pretty bold. You have 4 listings and zero of them have sold since the beginning of 2010. What, 5 total sales since the beginning of 2010. You wreak of a part time agent. I for the life of me cannot understand why someone would trust their biggest investment with someone with such weak credentials.

]]> Comment on City of Seattle Proposing Legislation To Make People With Arrests/Conviction Records a Protected Class by Josh Plumridge http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/city-of-seattle-proposing-legislation-to-make-people-with-arrestsconviction-records-a-protected-class/comment-page-1/#comment-193 Josh Plumridge Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:30:10 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1700#comment-193 No matter how broad the statute, they're never going to give presumption to the accuser. No matter how broad the statute, they’re never going to give presumption to the accuser.

]]> Comment on City of Seattle Proposing Legislation To Make People With Arrests/Conviction Records a Protected Class by Dan Riley http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/city-of-seattle-proposing-legislation-to-make-people-with-arrestsconviction-records-a-protected-class/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Dan Riley Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:01:33 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1700#comment-192 Not sure -- I've never handled a discrimination suit. Not sure — I’ve never handled a discrimination suit.

]]> Comment on City of Seattle Proposing Legislation To Make People With Arrests/Conviction Records a Protected Class by James Hsu http://www.verraterra.com/2010/12/city-of-seattle-proposing-legislation-to-make-people-with-arrestsconviction-records-a-protected-class/comment-page-1/#comment-191 James Hsu Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:15:31 +0000 http://www.verraterra.com/?p=1700#comment-191 Hey Dan, how are discrimination suits handled now? Is the onus on the landlord to prove they didn't discriminate? Hey Dan, how are discrimination suits handled now? Is the onus on the landlord to prove they didn’t discriminate?

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