Joshua Pettus - Home Grown Real Estate

http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 3 - The Birth of Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 3 - The Birth of Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues

Part Three of our series that explains why Muscle Shoals, Alabama is considered the "Hit Recording Capital of the World."

The next generation of Shoals area music began when the legendary Sam Phillips began working as a broadcast engineer at WLAY radio in Muscle Shoals. He eventually relocated to Memphis, and on July 5, 1954, Phillips discovered a talent that could only be explained as "a white man who could sing with a black man's soul." Elvis Presley auditioned for Sam Phillips one day while working in his Sun Records studio in Memphis. He

quickly signed Presley with his record label, and introduced the world to the man who would one day be known as the "King of Rock and Roll." With Elvis Presley's new found fame at Sun Records, Phillips was able to bring in more talented musicians. Sam Phillips went on to discover other legendary artists, such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich. Sam's keen eye for potential and raw talent allowed him to forever shape the history of music as we now it today.

Rick Hall was listening when the song "A Fallen Star" became a regional hit in 1957. The song, written by James Joiner and sung by Bobby Denton (who is currently the Alabama State Senate's longest serving member), helped Hall to decide to make the short move from Hamilton, Alabama, in search of a job with Joiner. Rick Hall later formed the group the Fairlanes with his friend, Billy Sherrill and performed at many venues throughout the Shoals. In 1958, the two partnered with Tom Stafford who owned SPAR recording to form a recording team with which they could now work freely. This studio, known as Florence Alabama Music Enterprises, or Fame, seemed to be doomed to destruction from the beginning. They set up shop in a small room above a drugstore. They stapled egg cartons to the walls of their studio for sound proofing, found old carpet for the floors, and used drapes for decoration. Hall said:

"I moved in, I slept there, ate in restaurants, I began to write songs, bring in
the troops, would be songwriters... anybody that thought about music. I
brought them in and signed them up playing the guitar, sat up all night with
them to write songs and try to put them together."

It seemed that everywhere they turned there were conflicts in personality. The men at Fame recorded demos for bands looking to get into the music scene of Nashville or Memphis. Hall's obsession to succeed many times collided with

Stafford's visionary ideas. The recording alliance crumbled at their feet and Hall was left as the sole proprietor of Fame. Linda Hall, Rick's wife recalled:

"Sherrill went to Nashville to work for Sam Phillips. He sold Rick the
name of Fame and the publishing company for a dollar."

Left alone to pick up the pieces of his broken friendship and his shattered publishing company, Rick was still determined to succeed in the music industry. "I couldn't get anything going in Nashville. It left me no alternative but t

o try to get something going in Muscle Shoals." He was determined to prove that Muscle Shoals could have a thriving recording industry.

Hall rented a small tobacco barn on Wilson Dam Highway and in 1961 he made his first hit on his own, "You Better Move On," sung by Arthur Alexander, a local bellhop. This was the very first rhythm and blues song recorded in the Shoals area. It was also the first hit recorded by Hall's newly formed rhythm section comprising of David Briggs, Terry Thompson, Jerry Carrigan, and Norbert Putnam. The future of the Muscle Shoals music scene seemed very promising. After seeing the future that was waiting for them in the music industry, Hall's house band eventually left Muscle Shoals to pursue new opportunities for them in Nashville. They were replaced by Jimmy Johnson, Spooner Oldham, Albert Lowe, and Roger Hawkins as resident musicians at Fame.

--------
Tune in to our next entry to find out how a hospital orderly records one of the most beloved songs of all time in Muscle Shoals, and how a session band who forms their own studio could help solidify what exactly is the sound of Muscle Shoals.

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 3 - The Birth of Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate

http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/

- and the new -

http://www.northalabamahomeblog.com/

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 2 - Beginnings

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 2 - Beginnings

On the banks of the Tennessee River in the northwest corner of Alabama, four small, thriving cities are joined together by a history that many of its own citizens have never explored. Many of the people in the area are completely unaware of the internation significance that this area, known as the Shoals Area, has had in the music industry throughout the world. Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the second largest of the four, has a unique place in music history that earned this nearly forgotten part of the country the title of "Hit Recording Capital of the World."

Traces of the Past

The former Muscle Shoals Sound studio sits peering across the Tennessee River beside a small, forgotten park in Sheffield, Alabama. This massive studio, its legacy, and its music are all that is left of the Muscle Shoals Sound. This once famous studio was sold a few years ago to a local movie and video production company, but its days as a recording studio have made their mark on the history of music forever.

On the other side of town, located at 3614 Jackson Highway, the original Muscle Shoals Sound studio building still buzzes with music. Several years ago, this historic building was faithfully restored to look, feel, and sound exactly as it did back in the 60's and 70's. Even though it is no longer owned by the original owners, the current owners still use the name Muscle Shoals Sound and allow the public to tour the studio. Many famous songs were recorded here by many of the world's most beloved musicians. This building is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In the neighboring city of Muscle Shoals, Fame Recording Studios sits in the corner of the busiest intersection of town on Avalon Avenue. Fame and its owner Rick Hall still stay busy in the recording business, but the fame of Fame Studios has since diminished from its glory days filled with the company of famous celebrities and musicians.

The recording industry of the Shoals area has diminished and has been left with what many may think is a bleak future. However, a small number of musicians, singers, and songwriters occasionally come out of the area and achieve national renown. While this new generation appears promising, there still has not been the same level of success that once created a booming recording industry that rivaled regional recording centers like Nashville and Memphis.

Earliest History

Years before this rural area of North Alabama was known for its chart-topping hits, it was settled by the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Chickasaw tribes of the Native Americans. These early settlers found rich soil and a large supply of mussels hidden in what is now known as the Tennessee River. White settlers eventually moved into the area and found hidden beneath the shoals of the river the same mussels that the Native Americans had encountered years before them. Because of this distinguishing quality of the region, they eventually named the city Mussel Shoals. Later, a careless mapmaker misspelled the city's name, and it has been known as Muscle Shoals ever since.

The Native Americans who first lived in the Shoals Area knew the Tennessee River as the Singing River. "It started with water rushing over rocky shoals, stated Terry Pace and Robert Palmer, music historians for the Times Daily. It was a "sound the American Indians living along the banks of the Tennessee River said 'sang' to them in the beautiful voice of a woman." The Singing River was an appropriate name for a place that would one day become a dominating force in the music industry.

W.C. Handy - The Father of the Blues

The music and recording history of the Shoals Area dates back much farther than the two nearly forgotten music studios. William Christopher "W.C." Handy, known by many as the Father of the Blues," grew up in Florence and was attracted to the local music scene. He studied music in Florence for eleven years in the public school for black students, and, at age eighteen, Handy left home to pursue a career in music. In 1909, W.C Handy moved to Memphis, where he immediately won renown. His famous song, "Memphis Blues," was the first popular song written to include a jazz break, the basis for Handy's later claim that he invented jazz. He later moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he recorded another hit song, "St. Louis Blues." Handy died March 28, 1958, but his influence is still seen and heard in contemporary jazz and blues music. In the Shoals Area, we still celebrate his life with the week-long W.C. Handy Festival that takes place every year in July.

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 2 - Beginnings

Stay tuned for my next post that discusses the history behind the Fame and Muscle Shoals Sound studios!

Please feel free to discuss below!!!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/

and introducing the all-new

http://www.northalabamahomeblog.com/

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 1 - Intro

The Sound of the Shoals - Part 1 - Intro

A few days ago I received an interesting tip. I was encouraged to begin using my Home Grown Real Estate blog to post about our local area. At first I thought it was a little silly to do so, but then I realized that I absolutely love our local history. I enjoy studying about the things that happened here, and I love telling people about it. I know my wife probably gets tired of hearing all the same stories over and over, but I just love telling them! I decided that the most interesting thing that I could write about would be the history of the recording industry of the Shoals Area.

The Sound of the Shoals

Why? Well, its interesting! So many people here have very little knowledge of the huge influence our little corner of the world had (and still has) on music. Sure, people here tend to have a general knowledge that some music was recorded here, but what exactly happened here that was so significant? Was it really as important as they claim it was?

Simply put, YES!

While at UNA, I had the assignment of writing a research paper on "something important that has happened in the history of our area." I love music, so naturally I wanted to choose something that I could take interest in, and could enjoy learning and writing about. So, I chose to write about the history of our recording industry.

What you'll be reading for the next few posts will be modified excerpts from that research paper. I've lost the Works Cited page, so even though I have notes of my sources within the paper, I no longer know exactly where they all came from. Sorry about that! It was never my intention to plagiarize or to not give credit where credit was due.

One source I did use just happens to be on Google Books is Music Fell on Alabama by C. S. Fuqua. This may be found HERE. It was an excellent read, and a major source for this paper. Another great source that got the whole process started was a story that aired on NPR back in September 2003. It discussed how the Muscle Shoals Sound studio was up for sale at the time, and had some great interviews that talked about the history of the recording industry here. That story can be heard HERE.

I hope you enjoy this series, and I hope it opens your eyes to the fact that there was more that happened here than what you've been told your entire life growing up.

And so now I present to you

-The Sound of the Shoals-

Please feel free to discuss any interesting stories you know below in the comments.

Thanks!

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
jbpettus@gmail.com
256.541.0491
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/
http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/

and introducing the all-new http://www.northalabamahomeblog.com/

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Intro to Home Grown Real Estate - Who Are We?

Here is a video introducing our company:

I hope to be able to do more video blogs here and will post them as I make them. Let me know what you think! Thanks!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net

256.764.5458

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Real Estate Competition Contraceptives and Why They're Bad for Business

The other day I posted on a friend's Facebook page that he ought to think about a career in real estate. He has seen excellent success in his current position, and I felt as though real estate sales might be a great fit for him and his personality. A few minutes later, another realtor friend of his chimed in and stated that there are already too many real estate agents out there... likely to save her from having to compete with one more agent out there. Sometimes within the culture of real estate agents, there exists a thought that competition in the market is bad, and so they'll try to scare anyone they can away from becoming their competition by various methods. Agents do this in several ways, but always with the same end... to limit the threat of competition. Sometimes its done by high entry fees to Multiple Listing Services or Boards of Realtors, or by limiting who has access to the properties in the area, or by snide remarks or scare tactics such as the aforementioned individual used on my friend. These are what my dad has termed "competition contraceptives." And of course, that means exactly what you think it means. Anything that is meant to stifle the growth of competition in the market.

I wish I could change that mentality. Competition in and of itself is actually a good thing, for both the consumer and the agent. Competition in the market weeds out manipulative and monopolistic companies and agents. Competition becomes the breeding ground for innovation and better service. Competition can create solutions to market problems, and competition can help get us out of the slump we are currently in today. I'm convinced that competition makes us strive to be better.

The rest of my blog post today will simply be a list of gripes of things I've personally seen in the Shoals area and throughout North Alabama, why they are bad for business, and what solutions (if any) I would recommend.

Competition Contraceptive #1

Marking Your Territory and Locking Others Out

I started selling real estate in Huntsville, Alabama. Their MLS, known as the North Alabama Multiple Listing Service, provides real estate agents access to properties across all of North Alabama.... all of North Alabama except the Shoals area. Cooperating Boards of Realtors in the NALMLS are Athens Limestone, Etowah/Cherokee, Huntsville Metro, Jackson County, Marshall County, and Morgan County. The Shoals Area Association of Realtors has their own MLS system, found at SearchtheShoals.com. A couple of years ago, the Shoals area decided to use the same MLS system, however declined to participate as a cooperating association with the NALMLS. Around this same time, murmurings of BRAC began to circle around, which was supposed to bring thousands of high paying jobs to North Alabama. Our local governments in the Shoals began to spend several loads of money advertising the area to potential BRAC move-ins. Many people make the commute from the Shoals to Huntsville everyday, so an overflow of move-ins to the Shoals seemed likely. The problem? We didn't really see any influx. Most BRAC move-ins seem to use real estate agents from the Huntsville area in order to help find houses to buy. Unfortunately for us over here in the Shoals, none of those Realtors have access to our houses here. That means that the Shoals isn't even being considered as an option to folks coming into the area. A potential homebuyer might have stumbled across homes in the Shoals that they may have liked while searching on the MLS, but under our current setup, that is highly unlikely. Many agents here would prefer to keep it that way in order to protect their interest in the local real estate market. However, in doing this, we may have missed out on a great opportunity to rejuvenate the real estate market of the Shoals with folks that could have been brought in through BRAC.

Competition Contraceptive #2

High Cost Barriers to Entry

A few weeks ago, I received a lead from my Facebook page of an individual who wanted me to sell his home in Cullman, Alabama. As a hungry real estate agent, I was excited to respond to the lead and go sell the house. After a little bit of research I found that the NALMLS (from Huntsville) had a few homes in Cullman, but I quickly realized that the real estate agents there must be using a different system. I called their local board of Realtors and found out that Cullman County has their own MLS system. Not only do they have their own MLS, but they also charged around $1500 to join it. They also charge another $250/quarter to maintain membership, plus you have to buy a high tech lockbox and key set that costs $500 just to get access to their houses. After you add all that up, there was no possible way I could've made profit selling that one house. Thus, I was forced to decline this individual's business. I guess I did exactly what the local agents wanted me to do... I had to give it up, which meant that one of their local Realtors would get the business. That's great for them, but being holed-up like pre-war Japan didn't do well for the Japanese, and I doubt it will help Cullman County. Knowing there could be competition brought in by outside agents would force those agents there in Cullman County to strive to do better, to find ways to serve their market in greater ways, and to outdo any of those "outsiders" that might come in if they aren't offering enough of what the consumer really wants.

Competition Contraceptive #3

This Is the Way We've Always Done It, So You Can't Do It Any Other Way

Now, that's an innovation killer if I've ever seen one! Unfortunately, there have been many agents that have made a slow transition into the technical age. While many have embraced technology and can handle it like a champ, some have been slow to fully utilize the wonders of the internet, mobile smart phones, and social networking. Sorry to break it to ya, but gone are the days of advertising in the local newspaper and real estate magazines. Who has the money to do that anyway? For $160 or more per page of advertising, it really doesn't make sense to advertise that way anyway. Not only is it expensive, your ad probably shows up on page 82 a month after you've given them an ad. This means that new listings are actually old listings, or they might already have a contract, or a price change. While magazines and newspapers may do well to get your name out there, they're a terrible way to communicate with home buyers and sellers when compared to the internet.

Another issue that comes up all the time is the fact that many pictures of houses on the MLS are TERRIBLE. Not only are many of them not very good, but so many only post one or two pictures. When working with buyers, its so much easier to help them buy a house when they can see all the great features of the house, and read complete information about it. When all the buyers have to go on is a crooked, out of focus picture of the front of the house, they quickly pass it buy for one who looks more appealing. If your house is currently on the market, ask your agent to see the listing. You deserve an agent that will present your home in the best way possible... it could mean that your house actually sells as opposed to sitting on the market for months and months.

Competition Contraceptive #4

Unprofessional Jerkface Attitude

You'll have to ask my wife where the phrase "jerkface" comes from. It's used quite often at my house... mostly aimed at me. :) Working with other agents, you get to meet all different types of people. I've been able to make friends with many different folks, and have been able to create meaningful professional relationships with a lot of them over the past several years. Unfortunately, occasionally you come across a bad egg who is territorial, cranky, diva-like, or downright rude. My brother once tried to call a listing agent to set up an appointment to show one of her listings. After several failed attempts to get in touch with the agent while out showing properties to his clients, he decided to speak with the homeowner to see if they would give them permission to see the house. The homeowner was very kind and happy to let them in, since he was extremely anxious to sell his home. A few hours later, my brother received a phone call from the listing agent, who was very mad. After chewing him out for a few minutes about how he shouldn't have shown the house without her knowing, she finally said, "That's just not kosher, Noble!"...and then hung up the phone. Any normal agent would've been ecstatic that one of their listings was being shown and potential buyers were viewing the house. This agent, in a pathetic attempt to bully my brother, ended up losing the respect of his clients. His phone was on speakerphone mode, and they heard the entire conversation. They could not believe the unprofessionalism shown by this agent. They were so disgusted that they decided right then that they didn't want that house.

It's been my experience that 95% of all real estate agents are wonderful, hard working, honest,upstanding people, and I hope you never have to deal with the 5% that aren't. It's sad that individuals such as these have made it so that many people do not trust real estate agents. Bullying and cattiness only frustrates fellow agents, and will probably make you look dumb in the process.

So, there you have it... do you agree? disagree? Have any more gripes or complaints? Feel free to post your responses here. Good night all!

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Q&A - How To Become a Real Estate Agent

I've been asked this question a lot lately, and I've had to explain the process of how to become a real estate agent several times the last few days. Apparently, lots of people want to know, so I figured that a great blog post would be to explain the entire process.

Q: How do you become a real estate agent?

A: Ok, first off, let's start with the preliminary requirements. You've got to at least meet these requirements before even starting the process:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
2. Be at least 19 years old;
3. Show proof of bona fide residency in any state in the U.S.;
4. Show proof of high school graduation or GED;
5. Not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
6. Not have had a real estate application or license rejected or revoked in any statewithin the past two years.

If you meet these requirements, the first thing you've got to do is seek out a real estate school. There is a 60-hour pre-license course that you must go through. You can attend this class at any of the various real estate schools throughout Alabama. These classes are offered in either live classes, online, or on video. After you've gone through the course, you must pass the course exam at the end. After passing the exam, you'll receive a certificate of completion and will be able to take the Alabama State Real Estate License Exam. And, yes, you'll actually have to pass the test.

I remember taking the exam. It wasn't quite as bad as I expected. I do remember studying a lot before taking it. You should certainly study as much as you can. Some people don't take it seriously the first time, and miss a passing grade by only a few points. Remember, it costs you money every time you take it, so its worth it to put your best effort in it and pass it the first time.

After passing the license exam, you'll receive a temporary license, and will be able to practice real estate at that point. You'll need to attend a 30-hour post license course within 6 months of receiving your temporary license in order for it to be converted to to permanent status.

Throughout that process, you'll need to find and commit to a real estate company. It may be best to interview a few different brokers in order to find the place where you feel will best serve your interests, and will offer you the support you need. At Home Grown Real Estate, we offer training to all our new agents through mentors who will offer you one-on-one support helping guide you through your first year of working in real estate.

There are also other things you'll need to consider when looking to be a licensed real estate agent. In order to work with most companies, you'll need to join the local Board of Realtors, along with the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which will allow you access to all of the property listings in your area.

After all is said and done, you should expect to spend around $1000 to get started and going in the real estate business. You should also have money set aside for advertising, signs, a camera, measuring tape, flashlight, and any other additional expenses or equipment you might need along the way.

You should remember that being a real estate agent is really like starting your own company. While you will work under a broker at a company, you will be considered an independent contractor. This, in and of itself, has many benefits, including tax benefits, the ability to set your own schedule, to handle your own advertising and marketing, to choose what you specialize in and how you run your business. You can work full-time or part-time. As long as you stay within the confines of the law, and follow the broad guidelines of your own broker, you can pretty much do what you want with your business. It can be a very rewarding career move that gives you opportunities to help other people manage their most valuable assets.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jbpettus@gmail.com or call me at 256.541.0491.

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Press Release: New Broker at Home Grown Real Estate

The following press release will be printed in a coming edition of the Courier

Journal. We're excited about this news! This change was planned from the beginning, and means that we've grown to a point where we needed to do this. Thanks to all who have worked with us this past year and have helped us get to where we are today!

Press Release:

Home Grown Real Estate has announced that Joshua Pettus will be the company's new broker. Joshua has been working in real estate for over five years. He has extensive experience working with all types of real estate buyers and sellers in North Alabama and is an active real estate blogger. Joshua is also an experienced Construction Sales Consultant and helps property owners build on their existing lots or remodel their current homes. Home Grown Real Estate is an innovative and locally owned real estate company in the Shoals that works alongside the construction and remodeling company, Harmony Building. Noble Pettus, former broker of Home Grown Real Estate, has decided to step down in order to focus solely on his position as President of Harmony Building, where demand for construction and remodeling projects has increased exponentially.

Thanks to all!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

Thursday, August 27, 2009

BRAND NEW LISTING - 134 Creekside Dr. Florence, AL

Just thought I'd let you all know of our latest project that we just finished working on, 134 Creekside Drive in Florence, Alabama. It has 2239 square feet, 3 Bedrooms, 3 baths, priced to sell at $173,500. Instead of blabbing about it, I'm just going to upload the pictures and a link to the listing. Let us know what you think!

To see the full listing and the rest of the 23 photos, click the link below:
http://searchtheshoals.net/MuscleShoalsReports/ListitLib/report_builder.aspx

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Q&A - Neighbor's Fence on My Property

Debbie from Green Hill asks:

"Joshua, that's a great idea - sharing your knowledge with all of us. I do have a question. Twenty years ago we had our land surveyed before we built on it and one corner of our land has an ancient barbed wire fence that belongs to our neighbors. I have heard that an existing fence line can be used to take possession of that land. They are all nice people and have been family friends forever, but eventually it will be their grandkids or great-grandkids dealing with ours.. Is there a polite way to get them to take the fence down. It hasn't been used at all since before we moved here. I don't want to cause any problems with our neighbors. Thanks for any help you can give me."

This is a great question, and one that comes up more often than many people realize. The law that you are referring to is what is known as "adverse possession" and dates back to medieval England. Let me give you a quick definition of what adverse possession is, and then let's talk about how to deal with it.
Wikipedia defines adverse possession as, "the process by which title to another's real property is acquired without compensation, by holding the property in a manner that conflicts with the true owner's rights for a specified period."¹ According to Alabama Common Law, an individual may claim ownership of a property after 20 years of continuous, open, and notorious use of the property. In Alabama Code §6-5-200, you may acquire ownership of property after 10 years of possession if you also have some sort of recorded deed, if you've had the taxes listed in your name for ten years, or if you've inherited property from someone who has done those things for 10 years.
Why is this law in place? Basically, it protects your property rights from being taken away from some "long, lost heir" of someone who owned your property before you. Anyone could come to you and claim that you are living on their great-great grandfather's land from years ago, and they are the true owner of that land.
There are certain requirements to be able to claim adverse possession. You can't be sneaky about your possession. It has to be open and hostile. That means that you have to use it as if its your own, and that its obvious to the public that you are in possession of it. Putting up fences, planting a garden, clearing the land, or building a house are all ways this can be shown. It also has to be continuous. In order for a person to claim adverse possession, it also has to be brought before a judge for them to receive title to that property.
Let me tell you a story first, and then I'll talk a little more about your specific situation and how best to resolve it. My great grandparents bought the farm that I grew up on in the early 1900's. That land has literally been in my family for over a hundred years. A few years ago, my dad was looking over the property boundaries of our family farm and realized that there was a little over an acre of land that we have used, cultivated, and farmed for over a hundred years, that in reality is owned by the man who owns the land next to us. No one ever noticed the mistake before, and it had been this way for many, many years. My father could have gone to a judge here in Lauderdale County, claimed adverse possession, and could have rightfully received title to this land. He knew, however, that unless he repaired the mistake, his children would have to deal with the mess of what to do with the land. So, instead of claiming adverse possession, he called up the neighbor, told him about the mistake, and arranged a deal with him to pay for the land and thereby receive a clean and clear title of the parcel in question. A happy neighbor was worth more to him than the price he paid for the land.
Some neighbors aren't always so nice. Hopefully in your situation, they will be helpful and understanding of the problem. My advice is that this is best handled now, while you have a good relationship with the neighbors. If it were me in this situation, I would approach them, tell them (nicely, of course) about your concern, and how you would like to work out the problem now so that future generations will be able to avoid conflict. I would get a new survey done. You might ask them if they would be willing to split the cost of the survey, and mutually agree that both sides will accept the surveyor's lines. (This could save potential conflict if they try to claim that you hired the surveyor and that you had him fudge the property lines in your favor.)
Next, I would speak with them to see what both of you are willing to do to resolve the problem. Since the fence is old, they may be OK with taking it down. If you are OK with the fence staying on your property, you might speak with an attorney about drawing up an agreement that states that you both understand and recognize that their fence is on your property, and that you give them permission to keep it there. If you give them written permission, then they cannot claim adverse possession. Keep in mind to always use kindness and understanding throughout the entire process. You have to remember that you're going to be their neighbors for a long time, and conflicts like these can make or break a friendship.
Since I am not an attorney, I obviously can't give you any legal advice. It is always wise to consult an attorney first before taking any action.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by emailing me at jbpettus@gmail.com or you may leave a comment here at our blog, or you may also contact us through Facebook.
Thanks!
Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Monday, August 24, 2009

What Do You Want To Know About Real Estate?

I've been thinking about my blog and how to make it better. For the past several months I have chattered away about various topics that I find interesting personally, however I haven't really made this a good place for feedback, comments, suggestions, or interaction. So, I pose a question to you all out there.

What Do You Want To Know About Real Estate?

Feel free to hit me with the hard questions. It can be about real estate law, contracts, negotiation, sales numbers, local trends, hot spots for real estate in our area... pretty much anything you want to learn. I'm open to it all. I'll try to take your questions and then turn them into blog entries. If I don't know the answer to some of them, I'll either make one up that sounds believable, or I'll find someone who knows. I'm interested to see where this takes us.

You can either submit your suggestions in the comments below this post, or you may email them to me, or you can even post them up on our Facebook page.

Thanks everyone for your participation.

Joshua B. Pettus

Home Grown Real Estate

President/Associate Broker

Monday, August 17, 2009

Shoals Area Real Estate Statistics for 2007-2009

Here's a little report that very few people actually get to see... its the sales and inventory history of the entire Shoals Area MLS. It is only viewable to real estate company brokers, but ought to be public knowledge. Thought you guys might find this interesting! Yes, we have been affected by the economic downturn, but things are still moving along nicely. No need to put away your For Sale signs. Hang in there, and we'll make it!

(Click for larger image.)

When I get a chance, I'll post Huntsville's statistics!

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Special Limited Time Offer - Bundle Our Services and SAVE!!!

Hmm... where have I heard that before?

Hey guys! The summer is winding down, and even though it doesn't feel like it yet, Fall is fast approaching. We've had a great summer here at Home Grown Real Estate, and it seems like the market is just getting better and better! In order to keep some of that momentum going, we're offering everyone a special deal!!!

So here goes... listen up to all those who need to sell some property, or know someone who does!

We're offering a HUGE reduction in our commission rate to those who use us to both make repairs and have us sell their home, too! You know there are probably things you need to have done anyway. Let us do it, and it will get you a MASSIVE reduction in the cost of commission. We are willing to go down from our regular commission rate by 1% of the sales price of your home. That could potentially save you thousands of dollars! Where most agents are charging 6% of the sales price, if you have us come and make some repairs, you'll only pay 5%! Not only that, but our repairs will ensure that you have a house that is definitely ready to be on the market, and will stand out from the rest!

Sounds like a Win-Win deal to me! Don't forget to mention this blog post in order to take advantage of the special offer! Tell your friends!!!

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491
JBPettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Monday, August 10, 2009

Why Choose to Be Home Grown? Part 4

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, I've seen what it takes to start and maintain a successful business. I remember my dad waking up early and coming home late most every day just to make sure everything in his company was as it should be. There were stressful times, but thankfully there were also many happy times as well. Becoming a real estate agent is exactly like starting up your own business. Even though you'll work under a broker, you are President and CEO of your own little business. You'll also be the accountant, the marketing guru, the salesperson, the graphics designer, the manager, the secretary, and the legal counsel. You'll have to somehow do it all. Of course, you'll have the help of a broker once you get started, but many times brokers are busy trying to solve other agents' problems, and may not always have the time to be one-on-one with you training you how to get your new career started.

At Home Grown Real Estate, we've come up with a unique idea... a Mentor program! As you'll read from the following paragraphs taken from our Recruiting Packet, you'll be able to see how this can be a lifesaver for the new agent, and a financial help to the agent who brought them on board to the company. Hope you enjoy!

New Agents

Being a new agent can be a frightening experience. The training received with the 60-Hour license course is excellent for passing the real estate license exam but does very little in preparing you to actually succeed with a career in real estate sales. For most of us, starting out was a lot like being hired in as a professional basketball player for the NBA, after reading the rule book, but never playing the game, never practicing, and never watching anyone play. An estimated 40-80% of all first year real estate agents drop out of the business. Only 10% of all agents who survive to their third year actually make it to their fourth. It’s no wonder! Most real estate firms toss their agents into the game without giving them any sort of specialized training or education. They were basically set up to fail before they even got started.
At Home Grown Real Estate, we have a better idea. We believe that we are all better off if everyone is successful. First of all, our commission structure is set up to give incentive to our agents to go out and recruit others. If those agents are successful, then the recruiting agent makes some extra cash! So, automatically there is a desire among all of us that everyone succeeds in real estate. Also, as a new agent, the agent who recruits you to the company will become your mentor. They will work closely with you, help you learn how to fill out the paperwork, how to set up your advertising, how to best find clients, etc. You will start out having someone there who will help you get your business started the right way. If you’re serious about your success as an agent, you owe it to yourself to have someone there at your side that can help you every step of the way.

The mentor program lasts for a year. You may stay with it longer if you and your mentor agree. While on the mentor program, you will receive 65% of your commission, the company will receive 30%, and the mentor will receive 5%. This gives the mentor an added bonus for helping you be successful along the way.

If you'd like more info on our new agent program or want to come to work with us, please email us at homegrownrealestate@gmail.com .

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Why Choose To Be Home Grown? Part 3

Continuing from my blog posts from the past couple of days, today I thought I'd talk about another value that we feel is important here at Home Grown Real Estate... Innovation. I remember my old band director in high school used to tell us, if you're not moving forward, you're moving backwards. He used to say that making music is like riding a bicycle up hill. While you are pedaling, you're moving forward, but if you ever stop, you immediately begin to go back downhill. I think real estate is the same way. We have seen in recent times how markets shift and how paradigms have changed in a very short amount of time. Ideas and tactics that were highly successful two years ago no longer work.

When most people think of innovation, they think of innovation in technology. It seems to be the big thing these days to just buy a gadget or gizmo that does this or that, and does it faster and easier than before, and then they brag to the public that they are innovative. If you're going to say you're different, I believe you've got to actually be different. After reading the book Blue Ocean Strategy (you can find my thoughts and ideas on that book here: http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html ), I came to realize that very little has changed in the world of real estate companies. I began to think about ways to offer more services to my clients at better prices than my competitors. The logical thing to me seemed to play off of our strengths. We are good at fixing up houses, so we decided to offer that service alongside our real estate services. You have no idea how many opportunities this has given us just by offering remodeling or repair services. Its so easy to say, "I'd be glad to get you a price to have that repaired." So far I've never had anyone say no. This is just one of the ways I feel that we will offer valuable services to the public, and give our agents another way to earn money.

I could ramble on and on, but I'll save you from all of that. Needless to say, I think we have something significant here. I'll go ahead and paste below the part of our Recruiting Packet that describes how we want to create a culture of innovation.

· Value # 3 - We are Innovative.

At Home Grown Real Estate, we believe that to stay afloat in the real estate market of today, you have to be willing and able to adapt, improve, and constantly be looking for new ideas to serve our clients and customers. We are always looking for new ways to connect with our clients using traditional advertising, email, texting, blogs, or even social networking websites. We believe that technology should enhance our abilities, not replace them. Also, as an agent with our company, you will also work with our sister company, Harmony Building and Construction, as a Construction Sales Consultant. As you work with clients, you will have the ability to offer construction service-- from small repairs, to remodeling, to home building. You will receive commission for each of these sales you make and can use this as an additional source of income. We understand that the more services you can provide, the better off you’ll be in the market place. This also allows you to be more negotiable with pricing and still be able to remain profitable.

You’ll also be able to participate in our commission share program that will allow you to help recruit fellow agents to the company. Each time one of your recruits makes a sale, you’ll receive a percentage of the company’s portion of their commission checks. Also, if you recruit a brand new agent, you’ll have the opportunity to serve as a designated mentor for that individual. As a mentor, you will be able to help them get started and keep them motivated so that they can become a successful agent, as well. Of course, you will receive extra compensation for helping out as a mentor.

Part #1 - http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-choose-to-be-home-grown.html

Part #2 - http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-choose-to-be-home-grown-part-2.html

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
JBPettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Why Choose to be Home Grown - Part 2

In connection with my post from yesterday, I'll continue to include portions from the Recruiting Packet I just recently put together for new agents coming on board. Yesterday I touched on the fact that we are local people running a local business. Today I wanted to talk about the most important aspect of being in business... being honorable. Those who know me personally already know that I am a religious person. I know and understand the value of honor. Much of the world, however doesn't. And isn't that sad? Many of you know that I spent 2 years in Argentina volunteering as a missionary. I saw some very humble people and learned many important things about life and the value of living it right. Unfortunately, much of the world doesn't believe that anymore. I think that too many of us have become selfish and greedy, and have forgotten that you can get farther with the truth than you can a lie. I volunteer as an Assistant Scoutmaster of one of our local Boy Scout troops. Before earning the rank of an Eagle Scout, I had to know and live the Scout Law that says you must be TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL, HELPUL, FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS, KIND, OBEDIENT, CHEERFUL, THRIFTY, BRAVE, CLEAN, and REVERENT. What a different world this would be if everyone lived by that code! The following was directly copied and pasted from our company Recruiting Packet.

Home Grown Real Estate Value #2

- We Are Honorable

Here at Home Grown Real Estate, not only are we local folks, but we also appreciate the good, strong moral values that our Southern heritage has taught us. We take pride in a hard, honest job well done. We believe in the value of treating others with kindness and respect. We believe that a person’s honor and dignity are constantly at stake, and we should never do anything that would embarrass our communities, our company, our family, or ourselves.

Tomorrow... On to #3! We Are Innovative! Stay Tuned!

Continued from yesterday's post found here:
http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-choose-to-be-home-grown.html

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Why Choose to Be Home Grown?

The other day I began putting together a recruiting packet that we will give to those agents who are looking at joining us here at Home Grown Real Estate. Its been a good exercise for me. It has given me a chance to sit down and figure out what our values are in our company. Even though many in the area already know us and have been very pleased with the services we provide, I felt it necessary to put those things down on paper so that those considering working with us will know exactly where we stand on certain things. For the next few blog posts, I'll be posting some of those ideas that I wrote out. These will be directly copied and pasted from our Recruiting Packet document.

Home Grown Real Estate Value #1:
· We are Local.
One of the best things about real estate sales is that it is a local job. You know your hometown better than anyone else. You know the people, the back roads, the best places to eat, the best events, the culture, the history…everything! You love being home, and you can appreciate being able to live exactly where you want, how you want, and with those you want to live. One of the most exciting aspects of real estate sales is being able to present your hometown to someone from far away, and be able to instill in them an appreciation for the unique things that add value to where you live. Whether you are brand new to real estate, or have been selling property for as long as it’s been here, you know that you are only as good as the knowledge you have and are able to convey. The words “home grown” are an old southern phrase that means we are born and raised right here. We know our area well because we live here in North Alabama and are excited to share all the great things about it with other people.

Tomorrow is #2-- We Are Honorable. Stay Tuned...

Part #2 is found here:

http://homegrownrealestate.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-choose-to-be-home-grown-part-2.html

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
JBPettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Ethics, Housing Bubbles, and Dishonest Folks

Yesterday, I spent the majority of my day at an orientation meeting for new members of the Shoals Area Association of Realtors. Most of those there in the meeting with me were new real estate agents, and many of whom had never even sold a property yet. I felt a little out of place. I'm in my fifth year of real estate sales, have sold many properties, and have even taken the time to go get my Broker's license. Since I am still relatively new as an agent here in the Shoals area, I had to attend the meeting. It was a nice refresher course on the National Association of REALTORS Code of Ethics. I didn't learn anything new really, but I was reminded of things that I have experienced lately where Code of Ethics training comes into play. I'm glad they teach that stuff. Believe it or not, we live in an imperfect world that is full of imperfect people. People make mistakes, and then there are some out there that will lie, cheat and steal their way to the top. As we've spent many hours planning and preparing ourselves to take in new agents in the future, I think that honesty, integrity, and traditional Christian values are extremely important in this business. I can see where it would be easy to let dollar signs go to your head and take advantage of people solely for financial gain. No paycheck is worth the price of guilt.

One of the "big ideas" I have for our company is to one day incorporate Character Training into our real estate education classes. There are far too many snakes out there willing to prey on the gullible or inattentive. Back when mortgage companies were approving people for outrageous amounts of loan money, I remember warning my clients about this on many occasions. I told them that they were going to be approved for a much larger amount than they could really afford, but that they should know exactly how much of a down payment they can make, how much of a monthly payment they can afford, and know how long they want to pay on the house, and should always STICK TO THE PLAN! Some of my clients were tempted to look at houses that were out of their price range, and so sometimes I would have to give them a reality check, and remind them of what they really want, what they really need, and what they really can afford. Many agents didn't do this with their clients, and so people unwisely bought more house than they could afford. Because of this, our country's entire economy has slipped because of it. There were many real estate agents and mortgage brokers who were either outright dishonest or overly "creative" with their financing that led to a huge housing bubble, which now we know has burst leaving the rest of us to deal with the mess.

Knowing all of this, I am really nervous about starting the recruiting process. I know there are good agents out there, but the thought of getting a dud that could tarnish my company's image terrifies me. I want people to be able to trust our company's agents and know that they are looking out for what is truly in the best interest for the client, and not the agent's pocketbook.

Anyone out there know of someone who shares these values? Send them my way, because I would GLADLY work side by side with them.

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

http://searchtheshoals.net/MuscleShoalsReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=1901367593

Monday, July 20, 2009

Newest Listing! - 304 Phillips Dr. Killen, AL 35645 - $97,500

So, you may be wondering what the Pettus boys have been up to lately. Well, even if you haven't, here's an update! Our sister company, Harmony Building and Construction, has just finished the remodeling on a great house in good old Green Hill, Alabama. This great house is located on Phillips Drive, just minutes away from Rogers High School. This great house got a bit of a facelift on the inside, and a new roof on the outside. Paint, carpet, laminate hardwood... the works! It has 1,636 square feet, 3 nice sized bedrooms, and two full baths. There's also a gigantic detached 2 car garage/workshop that will come in handy for weekend projects, storage space, and as a get-away spot to tinker around in. The house sits on a large 0.77 acre lot, and will provide you with country living with a nice, friendly neighborhood.

Make sure you click the included link to see all the photos and to see the full listing information.

Joshua B. Pettus

President/Associate Broker

Home Grown Real Estate

256.541.0491

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

PRICE REDUCTIONS!!!!!

The summer is heating up, and the real estate market has been picking up quite a bit lately. We've got several properties in the pipeline to close soon, and we've got prospects on a few more. Houses that had been on the market for months are suddenly disappearing, and it seems as though things are slowly normalizing. With that in mind we decided that we better sell the few remaining properties we have left while conditions are still favorable. That's why you'll see that that we've reduced prices on 2 of our properties. We're looking to sell them both and move on to new projects, that's why we've decided to lower them.

First up its 103 Harris Drive, Florence AL - Reduced to $239,000!

As you can probably tell from the photo, this picture was taken back when the weather was a bit colder out. This means we've had it for too long. Its a great house with TONS of space and TONS of luxury! We completely remodeled this place, too! It also comes with a HUGE lot in one of Florence's most sought after neighborhoods, Kendale Gardens, which is close to Shoals Creek, recreation areas, schools, and shopping. Bring us an offer on it!
http://www.searchtheshoals.net/MuscleShoalsReports/ListitLib/report_builder.aspx?report=public_full_prop1&mls_acct=1366584&footer=5150505350&header=5150505350&maillog_id=2231270994

The other house is one that I actually live in and put on the market not long ago.
15 Oakview Circle, Killen, AL - REDUCED TO $141,000

Many of you may not know, but my wife is currently 8 months pregnant. I had someone tell me the other day that we were CRAZY for trying to sell our house while she is pregnant. Actually, my wife is all for it, and is excited to find another place to go. Unfortunately, with the little one coming, we've decided that the best thing for us would be to downsize our house and our house payment a little bit so that we can stick to our financial plans. Fortunately for you, our haste to move has forced us to lower the price another $4,000! That means that we're probably a good $10,000 less than market value. Great price for a house fit for a large family! Come and check it out and see for yourself!
http://searchtheshoals.net/MuscleShoalsReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=1901330744

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Virtual Video Tour of 15 Oakview Circle Killen AL

Come see what made my family say this house feels like home!
For Full Listing and Photos: http://searchtheshoals.net/MuscleShoalsReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=1901330744
Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net/

NEW LISTING - 15 Oakview Circle Killen AL

Its official! Our newest listing, 15 Oakview Circle is now on the market and up for sale! Catch this great house before it gets sold! It features 2,300 sq. ft. of living space, three gigantic bedrooms, and 2 full baths. It has a nice sized den and a living room with a fireplace. Kitchen is large enough to feed a small army with lots of cabinet and countertop space, and plenty of room for a large kitchen table. The backyard has a covered patio, garden space, and a nice workshop big enough for your mower, tools, and workspace. All of this, combined with the fact that its priced thousands less than comparable properties int he area, makes 15 Oakview Circle one of the most desirable properties in the Shoals Area. Check it out before its too late!http://searchtheshoals.net/MuscleShoalsReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=1901330744

Virtual Video Tour Coming Soon!

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
256.541.0491
jbpettus@gmail.com
http://www.homegrownrealestate.net

Friday, May 15, 2009

New Listing Coming Soon - 15 Oakview Circle, Killen AL

Coming soon... 15 Oakview Circle, Killen, AL - 2300 sq. ft. 3 Huge Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Great living space, and plenty of privacy. $145,000

Catch it before it hits the market! 10 minutes to Florence, 45-50 minutes to Huntsville/Madison. If your interested, let me know and I can send more pics.

Joshua B. Pettus
President/Associate Broker
Home Grown Real Estate
(256)541-0491
jbpettus@homegrownrealestate.net