Archive for 2012

Merry Christmas

December 17th, 2012 \\ Newsroom

Merry Christmas It’s interesting; some people think it’s inappropriate to wish someone a Merry Christmas, not politically correct perhaps. One could argue its Christmas, regardless of your belief or religious practice, and not much different than wishing someone a happy New Year or Thanksgiving. The meaning of Christmas may differ with age, country, or belief. [...]

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November 2012

November 12th, 2012 \\ Newsroom

NOVEMBER 2012 The Election is over and the American people have spoken—the majority are still hoping present economic policies will take hold. 2012 was a recovery year for real estate. Some say it’s because of the improving economy, but the truth is that it’s more about a response to economic cycles. So, what to think [...]

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Forward. Or Backward?

October 17th, 2012 \\ Newsroom

Forward. Or Backward? It’s been an interesting year. And as I reflect on the people I’ve meet lately, one thing stands out as significant—there are really only two types of people: forward thinkers and backward thinkers. I must admit, it’s a little hard for me to fully understand backward thinking; my life rarely goes there, [...]

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Leadership

September 14th, 2012 \\ Newsroom

LEADERSHIP It’s interesting to hear or read how someone perceives his or her definition of leadership. The dictionary describes it as the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group; or, a critical management skill, the ability to motivate a group of people toward a common goal. My personal [...]

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Value Creation

August 1st, 2012 \\ Newsroom

VALUE CREATION It is now just three months since Keller Williams Realty came to town. Nearly every day someone asks me why we would invest in such a large project (perhaps at my age) when things at The Ratchford Group were going so well. I heard in the news recently that some people believe companies [...]

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America The Free

July 3rd, 2012 \\ Newsroom

AMERICA THE FREE Independence Day is always sentimental for me. I have become accustom to freedom; albeit, somewhat limited and perhaps even less now with the shenanigans going on in Washington DC. Still, it’s a great country and I’m proud to live here. This article is mostly about home ownership and how it relates to [...]

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The Real Estate Horizon

May 25th, 2012 \\ Newsroom

THE REAL ESTATE HORIZON In March, I predicted we would see headlines of ”Home Values Rising.” The jury has returned and the verdict is “almost.” There are many factors that relate to home values — the most common is the economic factor of supply and demand. The good news for sellers in the Sioux Empire [...]

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House Prices Rise, Seller’s Market is on the Horizon

February 22nd, 2012 \\ Newsroom

HOUSE PRICES RISE, SELLERS’ MARKET IS ON THE HORIZON Buyers have had it good for the past three or four years. Highly motivated sellers lowered their prices and gave into buyer demands. This is changing, and the next 30 days could be the beginning of the end for the buyers’ market. We might even see [...]

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Follow Your Dream

January 17th, 2012 \\ Newsroom

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM It’s a new year and time to brush off the goal list. Here is a little inspiration written by poet Amanda Bradley to help you start anew. “Follow your dream. Take one step at a time and don’t settle for less, just continue to climb. Follow your dream. If you stumble, don’t [...]

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