Kristin's Blog

Thing's to do while on hold with Bank of America!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:01:51 -0600

I have found myself on hold with BofA quite frequently in the last 3 weeks. Twice my hold has been under 10 minutes which has left me staring at the phone in awe but MOST TIMES, it's well over 30 minutes. So, just for fun, here's some things to do while on hold with everyone's friend, BofA.

Snooze.
Eat your lunch.
Take a poll around the office of how long i might be on hold this time. Hand out prizes.
Chair dance to the lively "hold" music.
Talk back to the gal that say's "Please stay on the line, we'll return to assist you momentarily"
Check your spam folder & delete as necessary.
Have someone in the office stand by your phone while you run down the hall to the ladies room.
Count your commission if the short sale get's approved.
Head over to twitter to see what your friends are talking about.
Complain about BofA to anyone who will listen in your office, on twitter & facebook.
vow to never take another short sale.
Count the wrinkles BofA has given you so far.
Eat girl scout cookies.
Wonder aloud if they will answer their phone prior to your next appointment?
Memorize the loan # of the short sale you are working on.
Record the answers to all the redundant questions they ask you when they FINALLY answer.
Consider getting a "hands free" headset to alleviate your aching ears.
Write a blog post to commemorate your hold time.
Take your blood pressure meds so you don't have a heart attack.
Breathe in & breathe out. REPEAT.

Photo courtesy of: Flickr.com

OF COURSE this post was created FOR FUN & the actual events above may or may not have occurred (repeatedly).

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Just listed ~ 144 Kipper ~ Falcon Ridge ~ $235,000 4/3 ~ Corner Lot! ~

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:07:38 -0600

The Moran Team | RE/MAX Access | 210-313-7397

144 Kipper Ave., Cibolo, TX

Three car garage

4BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $235,000

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	3,121
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	.19 acres
HOA/Maint	$23 per month

DESCRIPTION

Great family home in Cibolo. Located in the desirable Falcon Ridge subdivision on corner lot, this 4 bedroom, 3 bath home offers a home entertainment system inside & outside and water filtration system. The kitchen boasts of walk-in pantry, abundant cabinet space, and breakfast bar. Secondary bedroom downstairs with large game room upstairs. Three car garage. In the back yard you will find covered patio and 10x12 shed conveys. Neighborhood amenities include pool, park/playground and jogging trails.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Living room	- Bonus/Rec room
- Dining room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Stove/Oven	- Microwave	- Attic
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Swimming pool(s)

- Playground

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

The Moran Team

RE/MAX Access

210-313-7397

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 9, 2010, 1:41pm PST

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Morgan's Wonderland ~ San Antonio's newest special amusement park!

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:00:04 -0600

Morgan's Wonderland ~ San Antonio's newest special amusement park!

Morgan's Wonderland is the baby of Gordon Hartman who has done so much for our community with The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation & now Morgan's Wonderland. Morgan's Wonderland is the first of it's kind in San Antonio, how exciting is that for this community? The inspiration behind Morgan's Wonderland comes from Hartman's daughter Morgan!

This $30 million dollar, state-of-the-art park will be the largest of its kind in the world. Morgan's Wonderland will be serving as a blueprint for others across the country and paving the way for ultra-accessible recreation across the globe, how cool is that? The park is designed specifically for children as well as adults with special needs and has over 25 acres!

Morgan's Wonderland opens to the public April 10th and it's mission is to set a new standard for excellence in providing outdoor recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. If you get a chance to go, you should check it out.

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Staging your home to sell in San Antonio, Texas ~ OCD Real Estate staging & Re-design

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:09:28 -0600

Staging your home to sell in San Antonio, Texas ~ OCD Real Estate staging & ReDesign

HOMEOWNERS - Do you feel your home could use a little professional touch? Whether you are looking to sell it or live there for a couple more years, do you want your home to say "I'm well organized & my owners love me!?"

REALTORS - Have you received feedback on one of your listings that the home "isn't staged well", "Seems to be too cluttered" or "Needs a little love?"

RENTERS - You really should buy a home. Have you thought about buying a home?

If you said yes to any of the above, you need a stager. I found a spectacular one, Susan Ramey with OCD Real Estate staging & ReDesign, she knows exactly what she is doing, buys the "accessories" herself so you can take the guess work out of "what do i buy???"" & even uses what you already have in your home. Paint, color, accessories, paintings, knick-knacks, trust me when I say, she's amazing!

Here are some before and after pictures to prove how amazing Susan Ramey & her team are:

1st Living area:

2nd Living area:

Master Bedroom:

The changes are dramatic, much needed & makes a world of difference. It's amazing what some paint, a good eye for knick knack placings, the right accessories & a few bucks can do!

A few changes are sure to make a world of difference when you put your home up for sale!

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Raincamp in Dallas, Texas ~ February 16, 2010 ~ The big D!

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:44:09 -0600

This was a much anticipated event, we heard ActiveRain was setting up a Raincamp for Texas in 2010 & we had to be a part of it!

It's always exciting when you meet folks you have met online & you feel like you know them already! It was no different at Raincamp yesterday in Dallas, Texas...

The day started packed full of great information with presentations by Ben Kinney, Bob Stewart & Brad Andersohn, our heads were spinning as we furiuosly took notes.

Some great websites were thrown our way as well as tips & tricks to make our blog posts stand out & get noticed by google & complete our goal of getting found by folks looking to buy or sell Real Estate. By the end of the day we were so chocked full of information, ideas & tricks it was time for a break!

We were sooooo excited to meet everyone in person & chat face to face with those we have chatted with online for so long! It was so nice meeting everyone!

Here's Brad Andersohn sharing everything he knows!

After lunch there was a panel of great minds sharing what they know about blogging & how they use it in their businesses, Jason Crouch, Debe Maxwell, Josh Harley.

When Raincamp ended we all headed over for some mingling where we got to know folks better & of course take pictures with them!

Russell Lewis, Gary Woltal, Amanda Hall, Bob Stewart, Sheila Moran, me & Jeanna Martinez

Jason Crouch, Debe Maxwell, Sheila Moran, me & Jeanna Martinez

It was great to finally meet John Cannata & Wayne Warshawsky

Us and Brad Andersohn

AND FINALLY! We were delighted & happy to meet the man himself, who made Activerain come to life & provide such education, entertainment & networking, Jonathan Washburn!

We had a blast, we learned a ton & we met some folks we have been dying to meet. Now we're tired, overwhelmed with info & headed back to San Antonio! See you at the next Raincamp!

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Adding the ActiveRain logo to your emails~ Helpful Hints

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:24:59 -0600

Interested in adding an ActiveRain logo to your Outlook 2007 signature line but not sure how? Want to let folks know you blog & where to go to find it with just a click?

Adding the ActiveRain logo is easier than you thought, AR supplies the HTML, you just have to add it in!

Here's a not so quick tutorial that goes over it.

*Please note, I use Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 and Windows Vista.

First, grab the HTML from ActiveRain's site. Here's how you do that:

When logged into AR, go to "My Home" on the bottom left hand side you will see "Link to Active Rain":

This will take you to five different AR logos w/HTML code next to it. Pick the logo you want to use, and copy the HTML:

NEXT, you need to open up Notepad (text only editor) and paste the HTML in Notepad. Then save your new Notepad document on your desktop, when you save make sure you "save as type" and switch it to "All files" vs. leaving it in text.

NEXT, right click on your NotePad document you just saved to the desktop and Open with Microsoft Word:

So, you've copied the HTML, pasted it in NotePad then closed NotePad and re-opened that document in Microsoft Word.

Opening it with Microsoft Word turns it into what looks like an actual website & should open up your AR logo (after messing with it a bunch of times it started saving it directly into what looked like a website for me so don't be surprised if this happens right away, look for it on your desktop or in recent items).

Now you can either select all or copy the logo.

Now the fun part! Adding your logo to Outlook!

Go to your Microsoft Outlook & pick tools from the menu bar and then options this will pop up your options box where you will pick Mail Format from the top menu bar and then Signatures from the bottom right.

This will bring up a new signature box where you can pick NEW or an existing one.

Give it a new name, then click ok. Click on the body of the Signature line, Right click and there will be your new AR logo!

Next, click Ok, then close your Outlook and re-open! Viola! The next time you go to compose a new email it will have your AR logo in the body of your email. This makes it EASY for folks to click on and view your blog!

Thanks to Ron Spanton for asking this question of me today and giving me the opportunity to share it with others who might find it useful.

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

I've said it before, you know i'm gonna say it again....choosing a lender in San Antonio, Texas

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:20:30 -0600

I've said it before, you know i'm gonna say it again....choosing a lender in San Antonio, Texas

I had the unfortunate experience today of getting yelled at by a buyer who chose their own lender. I'm not proud of it, i'm by no means happy BUT, I can honestly say, I didn't do anything wrong...

I'm not saying you have to use the lender I refer to you by any means, but PLEASE do not yell at me when your lender fails you. I will honestly say to you "I'm sorry!" Do you expect more? Why?

I work with lenders everyday. I don't get a "kickback" from any of them, I don't get a commission, I don't get a new buyer, I don't get a steak dinner, I don't get a trip to the Caribbean, that's not the way I work.

So, what do i get for referring a lender to you, Mr. & Mrs. Buyer?

I get peace of mind. That's enough. TRUST ME! I get peace of mind that you will be taken care of by someone I have done business with before, someone I trust, someone that works on commission & is hungry for your business, wants your business & appreciates your business. Someone that you will want to do business with AGAIN and AGAIN, in the words of Paris Hilton, "that's huge...." I agree with her, it's HUGE!

I know some folks don't know the questions to ask of a potential lender, so start with these:

Are you in the same city as me?
Will all the individuals I work with (processors, underwriters, etc. ) be in the same city?
Can we meet face to face?
Do you work on the weekends?
If I were to call on a Friday evening @ 5:00, how long would it be before I got a return call?
If you request paperwork of me, what's the average turn around time to review it?
How many loans has your company closed ON TIME this month?

Ok, that's plenty, enough to get you started at least. The above is what get's things delayed in a loan & when I say delayed, I mean DELAYED! Delayed to the point of everyone involved in the transaction (besides the lender who's 5 states away) frustrated beyond belief, the buyer's anxious, the seller's frustrated & the agent baffled...

What to do, what to do, what to do???? I'll tell you what to do!! Listen to your agent!

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Just listed ~ 14510 Sacred ~ Rose Meadows ~ $165,000 4/3 ~ SHORT SALE! ~

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:09:50 -0600

Kristin Moran | RE/MAX Access | 210-313-7397

14510 Sacred, San Antonio, TX

Great family home in N.E. San Antonio

4BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $165,000

Year Built	2007
Sq Footage	2,010
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	.22 acres
HOA/Maint	$8 per month

DESCRIPTION

Well maintained, like new home in N.E. San Antonio. This is listed as a short sale. Architectural details throughout such as tray ceilings and art niches. Other features include nice open floor plan with formal dining room. Master bath boasts of double vanity, garden tub and seperate shower stall. Step out the back door and you will find a large yard and wonderful 16'x20' covered deck wired for surround sound. Alarm system. Convenient to restaurants and Randolph AFB.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Walk-in closet
- Tile floor	- Living room	- Dining room
- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Architectural Details

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front of home	Entry way
Dining/Living	Kitchen area
Master Bathroom	Backyard

Contact info:

Kristin Moran

RE/MAX Access

210-313-7397

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jan 29, 2010, 3:57pm PST

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

RE/MAX Access Welcomes New Agent ~ Marcy Gonzales ~

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:14:56 -0600

We are proud to announce that Marcy Gonzales has joined RE/MAX Access!

Marcy Gonzales is a seasoned real estate agent with outstanding bi-lingual skills. She loves helping buyer's find their dream home as well as helping seller's with getting their homes sold in San Antonio as well as the surrounding cities.

Marcy is a native of San Antonio, she is married and the mother of three children. When not selling Real Estate Marcy loves spending time with her family & friends.

Think of Marcy when looking for a spectacular buyer's agent or a listing agent in San Antonio!

Welcome Marcy! RE/MAX Access is so excited you are here!

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

What I learned in Real Estate this week.....

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:08:54 -0600

Each week in Real Estate brings something new. Learning something new helps me keep on top of what's going on in my profession & helps me learn from my experiences.

So, what did I learn this week in Real Estate? Quite a few things I feel like sharing!

There are lenders out there that don't work on commission & don't have a sense of urgency when it comes to processing your loan.
Working with family to purchase a home can be challenging but it keeps you on your toes & let's you get to know your family members better!
If you approach a task head on & don't look at it as daunting it won't be so hard.
You never know who your next referral is going to come from so make sure everyone knows what you do.
You can't force the neighbors at your listing to stop talking to potential buyers.
If you set the alarm off at a home, the police don't always come.

And lastly

1099's aren't fun to prepare.

So there it is, what I learned this week....I felt it was a ton to learn & I had fun doing it...for the most part. I am glad 1099's only happen once a year and that there is still Real Estate to be bought and sold in San Antonio, Texas!

Now, what will next week bring me?

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Moving up San Antonio? How can YOU get your tax credit for purchasing a new home?

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:23:27 -0600

Moving up San Antonio? How can YOU get your tax credit for purchasing a new home?

During the first round of the government's homebuyer tax-credit program only new homebuyer's could walk away with $8,000. Now many current homeowners can put cash in their pockets as well.

I've been taking a poll, it's been very unofficial. Basically, after I talked to about 7 folks who didn't know what I was talking about when I mentioned the "Move up" or "Repeat home buyer" "Long time homeowner" tax credit and WEREN'T in Real Estate I realized it was my duty to help try & spread the word.

So, here goes my attempt at explaning how you might be eligible for up to $6500 if you decide to sell your home in the next couple of months & buy a new one.....

Does it have to be my 1st home ever?

No, the home doesn't have to be your first home purchase. However, to get the credit homeowners must have owned and used the home as a primary residence for at least five years with an eight year time time period. The eight year period starts from the closing date, going back eight years. Easy enough, right?

When does this credit end?

You must purchase a new home before getting the credit, you have to be under contract by April 30th and be set to close by June 30th, 2010. This means that long-time homeowners must sell there current home and close on a new one in this time frame.

Is there a limit on the amount of home I can purchase?

Yes, the sales price of the home must not exceed $800,000.

Are there any income limits to who can get the credit?

Of course there is. Single folks can't make an adjusted gross of over $125K, & joint filers are under $225K. If you have a singe income of up to $145K & joint up to $245K you might be eligible for partial benefits.

Ok, Ok, so I did all of this & meet the requirements...where's the form I file to get MY $!?

$ Form

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Do you know this Dog? San Antonio, Texas

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:46:33 -0600

I can't help but post this picture.

My sister saw this dog today & sent me a text. She told me where the dog was (she couldn't stop) & I ran over there & picked her up. She was standing in a field on Evans road right before you get to FM 2252 (Nacogdoches Road). She didn't have a collar or any identification & she came right up to me when I called to her.

She hung out in the office today, she was the RE/MAX Access mascot for the day. Tomorrow I will take her to the vet to see if she has a chip. I hope that someone is missing her somewhere & we find her family soon.

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Go to your office NOW & don't leave until July! ~ San Antonio Real Estate market

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:38:15 -0600

Go to your office NOW & don't leave until July! ~ San Antonio Real Estate market

I just got back from the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) 2010 Housing forecast. It's always fun to sit in a room full of like minded individuals eager to learn predictions for the upcoming year. And learn we did!

2010 is looking good for San Antonio. We are all optimistic about that, having added 1800 jobs in the last few weeks 2010 will be the "ribbon cutting year" according to our Mayor, Julian Castro. With 2009 as the year we saw jobs & companies coming to our area, 2010 will be the year we get to experience the fruit's of our labor.

There were a number of articles San Antonio has been mentioned in recently. We were #2 for the fastest recovering city according to Forbes, #1 for the strongest metropolitan economy according to Business Weekly & #4 for the Top Hottest cities for tech jobs according to Business 2.0 - WOW!

With the tax credit recently being extended, the prediction is that most folks will wait until the later months to take advantage of it. Hence the reason you shouldn't leave your office for the next couple of months....

I don't know about you but i'm taking vacation in August this year & not a day sooner!

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Just listed ~ 120 Briar St., 2697 Sq ft for $160K ~ The Enclave at Willow Pointe~ Cibolo, Texas

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:06:15 -0600

The Moran Team | RE/MAX Access | 210-313-7397

120 Briar St., Cibolo, TX

Willow Bridge Subdivision

4BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $160,000

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	2,697
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	.13 acres
HOA/Maint	$13 per month

DESCRIPTION

Charming 4/3 stone home in Schertz/Cibolo school district. Lots of cabinet space in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Open floor plan. Stone fireplace in family room. Large master bedroom and game room upstairs. Fourth bedroom downstairs. Ready to move in!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Family room	- Living room	- Bonus/Rec room
- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Stainless steel appliances	- Laundry area - inside

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front of home	Dining/Living
2nd Living area	Kitchen
Master Bedroom	Backyard

Contact info:

The Moran Team

RE/MAX Access

210-313-7397

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Dec 4, 2009, 10:52am PST

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!

Just listed ~ 819 Ridge Trace ~ The Ridge at Stone Oak ~ $482,000 5/3.5

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:11:09 -0600

The Moran Team | RE/MAX Access | 210-313-7397

819 Ridge Trace, San Antonio, TX

Custom Built Home in Stone Oak

5BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $482,000

Year Built	2007
Sq Footage	3,711
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	1.163 acres
HOA/Maint	$69 per month

DESCRIPTION

Like new custom home in desired Stone Oak on 1.163 acres. With three living areas and large island kitchen which features granite counters, tiled floors & backsplash, oak cabinets and large walk-in pantry. Large master suite has his/her closets, outside access and whirlpool tub in master bathroom with seperate shower stall. Ceramic tile, carpet and neutral colors throughout. Covered patio. $25,000 in landscaping within past 6 months. This is a beautiful home in a great location!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Living room	- Office/Den
- Dining room	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Microwave	- Granite countertop
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

The Moran Team

RE/MAX Access

210-313-7397

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 24, 2009, 11:40am PST

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free!