Anniston Housing

Motorcycling- Hobby or Work?

A hobby is work you enjoy and usually do not get paid for.  Work, on the other hand, is work you must do to keep bread on the table, and the wolf from the door.  When your hobby becomes just work without the pay, get a new one or rethink the old one.

When Jerry and I first got married, we spent a lot of week-end time at his Grandparents place on the river, about two hours from home. He was determined to teach me to fish. There’s just something about worms and minnows wiggling around in your hand that deters my interest in fishing. I am a softie. I love to eat fish, but I do not want to catch them and kill them.

One week-end when we arrived, the nearest neighbors, Pat and Wayne were there. They were an older couple, and spent a lot of retired time on the lake. As we were unloading, Jerry started telling them about the fishing news he had heard at the minnow place.  The crappies were reported moving into shallow water, and biting hard. I’ve never seen such enthusiasm. “Let’s Go Buddy,” I heard Wayne say. The two men begin to throw tackle boxes, rods, reels, flashlights, running lights, life preservers, nets, drinks, a few food supplies and two buckets of minnows in the boat.  The motor on the boat was revved up and they were out on the water with hardly a wave. The last words I heard either of them say was Wayne’s “Wait to cook.  We’ll bring in some fresh fish.”

Pat looked over at me after they left. “Come on Honey,” she said. “I’ll show you how to catch the real fish.” We walked down to her boat and hopped in. I looked around. I saw one cane pole. No rods, reels, or other tackle was in sight. Having never learned how to swim, I looked at the old ragged life preserver seat cushions with great concern. “Don’t you worry,” she laughed. “I’ll save you if I have to. I guarantee we will have fish for dinner and it will be fish we brought to the table.” Being a fishing newbie, I had no idea how that was going to happen without bait or tackle, but she had been fishing a lot more years than me. Pat cranked up the boat and off we went the opposite direction from Jerry and Wayne.

“Do you have a secret fishing hole,” I asked. Jerry had told me most fishermen, who knew the river, had favorite places they fished and rarely shared these secret places. Pat just laughed. The twilight was ending and darkness coming on. 

In Alabama in the spring, days are warm, but the nights cool off quickly. On this late spring day, darkness was fast approaching. Crickets were chirping. Bats were flying around looking for food. The moon was coming up. I was just wondering how far we intended to go when the motor started puttering and the boat begin to slow down. I looked around to see where we were. Pat was pulling up to an old broken down dock.

“Grab that rope and toss it around the piling, she said. As soon as I got it tossed around, she took out the oar and began to paddle us to the edge of the dock. “We will get out here. The boat will be easy to see when we get back.” She said.

“Get Back,” I thought. Where in the world are we going? The dock gave me the willies. I was pretty sure Pat was going to have to make good on her word to save me, when I fell through the rotten boards. The house I could see in the distance did not look much better. Dogs begin to bark. I know a lot of you love dogs, but  the truth of the matter is not only can I not swim, and am afraid of the dark, but dogs, especially big dogs, make me want to climb the nearest tree and wait for  rescue. I admit it. I am a wimp! These were very big dogs racing toward us with their jaws open and teeth showing. I prayed.

Pat took all this in stride. She called them by name and they calmed down somewhat. My Dad, who tried his best to help me for year to get over my fear of dogs, drilled one home truth in to me. “If you show fear, the dogs will know it, and then become more nervous themselves. You want to put a brave front on and ignore them. Never run. Stand still until they get used to you” he used to say.   I remembered his words. I looked at the dogs. Baloney, I thought I am running like the hounds of Satan are after me, and climbing the first tall tree I find. I was so preoccupied with the dogs I had failed to notice the man walking toward us. His shout at the dogs sent them all running back to the house.

In the failing light he looked like one of the moon shiners my Mother used to describe to me, when she was cautioning me who to stay away from as I entered my teen years. Being from the hills of Northern Alabama, where the counties are “dry” meaning they do not allow alcohol sales, moon shining was a way of life we all heard about. It flourished. The man coming toward me was dressed in a pair bib overalls.  He had an old hat pulled down low on his face. He had a shot gun in his hand. As he got closer, I could see his overalls were torn, ragged and covered in what looked like dried blood and dirt. Murder immediately came to mind. Who I wondered had he killed, and are we to be next?  I pulled on Pat’s shirt, which I hadn’t even realized I was holding on it. She kept walking to meet him. He opened his mouth and in the flashlight Pat shined on his face, I saw a perfect set of white teeth. Now surely, a man can’t be all bad if he cares enough to keep his teeth looking good.

“Hello Pat, what can I do for you two nice looking ladies,” he asked.

“John, I’m training Judy on how to put fish on the table after every fishing trip. We need a stringer of nice crappies if you have them, and I think a big catfish or bass would round us out,” Pat said.  John started grinning and walking. We followed along behind. The path was strewed with buckets and old foam ice boxes.  There were several boats sitting around in various conditions, none of which was good. The light from the house lit our way as we picked through the litter to walk.  We finally reached a boat house. Outside the boat house were several tubs filled with fish. Water was circulating around in the tubs keeping them alive. John started reaching in the tubs and putting this fish and that fish on a stringer. In the last tub, he pulled out a cat fish I could hardly hold it was so big. “That ought to do it John.  Just put it on my bill and I’ll catch up next time.” said Pat. John just smiled and walked us back to the boat.

I could hear him laughing and talking with Pat about retirement. Said he was never going to retire, not as long as there were fish in the river. Back in the boat, Pat stored the fish in the fish well. “Who is that man,” I asked.

“He’s a trot man. Every day he baits his trot lines and goes back later to check them. He’s got hundreds of lines running on the river. He ties a trot line from bank to bank or floats a line across creeks that feed into the river. He spaces hooks on the line and baits them. Then later, maybe even the next day he goes back and checks for his catch.  Most of the time he sells his catch to the local restaurant, but he always keeps back a few to sell to people like me, who like to count on real fish for dinner,” Pat explained. “Trot fishing is his hobby and he also makes a little pocket change.” This hobby sounded like a lot of work to me.

To be honest, I never used Pat’s approach to putting fish on the table. I had confidence in Jerry’s skill to catch them. Fishing was his hobby for years, and he worked hard at it. Like he used to say, sometimes he got the fish and sometimes the fish got him.

A hobby is just work you enjoy.  If motorcycling is your hobby, you already know it takes work. First you have the expense of the bike, insurance and license. Then you have the expense of equipment, Saddle bags, sissy bar bags, tools, clothing, and helmets. We can help you with your search for Motorcycle Helmets and clothing at our web store www.agelessparlor.com  In the store we carry top quality leather jackets, vests and chaps for men women and children. Also you will find Dot Certified Helmets and novelty helmets. Our new DOT M&M Licensed Full Face or Motocross MX Helmet is a jewel to own.  These helmets are limited editions and all are numbered.

If your motorcycling is just a hobby, get the maximum fun out of it. If your bike is sitting in the garage, basement, or driveway, more than it is being ridden because you do not have the time to ride, the bike is broke down and you do not have the money to get it fixed, the weather is bad every off day, you have other obligations that must come first, you do not have the equipment you need to ride, or etc. prepare ahead.

Living across the street from us is a couple who have been riding for years and years. In the summer we see the husband cutting the grass as soon as he gets home on Friday. His wife goes by the grocery on the way home and stocks up the kitchen for the next week. They do laundry on week nights when they get in from work. Saturday mornings they are out of there on the bikes. Most of the time, we do not see them again until Sunday afternoon. If you want free time to ride, you must make it available by getting organized with your other obligations.

Decide where your priorities lie. Getting your bike up and running correctly has to be the top priority of your biking hobby. Getting this priority in line with all the other projects you have that need and require money is a key joy to enjoying your hobby. Jerry and I save our coin change. We roll the change and deposit in our hobby savings account about every two weeks. Small amounts deposited regularly add up.  Every day we empty our pockets in our change jar.  We do not dig for change at checkouts. We fish out the next dollar. We keep the change and put it in the jar.  We put left over allowance money in the jar.  If I cut coupons and save money at the grocery store, I pay myself the savings in my change jar the amount I saved. If Jerry gets an invite out to lunch and doesn’t have to pay, he puts his usual lunch money in the jar. Sometimes we give up eating out all together and save the money we would have normally spent in our jar. Especially, if something special is coming up we know we will need money for. Do we have more money than you? No.  We live and breathe on a budget. We get by on less so we can use this money for our hobby, whether it is for gas, repair or new equipment. We plan ahead for emergencies by having a savings going for them with our change. There are areas you spend money on where you too can save a little here and there. By the time warm weather arrives you bike will be fixed and on the road with the money you have stashed away.

Acquiring the equipment you need to ride is another priority. Saddlebags, Tool bags can wait. A helmet cannot. Buy it first. Your head’s protection is the most important part of your ride. Live to ride another day when you have a spill, wear a good quality Dot or Snell Helmet. Our Bell Sprint Helmets are Dot and Snell Approved. They are terrific!

www.agelessparlor.com  for more of these fantastic helmets at great prices and free shipping.

Controlling the weather is out of my realm of ability. What I can do is when the weather is too poor to get out of the house is use the time to catch up on jobs that need doing, spend time on the phone with relatives who haven’t heard from me in a while, cook a few meals ahead and freeze them, call up the kids and invite them to dinner, spend some quality time with Jerry. I like to spend time scrolling on the net, talking to other bikers, seeing what is out there to buy or trade. Rainey days and short winter nights are great times for these activities.  One thing I’m not going to do is bemoan the fact I am stuck in the house. Jerry’s boss use to say “fight the battles you can win and let the rest go”. I cannot win any battle and win with the weather. I can just get ready for another possible riding day. When it comes, I am the first one out of the door. 

Take charge of your hobby. Make it fun. All hobbies are work, but it is work you enjoy…… Come visit us with your motorcycling needs. We want to do business with you. www.agelessparlor.com

Judy

Storm halts work at Gulf of Mexico spill site
A storm unleashed high waves and strong winds that forced oil spill response crews in the Gulf of Mexico to head inland for safety, halting work to permanently plug the BP well.

Read more on Sydney Morning Herald

Read a full insiders review here The Panic Puzzle Review

Exposure therapy is a dividing up of the useful psychological remedy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Featuring in its nearly everyone chief brains, exposure therapy is exactly with the aim of, the intentional, voluntary introduction (exposure) of come again? Is established to call to mind anxiety. This can take place finished featuring in the imagination or else featuring in real life. Both can besides take place finished step-by-step or else all-at-once. A remedy agenda typically incorporates a adapted combination of all of these. It is a solidly researched, useful remedy on behalf of anxiety. However, it ought to take place used with mind. For the reason that it is in relation to the survive incident an anxiety sufferer would hunger to organize, round about explanation on behalf of why it mechanism is really principal. While not a complete explanation, at this point are round about of the reasons on behalf of its effectiveness.

1. Having the status of you expose by hand voluntarily, (it ought to take place voluntary-that is entirely crucial) your brains of control, courage and strength increases. You possibly will take place beating by hand up for the reason that of the be terrified of. At this point you are preliminary to realize it. You command start to believe you can bear it, you can take it, even to the cape as soon as you can invite it to urge having the status of intense having the status of likely. You command think better of by hand. Solitary introduce somebody to an area with anxiety disorders can be conscious of the individual power compulsory to handle much a smaller amount voluntarily call to mind their be terrified of. Frankly, you ought to take place proud of demeanor up under it, episode. Voluntary exposure shifts power from the danger back to you. If you chose it, you are a smaller amount troubled of it and supplementary powerful.

2. The longer you experience the anxiety or else be terrified of, the supplementary you urge used to it. This process is called training. Your body adapts, adjusts and assimilates come again? Is event. As soon as I was a adolescent my dad would say, “Turn with the aim of racket down!” (Like you can corner down “Sweet residence Alabama.”) Somewhere featuring in my 30’s I realized come again? He inescapable. It hurts! Loud hurts! I walk off to a cathedral with LOUD tune. It hurts by the side of earliest (they provide earplugs… Acutely, they organize.) but afterward a combine minutes it hurts a smaller amount, in that case even a smaller amount until it is fine. The same incident happens with be terrified of although it takes longer and maybe multiple exposures. Recurrently, exposure is strengthened by blend it with deep lessening. Having the status of the feeling of be terrified of decreases, your judgment in relation to the be terrified of besides dive featuring in intensity.

3. The longer the exposure, the supplementary useful. Featuring in statement, it would take place better to NOT organize this than to expose by hand too pithily. This is for the reason that as soon as you earliest start to expose by hand to the be terrified of, the feeling of be terrified of command mount. With the aim of is single of anxieties’ nearly everyone evil booby traps. (After all, you take part in been terrified of this on behalf of a prolonged time). You take part in to voluntarily hang about featuring in the be terrified of state prolonged a sufficient amount on behalf of your body to orient. Single incident with the aim of keeps introduce somebody to an area from getting completed an anxiety disorder is with the aim of they are really gritty to avoiding feeling anxious. So even though they are feeling anxious (involuntary exposure) internally they hate it, fight it, and desperately try to distraction it (because the anxiety is keen they might think of supplementary forbidding things). Fighting it, resisting it, or else no matter which with the aim of makes it involuntary command prevent exposure from working. But voluntary exposure with the aim of lasts prolonged a sufficient amount command cause the anxiety to decrease.

—-> The Panic Puzzle (latest version)

4. Part of an anxiety disorder is the belief with the aim of you take part in lost control of by hand. Featuring in this situation, the brains of loss is so extreme the design of with the aim of feels excruciating. Each person experiences round about limitations or else loss of control. Anxiety Disorders are several for the reason that of the incredible intensity. Exposure corrects this for the reason that you are choosing to feel the anxiety. If you chose it, you control it. It possibly will take several time, but you command urge control. The principal conviction of thinking something and your body responding having the status of likely is being restored. The supplementary you organize this and the longer you organize this, the supplementary control is restored.

—> The Panic Puzzle (latest version)

5. Having the status of you experience your be terrified of by exposure it goes from come again? You take part in imagined command go on to the genuine experience itself. It becomes supplementary real. Real is easier to organize something with having the status of conflicting to something imagined. It is tricky to know you can solve a snag if it is only this minute a leeway. As a substitute of an evolving chain of hypothetical problems, you start to modification from future-possible to present-here and at this point. To a certain extent than a record of come again? May well take place it near is a natural exclusion of illusive possibilities and you are gone with solitary “what is.”

6. Marsha Linehan, a psychologist who deliberate pain revealed with the aim of radical acceptance was crucial to facing key problems. Come again? She found is with the aim of as a substitute of acceptance introduce somebody to an area were protesting their snag. They hated with the aim of things were the way they were. She found with the aim of strain or else soreness + make an objection (i.E., the unbending refusal to accept) = pain. Exposure helps with the curative process of acceptance. To a certain extent than avoiding and hating your anxiety disorder, by by design chosing to experience it you arise to consent it. It is the admission with the aim of you take part in an anxiety disorder. It might take place tough to believe but with the aim of can hint to its dissipation.

I almost hunger to stick the alert, “Do not organize this by the side of residence if you take part in a substantial anxiety snag!” previous to this sort of exposure you take part in to become bound to be with the aim of you organize not take part in several beliefs, assumptions or else thinking patterns with the aim of would destabilize progress. If featuring in the mid you think with the aim of you take part in lost control or else believe it command only this minute keep free (“What take part in I on track!!”) in that case you command subtly grasp your edgy procedure to organize only this minute with the aim of. Even if you arise voluntarily, through the process if your belief switches such with the aim of it is at this point involuntary in that case your anxiety command urge stronger as a substitute of dissipating. On behalf of exemplar, let’s say a person has a be terrified of with the aim of they might spoil someone to boot. The exposure won’t become with the aim of supplementary likely (it really won’t) but if through the exposure the person believes the forbidding judgment exclusive of being able to challenge them, the exposure command take part in slight or else rebuff effect and may well in point of fact deposit featuring in indicate increased anxiety (not violence, however).

Exposure is already part of several anxiety disorder or else on behalf of with the aim of question several be troubled by the side of all. Resisting it command mount your anxiety. Learning to organize this acceptably is incredibly powerful. Like all powerful treatments, you need to understand it otherwise irritating it unfashionable.

Read a full insiders review here The Panic Puzzle Download

Oil spill panel faces challenges, criticism as it begins work
The presidential commission appointed to study the causes of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and to recommend improvements for offshore drilling has navigated tight spots as it prepares to begin work this week. Oil spill – Environment – Energy – Petroleum in the Environment – Business

Read more on Washington Post

Professor: Work stoppage means government, BP likely exercising extreme caution
MOBILE, Ala. — In the wake today’s decision by BP PLC’s to halt all work at the Deepwater Horizon site, including the drilling of relief wells, a University of Alabama professor said officials with the government and the oil giant are likely just exercising extreme caution before proceeding.

Read more on Mobile Press-Register

The best places to live and work for many would ideally be cities that offer plenty of job opportunities, high quality of life and a low cost of living. Big cities are probably ideal places to begin your career, but low cost locales makes it easier for people to save for a house, start a family and grow along with the town. So if you are looking to enjoy a good quality of life in one such city, you may want to choose from the following list of America’s best places to live and work, based on Sperling’s Best Places.

These top ten low-cost communities have been diligently chosen based on essential criteria that include plentiful jobs, low cost of living, affordable housing and great quality of life. Several of these locales are college towns and many are located amidst beautiful and picturesque natural surroundings.

The following communities are the top 10 affordable places to live and work, according to Sperling’s Best Places.

1. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas/Missouri

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville is a small college town with a progressive feel, a thriving economy and an ideal environment for young families. While Springdale is a hub of several booming businesses including light manufacturing, trucking and agricultural processing, Rogers is a major residential area with a booming economy contributed by big stores such as Wal-Mart. The area enjoys a five-year job growth of 26.1 % (the national average being 4.9 %) and a low unemployment rate of 3.5 %. The three-city area had a median home price of $212,300 in January 2007.

2. Idaho Falls, Idaho

The name itself is indicative of the natural bounty that this town enjoys. Idaho Falls is located on the northeast part of the Snake River and has the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in its proximity. Jobs are plenty in this small town that is driven by a mixed economy of agriculture and industry. A nuclear-research center, a health care center and small businesses offer plenty of employment. The town has a mixed population in terms of religion with about half of the residents being adherents of the Mormon faith. Idaho Falls’ median home price in January 2007 was $224,800.

3. Logan, Utah

Set in the middle of beautiful mountain ranges and valleys, Logan, Utah, offers great outdoor experiences. Cultural and sporting events are aplenty in this college town. A diverse economy, young work force, family owned businesses and pedestrian-friendly streets are major plus points. This beautiful town had a median home price of $200,600 in January 2007. The moderate climate and low cost of living are favorable for residents. The town has over 70 % of residents who are practicing Mormons.

4. Auburn-Opelika, Alabama

Home to Alabama University, the area is ideal for families and young people. A growing economy, good job prospects and high level of education among residents characterize Auburn. On the flip side, Auburn is removed from other major cities and summers are hot and humid. The job growth for 5 years is 16.1 % and median home price in January was $210,900.

5. Iowa City, Iowa

Another college town, Iowa City offers its residents a lively cultural scene, an attractive downtown and a panoramic natural setting. However, the area experiences harsh winters although summers are moderate. A lot of suburban and large retail developments are happening in the city. The median home price in January was $206,900.

6. Dubuque, Iowa

Dubuque is a small industrial town characterized by Victorian brick buildings and reasonable housing. The city has some decent amenities including a symphony and theater company, and a convention center. The economy is largely driven by manufacturing businesses. Climate in this area can be rather harsh with temperatures ranging from minus 32 degrees to 110 degrees F. The area has a 5 year job growth of 11.86 % and the median home price in January 2007 was $152,300.

7. Pensacola, Ferry Pass and Brent, Florida.

Pensacola’s beaches are the top most attraction for residents who enjoy its 52 miles of Caribbean-like, white sandy beaches. The community is home to a lively bar scene, the University of West Florida and the Pensacola Naval Air Station. The economy is diverse and thriving. On the other hand, the area being a hurricane zone could be a spirit dampener for many. The January median home price was $223,900.

8. Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford, Virginia

Popular for housing the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or the Virginia Tech, this tri-city area offers a small-town feel and college amenities, amidst a beautiful mountain landscape. Residents enjoy a pleasant climate, and a low cost of living with the advantages of arts, entertainment, commerce and health care. Isolation from air service could be a disadvantage to some. The median home price in January 2007 was at a low $197,800.

9. Huntsville, Alabama

The “Space Capital of America’ as it is called, Huntsville is home to numerous technology and aerospace firms, besides being the center for research, technology and high-tech manufacturing. Several big companies have contributed to its economy and the city is known for its well-educated and well-paid work force. Residents enjoy the lovely mountainous surroundings. However limited air services and slow progress in infrastructural development are drawbacks.

10. Fargo, North Dakota

There is no dearth for college amenities in this college town which is home to North Dakota State University and has the Moorhead State University and Concordia College located close by. Modern buildings, a robust economy and the lowest unemployment rate in the whole country (2.6 %) makes Fargo a great place to live and work. Although winters are a negative aspect the town offers plenty of action. The area had a median home price of $162,586 in January 2007.

In “Sweet Home Alabama” She wasn’t able to divorce until her husband signed the papers. It was up to him if he divorced. Does it really work like this in Alabama? Or was it just for the movie. I know that in most places if you are served with divorce you have to do it. Is there any real place in the united states where the divorce is your choice?

Many developers, builders and REALTORS have expressed that there is a lack of understanding when it comes to marketers of real estate.

Maria with Legacy Homes Group in Madison Alabama expressed this sentiment recently to Pearl Real Estate Marketing. Pearl Real Estate Marketing is a company specializing in all aspects of the real estate process.

With 85% to 90% of home buyers beginning their searches online, it is important to have your business established online. We, Pearl REM, work very hard to produce results. There are many web companies and general advertisers who don’t understand the needs of real estate professionals. We have been providing services to the real estate industry for more then five years. We also became a licensed real estate team and we understand the needs and limited budgets of our clients.

What makes us specialized?

1) We understand that it doesn’t matter how many leads we produce, if they don’t convert to sales the service is still worthless.

2) We work hard to eliminate duplicate processes. Many times the architect, web designer, graphics designer and ad designer all want to get paid for design services. We combine the graphics design, ad design and web designer into the same person. This saves our clients thousands of dollars. When we need an ad designed we use it as newspaper ads, email blasts and printable brochures. We manage the level of graphics design. Some things need to be provided by architects and professional engineers and others don’t. Let a less expensive graphics designer manage the non critical graphics.

3) We speak the language of our clients. General advertisers just don’t understand the real estate world. They charge by the households they reach and can’t directly measure results. We measure individual lead conversions to sales. Because of our understanding of the process we don’t need to ask a lot of questions. We don’t need to learn the industry, we already live it.

4) We manage the online marketing process. Most real estate professionals don’t understand online marketing and don’t have the time to manage it. They need a certain amount of knowledge about the process to make good decisions but that is all. A really good real estate business hires out the online marketing.

5) We educate our clients and consult them on how we will drive the qualified leads. We help you understand the fraudulent methods of some online marketers. There are many out there who promise you top ranking for $50 per month. Sounds like a great deal, right? What if there is no traffic for the term where they have placement? We streamline the online marketing process and guide you to sucess.

Pearl REM first provides a service with integrity. We cut through the fog for you in this relatively new industry. We show you what is important and what isn’t. We provide transparency so you can watch the entire process, monitoring your investment in the process.

I let out a big sigh when one of my students called me.  He talked with a landowner who lived in Michigan but owned a parcel of land in Florida.  The landowner was interested in selling but said that first he was going to call a Realtor in Florida to determine the value of the property.

So why did I sigh?  My experience says that they are going to contact the wrong person and get bad advice (mostly in regards to price).  Ultimately the deal will fall through.

Most sellers don’t understand that they cannot contact just ANY Realtor to help them make an informed decision.  They are best served to contact a Realtor who is experienced in land.  It is the same dynamic if I am considering buying a self storage complex.  I don’t call ANY Realtor – I find one who understands how to value commercial properties.

Sounds simple doesn’t it?  I have had too many experiences in negotiating with landowners where the deal was derailed by a Realtor who didn’t have experience valuing land. This isn’t a knock against Realtors in general.

Let’s face it – to value land in this economy is tricky at best.  It is imperative to find a land professional that knows the local area and is familiar with land that has recently sold in there.  So if I am going to do a deal in Alabama, I am calling a Realtor who is experienced in land statewide as well as locally.  I am not going to call a land Realtor in Georgia or North Carolina because land in Alabama is unique in regards to terrain, demand, price per acre, etc.

Why am I such a big fan of land Realtors?  They are a critical person in the process to understand land values and whether a parcel is a good value or not.

I cut my teeth in land when I was an office manager at a land brokerage (I am an investor not a Realtor).  While I was there, about 60% of the buyers bought land sight unseen.  It was because they were looking at land like stock.  They were TRUSTING that the land Realtors at the office evaluated the property correctly.

My boss was the stereotypical land broker.  He came to work dressed in his cowboy hat and boots and had a drawl that this city boy could sometimes not understand.  But he KNEW his area and was passionate about finding only the best deals for his buyers.

But the stereotype of the land Realtor is changing.  With the advent of the Internet, land Realtors still know their area well.  But now they have evolved into Internet real estate specialists creating high quality marketing pieces for websites and email requests.

It is my opinion that we are not going to have enough experienced land Realtors to service the upcoming demand for all land types.  With the stock market and economy in continued decay, more and more investors are going to turn to land as one safe haven to place their money.

Investors are going to have to trust an experienced land Realtor’s opinion on finding good values.  Are you one of them?

I have been a part of over 600 land deals and virtually every transaction has been closed with the help of a land Realtor.  I would not turn to anyone else!

So how does one find a land Realtor in the area where you hope to buy?  Here are a couple of suggestions:

Go to www.rliland.com and search through their free database of land Realtors.  Look for “Find a Land Consultant” tab on the site to begin your search. Go on the Internet and select the state and county that you are searching and see which Realtor is listing land parcels for sale in that area.  Usually they will have enough experience in land to assist you. Sometimes I call a large brokerage office by phone and ask for the land specialist in their mix of Realtors.  Unfortunately I have had some Realtors misrepresent themselves so you have to be careful to interview them to determine if they are the right person.  (I have a chapter in my manual on “How to Find the Right Realtor” that goes into how to interview for a land Realtor to determine if they are right person for your real estate need).

One of the best decisions you can ever make when purchasing land is to find a land Realtor to serve your needs.