ActiveRain Community

The Best Listing in Town Might Still Be in a FactoryIf you're a real estate agent, you've probably heard some version of this conversation dozens of times:"I love the location, but not the house.""The house is nice, but it's not the floor plan we want.""Everything we like is either under contract or overpriced."For years, realtors have been forced to work within the limits of available inventory. We search harder, show more homes, and hope the right property eventually appears on the market.But what if the solution isn't finding the perfect home?What if the solution is creating it?That is exactly why more real estate professionals are discovering the opportunity that modular construction creates for their buyers.Today's market continues to face inventory challenges in many communities. ... 06/16/2026

Last week I made a quick trip to our new home site to deliver appliances, tile, light and plumbing fixtures, and some other miscellaneous items needed to continue the path to completing the build later this year. Most of Tuesday was spent picking up a 26' U-Haul, visiting the warehouse for the appliance load (more complicated than expected), then the tile warehouse for four pallets of tile/grout, then home to load up other items.  It's a big truck and a bit cumbersome to squeeze down our driveway, but it fit (barely)!  I didn't pack vertically, but did fill the entire floor by the time I was done for the evening.Driving this beast 8 hours added some new life perspectives regarding climbing mountains and finding a place to get gas that has easy entrance and exit, things I never have to t... 06/16/2026

On June 12, 2026, the Realtor.com reported that household real estate values and mortgage are growing. The owner occupied household values increased $810 billion to $48.7 trillion in the 1st Quarter of 2026 from 1st Quarter of 2025. In the meantime, homes rose $1.2 trillion in value to $34.9 trillion in the 1st Quarter of 2026 from 1st Quarter of 2025.The mortgage reached $13.8 trillion in 1s Quarter of 2026, from 4th Quarter of 2025, and up 1.2% from 1st Quarter of 2026.For complete more details information about the Realtor.com homeowners real estate value and equity report, please HERE 06/16/2026

Would You Live in This HouseHe had been a skilled carpenter for many years. As retirement approached, he informed his employer that he was ready to step away from the work he had faithfully done for so long.His employer was disappointed to lose such a talented craftsman and asked one final favor."Would you build just one more special house for me?"Reluctantly, he agreed.But his heart wasn't in it.He hurried through the job. He cut corners. He used materials that weren't up to his usual standards. The attention to detail that had defined his career was missing. He just wanted to be finished.,When the house was completed, the employer arrived, thanked him for his years of loyalty and excellent artistry, and handed him the keys."This house is my gift to you," he said. "Thank you for everyt... 06/16/2026

👉 Let's Chat: An Invitation for You ☕ Coffee Over The Miles with TJ Nelson 😊Greetings My Active Rain Friends😊As a fellow Rainmakers and business owners, you already understand the real magic of our businesses is  - relationships. That’s why I’d love to spend a little one-on-one time with you - to learn more about you, your market, your ideal clients, and how I may be able to send more referrals your way. Hopefully to see me quite often connecting agents to other agents in here from my Buffini, Ninja and CRS relationships - 27 years worth so there are hundreds!The best conversations happen face to face in person or next best over Zoom, one relationship at a time. I’d love to catch up with you. Please scan the QR code below or visit my safe link (Schedule Here) to schedule a 30-minute ​(o... 06/16/2026

One of the most common questions I receive from buyers is:"Can anyone buy a home in Laguna Woods Village?"The short answer is yes—but there are some important details that often cause confusion.Laguna Woods Village is one of the largest and most unique 55+ communities in the country. With 12,736 residences, multiple golf courses, clubhouses, swimming pools, fitness centers, and hundreds of clubs and activities, it's easy to see why so many people are interested in living here.Because it is a 55+ community, many people assume only individuals over the age of 55 can purchase property in Laguna Woods Village. That isn't actually how the rules work.Ownership and Occupancy Are Different ThingsOne of the biggest misconceptions involves the difference between owning a property and living in it... 06/15/2026

06/15/2026

From Galveston to the Nation: A Real Estate Blogger’s Guide to the History and Spirit of JuneteenthAs real estate professionals, our blogs are more than just digital catalogs of active listings, open houses, and market reports. They are community hubs. When we write about local events, neighborhood histories, and cultural milestones, we prove that we don't just sell houses—we understand, respect, and build communities.With June 19th recognized as a federal holiday, many of your clients, neighbors, and potential leads are looking for meaningful ways to celebrate, learn, and reflect. Providing a thoughtful, historical overview of Juneteenth on your ActiveRain blog is an excellent way to provide high-quality localized content, show cultural awareness, and spark engaging conversations with ... 06/15/2026

5419 Stoneleigh Ave., DallasHOUSE OPEN for INSPECTIONTuesday, June 16@ 12:00-1:00PMHouse for Sale @ AuctionLearn More and Make Your Offer HereResidential Home AuctioneersReal Estate House AuctionTexas Real PropertyHome & LotDallas County0.156 +/- Acres1,292 +/- SqFt2 Bed 1 BathDallas ISDBuilt 1937Single Family HomeSpecial terms and conditions,Buyer's Premium apply for all sales.Information About Brokerage ServicesTexas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection NoticeTo Contact the Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationGeneral Terms and Conditions  06/15/2026

Zestimates Compared to CMAs and Appraisals leave buyers confused! They are all valuations of a property’s worth but they do not necessarily reflect the same valuation. Which one should you rely on? Do you have a choice?Zestimate ExplainedWhen Zestimates are compared to CMAs and appraisals, a buyer may be surprised to discover they result in different valuations. The Zestimate provided by Zillow is a home valuation tool that uses an algorithm to estimate property values based on various data points and factors. It’s designed to be a quick, real-time estimation of a property’s worth, whether it’s currently listed (on-market) or not (off-market). However, there are important distinctions between a Zestimate, a CMA (comparative market analysis) provided by a Realtor and a traditional in-per... 06/15/2026

 Good afternoon and hello there again from Tim in Cottage Grove, MN.  Hope you are doing well this Monday and had a fantastic weekend.  Wanted to share Tim's Time Outs with you again. FOCUS ON THE OUTCOME: Base your actions not on what just happened, but on what you would like to now make happen. You can't change what already is...BUT you most certainly have influence over what will be.   Choose your actions and responses based on the outcomes you desire...NOT on the history you've experienced.  Sure, it's great to let the past inform you, but not good at all to let it control you.  Instead of trying to win an argument or prove a point, or assign blame, put your energy into creating new vaue.  Instead of being drawn into a useless negative reaction, choose a useful, helpful and postive ... 06/15/2026

Knowing yourself is hard work. Each of us have different life experiences that often prevent us from truly knowing ourselves. As the years age us, we have additional opportunities to understand those past and current life experiences and how they impact the knowledge we have or think we have about ourselves.“As the years go by, you get to know yourself better and learn what works for you.” Marie HelvinIn my executive consulting practice, I had the hard and raw data that people knew what they didn’t do well over 92% of the time. However, these same individuals from CEO’s to Salespeople to even private individuals, did not know what they did well. Miguel Cervantes shared these words of wisdom in the novel Don Quixote:“Make it your business to know yourself, which is the most difficult les... 06/15/2026

For years, the housing industry has focused on the same conversations. Rising costs. Labor shortages. Project delays. Housing shortages. Yet many of the solutions already exist. The challenge is that too many professionals never get access to the information, strategies, and real-world examples that are changing how housing gets delivered across America.That is one of the reasons we created the free webinar replay library at Modular Home Source Professional.Whether you are a developer looking to improve project economics, a Realtor searching for new opportunities to serve clients, or an economic development professional focused on workforce and affordable housing, these webinars were designed to help you better understand where the housing industry is headed.The future of housing will n... 06/15/2026

On June 9, 2026, National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reported that median home value price was $429,300 in May of 2026 up 1.3% from the price of $423,700 in May of 2025. Single family home sales were at annual rate of 3.8 million units in May of 2025 increased 3.5% from April of 2026, and rose 3.3% from home sales in May of 2025. The median single family home price was $424,300 in May of 2026, grew 1.3% from May of 2025.Condominium and co-op sales were annual rate of 370,000 units in May of 2026 unchanged 0.0% from April of 2026, but gained 1.7% from May of 2025. Median existing condo price was $378,200 in May of 2026, higher 1.7% from May of 2025.Distressed homes sales were 1.0% in May of 2026 decreased from 2.0% in April of 2026, and lower 3.0% in May of 2025.The Housing Affordabi... 06/15/2026

One of the things I love about performing magic is that no matter how much you rehearse, the unexpected can happen.Many years ago, I was performing a comedy handcuff routine for an audience of about 300 to 400 people. The show was on a stage about four feet high, and I needed a volunteer. The routine worked best with a lady who was trim and a little shorter than me, so I spotted what looked like the perfect volunteer sitting far back in the audience.I sent my assistant to ask if she would be willing to participate. He came back and said, "She said yes."Halfway through the show, I invited her on stage.As she walked up and stood next to me, I immediately realized I had made a mistake. From a distance, she had looked several inches shorter than me. Standing beside me, she was actually seve... 06/14/2026

Journal Entry for the June Challenge  Be the Difference. Here is what I Can Do to Strengthen ActiveRain. I can stay more connected by providing education by using my God given talent and my own creativity. By doing so, I can add value to the AR community. ActiveRain is all about people.Since 2010, ActiveRain has given me education, an opportunity to use my creativity, and to build stronger relationships with amazing people in this community.Here are ways I thought of creating a ripple effect.Be the light in other people’s eyes for it is written: “You are the Light of the World,” Matthew 14-16.  I shall stay true to my Values for they are the stepping stones to make others feel comfortable. I will remain strong especially when our ActiveRain Community is experiencing technological issues... 06/15/2026

I have a question for you.What is something you wish you had done 20 years ago?Bought Apple stock in 2006?Purchased Bitcoin when it was worth pennies?Invested in Amazon before e-commerce became mainstream?Bought a home before prices doubled and tripled across much of the country?Most people can instantly think of opportunities they missed. Not because they were impossible to see, but because they felt risky, unfamiliar, or too early at the time.The interesting thing about regret is that it rarely comes from taking action. More often, it comes from waiting too long. I see the same thing happening in construction today. For decades, the industry has struggled with labor shortages, cost overruns, project delays, weather disruptions, material waste, and declining productivity. We know the p... 06/14/2026

"I touch the future. I teach." — Christa McAuliffeThis quote resonated with me this past week as I spent several days with my granddaughter, Beckett.While her parents enjoyed a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and her brother attended a week-long Spurs basketball camp in San Antonio, Beckett and I had the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time together.At almost 12 years old, she is already becoming an impressive young lady, disciplined, organized, responsible, and committed to her goals. Each day she faithfully walked, fed, and played with their white Lab, June Carter. Every morning she headed off to work out from 9:00–10:00, followed by volleyball camp until 1:00. I'd pick her up afterward, and we'd enjoy lunch and a little downtime together.One evening, I took her to her favorite... 06/15/2026

06/14/2026

Every year on June 14th, and this year on Sunday June 14, 2026, we celebrate the Happy National celebrate Flag Day, to remember all the sacrifices people made to protect our Flag.The flag has thirteen red and white stripes represent the Union of original Colonies, and stars represent the states. Congress on August 3, 1949, designated June 14 of each year as “Flag Day."I am personally very grateful to everyone for the sacrifices they made to protect our Flag, so we can live a better life. God Bless United States of America and the Old Glory of our “Flag.”I want to wish to all my friends and to all members at Active Rain community a Happy Flag Day. 06/14/2026