A Picture Is Worth 42 Words

I vividly remember gathering with my girlfriends to take a picture before a high school dance.  We thought we looked so hot.  We were styling with neon-colored strapless dresses and that hair.  We're talking 1989 hair.  As my friend's mom stood there snapping, she said, "One day you guys will look back on this and think, 'We look ridiculous.'"  We scoffed at the idea we'd look anything other than super cool.

Pictures represent and evoke so many things.  Memories:  We are filled with warmth remembering how sweet our babies were before they started to talk back. We recall what our friends looked like when they had all their hair.  Emotion:  We smile when we see a picture of a puppy...any picture of any puppy will do.  We cringe when we see a picture of Walmart...any picture of any Walmart will do.  Entertainment:  We marvel over how stars are "just like us" in US Weekly.  We dream of those in-water huts in Bora Bora in Travel and Leisure.  Self-perception:  We recognize that, under no circumstances, should we ever wear that beret again.  We ask ourselves why someone didn't tell us we had three chins.  Proof:  We believe there really was a man on the moon.  We conclude that O.J.'s glove really didn't fit (???).

Pictures are just as important in real estate.  In fact, they may be the single most important thing in selling a home.  98% of the population searches for a home online.  What do they see when they search?  Pictures.  Sure they look at other important factors such as price, location, etc., etc.  But I've got news for you.  They won't stop to read any of those other details if the pictures stink.

When Realtors enter a listing into the MLS, we have exactly 210 characters, roughly 42 words, to write the property description.  How much can we possibly write about a home?  The words "amazing," "exquisite," and "immaculate" take up a lot of space.  One could write five lines of "Blah, blah, blah blah," and include amazing photos, and the house would still sell quickly.  Guaranteed.  Even as an agent, I look through each and every picture of a home before I take a client through it, even the birds-eye view.  That's a lot of pics.  If they don't look good, I move onto the next.

Real estate photography is a fine art in Indiana.  It's hard to make a drab vinyl-sided house sitting in a foot of snow look amazing.  It's my job as an agent to hire an awesome photographer who can make magic and turn that drab into fab.

So I'm giving your fair warning.  When I list your home and have photos taken, it will look good.  Almost too good.  It may look better than it actually is.  But guess what?  We got more people in the door which, undoubtedly, will help sell your house faster.  Picture that.

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Deez Loans

I try to be in the know of the latest trends.  A lot of this information comes from my kids.  They are always the first to know about what's hot and what's not.  And they're very quick to tell me when I am "so yesterday."

Let's start with communication.  For instance, an emoji is the correct response to most texts.  If someone asks you how you're feeling, you should respond with the smiley face with shades...or the pirate ghost...or the annoyed cat...or the guy in a turban.  You get it.  And "hello" or "hi" is not the proper greeting.  "What are those?" or "Guess what came in the mail today?" is much more acceptable.  Also, don't throw shade.  It's just not nice.

Next, you need to know how to appropriately fit in at a party.  Dancing is paramount.  Don't bother with the The Dougie or Gangnam Style.  You must be able to successfully Whip, Nae-Nae, and do the Stanky Leg.  You must also refrain from talking altogether.  If you want to gab with your buddy sitting next to you, Snapchat him.  For God's sake, do NOT let anyone hear you speak.

As far a fashion is concerned, there aren't a lot of current dos or don'ts.  However, you should get a tattoo and/or grow a beard  Make sure you get at least 100 selfies to prove to everybody how on fleek you are.

Am I chasing my youth?  Maybe.  Do I practice all of the latest and greatest trends?  Well, I don't have a beard.  I just like to be trend-savvy.  I do admit, however, when I'm being circled by a bunch of 13 year-olds on the dance floor at a bar mitzvah, I may have gone too far.

So what does the nae-nae have to do with real estate?  It's more about being aware of the latest and greatest...especially when it comes to financing.  Many Realtors are still talking to their clients about 20% down Conventionals.  I, however, can tell you about the cool loans.

The 0 Down Doctor Loan - The physician mortgage is tailored specifically to medical doctors with an M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M. or D.M.D. degree. It includes benefits such as 100% financing with no mortgage insurance up to $500,000.  Loan amounts are available up to $1 million with a low down payment.

The 0 Down FHA IHCDA Next Home Program - A 4% down payment grant is given to home buyers who purchase a home priced within FHA guidelines and have a credit score of 660 or above.  Income limits apply.  You do not have to be a first-time buyer.  You do not have to pay the grant back as long as you live in the home for two years.

The 0 Down Conventional IHCDA Next Home Program - A 3% down payment grant is given to buyers purchasing a home priced at $417,000 or less with a credit score of 680 or higher.  Income limits apply. PMI is also reduced.  You do  not have to be a first-time buyer.  You do not have to pay the grant back as long as you live in the home for two years.

Various Portfolio Loans - Many individual banks offer programs which range from 100% financing to Jumbo loans ($417,001 or higher) with substantially reduced down payments and little or no PMI.

So, will being trend-savvy allow more people flexibility when buying a home?  You betcha.  Will knowing about the latest loan programs save you some cash?  Absolutely.  Sometimes it is good to get your head out of the sand and stay up on what's current.  Contact me to see what great program is out there to best suit your needs.  In the meantime, while some of you are still posting back-to-school pics on Facebook, I'll be hitting the Quan on my Vine.


Your Bae,Carrie

TheCarrieHolleGroup.com

Tonight We’re Going to Party Like It’s 1989

I love to throw a party.  Any kind of party.  I've hosted Birthday parties, Halloween parties, Going-Away parties, Christmas parties, Dinner parties, Driveway parties, and We-Don't-Have-Anything-Better-To-Do-Tonight parties.  Actually, no theme is needed.  There are many of you reading this who have enjoyed a little strobe-light-Holle-basement-action in their day.  That basement has brought the masses a lot of joy over the years...

And real estate is always a popular topic of conversation.  Come to think of it, maybe that's why everyone comes over...along with the free booze.  People love talking about houses:  how much this one sold for, how terrible this one looks online, how this one sold in a day, etc., etc.

So why do I subject myself to late-night guests, large food and beverage bills and massive clean-ups?  Because I like to surround myself with energy.  Because I like my home to be alive.

Now here's something wild:  What if I merged my two passions in life, entertaining and real estate?  I often think back with nostalgia to my high school job. Back in the late-80's, I worked as a receptionist in a real estate firm outside of Chicago.  The building was on a busy intersection of town with lots of hustle and bustle.  People were always popping in to talk to the agents (who went through Aqua Net and Marlboro Reds like it was nobody's business).  The place was hopping with activity.  It was alive.

So, yep, I did it.  This month I opened Highgarden Real Estate, The Carrie Holle Group, in the heart of downtown Carmel.   Oh...it is everything I could have hoped for.  Life!  Energy!  Hustle and bustle!  My team and I are throwing a party each and every day and talking to all kinds of people about something they love to talk about:  how much this house sold for, how terrible this one looks online, how this one sold in a day, etc., etc.  But we're also taking it up a notch and talking about how much we can sell your house for, how we can make your home look amazing online, how we can sell your house in a day.

And how cool is it to actually talk to a real live person face-to-face instead of some voice from a cardboard sign or the internet?  Yes, we're going retro, baby.  All the way back to 1989.

So come on in and visit with us.  We'll help you with everything real estate...buying, selling, building, financing, investing.  Sit on our pretty green sofa, have a drink, and take a load off.  If you're really lucky, we'll have out a bowl of chips and the strobe light on.  But, unlike my basement, this party ends at 9.

The Hostess with Mostest,
Carrie