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Annapolis MD, once the Capitol of the United States, held a symbolic Tea Party protest today on the City Dock under spectacular weather. Of course, due to environmental concerns, no tea was actually thrown into the water.

A couple of hundred respectful protesters listened to speeches, carried signs and banners, and rallied against the fiscal policies of Local, State and Federal governments. Some of the most vociferous speeches were reserved for Local governmental policies, but no level of government escaped scrutiny.

This was a multi-party protest, not against the Obama administration, but against the general lack of fiscal restraint by all levels of government. A sympathy shared by many in the crowd.

It's the right of the people to be heard, and they were heard in Annapolis MD today. Throughout the weekend there will be 611 "Tea Party's" held in States all over the country. If you're interested in attending one in your State, click here for a State by State list. 

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.

About five years ago I received a buyer referral from an agent and paid a 25% referral fee at closing. Nothing fancy, no formal agreement, just a handshake between two agents.

I've maintained a relationship with this buyer since then, and yesterday he called saying he's considering selling, and moving into a one level condo. 

The original agent who made the referral has not maintained any contact with him, but is still active in real estate.

I’ve never run into this before and was wondering if there is any sort of standard, implied or otherwise, regarding paying a second referral fee, if he decides to move?

I'm not opposed to paying something reasonable, but have never had any experience in this area.

I'd like your thoughts.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
©iStock Photo - Licensed for Use

Maybe you saw the blog post today offering a “free trial” of the Vision product. Not bad really. 90 days free for a website, IDX feed and contact management solution.

Make sure you sign up quick because it's only being offered to the first 50 takers. If you were number 51 signing up, you can have my spot. I changed my mind.

Did I need it, no, but I’m willing to give it a try. If the trial was a success, I would certainly consider paying at the end of the trial.

Where the wheels came off this offer for me was the email I received a few minutes after signing up on the web. In order to get started, all I needed to do was fill in my credit card information, type a signature in the block and we're ready to rock and roll.

Hey Vision product manager, here's my take. If you're offering a free trial, you don't need my credit card unless there's something else going on. Your "promise" not to charge my credit card wasn't that convincing.

How's this for a novel approach? Since you completely control the site and the "free trial", if I don't order the product in 90 days, turn it off. That's a real "FREE TRIAL."

Let your product speak for itself during the "free trial." If it's good, you'll have plenty of business. If it's not, you won't.

Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of the approach that the Market Leader folks are taking here. I know it's a fairly standard practice in the industry to ask for a credit card up front, but I'm not playing that game.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.

There actually is a phobia to escalators called Escalaphobia. I suspect there is a phobia to just about anything. This is the escalator to Woodley Park on the Washington, DC Metro. It doesn't even make the top three of being the longest in the system.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.

This is the eighth grade graduating class of St. Leo's School, Elmwood Park, NJ. Can you pick me out of this awesome lineup? Hint: I'm between Sal and Barry. I'll let you know later today.

Nothing but bragging points here, and the ability to make a pithy comment. Mike, the moderator of this group likes pithy comments.

No priests in this group but four of the girls went on to become nuns. I think I drove two of them to their vocation.

Click here for larger version.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.

Ugh! The weather in the mid-Atlantic region on the East Coast has been moist this season, to say the least. After several years of below average precipitation, we're making it up big time.

Hey Seattle! Is that big yellow thing that used to be up in the sky still there?

Where's a Weather Czar when you need them?

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

Take a look at the chart below and you'll see that the under $300,000 price range in Crofton is pretty robust, accounting for 58% of Crofton home sales in May. This makes sense, as first time homebuyers rush to take advantage of low interest rates and the $8,000 tax credit, available from the IRS until December 1, 2009. Also, we're seeing decent, affordable homes in this price range for the first time in a while. With inventories high in Anne Arundel County, sellers are getting pretty good at correctly pricing their homes for sale.

24 Crofton homes went to settlement during May, 2009. This figure is 5 less than went to settlement in May of 2008. Interestingly, the days on the market for Crofton properties had a reduction of 13.5% and now stands at 83 days, on average.

The average sale price as a percentage of list price was 95% in May, reflecting that homes seem to be priced correctly for this market.  

Many buyers are acting faster on good deals. 11 of the 24 Crofton homes sales were on properties listed less than 30 days. Good deals coming on the market are getting snapped up pretty quickly.

Call me at 443-995-9595 to view any Crofton MD home for sale.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved