Feb 28 2011

The private remarks…revealed

From: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
To: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
Date: Feb 13, 2011 3:05 AM

Subject:  MLS

Dear Melinda,

I found you on Swillow and clicked through to your website.  I like your website and for an agent that’s saying something because most of them suck.  I like the house at 777 Lucky to Know Me Street and want you to send me the full MLS listing please.  I don’t need your help with the house; I just need the listing sheet.  Thank you for your kindness in advance.

P.S. Keep up the good work on the website.

Sincerely,

Jim

From: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
To: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
Date: Feb 13, 2011 9:05 AM
Subject:  re: MLS

Hey Jim,

Thanks for stopping by my website and I’m glad you didn’t think it sucked.  I always strive to be a notch above completely worthless.    Unfortunately, I can only give you a copy of the client version of the MLS and can send that to you.  The full version has some confidential information, like phone numbers, showing instructions, etc. that I can’t share with you.  Would you like a copy of the client version?

Let me know if you would find that helpful.

P.S. I’m impressed that you were thinking of me at 3:05 in the morning.  Also the name is Melina.  Common mistake to call me Melinda.  Thanks.

Melina

From: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
To: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
Date: Feb 13, 2011 10:05 AM
Subject:  re:  re: MLS

Melinda,

I don’t want the sanitized version of the MLS form. You agents all say that there is confidential information like seller’s phone numbers and showing instructions but I don’t believe it.   I know you realators are hoarding information and I have a right to see it.  So give me the full version. Top level clearance to whatever you get is all I’m asking.  How hard is that?  I thought you had half a brain, with your M. S. and everything. Don’t make me think otherwise.

Jim

From: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
To: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
Date: Feb 13, 2011 5:05 PM
Subject:  My Half Brain

Jim,

I understand.  I would need your blood type and a copy of your most embarrassing high school photo in order to give you access to the private remarks. I had to give them a copy of me in my Fiddler on the Roof costume from high school, so they are serious about it.

P.S. I kinda like going by a different name. It’s cool to pretend I’m not me.  Since we are changing names here is it okay if I call you Jack?

Sincerely,

Melina aka Melinda

From: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
To: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
Date: Feb 13, 2011 9:05 PM
Subject:  re: Your half brain

No Melina, you may not call me Jack.   It’s time to stop this propaganda going on with the real estate industry and get this information back into the hands of the public. It isn’t like you have any great secrets on there or anything, sheesh. Get over yourself, thinking you are all important and stuff with your “secret data.”  Just hand it over, already.

Jim, not Jack.

From: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
To: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
Date: Feb 13, 2011 11:05 PM
Subject:  No Can Do

Dear Jim,

I understand your desire to see what I see, but the last time the full MLS sheet was placed in the hands of an unsuspecting consumer we had a minor problem:  the Oregon Statehouse caught on fire.  Since then, Realtors have been charged with protection of the MLS data. I’m sure you understand the need to not have our new statehouse catch on fire.  No one wants to see the gold man melt, especially since skinny jeans are back in style now.  He only looks fashionable every 20-30 years as styles recycle themselves, and we’re not sure how long that will last.  We don’t want to have to put bell bottoms back on him, you understand I’m sure.

Sincerely,

Melina

From: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>

To: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
Date: Feb 14, 2011 3:05 AM
Subject: Data

Just give me the data. What happened to the customer is always right?

Jim

From: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com
To: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com
Date: Feb 14, 2011 9:05 AM
Subject: Happy Valentines Day

Jim,

The customer can’t be right about seeing ALL the MLS data because that would mean real estate agents have been wrong all these years and well…our egos can’t handle that.  So, look, here’s the real deal.  I know we say that those are showing instructions and worthless things like that, but the MLS really contains the secret plans for the Death Star.  I know you think that Star Wars is just a movie, but ssshhh…don’t tell anyone…it isn’t.  The NAR is building a Death Star as we speak and we’ve been entrusted with the plans.  REALTORS and realators alike are going to rule the world.  I’m sure you understand now why I can only send you the client detail sheet from the MLS.  I know you don’t want to be responsible for the destruction of mankind, unless you secretly know how to maneuver a TIE fighter.

P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Sincerely,

Melina

From: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
To: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
Date: Feb 14, 2011 11:05 AM
Subject: re: Happy Valentines Day

Melina,

You’re crazy.  Of course I don’t know how to fly a TIE fighter.  They aren’t real.

P.S. Nevermind

Jim

From: Melina Tomson <melina@tomsonburnham.com>
To: Jim <Jim@IDon’tNeedNoStinkinRealators.com>
Date: Feb 14, 2011 9:05 PM
Subject: Home Search

Jim,

I’m bummed you never learned how to fly a TIE fighter.  I was thinking it would be cool to know someone that had been in one.  Sorry, I couldn’t be more helpful to you during your I-only-want-your-help-with-the-data-home search.

P.S. Thanks for contacting me off my website and if you need a good Salem real estate agent, don’t hesitate to contact me back.  I’m here to help with the exception of private data on the MLS.

Melina

Search for your Salem Oregon area home minus the highly coveted private remarks.
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Feb 12 2011

Who ya gonna call?

If your house ain’t selling
in your neighborhood
Who ya gonna call?
Housebusters?

I think not.

That leaves just one man.

Sometimes it just has to be done. Someone has to step up to the task and take it on. In Salem Oregon, the answer is obvious.

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Feb 10 2011

Mamma Mia it’s #Salemia

For those of you that have read this blog for any length of time, you know that I have an occasional series I write called Ugly Ducking to Swan. It talks about the projects or new businesses in Salem that have improved the visual appeal or the culture of the city. Sometimes, unfortunately, Salem goes from Ugly Duckling to Ugly Duckling…think the big hole in the ground left by the Boise Cascade demolition.

So that brings me to shenanigans.

I’m all about shenanigans.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to make fun of many things, including myself.  So when the not-so-innocent tweet by local filmmaker Mike Perron appeared on Twitter, I couldn’t resist jumping into the fray.  Mike jokingly thought we needed to create a competing series about Salem, much like the Portlandia series, about our Salem culture. So he created an opening scene, which started it all.

#Salemia start

What ensued was a hashtag on Twitter that was filled with humorous jabs by local Tweeps (people that use Twitter) about Salem.  Local bloggers, Emily Grosvenor, Chris Hagen, and Brian Hines already put together their thoughts about the local ruckus on Twitter.

Me, I think @PerronBrothers really needs to film this.   My thought was that we could have several local businesses sponsor (I’d do it) the filming of Salemia.  We could ask the owner of Salem Cinema to put it on the big screen, and have part of the profits go to our local arts community.   A film about Salem culture for Salem culture.  That would be pretty cool.  Maybe we could talk David Rosales (AKA @KidCapitale) of La Capitale/Andaluz to have a pre or post party as well.

That’s my .02 cents worth of something good coming out of the #Salemia shenanigans.

For those of you that don’t know how to use Twitter or don’t care to, here are my top 10 favorite #Salemia tweets…

#Salemia#Salemia#Salemia#Salemia#Salemia#Salemia#Salemia

Here are a couple of the ones that I threw into the ruckus for fun as well.

#Salemia

If you want to read the ongoing #Salemia madness, go to Twitter and in the search bar type in #Salemia.  You can read what the local Tweeps have been suggesting to @PerronBrothers for a Salemia shoot.  Down below in the comments…give me your best shot at a local Salemia scene.

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Feb 6 2011

Sunny weather spurs home buyers

The sun was out.  There was glare in your eyes. Disorientation ensued.

Pigs flew.   There is an ice dam on the river Styx.  There were locusts.

I know I enjoyed our nice sunny weather that we had in some of January here in Salem. I’m thinking that some home buyers got out of their homes and decided it was time to take a look at some homes.  The seemingly impossible happened here in Salem Oregon this past month.

Off to a nice start.

Average and median home prices for Salem Oregon-Jan 2011I finally get to say that something went up instead of down. That’s kind of cool!  The average and median home price was up this January 2011 compared to last January.    It wasn’t a huge jump, just a mere 2%, but isn’t nice to see some slowing down of home price declines.

While, I still think the market will decline overall by year’s end, a slowing of the decline and a flat line plateau would be a welcome sight to the Salem real estate market.

Home sales in Salem Oregon for January 2011

Home sales were up year over year as well.  This is consistent with my personal experience, as well as many agents that I talk with regularly that the real estate market has picked up really early this year.

Interest rates took a small jump over the holidays and I think some buyers are worried about a large increase and are testing the waters early for real estate this year.

Whether home buyers are feeling a bit more optimistic with the large price drops that have happened; interest rates jumping up just a tad; or the unemployment rate dropping in Salem, it’s all good because the market didn’t drop in January.

I’ll take it.  Now…anyone know how to catch a flying pig?

This data was crunched from information provided by the WVMLS and is based on single family, non acreage homes.

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